Pen is Mightier than Sword- General Buratai News

Pen is Mightier

Pen is Mightier than Sword- General Buratai
(Remarks by Lt. General Tukur Buratai at Media Conference for
Editors)

I am highly delighted to speak to the leading media
practitioners in Nigeria who make major contributions that shape
public perception on daily basis through national dailies,
electronic media as well as online media. There is no doubt that by
your distinct position, you can stabilize or destabilize situations
in any given security environment. The reasons are not far from the
fact that the pen is mightier than the sword. This media conference
organized by the Nigerian Army came at the right time when we are
faced with challenges of reporting military operations vis-a-vis
the concern to preserve our national security. The effort of the
military to ensure peace and security in our country is a
constitutional responsibility which requires support from all
sectors to make Nigeria safe from all forms of criminalities.

Therefore your roles as leading media practitioners in this
fight is key in shaping public opinion by reporting what is right
as at when due to avoid putting the lives of security agents in
danger.

The 4 days conference is expected to get your support in our
efforts to bring to an end, the fight against terrorism and
insurgency in Nigeria. The theme titled “Enhancing Military Media
Relationship for Effective Fight against Terrorism and Insurgency
in Nigeria’’ is carefully selected to address the current security
challenges bedevilling our nation. I want to believe that the
resource persons and academics drawn from various institutions will
dwell more on the need for maximum cooperation and cordial
relationship between the military and the media to effectively
fight this war. Therefore, I urge you all to be open and realistic
as you present issues that will lead us to have better
understanding of happenings in our country.

Let me draw your attention to the importance of collecting,
controlling and selection of information that goes out for public
consumption which you refer to as ‘gatekeeping’. As you are all
aware it is a process by which information is filtered to the
public by the media. Gatekeeping is the process of culling and
crafting countless bits of information into the limited number of
messages that reach people every day, and it is the centre of the
media’s role in modern public life. This process determines not
only which information is selected, but also the content and nature
of the messages. In your capacity as editors, you have the
responsibility of finding details of events, possibly by getting in
touch with the military command before going to press. When this is
observed it will go a long way in addressing some of the challenges
faced in reporting issues affecting national security. It is
important to note that the leakage of vital information on military
operation like the on-going fight against the Boko Haram terrorists
is inimical to national security as this will give our position to
the terrorists and give them upper hand in their psychological war
against the troops.

It is pertinent to note that not all information regarding
military operations will be made available to you, due to some
obvious reasons. This is because we are also ‘gatekeepers’ in
keeping secret of vital military operations for national security.
However, when such operations are conducted, relevant details will
be made available to the media for public consumption. In this
regard, I want to request the media to bear with us and exercise
patience while we remain committed to carrying you along in the
discharge of our various military operations in line with the
military constitutional roles and international best practices.

During my dinner and interactive session with some editors and
defence correspondents in Maiduguri on 23 December 2018; I made it
clear that it is imperative to check the spate of terrorists’
propaganda which is inimical to the successful implementation of
the counter insurgency campaign. Additionally, I also reaffirmed
that terrorists thrive on publicity to misinform the public, instil
fear in the minds of the people and dampen troops’ morale. I
further expressed worry over the campaign of calumny against the
military through social media platforms by some organizations to
the detriment of national security. Furthermore, the allegations of
human rights abuses against the military by Amnesty International,
allegations of lack of equipment and non-payment of allowances to
troops is ill-conceived and misleading. The war against terrorism
should be a collective responsibility for all, and not just a war
between the army and the terrorist groups. The war needs to be
reported as it is, and therefore, the media need to enlighten the
people to understand the true situation and support the military.
The impact of the terrorists propaganda was one of the major
challenges facing the military by discouraging and dampening morale
of the troops in the frontline.

Let me use this opportunity to stress that the commitment of the
Nigerian Army to maintain cordial and mutual relationship to enable
it end terrorism and insurgency and enhance national security is
our top most priority. Therefore, your effective reportage of the
campaign against insurgency, restoration of peace in the Northeast
and protection of lives and properties in the country will go a
long way to counter the terrorist narrative. The Nigerian Army has
established a human rights desk to promote civil military
relationship and enhance justice system as well as reorganized
various Divisions in line with my vision of having a professionally
responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional
roles. As part of our desire to improve the welfare of our men, we
have initiated various programmes such as rehabilitation of
offices, houses, office accommodation, clinics and equipment across
the barracks in the country.

I want to assure us all that the Nigerian Army will remain
disciplined, professional and apolitical in the discharge of its
constitutional mandate. The Army would do its best to end
insurgency, restore peace to the Northeast, and enhance security
and protection of lives and properties for economic activities to
strive. Furthermore, the Nigerian Army recently launched Ex EGWU
EKE III across the country aimed at combating all forms criminal
activities and provide safe and secure environment for the conduct
of the 2019 General Elections.

I urge you all to remain focused and we shall work together to
improve on our national security.

Lt General Tukur Buratai
Chief of Army Staff