The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, on Wednesday poured cold water on rumors that a coup d’etat was imminent in the country.
He said that the military was committed to the defence of the nation’s democracy because it is an arm of the system of government.
According to the CDS, the military, as a professional group, “has no option but to love Nigeria” and contribute to the nation’s security and protection of lives and property.
Badeh spoke in Abuja when he hosted the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, who was in his office to formally present the military with the Nigerian Centenary flag.
The presentation of the flag culminated in the Defence Chief’s directive for hoisting the flag in military formations across the country.
Badeh, who was surprised at the rumours of a coup d’etat, said the military would not truncate democracy as it was a professional arm of the system of government.
“Why should anyone be thinking in a negative fashion? Tell them we will not do it. Those rumouring coups must be living elsewhere, not in Nigeria.
“The Armed Forces are defenders of democracy; we are an arm of democracy. So, how can an arm of democracy work against the democracy that we are part of?” he asked.
Air Chief Marshal Badeh lauded the NOA for “living up to expectations” in its activities, including the production of the centenary flag.
He described the flag as unique and of standard, adding that the coordination of the National Information Centre (NIC) was professional.
Badeh supported the agency’s programmes and policies, including the renaming of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade of the agency to Community Support Brigade (CSB) and the Word Waste Bin initiative.
The Defence Chief urged the Omeri-led NOA to step up its mobilisation of more Nigerians.
Earlier, Omeri said the NOA planned to launch a security awareness campaign, tagged: “Do the Right Thing: Know Your Neighbour”.
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