REDEEM YOUR PLEDGES— NIGERIA LEGION BEGS EMBLEM APPEAL LAUNCHERS IN ENONYI

Reporter: AMECHI ODO

Ebonyi State Government has called on members of the Nigerian Legion to reorganise themselves and assist security agencies in intelligence gathering to tackle insecurity in the country.

The Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Kelechi Igwe made this known during the Emblem Appeal Launch for the 2021 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day at International Conference Centre Abakaliki.

Dr. Igwe, who represented Governor David Umahi at the event, noted that members of the Legion had acquired enough experience in the course of their service to the nation and also had numerical strength to assist the government in routing criminals.

“We therefore place it as a charge on you to reorganise yourself, you are large enough to become chief consultants on security matters in any Local Government Area where you exist. We should be very proud to say that insecurity cannot be spoken of this Local Government Area because of our retired soldiers who are abound in that area,” he stated.

The Deputy Governor announced the allocation of five hectres of farmland to the Legionnaires and promised that the state government would support efforts to build their permanent secretariat in the state.

The Chairman of Nigerian Legion, Ebonyi State, Captain Fidelis Ogodo (retired) commended the State Government for paying monthly stipend to the members and appealed for the inclusion of newly retired ones in the payment list.

He called on public office holders to fulfil their pledges to help the group to meet its obligations to the members.

“Another challenge is the failure of some members of the public to redeem their pledges to the Legion. We have made efforts to reach such people without success. I think such people have wrong impression of the Legion for not always accepting its representations,” the Legion State Chairman lamented.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Government launched the Emblem with an undisclosed amount of money.