Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa has said that after evaluating current efforts at forging robust military-media relations, it is gratifying that it is working well. Further push is needed to move it to greater heights.
He stated this at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja on Monday during a courtesy visit by the Board of Editors of Spokesman Newspapers Limited, publishers of the Nigerian Spokesman Magazine, led by its chairman, Mr. Emeka Nwankpa, accompanied by his media group’s management team.
He told the visiting media-preneurs that he has in the past one year of his appointment as the 18th Chief of Defence Staff vigorously pursued military’s strategic collaboration all segments of the Nigerian society including the media as a deliberate whole-of-society move to deepen mutual trust and promote a shared vision of a secure, stable, peaceful and prosperous nation where all citizens are free to pursue their legitimate enterprise without let or hindrance.
The defence chiefs expressed satisfaction and hope about possibility of the existing military-media relations improving incrementally, saying the present position has contributed immensely to a far better public perception of and confidence in ongoing military and joint operations across the country which he noted had invariably improved strategic communication activities of the entire armed forces architecture.
Commending the publisher and the Board of Editors of the Nigerian Spokesman Magazine for devoting its entire 40-page special edition captioned: A New Momentum under CDS, to DHQ’s activities to commemorate his first year in office, the Chief of Defence described the gesture as another ennobling manifestation of the Nigerian media’s unwavering commitment to keeping the Nigerian public adequately informed of the military’s commitment to their safety and security as a means of promoting greater stakeholder buy-in and appreciation.
Dedicating the special publication to his gallant troops and to the memory of fallen heroes, the defence chief noted that the media’s increasing positive portrait of the compelling accomplishments of the military in ongoing operations across the country has significantly raised public consciousness, understanding and trust which he said had immensely boosted troops’ morale to inflict more mortal damage against the nation’s sworn enemies.
“We note, with delight, the Nigerian media’s positive portrayal of our notable accomplishments in ongoing operations across the country. This has raised significant public interest, awareness and appreciation. Our troops’ morale is boosted with this increased encouragement to go after enemy forces and end these fights in no time. They are going down.
“Already, the tide is turning against them. More tired Boko Haram members are repenting and surrendering to the superior firepower of our forces. As we speak, our Operation Safe Corridor in Mallam Sidi in Gombe is abuzz with new intakes undergoing necessary profiling and deradicalization processes. We will continue to break the back of Boko Haram. This is another message to their hibernating members in the bush to give up the fight, surrender and make themselves more useful to the society.
“As much as we can, we will continue to give whatever support and encouragement to the media, including our defence correspondents here in DHQ, to go round and see for themselves what we are doing at the various joint operations areas, because it is only what you can see that you can bring to light for the people to see. This is a Nigerian challenge, not just a military challenge’’, he said.
The defence chief reiterated the Nigerian military’s unflagging commitment to a secure, stable, peaceful, united, prosperous and indivisible nation, stressing that Nigeria remained the only country to which the armed forces owed its total sacrifice to protect from undue distractions and apprehensions, as well as foster and uphold its peace and unity.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Emeka Nwankpa, expressed appreciation to the CDS for swiftly responding to his request for a courtesy visit. He extolled the military chief’s capacity to weld the entire Armed Forces into a huge, organic and impenetrable force against the nation’s multi-faceted existential threats.
He particularly expressed excitement that his wife, Mrs. Lilian Oghogho Musa, as current president of Defence Police Officers Wives’ Association (DEPOWA), was being hailed across military barracks for complementing DHQ’s noble welfare policies and programmes for women married to military men.
He said under her watch, DEPOWA as a strong umbrella body of barracks women across the country has empowered and energized a huge number of members to engage in profitable ventures to enable them stand on their feet and support their husbands fighting at the frontlines thereby boosting their fighting spirit by keeping the home front stable, strong and peaceful.
Describing the military chief’s people-centric leadership concept as the most defining element of his dynamic leadership style that places the highest premium on the general welfare of military personnel, he said that his (CDS’) clarion calls for good governance and whole-of-society approach to national security was legendary and commendable.
Mr. Nwankpa also commented on the synergy existing among the Service Chiefs, attributing the strings of operational successes in the past one year to the rancor-free interagency collaboration aggressively championed and spearheaded by the CDS and promoted by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar to bolster all counterinsurgency operations in the North East.
Shortly before the end of the historic visit which took place very late (it was learnt he stays till 10pm sometimes), the publisher sought and obtained his quick nod (his close aides present) to pray for renewed successes of the armed forces in the ongoing operations.
Nigerian Spokesman’s Executive Director, Human Resources, Mrs. Esther Nwankpa prayed that God grant the CDS, his generals and commanders the upper hand over troublers of the nation to bring the wars to a quick end and restore final peace to the nation.
