As Nigeria celebrates 21 years of a return to democracy, former Chief Security Officer to late Dictator, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al Mustapha has revealed that his late boss survived 8 Coup attempts before his eventual death.
Late General Sani Abacha was the main beneficiary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential elections won by late Chief MKO Abiola.
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Abacha accused MKO of treason and locked him up after taking over from the Interim National Government led by Ernest Shonekan.
22 years after the death of Sani Abacha, Major Al Mustapha revealed that the dictator survived 8 coup attempts but only 3 was made public.
He made this know during an interview with the Hausa service of the BBC.
“Let me tell you something about Abacha, eight coups were staged to topple him before he died, he said.
“Nigerians knew of only three coup attempts against Abacha, but there were eight coup attempts. He died when they were plotting the 8th.”
Following the recent trend of Northerners who have been trying to paint late Abacha as a saint, Al Mustapha said Nigerians should ask for those who stole billions when they realised the dictator was dead instead of vilifying him.
“I am surprised by the way Abacha is being blackmailed. I am surprised because when he assumed leadership, Nigeria had less than $2bn in the foreign reserve.
“The person that raised Nigeria’s image and enhanced security is now the subject of insult. But those who shared the money he left are still alive and untouchable.”
Al Mustapha further insinuated that Abacha stashed Nigeria’s monies in various banks across the world after due consultation with stakeholders including Monarchs across the country.
“I have said it that there was a period Nigeria was to be sanctioned. So there were plans to keep money overseas so that Nigeria and Nigerians would not suffer when the sanction was imposed on the country.
“We gathered emirs and chiefs from the South and from the North, together with VIPs of that time; those in government and those not in government. We met at a place called Camp Bassey Officers’ Mess in the Brigade of Guards. It was there we deliberated on the threat to sanction Nigeria. Many decisions were made,” he concluded.
General Sani Abacha died on June 8, 1998 of an apparent heart attack at the age of 54.
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