Abdulsalami Abubakar

Military careers

Air force career

Abubakar is a member of the pioneering sets of officer cadets who enlisted into the Nigerian Air force on 3 October 1963. From 1964- 1966, he was flown to Uetersen, West Germany with a team of officer cadets, for Basic and Advanced Military Training. When he returned to Nigeria in 1966, he was seconded to the Nigerian Army.

Career in the army

After joining the army in 1966 as an officer cadet, Abubakar attended the emergency combatant short service course two. In October 1967, Abubakar was commissioned second lieutenant, infantry division, Nigerian army. From 1967 to 1968, Abubakar was general staff officer two, second garrison, and commanding officer, 92 infantry battalion from 1969 to 1974. Between 1974 and 1975, he was made brigade major, 7th infantry brigade. In 1975 he served as commanding officer, 84 infantry battalion. In 1978–1979, Abubakar was commanding officer for the 145 infantry battalion (NIBATT II), United Nations Interim force, Lebanon.

In 1979 he was made assistant adjutant general 3rd Infantry division, Nigeria. From 1980 to 1982, Abubakar was chief instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy. In 1982 he was appointed as the colonel of administration and quartering, 1st mechanised division. A position he held up until 1984. From 1985 to 1986, Abubakar was the commander 3rd Mechanised Brigade. He served as the military secretary of the army, 1986–1988. Abubakar was made general officer commanding 1st mechanised division 1990–1991. Between 1991 and 1993, he was the principal staff officer, as the army chief of plan and policy, Defence Headquarters.

From 1997 to 1998, General Sani Abacha appointed Abubakar as the Chief of Defence Staff. Upon Abacha's death on 8 June 1998, Abubakar was named military President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Head of State

Military

Nigeria had been ruled by military leaders since Muhammadu Buhari seized power from Shehu Shagari in a 1983 coup. Although democratic elections had been held in 1993, they were annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida. Abubakar was sworn in as military head of state on 9 June 1998 after the sudden death of Abacha. He declared a weeklong period of national mourning.

Politics

A few days after assuming office, Abubakar promised to hold elections within a year and transfer power to an elected president. His government established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), appointing former Supreme Court Justice Ephraim Akpata as its chairman.

The INEC held a series of elections, first for Local Government Areas in December 1998, then for State Assemblies and Governors, National Assemblies and finally for the President on 27 February 1999. Although efforts were made to ensure that the elections were free and fair, there were widespread irregularities that drew criticism from foreign observers.

In terms of economics his government advocated for an privateisation programme which was announced on the 20 July 1998 by H.E Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar. The government retained 40% of the telecom, electricity, petroleum refineries, coal and bitumen production, tourism, and spill-overs from the first phase of privatisation equities of the affected enterprises whilst 40% will be alienated to strategic investors with the right technical, financial and management capabilities. Abubakar's political economy was said to be almost a direct diversion from that of his predecessors to acquire international legitimacy. Further he advocated for economic liberalization, deregulation and foreign investment.

Transfer of power

Surprising some critics of the country's military, in May 1999 General Abubakar handed over power to the newly elected civilian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, and retired from the army.

Legacy

Abubakar's legacy is mixed. A lecture circuit at Chicago State University in Chicago, Illinois, United States featuring him encountered opposition, because he had supported Abacha's government. (Abacha's administration was notorious for its human rights abuses.) He was also sued in that country by other Nigerians who claimed he was responsible for the death of 1993 president-elect Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, who died in custody after being prevented by the military from taking office, and for the violation of the rights of others during his administration. Abubakar helped in the Liberian peace movement by presiding over the 2003 peace talks between Charles Taylor and the opposing rebels. This is seen in the movie Pray the Devil Back to Hell. Abubakar also chaired the Commonwealth Observer Group to the Zimbabwe presidential election in 2002, which concluded that "the conditions in Zimbabwe did not adequately allow for a free expression of will by the electors".

Personal life

Abubakar is married to Fati and they have six children together.

Health

On 12 July 2025, it was reported that Abubakar was suffering from an undisclosed illness and was admitted in the same London hospital as former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. They had known each other since 1962. Abubakar later confirmed this noting that he had been discharged from the London hospital shortly before Buhari died.