Public commentator Mahdi Shehu cautioned that many nations, especially in Africa, are fostering environments where military coups seem appealing because their democracies fail to meet fundamental standards of fairness and accountability.
Reacting to the recent military takeover in Guinea-Bissau in a post on X on Wednesday night, Shehu said people should stop pretending that coups happen without reason.
He stated that while military coups are considered unpopular, they remain an option in developing countries where leaders disregard the principles of true democracy.
He wrote, “But far from being unpopular, Military coup especially in developing countries and failed democracies will continue to be an option even if unpopular.”
Shehu then listed what he called the clear, non-negotiable antidotes to coups that must be respected for democracy to endure.
He asserted that genuine democracy starts with trustworthy elections where votes matter and rules are consistently followed.
He emphasized that leaders must manage public funds transparently rather than letting a small, powerful group hoard wealth.
According to him, a necessary condition is a functional judicial system that applies the law impartially.
He specified: “Non personalisation of public resources by a group of greedy and selfish individuals to the total exclusion of the Majority. Allowing candidates to emerge through an open process without intimidation, forced exit or restrictive entry.”
He added that leaders must understand when to step down, noting that knowing when the time is up is essential to democratic culture.
He further stated that safeguarding human rights and respecting opposing voices are crucial.
He urged political participants to stop known criminals from taking over democratic institutions using money, blackmail, and murder.
He warned, “Anything short of these things will mean allowing a fertile ground for the military coup to become the general rule and indeed a welcome option where democracy proves to be a disaster beyond a measuring scale.”
He concluded his message with the warning, “Democrats beware.”
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