Lucky Irabor, Nigeria’s chief of defense staff, says the military will not have the chance to take over power in Nigeria, because democracy has come to stay in the country.
The army chief said the military would give the necessary support to the police and other security agencies in the country to ensure a crisis-free 2023 general election.
The CDS said this on Sunday while fielding questions from journalists after laying the wreath at the National Arcade in Abuja to mark the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
He said: “Be rest assured that the armed forces will remain solidly behind the police to give them all the support as required for the 2023 general election.
“I’m sure you know that the police are on the lead. I have been discussing with the IG (Inspector-General of Police) and of course, we’ve also made contingencies should we be required to give support to the police as the election is conducted.
“I think for Nigerians, be rest assured that the armed forces remain solidly behind the police to be able to give them all the support as required.”
Irabor further assured Nigerians that the country’s democracy faces no threat from a military coup, saying: “Democracy has come to stay. The government of the people, by the people, and for the people in Nigeria has come to stay.
“That is an assurance and then of course for the elections, I am sure you know, that the police are on the lead.”
The CDS, who said the Armed Forces Remembrance Day was not a day of mourning, described the ceremony as an occasion of gratitude that some Nigerians considered their country as worth dying for.
