Retired Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, former military governor of old Kaduna State, discussed a range of important topics. These included clarifying his involvement in past coups and sharing his views on the resurgence of military coups in Africa, particularly within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region.
In a recent interview with THE SUN monitored by Quest Times, Umar began by clearing the air regarding his alleged participation in coups, stating firmly, “I want to be crystal clear about this: I did not take part in any coup against an elected government. My role in the coup that removed General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime in August 1985 is well-documented.”
Moving on to the broader issue of military coups in Africa, he acknowledged the concerns expressed by the international community. He noted that these concerns are valid due to the continent’s shift away from democratic processes, such as free and fair elections.
Umar emphasized the need for change in regimes led by leaders who cling to power indefinitely. He cited examples like Paul Biya in Cameroon and Yoweri Museveni in Uganda, who have held power for decades, pointing out that their elections are often far from democratic.
Umar stressed that the international community, including organizations like the African Union (AU) and ECOWAS, should not legitimize governments led by long-standing leaders; instead, they should be treated similarly to military regimes.
He argued that true democracy involves more than just elections, emphasizing the importance of good governance, individual freedoms, adherence to the rule of law, and other democratic principles.
Turning his attention to the ongoing ECOWAS-Niger crisis, Umar expressed concerns about Nigeria’s role and President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approach as ECOWAS Chairman.
He questioned whether Nigeria’s threats would persuade the Niger Republic junta to return power to the elected President Bazoum, expressing doubts about this outcome. Umar believed that respected elders should not be sent to convince the coup leaders; instead, they should stay in Nigeria and offer prayers.
Umar also discussed the recent coup in Niger, which he considered unnecessary. President Bazoum had been in office for only about two years and was performing well, according to Umar. He knew Bazoum personally and viewed him as a progressive and honest leader.
The coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, appeared to act out of selfish motives to retain power. Umar criticized ECOWAS’ strict treatment of General Tchiani’s regime compared to other military regimes in the region.
