Stop dragging military into politics, Group urges politicians
isaac aregbesola October 19, 2022 3 min read
By Sumaila Ogbaje
National Democratic Coalition (NDC) has condemned alleged attempts by some mischievous elements to drag the Nigerian armed forces into politics.
The coalition stated this in a statement issued by its President, Abdulazeez Lamido and Secretary, Ogbonaya Ude, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The group said it strongly condemned the three similar videos with different sound tracks in circulation, purportedly depicting that personnel of the Nigerian military were supporting or rejecting certain presidential candidates.
It asked the security agencies to go after the producers of the videos and bring them to book.
The group said it was disturbed that some elements had made themselves willing tools to cause disaffection in the polity, at a time when the country was preparing for the 2023 general elections.
This, according to the group, is coming at a time the armed forces is doing everything within its capacity to deal with the security challenges in the country.
"We have no option but to agree that the producers of the videos are working in tandem with enemies of the country.
"Obviously, they are angry with the manner the military has gone out to tackle criminal elements," it said.
The group said that the videos were clearly created to show the military as being partisan, preparatory to the 2023 general elections.
It added that it was curious that the videos were released a few days after calls for the sack of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, over the destruction of illegal bunkering vessel.
According to the group, the enemies of Nigeria want to launch attack on AFN from different angles.
"We are aware that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has pledged the loyalty of the military leadership to democratic rule in the country.
"During a media chat, tagged: 'Open Ears Dialogue', the CDS urged politicians to desist from luring armed forces members into political matters, saying that the military should be insulated from any political persuasions or inclinations.
"The CDS also warned politicians to leave the military out of issues that have to do with politics and do not use political inclinations and persuasions to want to lure members of the armed forces into the idea of having to undertake coups and all.
"We urged Nigerians to disregard the videos and support the armed forces to win the various battles against criminals.
"This is not time to distract our troops who are engaged in the different theatres of operations. We must support them win the war and return the country to the path of peace," they said.
The group described the videos as the handiwork of disgruntled elements, threatened by the successes of the military which had made themselves willing tools to cause disaffection.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that three video clips with same scene but different sound tracks were being circulated online, depicting military personnel dancing to music purportedly supporting or disapproving three different presidential candidates.
The first video clip consciously portrayed the troops making merry and dancing to music purportedly in celebration and open endorsement of one presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections.
The second video clip (with the same visuals as the first one) showed the troops supposedly dancing to a derogatory song that insulted the personality of another presidential candidate.
The third one showed the troops singing and dancing in approval of another candidate. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by 'Wale Sadeeq
Tags: Campaign Military Politics
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