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Buhari on IBB coup : All you need to know about how he was toppled in 1985

President Muhammadu Buhari revisited the August 27, 1985 coup when he said military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Aliyu Gusau, removed him to save themselves from his wrath.
Buhari made the revelation in an interview with The Interview magazine where he challenged Babangida and Gusau to tell the truth on why they carried out the coup against him.
He said, “I learnt 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.”
He also answered questions about his health, administration and some if his ministers like the minister of Power, Babtunde Raji Fashola (SAN).
Here is all you need to know about the 27 August 1985 palace coup :
Babangida led the palace coup which terminated the Buhari’s 20 months reign.
The coup took place on August 27, 1985, which coincides with Sallah Day festival, Id-el-Kabir.
Reason for the coup
As stated by Nowa Omoigui , the erstwhile Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy (Major General Tunde Idiagbon) were accused of dictatorial lack of consultation with their military colleagues, gross abuse of human rights, exemplified by mass detention of politicians and others without due process, proscription of professional organizations, muzzling of the Press and promulgation of retroactive laws (for example, execution of drug peddlers).To this was added insensitivity to respected leaders of thought in various parts of Nigeria, the issue of counter-trade and alleged intent to take the IMF Loan against popular wishes.
Buhari was accused of not distributing positions to junior officers.
Another reason was attributed to displeasure on the part of Chief MKO Abiola, who was alleged to have helped finance the 1983 coup. Abiola was upset not only with the decision of the Buhari regime to seize and auction a large consignment of his newsprint (which had allegedly been smuggled into the country) but also with an inquiry into the possible role of a relative in the drug trade.
Buhari in an interview in Kaduna on March 20, 2002, shed some light on why the coup occurred – “We had confirmed evidence on that for the second time. Aliyu Mohammed had been making money from passing on contracts to the tune of N1m, which was worth $1.4m at the time. It was brought before the army council and Aliyu was retired. Some of those involved are dead. But enough of us who were there are still alive and they know this is what happened…I had no intention of retiring Babangida…Babangida felt threatened, he was close to Aliyu and perhaps he was afraid. He was head of the armoured corps, he could move.”
Some of the key players in support of the coup included 
· Major General Ibrahim Babangida – Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
-Brigadier Sani Abacha – GOC, 2nd Mechanised Division, Ibadan Former military Head of State.
· Colonel JT Dogonyaro – Director, Department of Armour, Army HQ
· Colonel Aliyu Mohammed Gusau – former Director, Defence Intelligence Agency
· Lt. Col. Halilu Akilu – Director of Military Intelligence
· Lt. Col. Tanko Ayuba – Commander, Corps of Signals
· Lt. Col. David Mark – Military Governor, Niger State former Senate president.
· Lt. Col. John Nanzip Shagaya – Commander, 9th Mechanised Brigade
· Lt. Col. Chris Abutu Garuba – Commander, 34 Self Propelled Artillery Brigade, Jos
· Lt. Col. Raji Alagbe Rasaki – Commanding Officer, AHQ Garrison and Signals Group, Lagos
· Col. Anthony Ukpo – Deputy Director, Defence Intelligence Agency, Lagos
· Major John Madaki – Commanding Officer, 123 Guards Battalion, Ikeja
· Major Abdulmumuni Aminu – Military Assistant to the COAS
· Major Lawan Gwadabe – just back from US Armour School, Fort Knox, returning to 245 Recce Battalionwhere he was the former Commanding Officer
· Major Abubakar Dangiwa Umar –General Staff Officer (1), Department of Armour, AHQ, then Chairman Federal Housing Authority
·Major Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, Staff Officer, HQ Corps of Artillery (and son of Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, who later became the 17th Sultan of Sokoto).
·Major Maxwell Khobe – Commanding Officer, Armour Headquarters Company (201 “Administrative” Unit) Ikeja
· Major UK Bello – Commanding Officer, 202 Armoured Battalion, Kaduna
· Major Kefas Happy Bulus – Acting Commanding Officer, 245 Recce Battalion, Ikeja
· Captain Nuhu Umaru – 2ic, 202 Armoured Battalion, Kaduna
· Captain Sule Ahman, Supply and Transport, Ikeja Cantonment
· Captain Musa Shehu (2ic to the Commanding Officer, Recce Battalion in Jos)
Executing the Plan
The plan was hatched by Major General Ibrahim Babangida and other top Military Chiefs.
Sources claim that planning took place in Lagos, Minna and London. In Minna, capital of the home state of the COAS and principal location for the conspiracy, the Military Governor, Lt. Col. David Mark, allegedly provided cover, guest houses and other resources for such activity.
Idiagbon had traveled out of the country on pilgrimage, Chief MKO Abiola was alleged to be well aware of the plot and accompanied Idiagbon for the pilgrimage as a form of deception and a source of intelligence.
Babangida and Brigadier Abacha could not be reached by Buhari in the early hours of August 26, 1985. Major Jokolo (ADC to the Buhar) and Col. Sabo Aliyu (Commander, Brigade of Guards) were arrested around 9pm that same day. With heavy military surveillance around the country and only a group of untrusted Soldiers around Buhari, it was clear that Power has been wrestled from him. He waited patiently for his arrest the next day.
Four young Majors detailed to arrest Buhari are Majors Umar Dangiwa, Lawan Gwadabe, Abdulmumuni Aminu and Sambo Dasuki. The same Dasuki under custody for allegedly misappropriating $2.1bn arms money.
Guards Garrison Commander, Colonel Joshua Dogonyaro’s made the crucial radio broadcast after Buhari’s arrest on August 27, 1985 announcing the coup.
In Jos, the GOC of the 3rd Armoured Division, then Brigadier Salihu Ibrahim was arrested at home by a team of soldiers led by Lt. Col. Chris Abutu Garuba, then Commander, 34 Self Propelled Artillery Brigade, Jos.
Other key army commands were also under the control of the coup plotters.
Major General Babangida made a broadcast to the Nigerian people on August 27, 1985, after flying from Minna, where he reportedly went to spend the Muslim festival Sallah Day, Id-el-Kabir.
The coup was described by many as bloodless and perfectly executed, however it was alleged that a group of soldiers opened fire without provocation at a group of Policemen killing an untold number in the process.
 – Nowa Omoigui -THE PALACE COUP OF AUGUST 27, 1985.
– Olalekan Olonilua for encomium.ng

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