By Akpan David, Calabar
Some retired military officers have expressed unhappiness with the alleged poor manner and deprivations they are being subjected to by the authorities.
They spoke separately during interviews in Calabar over the presidential announcement about donations of Special Utility Vehicles, (SUVs), and payments of special welfare monies in dollars.
The respondents pleaded that their names should not be mentioned for fear of reprimand but stated that the numbers of veterans and retirees who are being denied their entitlements have increased.
According to them, the presidential promise of SUVs is political gimmick to dissuade them from public actions.
“What the presidency has done is what we can call political gimmick to prevent anger.
“They are all afraid. Veterans will protest tomorrow and other plans are on to show dissatisfaction with the entitlements we were promised but never fulfilled.”
One said he was supposed to have collected $10,000 per year since 2020 but that up till now, the authorities are sitting on it.
Another senior veteran alleged that “Even the serving ones are being placated. The younger officers are pissed off with the manner their retired colleagues are treated and the careless plundering of national wealth by the leaders.”
Another lamented that the announcement of the SUVs and dollar payments by the presidency will end up on papers as usual, adding that to pay salary has become an uphill task now.
“All approved funds related to our welfare are for the papers. Implementation has always been a problem.
“The claim is that Nigeria has no funds to foot the large number of personnel exiting at a time.
“You know that Nigeria itself is operating an ‘unwritten constitution’. They do anything and anyhow too. Extant laws are not obeyed. Any thing on paper, we have resolved and learnt how to skip so as to live a smooth and free life.”
He stated that they will continue with peaceful protest to draw government attention to their plight.
“Peaceful Action is the only language the government understands. After the peaceful protest of yesterday by the military veterans, we started seeing what is approved for ‘Red Necks’ serving and retired officers.
“Nigerian government has a long way to go in maintaining a standing Armed Forces. We have relaxed and resolved to be thanking God,” he noted.
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