SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, (THEWILL) –
Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has denied the insinuation that he called for military intervention in Nigeria.
THEWILL recalls that the Senator, while making contributions over a fiasco in Kogi made reference to a take over by the military.
Responding, the Defence Headquarters declared that the is committed to democracy and urged that the statement by Ekweremadu be ignored.
However, speaking in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Sunday, Ekweremadu declared that his comments were either being twisted or misconstrued by some persons.
He stated that his comments on the floor of the Senate was “unambiguously in defence of democracy” adding that he has respect for the Nigerian Armed Forces, and that comments made by lawmakers in the course of their duty should be situated within the proper context before any form of reaction.
“I never called for a military coup. I never said the military was planning any coup,” he said.
“Even the military’s statement admitted that my statement was only cautionary and that we were sincere. But they went as far as saying that the international community should ignore my words of caution.
“Of course, some people took it out of context and said I was calling for a military coup.
“I hold the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces in high regard. They have defended our democracy, our people and have acquitted themselves creditably.
“If they need anything now, it is encouragement because this is not the best of times for them. But we do hope that when parliamentarians make statements, they (the military) should be able to know exactly what they said before reacting so that we don’t overheat the system.”
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