Major General Muhammadu Buhari Military Regime
In June 1983, among the new graduates of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) was 23 years old 2/Lieutenant Peter Odoba. After commissioning, he was posted to Brigade of Guards Garrison, Lagos to begin a journey. The twists and turns of which he could not have guessed in his wildest dreams. On December 31, 1983, Odoba was the duty officer at the radio station, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Ikoyi, Lagos.
The night before he was casually told by the Acting Commader of Brigade of Guards, Lieutenant Colonel Sabo Aliyu that some armored vehicles and soldiers would be coming to the radio station for an “exercise” and that he should not ask questions or resist. He complied. Shortly thereafter, Brigadier Sani Abacha the then Commander of the 9th Mechanized Infantry Brigade based at Ikeja, arrive to deliver the speech that brought to an end the administration of Alhaji Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari. This brought an end to Nigeria’s second experiment with democracy.
Now let’s walk through each subhead…
- Brigadier Sani Abacha speech that overthrew President Shehu Shagari
- Members of Supreme Military Council (SMC)
- Military Administrators that served under Buhari’s military regime
- Major General Muhammadu Buhari cabinet members/ministers
- How Brigadier Ibrahim Bako was killed
- Who is Bala Shagari?
- Full list of those that took part in the coup d’etat
- What made Nigerians got tired of Buhari’s military regime and
- How Buhari was overthrown.
DECEMBER 1, 1984 BRIGADIER SANI ABACHA SPEECH THAT OVERTHREW PRESIDENT SHEHU SHAGARI
Fellow countrymen and women, I , Brigadier Sani Abacha, of the Nigerian Army address you this morning on behalf of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
You are all living witnesses to the great economic predicament and uncertainty that an inept and corrupt leadership has imposed on our beloved nation for the past four years. I am referring to the harsh, intolerable conditions under which we are now living. Our economy has been hopelessly mismanaged. We have become a debtor and a beggar nation. There is inadequacy of food at reasonable prices for our people who are now fed up with endless announcements of importation of food stuffs. Health services are in shambles as our hospitals are reduced to mere consulting clinics without drugs, water and equipments.
Our educational system is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Unemployment figures including the undergraduates have reached embarrassing and unacceptable proportions. In some states, workers are being owed salary arrears of eight to twelve months and in others there are threats of salary cuts. Yet our leaders revel in squander mania, corruption and indiscipline and continue to proliferate public appointments in complete disregard of our stark economic realities. After due consultations over these deplorable conditions, I and my colleagues in the armed forces have in the discharge of our national interest decided to effect a change in the leadership of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and form a Federal Military Government. This has just been completed.
The Federal Military Government hereby Decree the suspension of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979 relating to all elective and appointive offices and representative institutions including the Office of The President, State Governors, federal and state executive council’s, special advisers, special assistants, the establishment of the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly including the formation of political parties.
Accordingly, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari ceases forth with to be the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. All the incumbents of the above named offices shall, if they have already done so, vacate their formal official residences, surrender all government properties in their possession and report to the nearest police station in their constituencies within seven days. The Clerk of the National Assembly, the President of The Senate and Speaker House of Representatives shall, within two weeks, render account of all the properties of the National Assembly.
Don’t stop reading now…
All the political parties are banned; the bank account of Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) and all other political parties are frozen with immediate effect. All foreigners living in any part of the country are assured of their safety and will be adequately protected.
Henceforth, workers not on essential duties are advised to off the streets. All categories of workers on essential duties will however, report at their places of work immediately. With effect from today, a dusk to dawn curfew will be imposed between 7 PM and 6 AM each day until further notice. All airways flights have been suspended forthwith and all airports, seaports and border posts closed. External communications have been cut. The Customs, the Immigration and the Police will maintain vigilance and ensure watertight security at the borders. The area administrators or commanders will have themselves to be blamed if any of the wanted people escaped.
Fellow countrymen and women, the change in government has been a bloodless and painstaking operation and we do not want anyone to lose his or her life. People are warned in their own interest to be law abiding and give the Federal Military Government maximum cooperation. Anyone caught disturbing public order will be be summarily dealt with. For the avoidance of doubt, you are forewarned that we shall not hesitate to declare martial law in any area or state of the federation in which disturbances occur.
Fellow countrymen and women and comrades at arms. I will like to assure you that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is ready to lay its life for our dear nation but not for the present irresponsible leadership of the past civilian administration. You are to await further announcements, one NIGERIA!
Now this is important…
Before the coup detat that brought Major General Muhammadu Buhari on January 1, 1984. Buhari was the then General Commanding Officer, GOC, of 3rd Armoured Division. Major General Muhammadu Buhari told the nation on January 1, 1984 that
this generation of Nigerians and indeed future generations have no other country than Nigeria. We shall remain here, build and salvage it together.
On January 3, he sworn in the following MEMBERS of SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL (SMC). They are:
- Major General Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon — Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters
- Major General Domkat Yah Bali — Defence Minster
- Major General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida — Chief of Army Staff
- Commodore Augustus Akhabue Ahikomu — Chief of Naval Staff
- Air Vice Marshall Muhammed Alfa — Chief of Air Staff
- Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa — FCT, Minister
- Brigadier General Olayemi Oni — GOC, 1st Mechanized Infantry Division, Kaduna
- Brigadier Sani Abacha — GOC, 2nd Mechanized Division, Ibadan
- Colonel Salihu Ibrahim — GOC, 3rd Mechanized Division, Jos
- Brigadier Yohanna Yarima Kure, GOC, 82nd Division, Enugu
- Brigadier Mohammed Magoro — Minister of Internal Affairs
- Brigadier Muhammed Gado Nasko — Commander-Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery
- Brigadier Paul Ufoma Omu
- Navy Captain Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe — Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command
- Mr. Etim Iyang — Inspector General of Police
- Air Commodore Larry Koinyan
- Mallam Muhammed Lawal Rafindadi
- Mr. Chike Ofodile — Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation
When swearing in members of the Supreme Military Council he said:
Nigeria witnessed in its 23 years of existence as an independent nation the highest rate of inflation, unemployment, retrenchment, the folding up of factories and an almost total collapse of the economic system while few nouveau riche wallowed in affluence. The image of this country both at home and abroad was paralysed by: snatching corruption, smuggling armed robbery, et cetra and the outside administration did not show any capacity to deal with the situation. It was therefore in the best interest of the hungry and suffering masses of our people that the Armed Forces decided to intervene to rehabilitate the nation and it once again the pride of all Nigerians.
Stick with me here because…
On January 4th, 1984 Major General Muhammadu Buhari sworn in the following
MILITARY ADMINISTRATORS:
- Major General Muhammed D. Jega — Gongola State (now split to Adamawa State and Taraba State)
- Brigadier Ike Nwachukwu — Imo State
- Major General Abubakar Waziri — Borno State
- Brigadier John Atom Kpera — Benue State
- Commissioner of Police (CP) Fidelis Oyakhilome — Rivers State
- Brigadier Garba Duba — Sokoto State
- Navy Captain Allison Madueke — Anambra State
- Air Commodore Hamza Abdullahi — Kano State
- Group Captain Salaudeen Adebola Latinwo — Kwara State
- Navy Captain Samuel Atukun — Plateau State
- Group Captain Gbolahan Mudashiru — Lagos State
- Brigadier Jeremiah T. Useni — Bendel State (now Edo State)
- Lieutenant Colonel David Alenchenu Bonaventure Mark — Niger State (He later became Nigeria Senate President during Umar Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan civilian administration)
- Lieutenant Colonel Donaldson Oladipupo Diya — Ogun State
- Air Commodore Usman Muazu — Kaduna State
- Navy Captain Ekpo Archibong — Cross River State
- Commodore Micheal Otiko — Ondo State
- Lieutenant Colonel Oladayo Popoola — Oyo State
- Brigadier Muhammed Sani Sami — Bauchi State
When swearing in the State Military Administrators, Major General Muhammadu Buhari said
you are therefore subject to redeployment at any time as the exigencies of your calling may dictate. All Military Governors are answerable to the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Major General Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon. The channel of communication with me on all matters affecting the governance of the state or the federation is through the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters. Who shall be responsible, inter alia, for the coordination of states administration.
Major General Muhammadu Buhari Cabinet/Federal Ministers (December 31, 1984 — August 27, 1985)
During General Muhammadu Buhari military regime there was only 16 ministries. There was neither state ministers nor junior ministers then. They were all charged to perform credibly well and to report to the then Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Major General Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon.
The ministers are:
- Bukar Shuaib — Minister of Agriculture
- Dr. Mahmud Tukur — Minister of Trade
- Major General Domkat Yah Bali — Minister of Defence
- Patrick Sebo Koshoni — Minister of Works
- Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Abdullahi — Minister of Communication
- Chike Ofodile — Minister of Justice
- Tamunoemi Sokari David (Tam David West) — Minister of Energy
- Sam Omeruah — Minister of Information
- Alhaji Yarima Ibrahim Abdullahi — Minister of Education
- Abdullahi Ibrahim — Minister of Transportation
- Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa — Minister of F.C.T, Abuja
- Dr. Olusegun Onaolapo Soleye — Minister of Finance
- Brigadier Mohammed Magoro — Minister of Internal Affairs
- Emmanuel Nsan — Minister of Health
- Dr. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari — Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Major General Solomon Kikiowo Omojokun — Minister of Labour and Productivity
In swearing in his cabinet members on that day, Major General Muhammadu Buhari declared
It is necessary to restate that this administration is born out the situation very well known to you all. We will not tolerate fraud, indiscipline, squander mania, misuse and abuse of public office for self group aggrandizement and such other vices that characterized the civilian administration of the past years. These vices that had eaten deep in to the fabric of our society will be fought with all resources at our disposal and the co-operation of all Nigerian. You therefore have golden chance to pilot this crusade of national rejuvenation by giving Nigeria a new sense of direction, hope and pride. I believe that you will not fail the nation. Good leadership cannot be but by example
During the first meeting, Major General Muhammadu Buhari who was the Chairman of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) asked the meeting to observed a minute silence for the slain Brigadier Ibrahim Bako. Late Ibrahim Bako, the father of late Brigadier Ibrahim Bako was the friend of Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari.
You’re about to find out…
How Brigadier Ibrahim Bako was killed
Colonel Tunde Ogbeha was tasked by the coup plotters to negotiate the peaceful surrender of President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari’s Brigade of Guards unit. Colonel Ogbeha was unable to contact Colonel Bello Kaliel who was the then Commander of the Guards and engaged in a Lagos to Abuja and back seeking game that made Colonel Bello Kaliel suspicious. Brigadier Ibrahim Bako who was task with the responsibility of arresting President Shagari after Ogbeha.
Brigadier Ibrahim Ahmed Bako
Unknown to Bako nothing of such took place and the coup plot details had been leaked to President Shehu Shagari, Captain Anyogo Augustine and Lieutenant Colonel Eboma. Since the plot had been leaked to them Anyogo said he would take orders only from his Commanding Officer and not from Colonel Tunde Ogbeha who was based in Lagos. Shortly afterward they arranged for troops to be put on alert. In order to take defensive positions on the approach roads, to the State House and reinforced the guards at the State House itself.
Brigadier Ibrahim Bako arrived at the Presidential Villa to carry out the order of arresting President Shagari unlucky for him the guards were not pacified as expected. There was gun duel that resulted into the death of Brigadier Ibrahim Bako.
Who is Bala Shagari?
After Buhari was handed over power by junior officers who organized the coup against Shagari. He didn’t let the deposed president off the hook. Even if the punishment was house arrest in Ikeja, Lagos. The Vice President Alex Ekueme was arrested by Major Mustapha Haruna Jokolo and detained in Bonny Camp before he was relocated to prison.
Later both Shagari and Ekueme were not found guilty by the Justice Uwaifo led panel in 1986. They were released by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
Shehu Shagari eldest son Captain Bala Shagari was pushed away from the army. He was enlisted on December 17, 1977 as member of Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Regular Course 18. Some of his mates advance to higher ranks. Six of them became Major General: E.C. Nwaguma, A.U. Dambatta, O. Akinyemi, D.E. Atiegoba, U.T. Usman and A.K. Amao.
Also, his prominent course mates are: Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Sultan Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar, Hama Bachama and Honest Stephen. According to Captain Bala Shagari (rtd.) after he was served his compulsory retirement letter, he was detained for six weeks in a guest room.
Guess what happened?
Full List of Those Involved in The Coup D’etat
- Major General Muhammadu Buhari — GOC, 3rd Armored Division, Jos.
- Chief Moshood Kasimowo Olawale Abiola — Renowned business man who financed the coup plot according to Major General Ibrahim Babangida
- Major General Ibrahim Babangida — Director of Army Staff Duties and Plans
- Brigadier Ibrahim Bako — Director of Army Faculty, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji and the Acting GOC, 1 Mechanized Division, Kaduna
- Brigadier Sani Abacha — Commander, 9th Mechanized Brigade Ikeja, Lagos State
- Brigadier Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon — Military Secretary of the Nigerian Army
- Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Muhammed Gusau — Director of Military Intelligence
- Lieutenant Colonel Halilu Akilu
- Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Tunde Ogbeha
- Lieutenant Colonel David Alenchenu Bonaventure Mark
- Major Sambo Dasuki (Military Assistant to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Muhammed Inua Wushishi
- Major Abdulmumini Aminu
- Major Lawan Gwadabe — Commanding Officer 245 Recce Battalion, Ikeja
- Major Mustapha Haruna Jokolo (Senior Instructor, Basawa Barracks, Zaria
- Major Abubakar Dangiwa Umar — General Staff Officer, Department of Armour, Army Headquarters
Let me tell you…
Some Things That Occurred During Buhari Military Regime
When Major General Muhammadu Buhari came in to power. He continued with the Shagari’s rationing program and his austerity — inflected economic policies cutting down on imports and government expenditures, as well as trimming down the civil service. Shagari administration paid lip service while Buhari acted on corruption by throwing dozens of Shagari government officials in to prisons.
The strongman sent soldiers to the streets with whips to enforce traffic regulations and ensure commuters form orderly queues at bus stops. Civil servants arriving late to offices were forced to perform frog squats. This were possible because soldiers and a paramilitary corps were empowered to punish “every manifestation of indiscipline”. The discipline campaign was extended to the press, whose freedom was curtailed by Decree 4 — making it an offence for journalists to publish anything “which brings or is calculated to bring the military government ridicule”. Nigeria’s secret police (National Security Organization; NSO) presently known as State Security Service (SSS) or Directorate of State Services (DSS), grew extremely powerful under Buhari’s deputy Major General Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon.
As part of anti-graft measures, Buhari ordered that the Nigerian currency be replaced, forcing all holders of old notes to exchange them at banks within short period. Prices rose while living standard fell.
Keep reading…
In April 1984, the Emir of Gwandu. Alhaji Al Rasheed Jokolo, accompanied by the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dahiru Waziri, hit the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Initial reports indicated that they arrived carrying 53 suitcases that were offloaded at the tarmac by Major Haruna Mustapha Jokolo. The Emir’s son, who came in a military truck. There was no Customs check. The Customs Area Administrator, Atiku Abubakar who later became the Nigerian Vice President during the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo wasn’t on duty.
At that time, Buhari government had given the naira a new look and subjected incoming luggage to check. The Customs men on duty, recorded the suitcases in their station diary and this caught Atiku’s attention.
Later there were talks of the Emir importing foreign currencies. Major Jokolo explained that they were 50 suitcases and not 53 suitcases. He said, the Ambassador arrived with 40 suitcases while other 10 suitcases belonged to 10 persons that were part of the Emir’s entourage. Major Jokolo claimed that the Finance Minister, Onaolapo Soleye , knew their were no pounds and dollars in the suitcases. The military regime later dismissed allegations of foreign currencies importation as baseless. Thanks to Soleye, Atiku Abubakar was able to keep his job.
On November 8, 1984, Fela Anikulapo Kuti the Afro beat musician got a five year jail term from Justice Gregory Okoro-Idogu for illegal exportation of £ 1,600 on September 4, 1984.
In one bizarre incident in London in 1984, a team of of Nigerian and Israelis attempted to kidnap and repartriate the exiled former Minister of Transportation who fled Nigeria after a military coup. He was accused of stealing $1billion (£625 m) of Nigerian government money. An Israeli Mosad agent, Alexander Barak led the kidnap team. A Nigerian Intelligence Officer, Major Mohammed Yusufu and Israeli national Felix Abitol and Dr. Lev-arie Shapiro was contracted to inject Mr. Umaru Dikko with an anesthetic. But the plot was foiled by a young British Customs officer, Charles David Marrow at the Cargo Terminal of Stansted Airport.
This kidnap incident caused one of the worst ever diplomatic crises between Britain and Nigeria. The Nigeria High Commissioner was declared persona non grata in London. The Head of the then now deduct Nigerian Airways narrowly escaped being arrested by British Police. Diplomatic relation between Nigeria and Britain was suspended for two years. The controversy weakened Nigeria’s war on corruption as Britain rejected a subsequent formal request to extradite Umoru Dikko and other Nigerian politicians in the United Kingdom (UK) who were wanted on corruption charges.
Four men were convicted of kidnapping Dikko (three Israelis and a Nigerian) in a trial at the Old Bailey and were jailed. All of them were released and returned to their respective countries after serving their sentences.
Later, Nigerians became tired of Buhari led government heavy handedness and palpable relief came on August of 1985. As fate would have it, twenty months later on Salah Day, Id-el-Kabir August 26/27, 1985, Peter Odoba now a Full Lieutenant, was again at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) radio station, Ikoyi, Lagos. As the duty officer.
Once again he was ordered by his Garrison Commander not to resist when he sees armored vehicles approaching for yet another “exercise”. Shortly thereafter, Colonel Joshua Nimyel Dongoyaro, Director of Manning (“A” Branch) and concurrent Director of the Department of Armour at the Army Headquarters arrived barely taking notice of the young officer. Colonel Dongoyaro announced that Major General Muhammadu Buhari had been overthrown.
At about 1 P.M. of the same day Brigadier Sani Abacha of the then GOC 2nd Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan came on air to announce the appointment of Major General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Who was the then Chief of Army Staff. As the new Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. He appointed Navy Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, who was the then Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command. He became the Chief of General Staff (CGS) in order words Ukiwe became second in command to Major General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida who was the then Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
You’re about to find out…
How Major General Muhammadu Buhari Was Arrested
Major General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida gave the order to arrest Buhari. It was led by Major Abdulmumini Aminu and accompanied by Major Umar Dangiwa and Major Lawan Gwadabe. After he was allowed to dress in his official uniform he was whisked away. After it was obvious the coup was successful. It was then Babangida was announced as the Head of State by Sani Abacha. Buhari was detained at Alagbaka, Akure. He was later transferred to Benin where he was detained till 1988. In fact, he couldn’t attend his late mother funeral when he was in detention.
Credits
https://www.gamji.com/nowa/nowa33.htm
Dr. Nowa Omoigu: Nigeria Palace Coup of 1985
Clifford D. May: Deposed Nigerian president is under arrest — The New York Times, Jan. 4, 1984
Umaro Dikko, the man who was nearly spirited away in a diplomatic bag / The Independent
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/dasuki-facilitate-1983-coup-brought-burial-power-jokolo/
https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/17/a-kinder-gentler-buhari/
The Guardian: Muhammed Buhari, reformed dictator returns to power in democratic Nigeria / world news
How The Kidnap of Umaru Dikko from London was foiled in 1984 — BBC World Service / Sahara Reporters
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/shh-buhari-didnt-topple-shagari/
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/how-buhari-ibb-forced-me-out-of-military-capt-bala-shagari-eldestson-of-late-president-shagari/
