The National Civil Society Coalition in Defence of Democracy has warned a retired Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General (Name withheld ) to refrain from his current push to drag the Nigerian Army into the rigging plot being orchestrated by Osun APC.
The coalition, in a statement jointly signed by Comrade Jude Osekede and Olusegun Fasakin, alleged that the retired general was attempting to influence the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Navy in a manner that could favour the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The Retired Lt General is trying to negatively influence the conduct of the Nigerian Airforce, Navy and Army in the Osun State Governorship Election
“We learnt from various reliable sources that General wants the Military to allow APC thugs to disrupt the election in Accord Party Strongholds.
“The retired General wants to rubbish the hard earned integrity and image of the Nigerian Airforce, Navy and Army.This move by the Retired Lt General is unfortunate and shameful.
The coalition quoted a credible intelligence report which revealed that the retired general is pushing to get the Army to support APC thugs who have killed more than 15 Osun residents with over 50 receiving treatment for gun injuries.
“We have credible reports retired military man is lobbying the military authorities to compromise the Army personnel already deployed to Osun by changing their operational instruction.
While the deployed soldiers were under instruction to stop any group from unleashing violence on voters on Saturday, the Retired Lt General is reportedly pressuring the military authorities to allow the soldiers to look the other way while the thugs disrupt the Saturday elections.
It was learnt that the Retired Lt General has been putting the military authorities under intense pressure to allow the politicisation of the military during the Osun election without any success.
We call on the retired General not to drag military into partisan politics and rubbish the good names of the military authorities.
We also appeal to serving officers to be wary of retired officers who may want to lure them into anti- democracy, unlawful activities as such may negatively affect their careers.
“We task the officers and men of the military to remain above board and ensure strict maintenance of law and order for the holding of a free and fair elections.
“What the nation wants and what constitutional democracy prescribes is free and fair election and this is what all security agencies should abide with.”
