The Nigerian army have warned against using thugs to cause trouble as Nigerians prepare for the general elections in few days.
According to the statement made to Freelanews correspondent and other media practitioners by the General Officer Commanding 81 Division Nigerian Army, Maj Gen OC Ajunwa, during a media parley few days ago, there is no better security than prevention.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us as there is division of labour and specialisation in economics. All of us have different responsibility while working towards the same objective. This is in trying to make sure that the chapter two part of the Nigerian constitution is achieved; the purpose of government is for the security and welfare of the people,” the GOC said.
He also revealed that the media and the armed forces are partners in ensuring the security of lives and properties at all times.
“I can’t not do a journalist’s job, neither can a journalist do my job. The society needs a journalist, just as it needs somebody from defence or other security agencies. And all of them put together gives us a situation where we would be able to achieve that aspect of welfare and the security of the society.
“Just like we know, that without security, there is no development and vice versa. So. we’re all work in progress and working together to achieve the same purpose. And nobody is bigger than the other; we’re all equal stakeholders in the national issues. We all own this country together. What usually happens is that at a time, a set of people would have to do a certain responsibility that the society may think it’s very important. But that doesn’t reduce the important of other persons.
“On the forthcoming election, what are you doing as media practitioners to make sure the election is free and fair? Because you’re the one that has the ears to listening and the pen to write.
“Sometimes, you know more than I know and hear more than I hear being close to the citizens. There is a concept called see something, say something, which is about the security of the society and by extension, we’re all working for the security of the nation,” Maj Gen OC Ajunwa stated.
The GOC also intimated to the media practitioners, who caught across major mainstream media and online news platforms, on the preparedness of the army in ensuring the election is free and fair without a loss of any Nigerian life.
“The election is for all of us and not for the armed forces alone because the armed forces is highly apolitical. We’re going to work with whoever you elect for us to work with. Our primary objective is to make sure that no blood is shed and also ensure that no person’s ambition consumes the life of anybody. Because if somebody should die, that election is not worth it.
“Though, somebody may emerge as winner but in the real sense, there is no winner. If we’re able to achieve election that is free of violence, the Nigerian army would be very happy.
“As those saddled with physical security of the masses, I can tell you we’re not sleeping. You can see that over time, we’ve been shaking the system to make sure troublemakers know that we’re around. And we would continue to shake and make them uncomfortable.
“For those who are law abiding and follow the process; for those who would cast their votes and either go home or wait innocently, we would only promise them that we would provide them whatever security available to make sure that no harm comes to them.
“But for those who may want to thwart the system, I can’t tell you what those who would be on the ground would do,” he concluded.
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Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
