''........a country that is governed by even its national army can never be morally free.''
---Mahatma GandhiWhat is the alternative to civilian misrule?
The answer certainly is NOT military coup d'etat.
It is very sad and unfortunate that while we were hoping for the consolidation of democracy and the institutions of democracy in Africa, we are suddenly and rudely awakened by the resurgence of military coups, a development that is now threatening our collective aspiration as Africans for a democratic Africa. The current wave of coup d'etat is a reminiscent of the dark era of the infamous reign of past military juntas, whose sojourn in government has contributed in no small measure to underdevelope the continent.
Military adventure [ or is it misadventure? ] into politics has two main repercussions---- first, that act of coup d'etat and the years of military rule that follows would as a matter of fact politicize the entire military structure and command, an institution that is supposed to be purely professional and subject to the Constitution; second, military takeovers has an inherent dictatorial tendency no matter how well-meaning the intentions of the junta might be. Or how do one explain the dissolution of parliament and the suspension of the Constitution by the said junta?
Is there really justification for military coup d'etats in this millennium?
While I recognize that there is something fundamentally wrong with the mind-set of the political class in some African countries, I also think that there is no real justification for military takeover in those countries.
We have recently seen coup d'etat in Guinea and Niger. The junta in Guinea, Major Moussa Dadis Camara and his men staged a coup in late December 2008, following the death of the 74-year-old President Lansana Conte. In Niger, the junta there, Major Saliou Jibou and his men took over power when they ousted the 73-year-old President Mamadou Tandja on February 18, 2010, while the latter was holding cabinet meeting with his ministers.
In a nutshell and in both cases, the junta in Guinea and his counterpart in Niger accused the civilian authorities of misrule, corruption and dictatorship, reasons that formed the premise for their coup d'etat..
But, with the benefit of hindsight, there is no country where the military ruled without being accused of corruption, dictatorship and misrule as well.
All over the world, there is always the challenge that democracy presents---- and that is the challenge of opposing views. In some instances, such opposing views has led to deaths, imprisonment, official resignations from office and all manner of political crises imaginable. Political crises is NOT peculiar to Africa alone. But it is only in Africa that the military believe that they can play the messiah role to 'liberate' the people from their perceived 'captivity'. It is only in Africa that the military must takeover power to 'save' the State from 'imminent collapse'. It is only in Africa that the military become heroes without going to war.
The question, ''what is the alternative to civilian misrule?'', has been bothering my mind for sometime now.
And answering that question once more, I want to opine, without sounding unreasonable, that the alternative to civilian misrule is the determination of the institution of the military to remain loyal and faithful to the Constitution. There would certainly be a political solution to upstage any civilian misrule. The civil society in Africa is becoming more and more sophisticated with the years, and civilian despots on the continent would soon be eased out of office without the gun pointed at anyone.
There is the need to allow civil society to nurture and mature and decide its own fate And without the civil society, there is no democracy. Military coup d'etats would keep Africa going round in circles when the rest of the world is busy growing their technology, commerce, science, medicine, education, industrialization, and democracy. Let us be reminded that the military has not taken over power in China despite allegations of poor human rights record leveled against the civilian administration there. The military has not taken over power in Ukraine despite the political crises there. And why African countries?
While recognizing the patriotism and love of country demonstrated by the officers and men of the military in Africa, particularly in peace-keeping efforts, there is certainly no place for military rule in this millennium. And I salute the courage of the Nigerian military in shunning the temptation of taking adventage of the lingering political logjam in the country to seize power from the politicians.
In conclusion, regional bodies like the ECOWAS and AU as well as the entire civil society must do everything necessary to halt the incidence of military coup d'etats in Africa.
Adedayo Adetoye
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