By Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu
On Thursday, January 15, 2026, the nation paused in solemn reverence to observe Armed Forces Remembrance Day, a moment etched deeply into the collective heart of Nigeria, where gratitude and grief intertwine to honour those who stood as guardians of our unity. I stood among the gathered crowd in Owerri, shoulder to shoulder with distinguished leaders including the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who also serves as Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, and Renewed Hope Ambassador. Together, we commemorated the selfless courage of our armed forces and paid heartfelt tribute to the fallen heroes whose blood waters the soil of this beloved country. The air carried the weight of history as wreaths were laid, trumpets sounded the Last Post, and silence enveloped us all, a silence that spoke louder than any words of the ultimate price paid for peace.
Here in the heart of Imo State at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, the ceremony unfolded with profound dignity, soldiers standing ramrod straight in crisp uniforms, flags fluttering gently against the morning sky, and families of the departed clutching photographs of loved ones lost too soon. Governor Uzodimma, with his characteristic resolve, not only led the proceedings but announced a generous gesture of N600 million to support families shattered by loss, a tangible expression of a government’s commitment to never forget those left behind. It was a day of reflection, where the echoes of past battles mingled with the quiet resolve of present service, reminding every Nigerian that freedom is never free.
For me, this day strikes a chord far more personal, resonating through the very essence of who I am. My existence is tied inextricably to the gallantry and uncertainty that defined the life of my father during the Nigerian Civil War. He named me Linus, a name bestowed in a moment of desperate hope, unsure if he would ever return from the front lines. He had witnessed the horrors of conflict up close, surviving the chaos of the pogrom and enduring the terror of arrest following the coup that plunged the nation into turmoil. Imprisoned and marked for possible elimination, he clung to life with the fierce determination of a man who knew the stakes. Yet amid that darkness, he prepared for the possibility that he might not survive.
When he learned that my mother, carrying his eighth child, was pregnant with me, he gave her precise instructions born of a soldier’s pragmatism and a father’s tender love. If the child was a girl, she should be called Ijeoma, meaning safe journey. If a boy, Ijeomah, carrying the same profound wish. Both names are prayers wrapped in syllables, invocations for protection on whichever path fate would dictate. He yearned to return home whole, to hold this new life in his arms, but if the war claimed him, he wanted assurance that his child would journey safely through life, just as he hoped his own soul would find peaceful passage to the world beyond. In that single act of naming, he encapsulated the essence of sacrifice: the willingness to face oblivion so that others might live in safety.
My name is therefore not merely an identifier; it is a living testament to the bravery of a soldier who stared death in the face and chose duty over self. Every time I introduce myself, I carry forward that legacy of courage, that quiet heroism of ordinary men thrust into extraordinary circumstances. On this Remembrance Day, as I joined the Governor and other leaders in honouring our armed forces, I felt the weight of those syllables more acutely than ever. Linus, Ijeomah, safe journey. They are words that bridge generations, linking my father’s peril to the ongoing vigilance of those who serve today. They remind me that remembrance is not abstract; it is intimate, woven into the fabric of families across this nation.
The Nigerian Civil War, which ended on January 15, 1970, left scars that time has softened but never erased. That date, chosen deliberately for this annual observance, marks not only the cessation of hostilities but the beginning of a painful reconciliation. It symbolizes the moment when brothers laid down arms, when the nation chose unity over division, even as grief lingered in countless homes. Today, our armed forces continue that tradition of sacrifice, confronting insurgency, banditry, communal clashes, and threats to our sovereignty with the same unyielding spirit. They leave families behind, kiss children goodbye, and step into harm’s way so that markets can bustle, children can attend school, and dreams can still take root in Nigerian soil.
Standing there amid the parade of disciplined troops, the release of white pigeons symbolizing peace, and the minute of silence that hushed every voice, I could not help but think of all the untold stories like my father’s. Each fallen hero had a name, a family, a final thought of home. Each serving member carries the same quiet fear and fierce pride. The day calls us to do more than lay wreaths or observe ceremonies; it demands that we live in a way that justifies their sacrifice. It urges us to build a Nigeria worthy of their blood, one where justice prevails, where opportunities abound, and where division gives way to shared purpose.
Governor Uzodimma’s words during the event echoed this truth, emphasizing how the sacrifices guarantee our unity, peace, and survival. His administration’s support for bereaved families stands as a model of what gratitude in action looks like. Across the country, from Abuja’s National Arcade to state capitals, similar scenes unfolded: leaders bowing heads, veterans marching with pride tempered by loss, and citizens reflecting on the debt we all owe. The theme of valour, sacrifice, and unity captured the spirit perfectly, reminding us that heroism binds us together.
As the ceremony concluded and the crowd began to disperse, I lingered for a moment, gazing at the cenotaph where names are etched in eternal memory. I whispered a quiet prayer for my father’s soul and for all departed heroes: may they rest in perfect peace, knowing their journeys were not in vain. I thought of the pregnant wife waiting anxiously for news, the child born into uncertainty yet cradled in hope. I thought of how names like mine carry forward the story of resilience.
This Armed Forces Remembrance Day was more than an event; it was a renewal of vows. We vow to remember, to support the living guardians of our nation, to care for those who mourn, and to strive for a country that honours sacrifice with progress. In my own life, the legacy of a father’s love and bravery compels me to contribute to that vision, to walk the path he prayed would be safe. And in every Nigerian who pauses today, there is the same quiet commitment: to ensure that no sacrifice is forgotten, no hero fades into oblivion.
May the souls of all our departed heroes rest in peace, and may their example light the way for generations yet to come. Safe journey to them all, and to us, the sacred duty to keep the flame alive.
Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu is the National Vice-Chairman (South-East) of the All Progressives Congress.
