Polls: HURIWA makes case for military

Okwe Obi, Abuja

Human Right Writers Association (HURIWA) has pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with military personnel as they take part in the on-going polls, stressing that most of violence witnessed should not be attributed to the military.

HURIWA’s national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, while addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, however, called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, to commence investigation of his personnel, and squarely deal with perpetrators of assaults on voters.

His words: “We urge Nigerians to remember that the institution of the Nigerian military is created by law to serve public interest, so it must be preserved and insulated from undue politically-tainted allegations that may not stand the test of time.

“We are not unaware of some allegations by some governors in the Niger Delta, accusing soldiers of collusion to undermine democracy.

“We must not allow our temporary and unbridled quest for political power to lead us into the temptation of running down such a formidable institution like the Nigerian Army, because of the alleged malfeasance and misdemeanor of a few undesirable elements, who may have derailed from the time-honoured ethical and legal principles, clearly listed out by the Chief of Army Staff on the need to abide by rules of engagement in internal security operations,” he added.

Onwubiko also tackled the chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for allegedly releasing results of states controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC), while cancelling results in areas controlled by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).