Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has announced an N30million Business Grant to the widows and wives of fallen heroes and war veterans of the Nigerian Legion in the state.
Speaking during a ceremony to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the courtyard of the Government House Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Governor Wike said that the grant will help the women expand their businesses and cater for their families.
The governor also announced a donation of N20million to the Rivers State Branch of the Nigerian Legion. He noted that the two donations will be effective after the legion make peace amongst their persons.
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day was held at the Isaac Boro where Governor Wike inspected a guard of honour and released pigeons of peace.
The governor, leaders of the state and service commanders laid wreaths at the tomb of the unknown soldier, while there was a 21 gun salute for the fallen heroes.
He said: “When you settle your differences, N30m business grant for the widows and wives of the fallen heroes and war veterans will be released. There will be a donation of N20m for the Legion. In all, we are donating N50m to the Legion”.
He noted that the State Government has redeemed its pledge of N100million to the Legion.
“We have since redeemed our pledge to support the State Veterans Trust Fund with the sum of N100, 000,000.00 (one hundred million naira) to cater to the socio-economic needs of members of the State Chapter of the Nigerian Legion.
“We have also delivered the 32-seater coaster bus to ease the communication challenges legionnaires have been facing to commute their members to functions and events in the State and beyond”, he said.
The governor said the state government is honouring the legacy of both the past and present members of the nation’s armed forces who have either served or still serving for their contributions to the course of peace and national cohesion.
He said Nigeria deserves the total defeat of Boko Haram instead of the technical defeat being paraded by the APC Federal Government.
He said: “The Federal Government, therefore, needs to do something more pragmatic to boost the morale of our troops, reverse the embarrassing setbacks and defeat Boko Haram. Nigerians demand a definitive, not the so-called ‘technical’ defeat of the terrorists.
“Furthermore, we must also admit that being assailed by so many economic, social and political challenges the future of our nation is clearly entangled in a dark cloud of uncertainty”.
He regretted that the Federal Government is destroying the key institutions of state and therefore endangering the country.
“Instead of strengthening, the Federal we have spent enormous time, energy and resources in the last three and half years to undermine and destroy the basic institutions that we need to guarantee our democracy, advance our progress and secure our future.
“And so, as someone rightly captured; when institutions are ruined, that’s when a nation is ruined and even wars do not destroy nations the way the breakdown of institutions do. We must, therefore, resolve to confront and defeat those evil forces seeking and working hard to destroy our institutions and thwart our collective aspiration for a truly united, peaceful and prosperous country”, he said.
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