The Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, has said that the Nigerian military operates more effectively under a democratic system of government, stressing that military rule is not an option for the country.
He noted that Nigeria is better served by democracy and made this clear on Thursday while responding to questions during an interview on Prime Time, a programme aired on Arise Television.
According to him, the Nigerian military has demonstrated professionalism by submitting itself to civilian authority. He explained that occasions such as Armed Forces Remembrance Day should serve as reminders to Nigerians that military takeovers are wrong and have no place in the country’s future.
“One thing I am very proud of is that the Nigerian military has lived up to its responsibility by subjecting itself to civilian authority. You can see that the military actually performs better in a democratic setting,” he said.
Musa also expressed concern that some neighbouring countries have returned to military rule, describing the development as a setback. He added that Nigeria continues to engage such countries to help them understand that democratic governance is better than military intervention.
The Defence Minister issued a strong warning against any attempt to overthrow Nigeria’s democratic order, saying coups are unacceptable and should never be contemplated.
“Coup is wrong and nobody should ever have it in mind. No one should ever think of carrying out a coup in Nigeria,” he stated.
He urged Nigerians to support democratic institutions and values, calling on everyone to work together to promote peace and security across the country.
