Armed Forces Day: Mimiko, Wike, Ayade, Ajimobi laud military

Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has commended the Nigerian military for supporting democracy in the country, just as he congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the feat achieved by the armed forces in routing Boko Haram members out of the Sambisa forest in Borno State.

Governor Mimiko stated this on Thursday during the launch of this year’s Armed Forces and Remembrance Day Emblem Appeal at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital.

Mimiko, who noted that the role of the military in ensuring peace and tranquillity in all the geopolitical zones of the country could not be underestimated, encouraged officers and men of the armed forces not to relent in their commitment to totally flush insurgents out of Nigeria.

The governor,  who commended the Federal Government for the recent feat against Boko Haram insurgents, praised the military and other security agencies for their gallantry, stressing that the service of  those still serving would never be forgotten.

He assured of his administration’s commitment towards prioritising the welfare of the families of both serving and fallen heroes.

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, stated that the state government would support the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in strengthening security architecture of the state and its environs.

Governor Wike also advised the officers and men of the Nigerian Army 6 Division against politicisation of crime, noting that security was vital to the actualisation of all developmental programmes.

Speaking  during  a courtesy  visit  by the General Officer Commanding  the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Kasimu Abdulkareem, to the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, Governor Wike said “enhanced security leads to the development of other sectors.”

He commended  the  new General Officer  Commanding for the  quick successes  in Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area where cultists were uprooted.

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State commended the Nigerian Army for demonstrating gallantry and reclaiming all areas controlled by Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.

Ayade made the commendation at the launching of 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem at the Cultural Centre Complex in Calabar, on Thursday.

Represented by his deputy, Professor Ivara Esu, Ayade said reclaiming of the territories by the Nigerian Army had restored confidence in the lives of residents of those areas and Nigerians in general.

He said that his administration would continue to pay tributes to the nation’s past heroes as well as serving officers and men of the Armed Forces.

The Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Thursday, said concerted efforts would be made by the government to cater for the needs of fallen soldiers, their widows, children, as well as other dependants

The governor said this through his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, during the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations and the launching of Appeal Week Emblem, at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

While saying relative peace in the country, most especially, in the North-East, was due to the efforts of members of the armed forces in combating insurgency in the area, he commended the initiatives of the Nigeria Legion for initiating various relief packages designed to make Legionnaires and their dependants live better lives.