By Olayemi Esan
The only true way to repay our fallen compatriots for their sacrifices, prices and services is to live in the conduct with our highest values as a people and ensure that we all become addicts of peace and Justice.
The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo gave this assertion in his remarks at the Interdenominational Church Service for the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.
The Vice President was ably represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha at the event.
Osinbajo said, "Long before wars break out, violence manifest itself as head threat, prejudice, injustice and bigotry. All of us have a duty to take a stand and challenge these evils wherever they hide their heads to prevent them from taken roots and bringing conflicts.
"This is how we ensure that the labour's of our heroes will never be in vain. Our brothers and Sisters that are serving in the military are at the Frontline, struggling for the soul of our nation but we all have a part to play in this struggle", he said.
He added that, “Since the dawn of height, the warfare has been a simple of the reality of human condition to which compels or survives for our peace and safety. Indeed, an ancient Latin adage says, "si vis pacem Para bellum" which means, "if you want peace, prepare for war."
Osinbajo quoted from the book of Isaiah Chapter Two verse Four, explains that the scripture speaks of "the day when God will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many people, they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into the pruning hooks: Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore".
"In the book of John chapter 3:9-10, these two passages are not contradictory that reaffirm that the biblical principles laid down in the book of Ecclesiastes, it says and I quote, "There is a time for everything and a season for every activities under the heavens. A time for war, a time for peace" until the day that all of humanity can beat its swords into plowshares there will always be those that are called to bare swords, so that the rest of us can harvest our crops in safety," he said.
He added; "We are not just fighting to preserve the Nigeria of today, with all its imperfections that to leave a better country behind for our Children and our Children’s Children. It is the struggle to realize the worth of our national anthem and make Nigeria, a land where peace and justice reign. The nation we are fighting for is in the process of being born, and every victory that our armed forces ripe through their immense courage serves to bring the new Nigeria.
"As we celebrate our fallen compatriots and our veterans today, we must recognize that the warrior burden of their vocations is not burn by them alone there is a sense in which soldiers enlist along with their families. The families of the combatants know in a way in which most of us never will, the uncertainty cost by the long absence from home of loved ones and the anxiety that comes from knowing that they are immortal danger.
"The families of the fallen bear an extraordinary burden, the loneliness of husbands and wives, violently deprived of their spouses, the trauma of children who will grow up without the warms of the parent love and those who raised their children alone as single parents. Even the veterans that return home, do so with physically and psychological scars, often carries injuries, not only to their bodies but to their minds.
"Our commitment as an administration is to ensure that the families that shoulder such burdens will not do so alone. The welfare, benefits and entitlement of members of our armed forces and their families will remain priority for us.”
Osinbajo therefore salute the courage and sacrifice of the military and equally identify with families of our fallen heroes. The men and women of the armed forces are fighting a good fight for a just cause.
"They are fighting for a nation in which bound by our common humanity, we realize the promise of greatness ordain for us by province, I ask all of us to continue to pray for them and for the peace progress and unity of our dear nation", he said
Dignitaries that attended the church service include the representative of the Vice President, the Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Retd), Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police, NAOWA, Nigerian Legions, paramilitary organisations, representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and many others.