Armed Forces Day: Diri, Fubara Set Agenda On Honour For Soldiers

As Nigeria remembers soldiers who died in the course of serving their fatherland, governors of Bayelsa, Senator Douye Diri and Rivers, Similanayi Fubara have given clues on how soldiers should be honoured. The duo spoke in their various states during a thanksgiving service to mark the beginning of this year’s armed forces remembrance day.

While Diri described members of the Armed Forces as very special group of people dedicated to a difficult type of service, hos Rivers State counterpart said it was unfair to only remember fallen heroes once in a year and noted that a more enduring measure should be put in place to acknowledge and celebrate officers and men who are still in active service, in recognition of their gallantry.

According to Diri, soldiers were special to the country and the state because they continue to pay the supreme price for other citizens to live. He admonished Bayelsans to always honour and celebrate the sacrifices of the armed forces and the retired service men.

His words: “Today, we are gathered to appreciate God for the lives of some very special group of people, a people that dedicated their lives even to death. They are very special to us as a country and as a state. So we need to honour and celebrate them.

“While we are thanking God for the families of the departed soldiers, we are also celebrating those that are living.” He used the opportunity of the event to caution failed politicians, saying for the sustenance of the country’s democracy, politicians who violate electoral rules whenever the outcome does not tally with their interest must turn a new leaf.

The governor advised such politicians to be mature enough to accept electoral defeat for civil governance to be respected and sustained.

Also at the event, the governor took a swipe at those responsible for the skirmishes between rival cult groups at Igbogene, a community on the outskirts of the state capital where the state transport company is located and directed that security be beefed up in the alert, particularly around the transport terminal.

He warned youth groups trying to extort passengers and commercial transporters at the terminal to steer clear of the facility. In a sermon titled: “The Power of Unity,” Chaplain of the King of Glory Chapel, Pastor David Yalah, ‎said there was a price to pay for unity.

According to the chaplain, if there was no one to pay a price, everyone else suffers, and that any delay in having unity makes the price greater.

The remembrance thanksgiving was attended by the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Leader of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Bubou, who represented the Speaker, and other state legislators as well as President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah, who represented the state Chief Judge.

Others were the immediate past Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd), Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, his deputy, Irorodamie Komonibo, the Head of Service, Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyema and other top government functionaries.

On his part, Fubara said it was better and more rewarding to celebrate the military and members of the security agencies for their contributions and sacrifices while they are alive, and not just when they are dead.

He said: “But I want to say that our government will not be a government that will put its energy only in remembering the late soldiers, and those who have died in the course of defending this country.

“I want to change the narrative a bit. We want to also support, strongly, those people that they have left behind, so that they will know what the government and the good people of Rivers State did for them. Let it also be that people will be remembered by the government for taking the right decision for them and helping them develop to be something great in our country.

“We want to assure the legionnaires on whose instance this occasion is centred on. We want to assure the Armed Forces that this government will continue to do its best to protect lives of our people, and to take the welfare of our people seriously.

“At the end of the day, it is about the people, and the people should come first. We want to assure you that those things we have promised, which I believe we have met a good number of them; however, if there is any one that we have not done, we will do it to make sure that you are not remembered after your death, but that while you are alive, you also enjoy yourself in the right way.”

Governor Fubara referred to the biblical Moses who requested of the Lord Almighty to make His presence available as a shield and compass to lead on the path designed for the Israelites, and stated that God is in full control of the affairs of State and providing the needed direction on the right path.

“Let me also appeal to all the religious leaders in this State, please, your pulpit should be a place to talk about peace, progress; talk about the unity of the people of Rivers State. It shouldn’t be an opportunity for people to cast aspersions, abuse people, say all sorts of things. And more worrisome is that it is in the house of God. Please, I want to beg you (the churches)… with due respect… you need to stop it… If I start shooting out of order, drag the microphone from me.

“This year is a special year. A special year because God has been with us, God has helped us in several ways. God has also promised us that there will be total peace on every side, and our projection for this year will be as we declared it: ‘Inclusive Growth and Development’, more especially on human capital development.

“We can only achieve this in an environment where there is peace; environment where there is law and order. That is where the security agencies come in. We want to appeal to you, we do not care the means of your appointment; we are not bordered about the ethnic group you are coming from; what we request from you is to consider the interest of this State as more important.

“Know that if anything goes wrong in this State, it affects Nigeria. That is the truth! So, work as a professional, support us to make sure that those things that we ought to do and do rightly are done for the interest of the good people of Rivers State and Nigeria at large,” he said.

In his homily, the Chaplain of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Chaplaincy, Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), The Very Reverend Monsignor Pius Kii, spoke on the theme, “Remembrance”, and emphasised the importance of rendering worthy services, to God, society and humanity, because they do not go unnoticed by God who recompense justly.

He admonished that on an auspicious day as the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, proper remuneration should be instituted for men and women of the Armed Forces who have continued to fight against external aggressions, terrorism, and curbed internal insurgencies, with some of them paying the supreme price to ensure a peaceful society for the citizenry.