By Isaiah EkaUyo–
Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has called on Nigerians to rededicate themselves
to ideals of the nation’s fallen heroes toward ensuring national unity and peaceful coexistence.The governor, who said this during the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day held in Uyo Cenataph on Tuesday, also
urged Nigerians to remain united, irrespective of tribe and religion.
He added that everyone must also play his or her role in ensuring that the will of the people prevailed in the forthcoming general elections.He said “on this day of remembrance of our gallant soldiers, let us rededicate ourselves to the ideals of national unity and of peaceful co-existence.“When our gallant soldiers went to the theater of war during the First and Second World Wars in far flung places or when they laid down
their lives at various hot spots, including the Nigerian Civil War or in Liberia, they were not labelled by their tribe or religion.“They were not called to the parade grounds based on their states of origin, they were all Nigerians joined together by patriotic fervour
and a passion to serve.
“We must honour their memory by doing all we can to negate those issues and tendencies that led us to war in the first instance.“As we prepare for the elections, let us allow the will of the people to stand, let us resist the temptation to create tension in the land
just to satisfy the inordinate ambitions of certain individuals.“Let us play politics of ideas as opposed to that of character assassination.”The governor also urged the people to join hands with government to cater for the welfare of relatives of soldiers who lost their lives to keep
Nigeria together.According to him, the survivors and families of gallant soldiers should not be allowed to suffer because of the death of their breadwinners.He said “we must spare our time, our resources and our blessings to remember these heroes always, not just in January of every year,
but in our daily activities.“We must reach out to their families and show them that the sacrifices their breadwinners made were not in vain.”The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that high point of the remembrance day was laying of wreaths and release of pigeons
in memory of the fallen heroes. (NAN)
