Question 9
As a student of government, suggest five ways in which theEconomic Community of West African States can stamp out military coups in the sub-region.
Observation
This was a fairly popular question and not many attempted it. Most of the candidates who attempted it performed very well. However, those who failed were giving skimpy answers. The candidates were expected to give the following points as answers to the question.
- Insistence on the application and practice of the tenets of good governance
- Ensuring the conduct of free and fair elections/respect for electoral contest
- Avoid tinkering with the constitution to favour the ruling or incumbent government
- Sensitive to and respect for public opinion
- Avoidance of bribery, corruption and mismanagement
- Desist from persecution and victimization of political opponents
- Discourage tribalism, ethnicity and nepotism in government
- Avoid the politicization of the military
- Ensure judicial independence
- Prevent the infringement on the rights of citizens
- Practice all-inclusive government
- Provision of employment opportunities
- Take steps to reduce extreme poverty
- Provision of social security schemes
- Offer adequate professional training for the military
- Enhance conditions of service for the military
- Impose severe sanctions on military leaders/coup plotters
- Ecowas leaders should avoid overstaying in power