The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) added that it stands ready to aid civil authority in assuring free and fair elections in 2023.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has berated the media over reports suggesting that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, said security forces were under pressure to compromise the 2023 elections.
The media had reported that Irabor made the statement during the 61st Session of the State House Briefing, on December 8, 2022.
However, in a rebuttal issued on Saturday, the DHQ said the reports were not just erroneous but false and a deliberate attempt to twist what was said.
The DHQ said: “After the briefing by the Chief of Defence Staff, one of the correspondents asked, ‘You have spoken on military neutrality in times of elections. Specifically, based on what the Commander-in-Chief directed. Just this week, the President gave a directive to the Armed Forces to remain neutral during the 2023 elections. But my worry is that politicians have a way of piling pressure on security forces and we are witnesses to some of the things that occurred in the past exercises. Now, given this kind of scenario, where politicians or political actors try to pile pressure on your men, how far have you prepared to go to ensure that neutrality, as directed by the President, is protected?’”
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“In response, the Chief of Defence Staff said, ‘I am glad you reiterated what the Commander-in-Chief said or his directive to the Armed Forces. I am afraid you said you had to worry. Rather than worry, I would think that trust in our cause (is paramount), why? Of course, in our training, there will always be pressure from all quarters, wanting to induce security forces, not just the military, security forces. That is what criminal enterprise is all about, that is what someone that is wrong is all about. But, what makes the difference is, the professional approach in dealing with the issues, and that is what the military intends to do. That is the reason why we have ramped up our training in that regard. Sensitization, a lot of engagements across formations and units are going on daily. And then, more so, to articulate a Code of Conduct for all our personnel, which has been done and distributed. So, what, why we should act before, during and after the elections? These have been codified in SOPs (Standing Operating Procedures) issued to them. And so, it remains the duty of commanders to ensure the directive as indicated, that the content of SOPs is adhered to by every personnel of the Armed Forces. So, my good friend, please seize from worrying, rather trust and also engage others to trust that we will keep faith with these desires that we have.'”
The DHQ added that it stands ready to aid civil authority in assuring free and fair elections in 2023.
“Already, ongoing military operations all over the country (in collaboration with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies), are creating enabling environment for electioneering campaigns to hold.
“These military operations would be escalated or re-calibrated, when called upon to do so, to support the successful conduct of the 2023 elections. The Defence Headquarters, therefore, seriously frowns on misrepresentation of the military leadership at any forum at this critical time of our nationhood,” DHQ noted.
 added that it stands ready to aid civil authority in assuring free and fair elections in 2023.){kind=link}