Alleged coup plot in the news
The outgoing week was eventful with a lot of happenings shaping the country’s polity. From Senate’s confirmation and the subsequent swearing in of Professor Joash Amupitan as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the Omoyele Sowere-led #FreeNnamdiKanu protest, which disrupted Abuja; it has been indeed, a week with no dull moment. […]
coup
The outgoing week was eventful with a lot of happenings shaping the country’s polity. From Senate’s confirmation and the subsequent swearing in of Professor Joash Amupitan as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the Omoyele Sowere-led #FreeNnamdiKanu protest, which disrupted Abuja; it has been indeed, a week with no dull moment.
However, the report of an alleged attempted coup plot perhaps marked the climax of the week’s happenings. After over three decades of a military coup incident in Nigeria, a scare of an alleged attempted forceful seizure of power by ‘military boys’ took Nigerians by storm. The last successful military coup in Nigeria took place on November 17, 1993.On that day, General Sani Abacha seized power from the Interim National Government (ING) led by Chief Ernest Shonekan, who had been appointed after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Abacha’s coup ended Nigeria’s short-lived attempt at civilian rule following the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
Since the return of democratic rule in 1999, Nigeria has continued to enjoy smooth transitions from one civilian rule to another. Thus, when reports of an alleged attempted military takeover broke last weekend, it was like a bolt from the blue for many Nigerians.
PREMIUM TIMES and Sahara Reporters were first to herald the news, which later spread like wildfire across other traditional and social media platforms.
The two online platforms reported that the 16 officers who the Defence Headquarters said were arrested for certain unprofessional conduct were being investigated over an alleged plan to overthrow the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
PREMIUM TIMES, in its report quoted top intelligence sources as providing insights into how some military officers accused of alleged coup plot planned to overthrow President Bola Tinubu and disrupt Nigeria’s democracy.
According to the online newspaper, a top military source familiar with the development told the medium that the development caused tension in government, forcing the presidency to cancel the National Independence Day parade usually done on 1 October.
However, it reported that an investigative panel had been set up to probe the officers allegedly involved.
According to insider accounts, the suspected coup planners scheduled October 25 to strike.
“That was the tentative date. If things did not work out that day, they would continue plotting,” the source said.
The Independence Day parade would have been observed, according to sources that spoke to the medium.
“The parade could have been held since the arrests were made before October 1, but the government did not want to take risk since it was a military ceremony,” another officer told PREMIUM TIMES.
There are no clear details about the identities of the officers involved yet, it reported.
According to the medium, people with knowledge of the matter said key officials in the government were allegedly targeted.
Further report by Daily Trust revealed that a former governor from one of the southern states was said to be under investigation for his alleged connection to the army officers detained over an alleged coup plot.
Sources who spoke to Daily Trust hinted that there was suspicion that the former governor financed the alleged plot, which was reported to have been scheduled for October 25.
The newspaper further gathered that more officers have been picked for questioning over their remote or direct connection with the alleged coup plan.
“Aside from the former governor, there are other influential politicians from both the northern and southern parts of the country that are being watched,” another source said.
One of the sources disclosed that the report of the planned coup attempt was true.
“Yes, that is true. There are civilian accomplices, including a former governor, but the extent of their involvement is being investigated. For now, there are 16 officers involved and in custody,” he stated.
FG, DHQ refute claims
Meanwhile, both the Defence Headquarters and the federal government have dismissed the reports of the alleged failed coup plot.
On Saturday, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, described the reports alleging that the country’s 65th independence anniversary activities were cancelled over an attempted coup plot as false and misleading.
It urged the public to disregard the misinformation being circulated by who it described as purveyors of falsehoods and enemies of the country.
The statement, titled ‘DHQ Never Mentioned Any Coup Attempt,’ reads: “The attention of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) 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 report also made spurious references to the recent DHQ press release announcing the arrest of 16 officers currently under investigation for professional misconduct.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) wishes to categorically state that the claims by the said publication are entirely false, malicious and intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace. The decision regarding the cancellation of 65th Independence anniversary parade was to allow Mr President attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside the country and for members of the AFN to sustain the momentum on the fight against terrorism, insurgency and banditry.”
Also, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in an interview with on Sunday, said the government had faith in the military and had no reason to doubt the position of the Defence Headquarters, which on Saturday dismissed the report of a coup as fake.
On Saturday, in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, the military denied a news report by the online platforms linking the detention of 16 military officers to a failed coup.
When contacted for the federal government’s position on the development, the information minister responded that it was “a military affair.”
“The federal government has no reason to doubt the military on what it has said. “The federal government believes that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is committed to ensuring the territorial integrity of the country and strengthening its fight against insecurity.
“The federal government commends the military, and it will continue to support them in their task of ensuring the security of Nigeria,” the minister said.
Opposition parties ask FG to come clean
Meanwhile, opposition political parties in the country have called on the federal government and the military authorities to come clean and ensure transparency in the alleged attempted failed coup plot.
The national publicity secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, said Nigerians deserved to know the truth about the alleged coup plot and the nature of the charges against the detained officers.
“They should let us know what actually happened. We have to know the charges and whether they are facing court-martial or not.
“With time, we will know whether the military was lying to us or the news of soldiers planning a coup is true. Whichever way, we ought to know. That is part of due process,” he said.
Similarly, the interim national publicity secretary of the Labour Party, Tony Akeni, said it was concerning that the military is “speaking with two mouths.”
“If it is as severe as we tend to think, then we ought to be cautious in making comments. Secondly, they said those in detention are there because of some disciplinary measures, yet we have sources within the rank and file saying there was indeed an issue of that nature (coup),” he said.
He appealed to the military to “be courageous, according to the oath of their service, to bring the actual facts to the public so that innocent lives do not suffer.”
Also, the national coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said it was important to verify the authenticity of the alleged coup story before drawing conclusions.
“First of all, you need to establish the truth of the matter before you can suggest punitive measures. There are people already insinuating that this particular statement is planted news by the government in power to gain traction,” he noted, adding that public discontent over government’s performance may have fueled the rumour.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), on its part, called on the federal government to immediately clarify the true nature of an alleged coup plot involving the arrested military officers.
In a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party emphasised that it takes any threat to Nigeria’s democratic order with the utmost seriousness.
The ADC stated that it had been closely monitoring reports linking some arrested military officers to the purported coup, alongside media claims that a former southern governor is under investigation for allegedly financing the suspects.
While firmly opposing any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional order, the party expressed concern over the potential misuse of such allegations to justify political witch-hunt, suppress dissent or manipulate public opinion.