Some Politicians Have Made Plans To Use All Means Available To Truncate The Peaceful Conduct Of The Elections – Nigerian Army

Some Politicians Have Made Plans To Use All Means Available To Truncate The Peaceful Conduct Of The Elections – Nigerian Army

The Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has said that
military intelligence revealed that some politicians are planning to
perpetrate acts of violence including bombings and assassinations to
disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections.  

Buratai said the army “must not allow them to succeed.”  The army
chief stated this on Wednesday in his opening remarks at a strategic
meeting with Principal Staff Officers, General Officers Commanding and
field commanders at the army headquarters in Abuja, ahead of Saturday’s
governorship and house of assembly elections.  

Buratai said during the February 23 Presidential and National
Assembly elections, some level of violence was recorded leading to
“disruption of polls, burning of ballot boxes in some areas as well as
loss of lives, including the death of an officer and three soldiers.”  

See his full speech below…

Once again let me welcome you all to another expanded weekly meeting
as done 2 weeks ago. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate you
all for the professional manner in which you executed my directives for
Operation SAFE CONDUCT. The proactive intervention of NA in the recently
concluded Presidential and National Assembly Elections contributed
greatly to its successful conduct and credibility.

I am glad to note that both international and local observers and
indeed the Nigeria print and electronic media applauded the professional
role played by the Nigerian Army in ensuring that a secure and
conducive environment was created for eligible voters to exercise their
civic rights.

Unfortunately, some level of violence was still recorded leading to
disruption of polls, burning of ballot boxes in some areas as well as
loss of lives, including the death of an officer and 3 soldiers. The
Nigerian Army to a larger extent ensured that the large scale electoral
malpractices and acts of thuggery aimed at disenfranchising voters as
witnessed in previous elections were curbed despite the campaign of
calumny orchestrated by some politicians against us.

2. Overall, I am delighted to note that the first phase of Operation
SAFE CONDUCT was a huge success. Despite the bomb explosion in some
parts of Maiduguri and attack in Geidam, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE
were able to decisively defeat the attacks and secured the area for a
successful conduct of elections. We must therefore consolidate on this
success and prepare adequately for the second phase of the election by
reviewing our plans with a view to correcting observed lapses a peaceful
poll that will reflect the wishes of Nigerians that have the right to
determine those that govern them.

3. Recent security threat assessment and analysis of the coming
elections showed that politicians have made plans to use all means
available to truncate the peaceful conduct of the elections. There are
indications of their intent to take advantage of and to use the
farmers/herders crisis, armed political thugs and ethnic militias to
perpetrate acts of violence including bombings. Some of them also intend
to infiltrate domestic staff of political opponents, employ mercenaries
to carry out acts of assassinations, use the social media for smear
campaigns, hate speeches and spread fake news in a bid to disrupt the
peaceful conduct of the elections. We must not allow them succeed.

4. Let me reiterate that the NA will enforce all guidelines in
support of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the peaceful conduct of
the elections in line with its constitutional roles. I therefore want to
remind us all not to rest on our oars. We shall not allow those who are
determined to undermine our electoral process to succeed. These
forthcoming gubernatorial and state assembly elections are very crucial.
This is an election that touches on the interest of the people at the
grassroots and could likely be volatile in nature. It is important to
reiterate that politicians will employ and deploy all means to outwit
each other to gain control of power at this level. We may recall that in
the recently concluded polls, some politicians in their quest for
power, armed thugs and miscreants with automatic weapons; induced and
coerced youth corpers and INEC ad-hoc staff to perpetrate acts of
electoral malpractices. We must therefore continue to support the NPF
and other security agencies to prevent these malpractices from occurring
again. I therefore urge all commanders to work assiduously and closely
with the civil authorities and all law abiding individuals as well as
groups to ensure the success of the forthcoming elections.

5. During the course of the recently concluded elections, troops of
the Nigerian Army were able to make arrests of persons who perpetrated
acts of electoral offences. These suspects are to be immediately
handover to the police for prosecution. I want to state and
categorically warn that the Nigerian Army will not tolerate any acts
that will undermine national security. This time around we shall be
tough on those who plan to rig or disrupt the electoral process. I
therefore want to appeal to Nigerian youths to shun any attempt by any
politician to use them to perpetrate any form of violence. As we mourn
the death of the young officer and soldiers killed on the course of
their lawful duty during the recently held election, I want to assure
their families that their death will not be in vain. In line with the
tradition of the Nigerian Army they will be given heroic burial as they
are indeed the heroes of our democracy. I have directed that their full
entitlements be paid. Let no one be in doubt that those desperate
politicians and criminals that attacked our troops in the course of
carrying out their legitimate duties will be tracked down and brought to
justice.

6. We have all seen the advantages of the NA Situation Room for
Elections Security Monitoring. This laudable innovation to security
monitoring has received accolades from different quarters and already
promoting inter-agency cooperation. There is no doubt it assisted us in
timely decision making and more timely response to situations. I want to
urge all commanders to further key into the platform. As we take
decisions and respond, we must have at the back of our mind that the
army must remain professional and apolitical all through the electoral
process.

7. There have been reports of alleged compromises by some personnel
during the elections. We have received complaints from some
stakeholders, major political parties, Governors of Bayelsa, Oyo and
Ogun States of allegation of misconduct as well as unprofessional
conduct by some of our personnel. Unfortunately some other states have
gone to the press with unsubstantiated allegation without resort to the
NA leadership. Nonetheless, all these complaints are noted and will be
addressed appropriately. A high powered committee had been convened and
instituted to investigate all cases of alleged misconduct by troops
arising from the 2019 General Elections. This is aimed at ensuring that
all cases are thoroughly looked into for the purpose of dispensation of
justice and to uphold Nigerian Army’s credibility, professionalism and
apolitical stand.

8. Once again let me reiterate my charge to you concerning this election:

a. Commanders must be vigilant to ensure that cases of infiltrations to scare off voters are not allowed.

b. Hobnobbing and fraternization with politicians during this election period is totally prohibited.

c. Commanders must ensure robust and extensive patrols are carried
out to cover all flash points; enforce the no movement restrictions and
carryout thorough searches of vehicles and persons.

d. Commanders must deal decisively with any electoral crime or action
such as electoral thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes, illegal
possession of electoral materials and firearms as well as other crimes
that would mar the smooth conduct of the election.

e. There must be no military escort for any politician or retired military personnel until after the elections.

f. Commanders must ensure that no retired military officer is allowed
to use Service weapons hitherto authorised for their personal safety
during the period of the election.

g. Commanders must ensure that troops remain on ground to counter and deal ruthlessly with any post-election violence.

h. Commanders must work in conjunction with the police and other
security agencies to dominate the environment to forestall any form of
violence.

i. Commanders must maintain force protect and respond decisively to
prevent any surprise attack on troops of Operation SAFE CONDUCT and
eligible voters by armed militia groups or political thugs.

j. Commanders must act according to the Rules of Engagement and
within the code of conduct as well as have respect for fundamental human
rights in the performance of their assigned roles.

k. Commanders must not take any unlawful orders from any politician
no matter how highly placed that will jeopardize the apolitical stand of
the Nigerian Army.

l. Commanders must ensure troops under their command remain
apolitical, neutral and should deal ruthlessly with electoral law
breakers as well as avoid compromise with any politician and political
party.

9. Finally, I want to seize this opportunity to thank all
well-meaning Nigerians for their support to the Nigerian Army. Our
Situation Room and hot line contact numbers are open for timely passage
of information. We urge them to take advantage of the facilities. I want
to assure Nigerians that we are more than committed to ensuring the
successful conduct of the election. In the words of Sun Tzu I quote “The
general is the safeguard of the state. If the safeguard is flawed, the
State is surely weak”. The Nigerian Army must therefore work to keep the
promise to our nation and make it strong by ensuring that the election
is free of all forms of violence. We must therefore strive to make a
difference. On this note, I want to also most sincerely thank His
Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, for giving the Nigerian Army
the opportunity to exercise its constitutional role without any bias or
interference. We must therefore remain totally committed to the defence
of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I wish you all a
successful conduct of Operation SAFE CONDUCT and a violence free
election. Thank you all and God bless.