The Digest:
Defence Minister General Christopher Musa has disclosed that he was a direct target of the officers who plotted to overthrow President Bola Tinubu's government in October 2025. Speaking in a television interview, Musa stated that the plotters' plan involved his arrest and execution if he resisted, saying, "I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot." This revelation comes after the military officially confirmed the coup attempt, having initially denied it. Musa, who was removed as Chief of Defence Staff shortly after the plot was foiled, dismissed the plotters as "unserious individuals" and asserted that Nigerians would have resisted any military takeover.
Key Points:
- The personal account from the Defence Minister underscores the gravity and targeted nature of the alleged coup plot, moving it from abstract to personal peril for top officials.
- It highlights the internal purge and significant personnel changes that followed the foiled attempt, including Musa's own removal from the military's top post.
- The statement attempts to frame the plotters as isolated and misguided, contrasting their actions with a purported national consensus against military rule.
- The revelation adds a layer of personal risk and political drama to the ongoing narrative, shaping public perception of the event's seriousness.
- By invoking public resistance, Musa's comments seek to reinforce the legitimacy of the civilian government and downplay the threat's viability.
Sources: Daily Trust, Channels Television, Premium Times
