How Buhari Panicked When Told Ahead Of 1985 Coup Plot – Hananiya

Muhammadu Buhari as military head of state was well aware of the plans by elements in the military to overthrow him from power but was apparently helpless against the odds against him, Major-General Haladu Hananiya (rtd.) has said.

Speaking in an interview with Sunday Sun, the retired general turned farmer disclosed how Buhari initially panicked when he was told of the coup plot during an Organisation of African Unity, OAU conference in Ethiopia.

He was, however, calmed down by his number two man, General Tunde Idiagbon who assured him of his readiness to confront the putschists.

“When Babangida was preparing to take over the government, I was aware because we had a source of information. I and the late General Garba (Joseph Nanven Garba), he was the Permanent Representative to the United Nations then, he came to Addis Ababa for the annual OAU (the defunct Organisation of African Unity now African Union) meeting.

“We told Buhari. He came to Ethiopia to attend the meeting as one of the heads of state, that there were some people planning to overthrow you and we told him our source of information was very correct and he should know what to do about it.

Noting how Buhari panicked at the information of the coup plot, Hananiya said:

“So, at that time, he panicked. I think he wanted to come back immediately, but I think Idiagbon calmed him down that he shouldn’t; he was going to take control of the whole situation, so he should stay, complete the meeting and then, return home, which he did.”

Noting that Buhari was further briefed on the impending coup a second time after the first time when he panicked, Hananiya said:

“And then, after some time when we came in for… because they used to recall ambassadors for meetings. We had a meeting in Jos and from Jos, we came to Abuja.

“At that time, Buhari was in Abuja and Vatsa was his minister of the Federal Capital Territory. So, Vatsa organised a meeting between us and Buhari. We the military ambassadors, we went to tell Buhari that well, what we told him about the coup was real because this was the D-day and the hour. So, it appeared he was helpless and didn’t know what to do. We left and went to our various stations. I arrived Ethiopia and four days after, Babangida took over.”

Asked why Buhari was helpless in the face of the coup plot even after he first panicked, Hananiya said:

“Well, he could have done something to prevent the coup since he knew all the information that he needed to know. But apparently, he didn’t want any bloodshed or struggle, so he just let the thing to go like that. I said okay, if they want to take over the government, let them go ahead. But he was not prepared to allow bloodshed.”

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG