How I advised Obasanjo not to run for president in 1999 — Abdulsalami

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has revealed that he advised former President Olusegun Obasanjo not to contest Nigeria’s 1999 presidential election following his release from prison.

The revelation is contained in Abdulsalami’s newly launched autobiography, Call of Duty, which was presented in Abuja during events marking his 84th birthday.

According to the former military leader, Obasanjo met with him shortly after regaining his freedom in 1998 following his release from prison, where he had been detained under the regime of late military ruler General Sani Abacha over alleged coup-related charges.

Abdulsalami said Obasanjo discussed two major issues during the meeting: his intention to sue the Federal Government over his imprisonment and an invitation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the forthcoming presidential election.

The former Head of State disclosed that he advised Obasanjo against pursuing legal action, arguing that court proceedings could be lengthy and uncertain. Instead, he explored alternative ways to compensate the former military ruler for losses allegedly incurred by his businesses during his incarceration.

He also said he discouraged Obasanjo from entering partisan politics at the time, urging him to focus on rebuilding his life after years in detention.

According to Abdulsalami, he told Obasanjo to “go home and thank God that he was still alive” after everything he had endured, rather than plunge into the uncertainties of a presidential contest.

Despite the advice, Obasanjo proceeded with his political ambition, secured the PDP presidential ticket and went on to win the February 1999 election, becoming Nigeria’s first democratically elected president after years of military rule.

The election marked a historic turning point in Nigeria’s political history, ushering in the Fourth Republic and ending more than 15 years of uninterrupted military governance.

Abdulsalami’s account offers fresh insight into the delicate transition period that followed the death of General Sani Abacha in June 1998. His administration oversaw an 11-month transition programme that culminated in the handover of power to a civilian government on May 29, 1999.

The disclosure also adds a new dimension to longstanding debates over the circumstances that led to Obasanjo’s emergence as president, with some critics over the years alleging that elements within the military establishment influenced the outcome of the transition process.

Speaking at the launch of the autobiography, Obasanjo praised Abdulsalami’s leadership during one of Nigeria’s most challenging political periods, describing him as a patriot who successfully guided the country through uncertainty and laid the foundation for democratic governance.

The memoir contains several previously undisclosed accounts of Nigeria’s political and military history, including details of key decisions made during the country’s transition from military to civilian rule.