Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defence Staff, has been ordered to resign by President Muhammadu Buhari after he claimed that security personnel were being heavily pressured to tamper with the 2023 general elections.
Buhari was encouraged not to ignore the remark, with the message being that a comprehensive examination of Nigeria's top military official was required to identify individuals who were covertly working to kill the country's democracy through dubious military responsibilities.
After his instant removal from his post, he was advised to make Irabor reveal the identities of those working covertly to undermine the voting process.
Irabor had previously stated that despite persistent pressure to tamper with the 2023 elections, Nigerians may rest easy knowing that it will maintain its neutrality.
Irabor stated that military personnel are subject to pressure through inducements in his remarks at the 61st State House Ministerial Briefing, which was held at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja and organized by the Presidential Communications Team.
But he also assured that the military will uphold President Muhammadu Buhari's order to maintain neutrality while taking the necessary steps to guarantee compliance.
The Nigerian government and its security services, particularly the Armed Forces of Nigeria, were directly indicted by Irabor's comments, according to the civil society organization Conference of Civil Society Advocates for Electoral Stability, which responded. “the populace may not trust electoral process anymore except something is done fast.”
The CSO encouraged the local and foreign communities to launch a quick investigation into the accusation to ascertain its reality in a statement issued by its National President, Dr. Clement Eromosele.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, to the effect that the Nigerian Military is under pressure to compromise the 2023 general election and that, however, they are doing everything possible to obey Mr President’s directive to emplace a free and fair election in the country.
“While some may view this statement as one of General Irabor’s careless and usual media blunders, we in the civil society view it as a very serious statement that must be taken seriously by the Nigerian Government, the Nigerian people and the international community.
“The statement is a direct indictment on the Nigeria Government and our security agencies, especially the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the populace may not trust our ongoing electoral process anymore except something is done fast.
“On our part, we demand the immediate sack of General Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defense staff and subject him to immediate investigation to ascertain the veracity of the statement in the interest of peace.
“The Chief of Defence Staff is a very senior official of this government that; such statements from him shouldn’t be swept under the carpet.
“This statement must be investigated by both local and international community thoroughly to ascertain its veracity.”
The group added: “On the other hand, we feel strongly that the statement by General Irabor is meant to blackmail the president for some certain reasons which only General Irabor can explain.”
“Nigeria must immediately join the demand for the sack of Irabor and all the incompetent service chiefs, whose inefficiencies have led us to the deteriorated security situation we find ourselves in today.
“Mr President must wield a big stick now. The statement is a direct indictment on the president and his team. We demand that he acts now to prove to Nigerians that he is not in any way trying to compromise the 2023 electoral process.”
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