The Federal Government on Sunday broke its silence regarding media reports alleging a failed coup attempt to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking with The PUNCH, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that the government had full confidence in the Nigerian Armed Forces and no reason to doubt the official position of the Defence Headquarters, which had earlier dismissed the coup report as false and malicious.
On Saturday, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, issued a statement describing the publication by Sahara Reporters—which linked the detention of 16 military officers to an alleged coup attempt—as “baseless, speculative, and deliberately intended to cause public anxiety.”
Gusau clarified that the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade was purely administrative, citing the President’s engagement in international diplomatic commitments and the need for security forces to sustain ongoing counterinsurgency operations nationwide.
“Democracy is forever,” Gusau declared, emphasizing that the ongoing investigation involving the affected officers was a routine disciplinary process aimed at maintaining professionalism within the military.
When contacted on Sunday, Minister Idris described the matter as “a military affair,” stating:
“The Federal Government has no reason to doubt the assurances of the military. We have faith in their commitment to the territorial integrity of the nation and to upholding democratic governance. The government commends the Armed Forces for their continued efforts in securing the country.”
Opposition Calls for Transparency
Meanwhile, opposition parties and civil rights groups have called on the Federal Government and the military to ensure transparency regarding the circumstances surrounding the alleged arrests.
Ladipo Johnson, National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), urged authorities to disclose the facts:
“Nigerians deserve to know the true position. The charges, if any, should be made public. Whether it is a routine disciplinary measure or a coup-related issue, due process must be followed.”
Similarly, Tony Akeni, Interim National Publicity Secretary of the Labor Party, expressed concern over conflicting reports within the military hierarchy, urging clarity and accountability.
In the same vein, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, stressed the importance of verifying the authenticity of the alleged coup story before drawing conclusions, suggesting that the rumor may have been fueled by rising public discontent.
“People are frustrated by hardship, and such sentiments can easily morph into rumors of instability,” he noted.
Afenifere Warns Against Military Intervention
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, in a strong statement, condemned any suggestion or attempt to subvert the democratic process, describing a coup as “a calamitous venture that would reverse decades of national progress.”
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, emphasized that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) permits changes in government only through lawful and constitutional means.
“No grievance, however weighty, justifies a return to military rule,” he stated. “The present administration under President Tinubu must be allowed to continue its reform agenda. The Constitution is clear that power must only change hands through elections, not force.”
Reiterating this position, Afenifere’s National Organizing Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, declared that any coup attempt—real or imagined—constitutes “an unmitigated assault on the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Omololu warned that the Armed Forces Act and the Constitution classify any such act as treason, punishable under law.
“Any officer nursing political ambitions must resign honorably and test his popularity at the ballot box. The duty of the military is to defend the Constitution, not to desecrate it,” he said.
Afenifere commended the Chief of Defence Staff and all patriotic officers for their loyalty, urging the military to remain steadfast in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy.
“The Nigerian state must never again be held hostage by the gun,” the statement concluded.#newsafro_
