Soldiers Killed In Delta Will Get National Honours, Befitting Burial – Tinubu Assures
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assured last night that the 16 soldiers who lost their lives in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, will not be forgotten.
During the Ramadan fast-breaking at State House, Abuja, Tinubu, accompanied by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and House leadership, stated that the fallen
soldiers would receive a dignified burial and national honours.
Earlier in his remark, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, emphasized the importance of bringing the perpetrators of this heinous act to justice.
Governor Diri called for unity and support for the military and security agencies in their efforts to apprehend the criminals responsible for the killings.
He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers, the armed forces, and the army, emphasizing the need for swift action to ensure justice is served.
However, as Commissioner Olufemi Abaniwonda revealed, the police in Delta State have not yet been granted access to Okuama by the army. Abaniwonda emphasized that the region remains
unstable and uninhabited.
Commenting on the gruesome killing of the military men on national duty, President Tinubu said, “In responding to distress calls, they met the end of their lives in a savage manner. Let us work
to sympathise and symbolise the fact that they are worth the sacrifices they have made for Nigeria.
“We salute all our men and women in uniform, and we sympathise with them. I will soon make further pronouncements, but they must have a befitting burial and national honours.”
Tinubu emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced approach when inviting heads of MDAs to the National Assembly.
While oversight plays a crucial role in promoting transparency and accountability, excessive summoning of officials can have negative consequences, such as disrupting operations and impeding
service delivery to citizens. Therefore, he urged lawmakers to exercise discretion in carrying out their oversight functions.
The president stated, ”I have been watching various committees summoning ministers and heads of agencies. I have complained to the speaker to let the poor breathe. Let these people do the
job. We are not saying that you are not influential. We are not saying you cannot do your oversight.
“But consider the primary duty of each agency, its personnel, or the responsibilities of the governor of the central bank or the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to
you and the entire nation.
“If they are distracted or disturbed, maybe we will shift parliamentary sitting all through the night. We must find a way to accommodate one another. This is an appeal to you. See if you can
accept representatives in some instances or even documentation.”
The president, nonetheless, conveyed trust in the National Assembly’s capacity to maintain good governance and commended the amicable rapport between the executive and the legislature.
He highlighted that the cooperative collaboration had led to the swift approval of numerous bills aimed at enhancing the well-being of Nigerians.
He told the legislators, “We are making sacrifices for the country, and we are assuring citizens that there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel. We must have faith and, please, do not
forget your constituencies and remember what they are going through.”
