The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has vowed that the military will not heed calls for the overthrow of the government of President Bola Tinubu.
Lagbaja made this statement on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the COAS Combined 2nd and 3rd Quarters Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
According to him, the calls for military intervention are mainly coming from young Nigerians who did not experience the era of Nigeria’s extensive military rule. He said the Nigerian Army has built a new prestige over the past 25 years by allowing safe democratic rule and will not allow itself to be used to undemocratically bring some interests to power.
“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,” he said.
Lagbaja highlighted the support the military has received from the government, citing the recent purchase of two Bell UH-1 Huey helicopters equipped with advanced sensors and enablers. He also mentioned the welfare of widows and family members of fallen heroes, which remains on course.
The Army Chief also addressed the recent nationwide hunger protest, stating that it was an eye-opener that food and social security issues can snowball into physical security challenges. He pledged the Army’s resolve to review its agricultural policy and provide security cover for farmers in critical farming communities.
Furthermore, Lagbaja revealed that the Nigerian Army has acquired other combat enablers, such as Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, rifles, and ammunition, to strengthen operations and security across the country.