IBB’s Memoir: Your claims complete fabrication – Late Vatsa’s family slams Gen Togun

The family of late General Mamman Jiya Vatsa has strongly refuted allegations made by General Kunle Togun (rtd) that General Vatsa plotted a coup against General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) in 1986.

In a statement, the family's spokesperson, Mr Jonathan Vatsa, described General Togun's claims as “a complete fabricated and concocted lies from the pit of hell aimed at justifying the many lies contained in the book written by his former boss, Babangida.”

Mr Vatsa noted that General Togun's allegations are “vague” and lack substance.

He argued, “it is now clear that the spirit of the late General Vatsa has refused to allow those who conspired to kill him out of envy as the most intelligent officer of them all to rest and that is why they are coming out with all manner of lies to justify their conspiracy.”

He quoted General Togun as saying that he warned General Babangida not to include General Vatsa in his cabinet, likening him to the late Brigadier General Bisalla, who killed his friend and course mate, late Head of State, General Murtala.

Mr Vatsa, a former Niger State cCommissioner for Information and Strategy Publicity described this comparison as “unfortunate” and “mischievous.”

The family'S spokesperson further emphasized that General Vatsa was killed due to rivalry with General Babangida, saying “General Togun in his interview said it all that the late General Vatsa was killed because of the rivalry between him and General Babandida.”

Vatsa a former Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, also expressed consolation in the fact that respected Nigerians like General Domkat Bali have come out to say that there was not enough evidence to justify General Vatsa's killing.

He further maintained, “It is high time that they allow late General Vatsa to rest in peace and let them live forever. We have seen the end of late General Vatsa but some people don’t know how they will end.”

The family then called on General Togun and others to stop coming up with lies to justify their conspiracy and allow General Vatsa rest in peace.