(NIGERIA) The Defense Headquarters has warned politicians, including Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, against using the platforms of their campaigns to incite acts of indiscipline in the country’s military establishment.
The warning is coming against the backdrop of criticisms by Amaechi and others, of the sentences passed on soldiers by military court martial for declining orders to fight the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Amaechi is the Director General of the campaign organization of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), who is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A statement issued yesterday night in Abuja by the Director Defence Information, Major General A.C. Olukolade stated: “In view of the series of insinuations, allegations and false claims being made by certain activists and politicians on the legal and disciplinary process in the Nigerian military, the Defence Headquarters finds it necessary to call on politicians to avoid using the forum or medium of their political campaigns to incite or endorse acts of indiscipline in the nation’s military establishments. This call has become necessary as the trend got to another level on Tuesday when a prominent politician declared that, “the soldiers have the right to protest for the Federal Government’s failure to fully equip them.”
Stating that Amaechi or APC ought to have retraced the statement credited to him, Olukolade said: “It was expected that the fellow quoted or his party would have made immediate moves to correct this fallacy or erroneous impression being propagated especially in view of the level of knowledge of his principal and candidate in forthcoming elections. Unfortunately, no such gesture seems to be forthcoming. There is therefore the need to caution against the propagation of this dangerous idea before it causes more problems.”
He stressed that, “For the avoidance of any doubt, the military institution rejects this declaration and its intention in all ramifications. The military law as recognized by the Constitution of the Federation is an appropriate legal document for the management of affairs of the military. The processes it outlines for handling military offences remain legal and will continue to be applied in the interest of the nation’s security and democracy.”
The Defence spokesperson warned that, “Individuals and interest groups seeking to play to the gallery by being meddlesome, sensational or mischievous in interpreting developments in the military are advised to moderate their activities with some decorum. It is clear that the false accusations that depend on unsubstantiated allegations being peddled on the military operations in Nigeria are intended to tarnish the reputation of Nigerian military and its leadership. The campaign apparently aimed at undermining constituted authority in the military must not be encouraged.”
General Olukolade added that, “it is obvious that most of the comments and sensational stories in the media have been oblivious of the fact that the processes are still ongoing and yet to be concluded. The war on terror is not all about equipment but mindset of both the military and the public. Inciting remarks can only compound the situation for all involved.
(REPORT FROM NEWSWATCH TIMES)
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