Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has called on Editors and media executives to see the fight against insecurity as a collective effort towards nation building.
The CDS gave the charge in a keynote address at media parley with Editors and media executives with the theme “The role of editors in national security and conflict sensitive communication” at the Defence Headquarters Abuja.
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He said the forum was aimed to discuss and establish a common front in the course of nation building.
General Irabor said gone are the days when media executives saw insecurity as their thing but rather a collective responsibility.
“We are here for a common *cause*, and that common cause is our freedom and movement, that common cause is for a secure environment, that common cause is also to look forward to fulfilling our desires first as individuals in a community of nations.
“So I believe that this parley today will help us to be on the same page,not because anyone is trying to be patronising but because we have a role, you have a role in nation building.
“You have a role to play in contributing to the right means for the socio-economic development of our nation
“All along,it is we versus them. I’m hopeful that at the end of this parley today, we will no longer see ourselves as “we” versus “them” rather, it will be an engagement about us, an engagement about what defines us as far as we live in this space Nigeria. So, whatever influences one may have outside of the territorial space of Nigeria, you must begin to understand that you are the best person to keep Nigeria safe. No one outside of these shores loves you better than you love yourself.
This engagement will help us to be on the same page. Not because one want to be patronising but because you all have a duty,” he said.
The Director, Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, in his welcome remarks said the military hierarchy considers editors crucial at a time the nation fights adversaries.
He said the media executives will be better positioned at the end of the engagement to discuss issues of national interest
He added that due to long standing frosty relationship between the military and the media, “the programme is to build trust and confidence of the media as the Armed Forces conduct it’s operations.
“Your standing in the spectrum of media space is very crucial at this time of our nation’s history. Reconginizing the crucial role the media has to play in advancing the course of national security, the leadership of the Nigeria Armed Forces use see you as people who cannot be ignored.”
In his presentation fact checking and conflict sensitive communication Yushau Shuaib called on media executives to always fact check every peice of information and guard against misinformation in the days of social media.
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