Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), was already taking concrete steps to secure the release of Chief MKO Abiola from detention before he died unexpectedly in July 1998.

Obasanjo made the revelation on Saturday during activities marking Abubakar’s 84th birthday and the launch of his autobiography, Call of Duty, and two other books at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to Obasanjo, shortly after assuming office following the death of General Sani Abacha, Abubakar moved to address Nigeria's political crisis by releasing political detainees and initiating efforts to free Abiola.

“You emerged from the clouds and carefully proceeded to untangle the nation politically. Political prisoners were released, and I was one of the beneficiaries,” Obasanjo said.

“Your next move was how to get MKO Abiola released, and you kept me regularly informed and also asked me to relay messages to the family.”

In a striking revelation, the former President disclosed that arrangements for Abiola's freedom had progressed significantly, with his eldest son, Kola Abiola, already in Abuja to receive his father upon release.

“Kola was already in Abuja to pick up his father when the unexpected happened,” Obasanjo stated.

The anticipated release, however, never materialised. Abiola died suddenly on July 7, 1998, while meeting with a visiting United States delegation in Abuja, an event that shocked the nation and altered the course of Nigeria's political transition.

Recalling the moment he received the news, Obasanjo said Abubakar personally informed him of the tragedy.

“I remember you telling me on the telephone, ‘Our man is dead,’” he recounted.

Despite the setback and the tension generated by Abiola's death, Obasanjo commended Abubakar for managing the situation with maturity and restraint, noting that he successfully navigated the country through a delicate period.

He said Abubakar handled the aftermath of the incident “dexterously” and remained committed to restoring democratic governance.

Within less than a year of assuming office, Abubakar supervised a transition programme that culminated in the return of civilian rule on May 29, 1999, when he handed over power to Obasanjo as Nigeria's democratically elected President.

Obasanjo credited Abubakar's leadership with preserving national stability during one of the most uncertain periods in the country's history, describing his contribution as pivotal to the survival and consolidation of Nigeria's democracy.