How I escaped Dimka’s assassination in 1976, Ex-military Gov Jemibewon narrates

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General David Jemibewon has disclosed he had no feeling or premonition of danger on February 13, 1976 after he woke up very early in the morning and moved to the office.

In a chat with TRIBUNE, Jemibewon tells his story dated back to 1976 when he was the military governor of Western State which has today been divided into Ondo, Ekiti, Osun,Ogun and Oyo states.

So many things preoccupied his mind as his official vehicle was descending the overhead bridge that linked the office and the Government House.

He had some files which required urgent attention and his plan was to attend to them as soon as he got to the office.

Besides that, going to the office very early in the morning was part of him. Before he got to the office, the radio was on and he tuned to Radio Nigeria, Ibadan.

Hardly had he settled down in the office than he heard the voice of Lt. Col. Bukar Sukar Dimka announcing the change of government through a coup d’état.

This was followed by martial music being played intermittently. Martial music is a military music you don’t play
when things are in good order in a country.

He said: “The first thing l did was to listen carefully” as he was confused. He later pulled himself together and thought of what to do and what came to his mind was to take cover, “I took cover,” he said. Where that was he did not disclose.

However when Saturday Tribune met him he said: “You know in the military, when you are in such a situation, you take cover. l moved away from the office and l took cover.”

He added: “l have to thank God that we are today talking about a coup that took place forty years ago because l still remain alive.” Some kind-hearted people that God used came and assisted to take me away.” He did not mention where he was taken to.

Jemibewon, however, mentioned Chief S.P.A Ajibade who he said was a commissioner in his cabinet. He also mentioned Sir Dele Ige, a businessman in lbadan and a brother to Chief Bola Ige, the murdered Attorney General of the Federation, though he was not in government.

He also named the British Deputy High Commissioner who had an office in Ibadan then. “These people were the messiah who saved me.”

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