Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, one of the military officers accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration, has said his involvement stemmed from patriotism and frustration over worsening conditions in Nigeria, not personal ambition.
His account is contained in fresh court records that shed new light on how investigators say a group of military officers and civilians allegedly developed, suspended, and later revived a plan to topple the Tinubu government.
Reacting to the development, the Defence Headquarters said it would not comment on the matter since the case is before the court. Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, said doing so would amount to sub judice.
“No Hope for the Common Man”
In his statement, Ma’aji apologised for his role in the alleged plot and appealed to the authorities for leniency, insisting his motive was a desire for a better Nigeria rather than personal gain. He said the plan grew out of concerns among some military personnel over poor governance, insecurity, inadequate welfare, and declining living standards, which he feared were pushing the country toward collapse.
“What has happened has a very long history, and it is driven by patriotism and I love the job and country,” he said. “Every time I look at how I’m struggling to raise five children with my meagre salary, I get worried. Looking at every aspect of life in Nigeria, there is no hope for the common man, and we are left to defend ourselves.
“This has nothing to do with any ambition or personal goals. It is purely out of the desire for a prosperous country that works for everyone.”
He said military personnel were particularly affected by poor welfare, pointing to the condition of soldiers wounded in combat and the struggles of serving personnel and their families.
Plot Still at Mobilisation Stage
According to Ma’aji, the movement was still at the stage of mobilisation and discussions when security operatives moved in, and no specific date had been fixed for any action. He denied any foreign collaboration, explaining that different individuals became involved at different stages of the discussions — some raised concerns about the state of the country, while others withdrew or failed to provide resources they had earlier promised.
He linked the alleged plot partly to his frustration over twice missing promotion to the rank of brigadier-general, saying some colleagues encouraged him to revive the movement after the second setback. He said the initial planning began during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, but his experience following his arrest had changed his perspective, making him realise there were other ways to raise concerns within the military.
“If God willing, the authority is kind enough to pardon us, we will never contemplate this course of action again in the future,” he said.
Calls for Reform
Ma’aji called for a formal channel through which military personnel could raise concerns directly with the Chief of Army Staff without fear of victimisation. He also recommended improved remuneration and welfare packages for the Armed Forces, including better healthcare, housing, pension, and family support, and criticised what he described as godfatherism in postings and career progression — noting that some officers had spent years on operations while others had little or no exposure.
On the wider Nigerian society, he raised concerns about the cost of living, education, corruption, and the effects of fuel subsidy removal, urging government to channel savings from the subsidy reform into programmes that reduce hardship, including mass transportation and social infrastructure. He also called for tougher action against corruption, warning that perceived impunity among public officials could affect the morale of security personnel.
“Motivated by Love for Nigeria”
On the alleged coup plot itself, Ma’aji insisted the movement was never intended to destabilise the country. “Everything we planned was borne out of patriotism, love of country, and the desire to have a prosperous Nigeria that we all can be proud of,” he said.
He appealed to the authorities to consider the circumstances behind the alleged plot and pardon those involved, describing them as first offenders. “We are pleading for a pardon and a chance to amend our ways. Many of the officers have participated in some operations in the North-East. I am happy nobody has been hurt,” he said.
He described his detention as “challenging and revealing,” saying it had given him the opportunity to reconsider his approach to expressing grievances, and maintained that he and others involved “had no other country to call their own.”
Ma’aji’s Recommendations to Prevent Recurrence
In a detailed list of proposals, Ma’aji urged authorities to address the following:
- Poor remuneration: He said salaries for Armed Forces personnel are too low given current economic realities and inflation.
- Welfare: He called for robust welfare packages, family support programmes for serving personnel, and an expansion of the COAS Loan Programme, noting the importance of proper casualty handling for troops still on the frontlines.
- Healthcare: He said the AFN NHIS package should be reviewed to cover more critical health conditions beyond malaria and typhoid, alongside a sustainable housing programme for the Armed Forces and revival of the Obasanjo-era car loan scheme.
- Godfatherism: He decried a system where postings and opportunities depend on connections, noting that some officers had spent eight to nine consecutive years on operations while others were never deployed to the North-East.
- Pension upgrade: He cited the case of a colleague, Col Adamu, whose pension could not cover his blood pressure medication, and criticised the dispersal of ex-servicemen protesting for improved pensions.
- Fuel subsidy removal: He argued the policy should have been phased rather than sudden, saying it had given state governors more funds “to steal” rather than easing citizens’ hardship.
- Corruption: He described corruption as “the mother of all crimes,” lamenting the state of education and the inability of many military personnel to afford school fees for their children.
- Budget padding: He criticised the padding of budgets for items that are never delivered, citing wasteful allocations as an example.
Ma’aji said many officers who now hold public office once enjoyed free education themselves but have since turned their backs on the system that raised them. He asked how service personnel could realistically save enough from their salaries to own a home, noting that some officers with over 15 years of service still had no land to their name.
He concluded by appealing for an opportunity to meet with relevant authorities, apologise, and commit to pursuing lawful and peaceful means of addressing grievances going forward.
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