The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to upholding and defending the nation’s nascent democracy.
Gen Lagbaja stated that the Nigerian Army has no intention of undermining democracy and will continue to play its role under the constitution.
Speaking at the seminar of the Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary in Abuja, Gen Lagbaja emphasized that the military has to defend the constitution and support elected leaders.
He urged officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to maintain professionalism and adhere to the principles enshrined in the constitution while discharging their duties.
“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,” Gen Lagbaja said.
He further stated, “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.”
When the constitution and democracy is working, there no need of truncating or suspending it. But when and where the it’s not working, it’s better to be truncated than to have a failed state. However, we know our politicians have gotten ways of subjecting the arms forces, so that they would not overthrown them even things are not working.