Widows of fallen military personnel in Ebonyi State have said the Armed Forces Remembrance Day events evoke unpleasant feelings of nostalgia in them.
They spoke to newsmen on Monday during the grand finale of the event held at the Unity Square in Abakaliki.
One of the leaders of the widows, Toyin Toluhi, who narrated how tough life has been without her husband, late Corporal Kayode Toluhi, said the event has often sparked off deep emotions in her, making her relive the past.
Toluhi said: “Today I’m so sad because this event makes me remember my husband.
“Immediately I stepped into this arena, it evoked emotional feelings in me as I immediately remembered my husband.
“It makes me feel sad.”
While she acknowledged that the State Government and military authorities have shown concerns about them, Toluhi requested for more, especially in the area of empowerment of young widows.
She added: “The government should help us young widows with our children.
“They should help us with more widows’ empowerment in the barracks.”
Some wives of serving officers who spoke in solidarity with the widows, including Patience Agbainta and Stella Maris Ukpor, described the experience as a hard one, and called on the government to step up the welfare of the widows.
Agbainta maintained that the yearly event actually comes with mixed feelings among the wives of serving and fallen officers of the military.
She noted that the event offers them an avenue to console their friends in and outside the barracks who have lost their husbands, adding: “It is a very hard day for us.”
Ukpor added: “By the time a soldier dies, and the wife is being paid whatever is due for the man, it is advised that the woman should leave the barracks, and then life becomes even harder.
“So, we are pleading with the government, especially the Governor of Ebonyi State, to look into it, especially our widows, to assist them in anyway they can.”
The Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Ebonyi State, retired Captain Fidelis Ogodo, in his address during the Emblem Appeal Fund launch on Saturday had decried the failure of most organizations and institutions to fulfill pledges made in the past to the legion.
Ogodo noted that the legion in striving to live up to its responsibility of catering for the welfare of ex-service men and women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and their families, adding that it needs finance to run its offices and discharge its roles properly.
He appealed to Governor Francis Nwifuru to assist them financially to enable them build befitting structures on their already acquired land in Abakaliki, among other requests.
Ogodo added: “For us, your Excellency, we have retired, but not tired to engage in meaningful economic activities if given the opportunity.
“The people of Ebonyi State are known to be good farmers.
“The retirees are willing to farm, but there is not enough land for them to farm.”
Ogodo appreciated the Christian Association of Nigeria in Ebonyi State, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria and few others who he said have been able to redeem their pledges in the past, and called on others to emulate them.
Governor Nwifuru, who was the special guest of honour at the event, later led the Commanding Officer, 24 Support Engineering Regiment, Abakaliki, Lieutenant Colonel Sunday Atomode; Commissioner, Ebonyi State Police Command, Augustina Ogbodo; Ogodo; Chairman, State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Charles Mkpuma; and other notable personalities to lay wreaths at the cenotaph.
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Other highlights of the event was the display of the armed forces colour party, military parade and gun salute to fallen heroes.
The Governor also released pigeons to signify peace and freedom.
Prayers were said for the peace and unity of the country, and for all serving, retired and fallen heroes.
The event was preceded on Sunday by an interdenominational church service at the All Saints Cathedral, Anglican Communion, Abakaliki under the auspices of the Christian Association of Nigeria, led by the State Chairman, Dr. Scamb Chinedum Nwokolo.
