SaharaReporters reports that the Presidential Guards Brigade has been put on high alert following unusual movements, leading to suspicions of a coup plot in Nigeria.
Last week, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, warned people calling for a coup over the current economic hardship in Nigeria to desist from such.
The suspicions prompted emergency meetings involving the Commander of the Presidential Guards Brigade, Col. Adebisi Onasanya, President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
“The Presidential Guards Brigade was placed on high alert after unusual armoured corps movement spurred coup suspicion,
“Last week, Col. Onasanya met with the President and Chief of Staff twice within 20 hours.
“They have also placed key brigades under watch due to planned protest,” a top Presidency source told SaharaReporters.
There has been tension in the country amid the current hardship, rising inflation and high cost of living following the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the naira by President Tinubu’s administration.
The floating of the naira allows the market forces to determine its value. The policies have pushed up the prices of goods and services astronomically, increased the rate of inflation and worsened hardship in the country.
Last week, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, warned people calling for a coup over the current economic hardship in Nigeria to desist from such.
Musa, who said the Armed Forces would continue to protect the country’s democracy, warned that the long arms of the law would soon catch up with the proponents of coup d’état.
While fielding questions from journalists when he inaugurated the main entrance of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army and Officers Transit Accommodation in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the CDS admitted that the country was going through serious economic challenges.
He, however, insisted that having a military coup in the country was not an option.
He said the military would protect Nigeria’s democracy, as according to him, Nigerians want democracy and the country does better under democracy.
He said the military would continue to support democracy, adding that the people calling for coup d’etat “are evil people” who “don’t mean well for Nigeria”.
He warned such people to be “very careful because the law will come after them”.
According to him, everybody goes through a trying period in life.
“You can see the government putting efforts to ensure that we come out better.
“And it is when you go through difficulties and come out better you will really appreciate what it is to build a nation,” he said.
Nigeria’s naira recently crashed to a record low against the dollar on the official market.
Last week, the naira exchanged for N1980 to $1 on the parallel market and N1780 on the official market as the swift decline continued amid the government’s clampdown on currency speculators.
Meanwhile, there have been protests against hardship, rising inflation and high cost of living in several parts of the country following some economic policies of President Tinubu’s administration.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress had announced a nationwide protest scheduled for February 27 and 28, to kick against the economic challenges facing Nigerians.
The decision came after a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Nigerian Government regarding the widespread hardship.
Credit: Sahara Reporters
