Celebrity comedian Ali Baba (real name Atunyota Alleluya Akporobomerere) is battling to explain himself following a tweet interpreted by some as meaning that he is advocating military coup. The man who revolutionized the comedy business in Nigeria, however, insists that he was misunderstood as he was only expressing fear that current developments in the country might culminate in a coup d’etat. He wrote on Facebook about two hours ago:

I have received about 3 calls today, asking why I am calling on the military to take over. AND THAT KIND OF FALSE ACCUSATION IS EXACTLY WHY WE ATE WHERE WE ARE TO DAY.

This is my tweet... @ALIBABAGCFR: SO LET ME SAY THIS & I KNOW MANY WILL SAY TUFIA! BUT THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS DAT MAKE SOME BOYS IN THE BARRACKS SAY, “LETS PLOT A COUP”

That tweet is about my fear. That tweet is about the things that are going on and could, just could be used by some people as an excuse to plot a coup. It in no way says, hey go plot a coup.

The problem is, people with half intelligence, are beginning to take tolerance of their inadequate education, as outright permit to say things that are not properly thought through. And as such, they hang on to any sentence, as much as their intelligence can manage, and make up the rest with their porous reasoning. So what you get is comments that show they did not understand what was said in the first place.

Regarding my tweet, I have replayed all the reasons that many past coup plotters have leveraged on, to oust any government of the day. And the things going on now, are just the type of things they usually will say made them do it. I am a comedian, democracy is the reason our business got to where it is. And I prefer a comedy friendly environment to the gagged one.

That said, we can not discount the fact that these are very dangerous times. Even the military would not like to be portrayed as weak. Not weak to a mightier army, to a group! HABA!!

So, finally, I say again, if you want to comment on anything I have said, I advise you read and digest it properly before loading your verbal guns. I may be a comedian, but I am a Nigerian First!!! That’s the Koko.

•Photo shows Ali Baba.