IBB & Fellow Coup Plotters Ousted Me To Save Gusau’s Head – Buhari

Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has given a rare insight into why he was shoved out of office on August 27, 1985 by the then Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Buhari, in an exclusive with The Interview magazine said the real reason for his ouster was because the coup plotters desperately needed to save Aliyu Gusau’s head because he was fighting corruption – and he was corrupt.

He said as the then Head of Military Intelligence, Gusau, was involved in some sharp practices and he had recommended his sack from the military leadership.

The president stated that the reason he insisted on Gusau’s removal was because he did not want his anti-corruption war to appear lop-sided.

Buhari explained that it was why Gusau, Babangida and other officers teamed up and staged the coup that removed him from office.

Buhari made this revelation as he reacted to a December 2015 interview by Babangida in which he (Babangida) said the plan to remove Gusau had nothing to do with the 1985 coup.

Buhari said, “I learnt that Gen. Ali Gusau, who was in charge of intelligence, took an import licence from the Ministry of Commerce, which was supplies, 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.”