Why IBB Overthrew Me In 1985 – Buhari

 

In an interview published in the current edition of The Interview magazine, called out two of his top subordinates in the army then, former Chief of Army Staff, General Ibrahim Babangida and two-time National Security Adviser (NSA), General Aliyu Gusau, as the mainĀ  who toppled his military government in August 1985.

According to President Buhari, the coup plotters acted to save themselves from his wrath. Mr President in the interview, Buhari challenged Babangida and Gusau to tell the truth as to why they carried out the coup against him.

ā€œI learnt that Gen. Ali Gusau, who was in charge of intelligence, took an import licence from the Ministry of Commerce, which was supplies, and gave it to Alhaji Mai Deribe. It was worth N100, 000, a lot of money then.

ā€œWhen I discovered this, I confronted them and took the case to the army council. Gen. Malu was the Chief of Defence Staff; Gen. Babangida was the Chief of Army Staff; Tunde Idiagbon was the Chief of Staff, Defence Headquarters and I was the Head of State.

ā€œI said if I didnā€™t punish Gusau, it would create a problem for us. It is North versus South; majority versus minority; Muslim versus Christian. That was what it showed.

ā€œSo, I said Gen. Ali Gusau had to go. He was the Chief of Intelligence. That was why Babangida got some officers to remove me. Let him repeat his own story. Ali Gusau is still alive.ā€

From what was learned fron the interview, it appears the past may neither have been forgotten nor forgiven, as Buhari dared Babangida and Gusau to tell the truth on why they overthrew him, asking The Interview to choose whose story to believe.