We welcome criticisms, but won’t condone propaganda–Buratai
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has stated that the Nigerian Army will always welcome and remain amenable to constructive criticisms that will assist it prosecute the counter-insurgency war.
He however, said the Army will not condone negative propaganda and misinformation that seek to undermine their efforts in safeguarding both the internal security and territorial integrity of the nation.
Buratai, made this known on Thursday, while receiving a delegation of Daily Sun newspaper, at the Army Headquarters, in Abuja.
According to the COAS, any institution that is not being criticised, needs to carry out a self-assessment check on itself to know whether everything is fine or not.
He pointed out that constructive criticisms are needed especially by the Army for stocktaking, with a view to identifying fundamental lapses and then to re-strategize for effective discharge of their responsibilities.
Buratai, called on the media to help in countering the negative misconceptions about the Armed Forces, and Army, in particular, through factual, accurate and objective reportage of their activities.
For the media not to contribute in jeopardizing national security, the Army Chief, emphasized the need for journalists to seek clarification on issues concerning security matters and operations of the Army, rather than relying on fake news and baseless information.
He maintained that for the war against insurgency and other criminalities to be won, there is need for the media and other stakeholders’ to partner the Army and other relevant security agencies.
He cautioned the media against promoting the activities of insurgents through giving them undue publicity on the pages of newspapers, and other media platforms.
Earlier, in a remark, Mr. Onuoha Oke, Managing Director/Editor-in-chief of Daily Sun, lauded the efforts of the Army in checkmating the activities of Boko Haram terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, among other criminal elements in the North East and some northern States.
He appealed to the COAS to extend a hand of fellowship to their newspaper to enable them report the patriotic and noble activities of the Army to teeming Nigerians.
By PRNigeria
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