Chief Bola Tinubu, has called on the Nigerian Army to refrain from any action that could undermine the country’s democracy.
He made this call on Saturday at the 60th anniversary of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, where he was the guest speaker.
Tinubu commended the army for its constitutional role of defending the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but warned against any temptation to intervene in the political affairs of the country.
“You must shun any acts that are inimical to the well-being of our nation and acts which can destroy the gains of democracy which we have enjoyed in the last 20 years,” he said.
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He also urged the army to intensify its efforts in combating the various security challenges facing the country, such as insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and secessionism.
“The war against the enemies of Nigeria is not over. You must upscale the fight against insecurity, which has robbed us of peace and progress,” he said.
Tinubu’s appeal to the army comes at a time when some African countries have witnessed military coups that toppled democratically elected governments.
In recent years, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Sudan, Niger Republic, and Gabon have experienced coups or attempted coups by soldiers who claimed to be acting in the interest of the people.
Nigeria, which has a history of military rule from 1966 to 1999, has been enjoying uninterrupted civilian governance since then, despite the challenges of corruption, poverty, and violence.