By Ayo Thomas
That Nigeria is passing trying times is not in doubt! While current events shaping the state of our Nation may be unsettling and disrupting daily life and activities, yet the combined efforts of the Military and the security agencies have rekindled the Nations dwindling hopes by their exemplary performance in upholding international best practice in the handling and management of the protest and creating a safer environment to ensure safety of life and property.
Most importantly, the professional handling of the trigger and tracing and identification of sponsors and unraveling the sinister motives of the protest including the efforts of the external enemies of the Nation to take undue advantage cannot but be well appreciated by Nigerians who have now become more proud to fully own and support the Armed forces and the entire Security Agencies under the coordination of the Chief of Defense Staff General Chris Musa.
Today, the people centric philosophy of the CDS has given birth to a new Public Information Processing and Management Thrust by creating a new channel of directly connecting and relating firsthand information and updating Nigerians through the combined Media briefings by Heads of Security Agencies and Service Chiefs at the Defense Headquarters, on the combined efforts to return the Nation to normalcy. Nigerians are not only informed at the moment, they are rest assured, they know the truth and are now fully aware of the need to stay connected and understand the fact that their safety and the overall wellbeing of the Nation is tied to the success of the joint operations of the Military the Security agencies who have so far performed creditably well and within the confines of the Nations constitution and with the highest display of empathy, support and care for the protesters.
To the CDS, he is fully aware that Public Information Management in times like this is a war that must be fought with highest level of professionalism and cognitive combat skill” and it only hoped that the entire Nation will appreciate this as the highest level of respect, honour and love the Armed Forces and security agencies have for the country in line with their commitment to their task to arrest any form of drift of the Nation out of peaceful co-existence into instability and anarchy.
Special appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for embracing international best practices acknowledging Citizens constitutional rights to protest. We also acknowledge Mr. Presidents choice of General Chris Musa as the Nation’s Chief of Defense Staff [CDS] and the Nations War general at this critical time who has demonstrated highest commitment to the survival of Democracy, rule of law and the Unity of purpose of this great Nation. We are very optimistic that Mr. President will consider, in the best interest of the Unity and stability of the Nation, heed to the concerns of Nigerians, Youth in particular, advocating for fundamental reforms to address pressing issues impacting their wellbeing. We therefore enjoin all Nigerians to appreciate, support and join hands together with “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and his Security Chiefs” in his efforts to enthrone peace and tranquility so as to protect life and property and make Nigeria better.
And in line with the People Centric Philosophy of CDS General Chris Musa, we use this opportunity to enjoin all sectors of the Nigerian Society to collaborate with the him and his team through the use of instrumentalities of Strategic Consultations, Meetings, Discussion, and Dialogue towards boosting our collective societal resilience to overcome evils of the times and to consolidate our national unity and cohesion as one great country. The importance of constructive dialogue on any issue affecting the Nation cannot be overemphasized at this time, we therefore urge Nigerians irrespective of ethnic, political and religious affiliation to engage relevant Government in a way to promote Dialogue, understanding and peaceful co-existence.
At this juncture, we wish to use this opportunity to strongly appeal to the organizers of the protest to boldly come out and present their demands in a highly civilized, orderly and peaceful manner rather than remain faceless as this attitude will only promote unnecessary misunderstandings instead of helping to prevent conflicts and ensuring peaceful resolution of grievances.
I want to appreciate the Inspector-General of Police, Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Service Chiefs of Army, Navy, air force and Defence, Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Commander-General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their exemplary professional leadership and the conduct of their Men in the ongoing exercise to wrest the Nation from anarchy.
God bless Nigeria.
Thomas is of Defence Support Advocacy Project.