By Etim Etim
Last week, Nigeria’s military authorities announced that some senior military officers have been arrested and were under investigation for gross indiscipline and violation of military ethics. The cryptic announcement set off a chain of speculations in the media, with some reporting that the officers were arrested for a coup that was set to take place on October 1.
The Defence Headquarters soon dismissed the reports, insisting that its earlier announcement did not mention a coup. While the DHQ is busy denying, some newspapers are digging into the story. Premium Times and Sahara Reporters were the first to boldly report that the officers are investigated for an alleged coup plot. Daily Trust of October 20 went further to report that ‘’a former governor from one of the Southern States is said to be under investigation for his alleged connection to the army officers detained over an alleged coup plot’’. The paper says the former governor had allegedly financed the plot which was scheduled to take place on October 25. I have since compiled a list of all former governors from the 17 Southern states. Many of them are too old – some in their late 80s.
Nigerians are waiting anxiously for details of this story and the earlier the military announces its findings, the better it is for for the polity and the health of our democracy. Rumours of coups create uncertainties and anxieties and are capable of weakening the polity. This is why it’s not healthy for the authorities to keep the nation in suspense for long.
During the Second Republic, the Shagari administration promptly announced arrests of certain military officers and civilians for complicity in alleged coup plot. They were subsequently tried and jailed by the Federal High Court in Lagos (not military tribunal). During the military rule between 1984 and 1999, several coups and coup plots were announced.
But last week’s statement by the Defence Headquarters would be the first indication of such a plot since the return to democracy in 1999. The revelations of the identities of the individuals implicated in the latest attempt and the details of their plot will make an interesting reading this year-end.
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