The recent absence of Nigeria's key political leaders—President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the recent death of Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja—amid an economic crisis, has understandably stirred anxiety and frustration across the nation. Many citizens are grappling with skyrocketing food prices, inflation, and a high cost of living, and the optics of this leadership void have not been well received. Nigerians feel abandoned, and many are asking: Is there a way out of this economic nightmare?
While these feelings are valid, calls for a military coup should not and must not be entertained. Nigeria's history has shown, time and again, that military interventions do not bring the stability or prosperity people yearn for. In fact, they strip away our freedoms, disrupt national progress, and lead to long-term suffering.
The first coup in Nigeria, led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu in January 1966, sought to address perceived corruption and political instability. While its intentions may have been to "cleanse" the nation, it sparked an endless cycle of violence and instability. General Aguiyi-Ironsi, who emerged from the coup as head of state, was overthrown in a bloody counter-coup in July 1966. This second coup further deepened ethnic tensions, leading to the devastating Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), which left millions dead and a nation divided.
Following the war, General Yakubu Gowon, who led Nigeria through the conflict, was ousted in another military coup in 1975. His regime, though credited with national reconstruction efforts, became infamous for corruption and a lack of political reform. Gowon’s successor, General Murtala Mohammed, was assassinated in a coup attempt just one year into his leadership, throwing the country back into instability. The resulting Olusegun Obasanjo government (1976-1979) finally handed over power to a civilian government, a rare commendable act in military history. Yet, democracy was short-lived.
In 1983, the military returned under General Muhammadu Buhari, who led with an iron fist, enforcing strict decrees that stifled press freedom and civil liberties. Buhari’s regime was quickly overthrown by General Ibrahim Babangida in 1985. Babangida's tenure saw continued economic challenges, worsened by corruption and the controversial annulment of the June 12, 1993, elections—the moment when Nigerians’ hope for democratic governance was dashed once more. His eventual resignation led to the short-lived Ernest Shonekan-led interim government, which was soon toppled by General Sani Abacha, one of Nigeria's most notorious military rulers.
Under Abacha (1993-1998), Nigerians experienced some of the darkest years of military dictatorship, with widespread human rights abuses, media suppression, and political repression. Abacha's death in 1998 allowed General Abdulsalami Abubakar to oversee a transition back to civilian rule in 1999, marking the start of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. This period was hard-fought, and many Nigerians sacrificed their lives to restore democracy.
The clamor for a coup in response to today's economic woes overlooks a critical truth: military rule has consistently denied Nigerians their fundamental rights. Under military regimes, media freedom is restricted, as experienced during Buhari’s and Abacha’s tenures when journalists were jailed and newspapers were censored. The Nigerian youth, who have become vocal through social media platforms, would be among the first to suffer. Under a military government, the social media spaces that have become vital for expression, advocacy, and even economic ventures would be subject to heavy censorship, and many young Nigerians would likely find themselves in trouble for criticizing the government online.
Given our history, it is clear that military intervention will not solve Nigeria's economic crisis—it will only compound our problems. While Nigerians are justifiably frustrated by the current state of affairs, military rule is not a shortcut to stability or prosperity. It is a road back to oppression, censorship, and the kind of stifling control that undermines the very fabric of democracy.
Furthermore, we must remember that economic recovery takes time and patience. Yes, it is difficult now, but Nigerians have shown resilience in the face of adversity before. Reforms are already underway, with the government implementing measures aimed at fiscal realignment and investment in agriculture to reduce food costs
These are the kinds of long-term solutions that will ultimately yield results, not a coup.
As bleak as things may seem, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The struggle for a democratic Nigeria was not an easy one, but we have made significant progress since 1999. Nigerians must continue to hold their leaders accountable through democratic means—protests, advocacy, and the ballot box—not by supporting undemocratic interventions.
This is a pivotal moment for our nation. We must resist the temptation to seek out quick fixes like a military coup. Instead, we must press forward, learn from our past, and continue the work of building a democratic Nigeria that works for everyone.
Seun Joseph writes from Hull City.
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