CDS Badeh Dismisses Possibility of Military Takeover, Says Coup Will Never Happen In Nigeria Again

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, on Wednesday dismissed a media report speculating the possibility of a coup d’etat in the country, saying the military would defend democracy with all it takes.

Badeh’s was reacting to the story by a UK-based influential publication, Africa Confidential, stating that there is a secret plots currently going on in the Presidency to have a “transitional national government.”

READ: EXPOSED: Jonathan, Mark Plot to Hold on to Power, Mark to Head Interim Govt – Report

The London based online medium in its June 13, 2014 edition came out with a story that there was a plan in the offing to replace the Jonathan administration with an interim national government to be headed by the President of the Senate, David Mark because of his military background.

But Badeh dismissed the story with a wave of hand, while receiving the Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, at the formal presentation of the Nigerian Centenary Flag to the military, which the CDS ordered its hoisting in all military formations nationwide.

According to him, “the military as a professional group has no option but to love Nigeria and do those things that will ensure security and protection of lives within the nation.”

Air Chief Marshal Badeh, who did not hide his surprise at the rumours of coup d’etat, said democracy had come to stay in the country and the military had no intention of truncating it.

“Why should anyone be thinking in negative fashion? Tell them we will not do it. Those peddling the rumour must be living elsewhere and not in Nigeria. The Armed Forces are defenders of democracy. We are an arm of democracy, so how can an arm of democracy work against the democracy that we are part of?” the CDS asked.

Badeh commended the NOA for living up to expectation in its activities as typified by the centenary flag produced by the Agency, which he described as unique and of standard, as well as the coordination of the National Information Centre.

He expressed support for the Agency’s programmes and policies, including the renaming of the War Against Indiscipline, Brigade of the Agency to Community Support Brigade, and the Word Waste Bin initiative, urging the NOA to step up the ante in mobilising Nigerians.

Earlier, the NOA DG, Omeri, disclosed the Agency’s plan to launch a security awareness campaign tagged “Do the right thing: know your neighbour.”

He said the campaign was, among other things, to complement efforts of the Armed Forces and also ensure return to that age-old and celebrated value of being our brother’s keeper.

Presenting the nation’s Centenary Flag to the Defence Chief, the NOA DG said the flag was symbolic of the nation’s history and heritage which it sought to pass on to future generations of Nigerians.

He expressed gratitude for the support and commitment of the DHQ, towards the National Information Centre, noting that such was a clear statement of the Armed Forces’ dedication to the speedy resolution of the security issues confronting the nation at the moment.

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