By Charles Pemu 
The Federal Government on Sunday broke its silence over circulating reports of an alleged failed military coup to unseat the administration of President Bola Tinubu, stating it has no reason to doubt the military’s commitment to democracy.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in an interview on Sunday, stated that the government had full faith in the military and accepted the position of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), which had earlier dismissed the coup report as fake news.
The military, through the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, had on Saturday released an official statement denying a news report by an online newspaper that linked the detention of sixteen military officers to a failed coup plot, which the report further connected to the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day parade.
General Gusau firmly condemned the report, describing it as “intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace.” He clarified that the cancellation of the October 1 anniversary parade was “purely administrative,” designed to allow President Tinubu to attend a bilateral meeting abroad and enable troops to focus on ongoing operations against insurgency and banditry. Reaffirming the military’s commitment, Gusau declared, “Democracy is forever,” and stated that the ongoing investigation involving the sixteen officers is a routine internal disciplinary process, the findings of which would be made public.
When contacted, the Information Minister referred to the issue as “a military affair,” but added that the Federal Government believes the Armed Forces of Nigeria are committed to ensuring the country’s territorial integrity and strengthening the fight against insecurity.