Nigeria's Defence Ministry has broken silence following reports of an attempted coup on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement, Defence Headquarters dismissed as false and malicious reports linking the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary activities to an alleged coup attempt by some military officers.
Several Media houses in the west African country, had claimed that 16 officers — ranging from the rank of Captain to Brigadier General — were arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency for allegedly holding secret meetings to topple the government.
The reports, also alleged that the cancellation of the Independence Day parade on October 1 was connected to the purported plot.
In a statement on Saturday, the military made reference to a Publication by Sahara reporters which broke the said news- stating that the publication was intended to create tension and distrust among Nigerians.
" The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a false and misleading report by an online publication insinuating that the cancellation of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary was linked to an alleged attempted military coup. The claims by the said publication are entirely false, malicious, and intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace, ” the statement partly read.
The DHQ explained that the decision to cancel the Independence Day parade was purely administrative, taken to allow President Bola Tinubu to attend a strategic bilateral meeting abroad and enable troops to sustain ongoing military operations across the country.
“The decision regarding the cancellation of the 65th Independence Anniversary parade was to allow Mr President to attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside the country and for members of the Armed Forces to sustain the momentum in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry,”
On the detention of the 16 officers earlier reported by the military, the DHQ clarified that the matter was strictly a disciplinary issue being handled through an internal investigative process.
“The ongoing investigation involving the sixteen officers is a routine internal process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism are maintained within the ranks. An investigative panel has been duly constituted, and its findings will be made public,” the statement added.
Reaffirming the military’s loyalty to the Constitution and democratic governance, the DHQ urged Nigerians to disregard the rumours and continue to support the nation’s security agencies.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain firmly loyal to the Constitution and the Federal Government under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu. Democracy is forever,”
The Defence Headquarters has a recent history of debunking similar coup claims, branding them “malicious and unfounded attempts to cause public panic.” In February and April 2024, the military issued strong warnings against what it described as “baseless rumours aimed at destabilising the country.”
African countries have had 10 successful military coups since 2020. In west and central Africa, there have been at least 10 coup attempts in the same period. Those of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Guinea and most recently Madagascar were successful. A number of social, economic and political factors have been identified as responsible for the truncation of democracy in those countries.
One major reason is leaders who have used the idea of democracy to advance their own economic gains. The result is corruption, which has deepened the gap between the rich and the poor.
While liberal democracy widens opportunity in developed countries, the reverse is the case in Nigeria, due largely to corruption and lack of effective leadership.
Also, democracy in parts of Africa, including Nigeria, has not been able to advance development and make a positive impact on the people. To ringfence democracy from military intervention, it must advance development for the people.
Another factor is the strategic importance of Africa, which has historically attracted foreign powers. With the partitioning of Africa in Berlin in 1884, European powers created spheres of influence which have continued to haunt many African countries.
These strategic interests have continued to infiltrate politics and cause instability on the continent.
The colonial legacy in Nigeria is still evident in the north versus south divide that plagues the country’s politics. Bad leaders exploit the division for their own selfish gain by using marginalisation rhetoric.
Nigeria is still strongly tied to the apron strings of the western powers. This explains why Nigeria’s presidential aspirants prefer to go to Chatham House, London to speak rather than talk to the people they intend to lead.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu’s relationship with France is raising eyebrows in the country. The president recently signed new deals with France in the areas of renewable energy, transportation, agriculture and critical infrastructure. There are concerns because this is coming soon after nearly all former French allies in west Africa have broken ties with the European country.
These factors often lead to increasing disaffection, which in turn can ignite a military takeover, as happened in Niger, Guinea and Gabon.
There have been a large number of successful and failed military coups in Nigeria since the country's independence from the British Empire in 1960.
Between 1966 and 1999 the army held power in Nigeria without interruption apart from a short-lived return to democracy between 1979-1983. “Military coups and military rule (which began as an emergency aberration) became a seemingly permanent feature of Nigerian politics. Buhari was the one who lead the military coup of 1983. Buhari removed then head of state shehu shagari and imprisoned him for two years in a closed door without light.
The January 1966 coup
The January 1966 coup was carried out by mostly Igbo army officers including Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna among others. The casualties of the coup included the Prime Minister Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the Sardauna of Sokoto Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of the Western Region Samuel Akintola, the finance minister Festus Okotie-Eboh among others.
The July 1966 coup
Popularly known as the Nigerian Counter-Coup of 1966, in July, saw Major-General Gowon succeed Ironsi. It lasted from July 28 to July 30th 1966.
The 1975 coup
General Yakubu Gowon was ousted in a palace coup on July 30, 1975, which brought then Brigadier [Murtala Muhammed] to power as Head of State.
The 1976 coup
Popularly and erroneously known as the 'Dimka Coup', this bloody and aborted coup led to the assassination of General Murtala Muhammed. Upon General Muhammed's death and the foiling of the coup, then Lt General Olusegun Obasanjo became Head of State.
The 1983 coup
The Nigerian Military Coup of December 31, 1983 was led by a group of senior army officers who overthrew the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari. Participants included Majors General Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari, Brigadiers Ibrahim Bako, Sani Abacha, and Tunde Idiagbon. Major General Buhari was appointed Head of State by the conspirators.
The August 1985 coup
This was a palace coup led by then Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Babangida who overthrew the administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari.
The alleged Vatsa coup of December 1985
Hundreds of military officers were arrested, some were tried, convicted and eventually executed for conspiring to overthrow the Babangida administration. The conspirators were alleged to have been led by Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa.
The 1990 coup
Major Gideon Orkar staged a violent and failed attempt to overthrow the government of General Ibrahim Babangida.
The 1993 coup
Facing pressure to shift towards a democratic government, Babangida resigned and appointed Chief Ernest Shonekan as interim president on 26 August 1993. Shonekan's transitional administration only lasted three months, as a palace coup led by General Sani Abacha overthrewn the Interim government. In September 1994, Abacha issued a decree that placed his government above the jurisdiction of the courts, effectively giving him absolute power.
Nigeria today is seemingly democratic with there having been no military coups since 1999, however the decades under military rule have had a resounding impact on the nation with all today’s 36 states created by the military and there still being a considerable military influence evident.
