Yesterday, the Defence Headquarters issued a warning to politicians and those who manage their social media accounts asking them to stop utilising photographs and videos of military troops in political campaigns and for personal gain. According to DHQ, this not only paints the military in a negative light but also has the potential to sow the seeds of distrust and instability.
The warning comes in the wake of two films that have gone viral, one of which allegedly depicts soldiers dancing on the battlefield and praising one presidential contender, while the other denigrates a different candidate.
Director of Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, who gave the warning in a statement, titled “Re: Videos of Soldiers Purported To Be Praising One Presidential Candidate While Insulting Another”, said: “For 23 years since 1999, the military has toiled night and day to protect and keep guard over Nigeria’s democracy.
”Thus, the same military cannot afford to be partisan or commit to any enterprise that would create disharmony in the polity.
“The attention of Defence Headquarters was drawn to two videos circulating online. The first video clip consciously portrays troops making merry and dancing to music purportedly in celebration and open endorsement of one presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections.
“The second video clip (with the same visuals as the first one) willfully shows troops supposedly dancing to a derogatory song that insults the personality of another presidential candidate.
“On face value, the videos send a disturbing signal to members of the public and the political class in particular, as the videos seemingly connote partisanship by military personnel and by extension, the entire military establishment.
“On closer scrutiny, however, it is evident that the original visual content (which was used for the two videos) was manipulated to produce the current ones in circulation.
“The original soundtrack of the videos was a usual morale-boosting song that soldiers sing during military exercises or activities.
“Unfortunately, certain individuals who are unknown at this point, took the video and superimposed different songs on the visuals, which soon went viral, thereby creating the odious impression that soldiers were promoting the candidacy of a particular politician, while disapproving the another.”
“While it is within the right of individuals to create media content for political purposes, it is grossly disingenuous to appropriate video of a military activity and use same to create contents that portray the military as partisan, political and unprofessional.”
“This is particularly despicable as the nation prepares for the 2023 general elections.”For 23 years since 1999, the military has toiled night and day to protect and keep guard over Nigeria’s democracy. Thus, the same army cannot afford to be partisan or commit to any enterprise that would create disharmony in the polity.