The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja on Tuesday said that the Nigerian military will not allow itself to be undemocratically used to push the interest of some people.
He stated that they would not heed calls to overthrow democratically elected government.
Lagbaja argued that those calling for military takeover are youngsters who have never experienced military rule.
He stated this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the COAS Combined 2nd and 3rd Quarters Conference, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
He stressed that the Nigerian Army was not ready to lose the “new prestige” it has painstakingly built in the past 25 years by allowing safe democratic rule.
According to him, “The Nigerian Army will not allow itself to be used to undemocratically sail some interests to power. As the Service that received the most image bashing as a fallout of previous military interventions in Nigeria,
“The Nigerian Army is not poised to losing the new prestige it has painstakingly built in the past 25 years,secure, and united.”
Lagbaja noted that the Nigerian Army and its sister services have continued to receive support from the government at both the national and sub-national levels as shown in the recent purchase of 2 BELL UH-1 Huey Helicopters equipped with advanced sensors and enablers to conduct a range of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, logistics and medical evacuation, among other functions.
He added that welfare of widows and family members of fallen heroes remains on course.
On the fallout of the recent nationwide hunger protest, the Army Chief stated that the situation was an eye opener that as an Armed Force, they should not only focus on physical security and defense of the nation but that food and social security issues can snowball into physical security challenges.
