Nigerian Legion Urges Oyo Government to Contribute Immensely to Its Emblem of Appeal, Says Previous Donations Not Encouraging
In commemoration of the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the Nigerian Legion, Oyo State Command, on Wednesday, Launched an emblem of appeal in memory of the fallen and departed heroes and to cater to the needs of living war veterans.
The event which took place at the house of chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, had in attendance, the Oyo state governor, engineer Seyi Makinde who was represented by his deputy, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan; the general officer commanding, 2 division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Anthony Omozoje represented by the Garrison Commander, 2 division, brigadier general Adesoji Ogunsugba, representatives of various security agencies and security chiefs in the state, the widows, children and dependents of the fallen heroes, amongst others.
In his keynote address, the Oyo state governor, engineer Seyi Makinde through his Deputy, engineer Rauf Olaniyan, launched the 2021 Nigerian Legion Emblem of Appeal with a sum of #2 million.
He, thereafter, charged well-meaning Nigerians to donate generously in a bid for the Nigerian Legion to raise funds to cater for the widows and children of the departed heroes as well as war veterans who are still alive but incapacitated.
In his speech, the chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Oyo State Command, Deacon Michael Fajimi, explained that about 99 widows, war veterans disabled, old aged from all area councils of the state were empowered with the donations realized during the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration.
He, however, urged the Oyo state government to be led by governor Seyi Makinde to donate immensely to the emblem appeal launch, nothing that the donations of the state government in the past years are not encouraging when compared to the kind gesture of other neighboring states.
In their separate remarks, Brigadier General Raji Alagbe Rasaki, a retired Nigerian military officer who was military governor in turn of Ogun State, Ondo State and Lagos State between 1986 and 1991 during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida and the Oyo state commissioner for women affairs and social inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, stressed that the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration should be seen as a sober reflection period by Nigerians and any amount given in cash or kind to the war veterans and dependents of the fallen heroes will be seen as a token to appreciate the sacrifices of the living and the departed heroes.
