Beyond Celebration Of Galant Officers, Fallen Heroes

Beyond Celebration Of Galant Officers, Fallen Heroes

All over the world, the main focus of government is to ensure security and welfare of the citizens.

No doubt, personnel of the armed forces and other security agencies work tirelessly to ensure national security.

It has become an annual ritual to celebrate the nation’s gallant officers and fallen heroes every January 15.

This is in recognition of their contributions to ensuring national security and territorial integrity.

On this day, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces leads other top government, military and police Chiefs to lay wreaths on the tombs of the unknown soldiers at colourful ceremonies.

These ceremonies are usually garnished with various activities such as military parades, inspection of guards and release of pigeons by the President as well as gun salutes.

This is replicated at the state level led by Governors.

Indeed, activities heralding the climax of the day begin months before, with Interdenominational Church and Juma’at services and the launch of emblems appeal funds, to better the welfare of the veterans.

While these colourful ceremonies are commendable, it has become imperative to really deal with the issue of welfare of gallant officers and the families of fallen heroes beyond ceremonies.

Time and time again, the neglect suffered by these patriotic countrymen and women who sacrificed even their lives to keep the nation indivisible and peaceful, has continued to stare us in the face.

As the elites gather in cities for the apparent solemn ceremonies, the lucky to be alive gallant officers still languish in pains, penury, agony and inexplicable denial in the hinterlands where they gradually die of curable illnesses.

It is very rare to come across a survivor of military operation without a scare of bullet wound.

Some have varying degrees of deformity due to their participation in various peace missions, be it world war or the nation’s civil war and counter insurgency operations.

In the last decade, Nigeria’s casualties have increased with the advent of the Boko Haram insurgency and banditry as well as the dangerous dimension of the herdsmen attack on farmers and kidnapping.

The successes recorded by the military in these operations are heartwarming.

They are in the battle field to safeguard national sovereignty while Nigerians are asleep.

It is disturbing to note that, not everyone appreciates this selfless duty these gallant officers perform for the good of the country.

They lose their lives in the battle field for others to live peacefully.

The nation has lost many officers to these security challenges and their families are left without anyone to cater for them.

More worrisome is the fact that their entitlements are sometimes delayed unnecessarily or not paid at all.

Although, some public spirited individuals and organizations have been making efforts to ameliorate the plight of families of the fallen heroes, there is a compelling need to give more attention to them.

It must be noted also that, there are many retired gallant officers and men in their villages who cannot access such opportunities.

President Bola Tinubu, last September, during the launch of the emblem for this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, reiterated his assurance to improve the welfare of gallant officers and families of fallen heroes.

To match words with action, he announced the approval of eighteen billion naira for the group life assurance of benefits and other entitlements for families of fallen heroes.

This is commendable. However, in view of the recent revelation of financial scandal in some quarters, relevant authorities must ensure that the President’s good intention for the gallant officers and families of fallen heroes is achieved.

The nation’s gallant officers and families of fallen heroes indeed, deserve much for the legacy of keeping our fatherland as one indivisible entity.

By Tersoo Zamber, Edited By Grace Namiji