The CDS acknowledged that the coups in countries around Nigeria had caused some apprehension but assured that there was nothing to worry about.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, has ruled out possibilities of military rule in Nigeria, in contrast to developments across neighbouring West African countries.
Musa rather assured of the commitment and dedication of the armed forces to securing and protecting democracy in the country.
He further commended President Bola Tinubu for all his support to the military saying they would continue to be dedicated in doing their job.
The CDS spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, November 1, during his visit to the troops of 6 Division Nigerian Army and other military formations in the state.
Musa, who was accompanied by senior military officers, inaugurated many projects such as the 47 Engineering Brigade Counter Improvised Explosives Device Squadron, 29 Battalion Magazine, two streets named after him among others constructed by the Commander 6 Divison, Maj.- Gen. Jamal Abdulsalam.
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He insisted that the military would continue to protect the integrity of the country and to defend her citizens.
He said: “I am in Port Harcourt to visit the troops to see how they are doing, interact with them and to commend them for job well done and to encourage them to continue to do more.
“We know we have a number of challenges within the country and Rivers State is not excluded. It is just a way to tell them that we are together and to hear directly from them.
“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”.
The CDS acknowledged that the coups in countries around Nigeria had caused some apprehension but assured that there was nothing to worry about.
He said: “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 a number of coups in countries around Nigeria, we have Burkina Faso, Mali and and Niger.
“I know that is a lot of apprehensions. I want to assure everyone that the Arm Forces of Nigeria is dedicated and committed in ensuring and securing and supporting and standing by democracy. We stand by democracy.
“You saw that ECOWAS was very decisive on the decision taken against the coup plotters and we want to assure Nigerians that nothing like 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”.
Musa warned criminals, oil thieves and pipeline vandals to desist from their nefarious activities saying the President had increased the capacity of the military to deal with them.
He said the military would leverage on technology to deal with the challenges to ensure peace and increased crude oil production.
He said: “The military is dedicated and committed in ensuring that we restore peace. We want the crude production in Nigeria to grow so that Nigeria can enjoy the dividends of democracy”.
Speaking on off-season elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states, the CDS said the military would not tolerate any form of intimidation, violence and stealing of ballot boxes saying that such era was gone.
The CDS stressed; “We are assuring of providing adequate security. We want the elections to be credible, free and fair to enable every voter come out without being scared or being intimidated by anyone.
“We are warning all those that are used to doing it 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.”