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Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has launched the emblem appeal fund for the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, acknowledging the resilience, dedication, and sacrifices of the armed forces in maintaining national security and stability.
The launch, held on Thursday at the Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado Ekiti, provided an opportunity for the Governor to reflect on the significance of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
“It is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by our gallant servicemen and women, who through courage stood as a defensive wall of our national unity, as well as a moment to honor the veterans who continue to inspire the nation with their dedication and resilience,” Oyebanji stated.
Highlighting the importance of the emblem appeal fund, the Governor said it symbolizes love and support for the gallant soldiers.
He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to fostering a society grounded in peace, security, and unity. Oyebanji urged all Ekiti State residents to generously support the Armed Forces Remembrance Day activities.
He stressed the importance of security, saying, “It is the duty of all to sustain a mind for freedom and the greatness of the country to ensure that the labour of our gallant heroes, past and living, is not in vain.”
To demonstrate his support, Governor Oyebanji announced a donation of N10 million on behalf of the state and a personal donation of N5 million.
He also reiterated his administration’s zero tolerance for insecurity, stating, “Steady efforts will be made to protect the atmosphere where every citizen will be secured. It is expected that citizens, in return, will hold the government in the areas of information and vigilance, as most occurrences in security could be easily tackled with the cooperation of all.”
Reflecting on the sacrifices of the armed forces, the Governor remarked, “The reality of the human experience is that there is hardly any part of the world where absolute peace exists.
“Despite our best efforts as human communities, but for the men and women in the arms world, the world would be inhabitable and brutish. We are therefore always grateful to them.”
He continued, “The irony of life is that these great men and women who have decided to protect the rest of us often do so, losing their lives in their thirties.
“Evidence abounds that a greater percentage of those who escaped death but sustained permanent disabilities may be living from hand to mouth, neglected by the society they tried to protect and unable to sustain their health as aging sets in.”
Governor Oyebanji emphasised the unique role of the armed forces in nation-building. “In nation-building, all of us give something to the people in our country, but there are men who give everything, and these men are part of the Nigerian Armed Forces; and that is why it is imperative that we remember their sacrifices,” he said.
He concluded with a call for unity and patriotism: “Let us take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to building a society where peace, security, and unity prevail; a society worthy of the sacrifice made by our Armed Forces.
“ It is in this light that I wish to reemphasise the need for us to work as a nation together in unity—beyond diversity, beyond differences of tribes and tongues and religion—to come together and build a sense of nationalism, loyalty, and brotherhood. There is no better body presently in Nigeria that symbolizes this brotherhood than the Nigerian Armed Forces.”
In her remarks, the Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, pledged the continued support of public servants to the Nigerian Legion and commended the sacrifices of ex-servicemen in ensuring the nation’s development and security.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Legion in Ekiti State, Mr. Atoki Abdurazak, expressed gratitude, saying, “We thank God for giving our members a Governor like Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, who has the passion and feelings for us by giving us the platform to thrive in the state.”
The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (Rtd.); members of the state executive council; service chiefs; and the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, represented by the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaye. Labor leaders and other stakeholders were also present.
Boluwatife Enome
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