Nigeria pays tribute to her fallen heroes
By Shout-Africa Correspondent Chinyere Ogbonna – This year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration and Emblem Appeal week has been rounded off with wreath-laying ceremonies and parades in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and the thirty-six states of the federation.
In Abeokuta in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, South West Nigeria, the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun joined other Nigerians to observe this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration with the traditional laying of wreath at the armed forces arcade, governor’s office in Abeokuta.
At the occasion, prayers were offered for the country, its leadership and the state for continuous peace and unity and the repose of the souls of the fallen heroes.
There was the symbolic release of 20 white pigeons signifying peace, while the state governor used the occasion to appeal to the people of the state to be calm and live together in peace, as no development can take place in an atmosphere of violence.
And in Awka, the Anambra state capital. The solemn ceremony attracted members of the state executive, legislators, the judiciary, army and the police.
The Deputy Governor, Mr Emeka Sibeudu, who represented the state governor, Mr. Peter Obi, reminded Nigerians of their collective responsibility to ensuring unity and the corporate existence of the country.
Mr. Sibeudu recalled that the fallen heroes sacrificed their lives to protect the future of the nation. He noted that recourse to violence and division will not do the country any good, therefore, urged the organised labour to follow the path of dialogue in its agitation against the removal of fuel subsidy. The Ondo State government in the spirit of the occasion, has distributed cheques worth N20 million as loan to widows of the fallen military personnel in the state.
Addressing the gathering at the government cenotaph in Akure, the state capital, during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Governor Olusegun Mimiko noted that the loan was a revolving one which would be doubled after the beneficiaries paid back the loan in six months time. He announced that a special scheme would be put in place for the widows of military personnel who are not indigenous but lost their lives while serving in the state.
The governor used the occasion to commend the organized labour and civil society groups in the state for the peaceful and orderly manner in which they conducted themselves during the protested against the removal of petrol subsidy by the federal government.
At the occasion which was held at the Armed Forces Remembrance Arcade in Lagos Island, the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope Adefurile, following the current situation in the country. Mrs. Orelope- Adefulire says Nigerians should begin to see the country as a project for all. This years’ celebration was rather low key.
