Naval Chief Warns Officers Against Misbehaviour During Elections

THE CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF, VICE ADMIRAL USMAN JIBRIN, HAS WARNED OFFICERS NOT TO SEE THE UNIFORM THEY WEAR AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MISBEHAVE, EITHER TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR DURING THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS AS THEY WILL BE COURT-MARTIALED.

THE NAVAL CHIEF READ THE RIOT ACT WHILE INSPECTING THE NAVAL BASES IN LAGOS.

THE NAVAL BOSS ALSO URGED OFFICERS TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO SUPPORT THE NIGERIAN POLICE AND THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC), AS THIS IS PART OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THE SOCIETY.

HE SAID “ON NO ACCOUNT SHOULD ANY PERSONNEL OF THE NIGERIAN NAVY TAKE MEASURES, EITHER AT OFFICIAL OR INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, WHICH CAN BRING THE NON PARTISANSHIP OF THE NIGERIAN NAVY INTO QUESTION.

“I MUST CAUTION YOU TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL IN WHAT YOU SAY, WHOM YOU SAY IT TO AND IN WHAT FOR A YOU EXPRESS ANY OPINION THAT HAS POLITICAL COLOURATION OR IS CAPABLE OF BEING MISINTERPRETED AT SUCH”, ADDING THAT “I MUST MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT I PLACE THE HIGHEST PREMIUM IN THE MAINTENANCE OF POSITIVE GOODWILL WITH THE LARGER NIGERIAN POPULATION”, HE SAID.

HE FURTHER NOTED THAT THE “NIGERIAN PUBLIC ARE THE TRUE OWNERS OF NIGERIAN NAVY. IT IS THEREFORE THE DUTY OF EVERYONE OF US IN UNIFORM TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR POWER TO BE SEN IN MOST POSITIVE LIGHT BY THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC”, WARNING THAT “ANY FURTHER CASE OF MISBEHAVIOUR OR MISDEMEANOR THAT WILL BRING THE IMAGE OF THE NAVY TO DISREPUTE WILL BE DEALT WITH ADEQUATELY.

“IF YOUR ACTION OCCASIONS THE DEATH OF A CIVILIAN THERE WILL BE AN IMMEDIATE COURT-MARTIAL”, HE MAINTAINED.

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