We’ll deploy 95% of our men for the 2019 elections- Army

The Nigerian Army on Thursday said 95 percent of its men would be deployed across the country during the 2019 general elections.

A statement by the military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, said 40 per cent of the troops would be dedicated to the northeast.

“It is important to note that 95 percent of Nigerian Army troops will be engaged in security duties during the forthcoming general elections.

“Out of this, almost 40 per cent are in the North East,” he said.

He added that insinuations on social media that the army was paid to tilt towards a particular party were untrue, saying the troops only received payment for uniform allowance.

He explained, “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to some insinuations on various social media platforms that the recent payment of uniform allowance to officers and soldiers was done to sway their voting towards a particular political party. This is not true.

“The payment of uniform allowance was started in 2016 to assist troops deployed on Operation LAFIYA DOLE as uniform upkeep and maintenance.

“The allowance was however extended to all Nigerian Army personnel because of their increasing engagement in various Internal Security Operations across the country.”

He warned members if the public to desist from spreading fake news as defaulters, when caught, would not go unpunished.

He charged men of the military to live above board and remain neutral and non partisan in the course of the discharge of their duties.

“We would like to further warn all officers and soldiers to desist from acts that are inimical to Service discipline and code of conduct and reiterate the Chief of Army Staff’s warning during his conference with General Officers Commanding and Operations Commanders that, ‘All Nigerian Army personnel must remain neutral, non-partisan and transparent in all their actions’.

“I need to reiterate that there will be zero-tolerance for any action and inaction by commanders at all levels that is deemed tilted towards giving undue advantage to any candidate, political party, ethnic or religious leanings to the detriment of the unity and integrity of Nigeria.

“The Nigerian Army has always been professional, impartial and apolitical. We wish to state that no amount of campaign of calumny against it would change that”.