Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has condemned the coup in Niger Republic and called for a quick restoration of democratic governance in the country.
CUPP, in a statement signed by its co-national spokesperson, Comrade Mark Adebayo, described the coup as, “A retrogressive aberration that is inexcusable and absolutely unacceptable in 21st century Africa”.
It stated that the news of the coup came as a surprise, adding that it is a retrogressive development that should not be tolerated.
“The news of the coup d’état in Niger Republic came not only as a surprise but also a development that can only be described as a retrogressive aberration which is inexcusable and absolutely unacceptable in 21st century Africa.
“Democracy as a system of civilised governance is certainly not perfect, especially in Africa, but it is the only form of government in which the people have a feeling of inclusion in how they are governed and who governs them. You cannot have a situation in which people are governed at gunpoint.
That is tantamount to an armed robbery of the citizens’ rights. A military junta silences the people and suffocates the franchise of choice in every way possible.
“It may be true that democracy in Africa is mostly not being properly managed, but a military takeover of government is not in any way a solution to the challenges of democracy in Africa. With the benefit of historical hindsight, this is even more so as the military have hardly been any better than the civilians they overthrow.
‘’Military governments in Africa have tended to be as corrupt, if not more corrupt and oppressive than the civilians they’ve overthrown. In the exchange of political fire between the military and civilian political elites in any given African country, the citizens have always been the victims and often worse off than the previous experience.”
CUPP noted that the euphoria of a violent change of government rapidly evaporates in the face of the realities of jackboot repression characteristic of every military government.
“We unequivocally condemn this military intervention in Niger Republic and call on the African Union, the Economic Community of West Africa, ECOWAS, and the international community to collectively find an amicable resolution of the crisis in Niger Republic and work towards restoring democracy in the country without collateral damage as soon as practicable.’’
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