By Oghenero Orovwuje
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday joined members of the Armed Forces, and the Nigeria Legion in paying tribute to the nation’s fallen heroes as the country celebrates the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
The Grand Finale of the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance which was held at the Cenotaph, Asaba, attracted top military officers, the Nigeria Legion, top government functionaries and traditional rulers among others.
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is celebrated on January 15 every year to commemorate the servicemen of the nation’s armed forces.
It is a day set aside to remember those who laid down their lives during the two world wars; the Nigeria civil war; and the various peace-keeping operations around the world as well as the various internal security against insurgency, terrorism, banditry and other national threats.
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is also used to draw attention to the welfare of veterans, surviving but retired members of the armed forces and those who are sick as well as their widows.
At the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Asaba, Senator Okowa, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah on arrival took the salute and inspected a guard of honour mounted by men of the Nigeria Army, Navy and Air force as well as Nigeria Legion.
Thereafter prayers were offered for the nation’s fallen heroes by Christian and Muslim clerics and followed by the laying of wreaths at the tomb of the fallen heroes.
The Governor was the first to lay a wreath where he paid tribute to the nation’s fallen heroes for their gallantry followed by the Deputy Governor, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Comrade Ifeanyi Egwunyenga.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori represented by Hon. Shedrack Rapu, the State Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Diai, represented by Justice Marshall Umukoro, and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah represented by the state Head of Service, Mr Reginald Bayoko also laid wreaths.
Others were the Commander, 63 Brigade, Asaba, Commander Nigeria Navy Delta, Warri, and the Commander 371 Nigeria Air Force Detachment, Warri, as well as the Commissioner for Police.
Representative of the Traditional Rulers Council, represented by the Orodje of Okpe, Erue the 1st, representative of the Christian Religious Groups, representative of Muslim Religious Groups, Chairman of the Nigeria Legion, Delta State, Retired Colonel Boniface Ojei, and representative of widows of fallen heroes also laid wreaths.
The event also featured a twenty-one gun salute and the release of pigeons by the Governor and other dignitaries signifying peace and stability
