President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said that the country will remain united despite the increasing agigation by pro Biafra groups in the South eastern part of the country to break away.

The President who spoke while launching the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund in Abuja, said Nigerians are determined to remain as one despite the challenges of internal strife and civil war it suffered over the last 55 years of independence.

Buhari, however said the sacrifices of the nation’s heroes, heroines and veterans who stood up to confront the security challenges the country has faced cannot be forgotten.

“Our nation has recently celebrated 55 years of political independence and continues to remain as one indivisible entity despite several grievous challenges.

“Since independence, Nigeria has witnessed a lot of internal strife, survived a civil war and has remained united. This feat achieved by the country is an eloquent testimony to the determination of our citizens to remain as one people,” he stated.

Buhari said the occasion should be a reminder of the need to appreciate the noble contributions of our fallen heroes who paid the supreme sacrifice to maintain national and international peace and security.

“We are gathered here today to observe a worthy tradition of acknowledging and appreciating the gallantry and accomplishments of our veterans in the First and Second World Wars, peace support operations around the world, and internal security operations particularly the ongoing campaign against terrorism in our country,” said the President.

The President who admitted that the country is facing one of its most trying times, acknowledged the theme of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day “Motivating the Nigerian Armed Forces for Effective Service Delivery”.

He also gave kudos to the armed forces for their display of courage, sacrifices, commitment and the loyalty they have shown in the war against terrorism, oil theft​ and piracy in some parts of the country.