Buhari Challenges IBB , Gusau To Come Clean On Why They Removed Him From Power In 1985

President Muhammadu Buhari has said he was removed from office 31 years ago because he was planning to purge the military hierarchy of corruption.

Buhari, who has not spared the military even in his ongoing anti-corruption war, said senior military leaders, led by former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, and General Aliyu Gusau, removed him in August 1985 to save themselves from his wrath.

In an exclusive interview published in the current edition of The Interview magazine, Buhari challenged Babangida and Gusau to tell the truth on why they carried out the coup against him.

“I learnt,” he said, “that Aliyu Gusau, who was in charge of intelligence, took import licence from the Ministry of Commerce, which was in charge of supplies, and gave it to Alhaji Mai Deribe.

“It was worth N100,000, a lot of money at that time.

“I confronted them and took the case to the Army council in a memo….I wanted Gusau punished.”

In a statement on www:theinterview.com.ng, the Managing Director/Editor-in-chief of The Interview, Azu Ishiekwene, said: “This is one edition that won’t let sleeping dogs lie.”

Babangida had told The Interview in its December edition that there was nothing in the memo which Buhari said he submitted to the Army council.

“Don’t forget that I was one of Buhari’s closest aides. I was the chief of army staff. So, I had an important position, an important role to play within that administration. I don’t think it had to do with a memo,” Babangida said.

But in a tone which revealed that the past may neither have been forgotten nor forgiven, Buhari challenged Babangida and Gusau to come clean on why they removed him, asking The Interview to choose whose story to believe.

He also fielded questions about his health, the 2016 budget, the pace of his government, former President Goodluck Jonathan and why Babatunde Raji Fashola was handed three ministerial portfolios.

The edition also features interviews with Liberian presidential hopeful, Winston Tubman, and retired Justice Dahiru Saleh, the controversial judge whose court nailed June 12.

And in an interview which indicates that the battle for 2019 could be well and truly underway, pharmacist and rotarian, Dr. Mike Omotosho, aims at the Kwara State Government House.

His road map would give rivals sleepless nights.

President Buhari also spoke on why he was averse to the inclusion of members of the private sector in his administration’s Economic Management Team because such people frequently steer government policy to suit their own narrow interests.

He said he did not include private players in his team because such people do not work for the over-all national interest.

He said, “The Vice-President heads our Economic Management Team.

“You have Finance Minister, Budget and Planning Minister, Minister for Industry, Trade and Investments, Governor at the Central Bank, National Economic Adviser and others. Some still ask for a team. I don’t know how they define the word ‘team.’

“We will listen to everybody but we are averse to economic team whose private sector members frequently steer government policy to suit their own narrow interests rather than the over-all national interest.”

Buhari also said that one of the things on his priority list is to change the way things are done in Nigeria.

He said that was the only way that could lead the nation into a great future.

Buhari was also said to have expressed his desire to see a Nigeria where all funds are used to the benefit of the common man.

“My wish is that we will truly change the way we do things in Nigeria. Therein lies the future of our country as a great entity.

“I also wish for a fully diversified Nigerian economy which is no longer dependent on oil only and a Nigeria where every naira that comes into the treasury is used for the good of the people, particularly, the ordinary people,” the President said.

Independent newspaper.