2019: We won’t be tools in politicians’ hands, says Navy

The Nigerian Navy has warned its personnel to resist being used by politicians to achieve their unconstitutional targets during the 2019 general elections.

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who gave the warning yesterday at the commissioning ceremony of newly completed projects at the base of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta in Warri, also said any politician caught trying to induce navy personnel for political use would be arrested and prosecuted.

Ibas, who was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Central Naval Command (CNC), Rear Admiral Suleiman Garba, said the Nigerian armed forces are constitutionally apolitical and would not betray their constitutional responsibilities for any reason.

The naval chief, who was conducted round the projects by the Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, commissioned a number of works, including the Remodeled Headquarters of the NNS Delta, the renovated parade ground, the renovated Senior Rates Mess and others.

Speaking on the readiness of the Navy to ensure law and order during the elections, Ibas said: “The first appeal goes to our personnel. We must as a statutory responsibility be apolitical.

“We the military men must not be involved in any form of politicking. We shall not favour any person or go along with anybody in politics.

“Our second statutory responsibility is to ensure that when called upon, we give sufficient security to our INEC officials that will be going into the waters.

“Obviously, they must require security. Our presence there will enable them deliver their electoral materials as required.

“The third appeal is to the youths. They should not come close to any of our personnel requiring any form of political assistance.

“Any person that comes to us requiring any form of political assistance, we are going to arrest him because it is against our regulations.

“On the part of the youths, they should ensure that they go about their democratic rights to vote without any form of violence.

“We will be called upon to assist any civil authority in ensuring that law and order is maintained during the election period.”