2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Interdenominational Church Service On 12/01/2020

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REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, THE VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH SERVICE FOR 2020 ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY CELEBRATION HELD AT THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN CENTRE, ABUJA ON SUNDAY 12TH JANUARY, 2020.

 

PROTOCOL

 

A DEBT WE CANNOT REPAY

 

It is an honour and privilege to be part of this seminal gathering of the body of Christ to acknowledge the services of Men and women of the armed forces, to honour our veterans and those who still serve and most importantly to honour the dead in the service of the fatherland.

 

The diverse peoples of Nigeria are a nation today because of the sacrifices of so many of our men and women of the armed forces, dead and living. We sleep well at night because some stayed and still stay awake at their duty posts in the cold, the heat or rain, prepared to be maimed or killed just to keep the enemies of peace and law and order at bay.

 

The dead in the civil war, the insurgencies in the North East, the banditry in parts of the North West and other conflict situations and the many veterans of these conflicts, each one of the dead, made the supreme sacrifice.  But not only they, but their families also have paid and continue to pay a heavy price. Wives and husbands deprived of the consort of their spouses, children growing up without the nurture, counsel and love of their parents, and of course the economic deprivations when only one parent bears the responsibility of bringing up children and caring for the family.

 

 

It may not always be evident, but it is true that our men and women of the armed forces are not just fighting to preserve the Nigeria of today with all its imperfections, their efforts are in fact dedicated to preserving the future; a safer, more secure, more confident, more united nation for our children and their children.

 

It is a struggle to make our nation, in the words of our national anthem, “a land where peace and justice reigns.” The renewed nation that you have fought for and continue to fight for is being born daily, every victory won through your immense courage and your toil in the face of mortal dangers are the inevitable labour pangs of the new Nigeria. Your labour will not be in vain.

 

Former US President, Ronald Reagan said of veterans in the US that the country is never good enough to its veterans. I agree.  Truly we are never good enough. Sometimes it is on account of passivity. But it is also partly because we cannot truly repay what they gave. They gave their existence for our existence and you cannot truly repay that. But we can at least do better than we have done. This is the commitment that the Federal Government through the President has made, to do better for our veterans and the families of our fallen heroes and improve the conditions of those who serve today.

We shall do so incrementally, making provisions in our annual budgets, we do not and will not take our men and women of the armed forces for granted.

 

Today we come together to thank the men and women of our armed forces for their sterling and selfless service to our nation.

 

Long and protracted asymmetric conflicts as we have experienced in parts of the country particularly weary the mind, they may weaken the resolve and commitment, they may sap the will to continue, however, you have shown uncommon resilience, you have shown courage and a steely commitment to the defense of our freedoms. Well done indeed!

 

On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I thank you veterans and serving officers for your faith in and services to our nation, and we thank the families of our fallen heroes for your fortitude. God bless you. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.