Engineer Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, on Friday, implored every Nigerian to be patient and never give up as a result of the challenges the country is faced with at the moment, assuring that Nigeria will soon be a better place for everyone.
He added that Armed Forces Remembrance Day must be a constant reminder of the great sacrifices that our ex-servicemen and gallant fallen heroes made to secure our nation.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Makinde as saying that the state will continually place priority on the welfare of the families of fallen heroes in the state.
The governor was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, at a special Jumat Service to commemorate the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, held at the Oja’ba Central Mosque, Ibadan.
The governor said: “We really thank God that we still made this year. A lot of things happened in the year 2020 and this is 2021. It is actually a privilege to witness the second Jumat service in the year. So, I am using this as a platform to actually say congratulations to those of us that are alive and the families of the fallen heroes.
“I want to say it is the celebration of the Emblem and the remembrance of the fallen heroes. It is quite unfortunate that Nigeria is in a state that it is right now – insurgency and kidnapping everywhere. But despite all of these, those of us who are still alive still have cause to thank God and the message to every one of us is, Nigeria is still a great nation.”
He explained that the present administration in Oyo State would continue to improve the welfare of relatives of deceased ex-servicemen, their widows, orphans and other loved ones.
Earlier in his sermon, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheik Abdul-Ganiy Abubakr Agbotomokekere, said that the fallen heroes lost their lives for the peace and unity of Nigeria.
He urged all and sundry to always come to the aid of the families, widows and children of those who laid down their lives for the country.
He equally appealed to the Federal, State and Local Governments to prioritise the welfare of the families of the fallen heroes.
Also at the event, special prayer session was held for ex-servicemen with particular emphasis on the fallen heroes.
It was presided over by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland.
The special Jumat Service had in attendance the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Fausat Sanni, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on SDG, Hon. Kunle Yusuff, Special Assistant to the Governor on Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Addul Rasheed Azeez, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social inclusion, Mrs. Christiana Abosede Abioye and representatives of the Nigerian Army, Customs Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, Immigration Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps and the Federal Road Safety Commission.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
