society
Armed Forces Day: Banwo Says Military Owes Nigeria an Apology for Political Interventions
Armed Forces Day: Banwo Says Military Owes Nigeria an Apology for Political Interventions
As Nigeria marked Armed Forces Remembrance Day, public commentator and technology entrepreneur, Dr. Ope Banwo, has challenged the celebratory mood surrounding the military, insisting that the institution must confront its historical role in derailing the nation’s democratic and developmental trajectory.
In a strongly worded reflection, Banwo argued that while Nigerians are encouraged to honour the armed forces for their service, the country has failed to properly reckon with the long-term consequences of repeated military interventions in governance.
According to him, Nigeria’s relationship with the military has followed a damaging cycle: civilian governments falter, the military intervenes under the guise of national rescue, and the nation emerges weaker, more centralised, and more institutionally fragile than before.
Banwo acknowledged that Nigeria’s early civilian leaders contributed to political instability through flawed elections, ethnic rivalries, and political violence. However, he maintained that military coups did not correct these problems but compounded them.
He traced Nigeria’s democratic disruption to the first military takeover in 1966, noting that it opened the door to a succession of coups that normalised force as a political tool and eventually plunged the country into a devastating civil war.
“That moment was not just a political crisis; it was a permanent detour in Nigeria’s destiny,” Banwo stated, arguing that generations of Nigerians lost opportunities because power-hungry military rulers treated the nation as a possession rather than a republic.
He further contended that prolonged military rule entrenched excessive centralisation of power, weakened institutions, and created a governance culture that still haunts the country decades later.
Banwo described the military to civilian transition of 1979 as incomplete and unstable, likening it to transferring a fragile system to civilians without allowing democratic norms to mature. He criticised the subsequent 1983 coup, saying it reinforced the military’s impatience with accountability, debate, and the slow nature of democratic governance.
He also dismissed the recurring justifications used by military regimes to seize power, including promises to fight corruption, restore discipline, and sanitise governance.
“Instead of eliminating corruption, they refined it,” he said, adding that military rule produced a powerful class of politically connected elites who amassed wealth and influence while ordinary Nigerians struggled with poverty and insecurity.
According to Banwo, the military never fully exited politics but merely shifted its influence from the barracks into civilian life, allowing retired officers to continue shaping national affairs with an entrenched sense of superiority over constitutional authority.
He argued that in functioning democracies, the armed forces are firmly subordinate to elected civilian leadership, regardless of personal or institutional disagreements.
“In Nigeria, we too often treat the constitution as optional,” Banwo said, warning that this mindset fuels recurring nostalgia for authoritarian intervention.
Turning to present-day challenges, Banwo stressed that the military’s true responsibility lies in addressing Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, including terrorism, banditry, and mass killings, rather than engaging in political ambition or moral grandstanding.
“Democracy is untidy and frustrating,” he noted, “but it is not the military’s assignment to repair civilian politics.”
Banwo insisted that political reform must come through elections, civic engagement, legal processes, and public accountability, not through force.
He concluded by calling for a national acknowledgment of past mistakes, arguing that a sincere apology from the military would represent accountability rather than weakness.
Such an apology, he said, would recognise that repeated coups destabilised governance, militarised politics, and normalised the idea that constitutional order could be suspended at will.
Banwo also issued a warning against any renewed fantasies of military takeover, stressing that modern societies are built on civilian supremacy.
society
FOPCHEN Seeks Wider Engagement As Court Defers Hearing
FOPCHEN Seeks Wider Engagement As Court Defers Hearing
OTA, OGUN STATE — The High Court of Ogun State, Ota Division, on Thursday resumed hearing in the ongoing matter involving cultural and societal concerns, before adjourning proceedings till Thursday, July 2, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
At the resumed sitting on May 28, 2026, counsel representing the various parties revisited key issues in the case and made further submissions before the court.
The matter, which has continued to generate public interest across different sectors, again drew attention from legal observers and stakeholders who described the case as one with significant implications for societal values, cultural identity and constitutional interpretation.
Speaking after the proceedings, the Foundation for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Nigeria, popularly known as FOPCHEN, renewed its appeal for dialogue and constructive engagement among Nigerians, stressing that sensitive cultural and moral issues should not be left entirely within the confines of the courtroom.
According to the group, broader conversations involving traditional institutions, civil society organisations, religious leaders and policy stakeholders remain necessary in addressing issues relating to national values and social responsibility.
Legal analysts at the court premises noted that arguments being canvassed by parties in the suit could shape future legal interpretations surrounding cultural and moral questions in the country.
Following submissions by counsel, the presiding judge adjourned the matter till Thursday, July 2, 2026, to enable parties further prepare and respond to issues raised during the hearing.
The development has continued to spark reactions among observers, with many Nigerians closely monitoring the proceedings ahead of the next hearing date.
society
US-Based Society Lady, Fehintola-Brat Extends Eid-El-Kabir Greetings To Muslims
US-Based Society Lady, Fehintola-Brat Extends Eid-El-Kabir Greetings To Muslims
United States based fahionista of class, Chief (Mrs) Ayoola Fehintola-Brat has extended a warm greetings to Muslim faithful all over the world on the occasion of the 2026 Eid-El-Kabir celebration.
Fehintola-Brat who is the Balogun Egbe Obaneye Obinrin Akile Ijebu, and the Yeye Asofin of Idenaland in her message to Journalists urged Muslim to continually uphold the enduring values of sacrifice, obedience, faith, and compassion, which are central to the significance of Eid-El-Kabir festival.
A quiet philantropist whose humanitarian services has won her several laurels urged Muslims to use the spiritual occasion to pray for the peace co-existence of Nigerians regardless of religious, social and political leanings stressing that the oneness of the country should not be underplay.
In a related development, she expressed her felicitations to all sons and daughters of Ijebuland on the forthcoming Ojude Oba 2026 celebration, tasking age-groups otherwise known as Regbregbe to be more proactive in giving back to their immediate communities.
According to her, the beauty of the age-groups in Ijebuland is the need to contribute immensely to the development of the land in no small means. “This we will continue to achieve with God on our side”, she concluded.
society
Sallah: Obasa Felicitates Muslim Ummah, Commends Nigerians for APC Primaries Turnout
Sallah: Obasa Felicitates Muslim Ummah, Commends Nigerians for APC Primaries Turnout
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has extended warm felicitations to Muslims in Lagos State and across Nigeria on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.
In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Dave Agboola, Obasa described the festival as a season of sacrifice, reflection, and gratitude, urging the faithful to continue to uphold the values of peace, unity, and love that strengthen the nation.
He noted that the celebration of Eid al-Adha is not only a spiritual milestone but also a reminder of the importance of togetherness and collective responsibility in building a stronger society.
He, likewise, emphasized that the festival provides an opportunity for Nigerians to renew their commitment to national progress and to support leadership that prioritizes development and prosperity.
Obasa, however, commended Nigerians, particularly members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for their massive turnout during the recently concluded party primaries. He described the participation as a clear demonstration of the people’s confidence in the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and their belief in the administration’s vision for a greater Nigeria.
“The APC primaries have shown the resilience of our democracy and the confidence Nigerians have in the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda. This is a strong message that our people are ready to continue supporting policies that will drive growth and prosperity,” Obasa stated.
The Speaker further encouraged Muslims to celebrate responsibly, stressing that the joy of Eid should be accompanied by prayers for the continued peace and progress of Lagos State and Nigeria.
“As you celebrate with family and loved ones, may this season bring joy, peace, and prosperity to your homes. Let us remain united in our resolve to build a stronger nation,” he added.
On behalf of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Obasa wished all Muslims a happy and fulfilling Eid al-Adha celebration.
-
news6 months agoWHO REALLY OWNS MONIEPOINT? The $290 Million Deal That Sold Nigeria’s Top Fintech to Foreign Interests
-
society4 weeks agoSOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT A BATTLEFIELD COMMAND – WHY THE NIGERIAN ARMY’S ACTION AGAINST JUSTICE CRACK IS A NATIONAL SECURITY IMPERATIVE
-
celebrity radar - gossips4 months agoDr. Chris Okafor Returns with Power and Fire of the Spirit -Mounts Grace Nation Altar with Fresh Anointing and Restoration Grace on February 1, 2026
-
celebrity radar - gossips6 months agoProphet Kingsley Aitafo Releases 2026 Prophecy: ‘Nigeria Will Rise, but the World Must Prepare for Turbulence’


