Former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar dismisses MKO Abiola poisoning claims, cites natural causes

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has refuted claims that Chief MKO Abiola was poisoned, stating that an autopsy conducted by pathologists from four countries concluded his death was due to natural causes. These details are from Abubakar's autobiography, 'Call of Duty.' Abiola, who had pre-existing medical conditions including hypertension and a heart ailment since 1994, collapsed during a meeting with a US delegation on July 7, 1998. The delegation included Tom Pickering, then U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, and Susan Rice, then Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. Rice's memoir, 'Tough Love,' describes Abiola coughing and feeling unwell during their conversation. Pickering's account, cited by Abubakar, details Abiola's difficulty breathing before a doctor was summoned, who diagnosed a heart attack. Abiola was then transported to the Head of State's clinic, where he later died. Abubakar also addressed allegations of receiving $500 million after General Sani Abacha's death, calling the claim "pure fantasy." Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, had been detained since 1994.