Captain Sagir Koli, the soldier who released the audio clip about plans to rig the June 2014 governorship elections in Ekiti State has
spoken out.
Captain Sagir Koli who was present at the meeting, was said to have
recorded a conversation which allegedly occurred between the Governor of
the state, Ayo Fayose, Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu
Obanikoro and Senator Iyiola Omisore among others.
He explained his side of the story in a statement titled, “How
Nigerian Army personnel were used to rig Ekiti and Osun States
Gubernatorial Elections 2014″.
Read his full statement below:
How the Nigerian Army personal were used to Rig Ekiti and Osun States Gubernatorial Elections 2014.
- I was officially deployed as the 32, Artillery Brigade
Intelligence Officer to provide credible Intelligence to the success of
Ekiti State governorship election. At about 2030 hours on June 2014, a
day to the election proper, the commander, Brigadier General AA Momoh
told me to escort him to a place where the State Minister for Defence
wanted to see him.
Reaching the place (Spotless Hotel in Ado- Ekiti), which serves
as coordinating campaign office for the PDP candidate Mr. Ayodele
Fayose, we met the Minister himself, Minister of Police Affairs, Mr
Fayose, Mr. Iyiola Omisore, one Honoruable Abdulkareem and host of other
top PDP chieftains.
The Outcome of what was discussed that gave the party victory during the election are as follows:
- They told brigade commander that they are on presidential
assignment and they cannot afford to fail. Also, they told him that they
were there to remove any obstacles that would block their victory and
the commander is the key; therefore, he has no option but to collaborate
with them. They said, if the commander play(ed) with them, his
promotion is in their hands and the president and the chief of army
Staff would be very angry with him and he knows what that means. - They directed that soldiers on election duty must work hand in
hand with the PDP agents and give them all the necessary support they
needed without limitation. - They ordered the arrest of selected APC stalwarts that could
greatly assist the party during the election including the DG campaign
organisation for Dr Fayemi Mr. Bimbo Daramola. APC members in Ekiti
State should be interviewed of what they went through. We were forced to
do a dirty job for them with a threat of court martial. - They directed that soldiers must block APC members’ access to
the electorates but all PDP supporters’ movement anywhere using a
designated sticker with inscription, “National Security Task” it should
be noted that some of these PDP agents were given NYSC uniforms because
we were well briefed by the commander. - Chief Chris Uba who also said he was from the presidency
entered Ado- Ekiti a day to the election accompanied by 16 commissioned
Army officers (Major and blow) led by Major Ujung of 82 Base
Ammunitions Depot from Nigeria Army 82 Division Enugu. Their major task
was to effect arrest and move secret materials and money. This money
was brought from CBN Umuahia. - Chief Chris Uba was physically present with the soldiers and
the commander at Forward Operational Base (FOB) close to government
house in Ado- Ekiti. He personally supervised the movement of the strike
force. This act of a civilian directing military operation is highly
unprofessional and tarnishing of the military discipline and
regimentation. - Chief Chris Uba entered Ado-Ekiti a day to the election
accompanied by military/police escort with 2 black tinted Hilux Vans
with “secret” materials according to him. Items inside the vans were
1000/500 Naria notes closed and cloned marked ballot papers. - Chris Uba, Minster of police Affairs, Obanikoro and Co said
this is just a test run that should not fail and its to be done in SS
and SW states, moreover, Rivers State to make sure Rotimi Ameachi bow to
the federal government. - Based on the aforementioned, they succeeded in rigging the
Ekiti State election with victory in all the 16 LGAs. These really
inspired them and they were with the euphoria that same would happen in
Osun State. In preparation of the plans, they confirmed the posting of
the commander and task him to prepare for Osun State election (remember
that Osun State is not part of 32 Artillery Brigade Area of operations)
but they ordered the Nigerian Army Construction Engineers Commander
Brigadier General Adeyemi to proceed for 3 weeks compulsory leave until
after the election just to pave way for General Momah to repeat the same
dirty work that he has done to them in Ekiti State. - In build-up towards the Osun State elections, the commander
directed me as his intelligence officer who has worked with him
perfectly in Ekiti State to go ahead and recce the area as well as
familiarize myself with all stake holders for the election.
While I and my team were working for the operations, the
commander was in Abuja re-strategizing how to use the military to rig
the elections. Feelers based on my discussion with him on phone
confirmed to me beyond reasonable doubt that we were repeating the same
compromise in Osun State. My heart got burnt and become disenchanted and
in total disagreement with such being professional junior officer
aspiring to become a General tomorrow.
- However efforts to explain my grievances prove abortive due to
the military dictatorial hierarchy in channel of communication vis a vis
threat of court martial from the commander. I resorted to alert the APC
high level officials with the aim of stopping Army from partisan
involvement during election. A week to the election, the commander came
back from Abuja and he made revelations being their final arrangement on
how the PDP was to become victorious in Osun state as follows: - After welcome address by the commander, he thanked all his
staff officers, and said “you all know who we are working for, so you
guys MUST follow my direction. I am working for the presidency and the
ruling party as you all know, is no longer a hidden thing” for those of
you who are moles among us, the presidency is watching you, be careful
because the consequence will be severe. I learnt that some of you went
to Lagos and met with Tinubu without knowing that his line is already
bugged at Abuja, then we are in trouble, but before somebody will kill
me I have to kill him first” (referring to me). The commander asked how
many of us were involved, that I should say the truth, he now held a
secret talk with the operation officer and military police officer to
tie and handcuff me to Army HQs, from there I know that my life was in
danger. - The commander categorically told us that the soldiers were to
work under PDP agents while their platoon commanders only supervise the
soldiers conduct. He briefed the officers that were working the list of
agents and those to be arrested at the SGF office in Abuja and once the
list is out everybody must work with accordingly. - The commander briefed us on the formation of a strike-force in
conjunction with police, DSS and NSCDC and he would command the strike
force directly. Their duty was to work directly with the PDP aspirant
for arrest and intimidation of APC supporters in their strong hold. - Money was shared openly at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp Ede to the strike force to ensure compliance.
- Having said all of the above, I must state before concluding that:
A, My brother Adamu Koli a 15yrs old school boy was under
detention since on the 2nd August 2014. The boy stays with me at 32
Artillery Brigade Akure.
- Brigadier General AM Dikko who they consulted initially for the
scam insisted that the army must remain professional and apolitical,
was disgracefully removed from his command which he served only for 7
months just to allow General Momoh to carry out the dirty work. - Last but not the least, to further substantiate my submission
and how my dear-loving, hard-achieving noble calling was
de-professionalized; here is the recorded voices of the Ministers, the
aspirant and the Brigade Commander. Other officers present at the hotel
were Major Aliyu and captain Adegoke who were also part of the officers
that escorted commander to the venue where the compromise was made. Also
conversation between the commander and Abuja could be traced via MTN,
GLO, on the under listed phone numbers (between 20-21 June 2014). - 08037033694
- 08055832835
7,Lastly, in order to strengthen the unity and continue existence
of Nigeria, I call on the federal Government to desist from using the
military for partisan politics. This is to avoid the military from being
divided along ethnic and regional lines which is dangerous to the
defence of the nation. I remain a patriotic Nigerian and a loyal
professional Army officer,
God bless you all
Thank you for listening. Captain Sagir Koli
Both Obanikoro and Fayose have denied the allegations.