By Sabiu Abdullahi
A Nigerian Army colonel, Mohammed Ma’aji, has said his alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration was motivated by patriotism and concern over the country’s worsening condition, rather than a quest for personal power.
Ma’aji, who has been accused of spearheading the alleged coup plot, cited economic difficulties, poor governance and concerns over the welfare of Nigerians and military personnel as factors that influenced his actions.
“What has happened has a very long history, and it is driven by patriotism and I love the job and country,” Premium Times quoted Ma’aji as saying.
“What has happened has a very long history, and it is driven by patriotism and I love the job and country,” he said.
“As we are all sitting down here, we have our biases and our thoughts and concerns on what was going on in our country from a state of gradual decline up to now, and we are almost at the point of collapse.”
The colonel also pointed to his personal financial difficulties as part of what shaped his concerns about the country.
“Every time I look at how I’m struggling to raise 5 children with my meager salary, I get worried,” he said.
“I attended Army Day Secondary School, but today, how many of us afford to take our children to these schools, and for one reason or the other, which is connected to the bad governance.”
Ma’aji further raised concerns about the treatment of military personnel, particularly soldiers who suffered injuries during combat.
He alleged that some wounded soldiers receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna were not getting adequate care. He said the situation reflected wider challenges within the armed forces.
According to the colonel, his concerns convinced him that significant changes were necessary to prevent further deterioration in the country.
“The summary of all this is that this action was driven by the desire to have a prosperous nation and country that we all can be proud of. It got to a point that I was worried that if nothing is done, we may not have a country to call our own in the near future,” he said.
Ma’aji said the alleged plan was still at the mobilisation stage when he was arrested. He explained that the intention was to bring together military officers who shared similar concerns about the state of the nation.
“Nigeria was turning into a banana republic right before our eyes. We know that during the era of the military regime, the country was functioning better. I believe that, as it is now, we are on a dangerous trajectory,” he added.
“The plan was to get enough officers of like minds who could participate. We were still at the stage of mobilizing to get more officers involved.
“This team has not been fully formed because there were supposed to be other meetings. There was no D-Day. We were waiting for the availability of resources and more officers and soldiers.”
He claimed that he personally financed a significant portion of the alleged plan, while Timipre Silva was said to have provided about N400 million.
Ma’aji denied any foreign involvement in the alleged plot and said no specific date had been fixed for its execution.
He also denied contacting some senior military officers. However, he said dissatisfaction among members of the armed forces and his unsuccessful promotion attempts were among the factors that contributed to the revival of the movement.
The colonel called for the establishment of a formal avenue through which military officers could present their grievances to the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, without fear of punishment.
He also advocated better salaries, improved welfare packages, stronger pension benefits and better educational opportunities for military personnel. He called for stronger measures against corruption within the country and the armed forces.
Ma’aji also criticised the removal of the fuel subsidy, arguing that the policy should have been phased out gradually.
Following his arrest and subsequent interaction with the panel investigating the matter, the colonel said he had reconsidered his approach and appealed for leniency.
“From the time I have been arrested till now, If I were to be released and these issues in the country persist, I will consider a different approach,” he said.
“We are pleading for leniency and pardon as first offenders. The system should take a deep breath and pardon us. They should give us a chance to mend our ways. We have no other country than Nigeria and no other job.
“This incident has really opened our eyes and has changed our mindset forever. It was not intended to destabilize the country at all.
“Everything we planned was born out of patriotism, love of country, and the desire to have a prosperous Nigeria that we all can be proud of.”
The alleged coup plot, which was uncovered in late September 2025, led to the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade and changes within the military hierarchy.
The development also resulted in the removal of Christopher Musa as Chief of Army Staff at the time.