Coups and journalists in Africa

[Augustine Togonu-Bickersteth]

I once met an aide in the presidency who expressed worry about a particular  nigerian newspaper.  He described the paper as subversive. 

From the social  psychology of work  we learn about the most unpopular  worker becoming the leader of workèrs .workers like to work but he talks and talks so when it is time they put  him forward because of his  aggressive attitude towards  management.

 Inn the same vein the most unpopular soldier  in the officers mess becomes the commander in cheif because whilst the other soldiers have been reading the defence magazines and talking strictly military matters he talks  about the content of the editorial comments in ngerias newspapers so when it is time they put him forward and he announces they are riding on the crest of human rights.

Of  course the editorial comment in respose to the coup is" Welcome but back to the barracks."its a countdown