₦airaland Forum

I was a Buhari detainee. For nearly 20 months, the General Muhammadu Buhari military regime kept me inside three of Nigeria's prison centres, from 1984 to 1985. There were many of us (politicians) who were caught in the Buhari military web after the New Year eve's coup of December 31, 1983. Some of my colleagues unfortunately were not lucky to survive the ordeal. I am not in anyway writing this piece as a result of bitterness against what General Buhari and his colleagues of the military did to me and other politicians. Ours was a price that had to be paid in the struggle to create a lasting democracy in our dear country.



I write to produce answers to certain verdicts delivered by the former Head of State on men, matters and events in our country since January 15, 1966 when the Khaki boys rolled out the tanks to dismiss the Shagari administration. In a lecture, General Buhari delivered under the auspices of Bayero University Kano Centre For Democracy, he came very hard on politicians describing them as their own worst enemies.



While not dismissing the entire paper as conveying nothing, it is however pertinent to point out to Buhari certain areas where his submissions amount to mere window dressing and a total distortion of the facts of history.



The most contentious areas of General Buhari's lecture are where he said the following on politicians and soldiers in Nigeria: "In 37 years of independence, Nigeria has had four separate successful coups and several other unsuccessful attempts with ten different programmes. While these frequent changes have no doubt been quite disruptive, the political class has no moral right to present this fact as its excuse for failing to learn the ropes. And like all other patriotic Nigerians, members of the Armed Forces have every right to resent the mismanagement of affairs by the politicians, "Nigerian politicians have no one to blame but themselves when they find themselves out in the cold. They are their own worst enemies. They have very little commitment to democracy beyond election day. And as I said elsewhere, many Nigerian politicians are not true democrats; they are democrats of convenience - extolling the virtues of democracy when they campaign, that's the rule of the jungle with the added burden of having to vote for it. Conversely when they lose, politicians refuse to accept the verdicts and invite the military to return."



The above represents the thoughts and ideas of Buhari on politicians. While he clearly sent the politicians to the junkyard of history, he cleverly justified the incursion of the military into politics. One wonders why General Buhari did not discuss the inordinate ambition of some soldiers in seizing power. Neither did the General talk about some soldiers coming into power via military coup as a result of bitterness over some state matters in which they have been active participants and collaborators. We ask General Buhari in all humility whether any politician did invite him and his military colleagues to stage the coup of December 31, 1983. We submit that long before that coup, Buhari and some of his colleagues in the Army had made up their minds to terminate the life of the Second Republic.



General Muhammadu Buhari is fully aware of the speech he made sometime in 1982 calling on Nigerian soldiers to start reading the Nigerian constitution for a future role they (the soldiers) might be called upon to perform. On September 19, 1982, I took him (Buhari) on in my column POLITICAL PANORAMA in the Sunday Tribune for making this statement which was a clear signal for a coup detat against the democratic government.



I concluded my column by stating inter alia:- "If tomorrow Nigerians are woken up once again by the familiar slogan of "GOOD MORNING Fellow Nigerians we would have known that the signal for such had long been given". That column (which Nigerian Tribune republished on January 16, 1984 after the Buhari coup) was to send me to a near twenty month detention by the Buhari regime. Dr. Ibrahim Tahir told me in March 1984 at the Kirikiri prison, Lagos that a young Major who had visited his house after the Buhari coup had inquired about my residence in Lagos.



If General Muhammadu Buhari may want to debunk the idea that his call on soldiers to start reading the Nigerian Constitution represented a call to overthrow the democratic government, I will further wish to humbly submit that moves made by General Buhari within the military between 1982 and 1983 clearly confirmed this interpretation. The story I am about to narrate has been fully told in my book THE STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA (1960-1983).



There is the need to retell the story here: " A soldier in the 3rd division of the Nigerian Army based in Jos had gone to the office of the then civilian Governor of Plateau State, the colourful Chief Solomon Dashep Lar, to report on some strange operations in the barracks. The soldier gave vital information to Solomon Lar that soldiers were being taken for an early morning exercise in the military training grounds in Jos for what the soldier suspected was aimed at overthrowing the civilian regime. The soldier named General Muhammadu Buhari as having participated in the military exercise as the Divisional Commander. This information was given to Chief Solomon Lar about the time that President Shehu Shagari was paying an official visit to Plateau State. Chief Solomon Lar took the opportunity of the President's visit to intimate him of the information he had received about preparations of the military for a possible coup d'etat. "Alhaji Shehu Shagari, instead of passing this crucial information to the security agencies for their investigation, decided on inviting Major-General Muhammadu Buhari to Lagos.



Alhaji Shehu Shagari was said to have told the General what Chief Solomon Lar had told him of preparations by soldiers under the Command of Buhari in Jos for a coup. President Shehu Shagari when pressed by General Buhari to disclose the source of his information, was said to have named Chief Solomon Lar as the main source. "Major General Muhammadu Buhari on reaching Jos went straight to the office of the Governor (Chief Lar) where he was said to have told the Governor (whom he was fond of calling uncle) in no unmistakable terms his displeasure at the information passed to President Shehu Shagari instead of Chief Lar calling him for clarifications on the military exercise programme of his division. "Chief Solomon Lar was rather surprised that such crucial information could have been so lackadaisically treated by Alhaji Shehu Shagari instead of being very discreet in inquiring into it.



Chief Solomon Lar was said to have handled the situation maturely and both parties parted company on friendly terms. Buhari certainly did not forget the incident. "Interesting too was the fact that General Muhammadu Buhari as G.O.C 3rd division of the Nigerian Army was a member of the Plateau State security council presided over by Chief Solomon Lar as Governor of the State at the time of this incident. "The Attorney-General of Plateau State during the second republic, Mr. Gregory Goltona Golu, who was also a member of the state's security council told me in Jos Prison (where we were both detained after the coup) that Major-General Muhammadu Buhari had attended the Plateau Security Council meeting held on 24 December 1983. Golu said General Buhari participated very actively in the deliberations of the meeting. He (Buhari) was however conspicuously absent at the annual Christmas Party of the Governor, Chief Solomon Lar, held in his home town Langtang on 26 December 1983. General Muhammadu Buhari was said to have sent an officer to represent him at the party.


Little did all the participants at Chief Lar's Christmas party know that the country was only a few days away from martial music which a soldier had warned Chief Lar about a couple of weeks before. On the day of the coup, a Nigeria Airways Boeing 737 plane piloted by Captain Gowon flew out of Lagos at about 4 p.m. to Jos. When the plane returned to Lagos that evening, it had on board the army officer that was to be announced by Sani Abacha at midnight of 31 December 1983 as the country's new military head of state. The important passenger was Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, the General Officer commanding the 3rd infantry Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos. "A few days after December 31, 1983, Chief Solomon Lar who had been privileged to be told of the military preparations of the Jos centre of the coup was to later join his other civilian politicians as inmates of Kirikiri Prison. Chief Solomon Lar was subsequently jailed by the Buhari regime for 25 years sometime in 1984".



The imprisonment of Solomon Lar was to let him know that he had opened his teeth too wide by leaking Buhari's preparation for a coup to President Shehu Shagari long before it took place. I will never forget that twenty four hours before the Special Military Tribunal in Jos pronounced a jail term on Solomon Lar, General Hananiya the then Nigeria's high Commissioner to Great Britain had been reported by the BBC to have told the British press of the conviction of Lar by the Tribunal.



Chief Lar and all of us inside the Jos prison were quite peeved by the Hananiya announcement in London. Of course, Lar went to the Tribunal the next day to collect the sentence which had alrady been released in far away London. Though Shagari's NPN regime had prepared the grounds well for its collapse, no politician invited General Buhari and his soldier-politicians to come and take over power. They invited themselves and later turned their guns on themselves. General Buhari cannot dispute the fact that he did a bitterness coup to avenge what he considered wrongs that had been done to him by certain people.



In one of his early press conferences after he had come to power, General Buhari did tell the gentlemen of the press that he would tamper with the freedom of the press. He was particularly bitter with the way the Nigerian press had reported the Justice Irikefe Oil probe of 1980. He (Buhari) felt the press was not fair to him as a former Minister for Petroleum resources of the period the Justice Irikefe panel was to inquire about. Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor of The Guardian newspapers later went to prison as ransom for the rascality of the Nigerian press. Haroun Adamu was incarcerated for once writing a critical essay on the General inside the Kano based Triumph newspaper. Mr. Rafindadi was appointed as the head of the N.S.O and all the Intelligence officers who favoured a fair treatment for detained politicians were weeded out of the organisation. Mr. Ndukwe then the Deputy Director of NSO now (SSS) and Mr. Oshodi, two fine officers, were all retired at the instruction of Mr. Rafindadi.



The last point, I will like to comment on relates to what General Buhari said of his political programme. While talking about the military class, General Buhari had said the following on his regime's political programme: "The regime that took over on 31 December 1983 decided that in the then corrupt atmosphere of 1983 Nigeria, it was virtually impractical to attempt any meaningful political reorganisation without tackling the issues of corruption and indiscipline.



Perhaps, it was a mistake to have put our political transition programme on the back burner since it probably tended to portray us as a sit-tight group. We were nothing of the sort". General Muhammadu Buhari ruled Nigeria for one year and eight months without giving Nigerians an inkling of what would be his political programme. In an interview with the FINANCIAL TIMES of London, General Buhari had said that his (military) regime would hold a referendum before handing over power to politicians.



He never gave the paper what were to be the issue to be decided upon in the referendum by the Nigerian people. The only hint of the possible Buhari political programme was given by respected Dr. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari the then External Affairs Minister while delieving a lecture in America very early in the life of the Buhari administration in 1984. Agboola was quoted too have said that Nigeria might experiment with an indigenous system of government for the next period of civilian rule.



The rest is for Nigerians to decide. General Buhari's observations about politicians in Nigeria by and large are correct. We politicians have allowed selfishness, petty jealousies and unguarded lust for power to becloud our sense of judgement. We are equally too narrow minded to be objective in our stand on various national issues.



Despite all these however, it is my humble opinion that politicians inside military barracks are not the ones to condemn civilian politicians and teach our country men and women about democracy - Certainly not General Buhari. Teacher don't teach us nonsense (apologies to the late Pan Africanist musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti). General Buhari still needs to tell Nigerians more stories about his difficult and tough regime. Like Muffet said, "we must all let the truth be told". God bless Nigeria.


December 2001

http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/barticles/buhari_politicians_and_history.htm

What are you talking about? Where you there when Nigeria promised "yes"?
What are the names of the delegation that represented Nigeria at the summit?
Where you the one who briefed them on what to do at the vote?

For your information, international diplomacy is all about what you can benefit from any situation. US, UK and Israel does not want statehood status for Palestine. If Nigeria had voted "Yes", Israel will sever all relationship with us and to contain our present security predicament, we need these world powers.

Palestine can review their demands.

Animals

Aigipan:
una no dey tire?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13126839

How did he condemn it?
He didn't even say anything in the article u posted the link here. Make him come out curse Shekau and other of him boys and let's see the result.

abdulll6afh:
Haa I don't know when will pdp will stop this habbit of animalism go to america and ask for ex president bush his qualifications you will surprise president bush says he has only diploma. And he finish his diploma with poor result that why he start politics jona plan another terget change change change sai buhari. Dan uwarka jona

George H. W Bush graduated from Yale University in 1948. George W Bush (the son) graduated from Yale University in 1968 and Harvard Business School in 1975. So I don't know where you got ur diploma with poor result from. All these lies just to support a semi-illiterate?
There is nothing Buhari goons will not say on nairaland to hoodwink Nigerians.

Should they have died for an Hausa man who did not come out to condemn the killings of Igbos in the North?

M4gunners:
Wait oh bro make ask you one question, why u say make i shut up dis early morning?

Hahahahaha

As you never brush ur teeth na him make me talk so.

E go better make Buhari carry taxi go meet military secretary and collect his certificates. Atleast OBJ presented his own and Military secretary no seize am.

BISIXCLUSIVE:
Watin concern us with pali?all we want is change,if GMB no get result....I bet you prof oshibajo will definitely get one,inec if you no won cause trouble u better use that of prof oshibajo......I can smell enemy of progress in the life of jega and his counterparts

As you fine reach, your brain is missing. When next you wan go find job carry affidavit go meet your interviewer, na your nyansh you go take clear the mess.

M4gunners:
Abeg make INEC park well jare.He no rule before? Na now dem go come dey ask for such thing? I want him to be 100% ready to be able to face GEJ .And watch GEJ humilate him.

Shut up your filthy mouth!! When he ruled before, na INEC put am for there?
This INEC chair (Jega) is a no-nonsense person. Just watch Buhari will soon be given ultimatum to produce certificate or be disqualified.

KenJak:
Very senseless. Why is INEC trying to conspire to spoil Nigeria the more? this man has afidavit backing him now? why not question Sambo instead whose fake credentials got burnt? how can such paramount thing got burnt if not all lies! NONSENSE TRICK.

So affidavit is now certificate right?
Why didn't you present affidavit to your sch during admission (that is if you attended an higher institution of learning).

In Sambo's case, the authorities of ABU has written to confirm that he was awarded 2 degrees from the sch, B.Sc (Arch.) and M.Arch.

INEC should disqualify any illiterate who claims his certificates are with someone in this country and he can't go there to collect it.

omenka:
They tried to prevent the formation of APC through the registration of a fictitious Three Man Party with thesame acronym. They Failed.

Then they tried to tag him a religious fundamentalist and a terrorist. Nigerians didn't buy that as well but rather asked the FG to arrest and prosecute him if they have the evidence.

Next they are coming up with this, all in a bid to ensure Jonathan runs alone in a general election!! Well, fellas, Buhari is contesting like it or not. There shall be no easy passage for Jonathan.

This is not PDP primaries!!

Tell your principal to take his academic qualifications to INEC's office as required by the law.

How much??

ibisko04:
The party in government at a state will not have much bearings on the outcomes of the presidential elections in each states of the federation.
If the election is free and fair, there are going to be many surprises in many states.
People are getting more enlightened politically this day. I can foresee a lots of alignment and realignment taking place in few weeks from now.
We must get it better this time around.

So if the party in government in a state does not determine the result of an election, then it is safe to assume that GEJ will win Sokoto and Katsina then.

There is no way Buhari is winning Ondo State. Reasons are listed below.
1. There is no presence of APC in Ondo State at all. During the last guber elections, ACN which is now APC came a distant 3rd. With the Mimiko (Ondo State Governor) decamping to PDP from LP, it further strengthens GEJ's Chances in the State.

2. Buhari has been campaigning with an undertone of religious bias. The population of Muslims in Ondo state is less than 25% thus APC does not seem to have any bargaining chip in this State.

waleadex:
Obanikoro...

Truth is bitter.

wirinet:
It is encouraging that you took up the challenge to show us any of GEJ's thesis or publication, the problem is that the said paper is neither a thesis or a publication. It was appropriately labeled Conference or workshop item. It was a joint paper presented at a workshop. It would be very difficult to determine jonathan's contributions.

Meanwhile please help clarify these discrepancies in Jonathan's academic records;



He obtained his M.sc at the University of Port Harcourt in 1985 and he was a Lecturer at the Dept. Of Biology, Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt from 1983 – 1993. How did that work? he was lecturing at one university while studying to obtain an M.sc in another university.

Have you ever heard of study-leave in the academic sphere? Lecturers who are employed in Nigerian universities can obtain higher degrees in other universities or even abroad and tender it at the end of the program. That's not out of place. Even when the program is running, your salaries are still being paid. How is this strange to you?

sayemma:
All you wrote are lies buhari reduced inflation from 13% to 4% check the date of his rule and reconfirm the interest rate.

He also supervised the birth of all our refineries check the date again and stop lying you are an adult

Which refinery did he supervise? The ones built before he plotted a coup to overthrow a democratically elected or the one built by IBB when he was in exile?

Dreyl:
Big thief!

He steal ur papa xmas chicken??

danjumakolo:
Hope u do know that Army rules with decree unlike civilians

Why didn't other military heads of state use crazy decrees to gagged the press like buhary did?

Scratching bumbum.

The real reason why he won't have first lady is because he doesn't know which one to pick to occupy that position from his harem of wives.

If he really wants my vote, buhary should openly declare that he will not islamatize Nigeria if he by chance wins the election.

Drafted on March 29,1984, Decree No. 4 was the most dreaded, most repressive and the last press law enacted in Nigeria. It was promulgated during the military regime of Major General Buhari which did not take kindly to press criticisms.

The law was drafted to punish authors of false statements and reports that exposed the Buhari administration and or its officials to ridicule or contempt.
Section 1, sub-sections (i), (ii) and (iii) of the law - the most formidable section - provided that:
Any person who publishes in any form, whether written or otherwise, any message,rumour, report or statement, being a message, rumour, statement or report which is false in any material particular or which brings or is calculated to bring the Federal Military Government or the Government of a state or public officer to ridicule or disrepute, shall be guilty of an offence under this Decree.

Any station for wireless telegraphy which conveys or transmits any sound or visual message, rumour, report or statement, being a message, rumour, report or statement which is false in any material particular or which brings or is calculated to bring the Federal Government or the Government of a state or a public officer to ridicule or disrepute, shall be guilty of an offence under this Decree.

It shall be an offence under this Decree for a newspaper or wireless telegraphy station in Nigeria to publish or transmit any message, rumour, report or statement which is false in any material particular stating that any public officer has in any manner been engaged in corrupt practices or has in any manner comiptly enriched himself or any other person {Gazette, 1984).

I regret opening this thread. It was a total waste of data.

Now ASUU wants the kidnappers to release her unconditionally as if that's the way the Union release the destinies of thousands of Nigerian students when they embark on senseless strikes.

Newflash, kidnappers are businessmen and not the Federal govt. You guys shd pay the ransom from ur annual dues just the way the govt pay you when u kidnap and stagnate the destinies of our youths.

We knew Amaechi was lying joor. The APC bug has bitten him. Go on with ur campaign. Wish u luck

missdebs:
wizkid gf, she's an ajebo thoroughbred, buh olamide gf is a paki wt smal tushing

.

You saw all that in a face-pix? Allah is Great

MrWhoKnows:
hehehehe,chai see quote nah,sha dat no fit happen nah except na inside ferrari him dey execute such risky venture.

Usain bolt dey run pass ferrari o

missojugo:
Why are you quoting me without putting my name dia. Yes i said those wise word 20 years ago. Let me add another one for the yeye OP

"Intentional eating and cleaning of mouth will not work with the daughter of Amadioha, Thou should not call the Lord in vain when thunder starts striking you daily' - Oprah

Shutup dia! I thought you were a girl. When you turn "wise man"?

As much as the religion of the lady is important to you, keep it in mind that you are not dating the father. If her father's religion bothers you, explain to her and call it quits. Where the real danger lies is when you chop her thing and now run away.

A wise man once said..."What shall it profit a man to slap Usain Bolt and run away..."

Jazz is not a respecter of distance o