No one can stage a successful coup in Nigeria says Defence Minister
No one can stage a successful coup in Nigeria says Defence Minister
Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has dismissed the possibility of any successful coup attempt in the country, saying democracy has become firmly entrenched and enjoys greater support than military rule.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Friday, Musa reacted to the ongoing court martial of military officers accused of participating in an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu in October 2025.
The minister said anyone contemplating a coup was embarking on a futile mission, stressing that military takeovers no longer have a place in Nigeria’s political landscape.
“Anybody planning any coup is wasting his time,” he said.
“Democracy is far, far better than any military regime. This is an opportunity to show the junior ones that coup doesn’t pay.”
Musa described the officers allegedly linked to the plot as misguided individuals whose actions had dragged younger personnel into serious trouble.
“I just looked at the people that were involved and I shook my head, because they are just a bunch of confused individuals that exposed very junior officers who didn’t know their left from their right and now put them into this mess. It’s quite unfortunate,” he said.
According to the minister, any attempt to execute such a plan would have met stiff resistance not only from the military but also from ordinary Nigerians.
“Even the civilians in Nigeria would have taken them down. So, I think it was just foolhardy for them to have done what they wanted to do,” he added.
While expressing concern over the plight of the officers currently standing trial, Musa said the military leadership was saddened whenever personnel became entangled in actions that threatened their careers and the institution’s integrity.
“We always feel bad when we see our colleagues in this situation. But the good thing is that the system has a way of going about it,” he stated.
The defence minister maintained that the investigation into the alleged coup plot was comprehensive and that the judicial process within the military was being conducted transparently.
“The investigation was very thorough. The prosecution is now ongoing, and the court martial will go as planned. We are giving them all the benefits to defend themselves.
“But the facts on the ground are very, very clear, and I can tell you that we are following all the processes. Nothing is hidden,” he said.
Musa also argued that there was no basis for any attempt to undermine the current democratic government, noting that the welfare of military personnel had received considerable attention under the present administration.
“They had no reason to do that. The country was going very well. The armed forces have been taken care of quite well. We’ve never had issues with our salaries.
“Efforts have been made to even increase our allowances. Our troops are doing quite well,” he added.
