Former Minister of Communications, Major-General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, has faulted the assertion of former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ishaya Bamaiyi, regarding what he said about what transpired in the 1995 and 1997 attempted coups, in his new book, titled, “Vindication of a General”, describing it as a misplacement of facts.
Olanrewaju, who is also a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) Third Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, said this in a release he made available to newsmen in Lagos on Sunday.
The former Minister said contrary to Bamaiya’s assertion on the arrest of Gwadabe, he (Olanrewaju) was not the one that briefed at the meeting called by the then Chief of Army Staff General Alwali Kazir (Rtd).
According to him, “What is correct is that the only person who briefed the meeting was the DMI (Directorate of Military Intelligence), General Sarki Mukthar, whose duty it was to brief the meeting about security situation in the country.”
“Following this I was instructed by the meeting to facilitate the arrest of Gwadabe, whose brigade in Yola was under my command, while other commanders were similarly instructed to effect the arrests of others under their own commands. The instruction to arrest Colonel Bello Fadile was also given in the meeting.
“Fortunately General Kazir and General Mukthar are alive today to testify to the truth of this matter,” Olanrewaju added.
The former minister also faulted Bamaiyi on the 1997 Diya’s coup where Bamaiyi was quoted to have said, “Other meetings took place at a guest house with Gen Diya, Gen Olanrewaju, CO 7 Gds Bn, Gen Diya’s security officer, Major Fadipe and me. Of course, General Abacha was always briefed after the meetings.”
Olanrewaju denied being at the said meetings where the 1997 coup was being hatched, declaring that, “The said CO 7 Gds Bn and Major Fadipe, if called upon, will testify to the truth.”
“I met Ishaya on two occasions; he met me in my house and I met him in his house, both times in Abuja.
“For avoidance of doubt and for students of history, the first time I heard about the Diya’s coup was when Bamaiyi told me and Aziza confirmed it. This is how my name was dragged into the coup and it has affected my distinguished career in the Army,” Olanrewaju added.
“The point to note is that student of history must know what transpired in the 1995 and 1997 coup saga for posterity sake as against the misplacement of facts contained in the excerpts reported from the Bamaiyi’s new book,” Olanrewaju stated.
He stated that the new book could ironically open the eyes of all Nigerians to see the footprint of an ambitious soldier that Bamaiyi epitomised as contained in every account of power play which appeared unfavourable to him but favourable to both General Abdulsalaam Abubakar as Abacha’s successor and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Ironically, the new book can open the eyes of all Nigerians to see the footprint of an ambitious soldier that Bamaiyi epitomises as detailed in every account of power play which appears unfavourable to him but favourable to both General Abdulsalaam Abubakar as Abacha’s successor and General Olusegun Obasanjo as 1999 civilian President. He lost out in the power play,” the former minister said.
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