The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, stated on Tuesday that his service’s personnel have embraced the democratic system of government in the country and have no intention of overthrowing it.
Lagbaja referred to the Nigerian Army personnel under his command as supporters of democracy.
His remarks come after several accusations of potential coups involving the military.
These accusations were sparked by military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic.
Despite these claims, the military has consistently denied any involvement in such actions.
Addressing a seminar for Nigerian Army officers in Abuja, Lagbaja emphasized that the Army is committed to upholding the Constitution.
The Army Chief reassured that soldiers will continue to fulfill their duties as outlined in the Constitution.
He said, “Permit me to seize this opportunity to reiterate that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, particularly the Nigerian Army, has come to terms with the country’s choice of democracy as the preferred system of governance. We are, therefore, agents of democracy and have no desire to truncate it.
“The Nigerian Army will continue to defend our constitution and not suspend it for whatever reason. It is the duty of our elected leaders to lead while the military does its job as enshrined in our constitution. Nigerian Army personnel must therefore remain professional and be above board as they discharge their constitutional duties.”
In February, General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, warned that those advocating for a coup in Nigeria are considered enemies of the country and will face legal consequences.
The military had previously disclosed that there were pressures from unidentified sources to overthrow the government due to ongoing security challenges.
However, Musa assured that the Armed Forces are fully prepared and committed to safeguarding democracy in the nation.
He made these remarks during a press conference after unveiling the main entrance of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, and Officers Transit Accommodation at the Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
