Nigerian Military Assures Nigerians they would sustain Peace

Major General Olukolade said the military would continue to support Nigeria’s democracy

The Nigerian military has reiterated its commitment to its duty in working to ensure the sustenance of peace, law, order and stability before, during and after the forthcoming elections.

In a statement, the spokesman for the military, Major General Chris Olukolade, expressed the military’s concerns about the tension being generated in certain quarters with regards to the roles of the Nigerian military in the ongoing political activities and recent developments especially in relation to the electioneering programmes in Nigeria.

A part of the statement reads: “It has become necessary to reassure Nigerians that the military will remain professional, apolitical and non-partisan in all operations or activities related to this crucial exercise while also working with all security agencies and stakeholders in the process”.
Major General Olukolade appreciated Nigerians who have remained calm and have showed understanding of the peculiarity of the security challenges being managed by the armed forces at a period he described as auspicious.

He said the military was aware that the nation’s larger interest and security were sacrosanct and beyond any political expediency or ulterior consideration.

One of the leading political parties in Nigeria, the All Progress Congress (APC) had accused the  military high command of being in a dangerous alliance with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP) to subvert the democratic will of the people.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Monday, the APC Chairman, John Oyegun, also accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party of planning with the military to intimidate voters in APC states to rig elections in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Still bitterly disappointed that the elections were postponed, the opposition party, while alleging a conspiracy between the Nigerian military and the President, also warned that a constitutional crisis might be brewing.
On Sunday, the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) warned that the party would not tolerate any further postponement of the elections from March 28 and April 11.

Buhari perceived the election postponement to be as a result of pressure from the opposition. “It is important to note that although INEC acted within its constitutional powers, it is clear that it has been boxed into a situation where it had to bow to pressure,” he said.