… as Obaseki reechoes call for nation’s restructuring
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu leading guests, including members of the diplomatic corps, in honouring the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes, performed the wreath-laying ceremony to mark the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Abuja.
The Service Chiefs, led by Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa and heads of other security agencies were present on Monday as Tinubu laid a wreath in honour of the fallen heroes.
The programme, which is organised yearly to commemorate Nigerians’ fallen heroes, also witnessed other activities such as prayers and gun salutes. President Tinubu thereafter signed the register of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration before his symbolic release of white pigeons at the National Arcade, Eagle Square, Abuja.
In attendance to witness the ceremony were members of the Federal Executive Council, members of the diplomatic corps, and other dignitaries.
On the sidelines of the event, Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured that the lawmakers will work for better welfare for the country’s military.
Across the country, state governors and other dignitaries also performed several rites to mark the day.
In Kaduna State, members of the Kaduna State Executive Council, led by Governor Uba Sani and his deputy Hadiza Balarabe, attended the wreath-laying ceremony at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.
A similar thing also played out in Taraba State when Governor Kefas Agbu led other dignitaries in a wreath-laying to honour the fallen heroes. That was at the Jolly Nyame stadium in Jalingo, the state capital.
At the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu also laid wreaths in remembrance of the fallen heroes.
Meanwhile, The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged urgent moves to address Nigeria’s fundamental defects so that the country is not forced into a reset.
The governor also hailed the sacrifice and bravery of Nigerian fallen heroes, saluting their contributions to the peace and unity of the country.
Obaseki who spoke during the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, in Benin City, the Edo State capital, reiterated the need to urgently redesign and restructure the country to address its defects and place the country on the path of growth and prosperity.
He said, “We thank God for another year and opportunity to remember those people who have sacrificed their lives for the peace and unity of Nigeria.
“The people we are honoring today have paid the supreme price with their lives and it’s important not to forget their efforts. That is why this event is important and we should be sober about it.”
On the need to restructure the country, the governor said, “We all know that things are not going well in the Country today and most Nigerians are concerned and worried because the economic situation has created a State of hopelessness for the citizens.
“This is an opportunity to reflect on the situation and crisis that resulted in the loss of those we are remembering today. It’s the right time as Nigerians to sit back and think very deeply about what is going on in the Country today so that we do not repeat some of the mistakes in the past that have led us to where we are today.
“It’s an opportunity for political leaders to reflect deeply, particularly given what is happening around us in West Africa. It’s time to stop pretending and deceiving ourselves and know that we must restructure Nigeria. Political leaders of Nigeria understand that it’s time to redesign this Country and failure to do so may lead to crisis; my prayer is that it doesn’t happen.”
Obaseki added, “We can’t continue this way as it’s time to release the energy of the young people in this nation, put more resources on the table and fund security services better so that we don’t lead ourselves into another crisis.
“As we remember the fallen heroes of the nation, we must ensure we put enough pressure on the political system to be more sensitive to what is going on in the Country and note that the most important assignment of the Government of Nigeria today is to redesign and restructure Nigeria as the fundamental defects need to be addressed in order for it not to be forced on us.”
The governor also inspected the warehouse for artifacts at the premises of the National Museum at Kings Square in Benin City, venue for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, which is still under construction.
Aside from governors, political top shots in the country including Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) paid glowing tributes to the fallen heroes.
Obi, a former Anambra governor and the presidential candidate of the LP in the 2023 election, lauded military men and women for their sacrifices to ensure a safe Nigeria.
“On this Armed Forces Remembrance Day, I join other Nigerians in appreciating our military men who, in order to ensure peace and security within our borders, are willing to pay untold sacrifices,” he wrote on his X account early Monday.
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, observed on January 15th, is an event organised annually by the Ministry of Defence to commemorate the country’s fallen heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of humanity during the First and Second World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War, peace support operations around the world, as well as various internal security operations. This day serves as a reminder of the bravery and courage displayed by these individuals in defending the nation.
