Okafor Ofiebor/Port
The headquarters 6 Division of Nigerian Army (NA) has angrily issued a 72 hours ultmatum to Emma Okah,who doubles as the Commissioner for Information and Communications and Director of Information and Communication of Rivers State chapter of PDP to retract and apologize to it over alleged false accusation of face legal action.
In a Statement issued by Colonel Aminu Illiyasu, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, the Division accused Okah of lying against the Commander 6 Division, Military Intelligence, Brig General Nasiru Najaja over allegations that the senior Army Officer was prevented by vigilant PDP members from tampering with INEC sensitive materials at Central Bank warehouse in Port Harcourt.
The Army said,”In the most bazaar and slanderous statement, Emma Okah criminally and frivolously accused the person of a respected professional (Brig Gen Nasiru Najaja) the Commander, 6 Military Intelligence Brigade to the effect that the senior officer was prevented access to the Port Harcourt CBN premises by some so called PDP members who stopped him from tampering with sensitive electoral materials.
“Okah further went ahead to brazenly accuse the institution of the 6 Division for planning to rig the election in favour of another political party.”
The 6 Division of Nigerian Army clarified that “For the avoidance of doubt, as part of the NA’s constitutional responsibility of aiding civil authority and our mandate to safeguarding Key Points and Vulnerable Points of our dear nation, troops of 6 Division NA were accordingly deployed and further reinforced at various locations including the CBN Port Harcourt where INEC deposit sensitive materials before, during and after elections.
“Brig Gen Najaja as the coordinator of all deployments was at the CBN Port Harcourt and other locations to assess the level of troops deployment and alertness. This deployment must have thwarted Mr Okah’s sinister plans and that of his pay masters thereby making such frustrating statements.”
The Army warned Emma Okah and his party to restrict their politicking to themselves and avoid dragging the respected institution of the Nigerian Army and its personnel for cheap popularity.
The 6 Division stated that the Nigerian Army has over time reiterated and genuinely demonstrated its neutrality and apolitical posture and will continue to play its constitutional mandates responsively and professionally despite the distractions.
“Additionally, the Division wishes to categorically demand an unreserved apology and withdrawal of the slanderous statement by Emma Okah against the NA and the person of Brig Gen Nasiru Najaja within 72 Hours of this publication failure of which will lead to institution of a legal proceedings.”
“The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division/ Land Component Commander (LCC) JTF OPDS Maj Gen Jamil Sarham reassured the good people of Rivers State and indeed the Niger Delta region of the Division’s unflinching resolve to protection of lives and properties in conjunction with other security agencies for a conducive atmosphere in the entire region,” the Army said in the statement.