The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor has reiterated that Nigerian Military has a covenant with Nigerian Democracy, assuring that 2023 general elections are going to be free, safe and secured.
Irabor made the remarks during a parley with media executives at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Defence Chief said: “Sometimes last week, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), had a forum for personnel of the police, the military and other security agencies that will be involved in the election and I made a statement that as members of the Armed Forces, we have a covenant with the electoral process.
“That statement presupposes that we will do anything to create the condition for free, safe and secured conduct of the 2023 general elections. We will do everything to ensure that nothing stops it.
“We have a covenant with the Democratic process”.
The Nation reports that the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Mustapha Isah, the Director, Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor and the Chief Executive Officer of The Media Today, Mr. Charles Odenigbo called for more collaboration between the military and the media.
Isah asked the media to be part of the campaign to address the nation’s security challenges.
Akpor said the essence of the parley was to build a sustainable trust between the media and members of the armed forces.
Akpor said the meeting was in line with the leadership focus of Irabor toward fostering professional armed forces capable of meeting constitutional imperatives.
Odenigbo on his part said the Military and the media must be frank and open to each other in ensuring peace and security in the country.
He said, although military operations could not be discussed in the open, there was a need to see how the media could fit into the activities of the military.