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ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY AN HYPOCRITIC RITES BY THOSE IN POWER TO GARNER FOR APPLUASE.

 




Yesterday marked one of the many ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY which is usually celebrated on the 15th January every year to:


● pay tribute to our fallen heroes, who died while defending the territorial boundaries of our nation, 


● celebrate gallantry heroes who fought and retired in the service and also


●  to encourage those gallant officers who put their life as a bait to make sure our country is guard against internal and external forces.


But sadly enough the said rituals  has become more of annual event where leaders across the country put up a show and fend ignorance of the reality attenuating the integrity of the ARMED FORCES.


It is no longer news that this event that is supposed to serve as a source of honour to the family of the gallantry men who paid the SUPREME price of giving their lives protecting the territorial integrity of dear nation, 


retired men of the force who fought their youthful strength out defending the territorial boundaries and 


active officers who are paying the price every day not knowing what will befall them as they continue in their constitutional responsibilities, is one that is bemoaned by most service men and well meaning Nigerians due to how service men are manhandled by corrupt officers and government who has refused to establish a reward system for this gallantry men making the political, and socio-economic atmosphere of the country conducive.


Severally, families of fallen heroes,  retired and serving officers, especially junior officers have had the worst narrative of ill treatment they received from the force particularly in areas of  COMPENSATION, PENSIONS AND GRATUITY and their overall WELFARE.



Keenly observing the millions of naira injected in to the ARMED FORCES from one administration to the other, one would have expected the sad narrative to change for good but the reverse is the case.


The only evidence seen in the armed forces is where senior officers ( commission officers) eat gluttonously, dine and enjoy while the junior officers especially those recruitees are left to shoulder the burdens alone with no reward or encouragement for service.


To add to this ill treatment and poor reward for service, the mover and shaker of the Nigerian Armed Forces have turned the system to a river of wealth where they scoop the many millions meant for officers' welfare,  armoury and other things that would have  helped make the armed forces a force to rocken with.


Honchos of the Nigerian armed force over the years has been reportedly highlighted  as one of the most corrupt officers serving the country and poor reward for service, and maltreatment of members of the force served as an evidence to the afore.


ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY will continue but what Nigerians will love to see is a clear change of heart on the path of the leaders. A situation whereby the ARMED FORCES  is revamp and restore to it place among international forces. 


Also, nigerians will want to see how well treated members of the force are  most especially family of the fallen heroes who gave their lives to protect the territorial integrity of our nation.


Lastly, The armed forces REMEMBRANCE DAY's rituals must not be mere statutory responsibility of our leaders but a wake up call to correct on the sad narrative beclouding the force existence.


✍🏽 Patrick Ekong

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