The Nigerian Union of Journalists on Saturday said residents of the North East can now sleep with their two eyes closed as a result of the gallantry of the Nigerian military, which has degraded the Boko Haram insurgents in the region.
The journalists also lauded the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, for his leadership skills, which has restored glory to the Nigerian Army, while also commending the military for robust relationship with the media.
The President of the NUJ, Waheed Odusile, made the position of the Union known when he spoke at a parley between Buratai and the media.
Odusile said Nigerians are proud of the Army for restoring pride to the nation through their gallantry.
He said: “We are proud of our Nigerian Army, which is second to none in the world.”
He particularly commended the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and particularly saluted the efforts of the Chief of Army Staff for the courageous and dedicated war against terrorism in Nigeria.
He appreciated the Nigerian Army for the robust relationship with members of the fourth estate and lauded the military operation in the North East.
According to Odusile, he was on the streets of Maiduguri, Borno State till midnight.
He said the serenity suggested that Boko Haram had never existed before.
He drew comparison from his other visits to Maiduguri during his campaign to head journalists all over the country and was forced to retire to bed at barely 6pm.
In his remarks earlier, the Chairman of the FCT chapter of the NUJ, Comrade Abechi Paul Ella, said Nigeria has witnessed many professional exploits in the fight against terrorism.
Ella said Buratai’s reign has brought about a humbling of the once dreaded BoKo Haram terrorists that once ravaged the Nigerian State.
He stressed on the need for a partnership between the Nigerian Army and journalists in the successes recorded against Boko Haram so far.
The Chapter applauded the Nigerian Army as an institution that has continued to do the nation proud in international operations and the record under Buratai is superlative
In his response, Buratai promised a better working relationship in the development of the country and particularly called on the media to leverage on the popular slogan that security is everyone’s business.
Buratai said the war on terrorism has recorded enormous success as observed by Odusile and Ella.
He decried the negative use of the media by some powerful and selfish individuals to rubbish the good intentions of the government and some actors who are doing their best to help move the nation forward.
He said the media should not allow paid detractors to seize their platforms to achieve selfish gains, but rather continue to rededicate themselves to national development through factual reporting that Nigerian journalists were known for in the past.
[todayng]
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