Former heads of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar have responded to Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi’s claim that four army generals made Olusegun Obasanjo president.
Bamaiyi in his book titled “Vindication of a General” had named Babangida, Abdulsalami, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma and Gen. Aliyu Gusau as those who made Obasanjo president in 1999 even though he was in support of Olu Falae, the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy.
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He revealed that as soon as Abdulsalami got to power, he started holding meetings with top generals on how to return to civilian rule and the person that would be put there.
He wrote: “Unknown to me, Gen. (Abdulsalami) Abubakar had already committed himself to Generals Babangida, T.Y.Danjuma and Aliyu Gusau on General Obasanjo’s coming in to take over from him. A proposal I totally objected to, which I told Generals Abubakar, TY Danjuma and Aliyu Gusau in very clear terms. My stand did not go (down) well with the generals and General Abubakar started feeling unsafe.”
Abdulsalami, Babangida respond to Bamaiyi's revelations
“He (Abdulsalami) was supported by some northern generals, who believed one of them would take over from Obasanjo after one term of four years. It was alleged that Obasanjo had promised Gen. Babangida that he would succeed him.”
“General Abubakar prepared and handed over his (handover) report to Gen. Obasanjo’s team, dated June 1998. This means that he prepared the report as soon as he was sworn in as the commander-in-chief in June 1998.”
“I decided to take Chief Olu Falae to Gen. Abubakar and only Abubakar and I discussed this issue. I do not regret that action because I was and I am convinced Falae would have done better as president of our great country. I am glad those behind Obasanjo knew (sic) better.”
The Sun reports that Abdulsalami said he had not read the book as he was out of the country but promised to respond in two weeks.
He said: “I am currently out of the country. Since today (yesterday) I have been receiving calls from Nigeria and across the world, from people who read the news item on the book. I have not seen the book or read it. I hope to return in about two weeks.
“I must say, in any case, that it is against military tradition for senior officers to join issues with their juniors, but if it becomes imperative that I should make full comments on the content of the book, I will do so.”
Prince Kassim Afegbua who is Babangida’s spokesperson confirmed that he was really one of those who made Obasanjo president as this was already known.
He however said this was only at the primary election stage as it was Nigerians who decided the rest.
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He said: “That’s not a new song. It is true that IBB was part of those who helped former President Obasanjo to stage a come back. That is no news at all. We had said it before; it is nothing new. But they did not impose him. They ensured that he scaled through the primaries of the PDP in Jos and was made to face Nigerian electorate at the election.
“Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is aware of this. What is General Bamaiyi trying to achieve? We have repeatedly said this. A lot of Nigerians are also aware. The reason for the support was altruistic because they felt Chief Obasanjo was in a better position to heal the wounds in the land at that time.”
