Defence Minister slumps at Armed Forces Remembrance Day

Minister of State for Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada, Tuesday caused a stir when she slumped at the celebration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja where President Goodluck Jonathan, along with other top government officials and members of the diplomatic corps had gathered to honour Nigeria’s fallen heroes.

The event was also held across the country where governors and others laid wreaths and paid tributes to members of the nation’s armed forces who had died in the course of defending the nation’s territorial integrity or during peacekeeping.

The ceremony included a 21-gun salute, playing of the Last Post, a minute’s silence, laying of wreaths and releasing pigeons, as a mark of peace.

Obviously exhausted after standing in the scorching sun with the service chiefs and other dignitaries for about four hours and jolted by the unexpected booms of artillery gunfire at the occasion, the minister slumped, her white hat fell off and she had to be assisted by aides who led her to a seat.

But in a swift reaction to the report that she lost her bearing, the minister, through her media aide, Mr. Femi Adefila, denied that she slumped or fell during the ceremony.