Mutfwang urges patriotism
Niger State Governor, Muhammad Bago, has said his administration will not joke with the welfare of fallen heroes.
His Plateau State counterpart, Caleb Mutfwang, urged Nigerians to continue to remember the fallen heroes, who paid the supreme price in the service of their fatherland.
Bago made the promise while speaking to newsmen after laying the wreath to commemorate the Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day, at the permanent Cenotaph in Minna, yesterday.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba, disclosed that plans were underway by his administration to enrol ex-service men into the Social Investment Programme (SIP) of the state.
He added that the state government would ensure that the fallen heroes did not suffer abject poverty.
“Enrolling the ex-service men into the state’s SIP is sacrosanct; hence the need to support them to meet up with economic realities,” Bago said.
He revealed that the government would soon require professional advice from the ex-service men to enable it to tackle the menace of terrorists and banditry confronting the rural communities.
“The ex-service men have served the country diligently; they have contributed their quota to the peaceful co-existence of the country. Therefore, we need their expertise to tackle the criminals disturbing the peace of our people,” the governor added.
Earlier, the Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Niger State Council, Mahmuda Ahmed, had expressed delight on the manner the governor addressed the legion, adding that they were confident that all the pledges made would be implemented.
Highlight of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day was the laying of wreaths by the Governor, Speaker, Chief Judge, and others.
MUTFWANG said tribute should also be paid to those who died and those injured in the course of duty and pray to God to grant their families the fortitude to bear the loss.
The Plateau governor, who was speaking to journalists, yesterday, in Jos after the laying of wreaths at the Joseph Gomwalk Cenotaph, said God would grant them the wherewithal to pull through life in the absence of their loved ones.
He said the Armed Forces Remembrance Day should be used to encourage those still in active military service so that Nigerians would not forget them.
Calling for patriotism in the course of service to the country, Mutfwang promised to fulfil all the pledges he made to the legion since he assumed office eight months ago.
According to him, the fallen heroes stayed awake, so that Nigerians could sleep and sacrificed their lives so that Nigerians could survive.
He promised to take care of their families in terms of welfare, as their enormous sacrifice would not go in vain.
