Military high command of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday denied speculations that some serving officers met with one of the presidential candidates of the forthcoming elections. Also, they debunked claims that the officers were planning to disrupt the elections, destabilize the country, incite chaos and violence, as well as provoke a coup d’ etat. These were contained in a statement on Saturday by the acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General, Tukur Gusau. Gusau stressed that those who engage in fabricating and spreading unfounded misinformation about the military will henceforth be invited by the appropriate law enforcement agencies to substantiate their claims.
The statement partly read,” The Armed Forces of Nigeria notes with dismay the story being peddled around by some unscrupulous elements alleging that some military officers met with a Presidential candidate with the aim of disrupting the general elections and setting the country on fire.
The wicked and very malicious propaganda indicated that a so-called Thursday meeting is plotting a Coup d'etat to establish unconstitutional order.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria is disheartened that even politically exposed persons can denigrate themselves into joining agents of destabilisation and violence in making false claims just to heighten tension in the polity.
“It needs to be stated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a professional military that is loyal to the constitution of the Federal Republic and will never be part of any evil plot against our democracy.
“Besides, the Military remains apolitical and neutral in the current political process and will not engage in the alleged shenanigans. The Armed Forces of Nigeria will never be part of any ignoble plot to truncate our hard-earned democracy.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria hereby warn that those who engage in fabricating and spreading unfounded misinformation will be invited by the appropriate law enforcement agencies to substantiate their claims.
“The general public is advised to disregard such information and go about their normal activities. You are please requested to disseminate this information in your medium.”
Femi Fani-Kayode, the Director of Special Projects and New media of the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign council in a tweet accused some senior military officers of secretly meeting with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Abuja and plotting a coup d’etat.
In a series of tweets, the APC chieftain posted, “There are reports that @atiku had a secret meeting with serving military Generals in Abuja on Thursday. If true, it is troubling & has implications. What was the purpose? Why would a presidential candidate be having secret meetings with soldiers 14 days before the election?
“Is this meeting part of the wider agenda to disrupt the elections, destabilise the country, set us on fire, incite chaos and violence, provoke a coup d’etat?”
