A Nigerian Army Colonel, Mohammed Ma’aji, has disclosed the grievances he said motivated an alleged plan to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing worsening insecurity, corruption, economic hardship and what he described as growing public frustration over government policies.
Ma’aji’s account, as reported by Premium Times, offers an insight into the alleged thinking behind the failed coup plot and the circumstances that reportedly led some military officers to consider intervention in Nigeria’s democratic government.
According to the report, Ma’aji said discussions about possible military intervention began in 2023, towards the final months of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He claimed that deteriorating conditions in the country, particularly insecurity and allegations of corruption and nepotism, had created growing dissatisfaction among some officers.
‘Things got out of control under Buhari’
Ma’aji traced the beginning of the alleged discussions to the latter part of Buhari’s administration.
“Things particularly got out of control towards the end of Buhari’s administration when corruption and nepotism became the order of the day,” he stated.
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According to him, senior military authorities ought to have responded more decisively to the worsening security situation confronting the country.
He said the concerns eventually prompted the group to identify other military officers who shared their assessment of the situation.
Ma’aji described those allegedly involved as officers motivated by what they considered patriotism and a desire to improve the country’s situation.
“Most of the officers involved share the same sense of patriotism, love of country and genuine desire for positive change,” he wrote.
Funding and logistics delayed alleged plan
The colonel also claimed that the alleged project did not progress immediately because of challenges relating to funding, logistics and manpower.
According to his account, some of the initial financing came from his personal resources.
He claimed that an Army major contributed N1 million, while another officer allegedly provided funds in dollars on several occasions.
The account suggests that the alleged group faced practical difficulties in translating its plans into action, even as discussions about military intervention continued.
However, the precise scale of the alleged operation, the number of officers involved and the extent of their operational preparations were not independently established in the account cited.
Failed promotion bid and alleged revival
Ma’aji further disclosed that the alleged coup project was revived after he failed for a second time to secure promotion to the rank of Brigadier General in 2024.
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He nevertheless insisted that his failure to obtain the promotion was not the primary reason behind the alleged movement.
Instead, he presented his concerns as part of a broader dissatisfaction with the country’s political, economic and security conditions.
Among the policies and developments he cited were the removal of the petrol subsidy, exchange-rate reforms, taxation and increases in electricity tariffs.
He also raised allegations of corruption and expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the country’s security challenges.
Economic hardship and youth frustration
Ma’aji also pointed to the growing economic difficulties faced by Nigerians, particularly young people.
He referred to the handling of protests including #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance, arguing that unemployment and worsening economic conditions had contributed to frustration among young Nigerians.
The alleged grievances therefore extended beyond military concerns to broader socioeconomic issues.
His account paints a picture of officers who believed that the combination of insecurity, economic hardship, corruption and public dissatisfaction had created conditions requiring drastic intervention.
However, criticism of government policies or dissatisfaction among military personnel does not by itself establish support for a coup, and the claims contained in Ma’aji’s account would require independent corroboration.
The revelations raise wider questions about how dissatisfaction within the security establishment can evolve into discussions about unconstitutional changes of government.
Nigeria has experienced several military coups since independence, but the country has maintained democratic rule since 1999.
The alleged discussions described by Ma’aji therefore carry significance beyond the individuals involved, particularly against the backdrop of growing public frustration over insecurity, living costs, unemployment and governance.
His account also highlights the distinction between legitimate criticism of government policies and attempts to replace an elected administration through unconstitutional means.
While Ma’aji cited a range of grievances, including security failures, corruption, economic reforms and youth frustration, the reported allegations do not establish that these concerns were universally shared by the military or that there was broad institutional support for the alleged plan.
The account nevertheless provides a rare window into the motivations allegedly advanced by individuals accused of contemplating military intervention and underscores the continuing importance of civilian control of the armed forces and constitutional governance in Nigeria.