We must not allow military to desecrate democracy, Dons warn

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Vice-Chancellor, KolaDaisi University, Prof. Adeniyi Olatunbosun; Prof. Tim Odiaka, Prof. Olukolade Odekunle; Prof. Ganiyu Arinola and others, yesterday, decried military incursion into the political leadership in Africa, warning that it is a desecration of democracy.

The scholars gave the warning during the maiden and special discourse organised by KolaDaisi University, Ibadan in honour of the founder and Chancellor of the university, Chief Kola Daisi, to commemorate his 91st birthday, coming up on September 14.

The discourse focused on: Contemporary Issues in West African Sub-region Military Coup d’etat and Democratic Fragility.

Olatunbosun, the VC and professor of Law, in his keynote address, titled: ‘Resurgence of Coup D’etat in West African States’’, said: ‘’Resurgence in West African sub-region and Central Africa by young military officers in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad and Niger in the last three years is a condemnable development, which every advocate of democracy must stand against. The resurgence of coup d’etat has implications for the sub-region stability of which ECOWAS is at the fore of repelling this albatross that is rearing its ugly heads in some countries.

‘’There is no justification for military intervention whatsoever. There is no justification for military rule in Nigeria. It is not a legalised style of government. The role and the primary duty of the military is to protect territorial integrity of the country. The military is a sector like others.”

The Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Tim Odiaka; the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Management and Social Sciences, Prof. Olukolade Odekunle; the Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Prof. Ganiyu Arinola and others also toed the same line.

Speaking on the essence of the gathering, the VC said: “The significance of academic discourse to promote faculty research capabilities and enhance university’s contribution to the trends of development at national and international levels cannot be overemphasised. KolaDaisi University today holds its maiden and a special discourse in honour of the Founder and Chancellor of this noble university on the occasion of his 91st birthday, coming up September 14,2023’’.

Dr. Ekundayo Babatunde of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Archibong Okonneh of History and Diplomatic Studies, Dr. Adebukola Ayoola of Political Science and International Relations, Prof. Jendele Hungbo of the Mass   Communication Department, Dr. Oyetade Toyese of Economics, Prof. Samuel Faboyede of Accounting and Dr. Babatunde Agbi of Business Administration and others also spoke on Contemporary Issues in West African Sub-region Military Coup d’etat and Democratic Fragility.