President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors yesterday paid glowing tributes to the country’s fallen and living heroes as Nigeria commemorated the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD).
In Abuja, the president led other top government functionaries, including service chiefs and members of the diplomatic corps to honour the nation’s heroes.
The event involved laying of wreaths at the National Arcade. First to lay a wreath was the President, followed by the vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan; speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.
Other dignitaries who also performed the wreath-laying ceremony included the minister of defence, Retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Mohammed Bello; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and members of the diplomatic corps as well as the Nigerian Legion and widows of the late officers/soldiers represented by Mrs. Ladi Umar.
The event marked the climax of the 2021 AFRD, which started with the inauguration of the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem and Appeal Fund where the president appealed to Nigerians to desist from actions and comments that could jeopardise the unity and progress of the nation.
In a series of tweets, the president directed the service chiefs to ensure synergy in the fight against all forms of insecurity.
He said the federal government had invested heavily in weapons and equipment for use by the military adding that the welfare of the armed forces would continue to be the priority of his administration.
“As we commemorate #ArmedForces RemembranceDay, let me pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of all the men and women of our armed forces who have paid the supreme price for our unity, peace and security. We also salute our troops currently engaged in internal security operations.
“The welfare and wellbeing of our troops will continue to be a priority. We are investing heavily not only in weapons and equipment for their use, but also in provision of housing, medical care and other areas of welfare. And we will continue to make resources available.
“I am reiterating my directives to the service chiefs regarding greater synergy and cooperation, and also a more sustained focus on intelligence gathering and interpretation. I am confident that we will see significant improvement in our security situation this year.
“May the souls of all our departed heroes continue to rest in peace. We will continue to strive to ensure that their sacrifices on our behalf will never be in vain,” he wrote.
In his address, Magashi urged Nigerians to support the nation’s Armed Forces to boost their morale to win various ongoing campaigns in the country.
He said all Nigerians are critical stakeholders in maintaining a well-mobilised professionally responsible and responsive military capable of safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
He commended the president for providing the right leadership to secure the country internally and against external aggression but stressed that a buy-in by the public in the form of speaking well of the military would energise the nation’s fighting forces to win the battles.
In Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike called on President Buhari to change the service chiefs and alter security strategies to allow fresh ideas tackle the threats to the country’s internal insecurity.
Wike who stated this at the wreath-laying and parade ceremony held in Port Harcourt, however, acknowledged the efforts made so far by the country’s security chiefs in the battle against insurgents.
Nevertheless, he noted that despite full military engagement with Boko Haram and killer bandits, the threats appeared to be overwhelming the country’s security agencies.
The governor noted that Boko Haram insurgents, bandits and killer herdsmen had continued to overrun communities, randomly killing and abducting helpless people.
He said the insurgents also destroyed private and public property with relative ease, insisting it was time the federal government took decisive action to end the menace.
“A country is as strong as its Armed Forces. Her inability to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency despite years of full military engagement shows that all is not well with our approaches and commitments to the battle against the internal insecurity.
“Today, therefore, also raises the need for all of us to be worried by the deteriorating security situation across the country and restate the call on the federal government to do everything necessary to bring the security threat by Boko Haram and armed bandits to a decisive end in the shortest possible time.
“We thank the service chiefs for their efforts so far in the battle against the insurgents. But we also align with the concern of citizens that having seemingly reached their wit’s end, they should now give way for fresh hands and ideas to give the fight the impetus that it so strongly needs to ensure that Boko Haram and killer bandits are comprehensively defeated and smoked out of existence.
“The time has come for the federal government to stop the pretence, change strategy, seek help from our friends and confront the urgency of the internal insecurity situation in Nigeria with every weapon at its disposal to stop the killing, free all hostages and improve the physical security of our country for all Nigerians,” he said.
In Lagos, the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended Nigerian officers, dead and alive, for their commitment and sacrifice over the years.
Speaking at the Remembrance Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, where the AFRD was marked, the governor noted that the yearly celebration was a testimonial that government and Nigerians appreciate the sacrifices of the Nigerian military to keep the country one.
Sanwo-Olu expressed happiness that the celebration still held despite the coronavirus pandemic.
In Plateau, the state governor, Mr. Simon Lalong said it was high time Nigerians desisted from criticising security personnel, especially soldiers, saying they are also human beings.
The governor who gave the admonition after laying a wreath at the Joseph Gomwalk Secretariat Roundabout in Jos during the AFRD celebration said instead of criticising soldiers, “we should rally round and support for them.
“It is time to encourage our soldiers and support the armed forces in fighting against insurgency, kidnapping, banditry and other vices bedeviling our country, because they have paid the supreme price.”
He also commiserated with the families of men and officers who lost their lives while serving Nigeria.
In Enugu State, the governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, donated the sum of N5 million and 150 bags of 50kg rice to widows of fallen heroes in the state at the event.
Ugwuanyi, who handed over a cheque of N5 million to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Lasisi Adegboye, for onward transmission to the widows at a brief ceremony held at the Parade Ground, Abakpa Cantonment, Enugu, also made symbolic presentations of the food items to select wives of the fallen heroes.
The governor also supported the skills acquisition project of the Nigeria Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), 82 Division Chapter, with the sum of N5 million and made bulk purchase of the products of the trainees.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who performed the wreath laying ceremony at the Remembrance Arcade, Agodi Government House, Agodi, Ibadan commended security agencies in the state for their services, commitment and effort at ensuring that the people of the state sleep with their two eyes closed.
He remarked that the remembrance ceremony for the nation’s fallen heroes and war veterans was an opportunity to reassure the people of government’s unflinching determination to continue to guarantee peace and safety across the nation and Oyo State in particular, in spite of the nation’s security challenges.
“First, I will like to take this opportunity to thank the men and officers of our security agencies. This is an unusual time and they are doing their best. So, for us as a government, our responsibility is to encourage and support them.
“So, on that note, I want to give a reassurance to the people of Oyo State that for us and our security agencies, we will continue to do our best to ensure a safe, secure and stable environment.
“I salute the men and officers of our security operatives that despite the challenges in terms of pandemic and poor funding, they are still doing all they are supposed to do. I thank them seriously.”
In Abia State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu assured of his administration’s support to security agencies in their fight against insecurity and other forms of criminality in the state.
Ikpeazu, who was represented by the deputy governor of the state, Dr. Ude Oko Chukwu, at the AFRD celebration held at the Aguiyi Ironsi Cenotaph, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, noted that members of the Nigeria Armed Forces paid the ultimate price to ensure lasting peace in the country.
Ikpeazu, who described the theme of this year’s celebration – ‘Paying the supreme price in line of duty’ as apt, given the security challenges and other forms of criminality that men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies are contending with at the expense of their lives to defend, protect and secure the nation and her citizens, noted that the efforts of the serving and retired members of the armed forces and those who died in the line of duty cannot be forgotten.
“It is unarguably a fact that no day passes without news of soldiers, policemen and members of other paramilitary outfits and security agencies being killed in the line of duty.
“These heroes and heroines gave their lives so that our nation and our global environment will remain peaceful, united and secured.
“The achievements of the Nigerian Legion in Abia State cannot be over-emphasised, given her commitment in the training of security personnel for churches, schools, banks, government ministries and private homes.
“As a security-conscious government in Abia State, we will continue to prioritise security and will always partner the Nigerian Legion and other security agencies in our efforts to sustain the prevailing peace and security in the state,” he said.
With ThisDay, The Nation, The Guardian reports
