From Blessing Douglas, Port Harcourt
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has promised to provide jobs for legionnaires’ children in the Rivers state, noting that people are looking forward to enjoying improved personal economy in a peaceful environment.
The Rivers State governor assured that his administration will not do anything that will take away such hope from them but work to actualise it.
Fubara made the promise on Tuesday, at the 2024 Armed Forces Emblem Appeal Fund Launching, which took place at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
He noted that without hope, it will be difficult for anybody to find any reason to live with optimism.
“For us as a government, we believe, understand, and also appreciate that the only thing that keeps a man going is when he has hope. When you don’t have hope as a human being, you are gone.
“The government of today did not make a mistake by christening their mantra, “Renewed Hope Agenda”. This hope is what we as a government will not take away from you. Rather, we will give you everything to see that there is hope.”
Governor Fubara expressed appreciation to the war veterans, both fallen and living, for making invaluable sacrifices that have kept Nigeria as a united country.
Identifying with legionnaires, Governor Fubara said as a child of a soldier, he recalled how his late mother used to benefit from such welfare donations made on days like this.
The governor on behalf of the State government launched the emblem with N30M, and promised to also redeem previous financial grant made to them.
In his opening address, Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Dr Tammy Danagogo said war veterans, fallen and living, had shown greater love in defending the territorial sovereignty of Nigeria and ensured that its citizenry live in peace.
Danagogo requested reciprocal gestures to the patriots by the citizenry in appreciating the heroic efforts and also to inspire them to do more with necessary support that will cushion the pains that the war veterans had suffered, and the surviving members of the families of those who had paid the supreme price.
“We therefore, beseech your support now and always, so that the labours of these selfless compatriots, shall not be in vain. So that those fighting for us, right now, will be inspired.”
On his part, Chairman, Rivers State Command of Nigerian Legion, Area Controller General, (ACG) Charles Hart remarked that the emblem appeal launch event kick-starts 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration to honour military officers who had paid the supreme price while enthroning and sustaining peace, unity, freedom and protection of Nigeria.
The ACG said, in January 2023, the State government had promised the legion a grant of one hundred million naira as welfare support, which is yet to be released to them.
He also hinted that because of a lack of fund, fifty students currently on the legion’s scholarship scheme risk dropping out of school and appealed for kind financial support.
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