In Search of Solution to Military Coups in Africa

International speakers and political analysts came together to offer solutions to resurgence of military coups in Africa at a roundtable discussion organised recently by the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan. Kemi Olaitan reports.

In the bid to contribute to the ongoing discussions on the resurgence of military coups in Africa, political scientists, researchers and public affairs analysts recently gathered to x-ray the causes and solutions to the disturbing trend at a one-day roundtable discussion organised by the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, with the theme, “The Resurgence of Coups in Africa.”

Indeed that the rate of the military sending civilian administration packing in Africa has become alarming would be an understatement with the countries currently being led by the men in Khaki uniform include Niger, Gabon, Mali, Burkina Faso and Sudan. Thus the experts among whom are political scientists, researchers and public affairs analysts who are also worried about the development came together to discuss the causes and providing solutions.

Some of those who spoke included a former and current Head of Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, Professors OsisiomaNwolise and Irene Pogoson; International Relations expert, Dr. OlajideAkanji; Director and Deputy Director of French Institute for Research in Africa IFRA Nigeria, Dr. Barbara Morovich and Dr. DephineManetta, and a public affairs analyst, Mr. Ayo Ogundele.

Nwolise while leading the discussants explained that the recent military coups in some African countries are caused by looting, exploitation, oppression of the people by the politicians and manipulation of political processes, stating that the coup in Gabon was caused by fraudulent election while the one in Niger was caused by poverty.

The don who emphasised that coup d’etat is illegal, remarked that military men decided to take over power in order to serve as the voice of the people because of the failure of the politicians to provide good governance to the citizens. Nwolise while speaking on the solutions to the disturbing development, noted that African leaders must be ready to provide good governance to their people.

He said, “In Burkina Faso, the President wanted to bribe the parliament and the youths resisted it. The youths invaded the parliament and the military took over. Coup d’etat is illegal. All these puppet leaders we have in Africa have done many coups. They are not leaders but rulers. They are puppets, exploiters who sabotage the people to perpetuate their looting. Gabon coup, was due to fraudulent election, Niger was due to poverty.

“The West has plundered African resources for over 500 years. Nobody has said that it is moral. We have not seen the French citizens condemning the exploration of mineral resources in Niger. Like I said, alarm don blow. Let the people have their say in how they will be governed.

“We have the better democracy than the Greek in my village. Oyinbo did not teach us the democracy. We have these before Oyinbo came. We don’t have political parties but political associations. The military men of today are the voice of the people.

“Way forward. All puppet governments in the former French colonies must go. Africans should take over their countries and not puppet leaders. There must be good governance. Termination of looting of available resources. I have mentioned the case of Ghana. There must be end to sit tight government.”

Pogoson, in her own remarks, noted that many countries will continue to witness military coups due to the absence of rule of law, transparency and accountability.

“You know that we have had military coups in some African countries. so some of our senior colleagues said that the department should not be silent. We saidthat for our voice to be heard, we need to organise a roundtable discussion. After the Gabon coup, we said that no matter how small it is we should bring forth the department’s voice on the issue.

“Its potent concern about the state of our democracy, some scholars have said that we are not really practising democracy the way it should be practised. If we are we will not be having resurgence of military coups in Africa.

“It is telling our leaders to wake up. No country is immune from all these as long as the rule of law, transparency and accountability does are not there. As long as there is suffering in the land”, she said.

Ogundele, in his contribution, however said it may be difficult for military to take over in Nigeria again because many things have changed. He nevertheless enjoined African leaders to stop blaming their former colonial masters but focus on how to change the narrative.

“Africans should not continue to blame their former colonial masters. If we have strong judicial system, civil service and strong institutions, coups will not happen because there will be development.

“The coups are not the way out. it is when the political leaders failed that is why the military take over. It may be very difficult in Nigeria because the military is not so strong the way it used to be. How many soldiers do we have in Mokola or Odogbo that can take over the whole of Ibadan? We should pray for good governance when everyone is economically empowered, things will go on well”, Ogundele stated.

Other speakers at the event among whom are Akanji, Morovich and Manetta charged African leaders to be more proactive, urging them to lead by examples so as to curb the disturbing trend of military coups in the continent.