A retired soldier, Lt. Col. Dagogo Wilcox (Rtd.) has called on well-meaning individuals in the society to amplify the support government at all levels ae providing families of soldiers who lose their lives in active duty while serving the nation.

Lt. Col. Wilcox made this call on Sunday, January 8, 2023 during a Thanksgiving Service as part of activities marking the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Bonny.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Dame Anengi Barasua has felicitated with ex-servicemen in Bonny LGA.

She took a salute from members of the Nigerian Legion Bonny LGA Chapter who mounted a parade and guard of honour for her at the Government Lodge in Bonny and was also decorated alongside her Vice, Warisenibo Omoni Longjohn, and Chief of Staff, Austin Pepple, with the Armed Forces emblem by the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Bonny LGA Chapter, Rev. Canon Charles Hart.

Later at the Thanksgiving Service, the Bonny LGA Chairman took the first Bible reading taken from Isaiah 61, while Rev. Bright Odimi took the second Bible reading taken from Ephesians 2:7.  

In his sermon at the service, Venerable Peter Blu-Attoni had admonished Christians to trust God the more in 2023, assuring that in keeping with His word, God remains a refuge and source of strength to His people, stressing that “those who need God’s help should note that God is our refuge; God will protect and safeguard our nation and people”.

“God is saying to those who are called of Him that he is their rock of refuge. It’s a lifelong assignment to trust and obey God,” he explained, adding that “God is discountenancing fear from His people, He wants us to know that He cares for us even in the storm.”

In an interview with Kristina Reports on the sidelines of the Thanksgiving Service, Lt. Col. Wilcox, who is also a Se-Alabo (country chief) of Bonny Kingdom, Chairman, Bonny Council of Chiefs and a retired diplomat, stated that though the Federal Government was trying to provide remuneration to serving soldiers and support to families of retired and slain soldiers, it was not adequate and needed a boost from well-meaning individuals in the society.

“We want to say government is doing their best and also want to say to those who are not in governance to also give some supports to the soldiers. Salaries are very poor; I can see the president is struggling to enhance the payment if soldiers.”

Dignitaries at the service include the Vice Chairman of Bonny LGA; Wariopusenibo Omoni Longjohn, Leader of the Bonny Legislative Assembly; Rt. Hon. Larry Ibaningo, Chief and Head of Captain Hart Major House; Se-Alabo Reginald Hart, Adango XIII, Chief and Head of Jim-Halliday House of Bonny Kingdom; Wari-Alabo Elliott Jim-Halliday, Igiri VI, the lawmaker representing Ward 6 in the Bonny Legislative Assembly; Enefaa Allaputa, and Chief of Staff to the Bonny LGA Chairman, Austin Pepple, amongst others.