Former Vice President and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, has lauded the “remarkable” sacrifices of the Armed Forces in the defence of the country.
He gave the commendation shortly after arriving from an overseas trip at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Sunday, his media office stated in a statement.
Atiku, who was speaking on the occasion of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, noted that the military had not faced greater challenges since the Nigerian Civil War than the on-going counterterrorism campaign.
The former vice president noted that apart from sapping energy and resources, counterterrorism was one of the most stressful security duties.
He added that the performance of the military personnel under those “gruelling challenges is admirable and praiseworthy”.
“Laying down one’s life for others is the highest sacrifice, and these officers and men are driven by sheer patriotism and love of fellow citizens.
“Any group of people who can overcome fear to answer the call of duty and love of one’s country deserves the greatest honour, respect and rewards from the society,” he stated.
The Turakin Adamawa stated he was impressed beyond words by the recent successes recorded by the military against the Boko Haram insurgents.
These, according to him, include the liberation of Sambisa Forest, the terrorists’ last bastion, which “has sent a clear message that criminals cannot defeat law and order”.
He paid special tributes to officers and men who lost their lives in the line of duty and called on the authorities to take adequate care of their families.
Atiku stated he was looking forward to when members of the Armed Forces would join the league of military inventors and designers like Mikhail Kalashnikov of Russia, who designed the famous AK-47 assault rifle.
He stated that there was the need for the Defence Industries Corporation, Kaduna, should one day showcase the inventiveness, and technical acumen of the military.
The former vice president advised the military to create special units for research to help Nigeria produce its weapons locally to reduce its dependence on other countries for weapons and equipment.