As Nigerians remembered their fallen heroes, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has appealed to those beating the drum of war and other acts capable of causing strife in the country to stop and embrace peace for the development of the country.

The governor made that appeal in his remarks at the church service to mark the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration held at Cathedral of St. Peters, Ake, Abeokuta.

He said Nigeria is currently going through lots of challenges including security and economy, noting that it would be uncharitable for any one to provoke others to cause crisis that could lead to war.

"Let me call on all of us, indigenes, citizens, we must do everything to ensure that we avoid actions that are capable of provoking one another, actions that are capable of leading us to war or any other national conflict.

"Nigeria is battling with diverse insecurity challenges ranging from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cultism, among others. These incidences have caused us the lives of our armed men who swore to defend this country. We must remember them and assist those they left behind". 

The governor maintained that it was not enough to gather and talk about those who fought to ensure that the country remain one, but efforts most be made to show love to those incapacitated and assist the families of the fallen heroes.

The governor opined that peace was needed for all round development, just as he charged Nigerians to always resolve their difference peacefully and stop resolving to violence as it does not do the country any good.

He said the occasion was to celebrate and appreciate veterans and those who have paid the supreme prize in the course of defending the corporate existence of the nation and solicited support for widows and children left behind.

Governor Abiodun emphasized that his administration has lowered the political temperature by ensuring all political parties and their candidates have a level play ground to canvass for votes in the forthcoming elections without molestation, appealing to the people to continue to gave peace a chance.

While stressing the need for the people to elect competent leaders, the governor urged the youths to shun acts of thuggery, gangsterism and cultism and  also appealed to parents to rein on their children to be law abiding before, during and after the general elections, expressing the hope that the country would overcome her challenges.

In a sermon titled Remembrance of our giants, Rt. Rev'd Noah Adekanbi Olabisi, of the United African Methodist Church, said the dead heroes died defending the corporate existence of the nation, hence the need for Nigerians to always remember them, support the families the left behind through prayers, financially and materials at all times.

Taking his text from Proverbs. 10:7, Rt. Rev'd Olabisi acknowledged that Nigeria is going difficult times as a result of corruption and the get rich quick syndrome particularly of the youths, nothing that the country does not need thugs, but intelligence youths who would use their numerical strength to elect the right leaders, calling on the authorities concern to allow for a free and fair general elections.