Coup; DHQ.Finally Dismisses Rumour

The Defence headquarters has finally dismissed the rumour that Nigerian army are planning to take over the leadership of the country through military intervention. In a statement the Defence headquarters said: "Professionally, it is a command responsibility to caution officers and men on routine basis to conform to ethics of the military. "Officers and men are cautioned to excercise command and control by Appropriate superior authorities through commanders at various levels. "This is to prevent members of the Armedforces from derailing from their core focus of total dedication to their oath of allegiance. "It is pertinent to state that if there are signs of actions that point to likely breaches of military code of conduct as it were, "Cautions or warnings are issued with inveatigations following. This, in the present situation, the Armedforces and Army in particular "Has employed the due process to ensure officers and men remain committed to performing their constitutional roles. "The mention of coup plots from some quarters are assertions which are not confirmed. "Let me assure all Nigerians and lovers of the country that the Armedforces will remain totally loyal to the C-In-C," the statement said.Recently there was reports that the chief of army staff, Tukur Buratai, warned army officials to stay off politics and politically related activities. The chief said this on Tuesday, May 16, in a statement issued by the Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, a brigadier general. He said: “This is to inform the public that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Nigerian Army, has received information that some individuals have been approaching some officers and soldiers for undisclosed political reasons. On the basis of that, he has warned such persons to desist from these acts, the DHQ in a press conference dismissed the rumor has unwarranted, claiming that 'its normal for military bosses to caution subordinates. The Presidency likewise dismissed the coup rumour. Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, yesterday, May 23 urged Nigerians to ignore the media reports on Coup plot, saying it should not be stretched beyond what the military authorities had said. According to him, what the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, said about the issue was a “routine warning that goes to military officers.The presidential aide addressed the correspondents alongside the Senior Special Assistants to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu and Mr Laolu Akande (Office of the Vice-President). Adesina said: “The Army has spoken and let us take that position. What the Chief of Army Staff said was a routine warning that goes to military officers, don’t hobnob with politicians and the army has explained the position. “Let’s take that position and not stretch it beyond what the military has said because they are the ones that can give us the definitive position and they have spoken on it.’’