Abacha Wanted To Retire Abdulsalami; He Died A Few Hours Before He Was To Sign His Papers -Ogunkeyede

An activist, Jumoke Ogunkeyede, has claimed that Nigeria’s former Head of State, Sani Abacha, had concluded plans to retire former military ruler Abdulsalami Abubakar from the Nigerian Army shortly before Abacha’s sudden death in 1998.

Ogunkeyede made the disclosure during an interview on State Affairs, a programme hosted by Edmund Obilo, where he spoke about events that allegedly took place during the final days of Abacha’s administration.

According to the activist, tensions reportedly developed between Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar after the military leader allegedly approached the senior officer for financial assistance. Ogunkeyede claimed that Abacha had requested to borrow money from Abdulsalami, but the latter declined, saying he did not have the funds.

Ogunkeyede said the refusal angered Abacha, who then allegedly decided to retire Abdulsalami from active service in the Nigerian military.

He further claimed that the decision to retire Abdulsalami had already reached an advanced stage and that the necessary documentation had been prepared for Abacha’s approval.

According to him, the retirement papers were scheduled to be signed by Abacha on the same day he eventually died.

“Abacha was to sign Abdulsalami Abubakar’s paper because he wanted to borrow money from him and Abdulsalami Abubakar said he had no money,” Ogunkeyede said during the interview.

The activist explained that Abacha had allegedly planned to finalize the retirement later that afternoon, but the development never materialized due to the unexpected turn of events surrounding the military ruler’s death.

“That was why Abacha was going to retire him, he was to sign his paper that afternoon but God took his life through the machinations of those who killed him few hours before,” Ogunkeyede added.

Abacha, who ruled Nigeria from 1993 until his death in June 1998, remains one of the most controversial figures in the country’s political history. His regime was marked by strict military control, allegations of human rights abuses, and international criticism.

Following his sudden death on June 8, 1998, Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was then the Chief of Defence Staff, emerged as Nigeria’s Head of State and oversaw a transition that eventually returned the country to civilian rule in 1999.

The transition period under Abdulsalami’s leadership led to the election of Olusegun Obasanjo as Nigeria’s civilian president, marking the end of decades of intermittent military rule…..See More