The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has honoured Nigeria’s fallen military personnel, calling their sacrifice a lasting reminder of the nation’s responsibility to uphold peace, hope, and progress.
In a post on his X account on Thursday for Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Obi stated that the annual commemoration provides Nigerians with an opportunity to recommit to building a nation worthy of the sacrifices made by its heroes.
He emphasised that a soldier’s true resting place is not the grave, but in the hearts and minds of the people they protected.
“A soldier’s true grave is not in the earth, but in the hearts and minds of those they protected, those who slept peacefully while their heroes stood guard,” Obi wrote.
Obi added that the most fitting way to honour the fallen is by leading lives that foster peace and progress and by offering leadership that inspires hope for the hopeless.
He also recognised the grief of the families of fallen servicemen and women, describing the day as a reminder of “an empty chair and a voice that is no longer heard,” while assuring them that their loved ones’ sacrifices were meaningful.
Obi concluded with prayers for the heroes, stating, “God bless our fallen heroes, and may their souls continue to rest in eternal honour.”