The Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Thisday newspaper, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, has asked the Nigerian military to stop getting involved in arresting protesters but to go after kidnappers and other criminals in the country.
Mr. Obaigbena made this call at the 2024 third quarter of the Nigerian Army Civil/ Military Operation Media Chat held in Makurdi, on Thursday.
He also called on the military to stop getting involved in protecting electoral riggers saying free and fair elections would form a Government that would be accountable and there would be no protest.
He said: “Looking at what is happening across other African countries like Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and others where the military has turned against themselves, we can say that the Nigerian Army has done well.
“Peace is very necessary for development. Our soldiers sacrifice their lives everyday to give us peace. We should not take it for granted. We should work with them. But the military should do more.
“You should stop getting involved in arresting protesters, arrest kidnappers. Good governance will stop protests but Kidnappers have to do with the wrath of the law.
“Stop getting involved in protecting electoral riggers. If you conduct proper elections, your Government will be accountable.”
The media mogul urged the Nigerian Government to ensure that the armed forces are properly funded saying “I call that at least 25 percent of our national budget should be channeled to security and the Armed forces and that budget will include technologies.
“Before today, we have national satellite companies and other agencies who have been working and if we integrate our national satellite capability with our war in the North East, the North West, we can monitor bandits in Kaduna.
“We spend so much money on national security, we spend so much money on national satellite technologies and across the board, we have to look at national security as a holistic Government approach.
“We have the entire infrastructure combined with the army and the army has to provide enough weapons. We need to have a vibrant defense industry.”
While wondering why Nigeria is still importing bullets with other arms like AK-47 and the likes, Obaigbena insisted that “we have to integrate our whole defense infrastructure with our technology infrastructure to keep us safe and protect Nigerians from the new world order.”
“Nobody knows what is going to happen. There is a crisis in the Middle East, a crisis in Ukraine, we should be ready to keep our peace and keep ourselves going,” Obaigbena added.
“If I say 25 percent of our national budget should go to the armed forces, then 25 percent should also go to education, especially in the North so that we can get our people educated.
“Then another 25 for health and poverty. We have to support our vulnerable people in our society. Then we have to reduce taxes and return people’s money in their hands. They will grow their own food, their own transport and they will sort themselves out.
“We should continue to encourage the engagement between the media and the armed forces to ensure national security.”
In his welcome address, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Maj. Gen. Nosakabre Ugbo, emphasized the critical role of collaboration between the military and the media in enhancing national security.
Maj. Gen. Ugbo underscored the evolving nature of security threats, driven by technological advancements and globalization, and how a solid military-media alliance could help mitigate such complexities.
“The Nigerian Army’s Civil-Military Operations and our partnership with the media are pivotal in securing the necessary support and cooperation from civil society as we carry out our constitutional responsibilities,” he said.
He acknowledged the media as an indispensable conduit for reaching the public, stating, “The media is a critical leader through which we can reach the people. Today’s theme underscores the importance of this partnership in guaranteeing the much-needed support toward a secure, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria.”
Maj. Gen. Ugbo further noted the Nigerian Army’s commitment to building relationships that foster unity and understanding across communities.
He explained that the media chat provided a valuable opportunity for the military to engage with media professionals on vital issues concerning national security.
“The security environment has become increasingly unpredictable, and everyone must contribute their quota in navigating its challenges,” he said. “A robust military-media alliance is paramount to enhancing national security and promoting economic well-being.”
He also touched on efforts by the Nigerian Army to enhance professionalism through training and retraining, which align with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained and motivated force.
“We are dedicated to building a professional army and improving infrastructure in communities where our troops operate,” he added.
Maj. Gen. Ugbo expressed hope that the engagement would “build lasting partnerships that will promote national security and national unity.”
Daily Query reports that the media chat is part of the Nigerian Army’s broader strategy to strengthen its relationship with civil society, using the media as a bridge to ensure transparency and trust between the military and the public.
