The governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday demanded an unreserved apology from people attacking the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, over claims he is unqualified to run for president.

Mr. Aregbesola said Mr. Buhari deserves the respect of all after rising to the level of a general in the Nigerian Army.

Speaking at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremony and laying of wreath in honour of fallen soldiers held at the cenotaph site in Osogbo, the governor stated that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the menace of Boko Haram is brought to a halt without any consideration of tribe.

He described Boko Haram militants as the common enemy of Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity, religion or race.

The governor called on all religious and traditional worshippers to use every power in their custody to fight terrorism to a standstill, saying they have all the spiritual powers to fight Boko Haram.

‎He held that the Armed Forces Remembrance ceremony should serve to inspire the hearts of Nigerians to be more committed to the progress and peace of Nigeria.

The governor reminded the gathering that as the remembrance ceremony is going on around the country‎, many of the uniformed men and women are engaged in deadly battles against a brand in the global network of terrorism of Boko Haram.

“I refer us to these ongoing battles in order to make the point that the government and the people of this country must in their various ways play the role becoming of them in support of those brave combatants,” Mr. Aregbesola said.

“These are trying times. Yet, we must not shrink from our service to this country, whether as soldiers, public or private citizens.

“That enemy, popularly known as Boko Haram, is our common enemy. Consequently, we must be formidably united in confronting it.

“It is by standing together in support of our men and women in the fight against terrorism that we can be sure of victory,” the governor said.

Mr. ‎Aregbesola charged that all must stand together in support of these men and women in the fight against terrorism for the country to be sure of victory.

“Yes we have seen some lapses in the war against terror. Still we cannot run down our fighters. We must give encouragement and support, both in prayers and confidence, to the fighting spirit of our armed forces,” he said.
“We must note that those who rise in arms against our compatriots in the North-East are less in number than the rest of us. That misguided and malevolent minority must not triumph over us, the majority.”

Highlights of t‎he remembrance ceremony included the laying of wreaths by the governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, the commandant Nigeria Institute of Safety, Ipetu-Ijesa, Air Cmdre. Oyewole Jackson.

Others are Chairman Nigeria Legion, Osun, Alimi Samotu, Commissioner of Police Osun, Abubakar Marafa, Commander Engineering Construction Command, Ede, Gbenga Adeyemi and the Ataoja of Osogbo, Jimoh Olanipekun.