…Says CDS ‘quoted out of context
The Defence Headquarters of the Nigerian Army has dismissed reports that it is under pressure to scuttle the 2023 general elections, noting that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, was quoted out of context.
Recall that Irabor had at the 61st session of the State House Ministerial Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Aso Villa, Abuja, said military personnel were always facing pressure through inducements, but that the armed forces would remain apolitical.
However, the Defence Headquarters, in an issued statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Jimmy Akpor, said the statement of the CDS was misinterpreted.
In an issued statement, Major-General Akpor debunked the attributed reports, describing it as false and a deliberate or inadvertent attempt to twist what was said, to convey a sinister meaning.
Part of the statement reads: The Defence Headquarters however, wishes to say categorically that, this impression is not only erroneous, but false and a deliberate or inadvertent attempt to twist what was said, to convey a sinister meaning.
The Defence Headquarters chose to err on the side of verbosity by transcribing the entire response by the Chief of Defence Staff so that everyone can see the quantum misrepresentation of the Chief of Defence Staffs comments during the briefing.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria however, stands ready to aid civil authority in assuring free and fair 2023 elections.
The statement further added that, Already, ongoing military operations all over the country (in collaboration with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies), are creating an 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.
