On this day: in history (1998), the former Nigerian Head of State, General Sani Abacha died while at the presidential villa Abuja. He was buried on the same day, according to Muslim tradition, without an autopsy.This fueled speculation that he may have been executed extra judicially by way of being poisoned by political rivals via prostitutes.
The government identified the cause of death as a sudden heart attack. His chief security officer, Hamza al-Mustapha, believed he was poisoned by Israeli operatives in the company of Yasser Arafat.
Abacha was the defence minister and most senior official within the military hierarchy during the crisis of the Third Republic. He orchestrated the coup d’etat of 1993 which overthrew the Interim National Government of Ernest Shonekan. In his nationwide broadcast, Abacha portrayed the overthrow as an act of stability brought about through the socio-political uncertainties caused by the 1993 presidential election.
After Abacha’s death, General Abdulsalami Abubakar became head of state, whose short tenure ushered the Fourth Nigerian Republic into existence.
#myhistorydiary #history #nigeria #military #asorock
Created by Okey Obiabunmo
