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Abstract
The term “Coup d’etat” is not a new phenomenon in African politics, as it has been almost inseparable from the continent’s internal political affairs since the start of the post-colonial era in the mid-20th century. The world has recorded about 492 coup attempts (as at when this study was conducted) since 1950, and Africa has witnessed about 220 of them; making it the most of any region in the culture with about 109 successful.1 It can be said that as the ‘wind of self – determination’ swept through the continent bringing an end to colonial rule, along came with it a wave of coup d’etat. During the first three decades of Independence, Sub-saharan African averaged three military coups per year, with the first one taking place in Togo on January 13, 1963, when President Olympio was assassinated.2 According to former Nigeria President, Olusegun Obasanjo, “the anticolonialist struggles in Africa were waged as much to end foreign rule, racial bigotry and the associated indignities to extirpate illiteracy and all manners of backwardness. Yet, no sooner had colonial rule ended than our new (African) rulers set about converting the revolution into one of fire and thunder against their own people.” 3 1 Over the years, “Democracy Apologetics” have opined that the persistent occurrence of military interventions in Africa since the post-colonial era has had an adverse effect impact on the socio-economic and political development of the continent, claiming that the constant premature change of governments have hindered smooth continental socio-political and economic integration. Their opinion is in defense of the ideals of democracy, which asserts that the only legitimate avenue to attain political power is through the ballot box. They believe this is the only recognized way of remove an elected official from the seat of power; and this is the more reason they have criticized the whole idea of military takeovers or coups in general
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