NASS Can't Order Military Around – DHQ

Defence Headquarters yesterday reacted to suggestions by the Senate that the Chief of Army Staff should relocate to the North-East to properly coordinate activities of the joint services tackling Boko Haram insurgency in the region.

Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, told Daily Newswatch in a telephone interview that the Senate resolution cannot become binding on the military unless President Goodluck Jonathan endorses it.

Besides, he said, the military has no plans at the moment and has never discussed the possibility of relocating its key personnel to the region since the situation has not really called for such an action when the officers and men at the frontline are doing just fine.

He said the Senate has no powers to order the military about and indicated that the Armed Forces will not obey the directive.

Major General Chris said: “Only the President of the Federal Republic, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces can make or give such a directive to the military and not the Senate.”

Daily Newswatch.