Some war veterans, who fought during the 1966 civil war, took to the streets in Ibadan, Oyo State on Wednesday, in protest against their unpaid pension since they retired from service 44 years ago.
The ex-soldiers, displayed placards bearing different inscriptions. They lamented what they described as total neglect by the government after defending the country with their life.
At the state secretariat, Agodi-Gate, Ibadan, the National Coordinator of the retired civil war soldiers, Captain Babawande Phillip (retd.), lamented that those who were perceived as enemies of the state during the Civil War had been paid by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“For the past 44 years, we have been deprived of our pension rights. In 2015, we did capturing in Abuja where all of us were issued genuine certificates acknowledging us as retired soldiers. But, since then, we have been waiting.
“The painful aspect of it is that the Biafran soldiers that we fought against (during the civil war) had been paid some years ago. How come we who defended the country are being left to die painfully without our pension being paid? This is unfair.
“Over 100 of us died because there was no money to take care of ourselves. Some are physically challenged. Some are blind and some can’t even walk,” Phillip said.
“In December 2023, we wrote a letter to the Federal Government, Chief of Army Staff, Senate, House of Representatives and up to date, we have not heard anything. It’s a plea we are making. We don’t want to cause trouble. But you know, if a goat is pushed to the wall, it will fight back.
“That’s why we are staging this warning protest. But, after now, nothing is done, then we will use the remaining strength to get the attention of the government. We are giving them an ultimatum before the Army remembrance day. If no one attends to us, all my members will be brought to all the Federal Government roads in Oyo State and create scenes,’’ Phillip added.
One of the physically challenged retired soldiers, aged 81 years, Rafiu Olabamiji, said he had been blind since 2004 with no family as his children and his wife had died.
Olabamiji said, “This is the 20th year that I have been blind. I have lost my children and wife. No one is taking care of me. I’m all alone in the world but I would rather die than beg for alms. Please, don’t let me die like this President Tinubu.”
Two widows, who are next of kin to their deceased husbands, Racheal Adejumo and Elizabeth Adedayo, said their pains could be better imagined. They wondered why former President Olusegun Obasanjo paid the Biafran soldiers at the expense of the others.
They queried, “Is that how to settle the dispute; pay one party and leave the other to wallow in poverty? This is unfair. We plead with President Tinubu to please help us reduce this suffering. No soldier’s wife can say she enjoyed her husband while in service and now they are dead. Our pains are too numerous to describe.”
