Some former generals have issued warnings due to the increase in coups in Africa, stating that the only way to stop them on the continent was for elected officials to uphold constitutional rights and promote good governance in their individual nations.
Remember how certain military officials in Gabon seized over and put Ali Bongo, the country’s former president, and his family under house arrest? In Central Africa is Gabon.
Following the coup, which brought the total of coups on the continent in the last three years to seven, the soldiers announced that the presidential vote from last Saturday, which extended the Bongo family’s prolonged rule, had been invalidated. This brought an abrupt end to the Bongo family’s 56-year rule in the nation.
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Military forces launched a coup in the Niger Republic a few months before to the coup in Gabon, detaining President Mohamed Bazoum of that West African nation.
Sudan, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea are more African nations ruled by the military.
Former generals in Nigeria told The PUNCH that in order for coups to stop occurring, leaders must take responsibility for their actions and refrain from authoritarian rule, even though they did not defend the military takeovers.
They claimed that respecting the constitution and promoting good administration by democratically elected governments is the best way to stop the return of coups.
General Alexander Ogomudia, a former Chief of Defence Staff, said that the coups were a reflection of how the elected officials ran their nations. He said that no one could morally support a coup against a government that upholds its election promises.
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He stated, “You can’t use what happened in Gabon as a template for what happens everywhere else. For Niger, have you seen the pictures of the country at all? For how many years has France been collecting nuclear materials from that country, and the country is one of the poorest in the world?
“In my place, we have a saying that if you do anyhow, you will see anyhow. So, whoever was ruling Niger, if he was teaming with foreigners to ruin their country, that is doing anyhow. So, if you have a coup now, it is seeing anyhow. I have no advice.
“Every politician knows what is right. Before resuming office, don’t they campaign? If they stick to those promises, why would they have a problem? If I say this road to your place is not good, I will fix it for you, and when I get there, and I fix the road, will anyone have the moral justification to support a coup against such a person? Those who are planning coups have their reason for planning it. I can’t speak for them.”
Also, Brig.-Gen. Phillip Ashim said the way to stop coups in Africa was to ensure the people enjoy good governance.
“That is common knowledge. It is good governance. That’s all,” he added.
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On his part, a former Commander, 1 Division, Brig.-Gen. John Sura (retd.) said for coups to stop in Africa, leaders must respect their constitution and democratic structure.
He added, “There are some basic things African leaders should pay attention to. First, the constitution of every nation must be highly respected. People agitate when they are disenchanted, or there is an unacceptable change in the constitution. If the people enjoy good governance, I believe there will be no coup.
“If you look at the developed nations, no matter what happens, they respect their electoral laws and other laws, so people feel at home that their interests are protected. Once countries are well governed, and there is respect for the rule of law, we will not be talking of a coup.”
Major General Henry Ayoola (retired), a former commander of the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, added that the coups were educational enough for politicians to alter their methods of rule.
“Let’s practice true democracy and not just civilian rule. Let it be that it is a democracy where we keep to the rule of law, follow due process and procedures, or the tenets of democracy. That is the surest way of keeping soldiers out of governance.
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“The answer is for the politicians to play the game according to the rules. I give soldiers no reason and no excuse to tamper with the democratic rule. Let us practice democracy,” he said.
He added that the continent’s governance practises had made impunity entrenched to the point where people disliked protocols and procedures.
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