Abdulsalami Abubakar Reveals Coup Pressure from Abacha

Abdulsalami Abubakar, a retired General and former head of state, disclosed that he was pressured by Sani Abacha to accept the position of Chief of Army Staff during the coup that took place in November 1993. Abubakar initially rejected the appointment twice, insisting that he did not want to be a tool for Abacha's ambitions against the civilian government.

He recounted that the political crisis intensified after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections. On November 17, 1993, Abubakar received urgent warnings about a coup from Chief Naval Staff Suleiman Said.

Following a series of events, including a meeting with senior military officers, Abubakar was eventually pressured to accept the role of Chief of Army Staff. He noted that despite his reluctance, he felt compelled to accept the position to avoid public embarrassment and to navigate the complex military and political landscape of the time.