The Fallout

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I decided to dismiss the intelligence report as hearsay because the nature of the military is paranoia. Mamman has never given me any reason to doubt his loyalty, so I will not question it. 

However, additional intelligence reports and testimonials from Mamman’s close associates raise concern about his involvement in the planned coup. A few days before the Christmas holiday, he is arrested in his Ikoyi home.

However, I request that the officers treat Mamman with respect because he is a general and a friend. What is it with people who misuse the chances you give them? 

Once again, my intelligence officer reports to me: “Sir, General Mamman Vatsa tried to escape through the air conditioning vault in his protective custody.” I wanted him detained for publicity’s sake while we ruled out the conspirators, and he did this. He must go to trial now. There’s not much I can do.

The trial proceeds as intended. Mamman is not the only one under inquiry. The Tribunal accuses him, Lt.-Cols. Musa Bitiyong, Christian A. Oche, Micheal A. Iyorshe, and M. Effiong, as well as Majors D.I. Bamidele, D.E. West, J.O. Onyeke, and Tobias G. Akwashik, of attempting a coup. His crime is he granted a farm loan to Lt. Bitiyong under the pretext of funding the coup. He is also accused of issuing certificates of occupancy to mid- and senior-level military officials swiftly to win their loyalty.

We’re military men, not barbarians; the accused can defend themselves. He looks at me with dismay, then looks at the rest of the room and says, “If your friend asks you for money, won’t you give it to them?”. Seeing the affirmative nods in the room, he continues. “Lt. Bitiyong requested a loan of 50,000 naira to develop his farm. Besides, 50,000 naira cannot cover half the costs required to finance a coup.”. He pauses and continues. “I have no control over any military unit. I serve as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. In this position, I am a civil servant,” he clarifies, exasperated. “It is part of my job description to allocate certificates of occupancy, so the certificates allocated were pending certificates.” 

Unfortunately, the panel finds him guilty of conspiracy to commit treason as the primary financier of the attempted coup, using the 50,000 Naira loan as evidence. A coup that, if undetected, would have been successful, with plans to destroy bridges in Lagos, sabotage aircraft, and shoot down the presidential plane in an endeavour to annihilate me.  

The nine counterparts are sent to Kiri Kiri Maximum Prison to await execution. Wole Soyinka, J.P. Clark, and Chinua Achebe come to see me to seek pardon for Mamman Vatsa and the co-conspirators, and while I assure them I will take care of it, the final decision is up to the tribunal. By morning, my friend and the eight others have been executed.  

Reflecting on the “what ifs” will not change the outcome. As much as it hurt to lose my best friend, my hands were tied. I had to choose between saving a friend and the nation’s future.