Mr. Olukolade said this at the launch of his new books in Abuja: “Issues in the mobilization of public support for military operations in Nigeria and The Voice and battles of the Nigerian military”.
He said he started out as a young Army Public Relations Officers and has made progress in helping to restore the capabilities of the Directorate of Army Public Relations.
“In that humble position I never wavered, I never shivered but pressed on in my responsibility to make the fighting force public spirited and free. I would always say to anyone, Give me the military or give me nothing, “he said.
Mr. Olukolade said over time he has seen men and women of courage and industry whose job is to splash military stories across pages around the world.
“I think they misrepresent our stories not out of sheer mischief but out of mere disorientation,” he said.
He added that the only way to reduce the level of misinformation is to increase the skills of journalists and media executives to report issues of military affairs.
Mr. Olukolade noted that he has always sought to reduce the instances of misinterpretation of military actions but also eliminate public empathy towards the use of the military power when the need arises.
He said that since Nigerians live in an age where both the people and the military force are threatened by one common enemy, there should be a meeting point for the haters and minds of the two groups.
“In this order, we might forge a formidable front against unprovoked aggressions, which has made me set myself the inconceivably difficult task of setting the records straight,” he said
He added that the books are dedicated to all those who have dedicated their lives to fighting insurgency across the world.
The guest speaker, Jerry Gana, said Nigerians should lay more emphasis on building institutions rather than building big women and men.
“We should build institutions such as political, economic, social, education institutions that will sustain the process of development,” he said.
He called on all Nigerians to give total support to the Nigerian armed forces, adding that Nigerians have yielded to them the monopoly of legitimate violence so as to ensure the rule of law and order.
He urged the public to support the military psychologically, financially, morally.
A former military ruler, Yakubu Gowon, who was represented by a pastor, Austin Kayam, in a good will message said the books have set out ideas, exploits and rigorous research works in the quest for earning public confidence in the current Nigeria military operations in the north east of the country.
He said he is proud to be identified in the new literary work and confident that it will promote the desired service of the Nigeria military to the Nation.
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