Many people don’t know that former President, Ibrahim Babangida and the current President Muhammadu Buhari were not on talking terms. And the reason was simple. Buhari who was then the military head of state was angry at the fact that IBB who was then his Chief of Army Staff was the one who plotted against him and removed him from office. Not only that. Buhari was kept under house arrest for years before security around him was relaxed. Even more painful for Buhari was his discovery that by the time he came back from incarceration his late wife Saratu had been receiving financial help and support from the IBB regime, unknown to him.
Immediately, Pres. Buhari confirmed this, he divorced his wife and both lived apart till she passed on a few years back.
Based on all these issues many never believed that IBB and Buhari could ever take again or be friends. But both made up a few years back. In the December edition of The Interview and monthly publication published by Azubuike Ishekwene’s Banc & All Printing and Publishing Company Ltd in Abuja. IBB revealed that he and his Oga (boss) have since made up.
How would you describe your relationship with Buhari he was asked?
“Good was his instant reaction. “I was in Umuahia I think in 2006 or 2007. Orji Uzor Kalu was the governor of the State at that time. And both Buhari and I happened to know him well. And he was of the impression that we weren’t getting on well. But we are military men, we know ourselves very well. So, Orji Uzor Kalu organized a press meeting. We were all there.
Buhari was there and I was there. One of the things we said was that you guys in the media want us to be exchanging words any time we set eyes on each other. Here he is, here I am. We have common convictions and we belong to the same profession. We got involved in keeping this country one and we remain friends. But you (the press) will accuse me of saying that Buhari and I are friends. “Why should you be friends?” “Why shouldn’t you be fighting?” This is the answer I want to give to you. They all laughed. But that is the most honest and the most serious response. We are not enemies; we are friends.” IBB was reminded how Buhari said in a newspaper interview three years ago, said that IBB removed him because he brought a Memo to the Army Council to remove Aliyu Gusau, who was then the Director of Military Intelligence. He said you were present at the meeting and feared that if he removed Gusau, you would be next. That was why you struck. Is that right?
“There are so many arguments put across. But normally, don’t forget we ran a military regime and in any military environment, these things occur. When I got into the office in September 1985, I sat with all the conspirators of the coup. I said look, we all conspired and changed the government. I want you to know that we are in now. Do not think that you are free from a possible ouster. Some people will be planning to get you and me out.
This (conversation) was just to make them remain alert all the time. Somebody just looked at me as if I was crazy. I said no. I meant everything. We conspired to oust a government. Others will one day conspire to get us out. So let’s remain strong and don’t give chance for anybody to come against us. And behold, by December, we had a problem-the Mamman Vatsa coup. By April 1990 we had the Orkar coup. So, it was like a prediction. In fact, that is what it was. It is like telling APC now that look; you must work hard. Otherwise, next time in 2019, PDP is going kick you out.” Was there something in the Memo as Buhari said that he IBB feared would be a problem for him and it was the immediate reason why he and his group struck?
“Do not forget that I was one of Buhari’s closest ‘aides’. I was the Chief of Army Staff. So I had an important position, an important role to play within that administration. I don’t think it had to do with a memo.
He was again reminded how his government’s coup speech described him (Buhari) as “too rigid and uncompromising.” What did IBB mean by that? Is he still that way today?
Give it the ordinary translation and you are home and dry. No, he is not the same today. He is now a politician. He is now a democrat. None of us ever pretended that we were holding a democratic government. We held a military administration. We were not accountable to that National Assembly or the Senate.
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