The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, says the military will resist every pressure to compromise the 2023 elections.
This is as he assured Nigerians that the military will remain steadfastly devoted to remaining neutral in the 2023 elections.
Irabor spoke on Thursday, as the 61st guest of the Ministerial Media Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said personnel are being trained to be more professional while rules of engagement before, during and after the elections have been codified and distributed to them.
“The rules of engagement before, during, and after the elections have been codified and handed to the personnel, who are also receiving professional training on election duties as well.
“Of course, there will always be pressure from all quarters, wanting to induce security forces, not just the military, the security force and the Police. And that’s what criminal enterprise is all about. That is what something wrong is all about.
“But what makes the difference is the professional approach to dealing with those issues. And that’s what, as the military, we are committed to doing.
“But what makes the difference is the professional approach to dealing with those issues. And that’s what, as the military, we are committed to doing.
“Now, this is why we have ramped up our training in that regard; sensitisation, a lot of engagement across the formations and units are being undertaken. And then, we have articulated the code of conduct for all our personnel, which has been done and distributed.
“So, what should they act on before, during and after the elections? These are being codified in the SOP that has been issued to them. So, it remains the duty of the Commanders to ensure that the directive, as indicated, and the contents of the SOP is adhered to by every personnel in the armed forces”, he said, while urging Nigerians to “cease from worrying” and rather trust and engage others to trust that the military will “keep faith to these directives.”
