Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has recalled how late President Muhammadu Buhari played a decisive role in securing his re-election as Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth in 1984.
Anyaoku, who made the revelation during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Friday, said Buhari personally endorsed his nomination and ensured a high-level delegation delivered the letter of support to London.
Speaking on the events that followed the January 1, 1984 military coup that ousted the civilian government, Anyaoku said he was grateful for the gesture and integrity displayed by Buhari and then Chief of Staff, Tunde Idiagbon.
“I was Foreign Minister for only three months, but the notice for nominations for the position of Deputy Commonwealth Secretary-General was to close on February 16, 1984. The coup displaced us on January 1, literally at midnight on New Year’s Eve,” he said.
He noted that despite the abrupt change in government, Buhari allowed him to leave the country and facilitated his renomination.
“I must say that I was the first minister allowed by the Buhari government to leave the country. General Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon told me, ‘We know you’ve had nothing to do with corruption, you’re free to go. But we cannot have you as Foreign Minister,” he recounted.
Anyaoku added, “I thanked them for acknowledging that I was not involved in corruption. I also told them that even if they wanted me as Foreign Minister, I would have declined, because I would spend much of my time explaining how I transitioned from serving a civilian government to a military one.”
The former diplomat explained that the process for re-election required the endorsement of a candidate’s head of state.
“When I informed them of the requirement, Buhari said, ‘Yes, we will do so. I will do so,” Anyaoku recounted.
“Not only did he write the letter, but he also sent Liman Chiroma, who was then the Secretary to the Government, to deliver it in person to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.”
He noted that although three other candidates from different Commonwealth countries were nominated, his candidacy gained unanimous support due to Buhari’s endorsement and the reputation he had built.
“At that time, three other Commonwealth governments had nominated candidates, but when my name appeared, I was unanimously re-elected,” Anyaoku said with pride.