The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday hailed what it described as the “gallantry and patriotism” of Nigeria’s Armed Forces on the occasion of the country’s 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations.
The party said the Nigerian military has done well in recent times especially in “degrading Boko Haram in the North East and militancy in the Niger Delta.”
The APC in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, and made available to The Niche implored Nigerians to eschew hate speeches and other divisive actions that can trigger violence.
Below is the full text of the speech
As Nigeria celebrates the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day and the end of the Nigerian Civil War on January 15, 1970, the All Progressives Congress (APC) remembers our gallant military that fought for the unity and territorial integrity of our great country, Nigeria.
Our thoughts and prayers are also with our injured and fallen soldiers and with their friends, families and loved ones. We all have a duty to ensure the welfare of the families and dependants left behind.
Despite some security challenges which we currently grapple with as a nation, we have many reasons to hail the gallantry and patriotism of our Armed Forces, particularly in degrading Boko Haram in the North East and militancy in the Niger Delta.
Internationally, Nigeria has contributed its own fair quota to the resolution of global conflicts through our soldiers fighting in two World Wars; contributing troops to the containment of strife in Tanganyika and Congo; not to mention our lead roles in the wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
One of the major campaign promises the APC made to Nigerians before the 2015 elections was the security of Nigerians. We assure Nigerians that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration remains solidly committed to ensuring that every Nigerian in every part of the country is able to live a peacefully and go about their normal daily activities.
At this point of our national life when our ethno-religious and political differences have pit many of our citizens against each others, we must rise above these seeming differences and work together with a unity of purpose to achieve the country of our dreams.
Again, as political activities heighten, we call on all Nigerians and indeed our political actors to eschew hate speeches and other divisive actions that can trigger violence.
Like many other progressive nations of the world, Nigeria must embrace best practices such as tolerance, continuous dialogue, compromise and peaceful coexistence. Only then will we as a nation turn our diversity to strength.
