Shehu questioned why the names and details of those allegedly involved have not been made public.
Prominent public commentator and activist, Mahdi Shehu, has challenged the government of President Bola Tinubu to release names of alleged coup plotters.
This is as he urged the Nigerian government and military authorities to come clean on the alleged coup plot.
He spoke in a post on X on Monday night.
He questioned why the names and details of those allegedly involved have not been made public.
“It has been three weeks since whispers from the vineyard started about an alleged coup,” he wrote.
“What was first explained away as a routine issue around failures in promotion exercises has now grown beyond mere speculation.”
According to him, within the past two weeks, the whispers graduated to low and medium tones about military officers being arrested across the country for insubordination and indiscipline.
“But within the last week, all cowardly excuses have given way to a fact that there was indeed a plan to overthrow the government.”
Shehu criticized the silence of the authorities, noting that in other parts of the world, the standard practice after a failed coup attempt is for those involved to be paraded publicly.
“World over, the culture of failed coups is for the coup plotters to be paraded in public, handcuffed, legs chained, with their ranks, state of origin, and other details made known to the public.
“Subsequently a military tribunal is set up to try them and pass a judgement which is subject to appeal,” he said.
He argued that Nigerians deserve transparency on the matter, stressing that such secrecy could create unnecessary tension and suspicion.
“Nothing is known about those involved. Nobody knows if they have access to legal representation or to their family members,” he lamented.
Shehu further warned that continued silence from the authorities could worsen the situation and fuel speculation.
“Continuing this hide and seek will only make matters worse, create doubt, confusion, and even a leeway to call it a phantom coup,” he said.
The activist insisted that it is the right of citizens to be informed about developments that threaten the country’s democratic stability.
“Nigerians are entitled to know the identity of those ‘enemies of democracy’,” Shehu added
He concluded by urging the government to end what he described as play in darkness, beneath-the-earth power games, and treachery.
So far, the military has denied reports of any coup attempt, maintaining that ongoing arrests are related to internal disciplinary measures.
Also, according to a statement signed on Saturday, by Tukur Gusau, director of Defence Information, the DHQ said the decision to cancel the October 1 parade had nothing to do with any alleged coup attempt but was taken to allow President Tinubu attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside the country.
The DHQ added that the move also enabled members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to sustain momentum in ongoing military operations against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.