I don’t believe Abiola was poisoned — Abdulsalami

A former Head of State, retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has dispelled media reports that the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, was poisoned.

He spoke in his auto biography published by Cable Books, distributed by Rovingheights Bookstores and also available on Amazon.

Abubakar said as far as 1994 when Abiola was arrested, it was public knowledge that he was managing certain medical conditions, which could seriously affect the quality of life of any human being.

He said in his book: “It did not stop the conspiracy theories in any case. 

“There was a theory that since Nigeria had come to a standstill with the political impasse, some vested interests in government decided to take out General Abacha in June 1998 because he was seen as the biggest problem.

“It was also alleged that after they had taken (late Head of State, General Sani) Abacha out and NADECO insisted on Abiola being released and inaugurated as President, the supposed interests decided to take out Abiola a month later to ‘balance the equation’. 

“Whoever came up with this theory was being uncharitable to both Abiola and the Federal Government.

“I do not believe Abiola was poisoned. 

“The family requested an autopsy and we assembled American, British, Nigerian and Canadian pathologists to conduct it. 

“The autopsy report attributed his death to natural causes. 

“As far back as 1994 when he was arrested by the Abacha Administration for declaring himself President, it was public knowledge that Abiola was managing certain medical conditions which could seriously affect the quality of life of any human being.

“For the sake of transparency, the autopsy was conducted with the full participation of Dr Falomo. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) was represented by Dr George Okpagu, Dr Boniface Oye-Adeniran and Dr M.C. Izegbu.

“The Federal Government was represented by two respected pathologists: Prof Edward Attah of the University of Calabar and Dr Abdulmumini Rafindadi of the ABU Teaching Hospital, Zaria.”