COUP: MURIC tells Nigerian Army not to emulate Gabon

By KEMI KASUMU

Following Wednesday morning overthrow of the President of Gabon, Alli Bongo’s government in a bloodless coup d’etat staged by the Gabonese military, a Nigeria-based Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has advised the Nigerian military not to emulate the Gabonese Army.

MURIC’s advice was contained in a press statement issued today, Wednesday, 30th August, 2023 by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

Akintola said, “The president of Gabon was today overthrown in a bloodless coup d’etat staged by the Gabonese military.

“While we frown upon the sit-tight syndrome adopted by the Bongo family in Gabon and some African countries, we strongly condemn this military coup.

“MURIC advises the Nigerian Army to remain apolitical and to resist the temptation to emulate the Gabonese army by staging any coup in Nigeria. Any Nigerian soldier who contemplates coup in the present dispensation is doing so for selfish reasons. It is noteworthy that the Nigerian political firmament is absolutely different from that of Gabon where the Bongo dynasty has been in power for more than 50 years.

“A military coup against the current Muslim-Muslim ticket will be interpreted as a direct attack on Muslims in the country in view of the deep religious sentiment which pervaded the controversy surrounding the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Any military coup in Nigeria now will carry a religious taint. Nigeria has not recovered from the one-sided anti-North coup of 15th January, 1966 staged by Igbo soldiers and the vengeful counter-coup of July 1966 staged mainly by soldiers of Northern extraction.

“We therefore advise the Nigerian military not to emulate the Gabonese military. The Nigerian Army is a well trained and highly professional fighting machine and Nigerians are proud of them. The Nigerian army’s hands are already full with engagements with Boko Haram, insurgents and other security threats. It cannot afford to add political intervention to its challenges. The army should not bite more than it can swallow.

“As we draw the curtain, we call on Nigerian rulers to borrow a leaf from what has happened in Gabon, Niger, Mali, etc. Good governance has become mandatory on leaders. We must alleviate poverty, hunger, and disease from our land.”