Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has disclosed that he was among those marked for arrest and possible execution by officers who allegedly plotted to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Musa made the revelation while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, days after the military authorities confirmed reports of an attempted coup which they had earlier dismissed.
In October, reports emerged that several military officers, ranging from the rank of Captain to Brigadier-General, were arrested and detained by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) over an alleged plot to topple Tinubu’s government.
Last week, it was reported that the investigative panel set up to probe the arrested officers had submitted its findings to the President.
Following the submission, the military confirmed the development, noting that those found culpable would be made to face trial.
In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, said officers with cases to answer would be formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels in line with the Armed Forces Act and other service regulations.
Speaking on the foiled plot, Musa said he was a direct target of the coup planners.
“I was also a target. I am sure you know I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” he said.
The Defence Minister added that several top government officials and prominent national figures were also allegedly listed for elimination during the attempted coup.
He, however, dismissed the plotters as unserious, insisting that their plan would never have succeeded.
“I think these guys were a bunch of unserious individuals. If you look at the calibre of persons involved, I don’t know what got into their heads to think they could take on the Armed Forces like that,” Musa said.
According to him, Nigerians themselves would have resisted any attempt to return the country to military rule.
“Even Nigerians would have fought them. Nigerians have struggled against military rule for a long time. Mr President has been part of that struggle, so for them to wake up one morning and think they can do that in Nigeria, they really need to reset their brains,” he added.
