The CMR project was borne
out of our past challenges bordering on tensions between civilians and the
military occasioned by over three decades of military rule and the current
insecurities in various parts of the country. This has given rise to active deployment
of the military to many states and geopolitical zones of the country to contain
different security challenges. The use of the Armed Forces in virtually every
internal operations including elections, e.t.c. has seen a change of role for the military operating within
the framework of a constitutional democracy. Some military engagements have created
an atmosphere of mistrust and fear on the part of the civilians towards the
military necessitating many Nigerians to see the military more as occupying
forces than as providers of their security. This has unfortunately made the
work of securing lives and property difficult for the military who are supposed
to also depend on citizens’ support for intelligence gathering in containing
the numerous security challenges confronting the nation.
In today's democratic dispensation,
the culture and orientation of the Armed Forces in relation to civilians needs
to change significantly. There
is need for trust between civilians and the Armed Forces. We are at a critical
period in our nation’s history where the need to win hearts and minds of the
people has never been so significant. The CMR project by CLEEN Foundation seeks
therefore to create avenues for sustained dialogues between the civilians and
the security agencies while working at addressing the numerous challenges in
interpersonal relationship of both parties.
CLEEN Foundation believes
that the CMR Road Map produced
in Phase one is a strategic document that will address most of the issues we
face while offering broader opportunities to improve the existing relationship between civilians and the
military. These include accountability and transparency, lack of effective
communication strategies, lack of knowledge on CMR, duration of internal
operations and many others are among the issues contained in the road map for
further engagement. Phase two
of this project will work strategically with the Military, the National
Assembly, Police and other civil security agencies at different levels to advocate
for more accountable Armed Forces that respect the rights of the people, prioritizes
safety and security and is subject to civilian oversight.
