The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, called on Nigerians yesterday to desist from the habit of raining curses on the nation and its leaders.

Musa warned that Nigerians must realise the efficacy and power of the spoken word and its capacity to do damage.

He made the comment at a one-day seminar themed: “Civil-Military Relations: Non-kinetic Efforts of the Nigerian Military in Security Management, Challenges and Prospects,” organised by the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) at the Army Resource Center in Abuja.

He said Nigerians must be optimistic about the nation for it to move forward.

His words: “There must be a nation before you can even discuss it, and that is very critical. Sometimes, I find it very hard to understand when I hear Nigerians speaking evil about their country.

“We all know as Africans that there’s power in the word. What you say means a lot. We must learn how to be positive about our country. That’s the only way we can be productive.

“We have seen countries, most countries, it’s not like they don’t have issues, but they don’t put their own problems in the forefront like we do, and that is what is affecting us as individuals.

“So, it’s important that we must take ownership of our country. We must wish our country well and our leaders well. When they err, let us call them to question and proffer solution.”

The defence chief further said: “It’s not just negative criticism. Every day, you are insulting; you are abusing. You are calling God to punish.

“No, you cannot kill your country because you feel it is just that you feel like that. You don’t grow a country with such attitude.

“There must be a nation before you can even discuss it, and that is very critical. Sometimes, I find it very hard to understand when I hear Nigerians speaking evil about their country.”