Professor Okey Ikechukwu, the Executive Director of Development Specs Academy, has shared his perspective on the potential for coups in countries during an interview on Channels Television. He emphasized that no amount of military reshuffling or warnings can necessarily prevent a coup, as coups are often initiated by middle-ranked officers rather than high-ranking leaders.
According to Professor Okey, "No number of warnings or reshuffling can thwart a coup because, in most cases, coups are not orchestrated or supported by top-ranking officials. Usually, it's mid-level officers who carry out the coup, even if you appoint them as Generals, I agree with that. If we examine our own history, it wasn't Murtala who orchestrated his own coup. It was younger officers who kept discussing it with him, and he said, 'If you are going to put me there, don't tell me what to do.' On the day of the coup, he was in London, and he flew in later."
He pointed out that historical examples show that coups are typically orchestrated by mid-level officers who may not even hold the highest ranks. He mentioned the case of Murtala, stating that it was younger officers who discussed the coup with him, even though he later became a General. Murtala was in London on the day of the coup, highlighting the surprise factor of such events.
Professor Ikechukwu also revealed the approach African presidents should take to make coups less appealing. Instead of solely focusing on preventing officers from overthrowing them, he suggested that leaders should consider addressing the root causes that make coups attractive. He emphasized the difficulty in ascertaining what is on the minds of potential coup plotters and the potential risks they pose.
He also added, "Looking at what is happening in Africa, presidents should be asking themselves what they can do to make coups less appealing. Instead, they focus on preventing officers from overthrowing them, which is why there's a possibility that, no matter what measures they take, if someone is determined to carry out a coup, they will. Who can truly ascertain what's on their mind? They've been waiting for 15 years, and now that you've put them in a position to watch your back, they might take you out without warning."
See the video https://www.youtube.com/live/mH7MVKtbmtI?si=NabjQ-Jv5dq9qQXu 34:00
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