HONOURING OUR HEROES BEYOND TRIBUTES Today, I joined other Nigerians in Awka to celebrate the life and legacy of a distinguished senior military officer and diplomat, our departed elder, Lieutenant General Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor (Rtd.). General Obiakor served our fatherland with distinction as a senior officer of the Nigerian Army. Beyond his military service, he also served as a diplomat and Military Adviser at the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations. He truly lived an exemplary life of service worthy of emulation. In my remarks, I reiterated my position that the men and women of our Armed Forces, both serving and retired, deserve the highest honour and respect, not only in life but also in death. Political leaders should personally identify with and honour those who have dedicated their lives to defending our nation. The recent loss of our military personnel in the aircraft crash and the subsequent helicopter incident further reminds us of the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make every day for our country. Our retired military personnel deserve timely pensions, accessible healthcare, and decent living conditions, while our serving personnel deserve adequate equipment, proper training, and effective medical care. Those who defend our nation deserve a nation that protects their dignity and well-being. May God Almighty grant General Obiakor eternal rest, comfort his family, and protect all our serving personnel. -PO