Former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, back from Guinea leading a delegation that negotiated with the military junta which seized power after the death of President Lansana Conte, has applauded the military coup in the West African country, saying it is timely and patriotic.
The former military head of state who was in Guinea as an envoy of President Umaru Yar'adua, told the state owned television outfit , Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) in an interview that the military intervention has saved the country from another theatre of human and material waste. He added that the country was already polarized and tensed before the armed forces came up to save the situation.
There was no crisis in Guinea, and the coup followed the unexpected death of the civilian president. The coup plotters appeared to be mere opportunists, who have now got the blessing of Ibrahim Babangida, himself a coup plotter.
President Yar'Adua has since condemned the coup and, with other West African leaders, demanded a return to civil rule within one year.
Babangida who came into power in Nigeria through a coup in 1985 disclosed that the tenure of the Guinean parliament had expired two years ago but no elections were held to renew its mandate. The retired army general said the slated 2008 elections failed to hold before the death of former President Lassana Conte.
"For God's sake they were patriotic to make sure that the country remains intact. From what we could see upon arrival at the country the people are on the side of the coupists, and it would be unfair to say they have come to power to stay.
The military led by Captain Moussa Camara, took over Guinea after the death of President Lassana Conte who had ruled the West African nation for 24 years.
