Following reports of an alleged military plot to overthrow the government, a coalition of senior lawyers, retired generals, and civil society groups has united in fierce condemnation, staunchly defending Nigeria’s democratic system while the Defence Headquarters denies any coup-related arrests.
A wave of national outrage has swept across Nigeria in response to reports of an alleged plot by military personnel to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu, with prominent lawyers, civil society groups, and retired generals issuing stern warnings against any attempt to subvert the country’s democracy.
The Defence Headquarters has firmly dismissed the reports. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, told Sunday PUNCH, “I am not aware that people were detained for a coup.” He referenced an October 4 statement explaining that 16 officers were arrested for breaches of military regulations, with grievances “stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations.”
However, conflicting reports from an online platform and a security source allege the detained officers were plotting a coup, with arrests beginning on September 30, leading to the cancellation of the Independence Day parade. “The arrests started on September 30. Those arrested are more than 16, and they are all military personnel led by a general,” the source claimed.
In reaction, senior lawyers unanimously condemned any move towards a military takeover. Human rights lawyer Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) insisted, “the worst civilian government is still preferable to the best dictatorship. We will keep learning from our democratic experiences and continue to get better. Surely, we cannot go back to Egypt.”
Echoing this sentiment, Kunle Adegoke (SAN) described coup talk as “unwarranted, unnecessary and condemnable,” stating, “Whatever the limitations in our democracy, no system in the world is perfect. It is better to have an imperfect democracy than a so-called perfect military regime.”
Retired military officers also rejected the possibility. Brigadier General Peter Aro (retd.) affirmed his confidence in the current military, stating, “This generation of officers are products of global military standards… deeply aware of the irreparable damage coups have done to Africa’s political and moral foundations.”
Civil society leaders joined the chorus of support for democracy. The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, stressed, “Nigeria’s democracy has come and is coming of age. Military coups and dictatorships can never be a conversation on the table.” The sentiment was echoed online by citizens, with one social media user, Ofili Onwugbenu, writing, “anything like a military coup d’état at this delicate time will signal the end of Nigeria.”