Beyond Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration

Beyond Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration

By JULIANA TAIWO, 01.17.2010

The Armed Force Remembrance Day (AFRD) was formally marked on November 11 of every year to coincide with the Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) for the World War veterans in all Commonwealth nations. But it was changed to January 15 of every year in Nigeria in commemoration the January 1966 when the first shot was fired to start the process that metamorphosed into the Nigerian civil war and the quest to keep the nation one. The date has become more ritualistic as the real people in whose honour the date was set are being neglected. Each year, one is bound to run into one of such veterans whose pathetic life does not reflect someone who risk all for world peace.

The remembrance is a day set aside to remember all those soldiers who were and have not been decorated by their governments for their contributions towards keeping their country safe and internationally keeping Hitler at bay during World War II. Across the world, different medals are given to soldiers for bravery in the face of difficulty and daring escapades at the expense of personal safety to save the platoon, the regiment, the commanding officer and the fatherland.

During last year’s news briefing by the Minister of Defence Maj. Gen Godwin Abbe to kick-start the activities lined up for the celebration of the year 2010 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, it was revealed that the Nigerian legionnaires are being owed about N7 million from pledges and emblem sales generated for Armed Forces Remembrance Day for the past three years. Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Col. Micah Gaiya disclosed that out of the various pledges and sales made in 2009, only N193,000 was released to the Nigerian Legions in which all have been used as hardship allowance to attend to the needs of widows and children of late veterans.

According to him, “some have been pledging consistently for the past three years and have not redeemed any. Even though I won’t want to disclose their names but I think is very unfair for one to pledge and not redeem. “What we spend on humanitarian jobs is far more than what we realise both as pledges and sales of emblems. It is very sad. It is important to note that we have been sustained by the funds we realised from the renting of our property in which we get about N6 million annually and also our petrol station on Kaduna road in which we get N600,000 annually out of which 350,000 is used for servicing. Besides, we have international obligation, we are affiliated to the World Veteran Federation in which we are member of standing committee African affairs, beside paying dues we attend their meetings but you’ll discover that we are almost on our own in all these,” he said.

The Legion Chairman who was only elected seven months ago, also blame their poor funding portfolio on the inability of their members to pay their monthly dues of N100. “By our constitution every member is supposed to pay monthly dues of N100. It is not proper to belong to an organisation and not pay your dues, but you will agree that it might be tough to even raise the N100 to pay. Though we are going to work on that and convince them on the need to pay their dues. “Furthermore, my appeal to government is to provide an annual allocation to the Nigerian Legion. As it is, we do not receive anything from anybody. We use to get N60,000 quarterly and that was stopped three, four years ago.

We are on our own and live by the good will of people like the service chiefs who have been wonderful,” he added. Speaking on the significance of this period, Gaiya said, “we believe that those Nigerians who lost their lives fighting in various wars—World War II, Nigerian Civil War, and in peacekeeping operations all over the world should be remembered, their families should be taken care of and those of them still living should not want for nothing. Remember they put their lives on line to keep Nigeria one as well as give Nigeria the good name it is enjoying in the world today as far as peacekeeping is concern”.

Speaking on the challenges, he said when he took over, the major challenge he had was that of harmonising the monthly pensions. “We went round and talked to people who really mattered last year and luckily the harmonised salary scale took effect and we have been assured by the Ministry of Defence that the over N70 billion salary arrears being owed the military pensioners have been included in 2010 budget.

We are looking forward to the funds being made available to offset these arrears because it will go along way to alleviative the suffering of our members. “The main issue is that we are a humanitarian body and we owe it a duty to help the families of the departed souls. As it is right now, we pay scholarships to some of the children of the deceased, especially those who have shown exceptional brilliance, we pay hardship allowances to the families of the departed and those still alive but not able to help themselves. Our challenge really is lack of funds because as it is, we do not receive any allocation from the Federal Government, we are self-sustaining, going cap in hand begging for assistance here and there.

“The emblem launching is aimed at raising funds to help the families of departed heroes, but that too has really not been forthcoming. We are not asking for annual allocation but a grant (about N50 million) to take off to enable us invest so that we will stop running around begging because the proceeds will help a great deal in our fulfilling our obligations. Just for the records, our annual commitment is more than N10 million in a year so we are just pleading with the Federal Government to teach us how to fish and not to give us fish. With the grant, they should leave it to us because the money will be judiciously used”.

THISDAY findings showed that this year’s pledge redemption compared to previous years has been very encouraging. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero, had recently advocated for the setting up of a foundation that will take care of the welfare of retired members of the Armed Forces in the country. He said had said the Armed Forces celebration should go beyond the yearly ritual of raising funds for members of the Armed Forces and other national heroes.

“Rather, we should have a permanent foundation that will take care of members of the Services who have suffered to keep the country together,” he said. Lamenting the plight of the country’s national heroes, especially in the present global economic meltdown, the Minister said the foundation would alleviate the sufferings of the legion and their families left behind. “It is regrettable that members of the Armed Forces suffer for as long as two to three years after retirement, waiting to collect their entitlements. “Members of the Armed Forces deserve to be assisted and taken care of,” he said, while pledging financial assistance as part of the contributions to the foundation when it eventually takes off.

Aside the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan making history by leading (the President has always led) the wreath laying ceremony in honour of the unknown soldiers who laid down their lives for the peaceful co-existence of Nigeria and other countries through peacekeeping operations for the first time, the sight of a veteran of World War, II Private Mohammedu Boyi, was pathetic. He was born in 1920 in Katsina and enlisted in the colonial army in1942 and got discharged in 1977.

In 2009 ceremony, it was World War II Veteran, Retired Sergeant Ibrahim Sokoto who shared his experiences in the Burmar War and life after retirement. He had said he would like to seek more support from the government and the people of Nigeria, to the surviving soldiers and the families of the fallen heroes. Boyi, lives in a rented apartment with his two sons Lawal (39) and Ibrahim (37) and Abubakar (35). His first child, Hadiza Mohammed (41) is said to be working with the Force Headquarters in Abuja, while the rest of them work with the Katsina State government.

Speaking to THISDAY, Abubakar one of his sons said him and his siblings have tried with their meager take home pay to see if they could build a befitting home for their father but have been frustrated by their own personal lives responsibilities. “Baba (Boyi), has 26 grandchildren and we have tried to ensure they all at least get education as well as feed. It has been practically impossible for us to live comfortably talk less of providing our father with the dream house. We have been talking about and it will be really nice if he can at least be remembered in the twilight of his life as you can see, he is already 90 years old,” he said.

In a chat with newsmen, Boyi, who will rather talk about the welfare of the existing troops in operation theatre rather than his plight, said he fought in the Burma and praised the welfare package back in the days, which gingered their morale to go the extra mile to ensure the war was worn by the British Army. “Our performance at the Burma war made the Nigerian Army to be rated among the best in the world in peacekeeping. We were the first Nigerian contingent that were there in the war and carried the instructions given to the later, which led to their capturing every sector they were given. We were happy to serve because we lacked nothing in terms of welfare as well as operational tools and if this is replicated in today’s troops participating peacekeeping operations, it will boost their morale and encourage them to give their best,” he said.

Boyi who said he is the only surviving veteran among the contingent that took part in the World War II, also spoke about taking part in wars in Cairo, Japan, stating that his contingent were the ones that fought and won the Japanese despite attacking them with helicopters.

“People were surprise to see black men fighting. “Initially, the white men were skeptical about our capabilities but when they saw our prowess every other time we were allowed to be the first to attack and they were never disappointed in our decision. I pray that Nigeria will continue in that zeal that earned us international recognition,” he emphasised.

In Orioke Iwamimo: A Prophesy Fulfilled

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=140781

In Orioke Iwamimo: A Prophesy Fulfilled
04.13.2009

Juliana Taiwo witnessed the recent 2009 joint operations exercise codenamed Ologun Meta by the Defence Headquarters. The exercise brought to fruition the prophesy on Orioke Iwamimo, Ilaje, a beachfront facing the Atlantic Ocean in Ondo State

FG, States, Councils Share $1.5bn Excess Crude Savings

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=137835

FG, States, Councils Share $1.5bn Excess Crude Savings

From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, 03.11.2009

As reported by THISDAY yesterday, the National Economic Council (NEC) has approved that N225 billion ($1.5 billion) be shared among the three tiers of government from the excess crude account.

Yar’Adua Signs Budget with Reservations

http://www.thisdayonline.com/ncomments.php?id=137836#200168

Yar’Adua Signs Budget with Reservations

From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, 03.11.2009

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua yesterday signed the N3.101 trillion budget for 2009 but with a caveat that with the present global meltdown, the realities on ground make it an “unworkable document”.

FG: Why We Rejected Uwais Proposals on INEC

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=137932

FG: Why We Rejected Uwais Proposals on INEC

From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, 03.12.2009

The Federal Government yesterday finally levelled up with Nigerians on why it rejected the recommendation of the Justice Muhammadu Uwais Electoral Reform Committee regarding the appointment of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commis-sion (INEC).

Finally, FG Opts for Full Deregulation

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=136795

Finally, FG Opts for Full Deregulation
•Sets up panel on time-frame •No systemic risk to banks, says Muhtar
From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, 02.27.2009

FG: Global Meltdown Threatens Vision 2020

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=135903

FG: Global Meltdown Threatens Vision 2020
From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, 02.17.2009
The Federal Government has said the current global financial crisis has greatly affected econo-mies of most countries of the world and posed a threat to Nigeria over the attainment of the broad objectives of vision 2020.

Yar’Adua, Governors, Political Appointees to Take Salary Cut

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=135393

Yar’Adua, Governors, Political Appointees to Take Salary Cut
From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, 02.11.2009

Peacekeeping: Nigeria to Provide UN-standard APCs

A solider for few seconds at Nyala, Darfur Sudan

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=133096

Peacekeeping: Nigeria to Provide UN-standard APCs
01.15.2009
Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike was in Sudan recently for a two-day visit to the Nigerian Contingent (NIGCOM) serving in the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). It was frank talk between the CDS and the troops. It was also an opportunity for him to see first hand, the troops on line of duty, writes Juliana Taiwo

FG Ejects Gusau, Awolowo from Aso Rock

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=132441

FG Ejects Gusau, Awolowo from Aso Rock

•Three ambassadors also affected
From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, 01.07.2009

Former National Security Adviser, Alhaji Moha-mmed Aliyu Gusau, Transport Secretary in the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Mr. Segun Awolowo, and a former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Morocco, M. Abdul-Wahab, have been ejected from their houses within the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Also ejected is a serving Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eineje Onobu, and former Ambassador Nkem Nwadibia Anyanwu.