Remembrance Day: Gov. Chime pledges to assist ex-Servicemen

Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State on Tuesday pledged to assist the Nigerian Legion.

The Governor stated this at the launch of this year's Armed Forces and Remembrance Day emblem.

Launching the emblem, Chime urged the people and corporate organisations in the state to support the Nigerian Legion as a way of honouring the departed heroes.

Chime, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Sunday Onyebuchi, pledged that the government would continue to assist the Nigerian legion in the state.

“We have a country that we are proud of and it is because of these men and women in uniform. They have fought to keep this nation as one.

“It is our duty to appreciate the services and sacrifices of these men and women,'' Chime said.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion in Enugu State, Mr George Amalu, condemned the ethnic and religious crises that bedevil the country often.

Amalu said the crises were not a befitting tribute to the sacrifices made by the fallen heroes.

“Let us use the opportunity of today to remark about this nation. This is a nation we all fought hard to build and sustain.

“The ethnic and religious differences that continue to becloud our existence and development are not a welcome development.

“In this country, we do not need to know whether one is Efik or Igala, Igbo or Ibibio. What we should be concerned with is how to build an egalitarian nation, which is the dream of our heroes past,'' he said.

Amalu urged Nigerian leaders to be patriotic to preserve and consolidate the nation's democracy.

The General Officer Commanding the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Adebayo Olaniyi, called on the people to assist in the training of the children and wards of the departed heroes.

The highlight of the event was cash donation from the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state to support the legion.

Others who donated to support the legion were local government chairmen and members of the state house of assembly.

The 2014 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day celebration would climax on Jan. 15 with the laying of wreaths in honour of the departed heroes.