The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has stated that the armed forces must remain firmly committed to democratic governance and reject any form of military takeover, stressing that coups have no place in Nigeria’s political future.
General Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff, made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, January 15, 2026, while responding to a question on the lessons Nigeria’s armed forces should draw from the events of 1966, particularly amid public frustration and prevailing security challenges.
He was asked what lessons today’s armed forces, which he once led as Chief of Defence Staff and now oversees as Minister of Defence, should learn from the 1966 military intervention.
In his response, General Musa said, “Yeah, I think first and foremost to know that a coup is wrong. Nobody should ever have that in mind.” He added, “From now onward, nobody should ever think of carrying out a coup or something in Nigeria.”
The Defence Minister emphasized the importance of collective support for democratic institutions, stating, “We must all put our hands together to support the democratic norms in place.” He further said, “We must continue to work hard to make Nigeria peaceful and secure for all Nigerians.”
General Musa noted that ensuring national peace and security requires joint effort, not solely the responsibility of the armed forces or security agencies. “And I think that’s one aspect that we must all put our hands in there,” he said.
He also appealed directly to the public, saying, “And we want to call on to Nigerians to understand that the armed forces or security agencies can’t do it alone.” He added, “We must all as Nigerians take this as a Nigerian challenge and work towards making peace.”
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