By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
As the federal government of Nigeria commemorated the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day on January 15, widows of late soldiers in Rivers State have expressed their desire to embark on agricultural projects if funds are made available to them.
Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday after the celebration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the chairperson, Nigerian Legion Widows, Mrs Theresa Pepple, said her group has a portion of land they want to use for an agricultural purpose pending the availability of funds.
She said if developed, the agricultural project will help members of her group in terms of poverty alleviation and eradication of hunger.
“I have land I bought for my people –two and a half plots of land. But because there was no money during the Amaechi period, we could not do anything. And last year, Governor promised us N30 million; the land is still there,“ she said.
Theresa Pepple said if they are provided with funds and are allowed to develop the land, they would use it for an agricultural project.
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“You know we’re under men. If they allow us, what we want that land for is agriculture. We sent the leaders for training for that purpose and they came back with certificates. We want to do agriculture there so that the women can benefit,” she said.
Theresa Pepple thanked the Rivers State Government for providing scholarship for children of widows of fallen heroes, adding that more than fifty people benefitted from the scheme last year.
She further explained: “When they bring their papers and they’re now in university, we check the papers and give them the scholarship. We started last year. Since last year, we have been happy. Last year we gave fifty-something scholarship offers and this year we will still give.”
Theresa Pepple commended the Rivers State Government for taking care of the logistics of their members who attended this year’s event, adding that she ensured that every one of them got her transport. She noted that their members were happy with the government’s gesture apart from those from Okuru and Abuloma.
“The women are happy; only Okuru and Abuloma said they’re not happy because they’re merged to Port Harcourt Local Government and we said they should send five people from each local government. Their leader sent five. We gave the money to the local government chairlady. Now, these people –Okuru and Abuloma -came back saying they were not informed,” she explained.
Mrs Pepple said she later gave them N5000 for transport, but that the woman given the N5000 for the transport of Okuru and Abuloma people later left with the money without giving to her colleagues, adding that every effort to call her back was not successful.
