How Obasanjo Used His Presidency to Cover Up His Involvement In 1995 Coup – Bamaiyi

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi, has claimed that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo used his tenure as president to cover up his alleged role in the 1995 coup.

Obasanjo, who was President between 1999 and 2007 was among those arrested and detained by ex-Military Head of State, Sani Abacha for alleged coup plotting.

However, Obasanjo denied any involvement in the coup plot and shortly after Abacha’s death, he was released.

But, Bamaiyi in his book “Vindication of a General,” said the coup was real, stressing that there were tape recordings to that effect.

The former Army Chief stressed that Obasanjo’s involvement in the coup plot would have been exposed if the request made by the lawyer to former Chief of Security Officer to Abacha, Hamza Al-Mustapha to play a tape was granted.

According to Bamaiyi, “General Obasanjo used his position as president to cover up his involvement in the 1995 coup.

“I believe that the main players will one day come out to tell Nigerians the truth, and the tape recordings of these statements will one day be played for Nigerians to draw their own conclusions.

“People used the term phantom coup because it was the Abacha period and Abacha is the only military head of state to spare coup plotters who were arrested, tried and convicted.

“If it had occurred during the reign of another military head of state, no one would have talked of a phantom coup.

“Nigerians should try to find out why General Obasanjo, as president, could pardon officers convicted with him for their roles in the 1995 coup and refused to pardon Generals Diya, Olanrewaju and Adisa.

“I dare say his conscience worried him and that he is aware the officers could expose him if he did not do anything about their cases.”