DHQ: Military Not Planning to Overthrow Government

• Appoints new commander for Operation Delta Safe

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports in some online media that the military intends to overthrow the civilian administration of President Mohammed Buhari.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said in a statement on Thursday: “The report, to say the least, is not only baseless and misleading but a dream of those who do not wish the nation well”.

He said the story, which was attributed to some Niger Delta militants, was concocted to achieve cheap publicity and a complete propaganda and was diversionary.

He stated: “The entire Nigerian Armed Forces therefore distant itself (sic) from this story as it is not only mischievous and baseless but with the intent to heat up the polity and cause public apprehension.

“The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin, wishes to assure our highly respected political leaders and the entire Nigerians that the military will continue to be apolitical and will do everything possible to defend and deepen our democratic governance which is the best, acceptable and legitimate form of government the world over.

“The DHQ restates its total subordination to civil authority and upholding the supremacy of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and will continue to defend all democratic structures and will never yield to blackmail and distractions from fifth columnist.”

Abubakar urged that the “unfounded story should be discountenanced in its entirety”.

Further Details Later