CDS warns against clamour for coup over economic hardship

Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff, has warned against the clamour for a coup over the prevailing economic hardship in Nigeria. 

He spoke on Thursday after inaugurating the main entrance of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, and officers transit accommodation at the division headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital.

Nigeria has been experiencing economic instability and galloping inflation since the removal of the subsidy on petrol, and the unification of the exchange rates, in May 2023.

This has prompted some protests in parts of the country.

Some citizens have also taken to social media to advocate for military intervention as a panacea to the country’s challenges.

Responding to questions on the subject, Musa said while the country has been experiencing some challenges, calls for a coup were way out of order.

According to Daily Trust, the defence chief said the military would protect Nigeria’s democracy with all it has got.

“Whoever is making that call (coup) does not love Nigeria. We want to make it very clear that the armed forces of Nigeria are here to protect democracy,” he said.

“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 said citizens need to be patient and lend support to the government’s efforts at ameliorating the challenges.

“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,” he added.

“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.”