2023: Again, CDS Assures Nigerians, International Community of Peaceful Elections; Tasks Military, other Security Agencies to Shun Partisanship in Politics.

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor has assured the nation and the international community that the military and other security agencies will ensure a peaceful election working in concert with relevant stakeholders.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Defence Advisers and Attache’s Annual Conference, the CDS said, “We must respect the rule of law. We must shun partisanship in politics. We must remain loyal to constituted authority”.

“Concerning the 2023 elections, there is a great expectation on the armed forces and security organizations to ensure a hitch free environment for ree and fair conduct. We will give the Police who is the lead agency the necessary support.

“Regarding the challenges of insecurity including terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other emerging crimes, the CDS said, “We will are maintaining security alertness in the country to checkmate any national or local threat.

He told the Defence Advisers who are returning to the various countries of posting to let their countries of deployment, know the trough narrative of the security situation in Nigeria which is the opposite of what is being peddled abroad.

“Let the foreign countries know the true narrative of what you have seen in the two weeks you have been here. What you have seen, what you have heard, take back to your countries of assignment. Project the real situation of what is happening in Nigeria, not what some are assessing and projecting that it will be”.

On the conference, he said, “The critical resolutions reached and captured in the Conference Communiqué will be forwarded to the appropriate quarters for implementation towards enhancing national security.

“The outcome of the Conference attest’s to the relevance of the Defence Advisers/Attachés system in advancing Nigeria’s national security and defence objectives.

“To this end, the Defence Intelligence Agency will continue to leverage the Defence Attaché system in support of on-going engagements of the Armed Forces of Nigeria especially in our contemporary security context.

Emphasizing that the Conference highlighted the need for synergy and collaboration among the intelligence and security agencies as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the CDS said, “This is to ensure that no effort is spared in dealing with the threats to our corporate existence as a nation.

“It is therefore my belief that this year’s Conference will go down as a milestone achievement in our efforts to refocus ourselves on the challenges of re-engineering the Defence Attaché system in furtherance of our national security interests through effective collaboration.

“Against this backdrop, I believe you all have learnt new and better ways to carry out your assigned tasks in enhancing our national security.

“Without sounding trite, it would be necessary for me to emphasize that you should endeavour to use your vantage positions to make valuable contributions to the Federal Government’s efforts to secure our dear nation.

“This would go a long way to justify the huge investment of the Federal Government in the operations of the Defence Sections.

He expressed appreciation to President Mohammadu Buhari, Ministry of Defence, Office the National Security Adviser and Defence Headquarters for their invaluable assistance as well as to the Service Chiefs for their continued support.

The theme of the conference which is ’’Sustaining Nigeria’s Defence and Security: Role of the Defence Attaché System’’

In his remarks, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Samuel Adebayo for undergoing the two weeks conference without any incident adding that they were now better informed to enlighten their host countries on the situation in the country.

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