A former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday, narrated how he survived the February 1976 military coup d’etat, involving Lieutenant Colonel Buka Dimka.

Obasanjo said it was General Olu Bajowa (retd.) that indirectly saved him from being killed in the coup.

The former Head of State gave the revelation at the celebration of the 80th birthday of General Bajowa held in Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.

He described Bajowa, a former Commandant, Command and Staff College, Jaji, as a respectful and cultured man.

During the ceremony, the former President told the audience a story of how he was indirectly saved from being killed during the coup.

Obasanjo said, “I want to say something about Olu – either he knew it or he didn’t know. When Dimka coup came, if Olu had not been what he is, I would have gone with the coup.

“Olu is very respectful. He is very conscious of our culture. He had a child, a boy, and wanted to name the child after me. He had to call me early in the morning, that morning Dimka struck.

“And because Olu said he was coming, I had to wait a little bit. I waited beyond the time I would have gone out. Olu then came, he made the request and I granted the request.

“So, I was a little bit late in going on the route that I normally took to work. And Reinumuje went ahead of me and they thought it was me and they shot his car. They shot his car, Murtala was shot. Indirectly, that is how Olu Bajowa saved my life,”

Describing Bajowa as a performing soldier, Obasanjo revealed that Bajowa performed very well when he (Obasanjo) drafted him to go and lead 11 Battalion during the nation’s civil war.

He emphasised that any job that Bajowa could not do, no one else could do it.

Earlier, the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, had called on owners of local radio stations in the state to dwell more in educating and disseminating information in local languages.

He made the call while inaugurating a new radio station in commemoration of the 80th birthday of General Bajowa (retd.) at Okitipupa. The station is founded by Bajowa.

The governor commended General Bajowa for the role he played towards the development of the Southern Senatorial District of the state.

In his address, Bajowa explained that the aim of establishing the radio station was “to complement the effort of government in reviving and prompting Ikale, Ilaje, Ijaw-Apoi and Ijaw-Arogbo culture, tradition, custom and by extension the Yoruba heritage, which are now becoming abandoned or extinct.

“We also identify ourselves with the government effort to make information an important tool for social development and dissemination of the benefits of democracy at the grassroots level.”

updatechange:
Source??

LogoDesigner01:
Op source please

kettykin:
As usual, very gullible Nigerians will believe this.
How can a phone call on 13th Friday cause a deputy head of state to go late to work over child naming. What do these take the rest of Nigerians for

Weneda:
A former Nigerian President , Chief Olusegun Obasanjo , on Sunday , narrated how he survived the February 1976 military coup d ’etat , involving Lieutenant Colonel Buka Dimka .
Obasanjo said it was General Olu Bajowa ( retd .) that indirectly saved him from being killed in the coup .
The former Head of State gave the revelation at the celebration of the 80 th birthday of General Bajowa held in Igbotako , Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State .
He described Bajowa , a former Commandant, Command and Staff College , Jaji, as a respectful and cultured man.
During the ceremony, the former President told the audience a story of how he was indirectly saved from being killed during the coup .
Obasanjo said , “ I want to say something about Olu – either he knew it or he didn’t know. When Dimka coup came, if Olu had not been what he is , I would have gone with the coup .
“ Olu is very respectful . He is very conscious of our culture. He had a child , a boy , and wanted to name the child after me . He had to call me early in the morning , that morning Dimka struck .
“ And because Olu said he was coming , I had to wait a little bit . I waited beyond the time I would have gone out . Olu then came, he made the request and I granted the request .
“ So, I was a little bit late in going on the route that I normally took to work . And Reinumuje went ahead of me and they thought it was me and they shot his car. They shot his car , Murtala was shot. Indirectly , that is how Olu Bajowa saved my life , ”
Describing Bajowa as a performing soldier, Obasanjo revealed that Bajowa performed very well when he ( Obasanjo ) drafted him to go and lead 11 Battalion during the nation ’ s civil war .
He emphasised that any job that Bajowa could not do , no one else could do it .
Earlier , the state governor , Mr Rotimi Akeredolu , had called on owners of local radio stations in the state to dwell more in educating and disseminating information in local languages.
He made the call while inaugurating a new radio station in commemoration of the 80 th birthday of General Bajowa ( retd .) at Okitipupa . The station is founded by Bajowa .
The governor commended General Bajowa for the role he played towards the development of the Southern Senatorial District of the state .
In his address, Bajowa explained that the aim of establishing the radio station was “ to complement the effort of government in reviving and prompting Ikale, Ilaje , Ijaw - Apoi and Ijaw - Arogbo culture , tradition, custom and by extension the Yoruba heritage , which are now becoming abandoned or extinct.
“ We also identify ourselves with the government effort to make information an important tool for social development and dissemination of the benefits of democracy at the grassroots level . ”
https://punchng.com/how-i-survived-dimka-coup-obasanjo/

mansakhalifa:
If you have ever read Dr Nowa Omoigui's work on the 1976 Abortive Dimka coup, then you should already be familiar with this story.

Particularly that part about General Obasanjo attending a child naming ceremony.I think the Dimka coup story should be made into a movie.It's gonna be interesting.

Sirjamo:
I'd rather believe Bobrisky than believe anything that comes out of baba Obasanjo's mouth. He has been swearing with Amadioha since 2007 that he never wanted a third term, everyone, except PDP Dundees knows he's a liar.



I AM DONE TALKING

thatigboman:
watch 76. Obasanjo was part of the coup, but his role was enshrouded in secrecy

Racoon:

Yes! You're right sir.So also is the "Oil, Politics and Violence" by Max Siollun. There was actually this "76" movies that came close in depicting how that abortive Lt.Col.Bukar Suker Dimka's Coup of Feb.13 1976 took place.

thatigboman:
But in that true movie 76 starring Ramsey Noah, they said Obasanjo was part of the coup

owobokiri:
Somebody help me; Why is Dimkas coup not defined by Dimkas ethnicity? I mean it was stated clearly that the main reason that led Dimka to unleash that coup was to get rid of core northerners that upstaged Gowon, a fellow middle belter! This led to the killings of Murtala Mohammed and Ibrahim Taiwo, including the attempted elimination of officers that helped Murtala ascedence to power, nost of them northerners! Gowons name was so glaringly written all over the coup that the federal government sought for his repatriation to Nigeria for trial.

He will later be left in the UK to rot while Ojukwu whom he fought against during the war, was pardoned to come back to Nigeria! My questions are; who and who here even know Dimkas ethnic group? Why was the ethnic/regional/sectional motivations behind Dimkas military interjection always downplayed by the media, the government and even the military while Nzeogwus military uprising is conveniently used as an excuse to propel an unending devilish policy of containment against the good people of the former eastern Nigeria!?

CharleyBright:


There were lot of Bad Blood in the Military during that time. Very perilous times it was then when Top Military Officers had to be looking over their shoulders for fear of being killed.
Bad blood started after the Nzeogwu coup. And subsequently, the Northern Military officers ganged up and eliminated most of the Top Ibo officers. It got so bad that theyeven started killing Top officers from Rivers, Cross Rivers, Benue, Bendel states and even Yoruba officers who were sympathetic to the Ibo officers. Then Aguyi Ironsi was the head of State and despite all his bid to stop the senseless killings, the Northern Soldiers sought blood and revenge for the killing of their highest Military Officer - Mamaliari by the Nzegwu coup. The tension got so bad that some soldiers began to insinuate that Nzegwu carried out the coup so as to pave way for Aguyi Ironsi ( an Ibo man) to be Head of State.