Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has emphasized the importance of collective efforts to keep Nigeria in unity, saying its indivisibility remains not negotiable.


Speaking at the Special Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony to commemorate the Year 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Wednesday, the Governor urged Nigerians to collaborate with government at all levels to maintain the nation’s integrity.


Governor Abiodun noted that Armed Forces Remembrance Day serves as a solemn occasion to honour those who sacrificed their lives to protect the country from both external and internal threats as he expressed his firm belief in the potential for Nigeria to thrive once again.



He urged Nigerians to make it a priority to remember and celebrate the fallen heroes in their daily lives.



“We honour them not only for making the ultimate sacrifice but also for the loved ones they have left behind, including their widows and widowers,” he said.



Abiodun reiterated the importance of remembering the fallen heroes beyond just the designated day of January 15 each year.



“We should strive to commemorate their contributions every day, showing love and support to those they have left behind. Many of these individuals simply need to know that we care,” he added.


The Governor stressed the need to ensure Nigeria remains united and indivisible, asserting that this is a meaningful way to honour the sacrifices made by those who fought for the nation.



“We must also do everything to ensure that this nation called Nigeria remains one and indivisible. That is another way we can show them love and appreciation that all that fight that has made them sacrifice their life for this nation has not been in vain,” he said.


The event featured a symbolic release of doves to represent peace and the laying of wreaths by Governor Abiodun, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, the Chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, as well as paramount rulers from across the state, the Commissioner of Police, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Legion, the Commandant of the 35 Artillery Brigade, the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, and a widow of one of the fallen heroes.

The Federal Government must ensure the prompt payment of benefits to families of fallen heroes and pay close attention to the welfare of the veterans still alive, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, has said.


He said such measures will motivate others who are serving presently in the armed forces to give their all, by serving selflessly.

According to him, the government must ensure the provision of good and functional weapons and resources to acquire transparently and accountably modern technology to lessen casualties and defeat terrorism and banditry.



“The authorities must ensure that good and functional weapons are available, provide the resources to acquire transparently and accountably modern technology, to lessen casualties as they engage in a multidimensional fight with bandits, terrorists, criminals, kidnappers, etc.


“With arms and strength of the will, our armed forces men and women can decimate the enemies who don’t wish Nigeria and Nigerians well”, he said.

While describing the situation presently being experienced in Nigeria as the “peace of the graveyard”, the cleric said so long as there are no consequences for wrongdoing, the system will never outgrow corruption.


Kaigama emphasised these in his message delivered in Abuja during Armed Forces Inter-Denominational Service as part of activities marking the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

He said, “We owe a lot to our fallen heroes of the armed forces, for the supreme price paid and sacrifice made to unite this country and to represent it abroad excellently. Their loyalty, commitment, dedication to service have culminated in the freedom, democracy, and some progress we are enjoying today in Nigeria.

“The leaders of the nation at the end of the Civil War thought the Armed Forces Remembrance Day would help heal the wounds of the War. I recall how my uncle left home when I was a child to join the army during the Civil War. We never saw him again. Joining the military is a call to a very serious patriotic service. You know the outcome could be that by God’s grace, you could serve out your years and retire gloriously – officers are pulled out in a special ceremony.

“We owe it a duty to pray for those who risked their lives to defend us and our territorial integrity. By this honour we give them, we are saying that Military service is not just socially a useful job but a good and honorable vocation which is also a very risky one. We must never forget those who died gallantly in active service and the families they left behind. We doff our hats to veterans still alive.


“A good tribute would be to help their families by donating to them either personally or collectively. The political authorities must ensure the prompt payment of benefits to families of fallen heroes and pay close attention to the welfare of the veterans still alive. This will motivate others who are serving presently in the armed forces to give their all, by serving selflessly.

“Increased insecurity has continued to haunt our nation. All hope is not lost however; we are still optimistic that Nigeria can come back from the brink. We continue to insist that the government has a constitutional and statutory duty to protect human rights and secure basic justice for all. The role of government is to guarantee the minimum conditions that make human rights and justice possible. We thank God for the measure of peace we presently enjoy in this country, but our situation seems to be the peace of “the graveyard.”

“One reason we have conflicts all over the world, but especially in Nigeria is because there is a disparity in material well-being. The gap between the rich and the poor has continued to widen. The “haves” gather their harvest into the barn and the “have nots,” the dispossessed, wait eagerly with all resentments in their hearts to burn the barns and destroy the owners. This, certainly, is a breeding ground for conflict.


“We also have ethnic division, the son of the soil syndrome versus the stranger tussle; sad to say that, even in the Church, this ugly monster is beginning to rear its head. We also have the unnecessary distinction between the Alhaji and the commoner; the Muslim and the Christian; and the Protestant and the Catholic. These are all veritable grounds for breeding conflict.

“But most importantly, conflicts are rooted in the violation of rights. We all have a number of rights and freedom and in exercising them, we tend to forget other peoples’ equal rights and freedom. We forget that our rights end, when and where our neighbor’s rights begin. We therefore owe each other a duty to respect each other’s rights and freedom.

“The first step to rebuilding Nigeria is justice; not economic growth, not job growth, not any growth. As long as there are no consequences for wrongdoing, the system will never outgrow the mire of corruption. Since it is justice that brings peace and since peace will avoid or at least minimize conflicts, we must ensure that the peace we advocate is founded on justice and not on other weaker foundations like power, violence, wealth, suppression, rights of minorities and what have you.”

The Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has commended the security agencies in the state for maintaining the peace and keeping the state safe for economic activities to thrive.

The governor stated this at the grand finale of the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, held at the Remembrance Arcade, Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.

Governor Makinde, while addressing journalists at the end of the event, expressed appreciation to the officers and men of the Armed Forces for their dedication and for securing the state. He urged them not to relent in their efforts.

The governor assured that his administration would continue to remember and support the maimed soldiers, widows, orphans and other dependants of the fallen heroes because they paid the price to keep the country safe and secure.

Governor Makinde, also presented a brand new car to the pioneer Director of Operations, Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), Major Rasaki Salawu (rtd), for his support and immense contributions to Oyo State Government through the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority.

The chairman, Nigerian Legion, Oyo State Command, Deputy Commandant General Julius Ogunkojo, appreciated Governor Makinde for his generous donation towards the launch of emblem and support to the legionnaires across the 33 local government areas of the state.

The ceremony witnessed the laying of wreaths at the remembrance cenotaph by Governor Makinde, the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin; the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima; and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin (Ige Olakulehin I), who was represented by Asipa Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi.

Others were the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division Nigerian Army, Major General O.G Onubogu; Chairman, Nigeria Legion, Oyo State Command, DCG Julius Ogunkojo; Commander, 2 Division Garrison Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General H.I Dasuki; the Commander 655, Nigerian Air Force Station, Ibadan, Air Commodore A.G. Akinyimika; the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, Sonubi Ayodele and a representative of the widows of the fallen heroes.

The occasion also witnessed the 21-gun salute in honour of the fallen heroes, special prayers for the repose of the fallen heroes and the release of ceremonial pigeons by the governor.

The event had in attendance the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. ‘Bayo Lawal; PDP National Deputy Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former deputy governors, Engr Hamid Gbadamosi and Barrister Hasim Gbolarumi; former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo and the Chief of Staff, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, among other top government functionaries as well as the legionnaires.