…PLEDGES CONTINUED SUPPORT TO FAMILIES OF VETERANS
By Okosun Dennis
As activities marking the 2025 Armed Remembrance Day were rounded off in Lagos State on Wednesday at the National Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has restated his commitment to continue to support the widows and families of the fallen heroes.
He observed while acknowledging their hard work and sacrifices that Nigerians can sleep in their homes because the veterans denied themselves of sleep while they sacrificed their lives to fight for the heart and soul of the nation.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour and Review Officer at the parade by members of the Armed Forces and Legion today, 15th January, 2025, the Governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat explained that “honouring our fallen heroes is beyond the parade but called on Nigerians to always assist their widows and care for their children.
“This is to honour our fallen heroes because we all know the sacrifices they made for us to sleep while they are awake. We call on the President as he has always supported the veterans, and Nigerians to support them. It is not an honour too much as we would continue to do that.
“They left their widows and we should take their children and care for them. It is not about the parade but about the process so that we can always honour our fallen heroes.”
For the Legion, Gov. Sanwo-Olu reiterated, “we would continue to do our best for them. Few weeks ago, we met some of them and we would continue to do that; listen and assist them.”
The parade attended by senior officers of the military included the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Maj Gen Farouk Mijinyawa, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral MG Oamen, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Logistics Command, Nigerian Airforce, Air Vice Marshall AK Ademuwagun; the Commander, 9 Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment, Brig Gen Matthew Oyekola, and the Commanding Officer (CO), 65 Battalion, Bonny Cantonment, Victoria Island, Colonel Mohammed Marwa.
Others include the the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Commodore RT Oladejo, the Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Nigerian Airforce, Ikeja, AVM AO Abu and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP Ishola.
Also present were the Secretary to the State Government, Barr Bimbola Salu- Hundeyin; a representative of the Chief Judge of Lagos State, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, and Representative of the Oba of Lagos, Chief Lateef Ajose, widows of fallen heroes, members of Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) and members of the Nigerian Legion.
While extolling the virtues of the veterans and soliciting for a robust welfare package, the Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Lagos State Chapter, DCG Akeem Wolimoh noted that the ceremony was to keep the memory alive and remember the fallen heroes who died while fighting for the nation.
“We want to express our gratitude to the government for supporting our veterans. We still want to use this opportunity to ask for more support in the area of welfare for veterans and very soon, we are going to see significant improvement in terms of welfare for our veterans.”
In his capacity as the Deputy Governor, after inspecting a Guard of Honour, Dr Hamzat laid a wreath with other senior military officers, Representatives of the widow of fallen heroes, Mrs Ilia, the Oba of Lagos and Secretary to the state government.
There were 21-gun salute in honour of the fallen heroes which was followed by the release of pigeon to Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Nigeria is observed on January 15, to honour the nation’s fallen heroes and celebrates the bravery of its living veterans.
Essentially, the annual event features nationwide ceremonies, including a wreath-laying ceremony by the President at the National Cenotaph in Abuja, associated with the release of white pigeons, which symbolizes peace and unity.
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