CDS promises peaceful polls in Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo

CDS promises peaceful polls in Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says the military is committed to protecting the nation’s democracy and ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo.

Musa made the remark when the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru and Minister of State, Dr Bello Matawalle paid a working visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

He urged all stakeholders in the three states to ensure that nobody was killed in the process of casting a vote.

According to him, it is important that they all put their hands together to ensure that the election is hitch-free, peaceful and reflects what the people actually want.

The CDS said the military would do whatever it takes to protect democracy and help it to thrive in Nigeria, adding that they were fully ready, prepared and committed to the task.

“We know there have been a series of challenges within the sub-region where we have a number of coups all over.

“We want to assure Mr President and to you all, that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is fully committed to democracy,” he said.

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Musa thanked the ministers and President Bola Tinubu for ensuring that the military met its operational requirements in terms of combat enablers, funding and welfare of personnel.

According to him, the government has shown determination, dedication and commitment to ensuring that the armed forces are properly equipped, trained and managed to secure the country’s territorial integrity.

He however said that the military was limited by a dearth of funding to effectively handle some of its activities, especially in the area of accommodation for personnel.

According to him, the military is recruiting almost 20,000 officers and soldiers yearly who should be properly accommodated.

The CDS, therefore, urged the ministers to also look into it, including foreign training for personnel to enhance their capacity in dealing with counterterrorism and counter insurgencies in the country.

Responding, the Minister of Defence, Badaru, commended the military for the successes so far recorded since the assumption of duty of the current CDS.

He said that they had done well in dealing with criminals across the country.

According to him, more than 117 terrorists, bandits and other criminals were neutralised by the military within the period and urged it to sustain the onslaught until the nation is rid of the menace.

The minister also commended the CDS and service chiefs for boosting the morale of troops in operational areas through regular visits and other inspirational programmes.

He pledged that the Federal Government would continue to support the military in meeting its operational requirements in the area of equipment, improved funding, accommodation, training and medical services.

According to him, President Tinubu holds the military in high esteem and believes that the way to solve the security challenges of this country is by supporting the military.

(NAN)