ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY CELEBRATION: PRESIDENT BUHARI, OTHERS LAY WREATH IN HONOUR OF FALLEN HEROES

President Muhammadu Bihari has today 15 January 2021 laid wreath in honour of past and present military heroes who paid the ultimate price for the peace and unity of Nigeria to commemorate the Armed Forces Rememberance Day Celebration (ARDC) at the National Memorial Arcade, Abuja.

President Buhari who was the Special Guest of Honour and Reviewing Officer, earlier inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Nigerian Army, Navy, Airforce as well as members of the Nigerian Legion. He also signed the AFRDC Register and released symbolic pigeons climaxing the end of the 2021 AFRDC.

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Dr Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamiala, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko, Minister of Defence and his FCT counterpart, Mallam Mohammed Bello equally laid wreaths at the tomb of the unknown soldiers.

Others include the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Yusufu Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu. Also, the Chairman, Major General Jones Akpa (rtd) representatives of the diplomatic corps and the widows of fallen heroes lay wreaths.

Being Covid-19 protocols complaince, the occasion was graced by few top government functionaries, senior military, police and paramilitary officers as well as members of the diplomatic corps.

Members of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), Nigerian Navy Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA), and Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA) were equally in attendance.

Other activities that featured during the Anniversary were the bagel of the last post, artillery gun salute, one minute silence, firing of 3 volleys and reveille.

The AFRDC is an annual event to commemorate the end of the Nigerian Civil War which ended on 15 January 1970.

After 7 Months of Illegal Detention, Lance Corporal Martins Granted Bail

According to human rights lawyer Tope Akinyode, the soldier who was abducted, tortured and illegally detained by the Nigerian army after he made the news in a viral video almost a year ago has been granted bail.

Corporal Martins in a video published on social media, criticized President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai’s handling of the Boko Haram crisis.

He alleged that they both failed to provide adequate resources to soldiers fighting Boko Haram. After the video was released, he was arrested and detained in Abuja without access to families and lawyers

The legal rep to the abused soldier broke the news via his official Twitter handle just few hours ago.

The court sitting in Sokoto made the order today after I argued the bail application. Idakpini was arrested for criticising army authorities. He’s been detained for 7 months without access to his Family.

BREAKING: Court Martial grants bail to Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini. The court sitting in Sokoto made the order today after I argued the bail application. Idakpini was arrested for criticising army authorities. He's been detained for 7 months without access to his family.

— Tope Akinyode (@TopeAkinyode) January 14, 2021

As part of his political consultations following his eagerly awaited decision to vie for the APC governorship ticket in Anambra 2021 election, Chief Ben Etiaba FCA, a former two term Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, has described the All Progressives Congress in Anambra State as the Party of choice in the State in the race for the governorship seat in Awka this November.

Chief Etiaba said this while speaking with the All Progressives Congress wards 1 and 2 delegates at Umunya in Oyi Local Government Area of the State last week.

Etiaba who also served as the Executive Chairman of the politically revered Enugu Sports Club, expressed his appreciation of the APC led federal government, for various federal projects both finished and currently ongoing in Anambra State.

“These federal projects are littered all over the place in all the Federal Constituencies of Anambra and our citizens are now much better for these infrastructural developments” said Etiaba.

“It is now time to lead our dear State back to the centre of politics in Nigeria where the nation’s resources are shared. We cannot afford to continue playing second fiddle by not embracing APC in Anambra State” Etiaba further stated.

Chief Etiaba’s statewide ward tour has most powerfully and brazenly continued in ernest, to the great admiration of APC Party faithfuls in Anambra State.