Defence Chief: Those Calling for Coup are Evil People, Do Not Mean Well for Nigeria

*Warns arm of law will catch up with instigators 

*Reaffirms military’s pledge to protect nation 

*Urges patience with Tinubu’s government

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa, yesterday, said those calling for military intervention as a result of the current economic hardship in the country were evil and did not mean well Nigeria.
Musa, who warned that the arm of the law would catch up with instigators, however, advised them to desist from doing so as the Armed Forces of Nigeria remained prepared to defend democratic rule at all times.

The defence chief, who spoke when he visited Headquarters of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as part his routine operational visit to the Niger Delta region, however, pleaded with the people to exercise some patience with the President Bola Tinubu administration.

“Whoever is making that call (coup) does not love Nigeria. We want to make it very clear that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are here to protect democracy.
“We all want democracy and we do better under democracy. We will continue to support democracy and any of those ones who are calling for anything other than democracy are evil people and I think they don’t mean well for Nigeria.

“They should be very careful because the law will come after them. We can see that with democracy a lot of things are happening in Nigeria. Yes, we are going through trying periods, I mean in life nothing is hundred per cent,” he said.
General Musa said the federal government was focused on addressing the current economic challenges in the country and therefore appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience.

“Everybody goes through a trying period in life and it is what you do with them. You can see the government putting efforts to ensure that we come out better.
“It is when you go through difficulties and come out better you will really appreciate what it is to build a nation. We are going through our trying period, but I can assure Nigerians that it will get better,” he said.

The CDS, who also noted that a lot needed to be done, added that, “We must stop criminals from criminalities; they are commiting against the economy.”
He, however, added that the Armed Forces of Nigeria under his watch had a mandate to provide security as well as ensure improvement in oil production as directed by President Tinubu.

He urged troops to ensure that in carrying out their responsibilties, they also respect the tradition, culture, and religion of the people. He thanked troops for the good job they were doing but warned that no form of complacency would be tolerated

Musa commended the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Division and personnel of the Division for the giant strides achieved so far and after inaugurating the main entrance of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army and Officers Transit Accommodation, at the Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Earlier, the GOC and Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Maj Gen Jamal Abdussalam, thanked the CDS for the visit.

He said officers and soldiers of the division were committed to safeguarding critical national infrastructure for the benefit of the nation.