Military warns against calls for coup over economic hardship

Military warns against calls for coup over economic hardship

‘Those calling for coup don’t mean well for Nigeria’

The military has warned those calling for a forceful takeover of government through a coup due to the rising cost of living in Nigeria.

It said on Thursday that it would come down hard on people inviting the military to truncate Nigeria’s democracy, noting that they do not mean well for the country.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said this on Thursday, saying those calling a coup did not mean well for the country.

Musa said the Armed Forces would continue to protect the country’s democracy.

He spoke while responding to questions from newsmen shortly after he commissioned the main entrance of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army and Officers Transit Accommodation, both at the Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

Although he admitted the country was experiencing some challenges, he said coup calls were improper because nations would achieve more and develop faster under a democracy.

“Whoever is making that the call (coup) does not love Nigeria. We want to make it very clear that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are here to protect democracy.

“We all want democracy and we do better under democracy. And so we will continue to support democracy. And any of those ones that are calling for anything other than democracy are evil people and I think they don’t mean well for Nigeria.

“And they should be very careful because the law will come after them. We can see that with democracy a lot of things are happening in Nigeria. Yes we are going through trying periods, I mean in life nothing is hundred percent.”

He also stated, “Everybody goes through a trying period in life, and it is what you do with them. You can see the government putting efforts to ensure that we come out better.

“And it is when you go through difficulties and come out better you will really appreciate what it is to build a nation. And so we are going through our trying period, but I can assure Nigerians that it will get better.

“All we need is for all of us to put our hands together to ensure that we defeat those enemies of the government; those enemies of this country that don’t want us to succeed. We will surely succeed and the Armed Forces are here to support the government in ensuring that we develop; we succeed and to see that there is peace in Nigeria.”