Buhari on Revenge Mission over 1985 Coup that Ousted Him —Yakassai

Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, national chairman, Northern Elders Council (NEC) and elder statesman, has warned former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and all those that participated in the 1985 coup de tat that overthrew General Muhammadu Buhari to prepare for the worst.

Alhaji Yakassai who spoke in an interview with National Daily in Kaduna, categorically warned that the invasion, arrest, detention and ransacking of the residence of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, is a clear pointer that Buhari is up to something terrible for those who overthrew him 30 years ago.

“I don't know Buhari very closely but those who are close to him told me that he doesn't forget easily neither does he forgive easily. So, with these two submissions in mind, I believe that Dasuki and his likes will not be too surprise on any move by Buhari,” Yakassai stated.

He added that “Again, as National Security Adviser to former President Jonathan, he was the most important personality in the scheme of things, especially, when all security matters must pass through his office before getting to the President. So, his detention was not a surprise because I know sooner than later, he will be targeted.”

Yakassai further observed: “I don't know whether you are aware that he was one of the three officers that arrested General Buhari during the 1985 coup staged by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and they took him (Buhari) into detention. From the way things are going now, even if Buhari says he is not on revenge mission, I will not believe him. He may not really be focusing on former President Goodluck Jonathan's aides because he was not the one that overthrew him in 1985. Of course, those who served under Jonathan must also be ready for any consequence. But most importantly are those who overthrew him in that coup must be prepared to face Buhari because I will not be surprised if he eventually turns his focus on them and I think Dasuki's detention is a bad signal to them. I don't want to mention names but they know themselves and they must be prepared to face the worst.”

The elder statesman also said that Buhari should have impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians before embarking on the revenge mission of going after those who overthrew him during the military era.

Officials of the Department of Security Services (DSS), last week, swooped on the residence of the former NSA and ransacked his three homes, two in Abuja and one Sokoto while placing him under house arrest.

But the embattled former National Security Adviser has denied arresting President Muhammadu Buhari, shortly after he was overthrown as a Military Head of State in August 1985.