Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Duro Meseko says the most benevolent military rule is no match to the worst civilian rule.Meseko who spoke to reporters in Abuja expressed concern over the scourge of military coups in the West Africa sub-region
.He maintained that while most of the military interventions were as a result of bad leadership and sit tight in the affected countries, forceful take over of power is not a solution.
The Kogi state born politician however ruled out the possibility of the return to military rule in Nigeria.
According to him: “Yes, am worried about the scourge of military coups again particularly in some West African countries. I had thought that this era is gone and gone for good. For me it is not a good development at all.
” However, let me say this that in some of the countries where we have this military intervention, some members of the political class may not have done well but to take over government forcefully is not the solution and those rejoicing at such will soon begin to cry.
“Some of those leaders swore to oath of office that they have not kept. Some are changing constitutions to accommodate their personal whims and caprices. Some swore to an oath of 8 years but they end up spending like 20 years or more.
“However, in the case of Nigeria, as you have asked whether I harbor such a fear in Nigeria and let me say that I don’t have such fears for Nigeria because since 1999, no government in Nigeria has tried to go beyond the constitutionally stipulated term in office.
“Even under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when the Third Term was tried, it failed and failed woefully. Assuming we have such a government that is going beyond its constitutionally stipulated term, of course there would be tension and such a fears may arise.
“The coups de’tats now ravaging the continent are worrisome and that is why the political class in African countries must sit up to the realities of the moment in ensuring that they stick to the oath they swore to and stand by those constitutional limits of their tenure in office.
“If they don’t do that, the result is what we are seeing all over now. As the saying goes that the most benevolent military rule is no match to the worst civilian rule. Because under military rule, all your rights are curtailed, the constitution is suspended and you don’t have the right to say ahh this is wrong.
” You are clamped into detention or you are killed. But under democracy, you can shout, you can protest, you can make your feelings known and your freedom is guaranteed.
“Am sure very soon those running around the streets and celebrating the military takeover in those countries, they will soon realize that it is a very wrong decision.”