President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja presided over the wreath laying at the National Memorial Arcade to mark the end of the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the President, who arrived the venue of the event at about 10:06am, led Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the leadership of the National Assembly and the Judiciary to lay wreath at the Arcade.
NAN reports that the event marked the climax of the 2020 AFRDC, which started with special prayers offered by both Christian and Muslim military clerics.
The Director, Army Chaplaincy Services, Commodore R. E. Oparaji, offered the Christian prayers, while Group Captain L.I. Lawal, Director, Army Islamic Affairs, offered the Muslim prayers.
On arrival, Buhari, in company of the Parade Commander, inspected the parade by the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Navy, Nigeria Air Force and the Nigerian Legion.
The event also witnessed the bigel of the last, a unique, but symbolic aspect of the ceremony that reminds veterans of their departed colleagues and the families of the fallen heroes who had paid the supreme price.
NAN observed that after the one-minute silence for the fallen heroes, Buhari; Osinbajo; representative of the Senate President; and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamiala, laid wreaths at the tomb of the unknown soldiers.
This was followed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Adamu Muhammad, while the Minister of Defence, retired Major General Bashir Magashi, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Bello, laid the wreath at the same time.
Others who joined in laying the wreath included some cabinet ministers, while the Service Chiefs performed the laying ceremony at the same time, followed by the National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, retired Brigadier General Jones Akpa, as well as the representative of widows of the fallen heroes.
Buhari later signed the anniversary register after which he was supported by the other dignitaries to release some white pigeons to signify peace in the land.
Trending
- Traditional ruler shot dead inside palace
- Primate Ayodele to Yoruba Nation agitators: You can’t break Nigeria
- Police intercept bags of Indian Hemp at Lagos jetty
- Enugu, families to give Ibu, Junior Pope befitting burial
- Police arrest suspects for attempting to disrupt inauguration of commissioners
- Police rescue three children locked up by grandmother + Photo
- Police foil attack in Katsina, neutralise suspected bandit
- US vetoes Palestine’s request for full UN membership