Armed forces remembrance day of hypocritical Nigeria
By Comr. Okhifo Oscar
The 15th day in the month of January every year is unique for Nigeria as it has been set aside to remember the nation’s fallen heroes and re-emphasise the sacrifices they made to keep the country together.
Usually, the day is highly commemorated across the states of the most populous black nation in the world with a lot of media hoopla.
Abuja, and the states would make long speeches and build castles in the air. This has been our modus operandi and one wonders when we will become a serious nation whose word would be her bond.
If the dead could see, the heroes past would lament about a lot of things among which are; broken promises and uncaring attitude towards the living retired heroes, the families of the deàd heroes as well as the welfare of those still in service. Is it not an open secret that the families of the dead do go through hell to get the benefits of their dead husbands or fathers? In some cases, the benefits are never really paid until the quid pro quo option (rob my back , I rob your back) comes to the fore.
If the living could see the dead, we would have appreciated the wetness of the eyes of our past heroes and how disappointed they are with those who sit on their death benefits and the squalor and bitterness being tasted by the families they left behind. Are their sacrifices not in vain?
The plights of most rtd military men ought to break even a heart made of steel. Alas, our rulers’ are made of a combination of different strange stuffs. Hmm!
After endless verifications, They would file out in queues under very hostile climatic conditions to receive peanuts that hardly take them to the motor parks en route their various destinations. In most cases, they crash and die while waiting.
No nation treats its heroes like this and expect the living/ serving ones to perform optimally. That is why ,at the drop of a hat, they would unleash their frustration on the civilians population who are also victims of the repressive and oppressive system. If the living must perform to satisfaction, they must have some cogent and verifiable reasons to so do.
When we Appreciate the the retired ones and the families of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, those who are still in service will be gingered to truly protect the nation against both internal and external aggression. A nation who pays lips service to the plights of its armed forces (both living, dead’s families and the rtd ones) is a nation at the mercy of all kind of forces….
It is one that is a few miles away from either implosion or explosion. Let’s change! Enough of these yearly rituals and litanies of broken promises…… Enough of heavy grammars and melodramas, enough of mere laying of wreaths.
President Buhari, fortunately is a rtd Army General. The welfare of the families left behind by the fallen heroes should be sacrosanct. Same as that of the living because, it is the apogee of hypocrisy and rascality to celebrate a man who died of hunger while serving his fatherland.
As we all commemorate the giant strides of our fallen heroes, let us guide their strides jealously. One way we can do this is to learn from the past goofs and prevent a reoccurrence of what made their various suns to set at noon. To keep Nigeria as one country is very desirable,but, let the Union be removed from quicksand, Solidify the structures and let Justice flow like a river . If we allow the status quo antebellum to remain, we would be postponing the dooms day which will do no one any good. The longevity and welfare of our Armed Forces can only be guaranteed in a peaceful nation that is anchored on the tripod of Justice, peace and equity.
God bless Nigeria. May the labor of our Heroes past not be in vain.
Comr. Okhifo Oscar is a public affairs commentator base in Abuja.
