Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has allayed fears of a possible take-over of the government by the military, saying officers with perceived political ambitions have since been flushed out of the system.

This was as the DHQ also pledged absolute and unalloyed loyalty to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and assured that it would provide the necessary support needed for the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.

The assurances came on the heels of remarks by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who expressed fears that the Nigerian military could stage a coup if politicians in the country continued to violate the tenets of true democracy.

A statement released by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. John Agim said although Senator Ekweremadu’s statement may appear sincere and cautionary in its context, it was however derogatory to the Army and the Armed Forces of Nigeria by extension.

The statement read: “The Defence Headquarters wishes to respond to a comment by the Deputy Senate President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu on Wednesday 7 March, 2018, regarding the Nigerian military, while contributing to a debate on a motion sponsored by Senator Ahmed Ogembe, representing Kogi Central.

“In his comments among others, the Distinguished Deputy Senate President of the Senate state ‘the problem in Nigeria is that our democracy is receding. Who says Army cannot take over, let us not joke with our democracy that is the issue.”’

“This statement may appear cautionary and sincere in the atmosphere of discourse, it is however derogatory to the Army used in the expression and by extension the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“The statement in the true sense has the capacity to denigrate the Nigeria Military in every ramification including its loyalty to the President, Commander- in- Chief of the Armed Forces and the confidence of the general public to defend Nigeria’s democracy.

“In the light of this, the Defence Headquarters wishes to state clearly that, the Nigerian Military has come of age and is in tune with best international practices of complete and total subordination to democratic governance.\

“In this regard, it is worthy to remind the general public about some key measures among others that guaranteed the present sustainable status of politically ambitious members of the Armed Forces.

“Shortly, after the transition from a military to a democratically elected government in 1999, officers of the Armed Forces, who were quasi-political, were honourably eased out of service.

“This was done to avoid the indoctrination of other officers in the military in order to enable the democratic government comm-ence a re- professionalization process of the Armed Forces.

“The process commenced in collaboration with international organizations such as the United States Armed Forces and the British Military.

“By 2009, from the basic military training institutions through units and formations’ re-orientations to top management workshops and seminars for the military, it became clear that the Armed Forces of Nigeria have been re-professionalized to be totally subordinate to the political leadership and democracy in the country.

“In addition, the Nigerian Military began to take the lead at ensuring that the West African Sub Region is stable democratically through military diplomacy and physical actions where it is highly desirable and supported by ECOWAS.

“The case of the Gambia last year is still fresh in our memories, where democracy was enforced by an ECOWAS Military Coalition, led by the Armed Forces of Nigeria, under the focused and able leadership of Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General A.G. Olonisakin (NAM).

“Furthermore, the present crop of personnel in the Armed Forces of Nigeria right from the Service Chiefs to the men; are made up of a balance of re-professionalized officers and fresh intakes from 1999, who do not nurse political ambitions.

“They are fully committed to their oaths of allegiance to serve their fatherland Nigeria, with total submission to our democratic government.

“Defence Headquarters hereby assures the international community, Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the general public, of its unalloyed loyalty to the President, Commander- in- Chief, and its commitment to the provision of all necessary support for the sustenance of our democracy and carrying out constitutional roles.

“Therefore, the apprehension by the Deputy Senate President of the Senate should be totally disregarded.”