PROTOCOL

Today, we are gathered here in honour and in remembrance of our fallen heroes and gallant men of the Nigerian Armed Forces, who served our dear country with all their might and eventually paid the supreme price.
Let me pay special tribute to our sons, Late PTE Evanson Victor, and Late PTE Tom Enoima. These two young soldiers from Mkpat Enin and many others lost their lives in the course of serving our country.

Across every part of Nigeria today, the atmosphere is solemn and mournful because as citizens, we owe our safety and protection to the gallantry, bravery and sacrifice of men and women who live to defend the territorial integrity of our country.

We are gathered here today as an acknowledgement of the fact that the freedom and peace that we are enjoying is paid for with the blood and toll of our men and women in uniform. The story of patriotism in Nigeria cannot be complete without the mention of the people whose faces we will never see again and voices we will no longer hear.
These heroes and heroines left the comfort of their homes, forsaking the companionship of their loved ones as they sign up to commit both their mental and physical energy to the arduous but noble task of safeguarding our nation.

Beyond the tributes, as another day of remembrance for our men in the armed forces beckons, we should use the opportunity to renew our commitment to support our uniform men both serving and retired as well as the families of those who are no more.
15 January should be a day for us as Nigerians to evaluate our role in the task of nation-building and how we have reciprocated the sacrifices of our uniform men. On a day like this, we should host a national dialogue that centers on the well-being and welfare of the men and women of the armed forces and their families.

As captured in our national anthem, the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain if we are committed to sustaining the gains recorded through the fight against insecurity. We must honour their sacrifices by ensuring that security is our collective responsibility and to make the job of our soldiers a lot easier.

Both government at all levels and citizens must continue to support our soldiers to keep the territorial integrity of our nation secure, while working with them in the areas of intelligence gathering to ensure every part of the country remains safe for our citizens.

In Akwa Ibom, we have an administration that places security as a key part of its development plan. Through the ARISE Agenda, our dear Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has a robust and an all-inclusive plan for the security sector that also prioritizes the welfare of security officials including our soldiers.

In support of the Governor’s ARISE Agenda, Mkpat Enin Local Government Transition Committee will provide leadership that will leverage the experience and expertise of ex-servicemen and women of Mkpat Enin origin by integrating them into our security architecture. We will also integrate them as members of our community and ensure that they benefit from the various social welfare programmes of our administration.

As we mark this year’s armed forces remembrance day, it is my prayer that we will cease from fanning the embers of war but rather join hands to build a nation of equal opportunities, where peace and justice will truly rain. After all, this is the only dream that is keeping our soldiers away from their families.

God Bless Nigeria!
God Bless Akwa Ibom State!!
God Bless Mkpat Enin LGA!!!