There is a deep sadness amongst
the nation's retired soldiers many
of whom are owed their gratuities
and a back log of pensions. But
their present sadness is that after
having fought for Nigeria with
many of them suffering bullet and
other wounds and losing their
colleagues to death on the war
front they have been treated
shabbily while they watched on TV
the dollar and naira rain given to
the Super Eagles which they feel is
unfair to them.
One of these retired soldiers, Staff
Sergeant Jim Yawa (rtd) spoke thus:
"We were conscripted into the
army at 19. We fought the civil
war, did same in Congo, Burma and
Yugoslavia before we left the
service...But some little boys who
were born in 1991, 1992 and the
oldest one was born in 1980 were
rewarded with National Awards,
each of them 5 million naira, plots
of land and other benefits...for just
participating in 21 day event in
South Africa...they slept in good
hotels and paid for sleeping and
playing foot ball...but we worked
for 35 years, risk our lives and
today we cannot even get our
monthly pension of less than 20,
000 Naira is this not injustice?
www.naijapundit.com/news/super-eages-dollar-rain-raises-tension-amongst-retired-soldiers

We should pay for their atrocious evil that they committed on innocent civilians.

Staff Sergeant Jim Yawa, I am really disappointed in reading about your plight and those of your colleagues. Nigeria is a noted misplaced priority and will continue to be so until something is done. However, you should voice your complaints against those rats that conscripted you at 19 years of age to fight the civil war.

why is it a global phenomonon to neglect ex-service-men. Jst recently d soldier dat shot osama complained of difficulties in feeding his family

Must these people raise an eyebrow for appreciation to champions.

Selflessness demands you ask for your right without reference to other peoples benefit.

Biafrans soldiers still deserve gratuity and pension, no matter what.

Won't believe there were conscriptions into the nigerian army during the civil war cos i think the soldiers were sufficient enough to force the region back to the the geographical circuit of Nigeria.
Things are needed to be done to this cos they risked their life to make the country stand and that was their major assignment unlike the football players that still have a personal assignments with their clubs.

I really do feel for them the old soldiers.. They signed their live.. they are supposed to be given member of the order of niger atleast

Were they among those that fought the civil war?

Dede1: Staff Sergeant Jim Yawa, I am really disappointed in reading about your plight and those of your colleagues. Nigeria is a noted misplaced priority and will continue to be so until something is done. However, you should voice your complaints against those rats that conscripted you at 19 years of age to fight the civil war.

How old were those boys that were recruited into action by the Biafran high command? 15? 16?

Sadly, most of them were rewarded by death and disability by leaders who kept them in the field, fighting even when the situation was clearly hopeless.

was is not their mates that stole naija blind with impunity? why did they not react, why have they not reacted, what were they doing when em mates were busying themselves looting the COMMON WEALTH OF WE PEOPLE DRY? ex service-men i am imploring you to leave super-eagles alone. let them be. make them enjoy their sweat!

A clear case of "Transfer of aggression", that was a bad reference and b.t.w, there's the possibility of their monies been pocketed by some group of individuals. they'd better know how to make an honest complaint without antagonizing oneself.

They are both in different professions.....no basis to compare!

.....But some little boys whowere born in 1991, 1992 and theoldest one was born in 1980 wererewarded with National Awards,each of them 5 million naira, plots of land and other benefits...for just participating in 21 day event inSouth Africa...they slept in good hotels and paid for sleeping and playing foot ball...

.......and fvck love peddlars

I feel bad fr them sha!me receive bullet fr naija goverment!lie lie!I wld rather die carryin cocaine to malaysia than serve nigeria government!until revolution we re goin nowhr!

This life is funny.
When they were young and in service, they behave like demi gods, treat and look down on "bloody civilians".
When they get old and out of service they now start looking for sympathy.
I wish the ones in service would look at the older colleagues and learn about the transience of youth and power but alas its a cyclic phenomenon.

Abeg!! What have you soildeirs done? What's so hard about going to war, getting shot, suffering life long injuries, carrying shrapnel in your body..the super eagels by running around with a football and won a cup has done more than you ever did and i'm sure most nigerians think the money, plots of land and national honours given to them is still too small, they've been to aso rock, national assembly, i hope their next stop is the central bank and the keys to the national vault presented to them!!

Different strokes for different folks, someone somewhere is busy stuffing this peoples money in their pockets SMH

Though i feel for them shaa, But how i wish this is how the national cake is shared to those that worked and merited it like the super eagles, unlike those hooligans in Power looting and stashing our treasury into their bottomless pockets to the detriment of those that works hard for this country.

The truth is Times av changed things are different, its a whole new dispensation. If footballers are rewarded as acclaimed its worth it. Having said that the bitter truth is that, Nigeria has more than enough to satisfactorily provide for all its nationals (considering her as the 6th largest oil producing country). But the greed of our leaders has displaced the ability to prioritize and make available the essentials its nation needs. As for many nationals who has been deprived of their rights..... Well we can only pray that the heart of our leaders are changed.
It is a pathetic situation for my nation. So pathetic that as many that gets the chance to go abroad goes and never want to come back even though they been treated as second class in a foreign Land.

The way forward from my perspective is having the right attitude towards everything and treating your immediate neighbor as u would love to be treated. Starting from within our homes, to communities and this spreads in diaspora.

God bless Nigeria!!!

Am sure Rossike is sympathetic to them. He would soon land here like the most patriotic bum nigeria ever had

Paschal007: Were they among those that fought the civil war?

no bro,

they were among those that fought ww1......

Tolexander: Won't believe there were conscriptions into the nigerian army during the civil war cos i think the soldiers were sufficient enough to force the region back to the the geographical circuit of Nigeria.
Things are needed to be done to this cos they risked their life to make the country stand and that was their major assignment unlike the football players that still have a personal assignments with their clubs.

Don't kid yourself. They risked their lives and wasted life of others just to make paupers like IBB, obj, Abiola, Abacha, Adenuga, Chris Uba, Otedola, Danjuma and Ibori of one Nigerian world billionaires.

gbadexy: This life is funny.
When they were young and in service, they behave like demi gods, treat and look down on "bloody civilians".
When they get old and out of service they now start looking for sympathy.
I wish the ones in service would look at the older colleagues and learn about the transience of youth and power but alas its a cyclic phenomenon.

They must be sweating blood, each night when NEPA allows them to see NTA news watching those bloody civilians they use to flog on the street swimming in cash.

Eziachi:
Don't kid yourself. They risked their lives and wasted life of others just to make paupers like IBB, obj, Abiola, Abacha, Adenuga, Chris Uba, Otedola, Danjuma and Ibori of one Nigerian world billionaires.

am less concern with that. All i know is they carried out their duty.

Tolexander: am less concern with that. All i know is they carried out their duty.

Well, realities of life dictates that not all duties ever performed worth or deserved a reward. And this is shaping to be just one of them, Sir.

Eziachi:
Well, realities of life dictates that not all duties ever performed worth or deserved a reward. And this is shaping to be just one of them, Sir.

whareva! Did you bother to read the article? If you did, you wouldn't say they arent rewarded.

Gud. Next time when they tell you to come and kill your own citizens; say no. The same people that you fought for have denied you the dignity of life. Not all commands are to be followed; even as a soldier.

Tolexander: whareva! Did you bother to read the article? If you did, you wouldn't say they arent rewarded.

I did read it, my dearest friend. Been paid your salary or your pension is not a reward, its an entitlement, a right too.