Lagbaja: Army has no desire to truncate Nigeria’s democracy

Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of army staff (COAS), says the Nigerian army has no plans to truncate the country’s democracy.

Lagbaja spoke on Tuesday at a seminar on career planning and management organised by the army headquarters in Abuja.

He said the military is committed to defending Nigeria’s constitution and would not suspend it for any reason.

Lagbaja charged the army personnel to be professional in the discharge of their duties.

“Permit me to seize this opportunity to reiterate that the amed forces of Nigeria, particularly the Nigerian army has come to terms with the country’s choice of democracy as the preferred system of governance,” Lagbaja said.

“We are, therefore, agents of democracy and have no desire to truncate it. The Nigerian army will continue to defend our constitution and not suspend it for whatever reason.

“It is the duty of our elected leaders to lead while the military does its job as enshrined in our constitution. Nigerian army personnel must, therefore, remain professional and be above board as they discharge their constitutional duties.”

Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Sudan, Gabon and Niger Republic have all experienced military takeovers in the last three years.

There was also a coup attempt in Guinea Bissau in February 2022 but it was foiled.