By Joy Odor
The Armed Forces of Nigeria has debunked a news report of an alleged meeting between some unnamed senior military officers and a Presidential candidate at an undisclosed location in Abuja to plot a Coup d’etat to establish unconstitutional order during the general elections.
The Acting Director, Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier General Tukur Gusau in a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday described the said report as baseless, unfounded and malicious.
He said the report was a wicked and very malicious propaganda by the purveyors, informing that there was no truth whatsoever in the so-called Thursday meeting towards plotting a Coup d’etat to establish unconstitutional order.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria noted with dismay the story being peddled around by some unscrupulous elements and it is disheartened that even politically exposed persons and denigrate themselves into joining agents of destabilization and violence in making false claims just to heighten tension in the polity.
“It needs to be stated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a professional military that is loyal to the constitution of the Federal Republic and will never be part of any evil plot against our democracy.
“Besides, the Military remains apolitical and neutral in the current political process and will not engage in the alleged shenanigans.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will never be part of any ignoble plot to truncate our hard-earned democracy2, he added.
Recall that the rebuttal statement by the Defence Headquarters was triggered by former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, in a tweet under Femi Fani-Kayode@realFFK, that said, “There are reports that @Atiku had a secret meeting with serving military Generals in Abuja on Thursday.
“If true, it is troubling & has implications. What was the purpose? Why would a presidential candidate be having secret meetings with soldiers 14 days before the election?
“Is this meeting part of the wider agenda to disrupt the elections, destabilize the country, set us on fire, incite chaos and violence, provoke a coup d’etat and establisha new and unconstitutional order in our beloved country under the auspices of an ING?
“Knowing that he has no chance of winning the election, is Atiku now working with some members of the cabal, a handful of treacherous, and unpatriotic technocrats at CBN and in the private sector and rogue elements in the deep state to effect this demonic hidden agenda?’’
General Gusau therefore warned those who engage in fabricating and spreading unfounded misinformation will be invited by the appropriate law enforcement agencies to substantiate their claims.
The DDI advised the general public to disregard such information and go about their normal activities.
