By Milcah Tanimu
Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, has voiced strong opposition to both military intervention and the current systems of governance in Nigeria. His comments come in the wake of widespread protests triggered by the recent removal of fuel subsidies by the federal government.
Al-Mustapha, a former presidential candidate for the Action Alliance (AA), emphasized that military intervention is not a viable solution for Nigeria’s political challenges. He stressed that democracy has firmly established itself in the country and should not be undermined by calls for a coup.
Addressing journalists on August 7, 2024, Al-Mustapha criticized both the parliamentary and presidential systems of government currently in practice in Nigeria. He argued that these systems, which Nigeria adopted from other countries, do not align with the country’s historical and cultural context.
“The presidential system and the parliamentary system, which we have adopted from other countries, are foreign to our culture and historical background,” Al-Mustapha stated. “These systems were designed for different contexts and do not fit Nigeria’s unique situation. Our political structure needs to be tailored to our own historical and cultural realities.”
Al-Mustapha revealed that he had advised coup agitators to focus on promoting military professionalism and respect for democratic institutions, rather than seeking military takeover. He criticized the notion of replicating foreign systems without adapting them to local needs.
“I refuse to be part of a system that perpetuates injustice,” Al-Mustapha said. “The question of who is an immigrant and who is a citizen should be irrelevant in our democracy. We need to develop a governance system that reflects our own values and future aspirations.”
In his remarks, Al-Mustapha highlighted the importance of creating a domestic form of democracy that is suitable for Nigeria, rather than relying on imported systems that may not work effectively in the local context.
