Officers and men of the armed forces both serving and retired who have paid and are still paying the ultimate price for the freedom, peace and protection of Nigeria deserve the recognition and reward the nation can avail them, the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dame Anengi Claude-Wilcox has said.

Dame Claude-Wilcox, who was represented by her Vice, Omoni Longjohn, said this on Monday, January 15, 2024 during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration and Wreath Laying Ceremony in Bonny, Rivers State.

“The officers and men of the Armed Forces have paid and continued to pay the ultimate price for our freedom, protection and peace. We owe them a lot for their service to our country and this debt we can only repay through patriotism to our nation, rededication of our loyalty to our flag and defence of our national values.”

“In my opinion, we are blessed to have some living heroes of this nation in our midst as ex-servicemen. They have done their part; it is now time for us to do ours by continually honouring them all through every means possible.”

She pledged that her administration will continue to leverage the knowledge and expertise of service personnel by partnering with the various security agencies to ensure the safety and security of the people of Bonny.

“It is important that we must partner with the security agencies and remain observant to take notice and report any suspicious activity in our respective neighbourhoods. We all know that necessary intelligence is required for the security officers to do their jobs right.”

“I assure we shall sustain the support and healthy synergy that we share with the Police Force and the rest of the Armed Forces in the LGA.

“We will equally continue to develop useful alliances with neighbouring communities and friends in different levels of Government for the total defeat of the security threats affecting Bonny Island and our communities.”

She used the occasion to congratulate Rev. Canon Charles Hart, a former chaplain of the Nigerian Army and immediate past Chairman of the Bonny Area Council of the Nigerian Legion, on his emergence as the Chairman of the Rivers State Command

“I am glad that the ex-servicemen are very formidable in Bonny Local Government Area. I am particularly pleased that our own Rev Canon Charles Hart has now been elevated to lead the ex-servicemen at the state level; congratulations, Sir.”

Earlier in his address, the outgoing Chairman of the Bonny Area Council, Rev Canon Charles Hart had informed Dame Claude-Wilcox of his elevation to lead the State Command of the Nigerian Legion, thanking her and her administration for the invaluable support she accorded the Bonny Area Council under his watch.

He appealed to her to sustain her support to the Council and the ex-servicemen, promising that he and his colleagues as well as members of the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires would continue to support her administration to succeed.

The Bonny LGA Chairman, represented by her Vice, Omoni Longjohn, inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires, and later led heads of the various security agencies and other officials of the government to participate in the Wreath Laying Ceremony that marked the climax of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration.

Among them were Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (NNFOB), Bonny, who was represented by his Executive Officer, Commander Gerald Daloeng, acting Chairman of the Bonny Area Council of the Nigerian Legion, Capt. Emmanuel Jim-Halliday (retired), Divisional Police Officer of the Nigerian Police Force, Bonny Division, represented by his Station Officer, SP Samuel Ovuro, and Divisional Police Officer of the Nigerian Police Force, Finima Division, represented by his Divisional Crime Officer, SP Chibunna Uriah, Leader of the Bonny Legislative Assembly, represented by the Councillor, Ward 1, Geoffrey Allison, Chief of Staff to the Bonny LG Chairman, Austin Pepple, among others.