The vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo has stated that the Federal Government will not permit any group to disrupt the hard-earned unity of the country.
The vice President made this known at the interdenominational church service held as part of activities to commemorate this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.
He commended men and officers of the military for the relentless service and effort in keeping the country as one entity.
He said, “It important to ensure that they did not die in vain.
“This unity and territorial integrity of the nation for which they died must not be jeopardized by the reckless utterances and actions which play on the religious and ethnic fault lines of our nation.”
L – R, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen & his wife, Mrs. Nkoyo Onnoghen and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin at the Inter-Denominational Church Service to commemorate the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Sunday 13th Jan. 2019.
He added, “Today, both Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa operate as small even if deadly guerrilla bands in parts of Borno State. But in these battles, we have been sharply reminded that indeed, ‘freedom is not free.’
“That peace is often paid for with blood and gore. And that no nation can secure its territory without the selflessness and the supreme sacrifices of many. And truly as someone said, ‘Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.’
“So as we celebrate this Remembrance Day, we solemnly thank the Almighty God for giving us men and women ready to obey the call to fight and, if need be, die for the fatherland.
“We are grateful that they were faithful to the cause, that they did not betray the trust of millions, that they gave up all the comforts of life and the love and affection of family that we may enjoy the same.
“Our posthumous thanks to them and their families who not only bore the fearful apprehension of their going to war, but also the heart break of their deaths. But our gratitude must also mean a commitment to ensuring that their families are cared for, that their children do not ask why the sacrifices they made were made at all.
“The ordinary people of Nigeria have demonstrated time and time again that they share common problems and a belief in common destiny.
“Our unity and peaceful coexistence is the best tribute to our fallen heroes.”
