Public affairs analyst, Mahdi Shehu, has cautioned against the calls for a state of emergency in Nigeria, describing the idea as a dangerous plot capable of undermining democracy.
Shehu made his position known in a post shared on X on Monday, while reacting to reports that some retired senior military officers backed former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd), who earlier suggested that the Federal Government should declare a state of emergency to tackle insecurity.
The outspoken commentator argued that such a move was not a solution to Nigeria’s security crisis but rather a deliberate attempt to manipulate the democratic process.
“This sounds like a conspiracy to avoid elections and extend the much-feared polls from a constituency that is as guilty as the politicians and voters, or even guiltier,” Shehu wrote.
According to him, the proposal is a “booby trap” aimed at suspending elections and granting certain interests easier access to public funds. He maintained that those behind the plan are fully aware that under emergency rule, “they will be more relevant and the treasury more openly available.”
Shehu, known for his blunt criticism of political and military elites, urged Nigerians to resist what he described as a “defeatist plot.”
“No sensible Nigerian should buy into this booby trap of emergency rule,” he said.
“What Nigerians must continue to demand is nothing short of good governance, true democracy, stoppage of looting, and security of lives and properties.”
The commentator warned that if the idea of emergency rule succeeds for “selfish, greedy, and myopic reasons,” the country could lose more than its democracy.
“They too will be part of the losers even if they run away,” he concluded.
