One Nigerian Army Colonel, Mohammed Ma’aji, wey dem accuse am of involvement for alleged plot to overthrow di government of President Bola Tinubu, don talk say wetin make am do am na patriotism and frustration over wetin im call di worsening conditions for di country.

Ma’aji, for one statement wey dem release on Monday, apologise for im involvement for di alleged plot and beg di authorities to show am mercy, as im talk say im motive no be personal ambition but na desire for better Nigeria.

Im talk say di alleged plan come from concerns wey some military personnel get over poor governance, insecurity, inadequate welfare and declining living standards.

According to am, di situation don become so troubling say im fear say di country dey head towards collapse.

Ma’aji talk: “Wetin happen get very long history, and na patriotism drive am, and I love di job and country.

“Every time I look at how I dey struggle to raise my five children with my small salary, I dey worry. When I look at every part of life for Nigeria, dere be no hope for di common man, and we dey left to defend ourselves.

“Dis one get nothing to do with any ambition or personal goals. Na purely out of desire for prosperous country wey go work for everybody.”

Im talk say military personnel dey particularly affected by inadequate welfare, as im mention di condition of soldiers wey wound for combat and di challenges wey serving personnel and dia families dey face.

Di colonel talk say di alleged movement still dey at stage of mobilisation and discussions when security authorities intervene, and im add say no specific date don agree for any action.

Im also deny say dere be foreign collaborators, while im explain say different people join at different stages of di discussions.

Ma’aji talk say some of di people dem approach express concerns about di state of di country, while others withdraw or fail to provide di resources wey dem promise initially.

Im further talk say di alleged plot get fuel from wetin im call frustrations over im failure to secure promotion to rank of brigadier-general on two occasions.

According to am, some of im colleagues encourage am to revive di movement after di second setback.

Di colonel, however, talk say im experience after dem arrest am don change im perspective and make am realise say dere be alternative ways of expressing concerns inside di military.

“If God willing, di authority kind enough to pardon us, we go never contemplate dis course of action again for di future,” im talk.

Ma’aji call for di establishment of formal channel wey military personnel fit use to communicate dia concerns directly to di Chief of Army Staff without fear of victimisation.