The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has assured that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would protect democracy, saying the military will ensure that no coup would happen in the country unlike what had been experienced in neighbouring countries like Niger, Burkina Faso, and Gabon, while pledging allegiance to supporting democracy.
Musa also noted that the military will deploy technology to tackle crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region, just as he assured of adequate security in the off-season governorship election in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States.
The CDS however warned those who get involved in causing violence during polls to steer clear of the elections in three states, adding that the military would support a free, fair and credible electoral process.
Musa noted this in Port Harcourt yesterday during a visit to the Nigerian Army Headquarters 6 Division, Port Harcourt Barracks, where he was received by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Division, Major-General Jamal Abdulssalam, to Commission the 47 Engineering Brigade Counter Improvised Explosives Device Squadron, Tree planting project, 29 Battalion Magazine bank, among other projects.
Addressing newsmen, Musa, said the visit was to interact with men and officers of armed forces in the state, to commend them for a job well done and to encourage them to do more.
He urged Nigerians not to entertain any form of fear as regards issues of coup d’etat happening in close countries, adding that the armed forces of Nigeria would protect the nation’s democracy.
He said the nation at the time was facing many challenges, but assured citizens of military protection.
He said: “We want to thank the Commander in Chief, the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for all the support he has given to the armed forces and security forces and to assure him that we are dedicated and committed to doing our job.
“We are here to protect the integrity of Nigeria. I actually came around, starting from Imo State, we went to Bayelsa and now I am in Rivers State to try to encourage the troops to continue to do more and remain professional.
“I want Nigeria to be assured that the armed forces of Nigeria are here for them to protect them and to protect Democracy and ensure that democracy thrives.
“They should have no fear. We have had several coups in countries around Nigeria, we have Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, I know that there is a lot of apprehension. I want to assure everyone that the Arm Forces of Nigeria is dedicated and committed to ensuring securing supporting and standing by democracy.
“We stand by democracy. You saw that ECOWAS, the president being ECOWAS President was very decisive on the decision taken against the coup plotters and we want to assure Nigerians that nothing like a coup is going to take place in Nigeria.
“All members of the Armed Forces are pleased with democracy and we will continue to defend democracy.”
The Defence Chief disclosed that President Tinubu has approved some funds to enable the armed forces to get more equipment to aid their operations against criminality and oil theft, urging those involved in oil theft to stop forthwith.
“The President has equally approved some funds for us to buy enablers to assist us in fighting this menace of crude oil theft, criminality and we are going to leverage a lot in technology.
“That will give us a lot of leverage and we want to appeal to those criminals doing those things that we are coming after them but it is good and wise for them to stop.
“That the military is dedicated and committed to ensuring that we restore peace. We want the crude production in Nigeria to grow so that Nigeria can enjoy the dividends of democracy,” CDS said.
He, however, promised that the armed forces would provide adequate security during the off-season elections held in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States, adding that its interest is credible, free and fair polls.
He added that the era of election violence is over warning that anyone caught attempting to ferment trouble in any of the states would be dealt with.
He said: “You know three states will be having off-season elections, we are also ensuring of providing adequate security.
“We want the elections to be credible, free and fair to enable every voter to come out without being scared or being intimidated by anyone.
“And to also set a warning to all those that are used to doing the old ways of using violence to intimidate people, stealing ballot boxes that those days are gone, this is a new regime that we must stop.
“Anybody that is caught trying to intimidate anybody or cause any mayhem in any of the three states will have himself to blame. And this we assure Nigerians.”
