President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to hand over a massive piece of land along Abuja's Airport Road for a new centre named after former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar. The federal government will also pay for the building itself.
Tinubu made the announcement on Saturday through Vice President Kashim Shettima at Abdulsalami's 84th birthday celebration in Abuja. The event, titled “The Legacy of a Statesman @84,” also saw the launch of three books about the former military ruler.
Abdulsalami was Nigeria's head of state from 8 June 1998 to 29 May 1999. He took over after the sudden death of General Sani Abacha and is widely credited with steering the country back to civilian rule in 1999. He's widely credited with steering the country back to civilian rule in 1999.
Tinubu said the centre is a fitting tribute to a man whose life has been about peace-building, democratic governance, and national unity.
“The establishment of the Abdulsalami Abubakar Africa Resource Centre is a worthy initiative that aligns with the values General Abdulsalami Abubakar has championed throughout his life,” the president said.
To back up those words, Tinubu directed Wike to provide a substantial parcel of land within the FCT along the Airport Road corridor for the project. He also said the federal government will finance the construction.
Vice President Shettima added that Tinubu had already seen the architectural plans and approved government funding.
“Mr President has seen the building plan for the structure and has promised that the federal government will fund the construction of the centre,” Shettima said.
Tinubu used the occasion to reflect on Abdulsalami's role in Nigeria's democratic journey. He noted that the former military ruler took over at a delicate moment and kept his promise to hand over power to an elected government.
“At a moment of profound uncertainty, when Nigeria stood at a crossroads, providence entrusted him with the responsibility of leadership. He understood both the weight of that responsibility and the demands of the moment,” Tinubu said.
He added: “He pledged to return the country to democratic rule and fulfilled that pledge faithfully and honourably. In doing so, he rendered one of the greatest services any leader can render a nation.”
Tinubu also noted that the Fourth Republic, which Abdulsalami's transition programme created, is now Nigeria's longest stretch of uninterrupted civilian rule.
“Millions of Nigerians, including those of us privileged to serve in public office today, are beneficiaries of the stability and democratic foundation his stewardship helped secure,” he said.
The president also shared a personal note. He said he was one of the pro-democracy activists who returned to politics because they trusted Abdulsalami's sincerity about restoring democracy.
“I speak not only as president but also as one whose political journey was shaped by that historic transition. Like many pro-democracy activists of that era, I returned to participate in the democratic process because I was convinced of General Abdulsalami Abubakar's sincerity and determination to restore constitutional rule,” Tinubu said.
The three books presented at the event are: ‘Call of Duty: An Autobiography of Gen. Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar,’ with a foreword by former military President Ibrahim Babangida; ‘Nigeria's Grand Patriot: Gen. Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar’; and ‘Mediating for Peace in Africa: A Festschrift in Honour of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar,’ reviewed by Ibrahim Gambari.
Abdulsalami, who turns 84, remains an influential figure in Nigerian politics and African peace mediation. He has chaired the National Peace Committee and been involved in several election mediation efforts across the continent.