Fellow countrymen: events of the past 20 months have shown that the present circumstances of our nation require a change of direction. The most well-meaning person can be misled or pushed by a few bad eggs.
The last 20 months have not yielded the dividends we expected. The leadership we needed has, regrettably, not been forthcoming. Therefore, in the interest of the country, I and my colleagues in the Armed Forces have decided to embark on this corrective exercise.
Let me assure you that we will run an open administration. There will be a transition to civil rule on a timetable to be announced in due course.