The Arewa Youth Coalition (AYC) has described the role of the Nigerian Army in 2019 as legendary in line with global best practices.
A statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday in Abuja jointly signed by the national coordinator, AYC, comrade Mahmud Bello and his acting secretary, comrade Shola Isiaka said the military has no doubt changed the dynamics of the country’s electoral process for good as the election was unprecedented.
The statement said the situation has become worrisome in spite of the efforts of the gallant military, the Nigeria Police and other para-military agencies to stem the tide of the violence.
It lamented that Nigeria’s elections are usually characterized by violence and have now become a criminal enterprise where everything must be done to win the election no matter whose ox is gored.
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The statement said in view of the fact that the security challenges at the period usually overwhelmed the officers and men of the Nigeria Police who are saddled with ensuring security of persons and property during elections, the Nigerian Army is usually called upon by the civil authorities to give a helping hand, which is empaneled by Section 271 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) to assist the civil authorities in addressing internal security challenges, aside its primary constitutional role of protecting the territorial integrity of the country.
The statement reads in part: ‘’We have observed that during the electoral process across the country, kudos must be given to the Nigerian Army for intensifying their efforts by repelling and killing of Boko Haram in the North-East states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states respectively.
‘’We watched with dismay the orchestrated campaign of calumny to malign and disparage the Nigerian Army by a section of the political class, sponsoring all sorts of campaigns to dent the hard-earned reputation of the army leadership and the Nigerian Army for their commendable efforts which ensured that Rivers State in particular and Nigerians, in general, exercised their franchise to vote in a safe and secure environment during the 2019 general elections.’’
It added that the military leadership, had, before the elections, due to security information gathered, warned Nigerians of miscreants, thugs, touts, and political jobbers planned to be used by mischief politicians and disgruntled elements in their desperation to grab power would be knitted and dressed in illegal army’s uniform to cause havoc during the electoral process and this took place accordingly and was brought to the barest minimum and was under control by the military.
