Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, warned that the hope of Nigerians and the international community rests on the country’s security agents to ensure the successful conduct of upcoming elections. The presidential and National Assembly polls are scheduled for 25 February, while the governorship and House of Assembly elections will take place on 11 March. Persistent insecurity across many regions threatens to undermine the electoral process.
Speaking in Abuja on Saturday at the 2023 International Military Sports Council Day Run—a ceremony that commemorates the end of World War II—Irabor urged security forces to do everything possible to create a peaceful and safe environment for the elections. Represented by Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice‑Marshal Jackson Yusuf, Irabor said, “Our brave men and women of the armed forces and other security agencies can tell the world with pride about their daily successes in countering insurgency and other security challenges that have recently plagued the nation’s security landscape. I, however, urge you all to sustain the current momentum. The elections are coming; the nation and the world are looking to us to play our role and ensure the elections are held peacefully. I urge us to live up to our constitutional responsibilities.”
Meanwhile, Chief of Naval Staff Vice‑Admiral Awwal Gambo instructed his personnel to refrain from human‑rights violations while performing their duties and warned against taking the law into their own hands, noting that such actions could tarnish the service’s reputation. Speaking during the 2023 First Quarter Route March on Saturday, Gambo emphasized that without a harmonious relationship with the populace, the navy’s duty to the country would be meaningless. He urged sailors to remain law‑abiding, maintain cordial relations with civilians and relevant stakeholders, and stay neutral and apolitical as the country’s political activities intensify ahead of the general election.
Comments are closed for this story.