Posted by 9jabook.com on January 15, 2010 at 8:10pm
Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan scored another first yesterday. He became the first Vice President in the history of Nigeria to lay wreath for the fallen heroes, those who died in defence of the country.
The VP took the place of ailing President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua as a result of Wednesday’s ruling of an Abuja Federal High Court that he can perform the President's duties, if such powers were delegated to him by the President.
He rode into the National Arcade at 10.a.m, with all the pomp and ceremony accorded previous Heads of Government with the horse riders and other paraphernalia of office at his disposal for the parade.
Decked in brown Niger Delta attire, with a black bowler hat and black shoes to match, he wasted no time in taking on the first duty of inspecting the guard of honour mounted by the combined detachments of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and the Nigerian Legion.
Like his predecessors, the VP had no words for either the fallen or surviving heroes.
After prayers were said for the fallen heroes, the leaders as well as the country, a minute silence was observed after which the VP stepped out, as if reluctantly, looking grim; he took the wreath, laid it, stepped back, said a little prayers and turned back.
The Senate President, David Mark followed suit. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, in his usual casual with short caftan (jumper), white cap and black shoes to match walked briskly to the "Unknown Soldier ".
The new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Katsina-Alu; the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Godwin Abbe; the Minister of FCT, Sen. Adamu Aliero; the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike and the other Service Chiefs as well as the Inspector General of Police took their turns to honour the fallen heroes.
81-year-old, Private Mohammed Boyi represented the Nigerian Legions.
A World War 11 veteran, who joined the Colonial Army in 1942, was helped to the podium by a colleague amidst cheers from the gathering.
Frail-looking Boyi retired from the Nigerian Army in 1977 and now lives in Katsina State with two of his four children and 26 grand children.
After the wreath laying ceremony,a 21-gun salute was fired and the VP led others to the pigeon cage. He released the white birds and they flew, even if not too far from the arcade.
Jonathan left the venue after signing the continuation of celebration register.
According to a fellow legionnaire, Boyi is the only surviving veteran that took part in the 2nd World War. Though his sight challenges began about five years, Boyi could still recall nostalgically how he served in various parts of the world like Burma, Cairo and Japan, among others.
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