Nigerians Must Say No to Coup Plotters – Laolu Akande

Former presidential aide and public affairs analyst, Laolu Akande, has urged Nigerians to firmly reject any attempt to subvert democracy through military coups, stressing that political dissatisfaction should be expressed through constitutional means rather than force of arms. Akande made this call during his My Take segment on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande aired on […]

Former presidential aide and public affairs analyst, Laolu Akande, has urged Nigerians to firmly reject any attempt to subvert democracy through military coups, stressing that political dissatisfaction should be expressed through constitutional means rather than force of arms.

Akande made this call during his My Take segment on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande aired on Channels Television, where he reflected on recent developments in the Nigerian military following the replacement of service chiefs by President Bola Tinubu on Friday.

He noted that while the President’s decision came amid reports of an alleged coup plot involving some senior military officers, Nigerians must remain resolute in defending democratic governance and rejecting any return to military rule.

“The president acting as the Commander-in-Chief has replaced the service chiefs of the Armed Forces on Friday,” Akande began.

“Few weeks back, there were rumours of some coup planning nipped in the bud with some arrests of senior officers. Was the President’s move a fall out of the so-called coup? Your guesses are as good as mine.”

The veteran journalist and former presidential aide referenced reports by Sahara Reporters and Premium Times, which claimed that some detained military officers had allegedly plotted to overthrow the government. He praised the country’s military intelligence for swiftly uncovering and preventing the attempt.

“If it is indeed accurate as Sahara Reporters and Premium Times have reported it, that the military officers who are being detained were actually planning a coup, then we must give kudos to the military intelligence that uncovered it,” he said.

“Perhaps, this included the fact that the Chief of Defence Intelligence who is not a service chief was retained in the shake-up.”

Akande, however, cautioned that under no circumstance should Nigerians tolerate or romanticize a coup, emphasizing that such actions would only derail the country’s democratic progress and worsen its challenges.

“We don’t want any coup attempt at all. It’s a big no no,” he declared. “All those who may be dissatisfied enough with the Tinubu administration or with his policies or conduct of government, they should arrange among themselves and do the confrontation in the next election — not by the force of military arms. No.”

He urged citizens to sustain their faith in democracy, regardless of frustrations with the political class, noting that civilian rule—though imperfect—remains the only legitimate path to progress and reform.

“Let us quench the desires for military coups even if we are not comfortable with the behaviours of our political elites,” Akande said.

The former presidential aide’s comments come amid growing regional concerns about the resurgence of coups in parts of Africa, especially in West and Central Africa, where several democratically elected governments have been toppled in recent years.

Akande concluded his commentary by reaffirming that Nigeria’s stability and democratic continuity depend on the collective will of its citizens to reject unconstitutional change of power.

“Our democracy may not be perfect, but the solution is to strengthen our institutions, demand accountability, and use our votes wisely — not to invite the military back to power,” he said.

Speaking on the recently-called off ASUU warning strike, he said “Was that warning strike actually necessary? Couldn’t it have been avoided? The Federal Government said through Dr Tunji Alausa, the Minister for Education that on the Friday before the strike took effect, they were engaging ASUU leaders up util Sunday. The Minister added that ASUU had promised to get back to the Federal Government’s team. Instead, it was the strike announcement that they heard in the news. ASUU has yet to deny this line of narrative. Strikes deployed this way weakens its appeal. There is a stronger weapon than strike called political action. Let our professors think about this and stop this intellectually rigid resort to strike actions that destroys”