Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday said he was saved from being killed by General Olu Bajowa, during the military coup d’etat led by Lieutenant Colonel Buka Dimka on February 13, 1976.
Obasanjo made this revelation in Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State during the celebration of the 80th birthday of General Olu Bajowa (Retd).
Obasanjo said: “I want to say something about Olu either he knew it or he didn’t know. When Dimka coup came, if Olu had not been what and what he is, I would have gone with the coup.
“Let me tell you the story. Olu is very respectful. He is very conscious of our culture. He had a child, a boy, and wanted to name the child after me. He had to call me early in the morning, that morning that Dimka struck.
“And because Olu said he was coming, I had to wait a little bit. I waited beyond the time I would have gone out. Olu then came, he made the request and I granted the request.
“So, I was a little bit late in going on the route that I normally take to work. And Col. Raymond Matthew Dumuje (retd) went ahead of me and they thought it was me and they shot his car. They shot his car, Murtala was shot. Indirectly, that is how Olu Bajowa saved my life.”
He described Bajowa as a complete professional and performing soldier, who performed very well when he was drafted to lead 11 Battalion during the nation’s civil war.