The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has asked officers and soldiers to be ready to comply with the order handed out to them by President Muhammadu Buhari on the Saturday Presidential election in the country or get ready to resign.
He emphasized that those whose loyalty to the Nigerian state is still in doubt should quietly tender their resignations on or before Friday, 22 February 2019.
The army chief, who gave the order during a meeting with army commanders at the Army Headquarters in Abuja today, Wednesday, stressed: ”should any officer or soldier have doubts as to his loyalty to the Nigerian State as presently constituted, such a person has up to 22 February 2019 to resign.
“There is no room for indiscipline or disobedience to lawful orders in the Nigeria Army today.
”I want to remind all of you here present that the act of electoral thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes, illegal possession of elections materials and similar crimes are intended to mar an election and create deliberate avenues for post-election violence and mayhem. Such actions can also become more damaging when they are widespread, leading to destruction of lives and properties.
“Incidences of this nature in previous elections are often planned and orchestrated by politicians and the Nigerian Army have hitherto been very cautious in its approach. However, this time around the Nigerian Army will adopt a proactive posture that ensures that similar incidences do not even arise.
“Accordingly, in addition to my earlier directives to you in the last Operations Conference, I wish to lay emphasis on the following actions that all commanders are to abide by:
“Commanders must deal decisively with any electoral crime or action that would be inimical to National Security.”
“Commanders are to ensure that they and their personnel do not hobnob with politicians at any level. In this regard, there will be no military escort for any politician and all NA personnel are to stay clear of retired military officers especially those who are now politicians until after the elections.
”Commanders are to conduct extensive patrols within their AORs. They must ensure that all flash points within the area are dominated.”
