The Nigerian military had always considered itself as the primary promoter and protector of Nigeria's national interest (whatever that means), and had always discharged this "noble" role by staging coups at every slight opportunity, usually citing corruption of previous governments as reason. In this book, we are exposed to the intricacies of coup plotting, baiting and how attempted coups were foiled.
It is interesting to know that apart from the coup of January 1966, all other coups were carried out by the same group of friends, most of whom were childhood friends. Ibrahim Babangida, Muhammadu Buhari, Sani Abacha, Shehu Musa Yar'adua, David Mark, and so on. They formed a powerful cabal that continued to alternate power amongst each other throughout the course of history, even till today. The book uncovers how "the military doctor became infected by the ills it came to cure". The military that intervened to fight corruption of the civilians ended up superintending over the most corrupt era in Nigerian history.
The Buhari regime was stern in the fight against indiscipline and corruption. Corrupt public officials were tried and inflicted with humongous prison sentences, usually 21 years and above. The lengths Buhari would go in his anti-corruption campaign was fully revealed in the Umaru Dikko case, where the Nigerian government employed the services of the most sophisticated intelligence agency in the world, the Israeli Mossad to track and kidnap Dikko who had fled to London for safety from Buhari's wrath. In Siollun's words "the Buhari regime had zeal and identified the correct areas for reform, but it lacked the finesse and tactical flexibility to effect those reforms without creating opposition for itself". Buhari's tough stance on corruption threatened the economic livelihood of corrupt military, business and political elites who had not yet been convicted.
Subsequently, Babangida who had been a friend to Buhari for over 20 years led a coup to overthrow him. A huge portion of the book is devoted to the Babangida regime. He was the longest serving military Head of State; a very cunning and skillful coup plotter. He was involved in the planning of every successful coup in Nigerian history, and no coup to depose him succeeded. The book reveals how Babangida institutionalized corruption in Nigeria with his popular “settlements” and grandiose governance, and how the notorious IBB boys emerged to be untouchable.
Babangida was the most security-conscious Head of State in history, always on the lookout for coup plotters. He recognized that he staged a coup to overthrow someone and that others would plan to do the same to him someday. We see how this led to the execution of his very best friend, Mamman Vasta, whom he suspected to had been involved in a coup plot against him. Out of the 117 persons executed for coup plotting throughout Nigerian history, 78 were executed by the Babangida regime. Alarming, right? The assassination of Dele Giwa was also sad to read, but the hallmark of the regime was the June 12 election. The author gives us a new view to the story; how the whole annulment was actually spearheaded by Abacha and Babangida’s will was bent.
“Sani, you know, risked his life to get me into office in 1983 &1985; if he says he doesn’t want Chief Abiola, I won’t force Chief Abiola on him”.
 |
| Babangida and his right-hand man, Sani Abacha |
We also see MKO Abiola in new light and might even question the hero status ascribed to him. As a good friend of the military, Abiola used his wealth and influence to destabilize the Shagari administration in order to bring Buhari and Babangida into power. Indeed, the leviathan military he helped enthrone turned around to sting him. The annulment saga was definitely Babangida’s undoing and he had to step down consequently. Reading through the tale on Babangida, I was filled with awe of his deftness in politics and power play, and at the same time filled with much disdain for how the ran Nigeria into the ground. Although, with Babangida leaving office, things were about to get much worse. The diminutive and taciturn Abacha would later stage a coup to unleash a reign of terror in Nigeria.
Soldiers of Fortune is an interesting read and a very insightful unveiling of a chunk of Nigeria’s history that is unknown to many. Siollun manages to tell the gloomy story of Nigeria’s history devoid of banality, while remaining neutral and uncompromising in his narrative. It is quite unbecoming that these very “Soldiers of Fortune” are still much active in Nigerian Politics today, all putting on Agbada, parading to be democrats. Every Nigerian should read this book.
Ifeanyi Chukwudi
One would think that the happenings in this country are very random and sporadic. Careful study and research will convince you otherwise.
ReplyDeleteActions and reactions of Nigeria's historical timeline is very intentional and premeditated. The future of this country is not as bright as people make it out to be.