Dr. Roy Okhidievbie, the National Secretary of Retired Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces has called for a balanced and measured approach to justice in dealing with individuals accused of plotting coups against the President.
He made this call during an interview from 2:36 on News Central TV while reacting to ongoing debates around accountability, punishment, and national reconciliation in cases of treason and coup attempts.
Speaking on the programme, Dr. Okhidievbie drew attention to Nigeria’s history of handling coup-related cases, noting that strict sentences have often not been carried through to their ultimate conclusion. According to him, past experiences show that justice in such sensitive matters has frequently evolved with changes in government.
“So many other officers that have been involved in coup d’etat, coup plotting and they have even been sentenced but the execution was not carried out and later another government will come and give a pardon,” he said.
He argued that this historical pattern should inform current decision-making, stressing that while acts of treason are serious and must not be trivialised, the state should also consider long-term national stability. Dr. Okhidievbie maintained that justice should serve as a deterrent without creating deeper divisions or resentment within the armed forces or the wider society.
The retired military officer also emphasised the importance of consistency and fairness in the application of the law, warning that selective or overly harsh measures could undermine morale within the security services. He noted that many officers who were once condemned later became beneficiaries of state pardon policies, reflecting the complex political realities surrounding military interventions in governance. See_More…