Coastal NEWS

As it is usually celebrated every 15^th of January, this year’s edition of the 2012 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State was a unique one to honour the fallen heroes who fought gallantly for the unity of this country.

People were still in attendance despite the strike action embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC and the Trade Union Congress TUC to press home their demands asking the federal government to reverse its initial plan by removing the oil subsidy on premium motor spirit PMS popularly known as petrol.

The men of Nigerian Army 19^th Battalion Barracks Okitipupa, members of Nigerian Legion Okitipupa Local Government Chapter and politicians as well as traditional rulers and Religious leaders converged at the Okitipupa Local Government Cenotaph, Oke-Oyinbo Area in Okitipupa to honour the fallen heroes.

The activities, which started with a thanksgiving service at Wesley Methodist Church Ode-Aye last Sunday, was rounded off with a parade by the men of Nigerian Army 19^th Battalion Barracks Okitipupa at the Cenotaph.

The day’s activities were kicked off by a parade and 21 guns salute to give honour to their colleagues who lost their life in the process of fighting for their nation.

The Chairman Caretaker Committee Okitipupa Local Government, Hon. Wale Ogunmade represented by his special assistant Mr. Benson Akinbo appreciated God Almighty for sparing the lives of the living soldiers and for assisting them to still keep the country intact despite all security challenges facing the nation.

The Chairman also thanked the men of the Nigerian Army 19^th Battalion Barracks Okitipupa for providing adequate security for Okitipupa town and its environment particularly during the just-concluded labour industrial action.

He assured them that local government administration on its own part, will strive to provide adequate assistance in carrying out their duties and promised to always handle issues that concerns the retired soldiers and the families of the fallen heroes with utmost priority.

The Caretaker Chairman Okitipupa Local Government, Mr. Wale Ogunmade represented by his special assistant, Mr. Benson Akinbo, Jegun of Idepe Okitipupa, Oba Micheal Obatuga Adetoye, the Chairman Nigerian Legion Okitipupa Branch, high Chief (Major) Ola Aiyeku (rtd), the representative of the Army and the representative of the Nigerian Police, laid the wreaths to honour the fallen heroes. Special prayers were offered for the families of the fallen heroes, the retired soldiers, the living soldiers who are still actively in service, Okitipupa Local Government, Ondo State and Nigeria in general.