FORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said that his decision to suddenly retire 93 officers in a day ensured that the Nigeria Army was rid of officers capable of staging coup d’état, saying the action is responsible for the survival of the Fourth Republic.
He also said that even though the measure was not ideal, it was the only option at that time that was capable of making the military a truly professional institution. Obasanjo Obasanjo, who said this in a book he co-authored with three other people entitled: Making Africa Work, explained that he specifically retired officers, who had either participated in coups or enjoyed the benefits of coups.