Alleged Plot to Topple President Tinubu: Unmasking the Treasonous Scheme
A Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy
Nigeria’s 25-year uninterrupted democratic governance faced a significant threat between August 1 and 10, 2024. What initially seemed like a peaceful protest aimed at reversing government policies, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, quickly unraveled into something more sinister. The protest, which operated under the hashtags #EndBadGovernance and #EndHunger, was exposed as a covert attempt to topple the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Investigations by Nigerian law enforcement revealed that the true intention behind the protest was far from peaceful. The real agenda was to destabilize the country and oust the democratically elected government. According to police findings, a Briton named Andrew Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich, and his Nigerian accomplice, Mr. Lucky Obiyan, masterminded this plot. Both men have since been declared wanted, with a N10 million bounty placed on each.
The Alleged Masterminds: Andrew Wynne and Lucky Obiyan
The Nigeria Police Force identified Wynne, a foreign national, as the key orchestrator behind the unrest. He is accused of leading a network of sleeper cells intended to carry out a coup and create chaos within the nation. Wynne’s alleged Nigerian collaborator, Lucky Obiyan, was also implicated in the plot. The pair reportedly mobilized substantial financial resources, intending to fuel violent uprisings.
Muyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), provided further details of the investigation. Wynne allegedly rented a space at the Labour House—headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)—where he covertly established a school to cover up his subversive activities. The plot involved the coordination of protests that would deliberately target police stations and military barracks, triggering a violent response that would garner international condemnation of the Nigerian government.
A Broader Conspiracy Unfolds
The Nigeria Police revealed that nine individuals had been apprehended in connection with this plot. These individuals, believed to be working under the directives of Wynne and Obiyan, received significant financial support from foreign sources. Preliminary evidence suggests that the group engaged in orchestrating violent protests, disseminating false information, and other unlawful activities designed to sow discord and create a pretext for regime change.
Wynne, now on the run, is accused of providing direct operational guidance to his collaborators, financing their efforts, and issuing instructions aimed at destabilizing the country. Police reports also indicated that the plot violated multiple laws, including the Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011. The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, has intensified efforts to apprehend Wynne and Obiyan, launching a global manhunt through INTERPOL to bring the suspects to justice.
Denial and Defense
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Andrew Wynne has denied all allegations. Now 70 years old, Wynne has refused to surrender to authorities, citing concerns for his safety in police custody. He also claimed that no official invitation had been extended to him for questioning—a claim that police have refuted. According to the police, Wynne’s associates have already been charged in court, and Wynne, as their leader, should face justice.
“We have established an offence or offences against him (Wynne), and we have even declared him wanted. His accomplices have been charged in court. Let him come out. As a good leader, a businessman, and a smart man who mobilised and organised sleeper cells to cause problems in Nigeria, he should have come out as a good leader and proven to his followers that he was a good leader,” the police spokesman remarked.
A Call for Justice
The police’s proactive approach in dismantling this alleged coup attempt has been widely commended. Their diligence in uncovering the foreign-backed conspiracy has prevented a potential disaster that could have destabilized Nigeria’s democratic system. Such attempts to subvert a constitutionally elected government should not be taken lightly.
Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are at stake in this case. President Tinubu’s administration, like any democratically elected government, represents the will of the people. Any act aimed at overthrowing that mandate is a direct attack on the nation’s stability. The treasonous plot against President Tinubu's government, if proven true, is an affront to the hard-fought democratic gains Nigeria has made in recent decades.
Conclusion: The Need for Vigilance
The Nigeria Police Force has an important responsibility to continue its investigation thoroughly and bring all perpetrators to justice. No stone should be left unturned in prosecuting those who seek to undermine Nigeria’s democracy. Should Andrew Wynne and Lucky Obiyan be found guilty, they must face the full weight of the law to deter future conspiracies.
In this era of global political instability, nations like Nigeria must remain vigilant against both internal and external forces that seek to disrupt their democratic processes. The international community should also support Nigeria in ensuring that foreign actors like Andrew Wynne are held accountable for their actions aimed at destabilizing sovereign states. The integrity of Nigeria’s democracy must be protected at all costs
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