The former Chief Security Officer to late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has expressed disapproval of the calls for a military takeover in the country as a result of the challenges brought about by the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.
Al-Mustapha, in a statement emphasized that advocating for military intervention in Nigeria’s political affairs is not in line with the current state of democracy in the country.
He urged those pushing for a coup to redirect their efforts towards promoting military subordination to democracy, highlighting that military rule is no longer favored globally.
During a discussion with a select group of journalists in Abuja, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, advised the coup agitators to prioritize military professionalism and invest their energy in supporting military subordination to democracy.
Furthermore, Al-Mustapha expressed opposition to both the parliamentary and presidential systems of government practiced in Nigeria, stating that they do not align with the historical backgrounds of the Nigerian people. He reiterated his commitment to democracy and urged those considering a coup to abandon the idea and work towards strengthening the nation’s democratic principles.
He said: “I am by definition today, a politician. I am looking at this country today from a democratic sense. We have invested in it and we are investing in it. Our researches are all towards the investment of democratic excellence in Nigeria.
“Military subordination to democracy is a clear direction as the world is today. But when you have democracy, the type that we are operating -presidential system….
” In a debate, in our presentation in the past, I said I am against the presidential system in Nigeria and the examples I gave is the fact that two close countries, the closest to us, the United Kingdom and the United States, one is operating parliamentary system and the other is operating presidential system, all has to do with their historical backgrounds, with conveniences of the people and Nigeria is simply a copy card. We copied the parliamentary system, we changed it to the presidential system! All the two are strange to our culture, to our history, to our background, to our understanding as a people. How can you bring the same system and adopt it as yours? It would not work, it would be repulsive.
“Some politicians came to me and said ‘You need not say that in the open, allow us to continue to operate the way we are’, but I cannot form part of cheating. What did I say? I said the United States is a country where immigrants who became citizens, have laws protecting them and the question I asked was, in Nigeria, who is an immigrant and who is an indigene? How can you have more laws and a system of governance that is protective of immigrants? Who is an immigrant in Nigeria? We are all citizens. So, we need to chart our course, we have to have the domestic type of democracy that will suit us and suit our future. That is what I am calling for but the issue of military, no.
He continued:”My advice to them is that military professionalism is what they should canvas for. Military subordination to democracy is what they should invest in and put all their energies there for.”
He added that the military has been overstretched.
“Remember, before the protest, Nigeria was enveloped, the military was overstretched, trying to provide solutions or to contend Boko Haram, contend banditry, contend other numerous abuses, kidnapping and the rest of it and all the other social vices that have bedevilled Nigeria.
“The problems are more than the police and today, the military is overstretched and these things have continued to linger.
“If you care to investigate to see the scale of crime rate in Nigeria, you would realize that there is a buildup rather than a decline and that is most disturbing.
“That is to say the capacity of our military has been overstretched. So what is expected of Nigeria and Nigerians is to first help the military to either increase in strength and then give them tasks that are scientifically proven in numerous other countries that have contended insecurity.
” Remember, Nigeria with her resources, is an enemy in the eyes of many, in international politics and if we we are not conscious of that, then it is certain that we are blinded and we will continue to go into this unfortunate merry-go-round that is pushing us into the rock.
“We must adjust, we have to do it and it doesn’t matter who it pains, those who are investing in it and feeding fat should understand that is the role of the enemy of the state. So such enemies of the state should be fished out without doubt and then tell them to stay away and then professionalism in our military and subordinating the military to democracy, that is the direction.”
