Jonathan’s loyalists suggested military coup after Buhari’s victory, new book reveals
- Supporters of former President Goodluck wanted a military coup to prevent Muhammadu Buhari from assuming power after the 2015 election
- Bolaji Abdullahi, a former minister under Jonathan made this allegation in his new book
- The book revealed that PDP chiefs later held a meeting where it was decided that Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu, should reject the outcome of the election
Bolaji Abdullahi, a minister under Goodluck Jonathan from 2011-2014 has claimed that some of the of the supporters of former President Goodluck wanted a military coup to prevent Muhammadu Buhari from assuming power after the 2015 presidential election.
Abdullahi who made this allegation in his upcoming book: ‘On a Platter of Gold: How Jonathan Won and Lost Nigeria’ wrote that after Jonathan had conceded the election to Buhari, it was suggested that the military should stage a coup.
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The coup, according to the advance copy of the book made available to the Cable, would dispose Jonathan and stop Buhari from taking power.
“Many in President Jonathan’s circles were still convinced that he had moved too quickly to congratulate Buhari. As they saw it, he should have tarried a while and possibly consulted more. In spite of what had happened however, it was still possible to salvage something. Jonathan’s call had more or less shut the door on everything. However, so long as Buhari had not been sworn in, there would still be cracks that sheer grit and guile could blow wide open.
“Another meeting was quickly summoned. Again, the idea of military takeover was mooted. The two most senior military officers at the meeting held to deliberate on this however advised that it was too late in the day. The ideal moment would have been before the six weeks postponement. If they had taken over at the time, they would have sacked (INEC chairman Attahiru) Jega as part of the military intervention and announced a new date for the election.
“While they might not be able to keep Jonathan in power, they would have been able to guarantee that Buhari would not be president. As things stood, no one would be able to withstand the bloodletting that could follow a military takeover after a clear winner had emerged.”
Going further, the book revealed that PDP chiefs later held a meeting where it was decided that Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu, who was then the national chairman, should issue a statement rejecting the outcome of the election and that the party would head for the tribunal.
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But Mu’azu declined after the statement was drafted, saying: “I am not a b*stard. I have honour to protect. The man who contested the election had conceded defeat. I should now be the one to say that the party would not accept defeat? When the candidate was picking his phone to congratulate the winner, did he consult with the party?”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Bolaji Abdullahi, a minister under Goodluck Jonathan from 2011-2014 alleged that former Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko wanted presidential candidate Buhari prosecuted for “certificate forgery” and disqualified from contesting in the 2015 election.
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Source: Legit.ng
