Sunday January 15 2023
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, joined other State Governors in celebrating 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Parade/Wreath Laying to mark the end of 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
The parade and wreath laying ceremony was held at Government Cenotaph, Alagbaka Akure on Sunday .
The event marked nationally at various locations in each state of the Federation in remembrance of the sacrifices of officers and men of the Armed Forces to ensure the unity, peace and progress of the country.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa at the event commiserated with families and loved ones of officers and men of the Armed Forces, the Police and other Paramilitary Agencies who had paid the supreme price in the course of their service to the nation.
After laying the wreath, the Governor said, ” laying of wreath and empowerment of widows of the departed heroes is always symbolic in the memory of the fallen heroes”.
“All over the World, every society has unique culture and ways through which they honour their heroes… the parade/laying of wreaths is therefore part of our own culture of honouring our heroes in Nigeria… this is therefore, our own sublime way of showing respect for them” , he said.
Aside the traditional parade and laying of wreaths, the State has gone a step further to add empowerment of widows of the fallen heroes to be part of the annual Celebrations.
According to Governor Akeredolu, “Ondo State Government has taken the bold step to put smiles on the faces of over 86 widows of the departed heroes and wives of legionnaires with the sun of N16 million (Sixteen million Naira) through the Micro Credit Revolving Interest Free Loans to assist in resuscitating their businesses which might have suffered setbacks over the years due to harrowing family commitments, which hitherto had been the primary responsibilities of their husbands” .
Equally too, Ondo State Government had made a donation of N2.5 million to the Nigerian Legion through the Emblem Appeal Fund, and in addition to this, the State cabinet members also donated N1 million to the same cause.
The Governor similarly urged every citizens to compliment government efforts in this regard.
Dignitaries at the event included, Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. David Bamidele Oleyelogun, the Acting Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Olusegun Odusola, Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, Chief of Staff to Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale, Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele MNI and State Cabinet members.
Others are Commander, 32 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General M. Adamu, Commanding officer, NN Forward Base, Igbokoda, Captain L.A Ajibade, Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Oyeyemi Oyediran, Executive Chairman, Akure South LG, Hon Gbenga Olaniyi , Ondo State Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Col Olu Apata rtd, Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III and others.
