The Nigerian Army has accused the National Chairman of National Democratic Party (NDP), Chidi Chukwuanyi, of instigating and inciting men and officers to take arms against the constituted democratic government in the country.
The Defence Head Quarters warned officers, soldiers against mutiny and revolution as contained in Chidi’s statement, emphasizing that soldiers and officers have no business in engaging in mutiny or revolt against constituted civil authorities.
It stressed that all officers and men of the Nigerian Military swore to an oath of allegiance to be totally loyal to the civil authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and protect the constitution.
Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, who issued this warning in a statement today, July 27, said that the oath of allegiance translates to unalloyed loyalty to the President and Commander in Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces and full subordination to the civil authorities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The statement said: “the attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a publication in one of the national Newspapers, captioned ‘Nigeria Needs a Rawlings Now – NDP.
“In this publication, the National Chairman of National Democratic Party (NDP), Chidi Chukwuanyi, says ‘the state of corruption in the country calls for the replication of the Ghanian experience under former President Jerry Rawlings in Nigeria.
“While the Defence Headquarters does not wish to join issues in anyway, it is instructive to observe that this unguided utterance targeted at the Nigerian Military is inciting and instigative.”
General Enenche said that what Chidi Chukwuanyi is calling for is a combination of unpopular acts of insurrection and mutiny, which cannot be taken for granted by the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“Consequently, I am directed by the High Command of the Nigerian Military to let the general public know and remind personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria that All officers and men of the Nigerian Military swore to an oath of allegiance to be totally loyal to the civil authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and protect the constitution. This translates to unalloyed loyalty to the President Commander in Chief and full subordination to the civil authorities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“That all officers and men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria are to continue to abide by the constitutional provision, in Section 217 sub section 2 (c) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, ‘to suppress insurrection and act in aid of civil authorities to restore order’. Any act to the contrary is unconstitutional.”
