At 84, Abdulsalami Abubakar Gets Heartfelt Praise from Tinubu and a Plot of Land in Abuja.

President Bola Tinubu has warmly praised former military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, calling him a steady hand when Nigeria was at its most fragile.

Speaking at a gathering in Abuja on Saturday to mark Abubakar’s 84th birthday and launch three books about his life Call of Duty, Nigeria’s Grand Patriot, and Mediating for Peace in Africa Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, recalled how Abubakar took over the nation’s leadership at a “profoundly uncertain” moment.

“He pledged to return the country to democratic rule, and he fulfilled that pledge faithfully,” Tinubu said. The peaceful transition in 1999 gave birth to the Fourth Republic the longest stretch of uninterrupted democracy Nigeria has ever had.

Tinubu also revealed that he has instructed FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to allocate a suitable plot of land in Abuja for the Abdulsalami Abubakar African Resource Centre (AAARC), calling the centre a “worthy initiative” that aligns with everything the elder statesman has stood for.

The president personally noted that his own return from exile to join democratic politics was shaped by Abubakar’s sincerity.

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who delivered a keynote address, said Abubakar chose Nigeria’s wellbeing over personal power a choice that helped consolidate democracy and peace across the continent.

Former Heads of State Yakubu Gowon and Olusegun Obasanjo also paid glowing tributes, as did ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. Sierra Leone’s President Julius Bio, current ECOWAS chair, said history remembers leaders who willingly give up power for a greater national purpose.

Abubakar’s wife, Fatima, described him as a peace loving man who made sure the family never lacked, despite his long absences on national assignments.

In his own brief remarks, Abubakar recalled becoming head of state in 1998 when Nigeria was at a crossroads and how his team pulled off a democratic transition in just 11 months.

The event also doubled as a fundraiser. Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, donated ₦500 million; BUA Group’s Abdul Samad Rabiu gave ₦250 million; the Senate donated ₦100 million; and the House of Representatives, ₦50 million.

Dignitaries at the event included Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, former Vice Presidents Yemi Osinbajo and Namadi Sambo, ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, and governors like Babagana Zulum and Umar Bago.