Gov. Emmanuel Calls On Organisations To Assist Relatives Of Fallen Heroes
FeaturedNews January 16, 2020 Dianabasi Effiong
Udom Emmanuel
Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has called on Corporate organisations operating in the country to assist relatives of soldiers, who fought and died for the corporate existence of the nation.
Emmanuel made the call in his remarks during 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day held in Uyo Cenotaph on Wednesday.
He said that the fallen heroes had fought and paid the supreme price of their lives to ensure the unity and peace of Nigeria, stressing that Governments alone could not take care of the welfare of relatives of the dead soldiers.
“I hereby call on Corporate Organisations to join hands with Governments to ensure that the heroism of these gallant men and officers of our Armed Forces are appreciated.
“As is obtainable in the Western world, individuals and corporate entities can institute scholarship schemes to educate the children of the departed heroes.
“This, in my opinion represents the biggest burden placed on the shoulders of widows of our brave men, the task of educating the surviving children of our dead patriots.
“I know that Governments, through various agencies tasked with the responsibilities of ensuring the welfare of our soldiers-serving and retired are doing the best they possibly can, to take care of the families of our dead heroes,” Emmanuel said.
The governor said on his part, he has directed that loan scheme on Small and Medium Scale enterprise be extended to the widows of the fallen heroes in the state.
He said the state government would continue to support the welfare of widows and contribute to their uplift.
“I have also given a directive that the Small and Medium Scale enterprise loan instituted for indigenes of this state should well cover widows of these fallen heroes,” he said.
Emmanuel also called on the political class in Akwa Ibom to sheath their sword and join hands with his government to develop the state.
According to him, the people of Akwa Ibom has spoken and elected him to be the governor since March 2019.
He appealed to the political class to avoid heating the polity with unnecessary rhetoric’s, stressing that poiltical season was over, now is governance.
“So on this solemn day, let me again call for the unity and peace among our political class.
” The reasons why nations go to war and place the burden of such actions on our gallant men and officers is simply because those who should have advanced the course of peace, instead once place their personal interest above common good,” he said.
The high point of the event was laying of wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldiers by Gov Emmanuel, deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo and Service Chiefs.
