Abuja
Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday, said that the men and women of the nation’s armed forces who paid the supreme price in the protection of the territorial integrity of the country had really made the country proud.
Osinbajo made the remarks at the Inter-Denominational Church Service for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at the National Ecunimical Centre, Abuja.
Osinbajo was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustafa.
“We are all gathered to honour the memories of the fallen men and women of the armed forces who laid down their lives in the line of duty.
“Drawn from across the country, these great men/women of the armed forces have made our nation proud, and their lives have shown us what it means to be patriot.
“Each one of them, reminds us of the timeless worth of our national pledge, and it is to the memory of this heroes and heroines who fought to preserve the freedom of the nation and the world of totalitarianism in the first and second world wars.
“They keep our nation and its people as one during the civil war, they laid down their lives in the peace keeping operations within the continent and elsewhere.
“They also paid the ultimate price in the fight against the mindless insurgents, in the North-East as well as other threats to the security of the nation.“
According to him, the pledge in the national anthem, that the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain, their blood that springs on the field of battle will not be wasted.
This, Osinbajo noted, was the burden that the living beard and an onerous one indeed. It means that Nigerians must be committed to ensuring the unity of the nation, regardless of our differences in politics, religion and ethnicity.
“If we can imbibe these, we will be stronger together. We must at every opportunity insist that every multi-religious, multi-ethnic section, must realise the great dividend of diversity and pluralism.
“And that struggle to ensure a mere perfect federation, is a live long enterprise, to which each generation, must resolve to imbibe,“he said.
The vice President, however, urged Nigerians to encourage our young men and women, serving in the armed forces, to remained focus and committed as custodians of nation’s security.
He expressed sadness over the unfortunate incidence that took the life of a young female combat helicopter pilot, late Tolulope Arotile who made a history in October 2019, when she was winged as Nigeria first female combat helicopter pilot.
This, he said, happened after 55 years of the existence of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
“Even though her life was cut short by the unfortunate incidence, but she lived her dream of joining the Nigerian military along with others from all parts of the country to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
“I therefore, Prayed to the Lord to continue to have mercy on their souls and the families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
“Un behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, we once again, express our sincere condolences to you, May the lord comfort you, and keep our nation safe.“he said.
The General Superintended of Christ Holy Church, Rev. Daniel Okoh, noted that the fallen heroes had really made the country proud, by paying the supreme price for the unity of the country.
“As Nigerians have not forgotten their sacrifices and the role they played in addressing insurgency and other security threats plaguing the country.
“I urge our gallant military to continue to give their best for the unity and peace of the country. I also urge Nigerians to join hands with the military to keep the country together as an indivisible entity.
