The military on Sunday denied knowledge of a recent guards parade held by military personnel for Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.
In an interview with The PUNCH, the Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, said the personnel captured in a viral video are unknown to the military.
In the video, Seyi Tinubu was seen being accorded a presidential honour and inspecting a guards parade, with personnel dressed in military uniforms.
Gusau, who was shown a screenshot from the video, said, “They are not our personnel. We don’t dress that way. We don’t have this type of badge of rank. We don’t know them.”
In a statement on Sunday, former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, called for an investigation into a reported military parade involving Seyi Tinubu.
In a statement issued by his media office on Sunday, Atiku expressed his dismay, describing the event as an “anomaly” and a “serious breach of military tradition.”
“It is with utter dismay and concern that Nigerians were subjected to a nauseating video circulating online, where a group of young men, armed and in full military procession, bestowed upon the President’s son unwarranted military honours,” the ex-Vice President said.
He questioned the legitimacy of the group involved, which reportedly identified itself as the “Nigeria Cadet Network.”
Atiku argued that the group is not a recognised entity within the Nigerian Armed Forces and accused it of exploiting military traditions for political theatrics.
“In an effort to uncover the truth behind this shameless procession, we instructed our legal team and military experts to investigate the so-called ‘Nigeria Cadet Network.’ To no one’s surprise, it was revealed that the group is not a legally registered entity,” Atiku stated.
“What is even more alarming is the brazen use of firearms by civilians in this so-called parade — at a time when illegal arms proliferation is at a dangerous high in our country,” he added.
Atiku urged the relevant security agencies to investigate the origin and legality of the firearms displayed by members of the “Nigeria Cadet Network.”
He questioned the legitimacy of the military honours granted to Seyi Tinubu by non-commissioned civilians under the protection of security personnel and criticised the misuse of the title “Cadet” by an unregistered and unauthorized group.
He further stressed, “Preserving the integrity of the Nigerian Armed Forces is paramount. If it is determined that any legal violations were committed by the President’s son or members of the so-called ‘Nigeria Cadet Network,’ it is the constitutional duty of Nigerian security agencies to ensure that the law takes its course and those responsible are held accountable.”
The video has sparked public outrage, with many questioning the appropriateness of granting military-like honours to a private citizen who holds no official public position.
Critics argue that such actions undermine the prestige and professionalism of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
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