By Akinwale Kasali
The Nigeria Army Headquarters and the Department of Civil Military Affairs are wooing the Media. At a seminar with media personalities, in the mainstream, online media and media experts in Lagos, it tasked participants on the need to use the media to promote peace, unity and tranquility.
It was the 7th edition of such seminar across the six geo-political zones of the country. The Nigeria Army stated the role of the social media in Civil- Military Relations as a Non-Kinetic tool for enhanced peace and security in Nigeria.
Head of the Department of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General US Mohammed spoke on the constitutional responsibilities of the Nigerian Army and its support with other security authorities in combating the security challenges prevalent in the country.
He stressed the efforts of the Nigerian Army in the six geo-political zones, pointing out that the South-South is a unique case because of the security challenges encountered in the course of the protection of oil facilities. In the North-East, the Boko Haram scourge has been a major issue.
Mohammed lamented the wrong use of social media, adding that fake news and hate speeches are destructive and could set the country ablaze if not checked.
“It’s disheartening to see people reporting falsehood, most especially about the Nigeria Army. Many of our men have sacrificed and still sacrificing their lives to protect the nation. It’s however pains one to the Bone marrow when they are not appreciated by their countrymen, who keep on insulting them, saying and writing bad things about them.
“Let’s all imbibe the spirit of love and patriotism for our country, because doing the opposite means undermining our country. The people in the other countries will always believe whatever we say of our own country,” he admonished.
Speaking further, Mohammed explained that the need for the Army headquarters to create the Department of Civil Military Affairs was to interface with the people and create a positive image of the Army, and, thus change the people’s perception about them.
Brigadier General Goni, a member of the DCMA said that the media and what they report and write go a long way. He admonished the media to be factual, objective and just in their reportage to avoid heating up the polity.
“We need to promote peaceful coexistence among us as a people regardless of our beliefs, tribe, languages, ethics, norms and values. Firstly, we are Nigerians before being a Christian, Muslim and any other religion we practice. We must potray our nation in good light because that’s the way outsiders and foreigners will see us. We must abhore fake news that will cause chaos, because our security and unity as a nation are crucial and undebateable”, he concluded.
