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The recent revelation of a failed coup plot in our country should remind every patriotic Nigerian that we must never take democracy for granted. It should serve as a clear warning that there are still elements who believe that power can be seized through the back door. But they are wrong. There is nothing like democracy. A coup will only destroy our progress as a nation.
Democracy, despite its imperfections, remains the only system of government that allows for correction without destruction. It gives citizens the power to question their leaders, to protest, to vote, and to participate in shaping their future. In a democracy, bad leaders can be voted out. In a coup, the people lose their voice entirely.
The mere fact that some individuals still attempt to overthrow a democratic government in this modern age shows how easily history can be forgotten. We have seen what military rule brings. Silence, fear, and regression. Coups have never brought order. They have only left behind broken institutions, ruined economies, and deep national wounds. Soldiers are trained to defend the nation, not to govern it.
Democracy is a continuous process of refinement. It may be slow, but it allows a nation to grow through reform, not through force. Countries that endured the difficulties of democracy, such as South Korea and Indonesia, are now enjoying the benefits of their patience. Nations that surrendered to coups are still paying the price of that mistake.
Nigeria has made significant progress, even if the road remains tough. Our institutions are strengthening, our citizens are more politically conscious, and our democratic culture is gradually taking firm root. What we need now is not a reset through the gun, but a renewal through civic participation and genuine leadership reform.
The path to national greatness does not lie in bullets or uniforms. It lies in ballots, dialogue, and collective responsibility. We can criticize, demand, and challenge our leaders, but we must never allow anyone to silence democracy.
The recent failed coup attempt must teach us one thing. That democracy must be defended at all times. Because once democracy falls, freedom, progress, and hope fall with it.
