The Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has declared that the fact that Nigeria still celebrates the Armed Forces Remembrabce Day annually shows that soldiers who lost their lives while protecting the territorial integrity of the country didn’t die in vain.
Oyebanji restated that the celebration is a loud confirmation that the war veterans are gallant and honourable in death, while those still in the Armed Forces fighting the battles against insurgency, banditry and other criminalities, are still being dignified by the Nigerian citizens.
Oyebanji said these on Monday at the Grand Finale of the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day held at the palatial Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The programme performed by a detachment of men and officers of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Ondo State, featured mounting of a Guard of Honour, Gun Volley and Laying of Wreaths to respect and honour the fallen heroes for their immesurable services to nationhood.
After the governor, represented by his deputy, Monisade Afuye; and other dignitaries laid their wreaths, a widow of one of the war victims, Mrs Esther Bankole, was also allowed to perform a similar function.
Speaking on the sidelines after the programme, Mrs Afuye, said Armed Forces Remembrance Day was conceptualised for Nigerians to acknowledge, venerate and honour the fallen heroes.
Underscoring the expediency of the enormous respect and honour commanded by fallen heroes and the Nigerian Army, the governor said: “We should all bear in mind that in the course of these patriots fighting for Nigeria, particularly during the civil war and while fighting insurgents and criminals, some of them lost their lives or suffered all manners of body disabilities.
“Looking at these harrowing experiences, you can all agree with me that nothing is too much to sacrifice to honour these heroes.
My appeal to Nigerians is that, we must show love, support and benevolence to the families of the victims.
“And to those who are still in the service fighting insurgents, kidnappers, bandits and other criminals, we must show them love and give other incentives to make them more patriotic in their services to their fatherland.
“Let me congratulate them, because whatever must have happened to them, Nigerians are still remembering and honouring them, which indicates that they remained gallant and honourable in death and most importantly, their labour of hardwork has not been in vain.”
Present at the occasion were: Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, Secretary to the State Government, Habitat Adubiaro, Head of Service, Engr Sunday Akomolafe, Deputy Commandant, 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Brig. Gen. J. N. Garba, Commissioner of Police, Mr Dare Ogundare and other Security Chiefs.
The roll call of attendees included: the Chairman of Legions, Ekiti Chapter, Lt Col Abdurasaq Atoki (Rtd), Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ayorinde Ilori Faboro, Local Government Chairmen, representative of Ewi of Ado Ekiti, among others.
