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Abuja (AFP) March 2, 2010 Nigeria's army chief vowed not to drag soldiers into politics Tuesday, as government tensions ran high from President Umaru Yar'Adua's continued public absence after a lengthy stay in a Saudi hospital. "We are military professionals and we are determined to remain so", Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau said during a meeting with retired military men. "Nobody, no matter what (...) will drag us into it (politics)". Dambazau spoke amid fears that the current political impasse in the country could lead to a military intervention in Nigeria, a country with a history of military coups. The long absence of Yar'Adua from the country without handing over powers to his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, stoked political tension in the country. "This is a difficult period for everyone but we know it is a political thing. We are not politicians," Dambazau said, "We know our constitutional responsibility. We don't need anybody to teach us and we will stick to it". Dambazau assured that his soldiers remained focused and "no amount of distraction will take us off track". Yar'Adua, who left Nigeria for Saudi Arabia on November 23, was in that country for 93 days while being treated for an acute heart ailment. He returned to Nigeria last Wednesday, but Information Minister Dora Akunyili said that neither acting President Jonathan nor ministers have seen him since his return. The 36 state governors are scheduled to meet Jonathan late Tuesday in Abuja to discuss the president's situation, officials said. The cabinet is also expected to receive on Wednesday a report on the mission of a ministerial delegation sent to visit Yar'Adua in Jeddah last week.
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