Prof. Sebastine Hon ,SAN who was chairman of the occasion today Friday, 14th February, 2025, while speaking earlier at the 18th Distinguished Public lecture of the University of Mkar, Mkar delivered by Dr. Bem Icheikura Ugoh at the University Chapel by 10.00am tagged: ” THE IMPACT OF MILITARY INTERVENTION ON DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA (Challenges, Prospects and the Way Forward) said,” I don’t support the call for military rule”. He cited the current economic state of countries under military rule, their state of affairs as countries and welfare of their people.
The event started with an opening remarks from the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Zachary’s Gundu who poured encomium to the chairman of the occasion described him as someone who has deliberately risen to top of his career from a humble background.
Citing countries in Africa with military Rulers, the legal icon said their economies were going down.
Examples of military regimes cited include:
“Myanmar
The army of that country seized power on February 1, 2021. Its repressive and hardline tactics have resulted in the death and displacement of many citizens of that country. It even bombs civilian targets, in a bid to keep power.
According to prosecution.org, an international Christian concern organization, the regime, on 12/2/2025, bombed the newly-designated Catholic Cathedral in Mindat, Chin State of Myanmar. The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, had only two weeks to the bombing, designated the said Cathedral in Chin State, which is the only Christian-majority State in the Hindu-dominated country. The army is accused of being the extremist wing of the Hindu against the Rohinga Muslims and Christians.
Unfortunately, Myanmar, despite this despicable human rights record, enjoys the military and economic support of both Russia and China.
On February 1, 2025, Australia, Canada, the EU, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, then UK and the US foreign missions in Myanmar issued a joint statement marking the 4th anniversary of the overthrow by the military of that country overthrowing the democratically elected government of Myanmar. Alleging that the military administration deprived many in Myanmar of their human and political rights, the statement continued thus:
We condemn in the strongest terms the Myanmar military regime’s escalating violence harming civilians, including human rights violations, sexual and gender-based violence, and systematic persecution and discrimination against all religious and ethnic minorities.
The statement further said that, as of 2025, humanitarian needs have increased twenty-fold since the coup; that over one-third of the population (19.9 million people) are in need of humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs; while an estimated 15.2 million people are in need of food assistance; and that cases of preventable diseases are on the rise.
The statement also expressed support for the efforts of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in handling the refugee crisis and finally expressed solidarity with the Myanmar people.
Niger Republic
In July, 2023, General Abdourahamane Tchiani led a military coup which ousted the democratically-elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum. This move has been welcomed by Nigeriens and other public commentators.
On February 11, 2025, the coup leader, General Tchiani, announced that Niger would hold a National Convention to map out a transition back to civil rule. The said Convention is to take place between 15 and 19 February, 2025. It is expected to submit its Report in 3 weeks.
The military junta, upon seizing power, quickly announced a three-year transition programme.
The African Development Bank, ADB, in its 2024 Report, states that economic activity in this country slowed down to 2,5% in 2023, upon the change in the regime by the coup plotters.
Mali
The incursion of the military into governance in this particular country, on May 24, 2021, is very interesting. Smarting from three previous coups in 2012, 2010 and 2020, it was the Vice President of that Country, Assimi Goita, that led the military to overthrow and even capture his boss, President Bah N’daw. Following intervention from ECOWAS, in a mission headed by Nigeria’s former Head of State, President Bah N’daw was released from detention by the junta on May 27, 2021.
On May 28, 2021, Mali’s constitutional court declared the military leader the country’s transition President.
ECOWAS at a point, imposed sanctions, which led to a diplomatic spat between the two, causing the eventual exit of Mali from ECOWAS.
On July 3, 2022, Mali announced a transition to civilian rule, by organising a general election in February, 2024. However, on September 25, 2023, the military junta announced postponement of this election for “technical reasons.”
In the meantime, Russia sided with the coup plotters against separatists and militants. In July, 2024, militants killed dozens of Russian forces which had been drafted to Mali for whatever purpose. Ukraine claimed to have aided the rebels. The complex diplomatic situation there till date can only be imagined.
On August 18, 2024, Reuters reported that four years after the military coup in Mali, citizens’ economic rights have gone to worse levels. Citing World Bank statistics, the news media reported that about 90% of Malians are living in poverty.
Burkina Faso
Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power from a democratically elected government in September, 2022, pledging a return to civil rule on July 1, 2024. On 26 May, 2024, however, the miliary junta announced an extension of its rule for four years – till 2029.
It must be noted that the initial coup leader, Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba, was overthrown by the current leaders in January, 2022, citing the former’s inability to tackle the Al-Qaeda and Islamic State insurgency that killed thousands and displaced millions.
So far, the UN and the EU have strongly condemned the military regime in that country, accusing it of serios human rights violations in the fight against Islamists, including the indiscriminate killings and forced disappearances of civilians.
The BBC, in a report on 30 July, 2022, anchored by Natasha Booty, stated that there was a sharp increase in the activities of insurgents in these two countries since the military takeovers. It further stated thus:
In both countries, attacks by Islamist militants on civilians have increased. The same is true of civilian deaths – more ordinary people are being killed by Islamists, militants and the military.
By the end of 2024, the US Department of State in its Report entitled “2024 Investment Climate Statements: Burkina Faso,” stated that 40% of the population that country is living below poverty line”.
The Guest Lecturer, Dr. Ugoh whose synopsis of the lecture was a political Economy perspective on the impact of military intervention on democracy and development in Nigeria stressed that,” military class must insulated from political exposure through a new orientation to deepen their professional discipline and commitment to National interest with loyalty and patriotism.
The chairman of the occasion was accompanied by his associates namely: Hon. Silas Anjie, former SSA to the governor of Benue state, Emmanuel Kor, Ph.D., Hon. Simon Tagher, former SSA to the governor of Benue state, Comrade David Anyamhur , a Lecturer with BSU, Hon. Terwase Iorhule, former supervisor, Gboko LGC and Mr. Orbuter Shie.
