Abdulsalami: Abiola Died of Natural Causes, Not Poison

Retired military leader General Abdulsalami Abubakar has refuted suggestions that Chief Moshood Abiola, the presumed victor of Nigeria's June 12, 1993 presidential election, died from poisoning while imprisoned. At Saturday's public launch of his autobiography in Abuja, he explained that medical assessments showed Abiola succumbed to natural causes rooted in existing health problems.

Following Abiola's passing on July 7, 1998, Abubakar revealed that pathologists conducted an extensive autopsy. The examination involved medical experts from four nations: Nigeria, the United States, Britain, and Canada.

Their combined assessment attributed the death to natural rather than criminal circumstances. Documentation of these findings appears in Chapter 21 of his memoir.

The autobiography's presentation occurred amid observances honoring what would have been Abiola's 84th birthday. Vice President Kashim Shettima attended on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, while a delegation from America was also present.

Abiola collapsed during discussions with American officials, including a U.S. undersecretary and assistant secretary. Abubakar also tackled another long-standing dispute from Nigeria's past, declaring that former military president Ibrahim Babangida never broached the topic of annulling the elections with him.

Despite his senior rank in the armed forces at that moment, Abubakar maintained he heard about the cancellation only through public announcement. His statements come as the nation continues processing the consequences of the annulled election and its bearing on Nigeria's journey toward democracy.