Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), the former national security adviser, responded to allegations that he had maltreated President Muhammadu Buhari when the latter was removed as the military head of state in the 1985 coup.
Sambo Dasuki
It should be recalled that last week the security operatives stormed Dasuki’s residence in Asokoro district of Abuja. The grounds behind the investigation are mainly illegal funds expenditure. Reacting to the actions of the State Security Service the immediate past military chief characterized the arrest as unjustified.
There some other aspects of his arrest that have been widely publicised in a recent period. One of the insinuations concerns his involvement in the arrest of Buhari in 1985. Dasuki commented on the matter during an encounter with a blogger and the publisher of the Economic Confidential, Yushau Shuaib, The Nation reports.
“I always respect and dignify my seniors and those in positions of authority, whether in service or after. Though as a young officer, I was reluctant to be among those that arrested him. And I was not.
“I only met him afterward at Bonny Camp with Lawal Rafindadi. There is no way I could have maltreated him as being alleged in some quarters. I am glad most of the actors are still alive.”
In the course of the conversation the former military chief noted that he had participated in Buhari’s presidential aspiration in 2003, 2007 and 2011 and added that it could be verified from respected northerners, such as Adamu Adamu, Bashir Kurfi, Wada Maida and others.
The journalist further narrated:
“The major shocker for me in his narratives was his campaign for Buhari to emerge the joint candidate of ACN and CPC in 2011. He disclosed how he pleaded with Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu in the presence of Bisi Akande to accept Muhammad Buhari as the joint presidential candidate for ACN and CPC.
“Dasuki stated that he knelt down, begging ‘Baba Bisi Akande’ who was then the National Chairman of ACN that ‘General Buhari is a man to be trusted’.
“In their belief that Yoruba and South Westerners are never religious fanatics especially regarding politics, Dasuki and his group suggested that Tinubu should be a running mate to Buhari.
“When other elements opposed that proposition, Tinubu team therefore recommended a Buhari-Osinbajo ticket. Unfortunately, the ticket failed to stick as Pastor Tunde Bakare was eventually pushed forward by other forces.”
Regarding the events that proceeded the 1983 coup, which later resulted in the installation of Buhari as the head of state, Dasuki said that he and two military officer had even traveled to Jos to brief Buhari, who was then the GOC of 3rd Armoured Division, about the situation development, which made him the major beneficiary.
“Buhari expressed his bitterness about insinuations on his stewardship in one of the public institutions, but I assured the then GOC not to worry about such reckless and mischievous insinuations.”
The former NSA also disclosed how he had opposed late General Sani Abacha over June 12, 1993, presidential election.
“Dasuki told me the story of how he and some others confronted late Gen. Sani Abacha over June 12 election which was won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO). This led to their premature retirement. The persecution that followed forced him into exile where he teamed up with opposition elements struggling for the return of democracy in Nigeria.”
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