Air Marshal Abubakar NAF
Air Marshal Abubakar NAF Boss
2019 Elections: NAF Prepares Contingency
Plan
Ahead of the 2019 General Elections, the Chief of the Air Staff
(CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has met with Air Officers
Commanding (AOCs) and Commanders of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Units
across the Country to brief them on their responsibilities during
the elections.
Speaking during the meeting, which held at Headquarters NAF, the
CAS stated that the primary responsibility for ensuring security
during the elections lay with the Nigeria Police, which was the
lead agency, along with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp
(NSCDC), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and other civil
security agencies, constitutionally tasked with ensuring peaceful
conduct of the general elections.
He said what was required of the NAF was to ensure that Commands
and Units prepare contingency plans that could be activated in the
event of any overt breakdown of law and order.
Air Marshal Abubakar stated that it was critical that all NAF
personnel operate within the ambits of the Nigerian Constitution as
well as in accordance with the Code of Conduct promulgated by
Defence Headquarters (DHQ) for members of the Armed Forces during
elections.
He stressed that personnel must remain apolitical and sternly
resist any entreaties by unscrupulous politicians to get them
involved in partisan politics. He implored the AOCs and Commanders
to remain focused on the discharge of their constitutionally
assigned tasks, whilst ensuring that their personnel abide by the
instructions contained in the Code of Conduct. He also emphasized
that personnel were free to exercise their constitutional rights to
vote for the candidates of their choice on the various election
days.
Furthermore, Air Marshal Abubakar disclosed that the NAF was
ready to avail the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
its transport aircraft to enable the expeditious movement of
electoral materials, as done in the past, should INEC require such
support.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of booklets on
‘Code of Conduct for the Armed Forces of Nigeria during Elections’
to AOCs and Commanders, represented by the Air Officer Commanding
Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal John Baba. The Code of
Conduct highlights the importance of elections and specifies the
responsibilities of Commanders and all military personnel while
stipulating the responsibilities of personnel assigned for special
electoral duties.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force