By Francesca Hangeior
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has said those calling for coup d’etat are enemies of Nigeria, saying the law will catch up with them.
The military had earlier revealed that there were pressure from certain unnamed quarters for a takeover of government following the lingering insecurity in the country.
But Musa said the Armed Forces is on top of its game and will continue to do the needful in protecting democracy in the country.
He said this while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after he inaugurated the main entrance of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army and Officers Transit Accommodation, both at the Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
While admitting that the country was experiencing some challenges, he said coup calls are not the way to go because the nation achieves more and develops faster under a democracy.
The CDS said, “Whoever is making that call (coup) does not love Nigeria. We want to make it very clear that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are here to protect democracy.
“We all want democracy and we do better under democracy. And so we will continue to support democracy. And any of those ones that are calling for anything other than democracy are evil people and I think they don’t mean well for Nigeria.
“They should be very careful because the law will come after them. We can see that with democracy, a lot of things are happening in Nigeria. Yes, we are going through trying periods, I mean in life, nothing is hundred per cent.”
He emphasized that what is needed is for citizens to be patient and give their support to the government to succeed and put the enemies of state to shame, especially as the incumbent administration is doing its utmost to improve the economy and other challenges across the country.
He added, “Everybody goes through a trying period in life, and it is what you do with them. You can see the government putting efforts to ensure that we come out better.
“It is when you go through difficulties and come out better than you will really appreciate what it is to build a nation. And so, we are going through our trying period, but I can assure Nigerians that it will get better.
“All we need is for all of us to put our hands together to ensure that we defeat those enemies of the government, those enemies of this country that don’t want us to succeed.
“We will surely succeed and the Armed Forces are here to support the Government in ensuring that we develop, we succeed and to see that there is peace in Nigeria.”