Nigerians Clamouring For Coup Didn’t Experience Dictatorship During Military Regime- APC Chieftain

Most Nigerians clamouring for a military coup were not born during past military regimes in the country.

Former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State, Dr Ben Nwoye, stated this in Enugu on Monday while reacting to media reports that the Presidential Guards Brigade had been placed on red alert over an alleged plan to overthrow the regime of President Bola Tinubu by some military cabal.

Nwoye, who admitted that “there is no smoke without fire,” said, “Everybody seems to be under pressure. But we will be our own enemies to think that a military regime is the best for Nigerians. We should know that military regimes take away basic fundamental human rights.

“Those calling for a military takeover were not born during Nigeria’s military eras. There is no perfect economy anywhere in the world. By all measures, we should not call for a military regime again. Let’s consolidate our democratic successes recorded thus far.”

He recalled that “People clamoured for the military in 1983, and under the military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon, austerity measures were introduced. That regime suppressed freedom of information. It introduced the death sentence. Human gatherings were not freely allowed.

“Nigerians thinking that military takeover of the government will usher in eldorado are not realistic.”

On the way forward, Nwoye said the ruling government should sit up, adding that blaming past regimes would not salvage the situation.

In his words, “Even the planned protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress is not an economic strategy. We can’t keep blaming past regimes; no longer excuses.

“APC has held power for eight years and handed power to another APC government. The economic strategy shouldn’t be equipping operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and arresting alleged Yahoo Boys. They know where the dollars are hoarded. State and local governments have roles to play towards the nation’s economic recovery.”