The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday, broke its silence over rumours of a coup plot in the country, disclosing that it had set up an administrative machinery to look into the matter.
The military, however, assured that it remained committed to democracy, according to international best practices.
The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, spoke on the coup rumour at a briefing, where he was flanked by the Directors of Information of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Navy.
A week ago, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, raised the alarm that some Nigerians had been approaching soldiers for some “undisclosed political reasons.”
Buratai had warned that any officer or soldier caught hobnobbing with politicians would not be spared.
The COAS had also advised officers and soldiers interested in politics to resign from the army.
The alarm by the army chief had, in the last one week, created fears in the country with several civil society ogranisations, groups and notable Nigerians warning the military against truncating democracy.
A military source, however, said on Wednesday that the Army had, since last week, set up a panel to questions officers and soldiers suspected to be involved in the romance with politicians.
Enenche said, “We have set up an administrative machinery, as it were, for this matter. It is not good for us at this stage to tell you something that may not be true. Let us allow time for the administrative procedures. Be patient.”
The DDI also reiterated that the armed forces remained loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief, adding that it was committed to working for the sustenance of democracy.
The defence spokesman further explained that the alarm raised by the COAS was a “routine instruction” to guard against misconduct.
“It is a command responsibility to caution officers and men on routine basis to conform to the ethics of the military. Hence, this was the caution given by the Army in this case.
“It is pertinent to state that if there are signs of actions likely to breach military code of conduct, warnings are issued with possible investigations following. As such, the mention of coup plots in some quarters is an assertion which is not confirmed.
“I want to assure all Nigerians that the armed forces remain totally loyal to the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in complete subordination to civil rule.
“Furthermore, all fears about a coup should be allayed as the contemporary Nigerian military is abreast with the best international practices in governance, which is democracy.
“In this regard, the military high and other levels of command will continue to ensure effective training and administration to ensure that the armed forces retain its pride of place amongst the military globally.”
