Jos, Nigeria — After thirty-five years of silence, the former governor of Niger State, Col. Lawan Gwadabe, don finally decide to talk about the notorious Orkar coup of 1990. Gwadabe, wey don avoid media for decades, say the time don reach to clear the air as we dey approach the anniversary of the coup wey almost cost the life of former military president, Ibrahim Babangida.
In his interview, Gwadabe criticize the common notion wey refer to the coup as the ‘Orkar coup.’ He explain say Major Gideon Orkar no be the main person wey lead the plot; instead, Orkar be latecomer wey even wan talk about the plan before e die. ‘The way people dey label am as Orkar coup na wrong perception,’ Gwadabe talk, adding, ‘E get many people wey sacrifice for their country during that time, wey deserve respect and recognition.’
Gwadabe, wey carry the weight of labels like veteran coup plotter and Abacha’s associate, talk say e feel say the younger generation fit learn plenty from that time. ‘We no fit dey silent forever about dis history; e fit help us avoid repeating past mistakes.’
E recount how the events unfold on March 1, 1995, suspect say na invitation for debriefing about another matter wey e dey work on. When he reach Jos, dem arrest am; dem charge am for plotting to overthrow General Sani Abacha. This same coup land General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Shehu Musa Yar’adua for trouble, but Gwadabe insist say no be true as he sabi no coup dey go on.
‘I was framed; na dem get problem with my past involvement in regime changes,’ he explain. Gwadabe believe say dem arrest am just to prevent anything wey dem fear fit happen again because of his track record. ‘E mean say dem no wan make owl cry for night so e no go fit save child from dying in the morning,’ he conclude.
Jos no be just any place to Gwadabe; na there e born and also where he plan the coup wey put Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria president in 1983. Throughout his military career, Gwadabe shine as one of the top military officers; he become governor at age 38 and enjoy high public visibility because of how e manage affairs.
As he dey come out from shadows, he dey prepare to release his biography wey go dive deeper into these issues. ‘I believe say this na the time to confront the past,’ he say. As this interview dey make waves, the world dey prepare to listen to the history and the lessons wey fit dey relevant today.
