Military Rule is More Dangerous Than Tinubu’s Govt — Okonkwo Issues Warning
Veteran Nollywood actor and political commentator Kenneth Okonkwo has cautioned Nigerians against embracing military rule as an alternative to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He warned that although public frustration with the current government is growing, any return to military control would only worsen the nation’s problems and endanger lives.
Okonkwo said Nigeria’s past experiences with coups show that military takeovers do not bring peace or development.
Instead, they lead to fear, instability, and long periods of uncertainty. He maintained that no matter how dissatisfied citizens feel with civilian leadership, abandoning democracy would create a deeper national crisis.
The actor-turned-politician made his position known through a statement posted on his official X account on Monday. He explained that Nigerians are angry because of insecurity, rising hardship, and the failure of government to provide basic services.
“There are many issues in Nigeria that genuinely create disaffection among citizens. Insecurity claims lives and destroys property while leaders holiday abroad. Nationwide blackouts cripple productivity. Loans are misappropriated, leaving Nigeria a debtor nation. Transportation costs are prohibitive, roads are dangerous, and lies cover government incompetence.”
He said these challenges have pushed many Nigerians to demand urgent change in leadership and governance.
“Continuing, the ace actor said, “Nigerians are rightly yearning for change. We cannot continue in this direction.”
However, Okonkwo warned that seeking relief through a military takeover would be a dangerous mistake. He argued that replacing an elected government with soldiers would not correct injustice or restore public trust.
Warning against military intervention, he said, “What benefit is there in exchanging a civilian coup for a military coup? Supporting a military takeover because of election rigging is like approving armed robbery if the robbers only target other robbers. Robbery is robbery. And when their usual targets are gone, they will turn on everyone else.”
He further explained that military governments often begin with strong promises but end in repression. According to him, history proves that such regimes rarely protect the rights of ordinary people.
Okonkwo added that military rulers rarely improve the nation:
“Military leaders may promise to save the people and criticize politicians. They may even eliminate some politicians. But once the politicians are out of the way, they often turn their guns on civilians.
“Nigeria has gained nothing from military interventions except tears and blood. None of the military rulers who promised to hand over power kept their word. Why overthrow a civilian government when the military often helps rig the elections that bring it to power?”
He compared the certainty of a civilian government’s tenure with the uncertainty of military rule, stressing that democracy still offers Nigerians a defined timeline for change.
Reflecting on the current administration, he said:
“Tinubu’s government may be terrible, but everyone knows when it will end. Nobody knows when a military regime will end.”
Okonkwo concluded that the only meaningful path forward for Nigeria is through credible democratic processes. He insisted that citizens must not lose faith in elections, despite past failures.
“The only way out of a bad regime in Nigeria is through free and fair elections. Everyone, including the military, must work together to ensure credible polls that produce leaders focused on the security and welfare of the people. The era of military dictatorship in Nigeria is over.” he declared.
He however urged Nigerians to channel their anger into lawful political action and collective pressure for reforms, rather than welcoming soldiers into governance.
