Muhammadu Buhari, former head of state, said he was aware Ibrahim Babangida was planning to overthrow him in 1985 but did not move against him because he detests bloodshed.
Buhari became head of state on December 31, 1983 after the military overthrew the elected government of Shehu Shagari.
But on August 27, 1985, Buhari himself was overthrown by Babangida, his chief of army staff and key actor in the 1983 coup.
Buhari, a retired major general and presidential aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), told TheCable: “It is true that I learnt he was planning a coup against me. And I sat and discussed it with him in my office.
Advertisement
“He brought the news that he went to Kano and people complained that I pulled a pistol during a council meeting. I said Ibro ─ I called him Ibro because I was just senior to him by a few months ─ I said whoever wants to sit on this chair let him come and sit here. And he decided to do it.”
Reminded that the punishment for coup making was death and he could have put Babangida on trial, Buhari replied: “Yes. Remember how many people he killed subsequently for trying to overthrow him? But when I came in, there was no bloodshed. I think a couple of policemen were killed and [Brigadier Ibrahim] Bako also died in an ambush.
“But deliberately, nobody was killed. I was in the front, the real front in the Nigerian civil war. I had seen enough of death and I know what God means by human life. Any human being, God values their life. And anybody who hopes to meet God, he should be careful about killing.
Advertisement
“When there is law and due process of law took place, the question is clear. Like the cocaine convicts that were executed, the decision was taken in supreme military council.”
Below is the concluding part of the serialised interview.
33 comments
Dear Gen Buhari, With all due respect to your person and moral position on human life, I must say that you have just self-confirmed the weakness that Alhaji Atiku and Sheikh Gumi attributed to you. Atiku said you were in position but were never in control. Gumi said you lack the capacity to control men. The fact that you witnessed deaths at the front of the Civil War should not have prevented you from taking the necessary decision of having Ibro removed and effected an immediate reshuffle of the SMC. Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi once made a timeless and sage comment that “…the uniform does not make the general, courage and intelligence makes him…”. Did you inform Gen Tunde Idiagbon what you knew? and he still went on hajj? when you both knew what was likely to happen? Gen. Buhari, with all due respect, is this how you will avoid difficult decisions when you become President and Commander-in-Chief? I live in the UK and I must tell you that as soft as English political leaders appear, they factor and expect loss of lives in deciding foreign policy (like Iraq and Afghanistan). They know that leaders must take difficult deicisions. Gen. Danjuma once derisively referred to Gen Aguiyi Ironsi as an ‘…admin head of state…’ I hope you will not be one of such. But really as someone who had hope in your ability to turn things around, I am disappointed to read you self-confess your inability to take a tough decision at cruch time. I wish every success for future, but I now serioulsy doubt your ability to rule Nigeria. If I were in Nigeria I would not vote for you.
Hahaha. Now you have a reason. Vote for Goodluck please.
It is sad that the narrative here fails to identify the problems of the great nation Nigeria in decline. The issues go beyond the personalities of either Gen. Buhari or Goodluck Jonathan. The fixation of the press on personages rather than issues is responsible for the decline in the quality of who exactly can lead Nigeria out of the doldrums of incompetence, immoral looting of the commonwealth, cluelessness and ineptitude that have become the hallmark of the administrations in the past 16 years. G. Jonathan cannot, in all honesty, expect to be returned as the President as the track record is abysmally poor but that does not mean that no other personality, except an Atiku or a Buhari should automatically get a shoo-in. In the same vein, the absence of a Buhari does not mean a default candidacy of a Jonathan. It is a sad day for Nigeria when political leadership is reduced to this level of non-qualitative debate.
I agree with you and it even very sad that Nigerians have failed to read between the lines. We’ve never had it worse. Let the best be voted in.
The press have not helped at all truly, ranting daily about the people in power, what this said and that replied… The solutions to our problems will help a long way, even if it starts with enlightenment of the populace with facts and projects to improve our environment.. Etc!
I agree Moji but our yardsticks are different and not objective in Nigeria. We have become a very poor shadow of ourselves.
Make no mistakes, we are still intelligent, just showing the sides of dormancy for it to please our whims and caprices… The Nigerian State has truly become a BIG JOKE and most people are gradually knowing it. Until we decide collectively as a people and get fed up with all the charades. Don’t be deluded, it may be a cohort of rehearsed scripts that are being played out.
God help us all.
Beautifully expressed by you Yasin! Very true
You talk ignorantly forgetting that Buhari of 30years ago was much younger in thought, principle and decision making than Buhari of today, now a democrat!
Well come back to Nigeria and vote for who ever you like. Buhari had said it all, he is not a killer and will not promote killing. During his time there was nothing like BokoHaram or tribal war or serious corruption like it is celebrated to day as an act of brevity. Why don’t you leave where ever you are residing come back to Nig and became Gumi student or Atikus’s fan. Hate Buhari or Love him he is a Hero and will always remain so even after his death.
Yasin my brother you said it all. But the question is, are We going to be in diasporal and vote in the right person and vote out the vampires of Nigerian Economy.Please We all need to come home and vote in the One We want so that by tomorrow the pendulum will Swing from nagetive to positive……. Yasin your vote and my vote is all We need. Thanku
Whenever i see Buhari face i see reason to think twice that we easily forget event of 1984-1985.my dad without home was clamped into prison with prof Ambrose Alli who equally never stolen any cash and equally has no single home and later died in prison. I just finish primary school but could not start secondary because the govt introduce fee umlike the UPN system that was just removed. We practically stayed at home for 2 years untill the evil one took over and release my dad and others. Having stayed in North Africa and gulf countries. I am scared Nigeria euthusism for GMB we fade away like the Egyptians thought of Muslim brotherhood with overwhelming majority only for the man to start islamisation of egypt. Making native xtian as inferior religion. Conversion from xtian to islam not a crime but the other way round is a capital purnishment. We should watch carefully not by perception else we shall continue to lament as a country. From 1980 till date any new govt is celebrated but after 2 yrs we still start the old song looking toward a new one. looking this fully used up men to take us to promise land when govts all over the world are being turn around by 40-50yrs men. Researcher can confirm all non developing countries are rules by 70 above. The global competitiveness of this days requires people like Ribadu,Fashola,Elumelu,House speaker ,Oshomole , Fola Adeola etc. Not this old men working on our collective issues in the nation of anti corruption crusader to seize power. The press has not fair better due to hungry and lack of research based approach to do a thorough background of this people. GMB is a general and earn between 4-7m annual in the last 30yr aside other non monetorised benefits. and could not turn this cash around to be able to buy a nomination form of 27m after 30yrs. It means he those not understand the word wealth creation.he want to use the same story of 1984 to seize power again. That he is coming to stop corruption…. no other value one can read again….
I think Gen. Buhari is economical with the truth here. And unless Gen Babangida corroborated what he said in the interview , I find it difficult to believe him. I think the military law is clear on that, if you planned coup and you failed you pay dearly for it. If Gen. Buhari is saying he doesn’t want to kill , I don’t know how to reconcile that with his retroactive laws that sounded the death of the three young men. Gen. Buhari should not pretend to be a weakling because he wants power. Power belong to God. Let him tell us his programmes, how he will tackle insecurity, rot in education , corruption , healthcare system and revamp the economy. Because if a retired general , a former petroleum minister, a head of state and PTF Chairman could not raise 27m to pay for him nomination, I don’t think such personality is productive enough to be my President. The question to ask Gen. Buhari is what has he been doing to earn a living or as means of livelihood. We need to be very careful because the toga of anti-corruption czar worn by Gen. Buhari cannot solve the myriads of problem besetting this nation , especially now that the whole world is facing economic recession.
,Now you are talking! All this nonsense anticorruption talk, will not put food on the table. We need people with economic savvy like Ngizi Okonjo Iweala and her boss, the so-called “clueless Dumbo” who have managed to raise the economic profile of Nigeria beyond belief, even if the dividends are yet to trickle down to the permanently impatient and Instant Gratifucation citizens of this Babel of a country.
Obama became President on the basis of his economic dreams and plans as against the militaristic John Macain. America needed economic salvation not sabre rattling. Buhari is a serial failure and should retire to Daura as he should have done a long time ago. We don’t need a man who let Ibro into power like a meek sheep to now pretend to be Commander-in -Chief material. Caveat Emptor . Buyer Beware.
I share your concern about him not being able to raise 27m. Where we differ is trying to compare him with the thieves that have ruled us and flaunting stolen wealth. That is what is killing Nigeria. He represent the kind of person we need now to stop the downward drift.
ExactLy what came to my mind as I began. To read GEn Buhari’s story about ‘Ibro’. If you. Had. vision for NiGeria. aNd you. Were. passionate about what you had to offer the country, you will not leT. Ibro have his way. Even a civillian would have done better in that instance. UNACceptable.I’m not impressed.
Common, Victola or whatever. You think Buhari warehoused the nation’s resources as your current leaders are doing? You said someone who could not raise N27m to buy nomination form is not productive enough to be your President. This opinion is vague, lazy, myopic, disdain, thoughtless, inconsiderate, babyish, lame,uncharitable,cheerless, etc, etc. You think N27million is N27 Thousand? Pray, which one is reasonable here, the man that turned the whole affairs to beggarly charity to secure the nomination form and the one that borrowed from bank to pick the form? If you have anything against the man Buhari, please speak out now! Muhammadu Buhari is a personality par excellence. His antecedence still speaks volume till date. Never mind the blind commentators that said Tunde Idiagbon was the one in-charge-whosoever was in charge, it was Buhari-Idiagbon administration and the former took responsibility. Period!!!!
I think Gen. Buhari is economical with the truth here. And unless Gen Babangida corroborated what he said in the interview , I find it difficult to believe him. I think the military law is clear on that, if you planned coup and you failed you pay dearly for it. If Gen. Buhari is saying he doesn’t want to kill , I don’t know how to reconcile that with his retroactive laws that sounded the death of the three young men. Gen. Buhari should not pretend to be a weakling because he wants power. Power belong to God. Let him tell us his programmes, how he will tackle insecurity, rot in education , corruption , healthcare system and revamp the economy. Because if a retired general , a former petroleum minister, a head of state and PTF Chairman could not raise 27m to pay for him nomination, I don’t think such personality is productive enough to be my President. The question to ask Gen. Buhari is what has he been doing to earn a living or as means of livelihood? We need to be very careful because the toga of anti-corruption czar worn by Gen. Buhari alone cannot solve the myriads of problem besetting this nation , especially now that the whole world is facing economic recession.
”Because if a retired general , a former petroleum minister, a head of state and PTF Chairman could not raise 27m to pay for him nomination, I don’t think such personality is productive enough to be my President’ Read more at: http://www.thecable.ng/buhari-revisits-1985-coup-knew-babangida-planning-overthrow/2 | TheCable You mean he’s not smart enough to be your president, having been put in charge of the treasury and not lining his pockets and stealing enough for his children, grand children etc? Interesting!
Read more at: http://www.thecable.ng/buhari-revisits-1985-coup-knew-babangida-planning-overthrow/2 | TheCable
GEN. BUHARI we are highly respecting you for your past,present and future life,so my advise to you is that; you have to take care for your past enemies who’s are currently alive,they your problem politically. I am wishing success in all your ambition.
Gen. Buhari is a confused man and should and sleep!!! I don’t pray to have that kind of man as a father. Thank you Gen. Babagida for being a great father keep well
I fear People o o..supposing he has killed IBB then,the story would have been different,.
You shouldn’t have aloud him.he was the cost ours today problems in Nigeria
For just two reasons out of many, Buhari should not be voted for to be president of this country under any circumstance:
1. Buhari is a religious fanatic and bigot. He once said that no muslim should vote for any Christian candidate to be president of this country. In the same vain no sane Christian should vote for Buhari to be president of this country.
2. Buhari is a violent power seeker. He said after the 2011 presidential electiom which he fairly and transparently lost that he would make the country ungovernable for the truly elected leader and he has since ever then kept his diabolical promise. What we have on our hands thereafter is Boko Haram who has shed thousands of innocent blood and has turned Nigeria into a terrorist country.
This really shows that Buhari is a Tribalist and con man of the highest order. All right thinking Nigerians knew that Buhari handed over to IBB to preserve Hausa- Fulani dominance of Nigerian politics. It was deliberately planned and executed by Buhari, IBB and the Hausa- Fulani elements in the military to prevent the 2nd in Command; Brig. Gen. Idiagbon ; a Yoruba man from assuming power at the retirement of Buhari that was less than 6months then. I feel pity for all those who will vote for this man. IBB repeated same when he annualed June 12, 1993 election and prevent MKO; another Yoruba man. Shame on the Hausa – Fulani Oligachy.
Is so unfurtunate, for the mind set of youths we have today hoping to be our future leaders.
I am not suprise of YASIN comments, he never suffered, he get to oversea with looted money by his parent. As a true follower of noble prophet, it is a graviouse sin to preach infavour of killings and hatered, is never a must to get people on course by coasion.only in our world such become partinent for human existence. The noble prophet was careful of killing innocent ppl be it muslim, xristians and pegans. Sheik Gumi had his observation and Atiku also did, but they are not God. The youth of this Nation should intensify prayer for God intervention on who will rescue this country from becoming war zone. We might criticise Buhari of not compitent enough to lead dis country, the fact is, we may not know the Value of him as a citezen of this countrya, until he is no more, May Allah sWA not punish us for our negligency! Ameen
Nazir, thank you for your comment. I will leave aside the personal barb and address the issue thrown up by Gen Buhari’s comments. I maintain my stand that the Gen Buhari did not show the courage and intelligence required of a Commander-in-Chief. Was he not aware of how Ibro, Gusau et al lured brigade commanders, senior officers and military governors away to a polo match to effect murtala’s coup? Againi did he discuss what he knew with Gen Idiagbon? and Why not? Since you have brought our shared Islamic heritage into this matter, I must say I share your basis but differ from your conclusion. True our noble prophet was totaly against killing innocent people and oppression irrespecitive of race or creed. Nonetheless as Head-of-State in Madinah he took matters of community security and welfare very seriously. When he got reports that the Makkans were coming to attack Madinah he consulted his companions and a decision was reached to confront the Makkans outside Madinah. After he had put on his body armour for general mobilisation, his companions then sought to change the strategy and remain in Madinah, but he demonstrated courage and resolve by insisting they go out to confront the invaders outside Madinah. With God’s grace 300 men defeated 1,000 invaders at Badr. The Caliphs after him Abubakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Muawiyyah and others also showed courage and intelligence. With the help of God the Ummah grew from Madinah to include you and I today. If they had buckled under the pressure, God would still have fulfilled His wish but we, the ummah, wont hold them in the high regard we do today. Finally I say Ameen to your dua and also make dua that if indeed God will allow Gen Buhari to lead us, then may God grant him the courage, wisdom, barakah and success required to discharge his duty. Same for any other person that God Allows to get to the presidency, ameen.
Buhari was born on December 17,1942 and ruled this country as the 7th head of state of Nigeria by December 31, 1983 – August 27, 1985. Precisely he was 41yrs old when he became the head of state.
I was born on October 16, 1980. When i was a little boy my teacher always reminds me that i am the leader of tomorrow. whenever i misbehaved as a Child at home and got punished by daddy, mom will always run for my rescue while shouting ” please leave my son alone, he is one of the leaders of tomorrow”. When i got enrolled into secondary school, my principal always reminds me of that phrase ” leaders of tomorrow” at the assemble ground. When i got into university as an adult, i was having this desire and was fully motivated to study harder whenever my lecturer refers me as the leader of tomorrow.
Now i have finished studing and there is no Job for me and my ” fellow leaders of tomorrow colleague”. We the leaders of tomorrow have had no Job that will help us to become good followers in order for us to have leadership experience today. The selfish , outdated and neive leaders have denied us the Job. Because they are afriad We will do better than them when We have good experience through good jobs.
At age 41 Buhari was a leader, and at age 71 he is wildly aspiring to come back to lead the leaders of tomorrow……..lol…. Now i have a question to ask. why must a leader that have ruled this country before Christ was born (BCB), would want to rule the country after Christ was born (ACB)? Even If the pendulum swings to north tomorrow, does it mean that the so called good leader (Buhari) have not led any of the so called “leaders of tomorrow” in the north to become a leader today?
If Buhari have not groomed up any of the” life time leaders of tomorrow to become leader of today, it means he is not a good leader and he’s a wicked, selfish leader that has stoöd against the growth of his followers even the growth of his son. Because i believe his son should be up to 41yrs if at all he led himself well in his family planning.
Everyday Obi is a boy. When will Obi becomes a man and Obi jenior becomes a boy?
u are really funny, Nick
God loves Christians and non-Christians alike
Let us, even for a moment, assume that we – from the point of view of the Holy Scriptures, the Bible – subject GMB to a critical analysis and then come to the conclusion that he does not know God, that he is not born again, and that he is not a Christian; does that mean he is not qualified to be used by God for God’s purpose? I dare say that he is still qualified to be used by God to achieve His own purpose. I will expatiate on this point shortly.
You see, we need to understand that God does not employ human sentiments and religious bigotry in executing His own plans here on earth. And God is still actively busy in His world, whether one believes this or not. His standards are unique and sure in all circumstances. He loves Christians and non-Christians alike. His love does not discriminate. That is the truth of the Holy Scriptures.
It is unfortunate that those who should propagate this distinctive and distinguishing disposition of God – His love for all men, and help to deepen our peace in the nation, are the ones helping to fritter away what little harmony that the nation currently enjoys. It is not right to utilize cheap religiosity to hoodwink gullible and unsuspecting souls, and make slaves out of them.
Unfortunately, this is what those opposed to GMB’s ambition are currently doing; trying to portray GMB as a dangerous religious zealot, a hater of Christians, and a plague that should be avoided by those who profess Christianity. But this approach by the PDP – the wielding of religious swords to further divide a nation that is already on the precipice – is not only failing, it is equally falling apart.
In the Bible, when God led and dealt with the Israelites, the enterprise of leadership was a very important thing to Him, and He used several persons to bring about the realisation of His purpose per time. One of those used was the King called Cyrus, a man who had nothing to do with the Covenant God made with Israel. In the Book of Isaiah 45: 1-5 (GNB), we read:
Isa 45:1 The LORD has chosen Cyrus to be king. He has appointed him to conquer nations; he sends him to strip kings of their power; the LORD will open the gates of cities for him. To Cyrus the LORD says.
Isa 45:2 I myself will prepare your way, leveling mountains and hills. I will break down bronze gates and smash their iron bars.
Isa 45:3 I will give you treasures from dark, secret places; then you will know that I am the LORD and that the God of Israel has called you by name.
Isa 45:4 I appoint you to help my servant Israel, the people that I have chosen. I have given you great honor, although you do not know me. (Emphasis mine).
Isa 45:5 I am the LORD; there is no other god. I will give you the strength you need, although you do not know me. (Emphasis mine).
Please observe that in verses 4 and 5, God specifically mentioned that King Cyrus did not know Him; meaning that he was not an Israelite (and if we stretch this further, it would mean he was not a Christian). Yet, God, the Supreme One, made use of King Cyrus to achieve His predetermined aim. Now, has God told anyone that He is not interested in using GMB to halt our nation’s free fall into decay?
No Cancy, God has never told anyone! It took me a while to reply to this comment because I have been reading through the whole gamuts-27 comments or thereabout. If l guessed right, Cancy must be a Christian, current or former student of Ancient history. I have nothing against anybody on the candidature of General Muhammadu Buhari, the one you acronymed GMB or the popular GEJ, but the interest of this country is paramount at this point in time of our Nation’s building. Nigeria has not built any strong institution not to talk of strong personality. Leave it or take it, a strong personality is still needed at the helms of affairs to salvage this country from lethal claws of the political Juggernauts who have no other jobs than wild politicking, trouble making and financing hoodlums in the name fighting the cause of Allah. Hard disease you know, requires hard physician, and I think GMB may just be the Godsend. This is on account of his military background and exposures outside the military over the years. So, if King Cyrus that God did not know was made King based on your literature, only that you did not highlight how he fared, GMB that knows God but never loved by the socialites because of possible cracks on them would be the best for this Nation at this material time. Nigerians should read in-between lines and do away with emotional sentiments that are gradually beclouding our sense of judgement. That, my opinion. May God bless Nigeria.
I agree Moji but our yardsticks are different and not objective in Nigeria. We have become a very poor shadow of ourselves. Make no mistakes, we are still intelligent, just showing the sides of dormancy for it to please our whims and caprices… The Nigerian State has truly become a BIG JOKE and most people are gradually knowing it. Until we decide collectively as a people and get fed up with all the charades. Don’t be deluded, it may be a cohort of rehearsed scripts that are being played out. God help us all.
Read more at: http://www.thecable.ng/buhari-revisits-1985-coup-knew-babangida-planning-overthrow/2 | TheCable
I am a leader of tomorrow at 47 when we I was told I am a leader of tomorrow at 13 many years ago. Like I have read above, when will our turn to lead come. when we get to Moses age? abeg abeg abeg. The leaders of tomorrow are brave in doing 419 and forgetting to contest since there is no opportunity for them. Me I am leading my house. period.
Not many people know that:
His (Buhari’s) daughter is married to an Igbo man from Anambra State.
He exempted Christians from performing duties on Sundays.
When his Muslim soldiers asked him to exempt them from duty on Friday, he told them the Bible says Christians should rest on the Seventh day; the Muslims should show him where the Quran says they should rest on Fridays.
As Head of State, he slashed the number of Muslims going on pilgrimage by 50 percent!
His driver and cook for the past 10 years are Christians, yet some uniformed Nigerians say he is a bigot.
It is a pity that some people fail to understand that the PDP deliberately capitalized on the gullibility of Nigerians to paint him black. This they did, in order to keep their loot and ensure that he never gets the opportunity to send them to goal.
How many Nigerians will hold the appointment of government as Minister of Petroleum, PTF Chairman and Head of State yet don’t own a house in Abuja?
He has only one house and never kept foreign bank account. Love him, hat him, you cannot take his integrity away from him”.
-Former President Olusegun Obasanjo.