From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Rebirth Movement and Unity Advocacy Group, have described as “distractive and diversionary” alarmed raised by some unidentified soldiers over delay in the payment of their salaries.
It was reported that some soldiers were yet to receive their July 2022 salaries.
But in a joint statement by Ifeanyi Aigbedion and Oladapo Bolaji, on Thursday, they claimed that the story lacked substance and capable of causing problem for the country especially at a time when their services are urgently needed.
They claimed that delay in salary payment was not deliberate as it could be caused by some technical hitches in the face global economic meltdown.
Aigbedion, however, commended personnel of the Armed Forces for their numerous sacrifices in the face of the security challenges and urged them not to allow enemies of the country thwart their efforts.
“We wonder what the story is out to serve. In which interest is it? What is the substance? How does it boost troop morale?
“The media should harken to the plea of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor and adopt the German Press Code which says in reporting actual and threatened acts of violence, the press should carefully weigh the public interest in information against the interest of victims and other people involved.
“The CDS when he delivered a lecture at the National Defence College on the topic ‘National Security and Development: Strategic Options for Nigeria’, in Abuja, hinted that the military was implementing new strategies to ensure an end to raging insecurity in Nigeria.
“You don’t go to the market and throw stones. No one is exempted from the security challenges, as such all hands should be on deck to defeat the enemies of the country.
“We must support the military to implement their new strategies and not weaken their efforts,” he said.