Obiano Lauds Nigeria Service Men and Women

Obiano showers Encomiums on Nigeria Service Men and Women

By Kingsley Ezekwelu 
Governor Willie Obiano on Friday  lauded service men and women on their unalloyed gallantry in their service to the nation, Africa and the world at large. Obiano made the commendation on the wreath laying and parade ceremonies to mark the end of the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration which held at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka.

The governor emphasized that the blood of great men and women who pay the supreme price on a daily basis to preserve them preserves the national unity and freedom of the country.

According to the governor, “They die for us to live. Time and time again, history reminds us that for every story of great nationhood, there is an intimidating narrative of wars, conflicts and bravery. The Nigerian experience follows the same trajectory. Our service men and women have wilfully laid down their lives for a better Nigeria, Africa and a better world”. 
Obiano further explained that  for the greater half of the last century, our gallant  service men and women have risen to the call  of history to preserve our freedoms and freedoms of our neighbours. He recalled their several peace keeping missions in Congo, Liberia, Sierra leone, Sudan and Southern Sudan, Burundi, Guinea Bissau, Cote d’ voire, mali. 

He further posited that back home, the service men and women have held aloof the shield of liberty through three  years of horrific civil war and pockets of internal uprising that constantly threaten Nigeria with disintegration. 

Describing the present war on terror as a bizarre warfare, the governor stated that Nigeria armed forces are up in arms in one of the complicated wars known to man; a war without clearly defined boundaries. 

According to the governor, “It has defied the genius of every celebrated military strategist and made various super powers of conventional warfare look ordinary. It is to the credit of our gallant service men and women that this bullet of affliction has not spread beyond one region of the country”. 

“So as we lay our wreaths before the status of unknown soldier across the country today, we honour their memory, their bravery and their valour; but perhaps more importantly, we acknowledge the priceless blood they shed to nourish the tree of liberty”, Obiano noted. 

High points of the occasion was the laying of wreaths by the governor, the deputy governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, the chief Judge of  the state, Hon. Justice Peter Nnanna Umeadi and some service chiefs; firing of gun shots, release of pigeons by the governor and parade by the Nigerian army, Navy and Nigerian Legion.