Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has written some few lines to celebrate the Nigerian Armed forces. This is in line with the Nigerian Armed forces celebration week, and Turaki of Adamawa has thought it wise, as a statesman to send a message.
Atiku for some time now, has been in the news for so many reasons, topping the list which has been his Presidential ambition (which has never ceased since leaving office as Vice President in 2007), but sharing this note to express his appreciation to the force, clearly shows Nigeria comes first and the people making the ultimate sacrifice to make sure the country remain United. He took to his social media page to say:
Once again, it is that time of the year set aside for us Nigerians to honour members of our country’s Armed Forces who fought in the first and second World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War and those who served or are still serving in different theatres of war, notably the Boko Haram insurgency in northeast Nigeria.
While many of us took time off from work and other preoccupations to be with our families over the Christmas and New Year holidays, many Nigerian soldiers and members of other security agencies were in the front lines, ensuring that we were safe, protecting our lives and property, especially in the light of the security alerts over the threat of terrorist bombing during the celebrations. While we ate and drank, they were lying in the trenches, watching out for and poised to quench any sign of trouble. Some have been away from their families, not just during the holidays but for months on end. Some have yet to set eyes on their newborn children.
In addition to these are those security personnel missing from the dining tables and warm embraces of families and loved ones, not because they were in the frontline but because they have fallen in battle. They made the ultimate sacrifice: giving their lives that the rest of us may live in peace and safety. They died that we might live.
Unfortunately, the frequent headlines about Boko Haram and other violent attacks in the northeast and other parts of Nigeria can submerge the gallantry of our security personnel. As we all know, good news is hardly regarded as news. Little is heard or read about the exact numbers of soldiers who die in the defence of our country. Hardly anything is told of their acts of bravery and their moments of exceptional valour.
I recently was informed that on Wednesday, January 10, our gallant Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed around Gamboru Ngala successfully averted what would have been a major devastating suicide attack to be carried out by three female Boko Haram terrorists against innocent citizens in Gamboru town in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State in the early hours of Tuesday.
I admire the bravery of members