Chidi Samuel || A day after the chief of army staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai warned Nigeria military officers against plotting against the present civilian government, the British government on Wednesday spoke against “non-democratic” change of government in Nigeria.
The British concern was voiced through its High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Arkwright.
“The British government believes that democracy is actually critical in Nigeria,” the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, said on Wednesday. “There are elections. If you’re not happy with your leaders then you should change your leadership through the democratic process and through elections,” the envoy said.
The High Commissioner spoke on the sidelines of an event held in Abuja to formally launch a new report on corruption in Nigeria which was put together by UK policy think-tank, Chatham House.
The UK envoy, Mr. Arkwright, while recognising the rights of citizens to agitate for a more tolerable living condition, said the United Kingdom would only encourage a change of power through the ballot box.
He said, “Our position is very clear: we stand for democracy, we stand for the democratic process and we stand for change —if that is what the people themselves want,” the diplomat said. “That has to be a choice the people make and not a choice that is imposed upon them.”
There have been speculations about military coup as concerns grow over President Muhammadu Buhari’s health who is currently on medical vacation in the United Kingdom.