Victor Duruamaku Owerri
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor has said that the Nigerian military has not been mandated to stop anyone from agitating for whatever
Gen. Irabor said this in Owerri, Imo State Thursday while addressing a security meeting with retired Senior Military Officers in the South East geopolitical zone
According to him,”It is not the job of the military to stop anyone from agitation for whatever he so wishes, it is a political thing”
He however warned that the military is very much against use of the instrument of violence to bring about the agitation.
The Chief of Defense Staff explained that the country has a Constitution and that the Constitution permits Nigerians to present whatever grievances they have within ambits of the law
He emphasized that “anyone going outside the provision of the Constitution of course we as military and other security agencies won’t allow that” asking ,”Why do you have to kill in order to achieve your desires”.
The CDS, warned further that “the military will resist any attempt by anybody, group or individuals using instrument of violence against the state in the name of agitation
He explained, “Again, there are provisions in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for anyone who believes that he has certain desires”
According to him, such individuals, groups, or bodies can go about that withinn the as enshrined in the Constitution
For the Military , he said such individuals should ventilate their desire in the constitution pointing out that this is “why we think that violence is not the way to go,”
He therefore appealed to everyone to seek the course of rule of law to bring about whatever agitations
The security meeting , he said was to fashion out ways of curtaining and tackling the security challenges currently facing the country.
Also speaking to newsmen, the former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika said ” all from CDS is a call for peace and transquility that will enable businesses and free movement to thrive in the country.
According to him “I am happy to note that the civilian and military cooperation department which I have established as the Chief of Army Staff has grown and today playing a major role in interfacing between themilitary and civil society”.
Welcoming the participants, the General Officer Commanding(GOC)82 Division, Nigeria Army, Maj. Gen. TA Lagbaja recalled that a similar interaction was held in Ibadan, South West with resounding success recently pointing out that today marks the turn of the South East geopolitical in Owerri, Imo State.
He continued” the interaction,1 attended by top senior military officers from Defence Headquarters, Abuja is aimed at brainstorming on possible and lasting solutions to the prevailing security threats in the region.”
