Experts and scholars rose from a roundtable conference in Ibadan on Tuesday in strong condemnation of the resurgence of military coup d'etat in the West African sub region and called for urgent and incisive actions and measures to check the disturbing contagion.

Led by legal luminary and Vice Chancellor, Kola Daisi University, Ibadan, Adeniyi Olatunbosun, the multidisciplinary brain trust described the seizure of power by the military as illegal and unjustified even in spite of  shortcomings of democratic government.

The phenomenon which used to be a feature of the 60s and 70s, they noted, only upset the constitutional order with adverse effects on governance, legal and institutional structures, diplomatic relations, social, political and economic well being of the sub-region.

They spoke at the maiden edition of the university's Academic Discourse with the theme: "Contemporary Issues in West African sub region Military  Coup D'etat and Democratic Fragility "

The mult-disciplinary discourse was in honour of and to commemorate the 91st birthday anniversary of the  university’s Founder and Chancellor, Kola Daisi who hits the age on Thursday, September 14.

There have been at least five military take-over in countries along the francophone corridor of West Africa including Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad and Niger in the last three years with Gabon in Central Africa recording the latest plague afflicting the continent.

Over the years democracy and democratic rule in some countries have brought about more pain than gain, poverty more than prosperity, a situation used by the soldiers to justify their intervention.

Discussants at the forum held at the University auditorium included Jendele Hungbo, a professor in the Mass Communication Department; Ekundayo Babatunde  of the Law Faculty; Dean, Basic Medical Services,  Ariinola, Odiaka of Applied Sciences;   and Archibong Okonneh of History and diplomatic studies.

Others are: Samuel Faboyede, Accounting Department;

Head, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Adebukola Ayoola; and Oyetade Toyese, of Economics Department; among others.

They noted that though coups was an indication of failed democracy the military has no legitimate right to topple democratic order and throw the nation into tailspin, as its duty was strictly to protect the territorial integrity of the nation. Military intervention was thus a distraction which could undermine the discharge of this onerous role.

They identified sit-tight leaders, official corruption, absence of good governance governance, transparency, participation, security challenges, official corruption, servitude to former colonial masters for exploitation of national resources as key dysfunctions that encourage military coup.

The consequences of coups  is instability which affects economic growth and other sectors triggering a cycle of unemployment, poverty and underdeveloped.

They also suggested that Africans should fashion their own political systems that work for Africans and discard the western model of democracy they described as colonial legacies, noting that before colonialism Africans governed themselves effectively.

Other solutions proposed are: the strengthening of institutions, including the INEC; and the media for effective, transparent and credible discharge of their constitutional mandates; assurance of good governance as a sacrosanct tenet by public oficials; reduction of worrisome cost of governance to free up enough resources to provide for critical sectors that could alleviate conditions of living of the people.

The intellectual think-tank also recommend legal reforms to take care of the lacuna exploited by the seditious-minded, given that constitutional provisions and other statues making coup unlawful were often observed in the breach. Similar legal means should be used to remove bottlenecks which make moves by regional bodies or the international community intervene and restore democratic order in any affected member-states.

According to them, it was difficult to enforce sanctions on erring member-states without being seen as violating international laws such due to the principle of the sanctity of the sovereignty of nations.

In his keynote remarks, Olatunbosun said the issues required critical analysis to bail the sub-region from being turned into a theatre of war of self interest seeking advanced nations whose motive was to merely dominate and exploit African countries and their resources.

Hungbo remarked that Africa was susceptible to incessant coups because of weak  institutions of states ncluding the media. He observed that radio stations were often the first to be taken over for dawn broadcast by mutineers.

Yet, the media have not fared any better under both military and civilian rule in performance of the constitutional responsibility.

He stressed that media institutions must be accountable, promote and  enhance democratic governance to enable it work.