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•Ceremony refreshes our pain -Aluko, widows’ association president
•Inflation has rendered our pension useless -Jibrin, veterans’ chair
From Juliana Taiwo Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu yesterday performed the wreath-laying ceremony to mark the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Abuja.
The annual event was organised 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, and peace support operations around the world, as well as various internal security operations.
The ceremony was the climax of the activities, which began with the launch of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem last October, at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, situated at the National arcade, Abuja.
Christian and Muslim prayers were offered for the living, and peaceful repose of the souls of the departed heroes, who fought gallantly for global peace. This was followed by the observance of a minute silence.
President Tinubu led the wreath-laying ceremony accompanied by the Commander, Guards brigade at the foot of the unknown soldier.
This was followed by the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Minister of the FCT, Minister of State for Defence and the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps in Nigeria.
The Service Chiefs as well as the Inspector General of Police among others, took their turns to lay wreaths respectively.
Ceremonial volleys were fired by armed soldiers as part of the activities performed at military ceremonies.
The event culminated in the signing of the anniversary register by President Tinubu before his symbolic release of white pigeons to signify peace.
On hand to witness the ceremony were the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and Chief Justice of Nigeria; Olukayode Ariwoola.
Others at the wreath-laying ceremony were the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, who led all the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, among others to grace the occasion organised to honour the country’s departed heroes
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, assured that the lawmakers would work for better welfare of the country’s military.
“Today’s ceremony is just to signify to all of them that they are not alone, and that we also mourn with them and continue to pray for God Almighty to console them and provide for the children and their siblings that they have left behind.
“And again, the presence of all of us is also a major significance that, indeed, the government of the day would never let them mourn alone, and I will do everything possible to ensure that their welfare is taken care of, and that this event reduces the calamities that we’re seeing in our country,” he said.
Abbas, on his part, noted that what the country’s armed forces are doing is noble and appropriate.
“They should know that what they are doing is noble and we will be with them all the way.
“We will support them all the way and ensure that their siblings are not left alone. That is a commitment from the National Assembly, as you have heard from our Senate President. We will do everything humanly possible to improve the welfare of the families of the fallen heroes and the active men and women in the field,” he said.
The Minister of Defence, Bagudu Mohammed, appealed to the military personnel not to drop the ball, but continue to work hard to rid the nation of the menace of insecurity.
“They should keep working very hard to rid us of the menace of the security challenges in the country and I think they are doing wonderfully well now.”
The Minister, who commended President Tinubu for all the support and the love he has showed for the fallen heroes and their families, also reiterated their families will be supportive, adding, “And we try as much as possible to take care of them by every means and way.
On what promises he was making to the families of the fallen heroes, the minister said: “Well, I believe we have said it several times, we will do our best and we have all the support from Mr. President to support the family of the fallen heroes in every way and manner possible.”
National President, Military Widows Association (MiWA), Veronica Aluko, described the event as one that refreshes their pain.
“Today refreshes the mourning in us. 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. That gives us more strength, that since they are not forgotten, they didn’t die in vain.
“So, celebrating them today tells us that by laying down their lives for us, they are remembered by all. It is something to be remembered. Some have died and they’re forgotten. But, remembering them tells us that the sacrifice they made is honoured.
“We don’t want to go cap-in-hand begging because if you beg today, tomorrow people will close their doors. So, we wrote to the former President that we want to be selling little things, to partner with some of these unions to sell little things to generate revenue, like tickets. Some states have given us approval, like Osun State, the governor gave us approval to sell in the state. And we say thank you to him.
“Delta State is coming on board, by the time we raise a little money there and we start giving these women a source of livelihood. Some of them can do menial jobs and we pay them from there. So, our children can have hope of going to school from these things we are selling. We collaborate with the police so that we can help even the widows outside to lessen this burden.”
National Secretary of the association, Deborah Abel, regretted that the association has not achieved much in 10 years.
“We’ve not achieved much in the past 10 years. So, we are hoping and we pray that this present government will be of assistance, maybe, from there, we’ll start achieving. But for the past 10 years, military widows, just like the police widows, have not achieved anything.”
Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Major General Abdulmalik Jibrin (retd), explained that the purpose of the day was to commemorate the end of the Nigerian Civil War and to honour those that are still alive who have served in the military, as well as those who are currently serving.
“The second part is to remember those who paid the supreme sacrifice during the First and Second World Wars, and other international engagements, down to operations that we had in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and under the United Nations and Africa Union. And then of course, I’m sure you know, the unfortunate incident of fighting civil war in Nigeria, between 1967 and 1970. The end of it signifies a day of joy. The number of people that we lost, who made a supreme sacrifice on both sides is also a source of solemn remembrance, that we pray for the repose of their souls and for the sacrifice they made,” Jibrin said.
He urged the government to continue to enhance the well-being of those who have served and left, families of the fallen heroes, including those who are serving. “So the government should not get tired of looking at the welfare of veterans, especially when it’s related to the increase of salary of serving members of the armed forces.
“There should be a corresponding increase in the pensions of the those who have served and left. The families of the fallen heroes, actually after the demise of their loved ones, they are left. After giving them the entitlement of gratuity and death benefits, they 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 in addition to continuously look at our allowances, and our pensions in correspondence, and in relation to the inflationary tendency that we’re all experiencing now.
“For example, if I’m taking N10,000, that cannot buy what N10,000 was could buy a year ago or two. So, it means that my pension has been rendered more or less useless.”
