Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR (/ˌɑːbdəlsəˈlæmi ˌɑːbuˈbɑːkɑːr/ ⓘ; born 13 June 1942) is a retired Nigerian army general who served as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1998 to 1999.

[citation needed] Abubakar is a member of the pioneering sets of officer cadets who enlisted into the Nigerian Air force on 3 October 1963.

In 1978–1979, Abubakar was commanding officer for the 145 infantry battalion (NIBATT II), United Nations Interim force, Lebanon.

Upon Abacha's death on 8 June 1998, Abubakar was named military President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Reported to have had an initial reluctance to accepting the position,[9] Abubakar was sworn in as president on 9 June 1998 after the unexpected death of Abacha.

[8] He established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), appointing former Supreme Court Justice Ephraim Akpata as its chairman.

Although efforts were made to ensure that the elections were free and fair, there were widespread irregularities that drew criticism from foreign observers.

[12] Surprising some critics of the country's military,[9] in May 1999 General Abubakar handed over power to the newly elected civilian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, and retired from the army.

[14][15] He was also sued in that country by other Nigerians who claimed he was responsible for the death of 1993 president-elect Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, who died in custody after being prevented by the military from taking office, and for the violation of the rights of others during his administration.

The constitution has undoubtedly magnified Islamic fundamentalism in Nigeria and is seen justifiably as a tool to "confiscate the sovereignty of indigenous nationalities" by a section of the country (https://www.ninasvoice.org/the-nature-of-the-fundamental-flaws-of-the-1999-constitution-for-reasons-ninas-insists-that-the-solution-to-nigerias-litany-of-woes-cannot-be-solved-by-elections?utm).