In light of the recent military coups in West Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation and a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed his belief that only two countries in the sub-region are immune to such takeovers. These nations, he stated, are Nigeria and Ghana.
Fani-Kayode’s main argument is that the armed forces in these countries are highly disciplined and professional, making the idea of coups unthinkable.
He further presented five key reasons for his viewpoint in a tweet:
- Both Nigeria and Ghana are Anglophone nations, not Francophone.
- They both have legitimate, democratically-elected governments with presidential term limits.
- Both countries uphold the values of free speech and the rule of law.
- They maintain independent and strong judicial systems.
- Both have rational, progressive presidents who are not under the influence of foreign powers and are not corrupt dictators clinging to power.
The former minister expressed pride in Nigeria’s ability to sustain its democracy for the past 24 years and the progress it has achieved. He also offered prayers for the continuation of democracy in Nigeria and for the success of the newly-elected President.
Read full tweet below:
There are only two countries in the West African sub-region in which the military are disciplined and professional enough to ensure that there are no coups. The first is Nigeria and the second is Ghana.
Both are Anglophone and not Francophone countries, both have legitimate,… pic.twitter.com/nTXEMoNHpE
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) August 31, 2023