The Nigerian army chief has ruled out a possible military takeover, as Nigeria grapples with a new leadership crisis after the surprise return of ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua.

Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazzau has moved to reassure the 150 million Nigerians that the army has no intention of returning to politics, in the wake of concerns of a power struggle in Africa's most populous nation.

The intense debate and intrigue surrounding Mr. Yar'Adua's return have prompted fears of an army coup that might return Nigeria to the military dictatorship that existed before 1999.

General Dambazzau says a political solution remains the best option for Nigeria.

"It is a difficult period for everybody, but we believe that it is a political thing.  We are not politicians.  We are military professionals and we are determined to remain so. Nobody, no matter what no matter the effort, will drag us into it," he said.

President Umaru Yar'Adua returned to the country a week ago, after leaving for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, three months ago.  The Nigerian leader has not been seen in public for more than three months and there have been no official reports on his health.

Indications are that he is too ill to govern, raising fears of a power struggle between his aides and acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

An Abuja-based lawyer has filed a legal action to force the ailing president to appear before the media and prove the state of his health.

Nigeria has a long history of coups and military leadership, and only returned to civilian rule about a decade ago.

Source: Voice of America please

I wont be surprised, if he is the same guy leading the coup to be

Source!

If you don't provide a source, it will be assumed that you forged this story.

Beaf:

Source!

If you don't provide a source, it will be assumed that you forged this story.

True dat

First rule of coup: never be suspected

sofa-dj:

First rule of coup: never be suspected

Thank, major general

This is no longer news, those of us in Lagos has been seeing the news since 9.00 am this morning; where they show the general addressing the media.

But I think for the general to come on air shows that the coup is possibly in the process.

If nothing is done to address this issue fast, I'm sure the khaki guys might seize the power again, don't be surprise.

To me the ONLY lasting solution to the problem called Nigeria is to 'un-Luggard' it and move forward. Though it seems to be an impossible task but I bet you all - it is the only true solution.

Anyone on my side

@ Larrymilla, seconded!

larrymilla:

This is no longer news, those of us in Lagos has been seeing the news since 9.00 am this morning; where they show the general addressing the media.

But I think for the general to come on air shows that the coup is possibly in the process.

If nothing is done to address this issue fast, I'm sure the khaki guys might seize the power again, don't be surprise.

To me the ONLY lasting solution to the problem called Nigeria is to 'un-Luggard' it and move forward. Though it seems to be an impossible task but I bet you all - it is the only true solution.

Anyone on my side

I totally agree with you. The entity called nigeria is a fraud or what I may call marriage of strange bed fellows. We are not one nation and can never be. We have been managing and comprising to remain one but it doesnt seem to be working. I think a referendum should be passed by our so called dis"honorable" members if we should continue being one.

Sorry pls before U call me a racist or tribalist, its just a piece of my mind

Time will tell

larrymilla:

This is no longer news, those of us in Lagos has been seeing the news since 9.00 am this morning; where they show the general addressing the media.

But I think for the general to come on air shows that the coup is possibly in the process.

If nothing is done to address this issue fast, I'm sure the khaki guys might seize the power again, don't be surprise.

To me the ONLY lasting solution to the problem called Nigeria is to 'un-Luggard' it and move forward. Though it seems to be an impossible task but I bet you all - it is the only true solution.

Anyone on my side

Yes oo, I'm on your side all the way,i've been thinking of this lately, Hmn they better act fast oo because military rule is'nt going to be the best for this country.

Tarmpa:

Yes oo, I'm on your side all the way,i've been thinking of this lately, Hmn they better act fast oo because military rule is'nt going to be the best for this country.

Could it get worse than what we already have?

Military man ruled for the last 8 years under the pretense of democracy, we have a lot of military lined up to wanna rule in agbada, so what difference would it make?

Source please. . .
Military and present day democracy in Nigeria
I doubt it will ever work. . .

Fhemmmy:

I wont be surprised, if he is the same guy leading the coup to be

lol

MrCrackles:

Source please. . .
Military and present day democracy in Nigeria
I doubt it will ever work. . .

Democracy in Nigeria?
What democracy

GenBuhari:

Democracy in Nigeria?
What democracy

Thank you. . . .I forgot there is no democracy in Nigeria!!!

Fhemmmy:

Military man ruled for the last 8 years under the pretense of democracy, we have a lot of military lined up to wanna rule in agbada, so what difference would it make?

And another one is warming up for 2011! How far r we going to go with this??

I'm praying hard for US '04 prophecy to come alive soonest, bloodlesly!!!!!!

we are in 2010 and we are been fooled to bad,

Do not listen to him, his boys can plan without his knowledge. It happened in Sagari's time. Then COAS was not aware of it.

supereagle:

Do not listen to him, his boys can plan without his knowledge. It happened in Sagari's time. Then COAS was not aware of it.

Dont be surprised, if he is the one in charge of it all . . . .have u ever seen anyone planning coup tell anyone?

Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazzau said what
people need to hear,many general will say samething.

This country dont care about the humanity of the people living in it.for how long would our democratic politians keep toying with the people. If people do not have the heart to change then i suggest someone needs to remove them by any means possible.for how long would our unborn generation continue to see such bad vices happening.shey na like dis we go de dey?

How come Goodluck is the acting President and chief in commander and when President Yaradua showed up he was not aware and Nigerian troops went to receive him is that not sabotage in the military

PEOPLE JUST DONT KNOW, HERE IS AN ARMY GENERAL THAT WAS TRYING TO DEFLECT THE ANSWER OF WHO ORDERED THE ""ARMY ARRANGEMENT" AT THE AIRPORT FOR YAR'ADUA'S RETURN WHEN THE V.P CLAIM IGNORANCE OF IT.  HE DECIED TO SAY THAT THE ARMY DOES NOT INTERFERE IN POLITICS, BUT THE ARMY IS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS COUNTRY, SO DID HE NOT KNOW THAT WHAT THE ARMY DID WAS ILLEGAL AND IS TREASONABLE, AND FOLKS ARE LEAVING THE CORE ISSUE TO DISCUSS INTERFERENCE OR NOT, OMASE OH

sunnela:

PEOPLE JUST DONT KNOW, HERE IS AN ARMY GENERAL THAT WAS TRYING TO DEFLECT THE ANSWER OF WHO ORDERED THE ""ARMY ARRANGEMENT" AT THE AIRPORT FOR YAR'ADUA'S RETURN WHEN THE V.P CLAIM IGNORANCE OF IT.  HE DECIED TO SAY THAT THE ARMY DOES NOT INTERFERE IN POLITICS, BUT THE ARMY IS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS COUNTRY, SO DID HE NOT KNOW THAT WHAT THE ARMY DID WAS ILLEGAL AND IS TREASONABLE, AND FOLKS ARE LEAVING THE CORE ISSUE TO DISCUSS INTERFERENCE OR NOT, OMASE OH

YES I AGREE WITH YOU.

Obviously, something sinister happening:

Read this:
http://www.nigerianewspapersonline.net/bankole-confirms-coup-threat-%E2%80%A2-warns-colleagues-to-soft-pedal-on-yar%E2%80%99adua

greatnatio:

Obviously, something sinister happening:

Read this:
http://www.nigerianewspapersonline.net/bankole-confirms-coup-threat-%E2%80%A2-warns-colleagues-to-soft-pedal-on-yar%E2%80%99adua

The title is misleading; Bankole was just scaremongering to get his colleagues' attention.

PEOPLE JUST DONT KNOW, HERE IS AN ARMY GENERAL THAT WAS TRYING TO DEFLECT THE ANSWER OF WHO ORDERED THE ""ARMY ARRANGEMENT" AT THE AIRPORT FOR YAR'ADUA'S RETURN WHEN THE V.P CLAIM IGNORANCE OF IT. HE DECIED TO SAY THAT THE ARMY DOES NOT INTERFERE IN POLITICS, BUT THE ARMY IS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS COUNTRY, SO DID HE NOT KNOW THAT WHAT THE ARMY DID WAS ILLEGAL AND IS TREASONABLE, AND FOLKS ARE LEAVING THE CORE ISSUE TO DISCUSS INTERFERENCE OR NOT, OMASE OH





Things are bad how can the Acting President/ Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces not know when his troops are being ordered .The General in question needs to be relieved of his duties.That shd be the first action of Jonathan when he assumes office.Some heads must roll.

People should just stop combining the words 'Army' & 'Coup' in the same sentence. The more citizens exhibit the fear/possibility of coup (& the politicians are the most stupid culprits) the more the khaki boys imagine they can still rule this country. Until one day an idle soldier will put his imaginations into practice

& voila! what the Nigerian Kleptocracy fears the most would have come upon them.

What difference does military and democratic rules make in nigeria?You guys should be worried about looming outright war not military coup.

The emergence of yaradua as the president of nigeria can not be worst than any military coup,with the countless numbers of dead nigerians,election riggings,intimidations and manipulations.

Nigrians seems to have six seconds memories,like fish brains,people forget the root cause of their problems easily.And according to a saying in my place which goes like this-Only an slowpoke forgets where and when the rain start pissin-g down on him or her.