The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Saturday dismissed a coup d’état allegation made by former minister of Aviation Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode.
Fani-Kayode had in a viral video on social media after the attack on Kuje correctional facility and other terrorist attacks, accused the military of planning to truncate the current democratic dispensation.
But the military in a statement by Director Defence Information (DDI) Maj.-Gen Jimmy Akpor, said it remains loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Constitution.
He said miltary has toiled to sustain and nurture the current democracy, the same military cannot contemplate a Coup d’état, as alluded to by Mr Kayode in his video.
“Mr Fani-Kayode is also called to refresh himself on the constitutional roles of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. In all, subordination to civil authority is key. It is pertinent to state that, the Nigerian Armed Forces has toiled to sustain and nurture our democracy, hence the same military cannot contemplate a Coup d’état, as alluded to by Mr Kayode in his video.
“The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor has always stressed the unalloyed loyalty of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the President, Commander-in-Chief and the Nigerian Constitution. Accordingly, as the 2023 General Elections approach, desperate persons must depart from their evil ways, for never again would they lure the military into their wicked machinations. If a confession must be made, Nigerians must know now: the military is always the worst victim of military rule.”
The military high command also denied claims by Fani-Kayode that the Department of State Security (DSS) informed the military about the attack on Kuje Custodial Centre, attack on the Kaduna – Abuja rail service and the allegation that soldiers were withdrawn shortly before the prison attack, describing it attempt to create rivalry amongst security agencies.
He said: “In all these allegations, Mr Kayode is merely playing to the gallery. He is not in any position to know whether the DSS notified the military of any attack or not. It may not be impossible that such a claim is part of a calculated attempt to cause division and rivalry amongst all Government Agencies that have been working collaboratively in addressing issues of insecurity in the country.
“The claim that soldiers were withdrawn from the Kuje Correctional Custodial Centre before the attack is laughable. It is sad that Mr Kayode is ignorant of whose responsibility it is to guard prison.”
General Akpor also denied allegation that the military took no action on the recent Shiroro terrorists’ attack, which resulted in the death of some soldiers, policemen and civilians.
According to him, this is also an attempt to smear the military and create bad blood between service personnel and the military high command.
“Finally, in a miserable attempt to malign the leadership of the military, Mr Kayode gave the impression that, while junior military commanders and non-commissioned officers are working hard, senior commanders are doing nothing.
“This is sheer ignorance and nothing more. Mr Kayode is completely oblivious of the fact that in the military, orders, instructions and directives are issued from the hierarchy to the lower rungs of command. Therefore, junior commanders cannot be working hard while their superiors are idle,” he said.