The Defence Headquarters has warned soldiers against any plots to overthrow President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, while debunking claims in some quarters of a plan to topple the democratically elected administration.
A statement by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu in Abuja, made this known on Monday.
The Military high command warned the soldiers against contemplating a coup because it is a treasonable offence.
The statement read: “The attention of the military high command has been drawn to a statement purported to have been made by one Robert Clark SAN, suggesting that current political leadership should hand over power to the military for the purpose of restructuring.
The Nigerian Military wishes to dissociate itself from such anti-democratic utterance and position.
“Let it be stated categorically that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to the present administration and all associated democratic institutions.
“We shall continue to remain apolitical, subordinate to the civil authority, firmly loyal to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and the 1999 Constitution as Amended.
We shall continue to discharge our constitutional responsibilities professionally, especially in protecting the country’s democracy, defence of the territorial integrity of the country as well as protection of lives and properties of citizens.
The Military High Command wishes to use this opportunity to warn misguided politicians who nurse the inordinate ambition to rule this country outside the ballot box to banish such thoughts as the military under the current leadership remain resolute in the defence of Nigeria’s democracy and its growth.
“We also wish to remind all military personnel that it is treason to even contemplate this illegality. The full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any personnel found to collude with people having such agenda.
“The current security challenges are not insurmountable. The Armed Forces of Nigeria in partnership with other security agencies are working assiduously to ameliorate the challenge. Nigeria will know peace again. Please be warned!”
