Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday called on Nigerians to desist from reckless utterances and actions or exploiting the religious and ethnic faultlines of the country.
Speaking at the Inter-denominational Church Service for the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration in Abuja, Osinbajo said reckless utterances and actions by individuals and group of individuals are threatening the unity of the country.
The Vice President said the supreme sacrifice made by the nation’s military would not go in vain, stressing that the era of terrorists holding local governments and hoisting their flags has gone.
He said the families of the gallant military officers that sacrificed their lives in the bid to secure the country’s territorial integrity should not be allowed to suffer.
He said: “Today again we participate in an annual tradition of remembering and honoring our departed military heroes. This particular Remembrance day is perhaps more poignant than any other.
“In the past few weeks we have buried 13 soldiers and one… and last week 5 airforce pilots…all these men died in battle fending off Boko Haram and Isis West Africa terrorists in the North East.
“In the past few years we have seen patriotism at its highest. Our valiant men and women of the armed forces have destroyed the backbone of boko Haram who once attacked Abuja, Kano and Kaduna with impunity and hoisted their tattered flags over 17 local governments in the North East.
“Today both Boko Haram and Isis West Africa operate as small even if deadly guerilla 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.”
The first Scripture Reading was taken by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, from Isaiah 43:1-13 while Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, took the second Scripture Reading from the book of John 10:1-18.
During the service, there were intercessory prayers for the country, and special rendition was made by the Armed Forces Christian Women Fellowship, while the Military Mass Choir also made a presentation.
Also at the church service were the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, among others.
