The coup scare
Rumours that an old-fashioned military coup could be in the offing in Nigeria first gained currency on the social media last week. According to the rumour, soldiers of Northern Nigerian origin would stage a coup to prevent Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo from becoming the substantive president and thereby effecting a power shift to the South should anything untoward happen to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently in the United Kingdom for health reasons.
While unfounded rumours have unfortunately become a daily staple of the social media, this particular rumour gained backhand credibility when Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Tukur Buratai issued a statement warning soldiers to stay out of politics and politically related activities. The statement by the Army spokesperson Brigadier General Sani Usman said, “This is to inform the public that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Nigerian Army has received information that some individuals have been approaching some officers and soldiers for undisclosed political reasons. On the basis of that, he has warned such people to desist from these acts.”
The Army Chief also warned all officers and soldiers interested in politics to resign their commission or apply for voluntary discharge forthwith. The Army statement further said, “The COAS has further reiterated that the Nigerian Army will remain apolitical and respect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” This unusual statement from the Army Chief cannot but be taken to mean that indeed, a plot of some kind was in the offing.
Hot on the heels of Buratai’s warning, the British government also warned against non-democratic change of government in Nigeria. British High Commissioner to Nigeria Paul Arkwright said, “The British government believes that democracy is actually critical in Nigeria; there are elections. If you’re not happy with your leaders then you should change your leadership through the democratic process and through elections.” The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) also said people would resist any coup attempt in the country. Regional bodies, lawyers and civil society group also joined in condemning the coup in-the-making.
Daily Trust joins in condemning in very strong terms any attempt from any quarter to subvert the Constitution of the Federal Republic in any way and manner. This country has enjoyed uninterrupted democratic government for the longest stretch in its history since independence and nothing must be done to truncate it. While problems abound with our democratic practice, military rule is no longer an option. The constitution provides for peaceful transfer of power in all circumstances, no matter how dreadful, and such provisions must be adhered to.
We reject the notion that any credible political figures in Northern Nigeria would be part of coup plotting. After all, when President Umaru Musa Yar’adua died three years into his presidency in 2010, no one raised a finger to prevent the constitution being applied with the swearing-in of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as the president. We join all Nigerians in fervently praying for the safe return of President Muhammadu Buhari to complete his tenure and we equally affirm our loyalty to the constitution of Nigeria as variously amended.
The Army high command’s statement indicates that it knows more about this matter than it revealed. Since the Army Chief got credible information, it must know exactly which soldiers were approached by politicians to stage a coup. And once it apprehends these soldiers, it would easily find out who were the civilians that approached them, or whether the soldiers did this thing on their own. We therefore urge the military authorities to spare no effort in unearthing all those who were involved in plotting a coup. We also demand to know who they are as well as their real motives, whether these are merely personal or geo-political and religious as alleged. The country still grabbles with many problems of internal insecurity. A coup attempt will be the last straw and we demand to know everyone in Nigeria who ever nursed this cruel and reprehensible idea.