1. EVENTS SURROUNDING ABIOLA'S DEATH.
We may never know exactly if he was murdered or died from natural causes but I will do my best to clearly state what happened. You make your deductions.
Records to all these are public from witnesses primarily the Oputa panel.
THREAD!!!!
We may never know exactly if he was murdered or died from natural causes but I will do my best to clearly state what happened. You make your deductions.
Records to all these are public from witnesses primarily the Oputa panel.
THREAD!!!!
https://twitter.com/Morris_Monye/status/1403697200882929664
2. Abiola wrote a condolence letter to Maryam on June 9th 1998 upon hearing about his death
Why? This was the person that took his mandate
Abiola felt it was the right thing to do and asks that Head of State, Abdusalam Abubakar vets the letter as "Two heads are better than one"
Why? This was the person that took his mandate
Abiola felt it was the right thing to do and asks that Head of State, Abdusalam Abubakar vets the letter as "Two heads are better than one"
3. Some background...
Abiola was moved around a lot for security purposes.
Abiola was kept at Kado Housing Estate with 13 bodyguards led by ASP Theo Zadok. This was immediately after the phantom Diya coup.
Now on the news of Abacha's death, he was moved to Gado Nasko Barracks
Abiola was moved around a lot for security purposes.
Abiola was kept at Kado Housing Estate with 13 bodyguards led by ASP Theo Zadok. This was immediately after the phantom Diya coup.
Now on the news of Abacha's death, he was moved to Gado Nasko Barracks
4. At the barracks, all 13 bodyguards were withdrawn and soldiers took over his security.
ASP Zadok remained. He was the official head of security for Abiola. Tasted all his food, drinks etc.
He previously got a quarterly budget of N800,000 for Abiola's toiletries, feeding etc
ASP Zadok remained. He was the official head of security for Abiola. Tasted all his food, drinks etc.
He previously got a quarterly budget of N800,000 for Abiola's toiletries, feeding etc
5. He still served Abiola food and tasted all the food.
Now comes Major Aliyu, CSO to Head of State, Abdusalam Abubakar. He was a young, slim, shadowy character that was soft-spoken and intelligent.
He radios Zadok on July 7th 1998 to come to his office immediately.
Now comes Major Aliyu, CSO to Head of State, Abdusalam Abubakar. He was a young, slim, shadowy character that was soft-spoken and intelligent.
He radios Zadok on July 7th 1998 to come to his office immediately.
6. He instructs Zadok to bring Abiola to Aguda House for an interview that day at 1pm.
This was 11.30am.
Zadok returns and tells Abiola what's up. Abiola shrugs, and tells him to bring his dress.
12.30pm, CSO Aliyu comes to the base himself. He softly asks if they were ready
This was 11.30am.
Zadok returns and tells Abiola what's up. Abiola shrugs, and tells him to bring his dress.
12.30pm, CSO Aliyu comes to the base himself. He softly asks if they were ready
7. He replies yes, they meet Abiola inside well dressed.
They drive Abiola to Aguda house. On the way to Aguda House, Zadok gets a strange radio for him to divert and meet with VP, Mike Akhigbe
Why?
They drive Abiola to Aguda house. On the way to Aguda House, Zadok gets a strange radio for him to divert and meet with VP, Mike Akhigbe
Why?
8. No one knows...
When they get to Aguda House, he tells Major Aliyu about the radio call and he tells him it's fine that he can go.
Abiola is now in Aliyu's care and they enter Aguda House while Zadok leaves.
Inside the building were Thomas Pickering, Susan Rice and Twaddell
When they get to Aguda House, he tells Major Aliyu about the radio call and he tells him it's fine that he can go.
Abiola is now in Aliyu's care and they enter Aguda House while Zadok leaves.
Inside the building were Thomas Pickering, Susan Rice and Twaddell
9. Bill Twaddell was the U.S ambassador to Nigeria, Pickering was undersecretary of state for Political affairs and Susan Rice was assistant Secretary of state for African Affairs.
Top U.S Diplomats meeting with Chief Abiola.
Abiola felt at ease.
Top U.S Diplomats meeting with Chief Abiola.
Abiola felt at ease.
10. Abiola greets them warmly especially Pickering, relaxes on the couch and starts telling them how badly he was treated in detention.
They show concern for his plight.
Susan Rice notices his ankles were swollen and takes note of it.
They show concern for his plight.
Susan Rice notices his ankles were swollen and takes note of it.
11. The U.S official asks "Now that you have given up your mandate, what role do you want to play in the new Nigeria"
He never gets to answer that question
He starts coughing. Small at first, then gradually increased
Susan Rice volunteers to pour him tea to clear his airways
He never gets to answer that question
He starts coughing. Small at first, then gradually increased
Susan Rice volunteers to pour him tea to clear his airways
12. He accepts. He complains he is hot. Susan Rice asks Major Aliyu to turn up the A.C. He does.
She pours tea, he drinks but the cough gets worse. He removes his Agbada and cough gets even worse
She asks for a medical team immediately. Abiola gets up to the bathroom nearby
She pours tea, he drinks but the cough gets worse. He removes his Agbada and cough gets even worse
She asks for a medical team immediately. Abiola gets up to the bathroom nearby
13. He emerges from the bathroom without any shirt, lays down on the couch, loses consciousness and rolls down to the ground face down.
The U.S delegation starts panicking
Zadok arrives, sees the issue, rushes to pick Abiola. A doctor arrives and say he is having heart attack
The U.S delegation starts panicking
Zadok arrives, sees the issue, rushes to pick Abiola. A doctor arrives and say he is having heart attack
14. They carry Abiola to the Aso-rock clinic where he is declared dead
Before then, Susan Rice picked his glasses as sovenir for his daughter Hafsat who was in the U.S.
Twaddell goes into a meltdown and asks them to go on the next flight out of Nigeria.
They refuse.
Before then, Susan Rice picked his glasses as sovenir for his daughter Hafsat who was in the U.S.
Twaddell goes into a meltdown and asks them to go on the next flight out of Nigeria.
They refuse.
15. 15. Major Aliyu meanwhile calmy brings out his phone, calls the ADC to the President and says "Please connect me to the Head of State, I have an important message for him"
Abdusalam is on the phone, he moves away from the people and that conversation is now lost to history.
Abdusalam is on the phone, he moves away from the people and that conversation is now lost to history.
16. I WILL BE RIGHT BACK. LET ME FEED MY DOG.
17. The U.S team went to see Abdusalam and asked that he give a careful press statement that will quell tension and the announcement of an independent autopsy by international experts to quell suspicion
18. They phoned the White House and Bill Clinton was informed.
Now the small issue of breaking the news to the Abiola family.
The U.S team alongside top Nigerian govt officials visited the family and all the women broke down in tears and wailing.
Now the small issue of breaking the news to the Abiola family.
The U.S team alongside top Nigerian govt officials visited the family and all the women broke down in tears and wailing.
19. Now... Why did the U.S team visit Abiola.
Before then, Koffi Annan and Emeka Anyaoku (UN and Commonwealth Sec-Gen respectively) visited Abiola and talks were on how he was to forfeit his mandate.
It was said that Abiola agreed.
Before then, Koffi Annan and Emeka Anyaoku (UN and Commonwealth Sec-Gen respectively) visited Abiola and talks were on how he was to forfeit his mandate.
It was said that Abiola agreed.
20. Why would he agree to such?
It was believed he wanted to just be free and it was said that he would contest the next election and win flawlessly.
Now the old military boys were afraid of an Abiola Presidency.. They had secrets that wanted protecting
It was believed he wanted to just be free and it was said that he would contest the next election and win flawlessly.
Now the old military boys were afraid of an Abiola Presidency.. They had secrets that wanted protecting
21. They felt Abiola would be vindictive and come after them due to the June 12 crises
They wanted their own in power.
Obasanjo, a fmr General and a Yoruba was the perfect choice.
Anyway these are stories for another day.
Did he die of Natural causes or was he eliminated?
They wanted their own in power.
Obasanjo, a fmr General and a Yoruba was the perfect choice.
Anyway these are stories for another day.
Did he die of Natural causes or was he eliminated?
22. You can make you deductions.
THE END.
THE END.
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