General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), the former Head of State, disclosed that leaders from the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) approached him with a request to extend military rule after they recognized his genuine intention to transfer power to a civilian government in 1999. This revelation, made during the launch of his autobiography at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, highlights a significant moment in Nigeria's democratic transition, where the same coalition that opposed military governance under General Sani Abacha sought more time to prepare for democracy. Abubakar recounted that while initially skeptical of his transition plans, some NADECO members later felt unprepared for the impending political shift and sought an extension, a request he ultimately declined. He emphasized his commitment to returning Nigeria to democratic rule within the agreed timeframe, despite pressure from various political and foreign entities to prolong military governance.
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