The Nigerian army on Tuesday refuted the allegation making the rounds that there is disquiet within it’s senior military top brass.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen.TY Buratai explained that it did not appeal to the military that they should ensure President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the poll, stressing disobeying illegal orders by the military officers will therefore not arise.
The acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, in a statement made available to SHARPEDGENews Online, said the social media blackmailers who are purveyor of such rumours sre bent on denigrating the COAS
He said: “Thus, little wonder when my attention was drawn to a mischievous publication gyrating in the social media outlets ascribing bogus and bunkum statements allegedly coming from the NA Chief, Lt Gen TY Buratai during his meeting with his Principal Staff Officers, General Officers Commanding, Commanders and Directors at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
“The major allegation in the publication is that – ‘there is disquiet within the top echelon of the army following an emergency meeting summoned by COAS to appeal to senior army officers to work towards the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari for the 23 February 2019 Presidential election.”
According to the statement, the meeting with the senior military officers was widely covered and reported by the media, adding that the COAS had a meeting with Principal Staff Officers, General Officers Commanding, Directors on the 20th where he clearly directed them to adopt a proactive and decisive posture that will ensure creation of a conducive environment for the peaceful conduct of 2019 Elections.
Buratai, according to the statement ordered them and indeed all NA personnel to avoid fraternizing with politicians and decisively deal with criminal acts such as electoral thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes, illegal possession of elections materials and other crimes that are intended to mar the election and create an avenue for post election violence in Nigeria.
The statement said: “This claim is coming at a time when the NA in collaboration with other security agencies are working hard to ensure a secure, transparent and credible 2019 General Elections in Nigeria is therefore quite worrisome.”