1986 coup: Leave Vatsa alone to rest in peace, family replies General Togun
.Says late General was most decent among IBB cabinet
By Ndukaku Ihe
The family of late General Mamman Vatsa who was implicated in the 1986 coup has urged General Kunle Togun (rtd) to allow their patriarch to rest in peace.
Reacting to the comment credited Togun in his interview where he alleged that the late General Vatsa actually plotted a coup against General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), his bosom friend, the family said the claims are as vague as what was contained in the book “the journey of service” written by General Babangida himself.
The spokesperson for the family and former commissioner for information, culture and tourism and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa in a statement in Minna on Tuesday described General Togun’s narration of late General Vatsa involvement in the coup as “a complete fabricated and concocted lies from the pit of hell aimed at justifying the many lies contained in the book written by his former boss, Babangida”.
General Togun, a former Military intelligent Officer during General Babangida’s regime had in an interview with a national daily alleged that there were enough evidence to suggest that the late General Vatsa plotted the 1986 coup, and said that people should stop being sentimental about the coup.
He equally alleged that he warned General Babangida not to include the late Vatsa in his cabinet and liken him (Vatsa) to the late Brigadier General Bisalla, who killed his friend and course mate, late Head of State, General Murtala.
But according to the late Vatsa family, “it is now cleared that the spirit of the late General Vatsa has refused to allowed those who conspired to kill him out of envy as the most intelligent officer of them all to rest and that is why they are coming out with all manner of lies to justify their conspiracy”, adding however that “it is high time that they allow late General Vatsa to rest in peace and let them live forever”.
Hon. Vatsa said the family has taken the killing of their bread winner in good faith and has continued to live with the reality of life, as every living being must return to his creator one day, adding that “we have seen the end of late General Vatsa, but some people don’t know how they will end.
“General Togun in his interview has said it all that the late General Vatsa was killed because of the rivalry between him and General Babangida. Respected Nigerians like General Domkat Bali has come out to say that there were not enough evidence to justify the killing of the late Vatsa and we are so consoled by that submission by one of the most respected retired Generals in the country.
“Babangida and his men told the world that a Military Officer who was just a minister and command no troop, plotted a coup with 90 percent of those involved all Air force officers as if the coup will only be executed in the air.
“What General Togun has done was just to sustain the many lies and gives some credibility to the worthless book written by his former boss because of the too many negative criticisms that have greeted the so-called “journey of service” by the self acclaimed evil genius”.
Vatsa also described the claim of innocence by General Togun in the killing of Dele Giwa during the Babangida regime as most unfortunate, pointing out that “how can that brutal regime exonerate itself from that heinous crime before the whole world. Which court of law exonerates them, how can only police investigation as claimed by Togun exonerate the regime from the killing of Dele Giwa. Can the police investigate Military in their regime”, he queried.
He said that” truth is like surgery, it is painful but it cures permanently, it is like pain killers and offers immediate relief but with permanent side effect”, saying that “our leaders should learn to tell the truth so that they can have peace with themselves”.
