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| Buhari and that Umaru Dikko's saga? It was not anti corruption but a vendetta! - Mustapha Jokolo |
According to Emir Mustapha Haruna Jokolo, the Emir of Gwandu, and former ADC to former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, Umaru Dikko's threat to destabilise the regime, coupled with the need to shore up the low popularity rating of the regime, were responsible for the Buhari government's action at the time.
But Jokolo said the idea was that of retired General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma who equally had an axe to grind with Dr. Dikko.
"I am now at pains disclosing this highly classified episode, but Danjuma left me with no option but to do so, since he too was not really particular about the official secret Act. Umaru Dikko crossed Danjuma's path when, as Shagari's Minister of Transport, he closed down all jetties that were suspected as being used to perpetuate smuggling.
"Danjuma's jetty was one of them. There was a serious press war between them, but Umaru Dikko could not be bothered. Till Shagari was over thrown, Danjuma's jetty remained closed. When Buhari took over from Shagari and Umaru Dikko, now a fugitive in London, declared war on Buhari, Danjuma quickly capitalized on this.
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| The crate that held Umaru Dikko |
But it was Danjuma's "vituperations," according to Jokolo that brought out these details. The former Chief of Army Staff had stepped on his toes and he (Jokolo) was not ready for "half truth" to be swept under the carpet.
With Jokolo, Danjuma his former Commandant, is a "sinner" and not a "saint".
Jokolo brought out the account of how late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti's Kalakuta Republik was vandalized by soldiers and says Danjuma, not Obasanjo, issued the order. He also narrated why Danjuma was against late General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, how Danjuma's promotion over and above his superiors caused dissention among the officer corps then and his impression of the Taraba-born General. He also spoke of General Danjuma's maneuvers in the Army.
Excerpt:
You must be privy to the crating of Dr. Umaru Dikko, Second Republic's Transport Minister because you were at the centre of activities at the time because you were the ADC to the then Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari. What happened really?
He was Dr. Umaru Dikko. He ended up in a crate after being drugged. I am now at pains disclosing this highly classified episode but Danjuma has left me with no option but to do so, since he too was not really particular about Official Secrets Act. Umaru Dikko crossed Danjuma's path when, as Shagari's Minister of Transport, he closed down all jetties that were believed to be used to perpetuate smuggling activities. Danjuma's jetty was one of them. There was a serious press war between them, but Umaru Dikko could not be bothered.
Till Shagari was overthrown, Danjuma's jetty remained closed. When Buhari took over from Shagari and Umaru Dikko, now a fugitive in London, declared war on Buhari. Danjuma quickly capitalized on this. He rang me to book an appointment for him to see General Muhammadu Buhari, then Head of State. He made his proposals, which sounded attractive. He said he could bring Umaru Dikko back using his Israeli connections. I had an insight into these proposals. First, he asked NSO to provide him with fake passports of Umaru Dikko, Richard Akinjide, Saleh Jambo and Adisa Akinloye. In addition, he asked for fake drivers licences.
These were secured and delivered to Danjuma at his Victoria Island residence. Next he wrote that he needed some dollars to be paid into his personal account. The NSO also obliged. Initially, an NAF C-130 aircraft was to be used to shuttle between New York and Stansted airport. The idea was aborted because in the event of failure, Nigeria would be directly incriminated. Therefore, a Boeing 707 cargo plane was arranged. The fugitives in USA were left alone; so he could concentrate on Umaru Dikko who was making the loudest noise.
It was almost a success except for the fact that the Israelis did not take into consideration Umaru Dikko's security arrangement with his private secretary. Though the mission failed in principal, it all the same achieved limited success. Firstly, it proved that Nigeria was coming of age at least for attempting to carry out a daring action in a developed country like Britain. Secondly, the fugitives shrank into their shells and retracted their war of calumny against Nigerians who were feeling oppressed by the regime and were beginning to display resentful signs. But to Danjuma, it was a coup-de-grace because nobody connected him with it and his bank account swelled. I cannot disclose any more on this because I will hurt other people who made a lot of sacrifices. Danjuma later called me and told me he had to leave Lagos and settle down in Kaduna with his family because of the failed attempt.
Now why was the government of Buhari after Umaru Dikko. Let us agree Danjuma had scores to settle with Buhari. Danjuma was not part of the Buhari Government after all?
Well (clears his throat). You get how we did it in the write-up. But Why? Nobody wants insecurity and Dikko was threatening us too much, with words like they were going to destabilize us; they were going to attack us. Secondly we were not very popular too. And you know, you will always want to do something that will jolt up your popularity rating to get Nigerians to rally around us and we needed that.
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