The traditional laying of wreath marking the end of activities in the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day took place at the National Arcade in the nation’s capital, Abuja on Friday.
The occasion which is to honour the nation’s fallen heroes was led by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The president and other top government functionaries laid wreaths during the occasion.
Buhari thereafter signed the anniversary register and released the ceremonial pigeon as a symbol of national peace.
Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), in his address, urged Nigerians to support the nation’s Armed Forces to boost their morale to win various ongoing campaigns in the country.
According to him, all Nigerians were critical stakeholders in maintaining a well-mobilised professionally responsible and responsive military that would be capable of safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
While commending President Buhari for providing the right leadership to secure the country internally and against external aggression, he said a buy-in by the public in the form of speaking well of the military would energise the nation’s fighting forces to win the battles.
However, Nigerians on social media have been expressing their opinion over the refusal of Pigeons, a symbol of peace, to fly when Buhari was called to release the birds.
One of the pigeons used in the commemoration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day when picked up by Buhari and thrown into the air flew back into the cage.
Reacting, some Nigerians said the refusal to fly was a sign that there is no peace in the country.
Dignitaries present at the event included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammadu, among others.
