… Pledges continuous support
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has extolled the bravery and sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed Forces, noting that the nation owed them debts of gratitude beyond the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Mbah recognised in a special way the role of the Armed Forces in the peace and security that currently prevail in Enugu State, stressing that “We are secure because of your vigilance and sacrifice and words are simply not enough to show the depth of our gratitude.”
Governor Mbah spoke during the ceremonies to mark the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, on Wednesday.
“Our debt of gratitude to you is eternal – not just one felt for a day. For us, this debt of gratitude is not mere lip service. It is a debt we are obligated to repay, because yours have been a career of lifelong service to the nation.
“Yours have been a career dedicated to keeping us safe – sometimes at the risk of your lives. The cenotaphs across the country are stark reminders of the price that our armed forces personnel have been paying, from colonial times to the present day,” he stated.
Mbah also recalled the exploits and sacrifices of the Nigeria Armed Forces in battlefields across the world to restore peace and democracy, which he said had earned accolades, pride and respect for Nigeria.
“From the jungles of Burma and Congo to the arid fields of South Sudan, and the war-torn streets of Liberia and Sierra Leone, our armed forces have always been an embodiment of valour.
“The brave men and women of our armed forces have literally led the charge, ready and willing to deploy, as evident from their participation in numerous United Nations Mission across the world,” he said.
Mbah called for both material and emotional support to both the families of the retired and demised personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces as well as those in active service, noting that they were human and needed all the support governments at all levels, corporate entities, and citizens could offer.
“Our Armed Forces consist of men and women of steel. But they are humans, after all, and sometimes pay the ultimate price. When such tragedy occurs, they leave behind families for whom the pain of loss is often most severe. We owe them our love and care – in words and in deed.
“The widows and children of our ex-servicemen are compelling reminders of the sacrifices of our fallen heroes. Their lifetime of sacrifice and duty to the country has earned the families they left behind a right to our collective empathy.
Their sacrifice for you and me – for the entire country – impels us to not just wipe away their tears, but to ensure that whatever lack their absence had created for their families is substantially filled. That is what gratitude looks like. It is, as well, the greatest honour and respect we can accord our fallen heroes.
“No less deserving of our love, respect and support are members still in active service, and those in retirement.
“On this very somber day of remembrance, I reaffirm my administration’s continued support to the Armed Forces – the pride of our nation, bastion of unity, and potent symbol of our sovereignty. Our support is, of course, complementary to the immense efforts of the Federal Government.
“So, the wreaths we lay in honour of our fallen heroes are not mere gestures meant for TV cameras. They impose on us an obligation to offer a shoulder to their relatives who mourn, and cater to their material needs.
“These we shall never fail to do as a government,” Mbah concluded.
