The Rivers State Chairman of the Nigerian Legion Col. Philemon Chinda JP said Nigerians have not done well to cater and address the welfare and the need of the families’ dependants of the fallen heroes and wounded veterans in the nation.
Col. Chinda made the remark during the 2012/2013 Emblem launching/appeal fund, to mark this year’s Arm Forces Remembrance Day celebration, at the main bowl of the Alfred Diette Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
According to him, Nigerians should not forget that our gallant and fallen heroes died so that we may live, the wounded and incapacitated veterans living in perpetual agony today are going through pains because of you and I, what are we doing to assist the families and dependants of these fallen heroes, what are we doing to bring comfort and happiness to these brothers whose sorrows seem to have no end.
The chairman of the state Nigeria legion appealed to Nigerians to change their attitudes towards the fallen heroes and wounded veterans. “Let us try to assist them in any little way we can, by so doing God Almighty will bless us”.
Col. Chinda who revealed that the ceremony was the beginning of the annual event which is a day set aside by the federal Republic of Nigeria to remember and honour the departed colleagues, brothers and sisters who paid the supreme price to unite the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for approving a new pension scale for the military pensioners and for his good plans to pay the 53% pension arrears before the end of the first quarter of 2013, praying that God should give him the ability to actualize these plans and other good programmes he has put in place for the welfare of the veterans.
He appreciate the effort of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers State in his untiring efforts and determination to ensure the safety of lives and property of Rivers people and other residents who do business in the state.
He lauded the service commanders of the Armed Forces and Commissioner of Police, the Director of SSS and other sister agencies whom he said are working in the same direction with the governor of the state to achieve his goal.
Col. Chinda further commended the effort of the royal fathers, the clergy whom God is using to minister to the conscience of our people every day to be better citizens.
In a chat with journalists shortly after the ceremony Col. Chinda advised legionnaires in the state to be patient with the government for their welfare, expressing hope that their problem will be solved.
In his speech Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi the governor of Rivers State who described the event as a very important ceremony, noted that, it is geared towards remembering the sacrifice of our fallen heroes before they departed the planet earth.
He noted that the state government has good cordial relationship with the state legion, stressing that the government was doing its best to address the problems of the legions in the state and enjoined other corporate bodies and individuals to assist in catering for the families of the fallen heroes who had made sacrifices to the nation to enable the present soldiers work gallantly for the country.
Governor Amaechi who was represented by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr. George Feyii while commending the chairman of the Rivers State Nigerian Legion, Col. Chinda and entire legionnaires for the success of the ceremony, donated the sum of three million naira (N3,000,000) on behalf of the Rivers State government. ####
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
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