I never planned to kill Ishaya Bamaiyi - Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday said that his
government never plotted to kill former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen.
Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd) as claimed by Bamaiyi in his book.
Obasanjo said this while playing host to members of the Correspondents
Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Chapter, at his hilltop
residence in Abeokuta.
The former president explained that his administration only asked
Bamaiyi to respond to accusations that he was responsible for some
killings, saying that the decision was legitimate.
“That I wanted to kill him? What of the people he killed? My government did not plot to kill him.
“My government asked him to answer to those that were alleged to have been killed by him and that is legitimate.
“That if there is an allegation that you have done something, that you
have committed a crime, then you are arrested, you should answer and
that is all.
“Who the hell is he that I would want to kill him? Kill him for what? To achieve what? No!
“There were allegations; the police and the law enforcement agencies decided to look into the allegations.
“They invited him and they asked him to answer as a result of what was found, so they charged him to court.
“So, it’s now up to him, the investigators as I said, the prosecutors and the judiciary. That’s all,” Obasanjo said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bamaiyi had recently
alleged that his incarceration for more than eight years was punishment
for opposing the choice of Obasanjo as successor to former Head of
State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The allegation was contained in his book, ‘Vindication of A General’ which was unveiled last weekend in Abuja.
Bamaiyi also claimed in the book that the incarceration was to keep
him away for fear that he would overthrow the Obasanjo government.
He wrote that as soon as Obasanjo took over, Gen. Abubakar and some of
his people told Obasanjo that if he [Bamaiyi] was left free, he would
overthrow the government.
Speaking on corruption, Obasanjo said investigation must be proper, thorough and undertaken with all seriousness. - The Authority
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