Nigerian Army has disowned a statement credited to the Defence Headquarters warning soldiers against overthrowing the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Director, Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu said that its loyalty to the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and President Buhari has never been in doubt hence it has fully subordinated herself to civil authority.
Nwachukwu disowned a publication attributed to him about “Defence Headquarters warning soldiers against overthrowing Buhari’s regime”, saying that the Army will continue to stand unwaveringly in defence of the nation’s democracy.
The statement reads, “The Directorate of Army Public Relations has been notified of an online story making the rounds, with the caption, “Defence Headquarters warns soldiers against overthrowing Buhari’s regime” published on November 13, 2021, by a certain online news medium”.
“The said publication, which was riddled with outrageous lies and fabrications claimed that the “Defence Headquarters has denounced a call for the military to take over the reins of power”.
“The only reason why this grossly unprofessional and blatantly irresponsible report is receiving any attention is the attribution of the false statement to the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu.
“The authors of the story must be the only news reporters who do not know that Army Spokesman does not speak for the Defence Headquarters.
“However, for the sake of clarity and to keep the records straight, we wish to state that at no time did the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu issue any statement on the subject matter.
“It is therefore a figment of their imagination, which did not in any way emanate from Brig Gen Nwachukwu.
“In any case, officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army do not need to be “warned against overthrowing Buhari’s government” as their loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces has never been in doubt.
“The Nigerian Army is a reputable national and patriotic institution that has fully subordinated herself to civil authority, having stood unwaveringly in defence of the nation’s democracy.
“The NA will continue to be steadfast in defending Nigeria’s constitution and the much-cherished democracy by providing aid to the civil authority, whenever it is called upon to so do.”
Meanwhile, the US Government has been asked to designate President Muhammadu Buhari and several other officials as sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria.