Aregbeshola Warns Military Against Take-Over

Aregbesola

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State

As mass protest over the removal of fuel subsidy continues across the country, the Governor of Osun State, southwest Nigeria, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeshola has warned the military not to take advantage of the crisis to overthrow the present government.

 

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State

Aregbesola, who is the most outspoken governor against government’s decision to remove subsidy on fuel, gave this warning Sunday in a speech he delivered at the 8th Chief Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture which took place at Ikeja Airport Hotel, Lagos.

The lecture, which was organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, was attended by prominent opponents of subsidy removal such as Hon. Justice Pius Aderemi (retd), Mr. Femi Falana, Barrister Bamidele Aturu, Prof. Omotoye Olorode, wife and son of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Ganiat and Mohammed, Barr. Wahab Shittu among others.

In his speech, Aregbeshola warned that it is likely that some top military officers may exploit this crisis in the country and attempt to overthrow the present government of President Goodluck Jonathan

He said: “For those conversant with Nigerian history, this is the point that opportunistic elements in the military stage treason and undermine the democratic order. Although given our immediate past experience and the ignominious exit of the soldiers from governance almost 13 years ago, one can argue that a military putsch is unlikely”.

Condemning the manner the fuel subsidy removal protest has been hijacked in some states by politicians for selfish purposes, Aregbeshola warned that any attempt to take over government by the military will be strongly resisted by the Nigerian people.

He further argued that the most benevolent military regime is worst than the most corrupt democratic government anywhere in the world and so Nigerians must be allowed to resolve their crisis without military intervention.

“The right to protest and form a counterpoise against the government is God-given and inalienable. As long there is power, there will always be opposition to that power. This is what defined the life and time of Chief Gani Fawehinmi who we are celebrating today. But that right carries with it a great responsibility. It is left for us all to ensure that the current situation is not hijacked by opportunists who always rode on the back of popular sentiment to foster their own agenda and that this does not lead to an outcome we never expected.

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“We must have history as our guide here. Democracy anywhere is an unfinished business. There is no problem emanating from democracy that democracy cannot fix. What we need therefore is more democracy. While the former is avoidable and can be fixed, the later is a common occurrence even in established democracies.

“The United States, the bastion of democracy, has had its fair share of crises. At the time of its independence in 1776, it was a slave owning society and women had no right to vote until 1920. It fought a civil war and two world wars. It however has never faltered from democracy. Indeed, in spite of its having the most deadly military machine, there has never even been a remote consideration of military incursion in all its crises moments.

“South Africa for almost a century practised the abominable apartheid regime and went through much upheaval, including global ostracism and insurgency but at no time was the military ever engaged in governance.

“The lesson from this is that what we need is deepening of democracy. By this we must contend for the ability to put the right person in office in a free and fair election and vote out any leader that is not carrying his people along at the next available opportunity. We must also learn to intelligently engage the policy process in a way that will give us influence and control as a people.”

The guest lecturer at the event, Prof. Omotoye Olorode aligned himself with the position of Egnr. Aregbeshola but insisted that only the people can abolish bad government through legitimate protest.

He warned that there is a calculated attempt by some world powers through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank to perpetually oppress and suppress the Nigerian people through policies that are meant to impoverish the masses.

Olorode also advised civil society and the organisers of the current mass protest across the country to use pamphlet to sensitise the people about unpopular government policies and the danger they portend for the nation’s economy.

—Henry Ojelu

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