One has just finished reading The Guardian interview of the retired General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma in which he promised a “grenade” of Memoir “that will expose the ‘funning lies’ and misrepresentation on (sic) his role and others in Nigeria’s history.”

Though, the interview itself was not as detailed as one had expected which was unusual coming from The Guardian newspaper, it was very tantalizing. Once again he broached the issue of his old friend Olusegun Obasanjo whining that the latter was doing his Third Term as President through the presidency of Umar Yar’Adua.

For those familiar with the history of the Nigerian macabre dance, General Danjuma should be a familiar figure.  Without any doubt, any memoir coming from a personality like him would be a bombshell. It is one’s view that such a treatise would help others to understand better some of the thinking that propelled certain historical events in Nigeria

However for the upcoming “MEMOIR” to be a true “GRENADE,” it is the view of this writer that answers have to be provided to the following questions:

(a) What do you think of the Nigeria political scene between 1962 and January 15, 1966?

(b) What do you think of the coup of January 15, 1966 led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu?

(c) What were your roles in the July 1966 coup that led to the murder of General Aguiyi Ironsi and Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi?

(d) Why did you have to murder those gentlemen?

(e) What roles did you play in the days, weeks and months leading to the beginning of the Civil War?

(f) As an influential military officer that helped to install then Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon as Head of State in the July 1966 Coup what role did you play in making the former Head of State play “hardball” with Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu so that some more Igbo could be killed?

(g) What was your rationale of amassing troops on the Northern border of Biafra when negotiations were still going on? On whose order was this done? Or was it just your decision?

(h) Did you in any form or shape, covert or overt engage in any acts of commission or omission to encourage the mass killings of Igbo in the North before the Biafran debacle?

(i) What do you know about the assassination of the Ogbomosho born Colonel Shittu Alao the first Nigerian Air Force officer?

(j) What do you know about the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr. Ademola (Justice Adetokunbo Ademola’s younger brother) who was assassinated for refusing to alter the autopsy report on Colonel Shittu Alao?

(k) What were your roles in the 1975 Coup that brought General Murtala Mohammed to power?

(l) After the assassination of Murtala Mohammed what were your roles in making Olusegun Obasanjo the succeeding Head of State?

(m) What were your positions on Ibrahim Babangida’s complicity in the escape of Lt. Colonel Bukar Sukar Dimka from the Radio Nigeria during the coup?

(n) How did Babangida escape being tried for that complicity?

(o) Did you think justice and fairness was done to Nigeria for allowing such a travesty?

(p) Do you now think you owe Nigerians any apology for that serious mistake that has had a ricochet effects on Nigeria’s political, economic, social and religious fortunes?

(q) What were the circumstances surrounding the rapid promotion of General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua to make him N0.2 to Olusegun Obasanjo?

(r) Did you actually lead the invasion of the Shrine of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti?

(s) What was the need to murder Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti?

(t) If there was the great need for her to be killed (which is very difficult to fathom), why did you have to have her thrown from the upstairs of her house at such old age?

(u) What were the sins of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti for him to have deserved such a treatment?

(v) What was the role of Olusegun Obasanjo in this debacle? Did you receive encouragement from your friend regarding this issue or you were just acting on your own?

(w) What were your roles in 1979 Elections that rigged in Alhaji Shehu Shagari as the President of Nigeria?

(x) Did you think that Shehu Shagari actually won that election?

(y) If so, why did the premature retirement of the Chief Justice of Federation before the hearings on the Election?

(z) Was the Olusegun Obasanjo’s Supreme Military Council in which you were the moving spirit out to stop Obafemi Awolowo and or Nnamdi Azikwe from the start?

(aa) What was and is your reaction to the changing of the 1979 Constitution without the SMC sitting to remove the Electoral College clause to ensure Shagari’s victory in 1979?

(bb) Going by the disastrous rule of Alhaji Shehu Shagari (1979-1983) do you now think that you owe Nigerians any apologies?

(cc) What was your view(s) of the Generals Mohamadu Buhari/ Tunde Idiagbon regime?

(dd) What is you assessment of the Ibrahim Babangida military presidency that supplanted that regime?

(ee) What do you have to say on the phantom Coup that led to the execution of General Mamman Vatsa?

(ff) What do you think about the Gideon Okar’s Coup?

(gg) What is your view(s) on the June 12 imbroglio?

(hh) Do you think justice was done by that annulment?

(ii) Do you think that Nigeria has atoned for that annulment?

(jj) What is your view of Ernest Shonekan’s Interim Regime’s 82 days in office?

(kk) What is your view of General Sanni Abacha’s tenure as maximum ruler of Nigeria?

(ll) What role or roles did you play in the emergence of General AbdulSalaam as Head of State after the sudden death of General Abacha?

(mm) What do you know about the circumstances leading to the death of General Tunde Idiagbon and Chief M. K. O. Abiola?

(nn) What do you know or think about the assassination of late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua under Abacha’s regime?

(oo) What were your roles in making you friend Olusegun Obasanjo president in 1999?

(pp) How comfortable were you supporting Obasanjo in 1999 knowing fully well that he (Obasanjo) had active support from Ibrahim Babangida?

(qq) Going by the experience of Nigerians under Shehu Shagari and Olusegun Obasanjo civilian administrations in which you played active roles to install, do you now think that you owe Nigerians any apologies?

(rr) What were your experiences under the civilian leadership of Olusegun Obasanjo?

(ss) How much are you worth in assets (liquid and solid)?

(tt) How much was your worth when you retired from the Military?

(uu) How did you make your money so that others who want to make it can follow in your foot steps?

(vv) What do you think of these personalities: Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe, S. L. Akintola, Tafawa Balewa, Michael Okpara, Dennis Osadebey,  Dr. Moses Majekodunmi and Sir Kashim Ibrahim?

(ww) What do you think of Majors Kaduna Nzeogwu, Adewale Ademoyega, Emmanuel Ifeajuna and others?

(xx) What do you think of  Benjamin Adekunle a.k.a The Black Scorpion, Dimgba Odumegwu Ojukwu, Yakubu Gowon, David Ejoor, Olu Bajowa, Domkat Bali, Alani Akinrinade, Murtala Mohammend, Olusegun Obasanjo, Mohammed Shuwa, as military men?

(yy) In 2008, what are your views and or assessment of Olusegun Obasanjo as a human being?

(zz) Finally what are your regrets as an active actor on the Nigerian political scene for about four decades?

These are the questions I am fervently hoping that General Danjuma’s “grenade” of a memoir would address.  One is hoping that he would be as candid, frank and forthright as usual.  Anything short of this would make the memoir an ordinary water hose and would not be good enough even to be a rubber bullet not to speak of a “grenade.” One can not wait to read it.

Robot  Villager

# 1 These are the questions I am fervently hoping that General Danjuma’s “grenade” of a m...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 19.02.2008 11:13

maxsiollun  Villager

# 2 Remi, nearly all these questions have already been answered in published material. Danjuma's already published biography addresses virtually every single one of your questions. Your questions regarding the post independence era up to 1979 are in that book. He filled in many other gaps in the Guardian interview you referenced. For the record, I seem to recall that Col Shittu Alao died in a helicopter crash. Posted by maxsiollun| 19.02.2008 12:40

yashuaib1  Villager

# 3 Maxsiollon, Thanks for your immediate and timely response. Because the civil war happened before I was born, the interview with Danjuma in the Guardian get me nerveousness and feverious condition of what could have happened at that period in time. The merciless massacre of our political leaders; the unprovoked aggression on our finest senior military officers and in some cases as I learnt from the interview, with their wives; the murderous retaliation in Abeokuta and Ibadan; the ssenseless civil war; the surprise emergence of young officer and bachelor Yakubu Gowwon as Nigeria's leader; the assasination of Murtala and the interplay on who should be the new head of state and cowardice disposition of OBJ, pleading he wanted to retire; and the many many accounts from that interview that make the guardian piece a good preview to the book, are very instructive. I learnt why military in the past was very lucrative profession for courageous pple(!) who could easily takeover government. I think if we can still have an update from Remi questions it wouldnt be out of place. WE WANT THE BOOK VERY NOW. YAShuaib Posted by yashuaib1| 19.02.2008 15:58

slay  Villager

# 4 remi: you need obasanjo to answer some of those questions also. or do you see any reason why he shouldn't? he has been involved in the military as long as danjuma, so treat them equally. Posted by slay| 19.02.2008 16:57

PAPIG  Villager

# 5 Your questions are definitely thought-provoking. I am particularly interested in the ones relating to the Ransome-Kutis including Fela, giving their pedigree of honesty and their dogged fight to emancipate the people of Nigeria from man made poverty in which we have been consigned to. No thanks to our rampaging military and political leaders since independence. You may have wagged the tiger's tail. Over to you Theophilus. Please do not do a Nuhu Aliyu! Posted by PAPIG| 19.02.2008 17:25

maxsiollun  Villager

# 6 Yashuaib, the Guardian interview is largely a regurgitation of an account he gave in his biography. That biography was written over 25 years ago. The material is already out there for those who are curious. There are some factual errors here and there in Danjuma's account. For example, contrary to what Danjuma said, the officers meeting at the Abeokuta garrison was NOT attended solely by Igbo officers. That is patently not true. The garrison commander called a meeting of ALL officers irrespective of ethnic or religious origin. The officer that gathered others for the meeting was even a northerner. Some non-Igbo officers were also shot at Abeokuta. In fact one of the northern officers in the mess was accidentally shot in the melee. I have the names of the northern officers that attended the meeting. OBJ's behaviour in the circumstances was understandable. He saw what happened to his predecessors: Murtala (murdered), Gowon (overthrown by his own head of security), Ironsi (murdered), Balewa (murdered). Was wise to be cautious in the circumstances. =yashuaib1;4294990084>Maxsiollon, Thanks for your immediate and timely response. Because the civil war happened before I was born, the interview with Danjuma in the Guardian get me nerveousness and feverious condition of what could have happened at that period in time. The merciless massacre of our political leaders; the unprovoked aggression on our finest senior military officers and in some cases as I learnt from the interview, with their wives; the murderous retaliation in Abeokuta and Ibadan; the ssenseless civil war; the surprise emergence of young officer and bachelor Yakubu Gowwon as Nigeria's leader; the assasination of Murtala and the interplay on who should be the new head of state and cowardice disposition of OBJ, pleading he wanted to retire; and the many many accounts from that interview that make the guardian piece a good preview to the book, are very instructive. I learnt why military in the past was very lucrative profession for courageous pple(!) who could easily takeover government. I think if we can still have an update from Remi questions it wouldnt be out of place. WE WANT THE BOOK VERY NOW. YAShuaib Posted by maxsiollun| 19.02.2008 18:42

apanajare  Villager

# 7 =maxsiollun;4294990021>Remi, nearly all these questions have already ben answered in published material. Danjuma's already published biography addresses virtually every single one of your questions. Your questions regarding the post independence era up to 1979 are in that book. He filled in many other gaps in the Guardian interview you referenced. For the record, I seem to recall that Col Shittu Alao died in a helicopter crash. Dear Maxsiollun, Yes, the death of Col Shittu Alao was officially recorded as being caused by the Helicopter crash. But Dr. Ademola who did his autopsy had insisted that he was short before the crash of the helicopter. His refusal to change that autopsy report to suit the official position was said to be the reason Dr. Ademola himself was later assassinated by some army boys who tied him to the back of a Landrover and dragged him to his death! I think it is a good thing that this was included by the author among other questions given the rabid northernism of T. Y. Danjuma and his power within the military. Posted by apanajare| 19.02.2008 19:16

ajis15  Villager

# 8 Max: I miss Danjuma's interview with the Guardian. Would you or somebody please post the interview? Thanks. Posted by ajis15| 20.02.2008 06:05

Oghre  Villager

# 9 TY Danjuma is not a saint; the man has oil block allocated to him by corrupt regimes and his name is synonymous with corrupt Lebanese money laundry. I can understand his chairmanships and memberships of some company boards but he is not clean when it comes to contact allocations and oil well misappropriations The man has not credibility to talk about corruption, he served under many dictatorships and illegitimate civilian governments. a disgruntled crook is still a crook Posted by Oghre| 20.02.2008 07:05

overdryv  Villager

# 10 People like TY Danjuma are exactly the problem with Nigeria, a place where known crooks and conmen come to the public domain to proffer solutions. It is high time people tell him that Nigeria would never make any headway with his likes bestriding the political space. The part that interest me most was his insistence that he would go on exile if Obj was not made president in 1999. Can he say in all honesty that he took this position in the interest of Nigerian people? Was it not a ploy to perpetuate the military in power, using someone like Obj whose military training makes it impossible for him to have democratic credentials? Does Danjuma have any ill feeling about owning oil wells that make it possible for him to be a dollar billionaire when most citizens live below poverty level? The questions to be asked here are: why give oil wells to individuals who have nothing to do with oil producing areas? How many generals in other parts of the world become billionaires after retirement? TY Danjuma's disagreement with Obj arose out of something which has not been made public. He could afford to antagonize Obj because he knows his cowardly antecedents. His hailing from the north gives him much leverage to take on Obj who has been in the same cabal games with him for decades and Obj in turn knows the role the Yoruba can play to destabilize Nigeria and he uses this to a full advantage. This is the very reason why Yar'adua could not afford to mess around with him. For now, Nigeria would continue to serve the interests of this clique and their foreign backers. Posted by overdryv| 20.02.2008 10:16

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