What came as a mere rumour eventually became the talk of the town. Recently, it was claimed that some military officers were said to be planning to overthrow the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, by preventing him from becoming the substantive President, should anything happen to President Muhammadu Buhari, thus effecting a power shift from the North to the South. President Buhari is currently in the United Kingdom for health reasons and has handed over power to his deputy.
While the unfounded rumours of a coup d’état have unfortunately become a daily staple on the social media, this particular news gained wide traction when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, himself seemed to have confirmed the rumour by warning soldiers to stay out of politics. The Army Chief also warned all officers and soldiers interested in politics to resign their commission or apply for voluntary discharge forthwith from active service. Since the coup scare was made public, many individuals and groups, including the governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom, have condemned illegal change of government and passed a vote of confidence in the capability of the Acting President to steer the affairs of the nation.
It is noteworthy that Nigeria has enjoyed stable civil rule for the longest period of time in our history and nothing should, therefore, be done to pull us back. While some problems may abound with our democratic practice, military option is no longer fashionable and acceptable as a way of enthroning legitimate government. It is an aberration, ill-wind and bad sore to the healthy and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria. From the available records world over, military governments have never been an antidote to solving societal problems. What then makes the military feel it could solve any problem in Nigeria? The military, which is a subset within the entire system, should never be made to hold the Nigerian state to ransom.
Military regimes can never be absolved from the many problems facing the country. They have been part of the set-backs facing the nation in terms of impunity, corruption and nepotism that were committed under their rule that have now eaten deep into the fabrics of the country. The implication of military takeover is that all democratic structures are suspended, arms of government rendered useless, the constitution dumped into the waste bin, while the rule of law becomes an aberration with the promulgation of decrees and ouster clauses that illegally remove the jurisdiction of our courts to hear cases. When this happens, what we have is lawlessness, anarchy and totalitarianism in the hands of few tyrants simply because of the power of guns they possess.
On the international scene, a nation ruled by military officers automatically assumes a pariah status. No respect is accorded such a country among the comity of civilised nations. Access to foreign aid, grants and technical assistance stops as such an isolated country is neither consulted nor respected on any meaningful matter of global interest. Hence, with a combination of all these negatives induced to military despot, the common man suffers most from an illegal government while the cycle of poverty continues because of the likelihood of uneven distribution of wealth and significant reduction in national income. Furthermore, sanctions and embargoes are the lot of countries ruled by military juntas because of their strong pedigree for human rights violations and abuses.
It is, however, reassuring for the Presidency to state that there is no cause for alarm over the coup rumour. Can we forget so easily, the recent example from Turkey with its destabilising effects on global politics? Turkey has never remained the same following the recent coup d’état in that country. Why toeing this destructive path in Nigeria? The 1999 constitution has already provided for democratic means of transfer of power and no recourse is ever made to military coup. This is the right path to take, which is to caution the government, if it has performed below expectations. I am aware of complaints by people that the Federal Government had not been able to revamp the economy as they had desired.
Let’s even assume that this position is correct, should the military then be the viable solution? The answer is no! It should be appreciated that the country is presently experiencing economic recession due to no fault of the incumbent administration. It is a situation that the nation has found itself, as a result of bad governance, over the years. Freed from Boko Haram insurgency, revamping of social infrastructure and reduction in corruption cases are major achievements of the incumbent administration.
While President Buhari is recuperating, there is no pessimism that he would not resume back at his duty post. But in case of any eventuality, though no one prays for such, constitutional provisions should be invoked to fill in the vacuum. The call by some northern politicians that the nation would boil if power would rotate to the South is self-serving. Didn’t we experience such a development during the late President Umaru Yar’Adua administration? Did the heavens fall? Despite the high level politicking, the constitution still prevailed and at the end, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan eventually became the substantive President after the demise of Yar’Adua. This is not new and I don’t see any reason why military option should be explored this time round.
Let’s just assume that military officers take power by force in the present day Nigeria, I foresee massive civil action taking-off that could cripple the entire nation. This mass resistance is very likely to be spontaneous reactions from the people as a revolt against returning to the dark past, where the progress of the nation had been stifled. The international community would also turn the heat on the country. Nigeria and Nigerians are too sophisticated to be ruled by mere brute of force. Not again! The way out of the quagmire is not by military takeover but within the framework provided by civil rule that would engineer the much desired good governance.
What is needed is the re-focusing and re-strategising of public bureaucracy for optimal performance, true change in the mind-set of the members of the ruling class who still believe in do-or-die politics. As the Buhari administration celebrates two years in office, more energy should be deployed to providing employment opportunities for the youths, improve internal security by curtailing the activities of herdsmen and strengthen the value of the Naira, among others. On a final note, security chiefs should caution their officers and men on a routine basis to conform to their professional ethics and rules of engagement. This is to prevent members of the armed forces from derailing from their core focus and total dedication to duty and faithfulness to their oath of allegiance. Not only that, their civilian collaborators should be identified and punished altogether. This should be done without further delay. It’s no to military rule again
