By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has warned politicians to stop wearing military uniforms for campaign purposes.
The DHQ, through Air Commodore Wap Maigida, its Acting Director of Information at DHQ, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja said the military had noticed “with dismay that some politicians have formed the habit of wearing military uniforms and accoutrements for electioneering campaign posters.”
It stressed:This is manifestly illegal and an abuse of the privilege of allowing civilians to wear military uniforms during military training exercises.
“It is necessary to restate that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, as a professional institution, remains apolitical and as such, would not want to be dragged into any form of political bias.
“Accordingly, it is important to advise politicians and others to desist from the use of military uniforms and accoutrements for political events and other engagements henceforth.
“Anyone found culpable in this regard would be liable to prosecution.”
According to DHQ, Nigeria is one of the countries where it remains illegal to wear military camouflage.
He also drew the attention of those concerned to what Section 251 of the constitution states.
That “any person who, not being a person serving in any of the armed or police forces of Nigeria, wears the uniform of any of these forces, or any dress having the appearance or bearing any of the regimental or other distinctive marks of any such uniform, in such manner or in such circumstances as to be likely to bring contempt on that uniform, or employs any other person so to wear such uniform or dress is guilty of a simple offence, and is liable to imprisonment for three months or to a fine of forty naira”.
According to DHQ, Sections 110 and 111 of the Nigerian criminal code, however, allows for a governor and the president to approve of the wearing of military camouflage.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
