- Army Chief, Buratai Confirms The New Diplomat’s Exclusive Story
By The New Diplomat Political Intelligence Desk
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo may have effectively blocked any hostile military take-over of Constitutional government and truncation of democracy in Nigeria following a serious multi-lateral Agreement he signed with the G-7 most industrialized and militarily most capable nations to block or bring down either collectively or individually any hostile overthrow of democratic government in the country.
The G-7 nations are UK, US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, and Italy. The addition of Russia makes it G-8 because Russia was suspended at a time over diplomatic row with G-7 Nations following its annexation of Crimea.
Documents obtained by The New Diplomat investigations team in Washington, Berlin and London clearly reveal that “notwithstanding the political turmoil in Nigeria, the Military is fully aware that Obasanjo signed that Pact with the G-7 and the G-7 nations are very ready and most capable either collectively or individually to block any attempts at hostile overthrow of constitutional government in Nigeria.” Said a senior Diplomat in Washington: “The military hierarchy are aware in Nigeria that there is a multi-lateral agreement which was signed on behalf of Nigeria going forward, by former President Obasanjo to help safeguard and protect the nation’s fragile democracy.”
Apparently confirming The New Diplomat‘s story that there were some unease within the military following protestations by some leading political figures and subtle pressure on military officers to dabble into political matters, Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Buratai had warned Officers of the Nigerian Army to stay away from politics and maintain their constitutional role.
In a Statement signed by Army Spokesman, Brig-General Sani Usman, the Army Chief had warned; “This is to inform the Public that the Chief of Army Staff(COAS) Nigerian Army, Lieutenant General TY Buratai has received information that some individuals have been approaching some officers and soldiers for undisclosed political reasons. On the basis of that he has warned such persons to desist from these acts.”
SEE THE NEW DIPLOMAT’S STORY AS PUBLISHED ON MAY, 12
2019: Obasanjo Moves to block Plots to Undermine Nigeria’s Democracy
- How Buhari Sealed Deal with G-7
As the political calculations toward 2019 Presidential race draw nearer, amidst looming fears of possible political crisis, investigations have revealed that in a rare deft political and diplomatic moves to consolidate democracy in Nigeria, former President Olusegun Obasanjo may have blocked any plots to undermine democracy in Nigeria following a multi-lateral Agreement entered into with the G-7 nations to help safeguard Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy.
Reports from our field correspondents in the United States reveal that former President Obasanjo upon assuming power as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Country’s Armed Forces in 1999, had signed a multi-lateral agreement with the G-7 Nations, with the addition of Russia, “blocking any hostile attempts to undermine Nigeria’s democracy.”
Top Diplomatic sources in Washington DC confided in The New Diplomat that the Obasanjo’s deal with the G-7 Nations was very explicit, stressing that the agreement was unambiguous to the extend that going forward for Nigeria, there was need to nurture the country’s democracy and democratic institutions and that “any hostile take-over’’ or” hostile attempts to undermine the nation’s democracy will be thwarted and blocked” by the G-7. Said a top diplomat: ‘’ The Agreement with Nigeria, going forward which was brokered by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as President, I can tell you for a fact. is that to sustain democracy in Nigeria, there is need to safeguard all the democratic institutions and that any attempt to undermine democracy in Nigeria whether through insurgency of Boko Haram, or Terrorist acts or any hostile attempts to undermine democratic institutions will be blocked by a coalition of the G-7. That agreement still prevails. Nigeria is a blessed country. It has the population, the climate, the resources but corruption and bad leadership has not made things work.”
The G-7 is a block of industrialized democracies with the highest level of technological and military advancement and capability globally. They are the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy. Russia was initially suspended at a time from the block following its annexation of Crimea. The addition of Russia makes it G-8. But is not however certain if Russia was part of the deal with Nigeria. This could not be immediately verified.
In June 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari, upon assumption of office met with leaders of G-7 in Germany where they pledged to support Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram and other acts of insurgency and terrorism, including the militancy in the volatile Niger Delta region which almost crippled oil productions in the country at that time.
According a statement issued then by SSA Media to the President, Malam Shehu Garba, the G-7 pledged to support Buhari’s Presidency and Nigeria as a country either collectively or individually.
The New Diplomat investigations show that following heightened moves towards 2019, many presidential contenders have been heating up the political space thereby raising apprehension of a possible political crisis or logjam coupled with the ill-health of President Buhari, whom some of the aspirants may have ruled out of the 2019 presidential race on health grounds. Only recently former Vice President Atiku Abubakar met behind closed doors with former military President Ibrahim Babangida, to solicit the later’s support for his presidential ambition.
Also, former President Obasanjo also held closed door meetings with ex-military President Babangida recently at the former’s Minna Hilltop Mansion. It was gathered that the issues discussed centred around 2019 and consolidation of Nigeria’s democrcacy.
