By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government, led by Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai on Wednesday, launched the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund in commemoration of our fallen and living heroes and heroines of the Armed Forces of Nigeria who sacrificed their lives in the service of their motherland.
The acting Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe launched sales of emblem in respect of 2022/2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration held at Arewa House in Kaduna.
Dr. Balarabe said, Nigerian soldiers served in the first and second world wars, peace-keeping operations in many parts of the world and the Nigerian civil war; many died in these battles and many more got injured.
“These were done so that the world and Nigeria can be safe and peaceful for us and our children.
“We are therefore, enjoying relative peace in Nigeria today as a result of the earlier sacrifices made by our soldiers gone and alive.
“We must therefore, continue to show them and their surviving families that we appreciate their sacrifices. One way of doing this is marking this annual armed forces remembrance day dedicated to the memory of their sacrifices and their gallant efforts for the rest of us.
“And since we know that many of these surviving soldiers and families are living in difficult situations, we should strife to make life better for them by contributing funds through the purchase of the appeal fund emblem.
“Debilitating living conditions of retired soldiers and their families are never motivating images for our serving soldiers who we desire to put in their best for their country.
“In confronting the ravaging internal war with Boko Haram, other terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, many men/women have fallen and more lives of our soldiers are at stake.
“This is one opportunity to encourage them by what we do to their comrades who are no longer in service. I call on all citizens to support our war on terror by donating generously to the cause of our fallen soldiers.We shall not abdicate our responsibility to all officers and men of the Nigerian Armed forces deployed to Kaduna State.
“We appreciate their work and shall continue to meet their needs in the various command theatres they operate.”
She concluded that on behalf of my dear leader, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, and in memory of our fallen and living heroes and heroines, to launch this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund.
In an interview with the leader of the delegation, Major Bala Adamu expressed gladness with the state government for their support towards success of the launching of Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem.
He urged the government to empower the widows, saying that they were not affected by the previous empowerment.
He also appealed that they should also look into their outstanding payments, to give them scholarship as many of them cannot go to school because of financial constraints.
“We the leaders of Kaduna State Legion, appeal to the government that they should also provide us land where we can generate revenue and cater for ourselves,” he pleaded.
