APC e-maggots say GMB was not part of the planning of the 1983 coup that sacked Shagari's government. They tell us that he was, in fact, invited by the planners to become head of state after the coup. Well, in this abridged interview, Tanko Yakassai insists that Buhari was fully aware of the plot and that some of the meetings of the coup plotters, were, in fact, held in his then residence in Jos.





Q. In our last edition of Rariya newspaper, former Vice President Alex Ekwueme has denied the allegation made by Buhari’s government against that of Shagari saying it was toppled because of widespread corruption. He said it was the Southern papers which were mainly owned by top UPN stalwarts that were spreading the false rumours. Since you were in that government; what do you have to say?


What he said is true. There is widespread corruption even now, but the newspapers only focus their attention wherever they want, not necessarily where the corruption is taking place. You see newspaper looking the other way, even if they knew something wrong is happening in a particular place because of certain interests.

During Shagari’s tenure, only two or three ministers were accused. One of them fled to England after the coup, but don’t forget that while he was there, he was being fed, but the rumour then was that he had amassed lots of dollars. Another one had to sell his property to feed his family after he returned. That is proof enough that the allegations of corruption against them were not true.

After the military coup, we had soldiers who stole so much that up to now, no one has stolen as much as they did. I don’t have to mention names. Just check critically yourself, from the time of Gowon to date, between the military guys and civilians like Shagari whom we were in government together with, and whom we have been in politics with for over 60 years, who stole the most?
Shagari began politics with the Sokoto youth party, and I with Kano youth party in 1946, and Shagari began before me by one year, and he is older than me with one year.

Go and see at least three people who started politics in that era, people such as Shagari, Ali Monguno and Maitama Sule; they have held all sorts of positions, but go and meet people close to them and let them tell you how much each has in his bank account. I swear to you none of them has more than three million naira in his account, except may be one person, and even you see it there, may be someone gave it to them. They were just engaged in politics and not stealing.


Shagari and Alex Ekwueme were investigated for more than twenty months, at the end of the day, Justice Ayo Irekefe said Alex Ekwueme went into politics a rich man, and left as a poor man. They investigated Shagari extensively, but could not establish a case of stealing a dime on him before they let him be. But we saw what the person investigating him did afterwards, he is still extremely rich. If you read the history of Shagari, I have a copy, I can give you; in chapter 17, the writers used about 70 pages discussing what they did to Shagari.


Q. Let’s go back to the issue of coup, we were on it before we diverted to your stay in prison. Where were we?



In the book I was telling you about, they said Obasanjo told Umaru Shinkafi, that shortly after the election of 1979, some military officers went to him and informed him not to hand over to Shagari. Obasanjo told them that he had already told the world he was going to hand over power, and that he inherited the office, after a coup attempt that was not successful. He stated that his predecessor promised to hand over, and it means he must hand over.

Obasanjo also told them that he has initiated an election process which was successful. Shagari won, people went to court and he won there as well. ‘So on what grounds should I tell the world I would not hand over to him? Who do you even want me to hand over to? And they said, ’hand over to Buhari’!’

So even before power was handed over to Shagari, the military attempted to steal it and hand over to Buhari. So it wasn’t about bribery and corruption or not to hand over to Alex Ekwueme. I am not the first person to say this; the boys who published Shagari’s book said it first. But, I have also relayed it in my book. And I will give you a copy to go and read.

And since his assumption of power by Shagari, there were several attempts to topple him until they eventually succeeded. It was revealed in that book that the military had attempted to stage a coup even before the second election in 1983. They sought the advice of one of their senior officer who had retired, he told them he supported the idea of a coup, but if they did it before the election, Awolowo would say it was because he was billed to win the election, and the Yoruba owns the newspapers and most editors at the time were also Yoruba and so they would give it widespread publicity such that the world would reject the coup. He advised them to let the election take place first, before they do whatever they want to do.

There was also a revelation in the book that General Domkat Bali’s wife thought her husband was having an affair when she noticed that he always came home late, unlike him. When her suspicion became too much, one day he told her that he was not having an affair, but he was always coming back late because they were meeting in Buhari’s house to stage a coup. Buhari was the GOC in Jos at the time, and he told her not to tell anyone. Incidentally, Domkat Bali’s wife is related to the wife of Solomon Lar, the then Governor of Plateau State. She realised that a coup would affect her relatives’ husband, and she could not take it, because she feared he could be killed. So, she told Lar’s wife, and Lar’s wife also told her husband. It happened that Shagari was going to open the school in Kuru. Solomon told Shagari that he had something to tell him, but Shagari advised him to wait until after the event.

After the event, Solomon Lar told Shagari what he was told at the Presidential lodge in Jos, he mentioned Domkat Bali’s wife as the source of the information. Lar said he had wanted to bring up the issue at the meeting of the National Security Committee, but when he realised that he is not the Commander in Chief, he thought it best to wait, since Shagari is also coming to Jos. Shagari now informed Solomon Lar to go and tell Buhari that this is what he heard, that he was planning a coup. But Lar said I can only do that if you let me inform him that the message came from you. Shagari agreed to that. So when they met with Buhari while they were seeing off President Shagari, Solomon Lar excused Buhari aside and said he wanted to see him, and would come see him at home. But Buhari said how can you a governor come to my house? Lar insisted that he would go. So he went to Buhari’s house and informed him that it was Shagari that sent him to let him know that there was a rumour going round that they were planning a coup.

Buhari said it was not true, there was nothing like that. He asked Lar to go and assure Shagari that it was not true. After Lar left, Buhari called Umaru Shinkafi because they were friends and asked him to meet as soon as possible in Kaduna. Umaru Shinkafi informed Shagari and he was given an aircraft to take him to Kaduna. When they met, Buhari told Shinkafi that he was going to retire since the Commander in Chief does not trust him anymore. There was a time, the military authorities wanted Buhari transferred to Abeokuta but people like Umaru Dikko kicked against it because they said bringing someone like Buhari closed to the seat of power is dangerous. That was why Shagari asked that Buhari be transferred to Jos.

He was very angry with that decision because he felt, he was not trusted. So the second incident made him tell Shinkafi that he was going to retire, since no one trusted him anymore. Shinkafi, in his capacity as the Security Adviser to Shagari, informed Buhari that he knew the president trusted Buhari, so he should not think of retiring. He went back and informed Shagari that Buhari said he should not worry; there was no cause for alarm.

That was what prompted Buhari’s group; they realised that the issue had begun to leak, so they had to strike early. But even before this incident, they had also planned to topple the government on the day Shagari was sworn-in for his second term. In fact Umaru Shinkafi even though did not come out to tell the president that he suspects something was wrong, advised the president to wear a bullet proof vest on his way to the inauguration. Shagari asked him why? I will not wear it. It got to a point Umaru Shinkafi was even shedding tears before Shagari agreed to wear it. In the book, they quoted Babangida as saying they were aware of all this, but Shagari’s people did not know that plans had changed.

Before then, all plans had been perfected and a plane had even been dispatched to Jos to fetch Buhari with instruction to wear his full military regalia, and text of his national speech was already given to him for his inputs before 1st October, 1983. Why they changed their minds, no one knows.This means that they had planned the coup even before the one Solomon Lar got wind of and informed Shagari.


(The interview was granted in Hausa to Rariya newspaper and PREMIUM TIMES has the former’s permission to publish in English).





SOURCE; http://premiumtimesng.com/news/150148-exclusive-why-dying-yaradua-was-sneaked-into-nigeria-without-jonathans-knowledge-tanko-yakasai.html

Even if, for the sake of argument, we agree that Buhari was not part of the coup plotters, it is public knowledge that a receiver of stolen goods is also a thief. Besides, what it takes to be part of a coup is to be aware of the panning of the coup. When you become aware of a coup, you are supposed to report to the commander-in-chief. Buhari was well aware that a coup was in the offing-at least, his attack dogs cannot deny that- but did he report that to his C-in-C? Obasanjo was implicated in the 1995 Gwadabe coup- which the Lagos-Ibadan axis press call a phantom coup- because it was said that he had knowledge of the coup.

Only a bird would believe the story that Buhari was not part of the coup and was only appointed to head the government after the coup took place.
I can't believe some people even took the story tellers serious. The most annoying thing is how gave up power to Babangida without a fight to after overthrowing a very promising civilian government.
Foolish man.

Inside story as told by the insiders. I like hearing such narratives.

I need to sleep and think of where next to go between a coup plotter and a clueless president. That option is for me, any other story? I won't be surprise if the next thread about Buhari is how he lead bokoharam to Aso Rock.

You can't blame the chameleon for camouflaging.

I first had the opinion that Buhari was part of the coupist until I did a thorough research myself.

1.

Just check critically yourself, from the time of Gowon to date, between the military guys and civilians like Shagari whom we were in government together with, and whom we have been in politics with for over 60 years, who stole the most?

He clearly was part of that Shagari's government that was plunged with corruption and mismanagement.
Hence, we have a clue what opinion he'll hold.

2.

Buhari told Shinkafi that he was going to retire since the Commander in Chief does not trust him anymore.

Lar's Wife allagedly mentioned Buhari to Lar, Lar told Shagari what the wife said. Shagari inquired from Buhari through Lar, Buhari told the NSA that his reputation has been slighted as he sees no reason to remain. The NSA assured him that he is trusted.
Question: If Buhari had wanted power would he have made move to resign in order to douse tension?

He was very angry with that decision because he felt, he was not trusted. So the second incident made him tell Shinkafi that he was going to retire, since no one trusted him anymore. Shinkafi, in his capacity as the Security Adviser to Shagari, informed Buhari that he knew the president trusted Buhari, so he should not think of retirin

3.

Before then, all plans had been perfected and a plane had even been dispatched to Jos to fetch Buhari with instruction to wear his full military regalia

Who instructed Buhari? Wouldn't he have known what to do if he was a part of the process? Why should some1 instruct him? What rank was he then?

4.

text of his national speech was already given to him for his inputs before 1st October, 1983. Why they changed their minds, no one knows.

now here comes the propaganda. You said you dontt know why ? A coup that was effected in Dec 31st, 1983 and you couldn't relate with it but talk of 1st Oct 1983 when no coup took place?


Verdict:
This is another propaganda and it is Dead on Arrival.

ikuku ana eku,anyi ana ahu otule okuko

Sibabasibaba1:
[size=13pt]Even if, for the sake of argument, we agree that Buhari was not part of the coup plotters, it is public knowledge that a receiver of stolen goods is also a thief[/size]. Besides, what it takes to be part of a coup is to be aware of the panning of the coup. When you become aware of a coup, you are supposed to report to the commander-in-chief. Buhari was well aware that a coup was in the offing-at least, his attack dogs cannot deny that- but did he report that to his C-in-C? Obasanjo was implicated in the 1995 Gwadabe coup- which the Lagos-Ibadan axis press call a phantom coup- because it was said that he had knowledge of the coup.

Anyone still in doubt as to Buhari's involvement needs some reality check.

Sibabasibaba1:
Even if, for the sake of argument, we agree that Buhari was not part of the coup plotters, it is public knowledge that a receiver of stolen goods is also a thief. Besides, what it takes to be part of a coup is to be aware of the panning of the coup. When you become aware of a coup, you are supposed to report to the commander-in-chief. Buhari was well aware that a coup was in the offing-at least, his attack dogs cannot deny that- but did he report that to his C-in-C? Obasanjo was implicated in the 1995 Gwadabe coup- which the Lagos-Ibadan axis press call a phantom coup- because it was said that he had knowledge of the coup.

I'm trying to assume you're not a dummy. Which means, I'm hoping against hope that you don't know who the uber corrupt criminal Tanko Yakkassai is.

LFJ:
I need to sleep and think of where next to go between a coup plotter and a clueless president. That option is for me, any other story? I won't be surprise if the next thread about Buhari is how he lead bokoharam to Aso Rock.

men i seriously agree with you.