President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; chief justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmoud Mohammed; minister of defence, retired General Aliyu Gusau and others have honoured the Nigerian fallen heroes in commemoration of the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
The solemn ceremony themed “Appreciating the Nigerian Armed Forces” took place at the National Arcade in Abuja yesterday, and it had in attendance others like the chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; chief of army staff, General Kenneth Minimah; chief of air staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu; chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; inspector-general of police, Suleiman Abba; minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed; the Cameroonian high commissioner, His Excellency, Abbas Salaudden; and the national chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Col. Micah Gayya (rtd), all of whom also took their turns to lay wreaths in honour of the fallen soldiers.
President Jonathan, who had arrived the arcade at about 10am, was received by the vice president and minister of defence after which he proceeded to the rostrum to take salute from a Guard of Honour comprising all the branches of the armed forces.
Thought-provoking prayers were said by the military’s chaplain and chief imam. They prayed for the repose of the souls of the fallen heroes and victory for living ones who are involved in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in parts of the country.
After observing a minute’s silence, there was the traditional gun salute, followed by wreath-laying and the symbolic release of pigeons by President Jonathan in company of Vice President Sambo and other top government officials.
The event is an annual occasion organised by the Ministry of Defence in honour of Nigerian soldiers who lost their lives during the First, Second World Wars, Nigerian Civil War, peace support missions and internal security operations. Yesterday’s event drew to a close few minutes to 11am after Jonathan had signed the celebration register.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the forthcoming presidential poll, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has also condoled with the families of all fallen heroes, promising that an APC government under him will provide the necessary military equipment and personnel to prosecute the battle against terrorists effectively and efficiently as soon as he is voted into power.
A statement issued yesterday by the director of media, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mallam Garba Shehu, also said Buhari enjoined the armed forces to remain non-partisan.
“The APC, as a party, also recognising the sufferings of the retirees whose pension arrears and gratuities have remained a serious problem. This will be corrected by the APC government.
“I urge you all in the armed forces to remain apolitical and focus on the ethos of discipline which is the hallmark of your profession. I wish to assure you of my unalloyed commitment to returning the Armed Forces to its place of pride among the comity of nations,” Buhari said.(Leadership)
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