Disaster Averted As Goodluck Presides Over Armed Forces Remembrance

Disaster was averted on Wednesday, as this year’s armed forces remembrance came to an end with the laying of the wreath by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The incident happened when the Cameroonian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Salaheddine Abbas Ibrahima, who is the doyen of the diplomatic corps representing other diplomats, was to lay the wreath at an unknown soldier’s tomb, suddenly slumped  and almost fell before he was assisted to his chair.

The diplomat had been standing for almost an hour in the morning sun alongside the President and other dignitaries who performed the solemn wreath laying ceremony.

Also in another development, a civil defence K9 dog attacked an Army Major and tore his uniform to shreds and beat him before he was rescued by the dogs handler and the major  was rushed to the hospital by a military ambulance.

The ceremony kicked off at exactly 10.00 a.m. with the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan, at the remembrance arcade opposite the Eagle square area of the Three Arms Zone in Abuja.

Upon the arrival of the president, there was a general salute, rendition of the national anthem and inspection of parade in four colours.

The four colours parade were the national colour and the three regimental colours of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force.

Prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of departed heroes and for peace, security and unity of the nation by Christians and Muslims.

Shortly after the prayers, the president laid a wreath, followed by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal.

Others who also laid wreaths were the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar; the Minister of Information and Supervising Minister of Defence, Mr Labaran Maku, and the FCT Minister, Mallam Bala Mohammed.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim; the Chief of Army Staff,  Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Dele Ezeoba, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh also laid wreaths.  

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps  the High Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria, Mr Abbas Saludeen, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, retired Col. Micah Gayya, also laid wreaths.

After the wreath laying, military and para-military men on parade, commanded by Major David Erasmus, fired guns and saluted.

The president thereafter released white pigeons, which signifies freedom, unity, peace and harmony for the country.

The annual ceremony is in honour and remembrance of fallen heroes, who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and unity of the country.

 The ceremony is also meant to appreciate members of the Armed Forces, who survived various wars.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Armed Forces Remembrance Day is globally celebrated on December 11.

It, however, holds on January 15 in Nigeria, the day of the first military coup in the country as well as the date that the Nigerian civil war ended.

The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, ministers and other senior government officials.

Also in attendance were members of the armed forces and their wives, members of the Nigerian Legion and some widows of the departed heroes.