Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the restoration of peace and free, and fair general elections in 2023, as these, he said are the best legacies he can leave for the country.
He commended efforts by the President at defeating Boko Haram insurgents and bandits terrorising and destroying parts of the country.
The governor gave the commendation at the Government House, Port Harcourt after the wreath-laying ceremony to mark the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at Isaac Boro Park on Sunday.
Wike said, “I commend our President, Muhammadu Buhari, for his sustained efforts at defeating the Boko Haram insurgents and bandits terrorising and destroying our communities in parts of our country. The restoration of peace to our troubled geopolitical regions and the conduct of free and fair general elections are the best legacies you can live for our country.”
The governor, in a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, noted that after the civil war broke out a few years after independence, the armed forces were forced to quell the ensuing rebellion, which ended after three gruesome years of internecine warfare.
He added that ever since then, there is hardly a year when members of the armed forces have not been assigned to one bloody combat mission or the other within or outside the country.
The armed forces, he said, have also been at war with Boko Haram and other armed insurgents in the North-West and North-East of the country for over 10 years, and the “unknown gunmen” in the South-East of the country.
“As leaders, our goal must be one Nigeria, one destiny, and the challenges of building a fair, inclusive and just society are not beyond us. Therefore, I will not relent in my prayers to God to enable Mr. President and other leaders of our country to succeed in our mission and commitments to our country,” he noted.
Wike said a grateful country honours her armed forces’ extraordinary bravery and courage during their service and the sacrifice of their families for the common good.
The governor maintained that the country must move beyond today’s courtesies, speeches and parades to consider the families, including the innocent women and children directly devastated and thrown into untold hardship by the death or incapacitation of their breadwinners at the battlefield.
“As a State Government, we have, over the years, provided financial support to our veterans through the State Office of the Nigerian Legion. We have since redeemed the N50, 000,000.00 (fifth million naira) pledge we made during the remembrance emblem appeal fund launch in December 2022.
“Today, I wish to donate the sum of N100, 000,000.00 (one hundred million naira) on behalf of the State government for the economic empowerment of the veteran servicemen from Rivers State.”
The governor appealed to well-meaning public and private individuals and organizations to contribute to improving the social and economic well-being of the legionnaires and the wives and children of the fallen ex-servicemen.
Rivers State Chairman of Nigerian Legion, Justice Chichi, commended Wike for the extraordinary kindness the Rivers State government has always shown towards the welfare and support of veterans and the families of fallen heroes.
