Retired Lt.-Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi, on Thursday, launched his book — “Vindication of a General” — a memoir of his experiences as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and intrigues of his incarceration.
The event, held at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja, had in attendance some past and present generals of the Nigerian Army.
Bamaiyi said he decided to write the book for posterity and for people to be rightly informed about his “unfair treatment” and his eventual vindication.
He explained that “as Chief of Army Staff, I experienced the most turbulent tenure and challenges in history of Nigeria Army.
“The most challenging of them is my unfair incarceration for eight years, but I overcame all these and came out in one peace.
“I take responsibility for whatever is written in the book; I can defend it because it is the truth.
“I therefore urge whoever that wants to criticise the book to be objective and honest in doing that.”
The Chairman of the occasion, Retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, said that although the book was essentially on personal experiences of Bamaiyi, leaders and policy makers would learn a lot from it.
He said that “while readers may only wish to focus on how Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi himself fell victim of power play and intrigues, he draws our attention to the compelling larger picture.
“He showed that the greatest casualty after all was the Nigerian military which lost its reputation of professionalism, discipline and patriotism as a result of misguided adventure into politics.”
The 16-chapter book, with 252 pages, was reviewed by Prof. Sam Egwu, a Professor of Political Science at University of Jos.
Egwu noted that the book addressed the need for respect for human rights in democracy, and the deplorable state of Nigerian prisons, among other social issues.
Bamaiyi, who served under the military administration of late Gen. Sani Abacha was on Dec. 10, 1999 charged with attempted murder of Guardian Newspaper Publisher, Alex Ibru.
He was charged alongside former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Gen Abacha, Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha, and others by the Lagos State Government.
Bamaiyi was, however, discharged and acquitted on April 2, 2008 of any wrongdoing in the saga, after eight years in detention.
Follow Us
”
