Why MKO Abiola died – Bamaiyi

A former chief of army staff, Ishaya Bamaiyi has stated that Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the presidential election of 1993, could not have died the way he reportedly did.

On July 7, 1998, Abiola died in detention shortly after the then head of states, Sani Abacha passed away.

Hamza Al-Mustapha, former chief security officer to Abacha, had alleged that Abiola was beaten to death.

But in his book, ‘Vindication of a General’, Bamaiyi said when he led a delegation to commiserate with Abiola’s family, he learned that the politician was ”given a cup of tea.”

“His death came as a surprise to me because he had been healthy when we met. One evening, the head of state, General Abubakar called while I was in Lagos to tell me we had a problem,” he wrote.

“I asked what was wrong and he told me Chief Abiola was dead. I was shocked and asked him what we were going to do about it. He told me he was handling the situation.

“Abiola could not have died the way he reportedly died.”

According to him, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) was the reason why Moshood Abiola stayed in detention until his death.

He explained that himself and Ibrahim Gumel, a former chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), were able to convince Abacha that Abiola “was not going to be a threat and could be handled”.

“Gumel and I went to Gen. Abacha and pleaded for Abiola’s release. Abacha agreed to release Abiola with some conditions,” he wrote.

“We conveyed Abacha’s agreement to release Abiola to Bafyau, who briefed some NADECO members on Abacha’s readiness to release Abiola with some conditions.

“These NADECO members advised Abiola not to accept release with conditions and kept him in detention. Initially, Abiola accepted the conditional release, and a judge was brought to Abuja to perfect it.

“The release documents were ready, and Abiola was to go and sign them, but some NADECO members advised him against doing so, and he remained in detention until his death.”