Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Thursday, launched a national campaign to rally the support of
Nigerians for the military, especially in the fight against
insurgency.
”The men and women in uniform who are risking all, including making
the supreme sacrifice, to keep us safe deserve the support and prayers
of all Nigerians, not vilification, insults and other acts that are
capable of dampening their morale,” Minister said while launching the
campaign, tagged the National Campaign in Support of the Military, in
Abuja.
He said it is particularly important for Nigerians to support the
military at a time that it is facing a heightened challenge from
global terrorists.
”As our gallant men and women in uniform clear the remnants of the
home-grown insurgency called Boko Haram, they are confronting a fresh
crisis, a global insurgency. A faction of Boko Haram has aligned with
the global
terror group, ISIS, to form ISWAP, the Islamic State’s West African
Province. In other words, ISIS now has a strong foothold in West
Africa – with Nigeria in the forefront of the battle against them.
”Those who do not understand the fresh threat facing our nation, nor
appreciate the sacrifice of our troops, have now made it their
past-time to wage a campaign of disinformation against the military,
especially in the social media. Doctored videos and pictures
purporting to show mass military casualties are willfully circulated
online. Such unpatriotic acts are discouraging and demoralizing our
troops, and must stop forthwith,” Mohammed said.
While appealing to the media to play a lead role in the campaign, he
urged journalists covering the military
to show utmost professionalism in their reporting, especially by
seeking official clarification before reporting casualty figures, and
realizing that the military will not release the identities of
soldiers who have paid the ultimate price without first notifying
their families.
The Minister also urged the media not to reveal national security as
well as military plans, saying such acts can put our troops in harm’s
way,.
He however said those who engage in the act of disinformation against
the military are few, and do not represent the majority of Nigerians
who appreciate the patriotism and the sacrifice of our gallant troops.
”That’s why we are launching this campaign, to mobilize the majority
of the good people of Nigerians, irrespective of their political,
religious or ethnic leanings, to show support for our military,”
Alhaji Mohammed said, adding: ”It’s not unusual, as a matter of fact
it’s usually the practice, that when a country is faced with this kind
of challenge, people will sink their differences and work together.”
He explained that the campaign will be multi-faceted, and will include
production and airing of special jingles on radio and television,
social media intervention and advocacy.
The launch of the campaign was attended by the Director of Defence
Information, Brig.-Gen. John Agim, Director of Public Relations and
Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle
Daramola, Director Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman and
the Director Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Sulaiman Dahun.
