BY Peter Nwasike
unclepeters555@gmail.com
During numerous events in Nigeria, the National Anthem is sung, and the stanza: “The LAbour of our Heroes Past, Shall Never Be in Vain”, is chorused. The word, “HERO”, is always referred to soldiers, who fought and even died for their country, in defending the Nation against enemy aggression. This is because, when the enemy conquers them, She enslaves them and their plight became worse. This was seen in Greek Civilization in Ancient World, when Persia Empire tried to conquer Athens, and the Athens waged the war against the Mighty Persia Empire, and conquered Persia and repelled their aggression. A solider, who was the fastest runner, took the message of victory, from the War Front, as sea-side, to the Mainland Town, on foot, and in the race, of over 50miles, delivered the message of victory and fell down and died because of exhaustion. Greece remembered his heroic efforts, and in immortalizing the commemoration, established the OLYMPIC GAMES, with Marathon Race. This occurs every four years. After the Greece Civilization, the Roman Civilisation continued with the Olympic Games to commemorate the heroes The British Civilisation, which colonized Nigeria, kept the commemoration of heroes. It then translated to having a specific day, yearly, to commemorate the heroes, and this resulted to “ARMED FORCES REMEMBERANCE DAY”. Britain, which had many colonial countries in the world, secured with the services of the soldiers, in addition to many wars they fought in Europe, against their enemies, established the Armed Forces Day, in November, for dead, wounded and retired soldiers, only. When Nigeria got independence from Britain, in 1960, she continued with the celebration of Armed Forces Day, in November of every year. But after Nigeria’s Civil War of 1967-1970, Nigeria started her own unique celebration on January 15, yearly. This is because, Nigeria’s First Military Coup that cost the lives of some soldiers and leaders, occurred on January 15, 1966, which escalated to the Civil War, that claimed the lives of yet thousands of soldiers. Whenever the celebration was made, Nigerians say that it was in honour of dead and living soldiers that fought in various wars, right from British Colonialism, from World War One in 1914-1918, World War Two 1939 – 1945, the Nigeria Civil War 1967-1970, and other wars or Peace Keeping Operations that Nigeria Soldiers participated in various parts of the world, especially in Africa.
The reason why Nigeria brought her own commemoration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, was because of the peculiarity it caused in Nigeria’s history. The Civil War was between Nigeria and Biafra. The conquered history of Nigeria, aggravated tribalism, religious fanaticism, corruption and mediocrity among the leadership, and in an attempt to correct the repugnant and reprehensible practices, there was a coup, and the misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the coup, precipitated false accusation of the ignorant majority against a minority section, and the aggrieved, threatened secession, and the inability to resolve the differences amicably, triggered the civil war. When the war ended on January 12, 1970, the leadership of the secessionists surrendered, to the Federal Might (Government). The ceremonious surrender and denouncing of Biafra, took place on January 15, 1970.
With this significant historical milestones in Nigeria, they began the commemoration of their ARMED FORCES REMEMBERNACE ON JANUARY 15. After the War, the then Military President, General Yakubu Gowon, declared a decree of “NO VICTOR, NO VANQUISHED”. They pledged a policy of “RECONSTRUCTION, RECONCILIATION, RE-HABILIATATION”. This means that war devasted areas, especially in the war theatre of former East Central State, now Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo States, will have their infrastructures of road, bridges, houses, etc, rebuilt by the Federal Government. Their personnel that served in the Federal Government, but abandoned their duty post, and ran to Eastern Nigeria, shall be reabsorbed in Service. The soldiers, who were in the Federal Armed Forces, and the Police, would be received back in office. In fact, to be fair to Nigeria, she partially observed the Reconciliation and Rehabilitation, by absorbing the run-away soldiers. Prominent among them was the granting of amnesty to the Leader of Biafra Army, Lt Col. Chukwuemeka Odumwgwu Ojukwu (of blessed memory) in 1982, by the then President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari. In his own regime, the then President, Chief (General) Olusegun Obadango, restored full military benefits, with pensions, to Ojukwu, in 2003.
It will also be recalled that Ojukwu, remembered that he led a section of the Army, in opposition to Federal force, known as “BIAFRA ARMY”. Ojukwu negotiated with Obasanjo, that the soldiers who fought in Brafia, should be considered for Compensation, as many of them were war casualties, with injuries. Obasanjo consented, and a census of the surviving soldiers in Biafra, were taken, by the Federal Army. They came from Abuja, and conducted the census in various Local Governments in Anambra State. The one for Ogbaru Local Government, was done at Onitsha North Local Government Area, GRA, Onitsha.
At the time of the census, the retired and wounded Civil War Soldiers, were mandated to sew uniform of Nigeria Legion, as Retired Nigeria Soldiers, and that they should wear the uniform and participate in Armed Froces Remembrance Day Celebration, on January 15, every year. They were also told that as their census has been conducted, their numerical strength were known and that they should be classified as “EASTERN COMMAND NIGERIA ARMY (ECNA)”. They were told that they should be paid some compensation, as they rendered “ACTIVE SERVICE” to Nigeria at her critical period in history. They were also told that the Nigeria Army shall pay them monthly pensions, as retired Nigeria soldiers, and that is why they were mandate to participate in celebration of Armed Forces Remembrance Day on January 15, yearly.
It is ironical that the attention given to civil war soldiers, ended with the census of 2003. They attend the monthly meetings in their Local Governments, to keep solidarity with the National Agenda of Retired Soldiers, and participated in the celebration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, which involved the process of “LAUNCHING THE REMEMBRANCE EMBLEM, ATTENDING CHURCH SERVICE, ATTENDING MILITARY PARADE ON JANUARY 15”, on different occasions, with costs and inconveniences of traveling.
The Federal Government and the State Governments of South East (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo), in general, and the Government of Anamrba State in particular, are being reminded of this “Gentleman Agreement”, between Ojukwu and Obasanjo in 2003, and also the consistency of the Civil War soldiers, in participating in Nigerian Legion Celebrations, and implement the policy of paying them the deserved COMPENSENTION, or GRATUITY for SERVING Nigeria at a critical period of her history, and also putting them on monthly pensions.
During the ceremony of “NIGERIA LEGION DAY CELEBRATION, ANAMBRA STATE, on September 30, 2023, the Chairman of the Legion, Major Ben Ezeagbogu (Retired), has this to say:
“Nigeria Legion having suffered neglect over time is faced with a myriad of problems ranging from poor Annual subvention, lack of operational vehicles, office accommodations etc. The Annual budgetary allocation to the veterans is rather too poor, not even enough to pay staff salaries and wages. Some of us sustained various degrees of injuries during their active service years, some are very old, 90 years and above. We usually extend some helping hands to them to augment their months stipends (pensions). Same with the widows and their dependents”.
It will be recalled that during the “EXECUTIVE-LEGISTURE, RETREAT,” held at Tunlip Golden Hotel, Agulu, on August 21st -23rd, 2023, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, announced some interim Response to cushion the effects of economic challenges, and said:
“We will be paying every pensioner and public servant, in the employment of the Anambra State Government, and the 21 Local Government Areas, for the period of September 2023 to December 2023, a monthly flat non-taxable cash award of N12,000 (twelve thousand naira) monthly.
It will be recalled that Soludo’s predecessor, Former Governor Willie Obiano, granted the Civil War Soldiers, the free-registration of Anambra State health insurance Agency (ASHIA), for their medical needs. When Soludo came to office, he abolished the executive benevolence to the Veteran Soldiers. Gvoenror Soludo, is hereby being implored to kindly restore the ASHIA to the Veteran Soldiers.
As the celebration of Armed Forces Remembrance Day is approaching, for 2024, the Chairman of Nigerian Legion, Major Ben Ezeagbogu (Retire), is implored to make a passionate case for the Civil War Veteran Soldiers, and prevail on Governor Soludo, to include them in the Welfare Packages as required and deserved. Anambra State, as an Oil Producing State with monthly Allocations from the Federal Government, as “AREA OF DERIVATION”, could be said to be economically buoyant, to accommodate the genuine and entitled needs of Civil War Veteran Soldiers. The labour of Civil War Veteran Soldier-Heroes shall not be in vain.
PROF. CHUKWUMA SOLUDO MAJOR BEN EZEAGBOGU (RETRIED)
GOVERNOR, ANAMBRA STATE CHAIRMAN, NIGERIA LEGION