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From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
The Nigerian Armed Forces has assured families of fallen heroes that the services of their late breadwinners will not be forgotten.
Chief of Defence, Military Relations, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, stated this n commemoration of the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day,
pledging unwavering support and commitment to the wellbeing of families of the fallen heroes.
Dewu spoke at an event at 29, Battalion Parade Ground, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where palliatives were distributed to widows who lost their spouses in service to the nation.
He assured: “We stand by you and ready to offer support whenever needed. It is a commitment that no family is left alone in the face of adversity. Be rest assured that the Armed Forces will never forget the sacrifices of our fallen heroes.”
Rear Admiral Dewu noted that the distribution of items to the widows was to acknowledge their sacrifice and offering them a small measure of comfort.
“In this challenging times, it is essential that we extend our support to those who bear the weight of our heroes’ absence, left behind to navigate life journey without their beloved partners.
“It is a tangible expression of the Armed Forces commitment to provide support and solace to the families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the course of service to our fatherland.”
Dewu stressed further that the palliatives to the widows of the fallen heroes was a symbol of the Armed Forces collective gratitude and solidarity to the fallen heroes and their families.
“The Defence Headquarters, Police Officers Wives Association will continue to address the needs of our courageous wives within the military family.”
The guest of honour, the President, Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Oghogho Musa, commended the widows for their remarkable resilience since the demise of their spouses.
She expressed: “The women (widows) have shown us what it means to be strong, resilience and accommodating in the face of adversity. They have inspired us to continue the legacies of their husbands to carry on the mission of keeping Nigeria safe and united.”
Mrs. Musa said the Defence Headquarters in conjunction with Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association have deemed it most appropriate to remember their fallen heroes and give support to their spouses.
She said: “We will always make sure you are supported and do not feel the vacuum created by your loved ones. Be rest assured that the Armed Forces will never forget their sacrifices, we are committed to strengthen the welfare of our fallen heroes.”
Expressing appreciation to the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association, one of the widows, Mrs. Folake Lasisi in a vote of thanks commended the Armed Forces for their magnanimity towards them and urged them to do more.
“We thank you most sincerely; when you give, there is a tendency to ask for more because it is the remembrance of our fallen heroes, there are some points we want to make that are very cogent to us and we want you to help us take our message back home to the mother of the nation and the Armed Forces.”
Mrs. Lasisi said they want to feel a sense of belonging even though their spouses were no longer there.
“There are some things that are so dear to us. We want to feel that we are still in your midst even though our husbands are no longer there. And because of that, there are some things that are necessary to do especially for our children. Some of the children that are not getting educational support and sponsorship, we want you to look into it.”
In an emotion laden voice, she passionately appealed to the First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the Armed Forces to come to the aid of families of victims of the Hercules C130 plane crash that crashed on December 26, 1992.
Mrs. Lasisi declared: “I am standing here on behalf of the widows of Hercules C130 26th December, 1992, plane crash. We, the women, have not been given their entitlement after 31 years.
“I call on the First Lady and the Armed Forces to review it and do something because some of our members have died. Some of the children have died. Please, take our message back home to the mother of the nation, so that the nation and military will attend to our matter.”
