Nigeria’s fallen heroes were on Wednesday honoured at a ceremony in Abuja by President Goodluck Jonathan and key officers of the Legislature, Judiciary and the Military.
As part of the 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the president laid a wreath at the National Arcade in Abuja.
President Jonathan, who is also Grand Patron of the Nigerian Legion, arrived at the arcade at 10am to a general salute, rendition of the National Anthem and inspection of parade in four colours. These four colours were the national colour and the three regimental colours of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force.
After prayers for the repose of the souls of the departed heroes, Jonathan laid a wreath, and other high-profile officers of the nation, such as Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal followed suit.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar; Minister of Information and Supervising Minister of Defence, Mr Labaran Maku; and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Bala Mohammed; Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Adm. Dele Ezeoba; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh also laid wreaths.
Others who laid were Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar; Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and the High Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria, Mr Abbas Saludeen; and Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Retired Col. Micah Gayya.
After the wreath-laying ceremony, Maj. David Erasmus led the Military and Para-military on a parade that culminated in the firing of gunshots and offering of salutations. The president then released white pigeons, signifying freedom, unity, peace and harmony for the country.
Held in honour and remembrance of fallen heroes as well as military survivors of wars, the Armed Forces Remembrance Day is celebrated all over the world on 11th December. However, it is celebrated in Nigeria on 15th January, the day of the country’s first military coup, which is equally the day its acrimoniously fought three-year Civil War ended.
