Daud Olatunji
A Nigerian Army Colonel, Mohammed Ma’aji, has reportedly cited worsening insecurity, corruption and economic hardship among the grievances that prompted discussions about a planned military intervention to remove President Bola Tinubu from office.
Ma’aji, who is reportedly being detained over the alleged coup plot, made the claims in a statement obtained by Premium Times and cited by Daily News Hub.
The officer said discussions about military intervention began in 2023, towards the end of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, amid concerns over what he described as worsening governance and insecurity.
He alleged that corruption and nepotism had become widespread towards the end of the Buhari administration and criticised the military leadership for failing to respond adequately to the deteriorating security situation.
According to Ma’aji, the alleged plotters subsequently began identifying military officers who shared their concerns about the direction of the country.
He said those involved viewed themselves as patriotic officers seeking what they considered positive change, rather than being motivated solely by personal interests.
“Most of the officers involved share the same sense of patriotism, love of country and genuine desire for positive change,” he stated.
Ma’aji claimed the alleged coup plan was initially suspended because of a lack of funds, logistics and manpower.
He said he personally financed much of the early activities, while an Army major allegedly contributed N1m and another officer reportedly provided foreign currency on several occasions.
The colonel said the alleged project was later revived after he failed for a second time to secure promotion to the rank of Brigadier General in 2024.
However, he reportedly insisted that the promotion setback was not the primary motivation for the alleged plot.
Instead, Ma’aji attributed the revival of the plan to what he described as widespread dissatisfaction with government policies and the worsening economic and security situation.
He specifically mentioned the removal of the petrol subsidy, foreign exchange reforms, taxation, electricity tariffs, corruption and insecurity.
The officer also referred to the #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protests, arguing that the handling of the demonstrations contributed to growing frustration among young Nigerians.
He cited unemployment and economic hardship as factors that, in his account, had increased public dissatisfaction with the government.
The colonel’s account suggests that the alleged plan was not conceived solely as a reaction to the Tinubu administration, as he traced the discussions to the final period of the previous administration.
However, his statement placed particular emphasis on policies introduced under Tinubu, including the petrol subsidy removal and economic reforms.
The allegations come against the backdrop of Nigeria’s constitutional prohibition of military intervention in government and the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999 after decades of military governments.
Ma’aji’s account, however, represents his reported explanation of the alleged plot and does not by itself establish the extent of the conspiracy, the number of officers involved or the group’s actual operational capacity.
Authorities have yet to publicly establish all the allegations contained in the officer’s account in a court of law.
The development is likely to heighten attention on the military and the government’s handling of security, economic hardship and dissent, particularly as the country continues to grapple with insecurity and cost-of-living pressures.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
