AFRDay: Let’s honor our fallen heroes in through the living- Taraba NUJ Chairman
Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
The Taraba State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists Comrade Mathew Eliud Jen has called on governments and Nigerians to honour the memories of members of the Armed forces who are no more by supporting their families and showing regards to those that are alive, either retired or still in active service.
In a message to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Jalingo, Jen said that whatever is done for the dead will have little significant to the extent that their relatives who are living amongst us are neglected and let to suffer.
He regretted that most times, retired members of the armed forces are grossly disregarded while the society is increasingly showing less respect to the sacrifices of those in service.
“Let me first of all extend my profound respect to the members of the Armed Forces, dead or alive, serving or retired. As a journalist working in the line of actions, I have every course to appreciate the huge sacrifices made by our Armed Forces who constantly put their lives on the lines and some times even pay the ultimate prize for us to stay safe.
“While this annual ritual celebrating their memory is very key, I think it is even more imperative that we, as a people, begin to pay more attention to the plight of the surviving family members who are often left to mourn their heroes in abject want.
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“It is equally important to note that we can not we would not be sincere in our celebration of the dead if we fail to honour the living, serving or retired. It is even very injurious to us all when we fail to honour them because it dampens the morale of those in service.
“I commend the Taraba State Governor and his government for the collaboration with various security agencies in the State to ensure security of lives and property of the citizenry. As a retired senior military officer, I have no doubt that he will not take the welfare of our security agencies lightly.
“Once again, let me reiterate that the NUJ in Taraba State is fully committed to collaborating with all the security agencies in the State and the government to rid the State of all forms of criminalities” Jen said.
