Former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, has warned the Military against any attempt to hijack Nigeria’s democratic process through a coup d’etat as is being rumoured in several quarters of late.

Speaking at a parliamentary session to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of Lagos State, Tinubu said Nigerians will resist any attempt to plunge the country back to the dark days of military rule.

There have been strong insinuations that some top military officers were planning to stage a coup, especially given the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari due to ill health.

These insinuations, it was gathered, prompted last week’s warning by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, warning soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Army to stay away from politics and concentrate on their responsibility of safeguarding the Nation from external aggression.

Tinubu pointed out that lots of Nigerians sweated and even paid the ultimate price to give Nigeria the democracy that is being enjoyed today.

He said: “I will like to sound a caution to us all; the precious thing we have – democracy that we are now trying to perfect is not guaranteed to us.

“We must sweat hard yet think wisely if we are to keep it. There will always be some people who want to undermine democracy. These people gain more from the government in the dark.

“Just a few days ago, we had a warning that some people were trying to entice the military out of the barracks.

“I say don’t try it. I want to add my voice to that warning. Those who think they can break the democracy so many of us laboured for, and for which too many people died, sacrificed their lives, they are sure mistaken.

“Nigeria has come too far for such a thing to happen. Those people behind such idea will find no fertile ground to plant their seed in Lagos. We will not buy their bad product.”

On the progress made so far since the creation of Lagos State 50 years ago, the former governor said there were many reasons to celebrate, adding however that there is need to create more opportunities.

“We also have realized that we need to do more in order to create more opportunities, better education, improved housing and more jobs for many of our people so that all can witness the full blossom of growth and prosperity,” he said.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said Lagos State has always been a shining example and a critical hub of socio-economic and political development.

He also eulogized the State’s legislature for its contributions “to the true principles of democratic governance through passage of Bills that advance the principle of governance and promotion of social welfare of the people within the ambits of the Law.”

Ambode added that the Lagos State House of Assembly had been “highly responsive and innovative in fulfilling its constitutional obligations and meeting the aspirations of our people for the dividends of democracy.”