- Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has awarded scholarships to five children of the victims of a recent attack in Borno state
- The attack was on 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele, Borno where some soldiers lost their lives
- Abubakar also advised the federal government to think about setting up a benevolent fund for the support of widows and children of the country’s dead soldiers
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has awarded scholarships to five children of the victims of the recent attack on 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele, Borno.
Abubakar made the declaration in a statement personally signed by him on Wednesday, November 21, in Abuja.
The former vice president also called on those who desired to celebrate his birthday to donate their gifts and money to the widows and orphans of the fallen military heroes.
Adamawa-born Atiku was born on November 25, 1946. He will be 72 on Sunday.
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Part of the statement read: “I feel immense sadness when I think of the families they have left behind and pray to Almighty God to grant their surviving family members fortitude to bear up in a time like this.
“These men and women gave their best and we must reciprocate their sacrificial giving. Therefore, instead of celebrating my birthday this year, which is coming up in a few days, I choose to rather celebrate our fallen heroes.’
“I hereby declare an endowment to provide full financial scholarships to five children of our fallen heroes from the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele up to whatever level they are able and willing to reach at the American University of Nigeria, Yola.
“I further call on those who desire to celebrate my birthday, that instead of sending me gifts, they should donate their gifts and money to the widows and orphans of our fallen military heroes.
“I also call on all Nigerians, rich or poor, to do what they can for the families of our fallen heroes. They gave us all. We owe it to them to show love and support to the families they left behind.’’
Abubakar also advised the federal government to think about setting up a benevolent fund for the support of widows and children of the country’s fallen military heroes.
He said that such fund should be managed by an independent body, to which the public and corporate bodies could pay in funds.
“This is the least that we owe these gallant heroes,’’ he added.
He also condoled with the Nigerian Army over the recent attack that led to loss of lives of officers and men of the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele, Borno.
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Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will soon begin deploying fighter jets to Niger Republic airfields to serve as airbase to launch attacks on terrorists.
This was disclosed by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar on Wednesday, November 21, while speaking to journalists at the closing ceremony of the maiden edition of Nigerian Air Force International Air Power Seminar with the theme: Air Power in Irregular Warfare: A Framework for Understanding and Responding.
The CAS revealed that the decision was taken after, “more collaboration” with the Nigerien Air Force.
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