Nigeria’s Democracy: CDS Musa reiterates military’s commitment
By Matthew Atungwu
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa has said that the military will defend the nation’s democracy and emphasized that coups would not be accepted there.
Musa stated this on Wednesday while addressing operatives of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, as part of his visit to military formations in Rivers State.
Along with other top military leaders, the CDS officially opened a number of projects, including the 47 Engineering Brigade Counter-Improvised Explosives Device Squadron, 29 Battalion Magazine, two streets bearing his name, and others built by Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdulsalam, Commander of 6 Division.
While pledging the loyalty of the military to President Bola Tinubu, Musa commended him for his continued support and said the military remained dedicated to its task of protecting the nation and its citizens from internal subversion and external aggression
Musa stated, “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 Niger.
“I know that is a lot of apprehension. I want to assure everyone that the Arm Forces of Nigeria is dedicated and committed to ensuring, securing, supporting, and standing by democracy. We stand by democracy.
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“You saw that ECOWAS was very decisive in the decision taken against the coup plotters and we want to assure Nigerians that nothing like a 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.”
On the forth-coming off-season elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states, Musa said no form of intimidation, violence, and stealing of ballot boxes would be tolerated by the military, noting that the era where such malfeasance held sway was over.
He said, “On the issue of election, you know three states will be having off-season elections. We are ensuring of providing adequate security. We want the elections to be credible, free, and fair to enable every voter to come out without being scared or 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.”
He also warned oil thieves, pipeline vandals, and other criminal elements to desist, stressing that the military has the capacity to deal with them.
“The President has equally approved some funds for us to buy enablers to assist us in fighting this menace of crude oil theft, criminality and we are going to leverage a lot on technology.
“That will give us a lot of leverage and we want to appeal to those criminals doing those things that we are coming after them but it is good and wise for them to stop.
“The military is dedicated and committed to ensuring that we restore peace. We want the crude production in Nigeria to grow so that Nigeria can enjoy the dividends of democracy,” he said.