Jonathan, First VP To Lay Wreath For Fallen Heroes

Vice President (VP) Goodluck Jonathan on Friday became the first VP in the history of Nigeria to lay wreath for the fallen heroes who died in defence of the country.

 He stood in for the ailing President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as a result of Wednesday’s ruling of an Abuja Federal High Court, which said 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 am with all the ceremony accorded previous Heads of   Government with the horse riders and other paraphernalia of office at his disposal for the parade.

Docked 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, Airforce, 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, 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, then followed.

 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 Marshall Paul Dike and other service chiefs as well as the Inspector General of Police took their turns to honour the fallen heroes.

 Eighty-one year old Private Mohammed Boyi represented the legions. The world war II veteran, who joined the colonial Army in 1942, was help to the podium.

 The frail Boyi retired from the Nigerian Army in 1977 and now lives in Katsina State with his family.

 After the wreath-laying ceremony, a 21-gun salute was fired and the VP led others to the pigeon case, where he released the birds.

Jonathan left the venue after signing the continuation of the celebration register.