Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor, has charged Nigerian journalists to be patriotic and see the unity of Nigeria as foremost of all while carrying out its duties of news reporting.
He said while journalism performs an important role in the Nigerian society as it presents news and analysis, its responsibility for a safer society was paramount, especially at a time of security challenges as was present in the country.
He spoke at a 3-Day conference on “Enhancing Journalists-Military Cooperation in Checking Insecurity” in Nigeria.
“Putting the country first in all we do will contribute greatly to enhancing journalists and military cooperation. Patriotism helps us to set aside professional differences and peculiarities to project our country favourably in the eyes of both national and global communities.
“Being patriotic entails that we will not remain unconcerned in contributing our quota towards addressing and proffering solutions to security problems in the country.
“Patriotism is also key in advancing the whole-of-the-society approach, which harps on the need for all hands to be on deck to defeat the enemies of the state.
General Irabor was represented by the Chief of Defence Civil-Military Cooperation, Rear Admiral A. O. Ayobanjo.
The Army chief also said that “journalists and members of the armed forces are partners in progress. They need each other to actualize the mandates of their professional callings. For instance, notwithstanding military monopoly in the use of weapons of violence, it cannot win the war in the hearts and minds of the people by kinetic means.
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“On the other hand, despite journalists’ ability to use the power of the pen and media to articulate and disseminate opinions and issues, they need a safe space and conducive environment facilitated by the military and other security agencies for human activities to thrive.
“This marriage of necessity between the military and journalists has come to stay because there cannot be any form of development in the absence of enduring peace and tranquillity in Nigeria and the said, marriage is not altogether without conflict.”
Addressing the participants at the conference, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Christopher Isiguzo said national security was non-negotiable.
He said: “Internal security must be seen, and in the real sense to occupy the hierarchy of National Interest and be accorded the highest level of priority. It is non-negotiable and it does not permit undue compromise. It is therefore one of the few values for which states are prepared to make ultimate sacrifices.
“It is necessary to state that conflict is inevitable and that the consequences are usually negative and therefore, citizens easily have negative orientations to it and its association with unpleasant and uncomfortable things.
“The media no doubt, still remain one of the most reliable institutions, especially in the context of conflict resolution and development. Inherent in the media are the elements of developmental journalism, social responsibility and agenda-setting.
“All these combine to provide the media with the capability to become a manager of the conflict, a harbinger of peace and therefore a contributor to a stable nation.”
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