Defence Minister Musa says anyone planning a coup is wasting time.

Defence Minister Christopher Musa warned that any attempt to stage a coup in Nigeria would be futile, saying Nigerians would resist efforts to overthrow the country’s democratic system.

During an interview on Arise Television on Friday, Musa emphasized that democracy remains far preferable to military rule and that the Armed Forces are dedicated to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

The minister reflected on a past coup investigation in which he participated, noting that he and other senior officers were among those who uncovered and reported the plot. He also chaired the investigative committee that handled the matter.

Musa described the alleged coup plotters as “confused individuals” who had misled junior officers into participating. He added that the Armed Forces have been well catered for, with no salary issues and ongoing efforts to improve allowances and provide additional equipment for troops combating insecurity.

He maintained that any coup attempt would fail, stating that even civilians would resist such actions. “So I was let go, and five weeks later I’m back to show you that, yes, it wasn’t that because I was involved in anything, and far from it. We were the ones who actually identified the coup. We were the ones who reported it. I was one who convened the committee that did the investigation. We did all this together,” Musa said.

“What we are trying to do now is to show the junior ones that a coup doesn’t pay anything, democracy is far, far better than any military regime, and so there’s an opportunity,” he added.

He criticized those involved in the plot, calling them “a bunch of confused individuals” who exposed junior officers who “didn’t know their left from right,” and lamented the unfortunate situation. “We always feel bad when we see our colleagues derailing, but the good thing is that the system has a way of going about it,” Musa said.

He said the investigation was thorough, the prosecution is ongoing, and the court-martial will proceed as planned. “We’re giving them all the benefits to defend themselves. But the facts on the ground are very, very clear, and I can tell you that we’re following all the processes. Nothing is hidden,” he added.

Musa reiterated that the country was doing well, the armed forces had been well taken care of, and there were no salary issues. “Efforts have been made to even increase our salaries and our allowances. Our troops are doing quite very well. We’re getting more equipment to fight,” he said.

He concluded, “And make sure this, anybody who is thinking of planning a coup, I think he’s just wasting their time. Even the civilians in Nigeria will have taken them down. So, I think it was just foolhardy for them to have tried what they wanted to do.”