The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has urged media professionals to report issues relating to the fight against insurgency with national interest in mind.
The minister gave the advice during his maiden meeting with editorial heads of media houses in Lagos on Wednesday.
He made the plea against the backdrop of a recent publication, which he said was an attempt by insurgents to discredit the efforts of Nigerian military.
“As the Dec. 31 deadline approaches, Boko Haram and ISIS have launched their propaganda seeking to discredit the Nigerian military to give the impression that they (terrorist) are still holding sway.
A report in that regard was widely published in newspapers a few days ago.
This is not true, Boko Haram is dispersed and largely depleted; the insurgents are hungry, they are sick and desperate.”
He added that the sect had perfected plans to spread propaganda messages, especially during this festive season and urged the public to disregard such messages.
“In the days ahead, they (Boko Haram) will release propaganda videos through their usual channels.
We must not give this any play because it is nothing but a hoax.’’
He, therefore, enjoined media professionals to work in the spirit of national interest, saying “in this time of war, you cannot afford to be neutral.
“Yes, you must remain professional at all times and we are not asking you to do anything less but you must also act in the national interest always.
Acting in the national interest means not playing up the reports of the cowardly Boko Haram attacks on soft targets.
Acting in the national interest means not regurgitating the propaganda of Boko Haram and its fellow terrorist group, ISIS.
It means extolling the bravery and sacrifice of our gallantry; viewing the war from a partisan prism.
It also means rallying all Nigerians irrespective of our religious or political background to support the war.
“It is not a war of the north; it is not the war of any religion, it a war belonging to all of us’’, he said.
(NAN)
