Buhari Should Recognise Umar, Other ‘June 12 Soldiers’, Says Col. Oloruntoba

Bayo Akinloye

Col. Olusegun Oloruntoba (rtd), one of the military officers arrested, jailed and tortured by the late Gen. Sani Abacha regime for the 1995 phantom coup, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action on the approved compensations for the soldiers.
Oloruntoba, who expressed joy at the federal government’s recognition of June 12 heroes, said: “President Buhari knows full well what it takes for one to be unjustly treated. Amongst past presidents only the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar cared about June 12 and its victims.

“President Yar’Adua approved far-reaching compensations for victims but died while preparing to implement the compensations and the compensations remain unimplemented to date. It will also interest you to note that our brother and very senior military colleague, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who was detained with us by Gen. Sani Abacha made no attempt to recognise June 12, Chief MKO Abiola and other accused military officers.”

Though he expressed disappointment that names of the ex-military men were not among those honoured recently by Buhari, he stated: President Buhari has been a victim of injustice in the past, I’m confident that he will include somebody like Col. Dangiwa Umar and all victims of the 1995 and 1997 phantom coups in his next list of honour and compensations.

“Hence, we are eagerly waiting for the Almighty God and President Buhari for our own recognition, honour and compensation considering the premature termination of our military career coupled with the fact that our lives were put on the line for June 12,” he added.
In 1995, Oloruntoba and other military officers were labelled “NADECO Military Officers”.

Explaining the reason, he said they were victimised for no reason other than they had sympathy for the June 12 cause.

“Right from the day Chief MKO Abiola’s June 12 mandate was stolen in 1993 Col. Umar and many of the military officers were not in agreement with the top military echelon. Hence, they saw us not only as non-conformists but also members of the NADECO military wing.
“Buhari should please extend his milk of kindness to us by immediately endorsing the implementation of all the recommendations made in our favour under President Yar’Adua via the Council of State on June 25, 2009,” the retired colonel added.