How I Treated Buhari on the Day of His Arrest in 1985 - Ex NSA, Sambo Dasuki Reveals

Dasuki (in white kaftan) during a court appearance in Abuja

The former NSA, Sambo Dasuki who has been in detention for more than one-year now, has revealed how he treated President Muhammadu Buhari on the day of his arrest in 1985.  

While speaking in a new book written by award winning public relation professional, Yushau Shuaib, the embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki opened up how he treated President Muhammadu Buhari on the day of his arrest in 1985.

 

Shuaib in his book titled: "An Encounter with the Spymaster", said the former NSA who was then the military officer, told him how he (Dasuki) traveled to Jos alongside two young officers to bring Buhari, a major general then, about the 1983 coup.

 

The Author who described Buhari as a major beneficiary of the 1983 coup that ousted Shehu Shagari out of power, adding that the former NSA told him that General Buhari expressed bitterness about Dasuki's stewardship in public institutions.

 

He said; "Dasuki assured the then General officer Commanding (of the 3rd Armoured Division) not to worry about such reckless and mischievous insinuation."

 

Shuaib said he however asked Dasuki why he participated in the 1985 coup just two years after he had helped Buhari get into power.

 

"He simply answered that General Buhari should know whom he should blame. Probing further, I inquired how he treated Buhari on the day of the August 1985 coup," Shuaib said.

 

To the inquiry Dasuki replied: "I always respect and dignify my seniors and those in positions of authority. Though a young officer, I was reluctant to be among those that arrested him. And I was not."

 

Dasuki continued: "I only met him afterwards at Bonny Camp with Lawal Rafindadi. There is no way I could have maltreated him as being as alleged in some quarters. I am glad most of the actors are still alive."

 

Shuaib noted that the former NSA informed him that he (Dasuki) and some other officers confronted the late Sani Abacha over the June 12 election that saw Moshood Abiola as the winner.

"Their actions led to the premature retirement. The persecution that followed forced him to exile where he teamed up with opposition elements struggling for the return of democracy in Nigeria," Shuaib added.

 

He also said that Dasuki narrated how he supported Buhari's campaign aspirations in 2003, 2007, 2011.

"In fact, he mentioned names of individuals who were also privy to his active involvement inducing respected Northern elements like Adamu Adamu, Bashir Kurfi, Wada Maida, Sule Hamman and Kabir Yusuf among others," Shuaib said.