BEVERLY HILLS, June 24, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Army, on Friday, declared that it had taken a decision long ago at the beginning of the Fourth Republic to abide by its code of conduct saying that there would be no coup in the Army and indeed the whole of the nation’s Armed Forces.
This was disclosed by Maj. Gen Adeniyi Oyebade, General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Army, Kaduna, who briefed the media after an emergency security meeting of top commanders of the Army with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Friday, at the Army headquarters.
The meeting which held under the chairmanship of Buratai was attended by the general officers commanding the seven divisions of the Nigerian Army, the Principal Staff Officers and Operational Commanders across the country.
The meeting and statement by the Army is coming following claims by resurgent militants in the Niger Delta that the military was planning to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Oyebode stressed that the Army would continue to remain apolitical and would be loyal to the constitution and the President and Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces adding that the decision of the Army to subordinate itself to civil authority had not changed and would never change.
“Like you all know, the Chief of Army Staff summoned his top commanders across the Army for a quick meeting this morning. Essentially, the meeting was to review the security situation in the country, and to also let us know some of the reorganisation that has taken place over the last few days,” he said
“Lastly, and most importantly, as you must have also heard over the last few days, the rumours of coup or no coup; we want to assure all our citizens that the Nigerian Army remains apolitical. Our loyalty and allegiance to the constitutional authority of this land: the three branches of government, Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief, are unquestionable.
“As far as we are concerned, we have decided long before now, since the beginning of the Fourth Republic to abide by our code of conduct and to remain subordinate to the civil authorities. That has not changed and it would not change.
“So we want to assure our people that the issue of coup would not happen within the ranks of the Army and I can say also within the ranks of the members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“But of course, it is not something, we will just take lying low. We are deploying all our resources, assets, efforts to find out where this very dastardly speculation emanated from.
“But most importantly, we want to assure our people that the Nigerian Army remains steadfast and our loyalty is unquestionable to Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Story by David Oputah
