FG Insists Nigeria Closer To Lasting Security Than Ever, Says Coups Must Never Return
Oladipupo Olamiposi@olamiposioladipupo247606
29 days ago
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa has declared that military coups must never be contemplated again in Nigeria, insisting that the country is closer to lasting security than at any point in recent years.
“First and foremost, to know that coup is wrong. Nobody should ever have that in mind. From now onwards, nobody should ever think of carrying out a coup or something in Nigeria. We must all put our hands together to support the democratic norms in place,” Musa stated.
In strong terms, he warned against any future coup attempts, describing them as unacceptable under any circumstance.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, Musa said the lesson of Nigeria’s first military coup on January 15, 1966, is clear and irreversible.
“January 15, 1966, was an unfortunate incident that occurred, and like we said, it’s part of the history of Nigeria, and so we can’t do away with it. And now, I think the important thing is, what do we do after that? How do we prevent repeating such mistakes in the future?” he said.
Musa stressed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria have firmly embraced democratic civilian control and are better positioned under democracy than military rule.
“That’s one thing I’m very proud of. The Nigerian military have stood up to its responsibility, subjecting itself to civilian rule. And you can see that the military actually thrives better in a democracy. For us in Nigeria, it’s always been very better when we have a democratic government in place,” he said.
While addressing Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges, the minister, who said the country has made significant progress, also canvassed for the support and unity of Nigerians in fight against security challenges.
“What’s going on now is a world challenge. Look at Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria. Just like ISIS, the entire world must come together to fight it,” Musa added.
