OPINION: COUP D’ETAT- WISE OR FOLLY?

 COUP D’ETAT- WISE OR FOLLY?

Guinea’s president, Alpha Condé, is being held in military detention by an elite unit of the army who led the coup that is being condemned by the international community but welcomed by many in Guinea. The coup leader and head of the country’s Special Forces, Col. Mamadi Doumbouya announced in state broadcasts on Sunday that the country’s constitution had been suspended, the government dissolved and the borders closed, with a 24-hour curfew imposed.

All political prisoners would be freed and a renewable 18-month transition would commence, under a new National Committee for Reconciliation and Development, Doumbouya, a former French legionnaire, said. The events have upended the 11-year regime of the 83-year-old president and sparked political upheaval in the mineral-rich but impoverished west African country.

Guinea’s coup came on the heels of four other military takeovers around the Sahel since August 2020. There have been two putsches in Mali, another in Chad, and a foiled attempt in March in Niger. 

Coup seems to be the next step to escape from a crazy demonstration by our leaders especially in African countries but the question is- can any military government survive?

The large number of successful and failed military coups in Nigeria since the country's independence in 1960 is not a far-fetched example. Between 1966 and 1999 the army held power in Nigeria without interruption apart from a short-lived return to democracy between 1979 to 1983. 

SOME OF THE COUPS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN NIGERIA

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 28–30 July 1966.

The 1975 Coup- General Yakubu Gowon was ousted in a palace coup on 30 July 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.

These various coups in Nigeria that resulted in massive bloodshed without much developmental change to the society makes any coup questionable. Nigeria needs visionary leadership to climb out of deepening poverty and become a global competitor in world affairs. Obviously, our leaders need to wake from their slumber but if you ask me, a coup d’etat cannot be a way out. Not this age and time!