‘We have no reason to doubt the military’: FG breaks silence on coup attempt

The Federal Government on Sunday finally reacted to the widespread rumours of a coup attempt to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking with The PUNCH, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government has unshakable confidence in the military and had no reason to doubt the position of the Defence Headquarters on the issue.

The Defence the militaryHeadquarters, in a statement released on Saturday, dismissed the report of a coup as fake. Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau had denied a news report by Sahara Reporters, linking the detention of 16 military officers to a failed coup.

According to Sahara Reporters, the recent cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebration was due to the coup.

In an official statement on Saturday, Gusau condemned the report, saying it was “intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace.”

He further added that the cancellation of the October 1 anniversary parade was “purely administrative,” explaining that it was meant to allow President Tinubu to attend a bilateral meeting abroad and enable troops to sustain ongoing operations against insurgency and banditry.

Gusau affirmed the agency’s commitment to Democracy, saying, “Democracy is forever.”

According to him, “the ongoing investigation involving the 16 officers is a routine internal process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism is maintained within the ranks. An investigative panel has been duly constituted, and its findings would be made public.”

However, during an interview with the PUNCH to get the Federal Government’s response on the issue, the information minister said it was “a military affair”

“The Federal Government has no reason to doubt the military on what it has said,” the minister said.

“The Federal Government believes that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is committed to ensuring the territorial integrity of the country and also strengthening its fight against insecurity. “The Federal Government commends the military, and it will continue to support them in their task of ensuring the security of Nigeria,” Idris told PUNCH newspaper.

The recent military coup in some countries in Africa, such as Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, has raised fears, especially with the responses of the citizens in these countries.

Some observers believe that certain military coups may have been backed by foreign interests seeking to counter Western ideologies. However, critics argue that widespread political corruption is what fuels growing support for military takeovers in some African countries.