In 2016, events which took place over 30 years ago continue to pop up in current conversations, generating controversy. This is not helped by the ever ‘retentive’ Muhammadu Buhari, who often refers to his 20-month stint as a Nigerian dictator. It appears that he needs to understand that many Nigerians, who were not alive at that time, have read enough about that hostile period and crave a more repentant approach towards leadership in the 21st century.
In an exclusive interview with The Interview Magazine, the Nigerian president said the coup that aborted his junta, was a revolt against his plans to rid the military of corruption. On August 27, 1985, a palace coup, led by the Chief of Army Staff at the time, Ibrahim Babangida, overthrew the Buhari administration. Buhari still believes Babangida’s human rights abuses excuse was not the real reason he took power away from him. According to Buhari’s revelations during the interview, his insistence on relieving the Head of Military Intelligence at the time, Aliyu Gusau, from the military, prompted Babangida’s reaction.
“I learnt that Gen. Ali Gusau, who was in charge of intelligence, took an import licence from the Ministry of Commerce…and gave it to Alhaji Mai Deribe. It was worth N100, 000, a lot of money then. When 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.
“I said if I didn’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. So, 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,” Buhari said.
This latest ‘revelation’ by Buhari has just added to the series of the 1985 stories, which Nigerians have been fed since the inception of this administration. Do we really still find these stories relevant? Contrary to the recommendations of financial experts, President Buhari’s reliance on his 1985 approach to strengthen the Naira has been touted as one of the many reasons for the economic woes the country now faces.
In April, Buhari said “When I was military Head of State, the IMF and the World Bank wanted us devalue the Naira and remove the petrol subsidy, but I stood my ground for the good of Nigeria. The Naira remained strong against the dollar and other foreign currencies until I was removed from office in August, 1985 and it was devalued.” Now, he prevented the devaluation of Naira for over a year, until June, when things were seemingly falling apart. This is one reason why critics of the president, have said there is no clear distinction between Buhari’s time as the military Head of State and right now as a democratically elected president.
Still on Buhari’s 1985 stories, some apologists to the erstwhile National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, are even of the opinion that the alleged role of Dasuki, towards the eviction of Buhari from Dodan Barracks, may be playing a major role in his present incarceration over the arms scandal. After all, the corruption in the Nigeria’s downstream sector, under the previous administration, is less of a priority compared to #DasukiGate.
However, President Buhari really needs to learn fast, that whatever ‘feat’ he may have attained in the past is of no valuable concern to many Nigerians now. He needs to put the past behind him and make the vast majority of Nigerians see reasons for electing him. In doing so, the euphoria of a dictatorial 1985 will not overshadow a democratic 2016.
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