In an exclusive interview published in the current edition of The
Interview magazine, Buhari said senior military leaders ousted him in
August 1985 to save themselves from his wrath owing to his crusade
against corruption in the military
After himself coming to power in 1983 via a coup, Buhari was deposed two
years later by a coup led by Ibrahim Babangida, a retired general and
former military president, Aliyu Gusau, former director of military
intelligence (DMI), and other members of the ruling supreme military
council (SMC) , and he was detained in Benin until 1988.
Recalling the incidents that happened 31 years ago, he challenged
Babangida and Gusau to tell the truth on why they carried out the coup
against him.
“I learnt that Aliyu Gusau, who was in charge of intelligence, took
import licence from the ministry of commerce, which was in charge of
supplies and gave it to Alhaji Mai Deribe,” he said.
“It was worth N100,000, a lot of money at that time. I confronted them
and took the case to the Army council in a memo…I wanted Gusau
punished.”
In a statement on www.theinterview.com.ng, Azu ishiekwened, managing
director/editor-in-chief of The Interview, said “this is one edition
that won’t let sleeping dogs lie”.
He recalled that Babangida had told The Interview in its December
edition that there was nothing in the memo that Buhari said he submitted
to the army council.
“Don’t forget that I was one of Buhari’s closest aides. I was the chief
of army staff. So, I had an important position, an important role to
play within that administration. I don’t think it had to do with a
memo,” Babangida said back then.
But in a tone which revealed that the past may neither have been
forgotten nor forgiven, Buhari challenged Babangida and Gusau to come
clean on why they removed him, asking The Interview to choose whose
story to believe.
He also fielded questions about his health, the 2016 budget, the pace of
his government, former President Goodluck Jonathan and why he handed
three ministerial portfolios to Babatunde Fashola, former governor of
Lagos state.
Buhari’s current anti-corruption crusade has claimed its biggest
casualties in the military, with Sambo Dasuki, former national security
adviser having been in detention since 2015 over the $2.1bn arms
scandal.
Earlier in the month, said after receiving the third interim report of
the committee auditing the procurement of arms between 2007 and 2015,
the president ordered the investigation of Azubuike Ihejirika, former
chief of army staff, and Kenneth Minimah, his successor .
In all, 18 serving and retired military personnel, 12 serving and
retired public officials and 24 chief executive officers of companies,
were recommended for investigation.
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