Public affairs analyst, Mahdi Shehu, has dismissed the idea of declaring a state of emergency to combat insecurity, calling it a deliberate plot to weaken Nigeria’s democracy.
In a post shared on X on Monday, the 6th of October, 2025, Shehu reacted to reports that some retired senior military officers backed the suggestion by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd), for the government to declare a state of emergency over rising insecurity.
He said the proposal was a “booby trap” designed to halt elections and create an avenue for select individuals to gain wider access to public funds.
“This sounds like a conspiracy to avoid elections and extend the much-feared polls from a constituency that is as guilty as the politicians and voters, or even guiltier,” Shehu wrote.
According to him, those pushing for emergency rule know that under such conditions, “they will be more relevant and the treasury more openly available.”
Shehu cautioned Nigerians against falling for what he termed a defeatist scheme, urging citizens to stay focused on demanding accountability and better governance instead.
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“No sensible Nigerian should buy into this booby trap of emergency rule,” he warned.
“What Nigerians must continue to demand is nothing short of good governance, true democracy, stoppage of looting, and security of lives and properties.”
He further stated that if those promoting emergency rule succeed for “selfish, greedy, and myopic reasons,” the nation would lose far more than its democratic structure.
“They too will be part of the losers even if they run away,” Shehu concluded.