The Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Col. Micah Gayya, on Monday disclosed that many Nigerians who made pledges during last year’s emblem launching have not redeemed their pledges to the tune of N75 million.
He made the revelation as President Goodluck Jonathan launched the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The emblem launch which preceded series of events which climaxed on January 15, is an annual activities put together to remember Nigerian military men who died in service to the nation and their surviving colleagues who have retired from active service.
Among the launchers and co-launchers for the event, only the Publisher of National Mirror, Barr. Jimoh Ibrahim launched the emblem with N30 million cheque and pledged 10 new vehicles. Others did not attend the event.
Col. Gayya said the unredeemed pledges have adversely affected the programme of the legion.
He said: “Let me use this opportunity to honestly thank those who donated to the Nigerian Legion during the last launch. I however want to inform us that of the N105 million pledged on December 16, 2013, in this very venue, only N30 million has been redeemed to date.”
“The saddest thing is that these pledges are made in full public glare, leaving us with no avenue to tell the world that such pledges have not been redeemed. We call with loud voice on those who did not redeem their pledges to honourably do so.”
He said: “We had our Legion Humanitarian Day on November 27, 2014 during which we empowered widows and gave bursary to the children of the fallen heroes. Our emphasis was on the victims of the current insurgency operation in the country especially those who are yet to be paid their benefits.”
“We lost over 100 members to the current insurgency in the North East and the affected families are in dare need of help. We intend to organize a special empowerment programme for the victims in the North East zone and the Ministry of Defence will be duly briefed about the proposal in the due cause.”
“In this vein, I appeal to those that will make pledges today to pledge what they can redeem so that the National Chairman is not wrongly accused of stealing money he does not see.”