The Imo State Government has promised to recruit retired servicemen into the State owned establishments, Ministries and parastatals to work as volunteers.
This was disclosed by Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha at the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration held at the Heroes Square, Owerri on Monday January 15, 2018.
According to a statement signed by Sam Onwuemedo, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Okorocha also announced that his administration would immediately build a befitting headquarters for the legionnaires in the State to help them conduct the affairs of their legion and to constantly remind those in positions of power the need to relate with the legionnaires, especially at this painful moment of their life.
His words “Today, we are here gathered to give honour to whom honour is due, and to once more pay our respect as it is in our custom and tradition yearly to remember those who had fallen in serving their motherland. The greatest love that a man can show is that he dies to save his friend and the greatest love a soldier can show to his nation is that he dies to save the territorial integrity of his nation. This calls for patriotism and nationalism as patriotism is simply the love for one’s country”.
He noted that “Nigeria today is passing through a very difficult time. We are having so many challenges, ranging from terrorism to activities of the evil herdsmen and those who have chosen to kill for no just reason. It comes to a point when a nation may look hopeless and helpless. This is a very difficult moment in the history of the nation, but suffice it to say that we are consoled by the fact that we have gallant soldiers who are ready to lay their lives to save our nation”.
He continued “Mine today, is to salute all of you, encourage and urge you to continue doing this job without counting cost of returns. A Hero to me is that man who fights without counting cost of return, who is willing to make sacrifice of all sorts only to serve humanity. We are proud of the Nigeria army and all the armed forces of Nigeria because you all have not let us down in what is happening in the Sambisa forest and North-East in general”.
*Governor Rochas Okorocha making his speech at the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration held at the Heroes Square Owerri on Monday, January 15, 2018.*
The governor further stated “I want at this emotional moment to remember the wives of these fallen heroes. When we speak about the fallen heroes, it appears to us as men who died many years ago. There are widows in our midst who lost their husbands just two months ago, and some don’t even know what to do with their children left by their husbands who are the bread winners of the families. I urge all Nigerians to remember them at this moment, pray for them and if there is any assistance, let us all jointly give to them without counting lost of returns because their husbands served our nation without counting cost of returns”.
The governor told the legionnaires “You are willing to continue serving your fatherland even after retirement. We will like to partner with you as a state this time and period by introducing what is called the volunteerism spirit because some of you are still healthy and strong and willing to contribute your quota to the well-being of our society. We will like to engage you in the ministries, parastatals, hotels and all structures of government, to let you offer the last volunteering service to our people. I pray you find joy in doing this”.
He added “To those still living and who do not know what the future holds for them, you need not know about it, what is important is that you have chosen to fight for your nation. Please keep on, we are with you in prayers in all your efforts to make our nation peaceful. Let us uphold that very aspect of our national anthem that says though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand. God bless Nigeria”, he stated.