2023: Buhari urges Army to remain neutral, professional

As Nigeria prepares for the 2023 general elections, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has urged the Nigerian Army to remain neutral and professional in their conduct before and during the elections.

Buhari stated this on Monday at International Conference Centre Kasarawa in Sokoto State while declaring the 2022 Chief of Army Staff Conference open.

He commended the doggedness of the Nigerian Army for returning peace not only to the northeastern part of the country but the entire country.

He expressed confidence that the renewed vigour and standard injected in operations as well as the collective resolve and improved civil-military relations would engender lasting peace and stability in the country.

The president reiterated that the provision of security to Nigerians would continue to receive premium attention by his administration, adding that deliberate actions are ongoing to provide the necessary support to enhance national security.

Citing numerous equipment and facilities provided to boost the capability of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Buhari pledged that special intervention would be made to fast-track the activation of the Nigerian Army Aviation.

‘‘Additionally, is the acquisition of platforms for the Army Aviation which has been considered in the 2023 Budget.

‘‘This modernisation drive would be vigorously sustained as efforts are also being made to reform our indigenous military industrial complex, through partnership with our allies.

I am optimistic that this objective will be achieved soon to make us self-reliant in meeting our defence needs,’’ he said.

Buhari further urged the military to maintain the tempo in all theatres and double efforts in information gathering to comprehensively defeat all forms of security threats facing the nation.

Speaking earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Faruk Yahaya,  assured that the Nigerian Army would remain apolitical during the polls.

He assured that the Nigerian Army would build upon the success recorded during the recent governorship elections in Osun, Ekiti and Anambra states.

While commending Buhari for his support to its operations over the years, the army chief reassured the president and the citizens of the country of continuous loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said the Buhari-led administration had done more than enough in assisting the security agencies especially the Nigerian Army in its fight to restore peace and tranquility to every part of the country, especially the North-East and the North-West.

Also speaking in his remarks, the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, commended the efforts of the Nigerian Army for restoring peace not only to the state but the entire North-West.

He reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to continue to support the security agencies in the state to sustain the return of peace back to the state.

He said his administration had recently increased subvention support given to the security agencies in the state by 150 percent.

Also at the event, Buhari presented the Nigerian Army Recognition Awards to six Nigerians including the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul-Samad Rabiu, the Founder and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd).

Others are the Founder and Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa Plc and Transcorp Nigeria Plc, Tony Elumelu, and the immediate past Nigeria Ambassador to Benin Republic and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai (retd).