FG Breaks Silence on Alleged Failed Coup, Backs Military’s Denial

The Federal Government has dismissed speculations of a failed coup against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing the reports as unfounded and capable of creating unnecessary tension.

Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government fully trusted the Nigerian Armed Forces and saw no reason to doubt the Defence Headquarters, which had already declared the coup report false.

On Saturday, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, debunked an online report by Sahara Reporters claiming that the detention of 16 military officers was linked to a failed plot to overthrow the government. The publication also alleged that the supposed coup attempt was connected to the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebration.

Gusau condemned the report, calling it “a deliberate attempt to cause distrust among citizens.” He explained that the Independence Day parade was shelved for administrative reasons, allowing President Tinubu to attend a bilateral engagement abroad and enabling troops to focus on ongoing operations against insurgency and banditry.

Reaffirming the military’s commitment to democracy, Gusau stated that the ongoing investigation involving the detained officers was “a routine internal process to uphold discipline and professionalism.”

When contacted, Minister Idris described the issue as “a military affair” but stressed that the Federal Government commended the Armed Forces for their loyalty and ongoing efforts to secure the nation.

Meanwhile, opposition parties have urged transparency in the handling of the situation. The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, said Nigerians deserved clarity on the alleged coup and the charges against the detained officers. Similarly, the Labour Party’s interim spokesman, Tony Akeni, criticized the military for “speaking with two voices,” urging them to present the facts to the public.

Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, called for verification of the report, warning against politically motivated misinformation.

In a separate reaction, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere warned against any attempt to derail Nigeria’s democracy, declaring that a coup would plunge the country into regression.

Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said a military takeover would “set Nigeria back by decades,” urging ambitious officers to avoid any “calamitous mission.” He emphasized that while Nigerians were experiencing hardship, military rule was not the solution.

Ajayi welcomed Gusau’s assurance that no coup had taken place, describing it as “heartwarming.”

Also, Afenifere’s National Organising Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, in a separate statement, condemned any plot to subvert the democratic process. He stressed that “Nigerians, regardless of political or ethnic differences, must unite against military incursion into governance.”

Omololu noted that past military takeovers had left deep scars on the nation, citing the institutional decay and economic setbacks they caused. He commended President Tinubu’s reform efforts, describing democracy as “the only legitimate means of leadership renewal and national progress.”

He warned officers with political ambitions to “resign and test their popularity at the ballot box” reiterating that the Armed Forces exist to defend the Constitution, not violate it. “The Nigerian state must and shall never again be held hostage by the gun” Omololu concluded.