Prominent public affairs analyst and activist, Mahdi Shehu, has urged the Nigerian government and military authorities to be transparent regarding the alleged coup plot.
In a post on X on Monday night, Shehu voiced his concern about what he described as a coup enveloped in secrecy.
He questioned why the identities and details of those allegedly involved had not been made public.
“It has been three weeks since whispers from the vineyard started about an alleged coup,” he wrote.
“What was first explained away as a routine issue around failures in promotion exercises has now grown beyond mere speculation.”
According to him, in the past two weeks, the quiet rumours evolved into low and moderate discussions about military officers being detained nationwide for acts of insubordination and indiscipline.
“But within the last week, all cowardly excuses have given way to a fact that there was indeed a plan to overthrow the government.”
Shehu criticised the silence of the authorities, noting that in other countries, it is customary to present those accused of plotting a coup to the public after a failed attempt.
“World over, the culture of failed coups is for the coup plotters to be paraded in public, handcuffed, legs chained, with their ranks, state of origin, and other details made known to the public.
“Subsequently a military tribunal is set up to try them and pass a judgement which is subject to appeal,” he said.
He maintained that Nigerians deserve openness on the issue, stressing that such secrecy could cause unnecessary anxiety and mistrust.
“Nothing is known about those involved. Nobody knows if they have access to legal representation or to their family members,” he lamented.
Shehu further warned that the ongoing silence from the authorities could escalate the situation and intensify rumours.
“Continuing this hide and seek will only make matters worse, create doubt, confusion, and even a leeway to call it a phantom coup,” he said.
The activist emphasised that citizens have the right to be informed about any situation that poses a threat to the nation’s democratic order.
“Nigerians are entitled to know the identity of those ‘enemies of democracy’,” Shehu added.
He concluded by calling on the government to put an end to what he termed as “play in darkness, beneath-the-earth power games, and treachery.”
So far, the military has dismissed claims of any coup attempt, stating that the recent arrests were related to internal disciplinary procedures.
Additionally, a statement released on Saturday by Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, clarified that the Defence Headquarters’ decision to cancel the October 1 parade was unrelated to any alleged coup plot but was made to allow President Tinubu to attend a strategic bilateral meeting abroad.
The DHQ further explained that the decision also enabled members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to maintain focus on ongoing military operations against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.
