Be mindful of your interference in our nation’s internal affairs, Nigeria Army warns UK as it dismisses allegation on Rivers poll as baseless

“The NA, as a responsible organisation, wishes to debunk such misrepresentation in order to set the record straight. Similarly, it is on record that the NA has been globally applauded by many individuals, foreign and local elections observers for its sacrifices/roles in creating an enabling environment for a secure, transparent and peaceful conduct of the elections.  The NA has also drawn the attention of the public to mischievous activities of some selfish individuals who recruited thugs dressed in military uniform and armed to harass and intimidate their opponents.”

The Nigerian Army has reacted to the concerns expressed by the United Kingdom over alleged involvement of military in Rivers during the just concluded governorship election in the state.

It said in a statement by its Acting Director of Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, obtained by The DEFENDER, that the allegation was baseless, even as it reiterates it warning to foreign interests to be mindful of their interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs especially when there is no credible evidence to lay any allegations.

Wondering where the UK got its information from, the Army recalled how it, at an earlier time, called attention of the public to mischievous activities of some selfish individuals recruiting thugs dressed in military uniform and armed to harass and intimidate their opponents at elections.

It also recalled that the UK’s allegation could not have been true if it was the same Nigeria’s election process for which successes the Nigerian Army had been globally applauded by many individuals, foreign and local elections observers “for its sacrifices/roles in creating an enabling environment for a secure, transparent and peaceful conduct of the elections”.

According to the statement, the Army therefore urged foreign interests to be mindful of their interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs especially when there isno credible evidence to so lay any allegations.

It added that any allegation against the Army must be confirmed from appropriate quarters before jumping into conclusions.

The Army then assured members of the public in the country of its determination to objectively carry out its constitutional duties irrespective of the baseless accusations especially from those, it said, that felt it has denied them freedom to illegally and selfishly subvert the choice of Nigerians.

It will recalled Premium Times reported UK’s expressed concern over alleged military involvement in Rivers State election without suggesting how best the level of violent misconducts of players in the election could have been handled in its own society if not to take action within the permissibility of the law.

Read the full text of the Army’s press release:

RE: UK EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN RIVERS POLL

The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to a publication by an online medium that reported accusation against the NA of interference in the Rivers State elections.

The NA wishes to state that the statement is totally baseless, untrue and therefore capable of misleading unsuspected members of the public, especially when there is no credible record of such involvement any where in Nigeria before, during and after the 2019 elections.

The NA, as a responsible organisation, wishes to debunk such misrepresentation in order to set the record straight. Similarly, it is on record that the NA has been globally applauded by many individuals, foreign and local elections observers for its sacrifices/roles in creating an enabling environment for a secure, transparent and peaceful conduct of the elections.

The NA has also drawn the attention of the public to mischievous activities of some selfish individuals who recruited thugs dressed in military uniform and armed to harass and intimidate their opponents. In some cases, as reported, and as indicated in various intelligence reports, – hoodlums dressed in military fatigue snatched ballot boxes and other electoral materials. Some INEC staff were reportedly abducted.

The NA, for the umpteenth time, reiterate that it will remain apolitical, neutral and professional in the conduct of the 2019 general election and in all its assigned roles across the nation in line with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen TY Buratai.

The NA has made it clear that its only interest and role in the entire electioneering processes is purely to assist civil authority and the Nigerian Police to have a secure and peaceful conduct of the elections.

Foreign interests are therefore enjoined to be mindful of interfering in our national internal affairs especially when there is no credible evidence. Any allegation against the NA must be confirmed from appropriate quarters before jumping to conclusions.

Members of the public are further assured of the determination of the NA to objectively carry out its constitutional duties irrespective of the baseless accusations especially from those who felt it has denied them freedom to illegally and selfishly subvert the choice of Nigerians.

As a noble institution, the NA, hereby, reassure members of the public of its determination to deal with any of its personnel whose actions fall foul of the law.

SAGIR MUSA
Colonel
Acting Director Army Public Relations