The Nigerian Army has restated its commitment to protect and uphold democracy in Nigeria, saying it “will continue to defend our constitution and not suspend it for whatever reason.”
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who declared this position at a seminar on career planning and management organised by the Army headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, said the Army has no plan to interfere in or truncate democracy in Nigeria.
Addressing participants at the training, Gen. Lagbaja charged officers of the Nigerian Army to remain above board in the discharge of their professional duties.
His words: “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.”
