Says he knelt to beg Akande for
Buhari as ACN/CPC flagbearer in 2011
Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.): Former NSA
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Immediate past
National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), has sworn that he
never maltreated nor took part in maltreating President Muhammadu Buhari when
he, as military Head of State, was removed in a 1985 coup, as being erroneously
alleged.
He said: “I always respect and
dignify my seniors and those in positions of authority whether in service or
after. Though a young officer, I was reluctant to be among those that arrested
him. And I was not.
The former NSA made the disclosure
even as he stated that he knelt down begging Baba Bisi Akande, who was then
Chairman of Action Congress Nigeria, ACN, to accept then General Buhari because
“General Buhari is a man to be trusted.”
Dasuki, who spoke to blogger Yushua
Shauib in Abuja, also disclosed how he and some others confronted late General
Sani Abacha over June 12 election, which was won by late Chief Mashood
Kashimawo Abiola.
He said: “This led to our premature
retirement. The persecution that followed forced me into exile, where I teamed
up with opposition elements struggling for the return of democracy.”
‘My campaign for him’ On his
roles in politics, the former NSA, who had been having running battles with the
Department of State Services, DSS, narrated how he supported the campaign
aspiration of Muhammadu Buhari in 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections.
He said respected Northern elements
like Adamu Adamu, Bashir Kurfi, Sule Hamman, Wada Maida and Kabir Yusuf are
among individuals privy to his active involvement.
While revealing how he campaigned
for Buhari to emerge the joint candidate of ACN and CPC in 2011, Dasuki
disclosed how he pleaded with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the presence of Bisi
Akande to accept Muhammad Buhari as the joint presidential candidate for ACN
and CPC.
Dasuki said: “In the belief that
Yoruba and south-westerners are never religious fanatics, especially regarding
politics, me and my group suggested that Tinubu should be a running mate to
Buhari.
“When other elements opposed that
proposition, Tinubu team therefore recommended a Buhari-Osinbajo ticket.
Unfortunately, the ticket failed to stick as Pastor Tunde Bakare was eventually
pushed forward by other forces.”
Speaking further, the former NSA
recalled how prior to the 1983 coup that ousted President Shehu Shagari,
himself and two young military officers, who are still alive, travelled to Jos
to brief Major General Buhari, who was then the GOC of 3rd Armoured Division,
on the furtherance of the planning of the 1983 coup, which made Buhari the
major beneficiary.
He said: “Buhari expressed his
bitterness about insinuations on his stewardship in one of the public
institutions, but I assured the then GOC not to worry about such reckless and
mischievous insinuations.”
Asked why he participated in the
ouster of Buhari less than two years afterward ousting Shagari, Dasuki simply
answered that General Buhari should know who to blame.
Vanguard
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