Former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar declines comment on Abiola’s death after Bamaiyi’s allegation

A former Head of State Abdulasalmi Abubakar has declined comments on allegations levelled against him by a former chief of army staff Ishaya Bamaiyi on the death of the winner of the 1993 presidential election.

Bamaiyi had in a his book titled ‘Vindication of a General’ accused Abubakar of having knowledge about Moshood Abiola’s death.

Bamaiyi in his book had said: “I believe only Gen. Abubakar and those he used to handle Abiola’s death can tell Nigerians how Chief M . K. O . Abiola died. Abiola could not have died the way he reportedly died.”

He also said that Abiola could not have died of natural causes as generally claimed. he said Abiola was was of life the last time they met before his death.

But on Friday, April 28, while chairing the launch of a book written by the chairman of the editorial board of Thisday Olusegun Adeniyi, ‘Against the Run Play’, Abubakar declined comments from journalists on his role in the death of the business man as alleged. “I have no comments… no comments!” Abubakar said.

Abiola was acclaimed to have won the 1993 presidential election which was subsequently annulled by the then Head of State Ibrahim Babangida.

The late politician and businessman who had pronounced himself the winner of the election in 1994 was later arrested by Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s then military ruler. Abiola later died in prison in 1998, some weeks after the death of Abacha who was succeeded by Abubakar.