28th August, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has said the Army will not allow itself to be used to undemocratically sail some interests into power in the country.
“As the Service that received the most image bashing as a fallout of previous military interventions in Nigeria, the Nigerian Army is not poised to lose the new prestige it has painstakingly built in the past 25 years,” Lagbaja said while rejecting calls by the military to intervene in the governance of the country made by some youths during the August 1 to 10 #EndbadGovernance protest.
Lagbaja spoke on Tuesday while declaring open the 2024 Chief of Army Staff combined second and third quarters conference in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.
According to him, the Army will rather continue to work to ensure that Nigeria remains a united and secure country instead of plotting to take over power.
“Another pertinent issue that came up during the recent protest is the call for undemocratic intervention in governance by the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
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“Although one can say this was coming from young Nigerians who never experienced the era of Nigeria’s extensive military rule and the concerted struggle by heroes and heroines of our current democratic dispensation to get the Nation on its current path.
“As Chief of Army Staff, my simple response to the call is, ‘Thanks, but no thanks!’ The Nigerian Army will not allow itself to be used to undemocratically sail some interests to power.
“As the Service that received the most image bashing as a fallout of previous military interventions in Nigeria, the Nigerian Army is not poised to lose the new prestige it has painstakingly built in the past 25 years,” Lagbaja said.
Lagbaja also revealed that in addition to its responsibilities of combating terrorism, banditry, crude oil theft, and others, the Nigerian Army will also join in efforts to assuage the high cost of food in the country which could trigger physical security issues.
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In this vein, he revealed that the Nigerian Army has initiated massive food production in partnership with the government and the private sector.
“Evidently, the situation that led to the protest seems to have settled, but the Nigerian Army understands that the issue of food security will remain on the front burner of our national security policy and discussions for a while.
“As a way of strengthening its soft power approach to resolving Nigeria’s food security challenge, the Nigerian Army will, in the coming days, review its agricultural policy to better position the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited to significantly boost crop production so that the Army can release grains into the market at highly subsidized rate in support of government efforts.
“Furthermore, the Army Headquarters is reviewing some proposals for partnerships with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government and reputable private organizations on how best to collaborate to resolve the food crisis in the country.
