The Commander, 13 Amphibious Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar, Cross River State, Brigadier General Muftau Owodiran Ibrahim, has called for a greater patriotism and cooperation among the Nigerian populace to improve the country’s image, and to overcome security challenges faced by the nation.
Brig. Gen. Ibrahim also called on the media to always highlight the activities and the successes of the military and other security agencies to prevent misinformation and promote peace and security.
Commander Ibrahim made the call on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the newly constituted EXCO and some members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council.
The visit was led by the first female chairman of the council, Comrade Archibong Bassey.
In his words, Commander Ibrahim said, “It is important that we love, secure and be patriotic towards our nation. I don’t believe anything is wrong with Nigeria, the citizens are just the ones who give the nation a bad image, when in reality, this nation is blessed.”
Ibrahim also stated that no militancy or insurgency can exist in any nation without the support of the local populace.
He also acknowledged the existence of security challenges in every geopolitical zone of Nigeria but noted that Cross River State was relatively peaceful due to the peace-loving nature of its people.
He expressed his appreciation for the media’s role in the nation’s development and urged them to focus more on reporting the accomplishments of the military rather than the activities of criminal elements.
“Without the media beaming light on the activities and wins of the Nigerian Army, it will not be known and there would be a lot of misinformation.
“Sometimes, we take action that the civil populace don’t understand and sometimes, there are accidents but our intentions at the end of it all is the peace and security of Nigeria,” Commander Ibrahim said.
He pointed out that while criminal elements may win once and receive extensive media coverage, the victories of the Nigerian military often go unnoticed, saying, “All that the criminal elements need is to win once and they are all over the media while the Nigerian military wins everyday, yet no one notices.”
He expressed concern about the growing influence of social media, where individuals make inciting and provocative statements that can potentially harm the nation, stressing that some of these individuals have little knowledge of Nigeria or its security challenges, and yet they continue to spread harmful content abroad.
Ibrahim used the chance to enumerate the essence of loving and securing the nation, reminding the audience that Nigeria is a blessed country that often suffers from a negative image due to the actions of a few misguided citizens.
In her response, Comrade Archibong Bassey commended the Nigerian Army for its enormous contributions to the nation’s security challenges, acknowledging that the army’s heroic achievements are not often recognized, with the exception of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Comrade Bassey expressed the union’s willingness to partner the army to ensure that its activities are properly showcased and appreciated.
The meeting between the Nigerian Army and the members of the Fourth Estate Realm serves as a platform for strengthening the relationship between the military and the media.
The meeting also highlights the need for accurate and balanced reporting to provide the public with a better understanding of the challenges faced by the Nigerian Army and the efforts they are making to secure the country’s peace.
The NUJ also visited the Cross River State Headquarters of the Department of State Services to promote mutual working relationships.
