Kinsmen of former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) have demanded an apology from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja over an alleged comment he made recently on Channels Television.
An elder statesman and chairman, Taraba State Civil Service Commission, Elder John Mammah made the demand on behalf of Danjuma’s kinsmen from Takum local government area of the state, while addressing journalists in Jalingo, the state’s capital.
Mammah accused Lagbaja of quoting Danjuma out of context during the recent interview with the television, claiming that the allegation was inflammatory and capable of igniting crisis among tribes in Taraba State, particularly in southern part of the state, if not well handled.
He alleged that the COAS had on May 31, 2024 during the interview with Channels TV said Gen. Danjuma accused the Nigerian Army of taking side in the Tiv, Jukun, Kuteb crisis in Takum local government area of the state, a statement he said did not go down well with the Chamba elder statesman.
Mammah said Danjuma did not utter anything inflammatory against ethnic groups nor made any inciting comment during the coronation of Chief of Takum as stated by Lagbaja in the interview.
“The Chief of Army Staff during his interview made a statement that TY Danjuma’s expectations from the Army does not represent what the Nigerian Army stand for; he further accused Danjuma of promoting ethnic bigotry which I could not find it in any of TY Danjuma’s speech during the coronation of Chief of Takum.
“I search for the speech where Danjuma made inflammatory statements about ethnicity or encourage the Army to go against other tribes, I could not find it. We expect the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff to apologise to Dajuma since he quoted him out of context,” Mammah said.
He further emphasised that all Danjuma has been preaching was for the people to protect themselves against aggressions since the Nigerian security could not cope with the insecurity of the land.
“I have been wondering what prompted the accusations by the Chief of Army Staff against Danjuma. It is out of place that a person of Danjuma who served Nigerian Army with all of his life can be accused without meaningful reasons. We demand apology from the Chief of Army Staff with immediate effect,” Mammah declared.
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