TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari says it is no longer acceptable to remove a democratic government through coup.

Praising Turks for resisting the attempt to remove President Tayyip Erdogan, the Nigerian leaders said democracy provides the alternative of using the ballot box to replace leaders.

“President Buhari is deeply saddened by reports of a violent attempt to dismantle constitutional authority and disrupt the democratically elected government of Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey,” read a statement issued by Garba Shehu, spokesman of the president.

“The removal of a democratic government by force is no longer acceptable. Violence can never solve any problem but only complicates them and sets back the progress of democratic societies.”

Buhari said Erdogan is one of Nigeria’s supporters in its current war against terrorism.

He called for a resistance against the destabilisation of democratic governments through coups d’états.

“Democracy provides peaceful options of changing governments through the ballot box,” he said.

“The ballot box doesn’t require violence to remove any government perceived to have lost its popularity and public support. Despite its limitations, democracy is still better and more durable than a violent change of government.”

Offering Nigeria’s support to his government and people, Buhari called on Erdogan to pursue reconciliation in Turkey.