Tension in Aso Rock over calls for military takeover, Tinubu makes passionate plea

There appears to be tension in the seat of power in Abuja over the sudden calls by youths in northern Nigeria for military takeover during the nationwide protest of hardship across the country. The northern protesters also took to the streets of major cities in various states waving Russian flag in their #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria mass action.

Both activities in the hardship protest generated concerns over plausible diversion of the intents of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest in the country, culminating of mutual suspicion of hidden agenda from that part of the country.

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday made a passionate plea to all Nigerians, acknowledging the hardship his reforms policies have inflected on citizens but promises a better Nigeria.

Protesters in Kaduna

President Bola Tinubu had on Monday convened security meeting at the State House, Abuja, in relation to the disturbing trend of the hardship protest in the north. The meeting was attended by the heads of the various security units of the Nigerian Armed Forces and paramilitary agencies, including the Inspector General of Police, and the NSA.

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Thereafter, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Chris Musa, declared that the military is not interested in any coup but is committed to the defense of democracy in Nigeria.

The Chief of Defence Staff further cautioned that waving of Russian flag is treason, while the service chiefs asserted their resolve to pick out enemies of Nigeria.

Protesters in Kano

Subsequently, security operatives revealed the identification of external sponsors of the #EndBadGovernanceProtest in the country, and further disclosed the blocking of the accounts through which funds are supposedly being moved into the country.

Curiously, the declaration of curfew in noticeable violent states in the north failed to deter the northern youths from vacating the streets on the major cities.

While arrests were made by security operatives in Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and others, northern youths intensified their protest in Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, Sokoto, and others, storming Government houses in certain state capitals, waving Russian flag, as the protest dragged on into Day 7.
Enforcing the curfew imposed in northern states has become a herculean task for the security operatives, not even warning shots by the police or soldiers.

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Image of #EndBadGovernanceProtesters in Kano

President Bola Tinubu, in his broadcast, urged protesters to embrace dialogue and end the protest.

The federal government has also promised the distribution of 50kg bag of rice at the cost of N40,000 to citizens, as the president reassures of a greater Nigeria under his administration.

The federal government also ordered the suspension of tariff and levy on imported rice, wheat, among others. However, the land borders are still shut by the government.

Apparently, importation through land borders is currently impossible until the federal government re-opens the borders. This measure has, thus, been ineffective so far, and rage of fury continues across the country.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, in a media interaction emphasised that the “only acceptable means for regime change is through constitutional election.”

According to Oshiomhole, “there is no room for military take over of government in Nigeria. “After tallying the demands of faceless protests leaders, I discovered that they are hiding under the guise of hunger and unemployment, their major aim is for a change of government, and we cannot legally, lawfully and peacefully ask for a regime change in Nigeria”.

The protest in some states in southern Nigeria has slowed down, while a few states still experience hunger protest.

The call for military coup is obvious deviation from the main hardship and #EndBadGovernanceProtest across the country; and it is sufficient to cause tension and palpable fear in the polity.