From Depression to Destiny: The Story of Abdulsalami

It may seem surprising, but General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s path to Nigeria’s head of state was shaped by a bout of depression. After completing his studies at Provincial Secondary School, Bida, in 1962, he was admitted to the Technical College, Kaduna. He also applied to the Nigerian Military Training College (now the Nigerian Defence Academy) and chose a military career, joining the newly formed Nigerian Air Force in 1963. He was sent to Germany for flight training, where he progressed well until depression forced him to withdraw before the final stage of training.

He then returned to Nigeria and transferred to the Nigerian Army. In Nigeria’s history, only the army has produced military heads of state. Had he remained in the Air Force, he would not have become head of state. When General Sani Abacha died suddenly on 8 June 1998, the Provisional Ruling Council selected Abdulsalami as his successor. He organised a swift transition to civilian rule, leading to the birth of the Fourth Republic in May 1999. Nigeria has now enjoyed uninterrupted democracy for 27 years, the longest continuous period since 1960‑1966.

Abdulsalami was born on 13 June 1942 in Minna to a Hausa father from Kano and a Kanuri mother from Nguru. He marked his 84th birthday yesterday by unveiling his autobiography, Call of Duty, which recounts his life from birth to military career and family. He was also named “Abdullahi” after the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero dan Muhammad Abbas, who reigned from 1926 to 1953. He earned the nickname “Mai Kano,” the traditional title of the emir, and later became known as “Mai Nigeria.”

He recalls the depression episode: “As a result of my state of mind, I was grounded. I couldn’t continue with my training as an Air Force pilot. It was part of the weeding process of the academy. Not all students who started the training usually completed it. For example, if a trainee pilot was not able to log in 15 hours in the small two‑propeller aircraft, he would not continue the training. He was weeded out and sent to another arm of the Air Force such as engineering, logistics and ordnance.” Returning to Nigeria, he chose to re‑enter the army, refusing to join a support role in the Air Force.

“Looking back,” he writes, “I would say without any doubt that God had a hand in everything. It was not entirely my decision. I went for Air Force training only to miss out on the final stages because I had depression. It was not my fault or my design. I ended up in the Army where I had wanted to be at the beginning. I rose to the highest rank in the Army. I ended up as Head of State and Commander‑in‑Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, a position I could not have attained as an Air Force officer. I would say God used depression to shape my destiny. It is beyond human comprehension. Maybe I would have crashed and died in training if depression had not halted my training.”

The retired general now advocates for mental health. “Depression is a serious mental health issue that we often downplay or mystify in Nigeria. Many people experience it in one form or the other, manifesting as anxiety, panic attacks, low moods and suicidal feelings. We often make depression look trivial or spiritual. People who suffer from it stand the risk of being classified as mad. We need to pay more attention to this. People should also feel free to share their experiences to help others who might benefit from knowing more about depression,” he counsels. He notes that many others commit suicide, are stigmatised or even killed.

In Call of Duty, Abdulsalami also describes near‑miss incidents in his military career. The earliest occurred during the civil war. After a brief training in Kaduna, he transferred to the army when the war began in 1967. He lost a rank and became junior to his peers, including Ibrahim Babangida, Mamman Vatsa, Gado Naso, Mohammed Magoro and Garba Duba, who joined the army immediately after secondary school while he was in Germany. He commanded a battalion under the 9th Brigade during the war, which was part of the 2nd Infantry Division led by then‑Colonel Murtala Muhammed.

He escaped death twice during the war. In February 1968, Biafran troops attacked an army convoy, including petrol tankers, causing an explosion. “It was a most terrifying scene. Many soldiers died. I was lucky to escape,” he said. A closer incident followed when he was briefing Colonel Femi Daramola, commander of the 8th Brigade. Between 5 pm and 6 pm, his Land Rover was ambushed by Biafrans on the way back to Udi, the brigade headquarters. Three passengers—his orderly and signal operator—were killed. The driver survived, and Abdulsalami was hit in the arm while protecting him. He was also shot in his right arm and injured in his left arm.

Another near‑miss occurred in 1979 when he was about to be dismissed from the army. He was seconds away from arrest and court‑martial. He had been preparing to lead a contingent of Nigerian soldiers to Lebanon for peace‑keeping. He received a message that his wife, Fati, had miscarried. He rushed to Owode, where his family lived, and left the unit, which he described as “one of the most excruciating experiences in my life.” When he returned to Ikeja the next morning, a senior officer from the army headquarters, unaware of the miscarriage, berated him: “You are a useless officer!” Abdulsalami, then a major, confronted the officer, stating that no senior had ever called him useless. The officer reported the matter to Lt‑Gen Danjuma, who ordered Abdulsalami’s arrest. Major‑General Emmanuel Abisoye, present at the headquarters, defended him, saying he had been provoked. Abdulsalami credits Abisoye with saving his career and preventing imprisonment.

He also discusses other topics in his book, including the deaths of Abacha and Bashorun MKO Abiola, the 1999 Constitution, and the depletion of foreign reserves during his tenure. He is portrayed as a peacemaker who prefers not to ruffle feathers, although journalists seek more controversial insights. The publication of autobiographies by former leaders, such as Gen Yakubu Gowon and Gen Babangida, has become more common, though no account from Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu has yet appeared.

AND FOUR OTHER THINGS…

LOVE YOUR COUNTRY

In his Democracy Day speech, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said, “Criticise me, disagree with me, but never stop believing in Nigeria.” He echoed the sentiment that presidents come and go, but the country remains. He urged Christians to pray for all in authority to live peacefully and with dignity, noting that many pastors have abandoned intercession due to political biases.

NDC VS OBIDIENTS

A mini‑crisis in the National Democratic Congress over primaries and the role of Mr Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, prompted Senator Seriake Dickson to clarify that the NDC would not be a single‑party vehicle. Some supporters have threatened to back only Obi in the general election. The author questions what would have led Obi to form his own party after three years of preparation for the 2027 elections.

FREED BUT NOT FREE

Police rescued the sister of Chief Adebayo Adelabu and her twin sons from kidnappers in Ibadan, Oyo state. While some lament that poorer abductees in Ogbomoso remain captive, the author notes that the Ibadan kidnappers were “petty” while the Ogbomoso abductions were carried out by terrorists, highlighting the need for a more effective anti‑terrorism strategy.

NO COMMENT

After Nigeria’s 2‑0 loss to Mexico in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Nigerians on social media expressed frustration with South Africa, citing both football rivalry and perceived xenophobia. One tweet read: “Commentator 1: Why aren’t the South African players attacking? Commentator 2: It’s because they only attack when they see black people.”