In the closing months of 1998, after General Abdulsalami Abubakar had successfully settled in as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces after General Sani Abacha’s demise, a private but deeply revealing meeting took place between two former military leaders.
Olusegun Obasanjo had just been released from prison after surviving one of the darkest periods of General Sani Abacha’s regime. Physically and emotionally scarred, he sought out Abdulsalami for counsel on his next steps. What happened during that conversation, as later disclosed in Abdulsalami’s autobiography Call of Duty, remains one of the most intriguing behind-the-scenes moments of Nigeria’s transition to democracy.
The Heavy Conversation
Obasanjo came with two major issues weighing on his mind. First, he wanted to pursue legal action against the government for his unlawful detention. Second, he had received strong invitations from a newly formed political party to take a leading role in the unfolding political landscape.
Abdulsalami, fresh from the delicate task of midwifing Nigeria’s return to civilian rule, did not sugarcoat his response.
According to his account, he looked Obasanjo straight in the eyes and gave him this direct advice:
“I told him point-blank that he should forget about contesting… He should return home and thank God that he was still alive after all he had gone through in four years.”
Abdulsalami’s reasoning was rooted in concern for both Obasanjo’s well-being and the fragile state of the nation. He believed that after years of imprisonment, torture, and the loss of his former second-in-command (Late Shehu Yar’adua) while in detention, Obasanjo needed time to heal, rebuild his life, and enjoy the freedom he had narrowly regained. Jumping straight back into the high-stakes arena of national politics, he felt, was too dangerous — both personally and for the young democracy.
He even advised against suing the government at that moment, warning that such a move could create unnecessary tension during a very sensitive transition period.
Obasanjo’s Reaction
Abdulsalami recalled that Obasanjo listened quietly, took a deep sigh, and simply said he would think about the advice and get back to him.
He never did.
The encounter offers a rare glimpse into the mindset of two men who had both held the highest office in the land under very different circumstances. One was recently installed to oversee a short transition to civilian rule. The other had barely survived the worst of military dictatorship and was now being told to step back from the arena.
This private conversation, revealed decades later, adds a deeply human and dramatic layer to our understanding of Nigeria’s journey from military rule to democracy. It shows the weight of trauma, the burden of leadership, and the difficult personal choices that often shape national destiny behind closed doors.
Source: General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s autobiography Call of Duty.
What do you think about the advice Abdulsalami gave Obasanjo? Was it wise counsel born out of genuine concern, or something else? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
