The military on Sunday denied knowledge of a recent guard’s parade held by military personnel for Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.
In an interview with newsmen, 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 guard’s 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.
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.
Peoplesmind
