By Joy Baba-Yesufu
The Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS) General Christopher Musa has urged Nigerians to be positive in attitude about the enormous challenges the country is facing at the moment and speak well of the country adding that it is important that we take ownership of our country.
General Musa gave the charge at a one-day seminar organized by Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) with the theme “Civil Military Relations: Non Kinetic efforts of the Nigerian military in security management, challenges and prospect’.
He said the enforcement of Nigerians non kinetic efforts is geared towards winning the hearts and minds of citizens and encouraging other sectors of the society to take ownership of the situation in order to contribute meaningfully to defeating the multifaceted threats.
The CDS further said it is worthy to note that the non-kinetic efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria has produced appreciable outcomes complementing their kinetic actions.
“Accordingly, the traditional notion of war relying heavily on kinetic means is gradually being relegated and we are now seeking to possess and apply non kinetic approaches to project power, secure interests and solve problems.
“Though the overall power potential of the country is still being determined by conventional military artists, there is no doubt that the non-kinetic means are becoming more relevant in the power potentials of Nigeria.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria, being the key driver encountering the myriad of security threats nationwide has sustained non military and soft strategies as a means to an end of this multifaceted threats.
“I am highly aware of the multidimensional challenges that confront our nation in the domain of security. We must wish our country well and our leaders well. When they err, let us call them to question and profer solution. It’s not just negative criticism. Every day you are insulting, You’re calling for God to punish, No, you cannot kill your country because you feel like that” the CDS added.
In his address, Director General of Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Major General Wahab Garba (rtd) said terrorism and insurgency depend on reportage noting that we tend to compare what is obtainable in the US and the UK to what is obtainable in Nigeria forgetting the cultural issues.
He said there are things that if you go beyond the boundary or beyond the level, then you are endangering the lives of those who are actually trying to secure the environment maintaining that the media must find a way of being ethical and being part of the challenges the country is going through.
Also speaking National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), rRear Adm. Yaminu Musa, (rtd) represented by Commodore BM Sule said Nigerian military has been actively involved in various non kinetic initiatives aimed at promoting stability, peace and development as the non kinetic approach has become increasingly relevant in managing today’s complex security landscape.
