2024 ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE: AIYEDATIWA AND THE RESURGENCE OF PERICLES’ FUNERAL ORATION
Yesterday, being a special day to remember our fallen heroes who paid the ultimate price to keep us together as safe as possible, I ruminated on the significance of the emotional speech delivered by the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. I took my time to pick every word as I sat to carefully observe beyond the rituals of January 15th.
The Athenians were lords of oration and it became part of their culture to make speeches. More than the desire to showcase incomparable brilliance, speeches were a major fillip in the City-state and every citizen gloried in the fine art of its delivery. How could the consciousness of all be awaken to the beautiful scenery of the City upon which they pride themselves as Athenians without an invocation of words that conjure bravery? Through oration, designed to promote the supreme value, highest regards, piety and ancestral greatness of the City-state, every Athenian had a shot at unrivaled loyalty to the workings of democracy and its attendant benefits in the City-state.
I shook my head as Governor Aiyedatiwa took me down the memory lane in his spirited speech to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day. The Pericles Funeral Oration struck me hard and I began to wonder whether our Governor drank so much from the cup of the great philosopher. The defeat of the Athenians during the Peloponnesian war fought between Athens and Sparta, mainly for the hegemony of the Greek world necessitated the celebrated Funeral Oration.
Like Aiyedatiwa, Pericles stood before the people to mourn deeply, the losses of men of valour who laid down their lives for the dignity of Athens. Hear what Pericles said “Most of those who have spoken here before me have commended the lawgiver who added this oration to our funeral customs. It seemed to them a worthy thing that such an honour should be given at their burial to the dead who have fallen on the field of battle”
In semblance to Pericles, Aiyedatiwa painfully recounts: “Today’s celebration which is the Final Parade and Laying of Wreaths is a culture of honour for our heroes. It is the highest way of showing respect to the fallen heroes who lost their lives in wars and various military assignments, both at Domestic and International levels all over the world”
Pericles, even in defeat, saw purpose in the glorification of the unparalleled discipline, assiduity, perseverance and foresight of his ancestors. “I will speak first of our ancestors, for it is right and seemly that now, when we are lamenting the dead, a tribute should be paid to their memory. There has never been a time when they did not inhabit this land, which by their valor they will have handed down from generation to generation”
In the same manner as Pericles, Aiyedatiwa didn’t miss the opportunity to pour encomiums on Aketi who passed off as an ancestor in Pericles understanding. Hear the Governor verbatim: “Dear good people of the Sunshine State, I am also deeply convinced that today’s event affords us the opportunity to call to mind the memories of our late Governor, my boss and mentor, an icon, a political Hero, a courageous and dogged fighter, a Civilian but Military-spirited man – Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON. The gallant Civilian-Soldier fought doggedly alongside other South-West Governors to strengthen our security architecture…”
However, I panned through the notes of Pericles and I could have imagined a syntactic dalliance as the words of Governor Aiyedatiwa flirt symbolically and symmetrically with that of Pericles in the perfect description of Aketi, a man who gave all, including the risk of losing his seat for protecting his people. See how Pericles captured Aketi’s dutifulness: “I believe that a death such as theirs has been the true measure of man’s worth, it may be the first revelation of his virtues, but is at any rate their final seal. For even those who come short in other ways may justly plead the valor with which they have fought for their country, they have blotted out the evil with the good, and have benefited the state more by their public services than they have injured her by their private actions”
If you were at Adegbemile where the event took place yesterday, you would leap for joy as Governor Aiyedatiwa doled out 30m naira interest free loan to widows of fallen heroes in order to give a human face to a beautiful speech. Whether in Simerin or Igbokoda, wherever and whenever you see those who bear arms that you might sleep with your eyes closed, give them serious salute. It’s not a child’s play at all.
God bless the Armed Forces.
*Sunday Olugbenga Abire is Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Ondo State*
