Kwankwaso seeks adequate ammunition for armed forces

We are dying in Salience,  ex-service men cry out

GOVERNOR Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on Thursday advocated sufficient armed and ammunition for the Nigerian armed forces in the fight against insurgency, presently ravaging the northern part of the country.

Kwankwaso who spoke during the 2015 armed forces Remembrance Day in Kano insisted that only a fully armed forces can fight the prevailing insurgency in the country.

Besides, ex-service men have insisted there is noting worthy of celebration in the annual armed forces Remembrance Day.

Spokesperson of Retired Army, Navy and Air Force officers association, Retired Captain Yusuf Abdulmalik who condemned the annual event  accused the federal government of failure to settle the outstanding arrears of 53 per cent for more than  three years.

Captain Abdulmalik said ” there is no need for the annual event for the remembrance of the dead soldiers and officers when their families are living in penury. Most of our colleagues who died during various missions while defending the nation’s territory died in vein because their family did not benefit anything from the government. If you find out their children are no longer in school and their wives could not even benefit any entitlement.

” And for us serving we are dying in silence because we are not getting deserving attention from the government. We have all spent the better part of our lives serving the nation. Many of our colleagues lost various parts of their bodies and nobody cares. Instead our arrears is being denied, Captain Abdulmalik lamented.

Federal g overnment approved review of consolidated armed forces salary structure with 53 per cent July, 2010, for both serving and retired military men. The ex-service men regretted the implementation, the old soldiers started benefiting only 33 per cent in August.

Abdulmalik urged President Jonathan to fully investigate the matter and military pension board and that government should not spare anybody and bring the culprits to book.

Kwankwaso applauded the Nigerian armed forces for their gallant display and commitment to protect the territorial integrity but was quick to challenge the federal government to provide sufficiently facilities to the solders to deliver.

The government however assured the military of Kano State’s support and enabling environment in the discharge of their duty.

” Let me assure you of our government commitment and continue support to the armed forces. We believe the relative peaceful atmosphere we are enjoying in Kano is due to prayers and the security efforts. But we will still appeal to the federal government to provide more armed and ammunition to our military so that they can deliver efficiently and protect the territorial integrity of the nation”, Kwankwaso appeals.