A Nigerian Army officer, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, accused of involvement in an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu, has stated that his actions were driven by patriotism and frustration over worsening conditions across the country. His explanations were contained in fresh court records detailing how investigators said a group of military officers and civilians allegedly developed, suspended, and later revived a plan to overthrow the administration of President Tinubu.
The Defence Headquarters declined to comment on the development, citing ongoing court proceedings. The Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, stated that reacting to the matter would amount to subjudice.
Colonel Ma’aji apologised for his involvement in the alleged plot and appealed to the authorities for leniency, insisting that his motive was not personal ambition but a desire for a better Nigeria. He explained that the plan emerged from widespread concerns among some military personnel over poor governance, insecurity, inadequate welfare, and declining living standards, which raised fears that the country was heading towards collapse.
Ma’aji said, “What has happened has a very long history, and it is driven by patriotism and I love the job and country.” He added, “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.” He further stated, “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 alleged that military personnel were particularly affected by inadequate welfare, pointing to the condition of soldiers wounded in combat and the economic challenges facing serving personnel and their families. The colonel noted that the movement was still at the stage of mobilisation and discussions when security authorities intervened, adding that no specific date had been agreed upon for any action.
He denied the involvement of foreign collaborators and explained that various individuals became involved at different stages of the discussions. He stated that while some expressed concerns about the state of the country, others withdrew or failed to provide resources they had initially promised. Ma’aji further disclosed that frustration over his failure to secure promotion to the rank of brigadier-general on two occasions fuelled the alleged plot, adding that some colleagues encouraged him to revive the movement after the second setback.
The colonel stated that initial planning started during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. However, he noted that his experience following his arrest had changed his perspective, making him realise that alternative channels exist for expressing concerns within the military. He said, “If God willing, the authority is kind enough to pardon us, we will never contemplate this course of action again in the future,”.
Ma’aji called for the creation of a formal channel through which military personnel could communicate their concerns directly to the Chief of Army Staff without fear of victimisation. He advocated improved remuneration and welfare packages for members of the Armed Forces, including better healthcare, housing, pensions, and family support. He also stressed the need to improve the military casualty management system, warning that the handling of wounded soldiers affects the morale of personnel serving in operational areas.
He criticized godfatherism and perceived inequality in military postings and career progression, observing that some officers spent eight to nine years straight on operations while others had no operational exposure in the North-East. On the wider society, Ma’aji expressed concern over the cost of living, education, corruption, and the impact of fuel subsidy removal on citizens. He urged the government to invest resources saved from subsidy reforms into mass transportation and other social infrastructure to alleviate hardship.
He called for decisive action against corruption, warning that perceived impunity among public officials undermines the morale and confidence of security personnel. Regarding the alleged coup plot, Ma’aji insisted that the movement was never intended to destabilise the country but was motivated by love for Nigeria. He said, “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.”
Appealing to the authorities to consider the circumstances and pardon those involved as first offenders, he stated, “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,”.
Ma’aji described his detention as challenging and revealing, noting that it offered him an opportunity to reconsider his approach to expressing grievances. He maintained that he and others involved have no other country to call their own and urged authorities to consider their past contributions to national security alongside the allegations against them.
To prevent a recurrence, Ma’aji offered several recommendations to military and government authorities. He noted that the salaries of Armed Forces personnel are too low given economic realities and inflation. He emphasized that proper casualty handling is paramount to maintaining troop willingness to make ultimate sacrifices. He recommended expanding the COAS Loan Programme, reviewing the Armed Forces NHIS package to cover critical health challenges beyond malaria and typhoid, establishing a sustainable housing programme, and reintroducing the Obasanjo car loan scheme under a dedicated personnel welfare department.
Highlighting pension concerns, Ma’aji recounted that Colonel Adamu informed him that his pension could not buy his blood pressure medication. He expressed sadness over seeing ex-servicemen dispersed by authorities during protests for improved pensions, stressing that veterans deserve better treatment.
Regarding economic policies, Ma’aji stated that the government should have phased the removal of fuel subsidy rather than executing a sudden removal, which he described as anti-human. He noted that the constitutional primary purpose of government is the welfare and security of the people, arguing that the policy created more avenues for governors to steal funds while ordinary citizens struggle to afford basic transportation, three meals a day, healthcare, and education. He urged the Federal Government to invest subsidy savings into practical projects such as Urban Mass Transit schemes.
He called for serious attention to corruption, describing it as the mother of all crimes, and noted that education across the country is in shambles. He questioned how many officers or soldiers could afford Abuja school fees with their salaries. He also criticized budget padding, giving an example where 1,000 naira is budgeted for water worth 100 naira and yet the item is still not implemented.
Ma’aji lamented that public officials who received free education when growing up turned their backs on the country, leaving military personnel struggling to afford houses after serving for over 15 years. He concluded by requesting an opportunity to meet with relevant authorities to apologize and commit to pursuing lawful and peaceful means to address grievances.
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