GOWON: They accused me of being part of the coup (Buka Dimka) that led to the assassination of Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed. Can you imagine that? But i thank you (IBB) for clearing my name and restoring my rank.
ABDULSALAMI: A soothsayer told us in 1962 that IBB would be president.
When we joined the Nigerian Army, we only hoped to get to captain and retire.
GOODLUCK JONATHAN
IBB is one of the most charismatic leaders in this country. People go to visit you as if they’re going for pilgrimage
We cannot write this country’s history without a reasonable part being about your service.
Every President makes history. But they don’t contribute to the documentation. If you document it, it makes it more relevant and factual.
The concept of presidential library is from the American system. It is like a Federal Governor asset.
President Tinubu should set up a department in the SGF’s office to help manage the library. Govts help in managing history. This is the second one after OBJ.
This is not about IBB but about Nigeria and W/Africa.
OSINBAJO (Book Reviewer)
We are here, not as adversaries but as witnesses to history as fellow statesman
It was OBJ that insisted that IBB be appointed into the Supreme Military Council (SMC) making him the youngest in the council.
Former President IBB played a key role in Buhari becoming Head of State and also played a key role in the coup that removed him from office and detained him for 3 yrs
When IBB annulled the June 12 1993 election and dissolved the senate, Tinubu tried to reconstitute it but was charged and he went on exile and is now President, sitting next to his former tormentor (referring to IBB)
IBB was part of the coup that removed Gowon. Although he was a member of the SMC that stripped Gowon of his military rank while he was in exile over the Buka Dimka coup that killed Murtala Muhammad, as president and Head of State, he restored his benefits and full rank.
IBB’s Nigeria civil war engagements: he was hit by a shrapnel and while in hospital he watched as Yakubu Gowon married Victoria Zakari which inspired him to marry his wife, the late Mariam Babangida
Dimka encounter – Dimka was holed up at the broadcasting station after Murtala’s assassination. IBB didn’t know at the time there was a coup. And as he sauntered in he was told by by Akinrinade of what happened. He then went to see TY Danjuma.
Gen TY told him to go to Radio House and flush out Dimka immediately. On arrival, Dimka warned he would shoot him. IBB asked him to go ahead after all he was one of his groomsmen and asked him to take care of his wife and children if he shot him. Dimka was really drunk. I reminded him on the need to keep things under control. He said he wanted a change of govt and persuaded me to join. I pleaded with him to give himself up when he started negotiating his way out for him and his boys
I went back to TY who repeated the same warning to me to flush Dimka out and he returned to Radio House Ikoyi with Gen Igbokwe
Book contents:
Dele Giwa
The Vatsa coup and SMC decision to execute him
Gideon Orkar coup and how Abacha foiled it
OIC membership
1989 SAP riot
C-130 air crash of 1992 and the allegation of conspiracy
June 12 saga (the book answers who annulled the June 12 election, the reasons and admits where he believes he was wrong and answers the question whether Abiola really won the election)
Upon deeper reflection, he says, particular the detailed election result, there was no doubt that MKO won the June 12 election. Upon closer examination, he satisfied the constitutional requirements of majority votes and geographical spread, 1/3 of votes cast in 28 states
MKO 8,128,720 votes
Tofa 5,848,257
I’m gratified that the Buhari Admin finally recognized MKO as a former Head of State
It was the most challenging moment in my life. Admits in the book that if he had to do it all over again, he’ll do it differently
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
