Retired Soldiers Vow To Paralyse Abuja On Oct 1st 2014.See Pictures From Their Protest In Abuja.

 



Abuja, the nation’s political capital and Benin City, Edo State capital, on Wednesday witnessed the convergence of over hundreds of retired soldiers of all ranks and ages protesting non-payment of the allowances since 2010, with a promise to repeat the protest on 1st October when they will paralyse activities in the nation’s capital.



Summary of the protest


Old soldiers don’t die


…the veterans are dying says the placard



Another placard


Yet another placard


Lt Colonel Innocent Nass…speaking on behalf of his colleagues




The soldiers who are demanding the 53% increase in their pension by the Federal Government, warned that they may resort to guerrilla warfare if their demands are not met.
In Benin, the protest was led by the National Secretary of Association of Military Pensioners, Patrick Okpaiyo.
Speaking to journalists, he regretted that after they fought for the survival and unity of the country, they were neglected by the same government, adding that if the implementation of the consolidated military salary of the ex-service men was not urgently paid, their next line of action would make the Boko Haram insurgency look like child’s play.

The ex-service men, said: “We are here to call the attention of the Federal Government to our plight. We have been deprived of our rights, we fought the civil war at our youthful age but today, this administration has forgotten us, our people are dying, so we have been pushed to the wall.

“In 2010, we were given 53% of pension increment and it was not until we protested last year in Abuja that we were given the salary and the arrears have not been paid till date and this year, we are sure that the arrears is budgeted for in 2014 but we have not been paid and the year is running out. We need the money except they want us to go to the bush and begin a guerrilla war but we believe in the Nigeria project but if they push us to the wall, we may have to do that”

In Abuja, Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Nass spoke on behalf of his colleagues to journalists saying, “our kids are out of school. Many of us are so sick that we do not have money to pay for drugs. Our lives are made miserable by the nation we served with our youth.”

We are from different states of the federation. Look at people who have crossed 80 years of age being forced to come and protest for our rights. This is unfair and ungodly. As we speak to you, no government official has come forth to hear our grievances nor address us. We know what to do to paralyse this city if they force us to come back on 1st October. This is no threat. We shall do it.”

“They should pay us and not add more salt to our injuries. We are not politicians. We have served the nation and should let us enjoy our retirement. They should not drag us to fighting the system. This will not be the best. We are trained to believe and trust the nation.





Source Gongnews.com
By Olajide Fashikun, Abodunde Ajayi (Benin-City)