The Nigerian Army yesterday inaugurated a five-man panel of inquiry to investigate and make appropriate recommendation over alleged involvement in partisan politics by some soldiers and officers during the 2014/2015 general election in the country.
The panel has the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Headquarters, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade as its President, while Col. Danladi Salihu is the secretary of the panel. Other members include, Brigadier General Emmanuel Kabuk, Brigadier General Sunday Araoye, and Brigadier General Baba Ibrahim. The panel would be sitting from 9am daily to 5pm from till November 20, 2015 except on Sundays.
Briefing newsmen at the formal inauguration of the panel in Kaduna, Major General Oyebade said the panel has two weeks, beginning from yesterday, to submit its report to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai. Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, said the panel was set up because the army was concerned about the alleged misconduct of its officers and men before, during and after the elections.
The panel President called on individuals with useful information about the issue to visit the panel and testify accordingly, adding that it is open to the general public even though it is purely military affairs. The panel President said: “As most of you are aware, the last general election conducted in March 2015 elicited criticism in some quarters, especially from the general public, particularly on conduct of Nigerian army personnel during both the gubernatorial and presidential elections respectively.
“These allegations were centred on the gubernatorial elections conducted in some states such as Ekiti, Osun, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom, to mention a few.
“It is therefore based on all these weighty allegations that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai on assumption of command articulated his vision of having a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles, and instituted this Board of Inquiry.
“The panel is to investigate these allegations and recommend appropriate measures to prevent a reoccurrence in the future.
“The military as a noble profession of arms must remain apolitical in our democratic dispensation. Politics, we strongly believe should be left entirely to the politicians.
“I must hasten to add however, that in spite of these worrisome allegations, the military to a large extent performed creditably as the foremost guardian of the nation’s democracy.
“On this note, I would like to call on all the strata in the society and of course, the general public to please as a matter of urgency appear in person if they so wish and forward their petitions in form of memorandum either personally to Headquarters 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kawo, Kaduna or via courier addressed to the secretary, panel of investigation on elections, HQ 1Division, Kawo, Kaduna or through HQ 1 Division e-mail on goc_1div@yahoo.com
