The Legacy of a Stateman
Service to one’s country often ends when an official leaves office. For General Abdulsalami Abubakar, leaving office was merely the beginning of a new chapter as Nigeria’s moral compass.
The National Peace Committee (NPC)
Today, General Abubakar is synonymous with the National Peace Committee (NPC). As Chairman, he has institutionalized the concept of “peace accords” in Nigerian politics. The committee functions as a buffer, bringing opposing political gladiators together to commit to non-violence before, during, and after elections.
The 2015 Intervention
The General’s most cited achievement in this role was during the high-tension 2015 General Elections. The atmosphere was charged, with predictions of post-election violence threatening to disintegrate the nation.
General Abubakar facilitated the historic “Abuja Peace Accord” between the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan, and the opposition leader, Muhammadu Buhari. This diplomatic masterstroke is widely credited with:
- Ensuring the first peaceful transfer of power from an incumbent to an opposition party in Nigeria’s history.
- Preventing the bloodshed that characterized previous elections, such as in 2011.
His work with the National Peace Committee continues to serve as a model for electoral conflict resolution across Africa.