Akwa Ibom Gov Breaks Record, Donates N100m To Fallen Soldiers’ Families

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has announced a donation of One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000), to support the Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurship Scheme for Widows of fallen Soldiers in the state.

Governor Udom Emmanuel disclosed this on Friday during Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, at the State Cenotaph, Udo Udoma Uyo.

The donation according to the Governor, “Is not commensurate to the sacrifices of the departed soldiers but is government’s little way of appreciating the gallantry of soldiers who paid the supreme prize of protecting the lives of every Nigerian”.

He applauded the gallantry and sacrifices of the fallen heroes who kept the nation united and are still fighting to ensure peace returns to Nigeria. “We are gathered here today on this hallowed ground that speaks to bravery, valor and unbridled spirit of patriotism to honor those great and gallant Nigerians whose blood and toll helped water the trees and fountains of our unity and cords of brotherhood. We are here to celebrate the gallantry, bravery, sacrifice, deep spirit of volunteerism and patriotic fervor of the men and women who elected without conscription, to sign up to defend the territorial integrity of this Nation”.

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Governor Emmanuel noted that for electing to leave the comforts of their homes and their loved ones to dodge or swat away bullets, Nigerians owe these heroic soldiers, eternal gratitude and deep appreciation for staying in the foxholes, denying themselves some of nature’s basic comforts and choosing death, which many unfortunately, eventually did succumb to.

He called on Nigerians to ensure that the sacrifices the gallant heroes made were not in vain. “We must not only utter words of encouragement and appreciation but must spare our thoughts and wallets to the families they left behind. We must not allow the memories of the gallant men and women whom we are honoring here today rot in the wilderness of neglect, squalor and forgetfulness. We must honor their sacrifices by lending our shoulders to their survivors, and soak their veins with love, care and eternal gratitude”.

The kind-hearted Onna-born development-oriented leader stated that his administration has worked in close collaborations with the Armed Forces establishment, to add a bit of value and appreciation to the improvements of the living standards of the gallant soldiers. He said that in year 2020, he remodeled and renovated blocks of flats for the officers and men of the Battalion and also handed over additional blocks of flats, bringing the total blocks of flats so far remodeled to 168. He said his government has done the water reticulation to improve the quality of water in the barrack and is working hard to ensure that power and other quality of amenities are upgraded in the barrack.

In addition, the Number One Citizen of the State stressed the need for talents to take precedence over geography. He maintained that every citizen should be seen as a true Nigerian irrespective of where he resides and should be judged by what he contributes to the development and prosperity of the nation and not where he resides or come from. He canvassed for a robust reward system and urged all to do away with the born-to-rule and entitlement mindset

“Let us work to create a nation where talents trump geography, where we strive to reward the best and encourage all to dream and strive; a nation where our youths are conditioned by the passion of volunteerism, of applying ideas to create wealth as opposed to a cradle-to-grave entitlement mind-set. Let us create a nation where a certain Akpan from Akwa Ibom State can in future aspire to be voted into office in Kaduna State or where an Abubakar from Katsina State can be a Senator representing my Eket Senatorial District in the National Assembly”.