When it happened, everyone was ready for the ooga booga to start. All Zion Don had to do was say "Fuck it, I'm seizing power" and the country would have overturned in war with an advantage in his favour.

This is why I agree. If you're gonna be fucked either way, don't try to mitigate the damage and aim for a lighter punishment, just go all the way an commit, or overcommit if you are a dead man walking. Go out in a blaze of glory and make it costly