Who’s Heating up the Polity with Coup Rumours?

Last week, it was the turn of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to restate the commitment of the Nigerian military to defend Nigeria’s democracy, declaring that the military does not have any intention to truncate on the ongoing civilian rule.

Speaking at a seminar on career planning and management organised by the Army Headquarters, in Abuja, Lagbaja said the military has come to terms with the country’s choice of democracy as the preferred system of governance.

He said the Nigerian Army would continue to defend the constitution and not suspend it for whatever reason, adding that it was the duty of “our elected leaders to lead while the military does its job as enshrined in our constitution.”

The COAS was apparently responding to rumours of imaginary coups being spread by the enemies of democracy.

Recall that last month, shortly after he inaugurated the main entrance of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army and Officers Transit Accommodation, at the Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, had assured that the Nigerian military would continue to defend and protect democracy in the country.

His assurance came after some unpatriotic individuals called for a military takeover, like what was obtained recently in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic following the hardship in the country.

In the last one month, hunger, poverty and economic hardship have intensified, igniting protests and looting in many parts of the country. These are added to the serious security challenges facing the country which have prevented many people from travelling by road.

While the assurances by the military chiefs are needed especially by the political class, it is high time scaremongers stopped heating up the polity with baseless rumours about coups.

The heating up of the polity with rumours of coups and the military’s constant reassurance portray Nigeria’s democracy as unstable. This is enough to scare away potential investors.

Neither the armies nor the citizens of developed countries discuss coups.

Instead of constantly heating up the polity with coup rumours and reassurances, the military should ensure that they put in place every available barrier against coup in Nigeria.  Those who make frivolous comments or reports about coups should also be invited by security agencies for questioning.