Defence Chief, Irabor Says Coup No Longer Popular

By James Orji

General Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defense Staff says the days of military intervention in Nigeria’s polity are over. He said Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.

His admonition comes on the heels of recent military coups in Africa, for instance in Mali, Guinea and Sudan where military ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan forced Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok to resign following massive violent protests across the country.

Irabor made the pledge, on Friday, during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he commended the efforts of military personnel ahead of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

Much of the country’s history since she attained independence in 1960 has been tainted by military coups, before the eventual return to democracy in 1999.

Not a few Nigerians have insisted that they preferred constitutional democracy to military rule, a view supported by the Defence chief who said soldiers must remain in the barracks and play their subordination role to civilian rule.

According to Irabor, “today, I believe that Nigerians are no longer in doubt as to the subordination of the military to civil rule; I believe that no one is in doubt that democracy has come to stay.

“I believe that no one is in doubt any longer that the current military leadership, and of course, since the democratisation in 1999, that the military is well focused to perform its constitutional roles.”

Gen. Irabor said the military have been tainted with their intervention in politics, adding that the military is now refocused to playing its subordination role.

He also spoke about the significance of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day usually marked on January 16.

He said, “I am sure you also know that issues that have to do with civic responsibilities still require a little push; I am sure you know that literacy level in the nation still requires a little push; and so when you bring these factors among several other things, you know that quite a lot of work needs to be done.

“Going forward, I believe that some of these misperceptions that some Nigerians have had with respect to military engagement will begin to change.”