The Nigerian Legion, Abia State council, has threatened to occupy the streets of Umuahia the state capital if the state government continues to humiliate and abuse members of the Legion.
The ex-servicemen who addressed journalists in Umuahia accused the Abia state government of imposing a non registered person on the council, thereby working against the minister of defence.
The act establishing the Nigerian Legion empowers the Minister of defence to have total control and supervision of the Legion operations.
The act goes further to appoint each state governor as patron to the Legion, and may from time to time brief the minister on matters of the Legion in their respective states.
While the act establishing the legion did not stipulate any role for the organization in the governance of any state, it charged the legion with the general function of promoting the welfare of ex servicemen and fostering comradeship among them.
Dissatisfied with the manner members of the Legion were being treated by the state government, including non release of their monthly subvention, confiscation of the Legion’s operational vehicle and imposition of leader on them, the ex service men have threatened to take to the streets of umuahia on a protest march.
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The special adviser to the Abia State governor on security matters, Macdonald Ubah, who declined to address ait.live crew on camera said the action taken by the state governor was in consultation with the minister for defence who gave the go ahead for the sanitization of the council to ensure that the dignity of members is respected and maintained.
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
