In the state capital,the Oyo State Governor, His Excellency Givernor Seyi Makinde, assured residents that his administration would make further efforts to strengthen the security architecture of the state so as to ensure that every space of the state is secure.
He gave this assurance at the grand finale and Laying of Wreaths of the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
Makinde expressed appreciation to the officers and men of the Armed Forces for securing the state, urging them not to relent in their efforts.
The State Governor stressed that plans were afoot to set up a welfare scheme for the families of the five forest guards killed recently at the Oloka Village axis of the old Oyo National Park in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
He equally assured that his administration would continue to remember and support maimed soldiers, widows, orphans and other dependants of the fallen heroes, because they paid the ultimate price to keep the country safe and secure.
“I can only say thank you to the officers and men of the Nigeria Armed Forces. This is a challenging time for us as a nation. We are still dealing with all sorts of security challenges and they have been trying their best. We have asked them
In her comments to the media before the arrival of the Governor; Hon( Mrs) Toyin Balogun; Commissioner for Women Affairs & Social Inclusion whose Ministry hosted the event stated that this was a sombre occasion to pay tribute to our brave heroes past who had made numerous sacrifices , some of whom had paid the supreme price for our peaceful coexistence and to guard our territorial integrity
She gave kudos to His Excellency Governor Makinde for his proven commitment to supporting the Armed Forces to enable them fulfil their cinstitutional mandate. Hon (Mrs) Toyin Balogun further reassured both the gallant officers and widows left behind by the fallen heroes that the Makinde led government as a further demonstration of its commitment towards rehabilitating the widows of our fallen heroes will be putting in place through her Ministry, programs and interventions targeted towards sustainable empowerment of widows to enable them fend for their families after the demise of their breadwinners
Earlier, the state Interim Chairman of Nigerian Legion, Julius Alabi, lauded the Federal Government and the State Government for the improvement of Legion members’ welfare and for other support.
The ceremony witnessed the laying of wreaths at the remembrance cenotaph by His Excellency Governor Makinde; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, ably represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Mohammed Fadeyi; the state Chief Judge, Iyabo Yerima and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
Others who laid the wreaths were the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division Nigerian Army, Major General C.R Nnebeife; the state Interim Chairman of Nigeria Legion, Julius Alabi; Commander, 2 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General A.S Bugaje; the Commander 655, Nigerian Air Force Station, Ibadan, Air Commodore D.U. Njoku; the state Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna and a representative of the widows of the fallen heroes, MamaTaibatu Bello.
The occasion also witnessed the inspection of the Guard Parade by His Excellency, a 21-gun volley salute ,One Minute of Silence in honour of the fallen heroes, special prayers for the repose of the souls of our gallant fallen soldiers culminating in the release of ceremonial pigeons & balloons by the Governor .
The event also had in attendance a former Governor; His Excellency Kabiyesi the Olubadan of Ibadan land Kabiyesi Sen Rashidi Ladoja Arusa 1, the state Deputy Governor,His Excellency Barrister Bayo Lawal; former Deputy Governor, HE Hamid Gbadamosi; Speaker OYSHA ably represented by the Deputy Speaker Rt Hon Mohammed Fadeyi,former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Distinguished Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; Secretary to the State Government, Musibau Babatunde; Chief of Staff, Hon Segun Ogunwuyi; Head of Service,Mrs Olubunmi Oni(mni); Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon Kazeem Adeniyi;numerous Commissioners ,Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs Hon Comforter Olajide and many other notable political apointees and functionaries of the government, legionnaires and widows of the fallen heroes and their children.
