Expert queries significance of military juntas over democracies

Expert queries significance of military juntas over democracies

Democracy

By Busayo Onijala

Lagos, June 5, 2024 (NAN) Dr Tunde Oseni, a Political Scientist, says it is important for coup-hit countries to learn that military rule should be temporary and not an exit strategy from developmental dilemma.

Oseni, Associate Professor of Political Science, Lead City University, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

“Are these military men better than those they removed from office?

“What has been the economic, political and social gains of replacing a democratic government with a military junta,” Oseni queried.

NAN reports that military coups have been on the rise in Africa, with over five coups and failed coup attempts in the last three years in nations including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Chad, Gabon, Sudan, and The Gambia.

Recently, an attempted coup against the government of President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was averted by the DRC army.

According to Oseni, military rule has always been an aberration but sometimes, it is preferred to corrupt and malfunctional civilian democracy.

“Democracy is still the best form of government, even though some people may abuse it in terms of election and how they perpetrate themselves in power. That has happened in parts of Western and Central Africa.

“We know some of these democracies are flawed but no democracy is perfect,” he said.

Meanwhile, he urged other coup-hit countries to learn from Chad’s return to democratic rule after three years of military rule.

NAN reports that in May, Chad became the first of military-led countries in Africa to conduct a democratic election.

Oseni added that in the 21st century, people preferred a government they could elect into office and hold accountable as representatives. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Christiana Fadare