Following reports making rounds that politicians are hobnobbing with soldiers to overthrow President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, the military leadership has taken the bull by the horn by setting up a secret panel tasked with the job of quizzing officers and soldiers suspected to be behind the alleged coup.
Quoting a military source, the Punch reports that the army sets up the panel which military authorities are referring to as an “administrative machinery”.
Also, the Defense headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja admitted that there might be a coup plot but quickly added that the military is committed to democracy and international best practices required of the military.
“We have set up an administrative machinery, as it were for this matter. It is not good for us at this stage to tell you something that may not be true. Let us allow time for the administrative procedures. Be patient,” The Director, Defence Information, Maj Gen John Enenche, told journalists in Abuja.
He, however, explained that the instruction given by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai was a routine instruction to guard against misconduct.
He said, “It is a command responsibility to caution officers and men on routine basis to conform with the ethics of the military. Hence, this was the caution given by the Army in this case.
“It is pertinent to state that if there are signs of actions likely to breach military code of conduct, warnings are issued with possible investigations following. As such, the mention of coup plots in some quarters is an assertion which is not confirmed.
“I want to assure all Nigerians that the armed forces remain totally loyal to the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in complete subordination to civil rule.
“Furthermore, all fears about a coup should be allayed as the contemporary Nigerian military is abreast with the best international practices in governance, which is democracy.
“In this regard, the military high and other levels of command will continue to ensure effective training and administration to ensure that the armed forces retain its pride of place amongst the military globally.”