Armed Forces Remembrance Day: Honour Men Of The Military Forces, Whether Dead Or Alive- Governor Abiodun

By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
In remembrance of their immense contributions towards sustaining Nigeria as a nation, Nigerians have been charged to always think about the sacrifices of the country’s fallen heroes in safeguarding the territorial integrity of the nation by impacting lives of their families.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun gave this charge at this year Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, held at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on Wednesday.
Prince Abiodun stated: “Look around your neighborhood, find that orphan, widow, widower, whose mother, father, husband and wife had died while defending the territorial integrity of the country.”
Governor Abiodun, who noted that the brave men and women who opted to join the armed forces should not be seeing as mere statistics, but as martyrs who had defended the country from both internal and external aggression.
He hereby encouraged Nigerians to honour men of the military forces, whether dead or alive.
“Most times, many of us hardly appreciate these heroes because we see them as soldiers who have committed themselves to be in the military and for many of us, when we read stories in the newspapers or watch on television that these men have become casualties in the line of duty, we just merely flip the page over.
“But when you sit down to think about it, they are martyrs. These are people who have done what most of us will never do; they enrolled in the Army, Navy, Air Force, knowing fully well that one day, they will be sent to the battle front and they may not return. 
“They are men and women that have spouses, children; some go out and never come back, they come back in coffins and body bags and the pain that should be a collective one is only that of their families,” he said.
Highlight of the event was the laying of wreaths by the state governor, Brigade Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala; Commandant, Nigeria Navy Secondary School, Abeokuta; Commissioner of Police, and Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Ogun State Chapter.
Others included, Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, HRM. Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo; Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu land, represented by the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Yinusa Adekoya.
Also there were Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, represented by the Abepa of Joga, Oba Adeyemi Adekeye; the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remo land, HRM. Oba Babatunde Ajayi and Mrs. Olaide Akinsanya, representing widows of the fallen heroes.
The governor thereafter released twenty pigeons representing the twenty local government areas of the state, as a symbol of peace.
Also speaking, a member of the Nigerian Legion, Mrs. Fehintola Rosiji, appreciated the governor for his support to the families of the ‘old soldiers’ and fallen heroes, expressing delight on the palliatives on roads.