The Defence Headquarters have clarified media reports that some compromised Military Officers may be colluding with opposition politicians to illegally oust President Muhammadu Buhari administration by staging a coup. The report followed a statement issued earlier by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukuh Buratai, that "some individuals were approaching some officers and soldiers for undisclosed political reasons''.
He warned soldiers to desist from such meetings or face action.
In a reaction to the report, the Defence Headquarters enjoined the general public to go about their lawful businesses as there were no plans by the military to sack democracy. The Director of Defence Information at the Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen. John Enenche who made the disclosure yesterday at a news conference in Abuja assured that the military was committed to democratic practice and would not derail the present democratic governance.
The statement reads in part " ....there is nothing like coup; nothing like that would ever be supported or encouraged. If there is a sign of anything like that, then there are instances and guiding rules and regulations and procedures, which we normally follow, and we want to assure Nigerians that we are not in a different world, on our own. We know what is happening all over the whole world, our armed forces, and crop of officers and men we have are modern. We are in tune with the best international practice of governance and that is democracy.”
He described the statement by the Chief of Army staff as mere routine charge intended to keep operatives on tract. “Professionally, it is a command responsibility to caution officers and men on routine basis to conform to the ethics of the military in all ramifications, which includes interactions and exchange of visits, among others. This command responsibility is exercised right from the highest echelon, such as the office of the Service Chiefs down to the lowest levels of command; hence, the caution from the Army in this case.
He added that “….administratively, officers and men are regularly cautioned to exercise command and control by Appropriate Superior Authorities through commanders at various levels. This is to prevent members of the armed forces from derailing from their core focus of total dedication to their oath of allegiance. Thus, it is a usual practice in military administration.
“However, it is pertinent to state that if there are signs of actions that point to likely breaches of military code of conduct, as it were, cautions or warnings are issued with possible investigations following. Thus, in the present situation, the Armed Forces and the Army, in particular, has employed the due process to ensure that officers and men remain committed to performing their constitutional roles. As such, the mention of coup plots from some quarters is assertions which are not confirmed.
“At this juncture, let me assure all Nigerians and lovers of this country that the Armed Forces is and will remain totally loyal to the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in complete subordination to civil rule.
“Furthermore, all fears about a coup should be allayed as the contemporary Nigerian Military is abreast with the best international practices in governance, which is democracy. In this regard, the military high and other levels of command will continue to ensure effective training and administration, to ensure that the armed Forces of Nigeria retain its place of pride amongst the military globally.”
