Experts and professors in the fields of political science, international relations and security, have said the “dearth of progressive democracy and collapse of governance in Africa” is fuelling the increasing coups currently spreading across the continent.
They noted that predictions of coups have not taken effect in Nigeria mainly as a result of the influence of ethnicity and religion.
They stated these at a roundtable discussion organised by the Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with the theme, ‘The rumbles in the West African sub-region: Causes, dynamics and challenges.’
According to them, the resurgence of military takeover of political power in West Africa was motivated by hopelessness and frustration of the people, warning against miniaturing of the civic space as well as demarketing of democratic governance and democratic institution.
Speaking at the event, a scholar from the National Defence College, Abuja, Dr Nnia Okereke, insisted that the resurgent coups drew attention to myriads of conditions that needed to be addressed.
Okereke noted that the challenge drew attention to the fact that development remained a serious challenge in the sub-region.
He warned that using a parliament dominated by partymen to secure tenure elongation for political leaders is not ideal for democracy.
Equally speaking, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Prof. OBC Nwankwo, said, “What is important in the coups is the extent people are willing and ready to take charge of their affairs and to decolonise their minds.
“Emancipation is important. Let us stop taking standards from the West. Everything we are doing, even in Nigeria, is to please the West.
“Unless we emancipate ourselves and decolonise our minds, we cannot make progress.”
Earlier, the Head of the Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Jaja Nwanegbo, called for a thorough retrospection by African leaders on the causes of the military takeover of political power in the region, with a commitment towards ensuring that the resources of the continent served the interest of the people.
