MKO Abiola Collapsed During Meeting With US Envoys, Not Poisoned — Abdulsalami

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has dismissed long-standing claims that Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was poisoned, insisting instead that the June 12 election winner died of natural causes following a medical emergency in 1998.

Abubakar made the disclosure in Chapter 21 of his 264-page autobiography titled Call of Duty, presented at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a ceremony marking his 84th birthday. President Bola Tinubu was represented at the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

According to the former military leader, Abiola collapsed during a meeting with a visiting United States delegation led by Mr Tom Pickering, then U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, and Ms Susan Rice, then Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

He said Abiola had been managing underlying health conditions, including hypertension and heart disease, years before his death.

“I do not believe Abiola was poisoned,” Abubakar wrote, adding that an autopsy conducted by pathologists from Nigeria, the United States, Britain and Canada concluded that he died of natural causes.

He further referenced medical records indicating that Abiola had an enlarged heart consistent with hypertensive cardiac disease as far back as 1994, when he was detained by the Abacha administration after declaring himself president.

Abubakar also cited accounts from members of the US delegation describing how Abiola began coughing during the meeting, complained of heat, and later suffered severe respiratory distress before being rushed for medical attention.

“A doctor arrived within 10 minutes… and it was not possible to save him,” he wrote.

The former Head of State said Abiola was immediately taken to a medical facility after the incident, where efforts to revive him failed.

He added that Abiola’s family was promptly informed, and that explanations were given to avoid speculation that could have worsened political tensions.

Abubakar also rejected allegations that he received $500 million following the death of General Sani Abacha, describing the claim as “pure fantasy.”

Abiola, widely regarded as the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, died on July 7, 1998 while still in detention, an event that continues to shape Nigeria’s democratic history and political discourse.