Saturday 18 July 2015

Buhari's 'coup d'état' against Sambo Dasuki: Classic example of a bungled revenge

Buhari's 'coup d'état' against Sambo Dasuki: Classic example of a bungled revenge
On 31 December 1983, a young military Major, Sambo Dasuki a military assistant to General Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi played an active role in the military coup d'état that removed the civilian government of Shehu Shagari and installed Major General Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria's Head of State.

Barely one year later on 27th August, 1985, Major Sambo Dasuki led four other majors Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, Lawan Gwadabe, and Abdulmumini Aminu, to  arrest the then Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari. The Sallah day 1985 palace coup was led by Major General Ibrahim Babangida, who compensated Dasuki by making him his Aide-de-camp (ADC). 

Fast-forward to 2015, on the eve of the Sallah day, July 16th, Buhari once again the president of Nigeria, sent his bloodhounds to harass and terrorise now Col, Sambo Dasuki. Agents of the Nigeria's secret police, the Department of State Security Service (DSS) in a Gestapo-styled operation stormed Dasuki's in Abuja and Sokoto.

Between Thursday eve­ning and 6pm Friday, DSS operatives had been searching for Dasuki in his Abuja and Sokoto homes. Though, he was believed to be in his Abuja home. He eventually allowed the DSS detectives to enter his house to execute a search warrant. At the end of the search, it was learnt that items recovered from the house included $40,000, three automatic rifles and his travel documents. 

Although Buhari's handlers have tried to paint the raid on the former National Security Adviser's residence as an anti corruption campaign, the manner the operation was carried out suggests it was a revenege - albeit a poorly handled one.

One of the highlights of the event was the prevention of Dasuki from participating in the Ramadan festivities, which were in high gear at the time of his travails.

A top security official was quotaed as saying that many exotic vehicles were taken away from the premises of the former security adviser to unknown destination.


The Peaoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the Buhari government for witch-hunting those who served the PDP administration under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.

He said it was unfortunate that a high ranking official of that administration like Dasuki could be treated like a common criminal by the new government instead of according him respect by summoning him to appear before the court, if he had any reason to do so.

“It is clear to all meaning persons that this government is after those who served under the PDP government led by Jonathan and we hereby called on the global community to call them to order in the interest of peace,” PDP spokesman Olisah Metuh said.

A top security official confirmed to Saturday Vanguard that the service was bent on arresting Dasuki and taking him to its office to answer several questions relating to how defence funds running into trillions of Naira was utilised during his three-year tenure.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has also condemned the invasion and sealing-off of the Abuja and Sokoto residences of Dasuki  by men of the DSS, saying; “persecution of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts and others perceived as opposed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government is an ominous sign of imminent return of dictatorship and draconian rule in Nigeria.” 

 “President Buhari should rather keep Boko Haram under house arrest, not opposition party members. Those heavily armed security men that invaded Col. Dasuki’s Abuja and Sokoto homes should have been put to a better use by sending them to the Boko Haram ravaged North Eastern part of Nigeria.

“The president should keep the rising exchange rates of Dollar, Pound Sterling, Euro and other foreign currencies under house arrest. He should pay attention to governance, be guided by the rule of law and be for everyone and for nobody as he promised when he was sworn into office.”

The entire operation is a bungled revenge mission, which has exposed the depth of Buharis vengeance - simples!





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