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IBB: OBJ almost quit Army while asked to replace Murtala as he explains how neutralized Dimka amidst 1976 coup
Former Military Head of State Ibrahim Babangida has revealed the his fellow colleague and friend in the Nigerian Army and two-termed former President Olusegun Obasanjo almost quit the Army when asked to replace the former Head of State, Murtala Muhammed, after failed 1976 coup which the Murtala’s life.
Babangida made this revelation in his autobiography, titled: “A Journey in Service” as he gave vivid accounts of happenings following forceful takeover of Murtala’s Military Administration by a military sect headed by Lieutenant-Colonel Bukar Dimka.
After the death of Murtala, IBB, in chapter five (5) of his book entitled “The Murtala Muhammed Years,” explained that the Supreme Military Council met the next day to deliberate on whom to succeed Murtala, but the council’s decision was torn between Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma,
But eventually, the SMC’s decision went in favor of Danjuma who rejected the offer and proposed that, Obasanjo, being Murtala’s deputy and a senior Lieutenant-General should replace slain Murtala.
IBB: OBJ Almost Quit Army While Asked To Replace Murtala
According to him, Obasanjo, instead, decided to opt of the army for Danjuma to ascend as Head of State, but his considerate move came to nothing as Danjuma rebuffed the suggestion, noting that Obasanjo should replace the late Head of State, Murtala Muhammed.
As narrated on page 99 of IBB’s book: “The next day, the SMC met in Lagos to pick a successor to General Muhammed. We knew it would be either General Obasanjo or General Danjuma since, as Lieutenant-Generals, they were the most senior.
“As I recall, the pendulum swung in favor of General Danjuma at the start of the deliberations. Everyone present, including Obasanjo, thought Danjuma should take over.
“But somehow, Danjuma cast his lot with Obasanjo, insisting that as Muhammed’s deputy and a ‘senior’ Lieutenant-General, Obasanjo should succeed Murtala Muhammed.
Obasanjo refused and offered, if I recall accurately, to retire from the Army to enable Danjuma to emerge as Head of State.
“There appeared to be a momentary stalemate. But that soon faded away.
Faced with the insistence of Danjuma, everyone caved in, and Obasanjo accepted the challenge to succeed Murtala.
IBB: OBJ Almost Quit Army While Asked To Replace Murtala
“With the question of the Head of State settled, the choice of substantive Deputy to Obasanjo and Chief of Staff (Supreme Headquarters) had to be resolved.
“I don’t recall that it was tabled before the SMC. But I suspect that General Danjuma, as Chief of Army Staff and ‘de facto’ deputy to Obasanjo during those early days, decided, presumably after consultations, to name Lt-Col. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.
“And in an exercise that would have rattled a few within the military, especially those senior to him, Yar’Adua was promptly promoted to Brigadier and, subsequently, Major-General.”
IBB: OBJ Almost Quit Army While Asked To Replace Murtala
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida also stated how he disarmed late Dimka and other mutineers who took over Media House, stressing that in the launching of gun battle, survived but his aide-de-camp, 2nd Lt Garba, was murdered and several others.
“Meanwhile, I returned to General Danjuma to give him a report of my encounter with Dimka. Danjuma was furious.
“He ordered me back to the Radio House with a reiteration of his earlier instructions to ‘flush Dimka out of place immediately.
“I returned to Radio House with Chris Ugokwe, better equipped and prepared. By now, we had been joined by, among others, Mike Otuwa, James Ojokojo, John Shagaya and Jack Iketubosin.
“But first, I had to reach out to my friend and classmate, Sani Sami, who commanded the Brigade of Guards, to handle a difficult assignment.
“The Brigade of Guards’ barracks provided easy access to the Radio House. But again, I had to be careful since I wasn’t sure whether the Brigade was still loyal to the government.
IBB: OBJ Almost Quit Army While Asked To Replace Murtala
“Sani Sami and I consulted and agreed that there should be minimum destruction. And that we would do what we were taught as cadets in situations involving a civilian population to ensure that civilians got out of the way and didn’t get injured.
“Once that was done, we moved in, cordoned off the area and engaged the mutineers in a gun battle. There were casualties in the ensuing armed confrontation, including Dimka’s ADC, 2nd Lt Garba.
“Also, one of the other vital plotters, Major Ibrahim Rabo, was arrested by Major Yomi Williams as he tried to escape and was promptly taken to the Bonny camp for interrogation.
“But, somehow, Dimka, quite inexplicably to this day, managed to escape from the scene unharmed,” IBB recalled.
IBB: OBJ Almost Quit Army While Asked To Replace Murtala
He added that “Later that evening, the Federal government announced that the coup attempt had been quashed and declared seven days of national mourning in Murtala’s honor.
“The next day, February 14, General Muhammed was buried in Kano at a ceremony witnessed by thousands of mourners and members of the SMC, including Major-General Bisalla, who would later be implicated in the coup attempt.
“The national outpouring of grief and support following the assassination of Murtala was unprecedented.
“In his short six months in office, Murtala Muhammed had become a folk hero, endearing himself to many. Angry, grief-stricken students of the Universities of Ibadan, Benin and Lagos held violent street demonstrations in protest against his killers.
“Organized Labor movements, civil society organizations and even market women issued statements of solidarity for the Murtala Muhammed administration.
”Afterwards, the GOC of the 1 Division in Kaduna, Major-General Alani Akinrinade, issued a strong statement of support from Lagos for Murtala, and virtually all other military installations in the country followed suit by disassociating themselves from the coup.
IBB: OBJ Almost Quit Army While Asked To Replace Murtala
