President Bola Tinubu has urged the Nigerian Army to avoid actions that could threaten Nigeria’s democracy. He made this plea during the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna on Saturday, as conveyed by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale.
In his address, President Tinubu emphasized the army’s constitutional role in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity. He urged them to steer clear of any actions that could harm the nation’s well-being or undermine the democratic progress achieved over the past two decades.
While honoring fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for Nigeria’s security, President Tinubu stressed that the fight against Nigeria’s enemies is ongoing. He called on the Nigerian Army to intensify efforts in combating insecurity, which has hindered the country’s peace and development.
President Tinubu’s plea to the Nigerian Army is significant amidst a wave of coup d’états across the continent. In recent years, several African countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Sudan, Niger Republic, and Gabon, have experienced military takeovers citing reasons such as corruption, insecurity, and poverty.
Nigeria itself has a history of coups from 1966 to 1993, driven by issues like widespread corruption, electoral fraud, violence, poverty, and insecurity. The country transitioned back to democracy in 1999.
Peoples Gazette