Defence Headquarters has denied speculations that the military is considering a coup d’état. It said that the military is always the worse victim of armed forces’ rule.
Director of Defence Information, Major- General Jimmy Akpor, said this at the weekend in a statement while reacting to a video where controversial politician, Femi Fani-Kayode, accused the military of professional negligence among others.
Fani-Kayode in the video alleged that the Department of State Security (DSS) had informed the military of the attack on the Kuje Medium Custodial Centre as well as the onslaught on the Kaduna-Abuja train.
He also claimed that the military did nothing about the intelligence but instead withdrew soldiers shortly before the prison attack. He also accused the military of contemplating a coup.
Describing the allegations as wild and unsubstantiated, Gen Akpor said the Nigerian Armed Forces have toiled to sustain and nurture the country’s democracy, and as such cannot be contemplating a coup d’etat.
“Mr Fani-Kayode is also called to refresh himself on the constitutional roles of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. In all, subordination to civil authority, is key.
“It is pertinent to state that, the Nigerian Armed Forces has toiled to sustain and nurture our democracy, hence the same military cannot contemplate a coup de tat, as alluded to by Mr Kayode in his video.
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“The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor has always stressed the unalloyed loyalty of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the President, Commander-in-Chief and the Nigerian Constitution.
“Accordingly, as the 2023 General Elections approach, desperate persons must depart from their evil ways, for never again would they lure the military into their wicked machinations. If a confession must be made, Nigerians must know now: the military is always the worse victim of military rule,” he said.
Akpor, denying all the allegations of Fani-Kayode, said: “In all these allegations, Mr Kayode is merely playing to the gallery. He is not in any position to know whether the DSS notified the military of any attack or not.
“It may not be impossible that such a claim is part of a calculated attempt to cause division and rivalry amongst all Government Agencies that have been working collaboratively in addressing issues of insecurity in the country.
“The claim that soldiers were withdrawn from the Kuje Correctional Custodial Centre before the attack is laughable. It is sad that Mr Kayode is ignorant of whose responsibility it to guard prison.”
Akpor urged the general public to ignore the claims of Fani-Kayode and continue to remain vigilant as well as report suspicious activities promptly to law enforcement agencies for actions.
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