The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya has assured President Muhammadu Buhari of the Army’s commitment to his government and the 1999 Constitution amidst the fear of a possible military coup in Nigeria ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Bellnewsonline reports that the COAS assured that the Army would provide the necessary security assistance to ensure the successful conduct of the forthcoming polls on Tuesday.
Yahaya’s assurance came weeks after the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris while receiving Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the White House said it feels “very strongly” about the need for Nigeria to sustain its democratic rule to serve as an example to its African counterparts.
Kamala acknowledged Nigeria’s efforts in “tackling the democratic backsliding that they have been seeing in West Africa”, adding that the country “must remain a bastion of democracy for West Africa.”
In apparent response to fears being expressed from different quarters about Nigeria’s democracy, Lt. Gen. Yahaya assured that the military will provide a secure environment for the conduct of the 2023 general election through ‘Operation Safe Conduct’.
He noted, they are committed to discharging its constitutional responsibilities, as they are constantly reviewing its Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct for officers and soldiers that would be deployed during the general elections.
“I want to assure of the unalloyed loyalty of the officers and soldiers to the President, Commander-in-Chief, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the Army Chief declared on Tuesday at the opening of the 3rd Quarter COAS Conference 2022 in Abuja.
Yahaya further directed all Army commanders to ensure that all personnel deployed for security duties during the election period were given personal copies and educated on the guidelines provided in the document.