Tinubu, N’Assembly, governors remember fallen soldiers

President Bola Tinubu, alongside Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday, were among those who laid wreaths at the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in honour of the Nigerian military personnel who died in the line of duty.

For the first time since assuming office, the President presided over the historic event at the National Arcade in Abuja, inspecting the Guard of Honour mounted by detachments of the Nigerian Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Nigerian Legion.

Afterwards, Tinubu laid a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier as a mark of last respect to the fallen heroes who paid the supreme price to preserve the nation’s territorial integrity and peace globally.

Three volleys of 21-gun salute were fired at the event, followed by the President’s signing of the Remembrance Day Anniversary registers and the release of white pigeons to indicate the nation’s harmony.

Also at the laying of wreaths were the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike,  the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and the Minister of State for Bello Mattawale.

Others were the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, a member of the diplomatic corps, the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion and a representative of the widows of the fallen heroes.

The Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed annually on January 15, honours the country’s military veterans, both living and deceased, who have served in World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War and various peacekeeping missions.

The day marks the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970 and serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the armed forces to maintain the country’s territorial integrity and peace. The highlight of the ceremony is the laying of wreaths at the National Cenotaph in Abuja, a solemn ritual performed by the President, top government officials, and military chiefs.

Speaking after the event, Senate President Akpabio said Monday’s wreath-laying ceremony was the administration’s way of identifying with those left behind by the fallen heroes. He promised to “do everything possible” to ensure their welfare.

“Today’s ceremony is to signify to all of them that they are not alone, that we also mourn with them and we continue to pray for God Almighty to console them and provide for the children and their siblings that they have left behind,” said Akpabio.

Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said the National Assembly would ensure the welfare of the surviving family members of the fallen soldiers.

He said, “They should know that what they are doing is a noble cause and we will be with them all the way. ”

On his part, the Minister of Defence said his ministry had all the support it needed to cater to the needs of the surviving families and ease the operations of living service personnel.

Meanwhile, widows of the fallen heroes lamented what they called a lack of progress in their welfare. They urged the present administration to prioritise their welfare by setting up structures supporting their businesses and finance access.

The National President, Military Widows Association, Mrs Veronica Aluko, said though the wreath-laying ceremony showed that their husbands did not die in vain, the living were in dire need of adequate welfare.

She said, “We are remembering today that these people left us for real. And the significance of today is remembering their sacrifice, that it is not in vain. Some have died and are forgotten but remembering them gives us more strength.

“But we don’t want to go cap-in-hand begging, because if you beg today, people will close their doors tomorrow. So we wrote to the former President that we wanted to sell little things, to partner with some of these unions to generate revenue, like tickets. Some states have given us approval, including Osun State, where the governor gave us approval to sell in the state. And we say thank you to him.”

National Secretary Military Widows’ Association, Mrs Deborah Abel, who recounted the association’s milestone in the past decade, said, “We’ve not achieved much in the past 10 years. So, we are hoping and praying that this present government will be of assistance, and maybe from then, we will start achieving. But for the past 10 years, military widows, just like the police widows have not achieved anything.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Maj. Gen. Abdulmalik Jibrin (retd.), called for a review of benefits due to military veterans as the current remunerations had been devalued by inflation.

Jibrin argued, “There should be a corresponding increase of the pensions of those who have served and left. The families of the fallen heroes, after giving them the entitlement of gratuity and death benefits, are left in the hands of the Nigerian Legion. But the Nigerian Legion is not well grounded in terms of finances to be able to shoulder the enormous responsibilities of looking after all the families of the fallen heroes.

“So we call upon the government to continuously look at our allowances and pensions in relation to the inflationary trend we’re all experiencing now.”

Also, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Dr Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Senator  Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Ademola Adeleke of Osun State,  Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State all paid tributes to Nigerian fallen heroes and pledged more support to their families.

The governors, who laid wreaths at the grand finale of activities marking the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration in their respective states, also hailed the sacrifice and bravery of Nigerian fallen heroes, saluting their contributions to the peace and unity of the country.

In Ogun, Abiodun called on Nigerians to have faith in the current political system, the government and its leaders, saying the country was on the verge of rising again.

“For those of us who are not privileged or bold enough to join the armed forces, we should subscribe to nation-building and patriotism. We should not be the ones who continue to sow the seed of discord amongst ourselves. We should not begin to fan the flame of discord amongst ourselves; let us be our brother’s keeper,” Abiodun said,

Lagos governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, saluted serving Nigerian military officers and fallen heroes for their gallantry in protecting the nation, during the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony, held at The Remembrance Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square, in honour of fallen heroes.

Similarly, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State pledged more support to families of fallen heroes.

Makinde said his administration would ensure that families of fallen heroes lived a bearable life.

Also, the Taraba State Governor, Kefas, pledged his administration’s support to the Nigerian Legion and families of fallen heroes.

“As an ex-combatant myself, I felt the pulse of my colleagues and I offered my sincere tribute to our heroes.

“My administration will ensure that the Legion and families of fallen soldiers are taken care of – Fallen, but not forgotten,” Kefas said.

In Kaduna State, Governor  Sani said his  government would support the Nigerian military in the fight against banditry, terrorism and other related crimes in the state.

The Arewa Consultative Forum, on Monday, said January 15 should be beyond the Remembrance Day for the nation’s Armed Forces alone, but should be  a day to equally remember its illustrious sons who were killed in “cold blood” during the first military coup which took place on that fateful day.

According to the ACF, January 15, marks the 58th anniversary of a very dark day in the political history of Nigeria, adding it was the day that the first military coup happened which to date distorted the political evolution of the country.

 Widows of slain officers lament

Some widows of slain military officers on Monday appealed for support saying that authorities have abandoned them without any significant assistance.

The widows spoke at the Pantami Township Stadium Gombe, where the government donated N6.6m  for emblem launch and laid wreaths in commemoration of fallen heroes.

Speaking, 55-year-old Ruth Yusuf-Baka, said after every year’s donation nothing gets to her as some of their leaders decide who gets what.

She said, “My husband was 58 years old when he died in service in 2014. We are yet to receive anything from the money realised last year. We are suffering with our children no form of assistance. As I speak no assistance, my son applied for recruitment over 12 twelve times he is yet to be recruited.

“We widows don’t get the usual support even when the government gives those in charge don’t allow it get to us. As I speak, I and my four children are living from hand to mouth. I lost my husband in 2014 and since then no form of support. I just survived by working on farmlands as a labourer. I used to have five children until Boko Haram killed one.”

Also, Secretary Nigeria Legion Gombe State, Lydia Usman, said “I lost my husband in 2004. I’m 52 years old and I’m from Gombe State. I returned to Gombe in 2007. God has been our only sustenance.”

According to Usman, “During recruitment, no one cares about our children. We are suffering and feeding is a problem.”

On her feelings every January 15, she said, “I’m usually excited but it makes me think a lot. After each launch, they make promises but we don’t see the money and our children are suffering, it’s painful. We want the government to help our children with work, especially in starting businesses.”

Mrs Grace Udo from Delta said her husband died as a result of revalidating his pension.

Udo said, “My husband was CPL Christopher Udo enlightened as 63 NA in 1962, he worked and retired in 1991 after 35 years in service.

“He started receiving his pension and after 10 years, the pension was stopped and was asked to go for verification in Calabar.

“Getting to Calabar his name was not on the list and he was asked to go to where he retired in Jos which he did.

“When he got to Jos, he was further asked to go to Lokoja and bring his file. After Lokoja he was also asked to go to Abuja.

“In Abuja, he saw his name but was written deceased in the system. The Commander in charge asked him to go as the error would be corrected after proven that he was alive then.

“Eventually, my husband waited endlessly until he died without receiving the pension.

“Before he died, my husband said from the last verification, the money was N42m.’’

Additional report: Raphael Ede, Godwin Isenyo, Bankole Taiwo, Chima Azubuike, Justin Tyopuusu, Abiodun Nejo, Animasahun Salman, Peter Dada, Dennis Naku, Bola Bamigbola, Adeyinka Adedipe, Matthew Ochei