Buhari, Osinbajo, Others Honour Fallen Heroes Amidst Tight Security

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday honoured Nigeria’s fallen heroes amidst tight security measures at the National Arcade, opposite the Eagle Square, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

Also, 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 also attended the event that was strictly military.

Roads leading to the Federal Secretariat, venue of the event, was shut to traffic throughout the duration of the programme that lasted for one hour. Buhari, on arrival at the venue inspected a military parade before proceeding to lay a wreath in honour of the fallen heroes.

Others who laid wreaths at the ceremony included Osinbajo, Saraki, Dogara, Onnoghen; Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Bello; service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, representative of the diplomatic corps; representative of the fallen soldiers’ widows and a representative of the Nigerian Legion.

The event also witnessed a minute silence for the fallen heroes, a 21-gun salute and the release of pigeons to signify peace and the signing of the anniversary register by the President.

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.

“The resolve by our countrymen and women to remain in one indivisible and indissoluble nation, Nigeria is at the centre of this celebration.

“Indeed, the Remembrance Day Celebration is being marked on the 15th of January instead of 11th of November as in other Commonwealth nations to commemorate the end of the Nigerian civil war – a war that was fought to keep Nigeria one.

“We must, therefore, cast our minds back at the events that led to the civil war, the immense human capital loss of the tragic war, and resolve that never again shall we allow our dear nation by our actions or inactions to experience another war,” Buhari had said.