By Isreal Joel
Global Peace and life rescue initiative (GOPRI) a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Non-Governmental Organization on Tuesday launched a troops support program in support of the Nigeria Military in Jos the Plateau state capital.
Addressing newsmen in Jos, Ambassador Melvin Ejeh, the Executive Director, GOPRI said the initiative is aimed at rallying support for the Nigerian Military, particularly the Nigerian Army in their continuous selfless roles to keep the country united.
He said that indigenous NGOs focus on peace-building, de-radicalization and community resilience architecture in North Central, North East, South East communities in particular and Nigeria at large.
Ambassador Ejeh further said that the program is the first phase of a civil society initiative to attract unbiased supports for the Nigeria Army and the military who are working tirelessly and sacrificially in the defense of the nation.
“This initiative becomes not only imperative but also expedient because of continuous, deliberate malicious, cyber, physical and emotional coordinated attacks on our Army.”
He stressed that the Nigerian Army is one that has earned its place in the enviable rank of the world’s bests in terms of professionalism, courage, resilience, and combat efficiency, with glowing tributes from her regional and global peace-keeping outings, as well as the management of the hydra-headed monster of insecurity within her borders.
“The Army deserves every accolade, encomium and support. However, factors such as misguided social media reports, activities of desperate politicians’ inadequate media coverage, ethnic, religious, political sentiment, some international media conspiracies have contributed immensely in giving the Army an unfair outlook.”
“This is despite the unquantifiable sacrifice of our gallant officers and soldiers in the discharge of their sworn duties of protecting the nation’s territorial integrity.”
He added that owing to the negative public perceptions about the Nigerian Army which has been orchestrated by false narratives in some quarters, the NGO decided to launch the programme tagged: “Troops Support Initiative” to project the service in good light, with a view to changing the long-held negative perception about the Nigeria Army.
“It has become worrisome to us that some international organisations and local news media agencies have deliberately targeted the Army in their blackmails aimed at setting the Nigerian public in particular and the outside world in general against the Nigerian Army despite their successes and sacrifices for the unity of the country.”
“We are, therefore, calling on all Nigerians, home and in the diaspora,to come together irrespective of their political, religious and ethnic differences to support our Army and other security agencies in the fight against crimes and insurgents in the interest of national unity. “This is most important given that we have not just one country but also one Army.”
Ambassador Ejeh added that the proposed initiative will deepen the civil-military relationships and foster a positive and more balanced public perception of the Army.
“Some Nigerians have constituted themselves as the mouthpieces of the criminals, insurgents, and bandits, hence the urgent need for this self-sponsored effort through troop support programme to tell the untold story of our Army with a view to galvanizing well-meaning Nigerians to support our Army.
We do not have another Army and country.
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These deliberate attempts by these adversaries and their agents to discredit the Nigerian military in the fight against insurgency, terrorism and criminality in the country should and must be resisted.
Ejeh also urged the Nigerian Army not to be deterred in its ongoing efforts to rid the country of terrorism and other forms of criminal acts in the country.
“Global Peace and Life Rescue Initiative (GOPRI), strongly commend the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Farouk Yahaya, over the Nigerian Army success so far under his dynamic leadership.”
“The Troops Support Project, we believe, will help in the realization of our mandate,” he further added.
