The August 1985 coup
in Nigeria
was regarded as a palace coup, a smooth changing of the guards. I have no idea
if anyone died in the operation but the event itself has refused to die, thanks
to President Muhammadu Buhari. The victim of that coup, Buhari, has reminded us
from time to time that he was unfairly removed as the head of state and kept in
detention for three years by the Ibrahim Babangida boys. Let us roll back the
tape a little bit. On December 31, 1983 as Nigerians were at various prayer
venues asking God to make 1984
a better year than 1983, they had no idea that Buhari
and his co-conspirators were on the verge of removing a legitimately elected
civilian government headed by President Shehu Shagari.
*President Buhari |
Many Nigerians may
have been amazed at the scale of rigging in the October 1983 Presidential
elections but may not have expected a return of the military to the
presidential podium after 13 years of brutal military dictatorship. Nigerians
woke up on January 1 not knowing whether to say to each other a ‘Happy New Year’
or a ‘Happy New Government’ since they were uncertain what was in the belly of
the coup. One year and eight months later, Buhari was overthrown by the same
Babangida Boys who put him on the throne. Babangida now took over the
presidential chair and kept Buhari in detention for about three years.
Apparently, Buhari has not been able to bring himself to forgive or forget
since then.