President, Osinbajo, others honour fallen heroes amidst tight security
The Nigerian Armed Forces on Monday held a colourful joint parade at the National Arcade, opposite the Eagle Square, Three Arms Zone, Abuja amidst unusual tight security to mark the grand finale of the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day .
The ceremony is held every January 15 in honour of fallen military heroes and as significant memorial for the Nigerian civil war that ended on January 15, 1970.
This year ceremony witnessed unusually tight security and closure of all roads leading to the Federal Secretariat and the resultant traffic logjam in and round the Central district of Abuja for hours.
President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen; and the nation’s service chiefs were among dignitaries that attended the military ceremony.
Though the event lasted about an hour, the roads remained closed from 7am till about 12noon as all roads leading to the Federal Secretariat was shut to traffic throughout the duration of the programme.
The peak of the ceremony was the parade inspection, laying of wreaths by Buhari and other top government officials including Osinbajo, Saraki, Dogara, Onnoghen, the minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali, and his Federal Capital Territory counterpart Muhammed Bello.
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The Chief of Defence Staff , the Service Chiefs and Inspector General of Police also took their turns in the wreaths laying. Other dignitaries such the doyen of Diplomatic Corp and a representative of the Nigerian Legion, the association of ex servicemen and women,and a representative of the fallen soldiers’ widows also laid wreaths.
The event also witnessed a minute silence for the fallen heroes, a 21-gun salute, the release of pigeons to signify peace and the signing of the anniversary register by Buhari.
The Daily Times recalls that Buhari had on November 1, 2017 inaugurated the anniversary emblem and appeal fund with a call on Nigerians not to allow the country to witness another civil war by their actions and inactions.
He said caution was necessary considering the immense human capital loss of past civil war.
According to Buhari who also fought during in the civil war, it was essential to honour the memory of veterans who paid the supreme sacrifice to keep the country united.
He said, “The resolve by our countrymen and women to remain in one indivisible and indissoluble nation, Nigeria is at the centre of this celebration.
Andrew Orolua, Abuja
