Ralph Bello-Fadile, a retired colonel in the Nigerian army, has confirmed that there was a failed attempt to overthrow the regime of former Head of State, Sani Abacha, in 1995.
Bello-Fadile was a major player in what was widely considered the 1995 “phantom coup” against Abacha.
However, in his newly published book, Bello-Fadile revealed that this was not a conspiracy. Instead, he said, he and other military officers dreamed of a democratic Nigeria, so they planned to overthrow the ruling government in 1995.
The book is a memoir, titled 'Nine Lives: The Memoirs of Bello-Fadile', which reflects on Mr. Bello-Fadile's early life, his service in the Nigerian Army and his close brush with death at various times. .
The book was published by NewslodgeBooks and launched to the public on Monday in Abuja.
In the book, Bello-Fadile recounts how he was arrested, tried and sentenced to death in the tragic 1995 saga that implicated dozens of prominent Nigerians, including Olusegun Obasanjo (a military general and former military Head of State who would later be elected president). first president under the current administration), his former deputy, Shehu Yar'Adua, a retired major general who died in Abakaliki prison and Lawan Gwadabe, a retired brigadier general.
The book comes almost 30 years after the 1995 “attack” against Abacha.
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On page 227 of the book, Bello-Fadile opens chapter four of his memoirs with this reflection: “Knowing the immense danger that lurked in daring to dream of a democratic Nigeria during my stay in the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” I did it anyway,” Bello-Fadile said, the first confirmation that he was part of a coup attempt.
“I overcame all fears of failure with good humor and a sincere belief in the opportunities that true democracy provides,” he said, noting that “the journey toward realizing this dream was fraught with dangerous twists and turns, which led me to a destination I had never imagined.” provided.”
Bello-Fadile describes the 1995 “coup” as “The Company.” He provides rare insights as he recounts how he was “handcuffed and chained to a steel cabinet while standing” and how his fellow officer, Mr. Gwadabe, was “tortured almost to death.”
Bello-Fadile was charged along with other officers. After facing a special military court, he was found guilty of three charges, including treason, and sentenced to death by firing squad in July 1995.
To further highlight his role in the 1995 coup attempt, Bello-Fadile wrote: “Mobilizing fellow officers to advocate and work for Nigeria's return to civilian rule was both exhilarating and terrifying. “I felt the weight of responsibility on my shoulders, knowing that the path I chose could alter the course of our nation's history.”
Bello-Fadile was one of the political prisoners released by former Head of State Abdulsalam Abubakar in 1999, following the death of Abacha.
According to a 1995 BBC World Service report, the coup was supposed to take place on March 1, 1995 during the Eid-el Fitri festival.
In the memoir, Bello-Fadile noted the intrigues, betrayal and false accusations he faced during that period. Some of the people who played negative roles in that episode, according to his account, include Felix Mujakperuo, a retired major general, who is now the chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers of the Delta and Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, and Hamza Al -Mustapha, Mr Abacha's security chief, who regularly invited the country's top traditional rulers to watch “hitting videos” with heavy envelopes as “popcorn”.
But he also remembers with ardent admiration on page 340 the late Beko Ransome-Kuti whose fax message to London, received by the then British Prime Minister, John Major, may have saved him and other convicts from being executed by Mr Abacha.
Bello-Fadile was removed from the death penalty and served his prison term in Argungu, Kebbi State.
He also believes that he was saved by the “Mysteries of the Rosary.”
Shortly before his arrest on February 26, 1995, Bello-Fadile had drafted a speech about the coup, but he was probably alive today because the speech was never seen.
In his words: “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, heard my prayers and the draft of the speech was never seen. Three different raids were carried out on my house but the draft of the speech was never seen,” he wrote on page 262.
READ ALSO: Bello-Fadile's & Nine Lives: Telling History and National Memory, by Musikilu Mojeed
Bello-Fadile had several brushes with death while serving in the military. He recalled that on September 26, 1992, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft crashed three minutes after takeoff in Lagos, killing its 159 military officers (151 Nigerians, 5 Ghanaians, 1 Tanzanian, 1 Zimbabwean and 1 Ugandan). aboard. According to his version, Mr. Bello-Fadile would be on the flight.
There were several other cases where he cheated death by a hair, which is why the book was titled 'Nine Lives'.
The book was published by NewslodgeBooks, the book publishing arm of NewslodgeGroup.
At a public launch of Bello-Fadile's book on Monday, Musikilu Mojeed, editor-in-chief of PREMIUM TIMES, said NewslodgeBooks has a mission to continue publishing books that continually “deepen knowledge about important aspects of our lives and that continue serving as crucial resources for engaging with our stories and experiences.”
“We intend to maintain this role and will continue to offer our services to great documentary filmmakers and experienced performers like Dr. Bello-Fadile, who is doing something unprecedented and embarking on his tenth life.”