Atiku Not Meeting With Military To Plan Coup – Nigerian Army; Says Allegation Wicked

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Military has once again reiterated neutrality of its officers and members in the forthcoming polls and as well doused tension over possible military coup.

Tukur Gusau, a Brigadier General and Acting Director, Defence Information, in a statement debunked the purported meeting by some officers with the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar sometimes last week.

The allegation of the purported meeting was made by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode.

The statement reads “The Armed Forces of Nigeria notes with dismay the story being peddled around by some unscrupulous elements alleging that some military officers met with a Presidential candidate with the aim of disrupting the general elections and setting the country on fire.

“The wicked and very malicious propaganda indicated that a so-called Thursday meeting is plotting a Coup d’etat to establish unconstitutional order.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria is disheartened that even politically exposed persons can denigrate themselves into joining agents of destabilisation and violence in making false claims just to heighten tension in the polity.

“It needs to be stated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a professional military that is loyal to the constitution of the Federal Republic and will never be part of any evil plot against our democracy.

“Besides, the Military remains apolitical and neutral in the current political process and will not engage in the alleged shenanigans.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will never be part of any ignoble plot to truncate our hard-earned democracy.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria hereby warn that those who engage in fabricating and spreading unfounded misinformation will be invited by the appropriate law enforcement agencies to substantiate their claims.”