₦airaland Forum

dre11:
Intense lobbying has commenced in states and Abuja as top shots of the All Progressives Congress (APC) jostle to replace eight ministers who left...




https://dailytrust.com/aftermath-of-resignation-jostle-begins-for-vacant-ministerial-positions

SunMusk:
Al Jezeera are terrorist sympathisers.... Listen to them u will thought isreal is killing Palestine every day. They re not reporting the news but siding with terrorist but I'm not surprised since is own by Qatar

perez100:
It's good that we still have some people in Nigeria that can stand for truth any day. He said Buhari created the "monster" and that is what many Nigerians have refused to say how insecurity started in Igboland.

Buhari started killing unarmed protesters who were just waving flags. The IPOB did not fire a shot but they proscribed them and tagged the group a terrorist group and many evil people were happy about it. The usual slogan of "use them for shooting practices" is no longer heard from them. Something must have gone wrong. Maybe, python is no longer dancing because of angry vipers. May be only for unarmed civilians it will dance but not on the head of the angry vipers.

Yet, they want all Igbo to join them and kill the vipers when actually in their hearts every Igbo youth deserves death. You said they must not protest and they said you must not wear your uniforms on the Eastern streets and roads.

We need leaders filled with love so that Nigeria will have peace.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said President Muhammadu Buhari gave him opportunities his predecessors never had while in office.

Osinbajo spoke while stressing that the training and experience garnered as Vice President under Buhari would help him lead Nigeria if elected in 2023.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential aspirant spoke during his interaction with the party’s delegates in Jigawa, NAN reports.

“As vice president, the president has given me an opportunity that I do not think any other vice president has been given.

“We should make a decision based on the future of our children, we can make progress; we can move on.

"All I ask you to do is what is in the best interest of Nigeria; vote in the interest of our children.

“Obviously, all the issues that we discussed are issues that concern the country very significantly.

”All of us are very happy that we were able to have this engagement,” he said

pinkPUSSY:
Seventy-five-year-old Corporal Philip Babawande (retd.), tells OLUFEMI OLANIYI his experience during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war and the plight of some ex-soldiers who fought on the side of Federal Government but have not been receiving pensions for the past 44 years

When did you join the army?

I joined the Nigerian Army in February 1968. I left in December 1978. I spent 10 years, but any soldier who fought in the war was given two and a half years. That is a bonus and it is added unto your years of service. That is why the number of years I spent is put at about 13.

Did you fight during the Nigerian civil war?



Yes, I fought. I started my battle experience in Asaba, which is the present day Delta State capital. I ended it in Onitsha.

Were you conscripted into the army?

I joined the army voluntarily. I went the first time but I was rejected based on my stature. I went again to Abeokuta when it was a depot and I was eventually selected in February 1968. I did three months training and immediately after the training, we were deployed to the war front. The war started in 1967 and after the three-month training, we were sent to the war front.



Where was the first place you were deployed?

I was deployed in Asaba.

Can you remember the name of your commander then?

It’s been a long time, I can’t remember his name. But one of our officers then was the former Military Governor of Oyo State, Major General Oladayo Popoola ( retd.). At a time, we were under General David Jemibewon

What rank was General Popoola then?

He just graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy. He was a second lieutenant then as a fresher from the NDA. We were together at Asaba.

Did you have any near-death experience during the war?

I had many but I can never forget one experience in Asaba. We went for an attack where I was almost killed, but God just saved my life in a miraculous way. We were going into the rebels’ area in a single line formation and I was the fifth person from the front. We did not know that we were very close to where Biafran soldiers had planted landmines. Whenever I remember now, I still thank God for saving me; it was a divine intervention and I owe God gratitude for that forever.

Some of my pieces of ammunition fell and I just left the rank and started picking them. As I stepped aside to pick the ammunition, some of my colleagues had passed me and by the time I finished picking them, about 20 soldiers had passed so, I was now about number 20 something. We did not know that the Biafran soldiers had planted landmines where we were and they had laid ambush for us and were watching us from their hideout. We were the ones going to their stronghold to meet them; so, it was easy for them to prepare to attack us. The wire with which to ignite the mines was buried under the ground. Immediately I joined the rank back, I heard terrible explosions and my colleagues were torn into pieces; I could have been one of them if not for God’s intervention. God orchestrated how my pieces of ammunition fell and I stepped out of the rank to pick them back. The explosions were followed by heavy shooting and we had many casualties that day. God spared my life. Although as soldiers, we also fought back, we lost quite a number of our colleagues that day.

Which other place were you deployed after Asaba?

We were deployed in Onitsha. We were there in October 1968. Lots of people died during the war, but God saved me.

After those experiences and you have not been paid your pensions for the past 44 years, do you regret fighting in the war?

The only regret I have is that we are not being paid our pensions and that is quite unfortunate.

Did you gain anything from fighting on the side of Nigeria?



I did not make any gains in terms of money, but I gained experience. I might not have travelled to the East, but fighting during the war gave me that opportunity. During our time, promotion was so rare. I was in the rank of corporal for nine years. I served under the military police after the war.

Will you have preferred that the Biafran succeeded in breaking away with the way you are being treated now?

No. Not at all. My anger will not graduate to that level. I never regretted that Nigeria won the war. I also don’t have any regrets fighting on the side of Nigeria, because I fought to defend the unity of my country. Nigeria is my fatherland and I have no regrets at all.

Were there promises made to you then by the Nigerian government?

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There were no promises made to us.

You said you were a Buhari boy while in the army…

Yes. He was a Major then. Although I was not directly under him, some of my colleagues served under him and that is why I have kept saying that Buhari is not aware of our plight. I am sure if he is aware of what is being done to us, he will take steps to redress it because he knows what it is to fight a war. We are living in poverty and we are supposed to be receiving pensions every month like others, but we are still praying to God that we won’t die without collecting our entitlements.

They have deprived us of our rights for the past 44 years. They have denied us our pensions for so many years and the irony of it is that they said we are not qualified, because we didn’t spend up to 15 years in service. It was Decree 102 they used against us. This Decree 102 was not supposed to be used against us, because they didn’t use it against the then rebels, the Biafran soldiers, who fought against Nigeria. The Biafran soldiers were paid in batches and they have all been paid to the last kobo. The last batch was paid last year, about 112 of them.

How old were you when you joined the army?

I was around 21 years old then. Many of us were in our early 20s and we all enlisted in the Nigerian Army and we fought for a period of 10 years and more, when the government depopulated the Nigerian workforce. Some of us crossed to various places like the police, Customs, immigration, schools and other places, where we continued with our lives.

When did you start this agitation for the payment of pensions?

We have been on this agitation since but it was renewed in2002. In 2007, there was biometric capturing and out of those of us who were captured, few people were paid and those who were paid have been collecting their pensions since then.

Why were they paid and some of you were not paid?

They paid those who spent 15 years and above in the army.



Did you challenge this?

We were in court for several years. We had many adjournments and Femi Falana (SAN) has been our lawyer. But in 2015, they said we should settle out of court. They called on us to do another verification in 2015. Then, we were issued with a biometric data paper, where they wrote genuine pensioners. Since then, we have been waiting to receive our pensions, but all to no avail.

Now, they are claiming that anyone that didn’t serve up to 15 years is not qualified to receive pensions. But they forgot that there was a circular that came out in 1977, where it was stated that any soldier that spent 10 years or more, but less than 15 years, is qualified to receive pensions, and they will be entitled to 40 per cent of their terminal salaries.

Are those in charge not aware of this?

I don’t know if they are not aware of this circular. If they are not aware of it, they should go and search for it. We have all the documents with us. We have the verification papers. Our biometrics were captured in 2007 and 2015. We all have it with us. So, we don’t know the reason why they should continue to punish us. Many of my people are in abject poverty and many have died. We laid down our lives for the unity of this nation. I wonder why they are treating us like this. We want the whole nation to know that we are being cheated. Those who fought on the Biafran side have been paid, and that is the irony of it. Why were they paid and they left us unpaid? We that laid our lives for the unity of this nation were abandoned and the rebels were paid. We called them rebels then anyway, but they are no longer rebels now. The whole world must know about our plight.

How many of you are being owed now?

On the nominal role, we have 780 of us who have not been paid. The number may be more than that. So, we appeal to the Federal Government to heed our plea. If a person spent a day at the war front, you can’t equate it with somebody who spent a year outside the war front.

Do you think what you are experiencing will encourage those in the military now to put in their best to defend the country?

We are doing this not for ourselves alone; we are doing it for those who are even serving now. If we are able to succeed in this one, it means those of them who will not spend up to 15 years before retirement will also start to receive pensions. Many of them appreciate the steps we are taking because we are preparing the ground for them in the future. It is annoying that they are using excuses to deny us our rights.

Were you paid any money when you retired?

We were paid gratuities, but it is the pension we are fighting for now. So, they owe us 44 years’ pensions now. But we are appealing to them to consider our plight. Some of us are very poor. Many don’t have money to feed or buy drugs, and that is why we are making this passionate appeal to the government to pay us.



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Lalasticlala Lalasticlala

gennny:
You know why the North is the illiteracy capital of the world? , it's because of half baked illiterates like you without reasoning,

Northerners killed a lady, started protest to protect the perpetrators, the East will never support the killing of anyone in the name of any god.

Hugged:
Shared with Caption ....


Just like how some people's god was helplessly crucified!












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Source: https://twitter.com/DrOlufunmilayo/status/1525441650994069505

Puskas:
Trash. Tell that to your fellow head slammers killing people for fun

pwiz:
The way people are under rating Kwankwaso new party in Kano is funny. It will be a shocker when Abba Gida Gida will win the governorship seat in Kano. APC has little or no Chance especially with the Deputy Governor that was field as it party flagbearer. PDP is technically dead anyway in Kano.

Both APC and PDP presidential aspirants will need lots of work to garner reasonable votes from NW with Kwankwaso force present, even though it's likely Kwankwaso won't win the Presidential seat.

bigpicture001:
That is not a problem, but he should shoose mecca , Istanbul, Indonesia, teran in Iran, etc as his abode . So his faith will be in line with the culture of the state.

But no! They always run to London and the US... Hypocrite!

PrinceOfLagos:
Ahmed lawal stands better chance of getting the APC ticket then

Tinubu is a loser

Corporate2020:
I am a Yoruba boy
I am a Muslim

I won't bring myself down to the gutter level of arguing with an Almajari. Never ever.

But please, for the sake of fellow Almajaris like you who may want to learn from you, please state one or two instances in this 21st Century when Christians have killed people for Blasphemy. I mean where and when Christians have killed people who call the name of God in vain or abuses Jesus Christ.

TONYE001:
You know I can also quote links to series of killings of Southerners and Christians up north?

For how long would we continue like this?

If we begin to kill each other, what would that make us?

Our country is already in a bad shape; sadly, we just may make matters worse!

ken6488:
I suggest the north should behave


If mosque’s start going off in the south there is north going back

Truthisunique2:
Is only fools that don't know Reno

He thrives on standing against the tide so he can trend and be in the news

This is the same idiot that carry Leah sharibu for head like he cared

Muslim xtremists kidnapped Leah for her religious stance and Muslim xtremists killed Deborah for her religious stance how is the two different that he has two different position

Akonamasi:
Tell aboki say any wam like this all their people go collect for East Side. Ndi ara ndi ara shege

Hyperchi:
but did he say we should kill the person. or it will give us ten pussy

Sirkingsnado:
hungry fools when south start no one should say anything

Useless fools

Munamoqel:
This is among the strangest intoxication of religion inductrination . They say God is all powerful that can strike but need human to act when blashemed against .human killed fellow humans to promote there religion when u choose to leave the religion again God cannot strike you dead but needs human to do the job. Sokoto is currently been ravage by bandit killing Muslim in thousands but they pray for God to protect them but suddenly have energy to fight for God why not deploy same energy to wad off bandit that have been raping you wifes ?

Dailymice:
They have started burning churches in Sokoto. I keep asking myself, why some southerners believe in this one Nigeria of a thing. They are killing your brothers, sisters, people of the same faith and you are shouting we are one.

Southerners are the most unserious entities in this Lord Lugard union. Yoruba Muslims align with Hausa/Fulani Muslims who still mess them up and throw them under the bus and yet they are shouting Yoruba and Fulani are one.

Igbos in the north doing business are also foolish in my opinion, because of money you jeopardize your life to live among animals masquerading as humans.

Nigeria can NEVER be ONE, the earlier you recognise this, the better for you.

Igbos, Yourbas, Efik, Ijaws, Bini's, Idomas etc can all live together in peace and harmony as one Southern Union but you see those people up north, forget it, their brains are filled with war, poverty and diseases.

The issue with southern unity is the disagreement between Yorubas and Igbos with most Yorubas ALWAYS aligning with the north against the detriment of Southern Unity.

Tinubu will be dealt with, mark this comment on May 29th.

Doris4ever:
I have NEVER seen people that are very docile in my entire life than Nigerian Christian.

They will kill them, they will not retaliate.

They will burn their shops, they will not retaliate.

They will burn their churches, they will not retaliate.

By now, I expect to see Mosque all over Nigeria on fire.

Let the burning begin.

Muslims don't have monopoly of violence.

Let's every Christian return fire for fire to this barbarians.

Or else they will kill you for nothing.

The best way to stop nonsense is to attack.

If Christian refused to attack this barbarians, they will continue the killing spree.

almarthins:
What a way to minimize and equate the position of God to the level of man. So Leviticus 24:16 is now interpreted to mean the sin of the lady is now against God.

Make Una no dey mis interpret the Bible. The lord not the prophet

Corporate2020:
Even if she insulted Prophet Muhammad (SAW), let the Prophet fight for himself nah, after all even Ogun kills those that abuses him and Thunder strikes those that abuses Sango. I have never seen Ogun, Sango or Aiyelala worshipers going about killing people that abuse their gods.

I am a Yoruba boy
I am a Muslim

I am not stupid.

Authority1o1:
Okay...


He is a true Muslim. An unapologetic, all-observing one.

No true Muslim condemned the killing of the lady. No true Muslim condemns killing for Allah or in the name of Muhammad.

All those who did are not true Muslims. They did the condemnation as a result of common human conscience and the pressure mounted on them by the Christian society passively expecting such from them. It's not because their faith condemns it.

And that is why I'm glad we do not have true Muslims over here in the south.

slivertongue:
You too have decamped? Kai duniya!

Elmojiid:
no kill me as u kill Deborah oo...arewanorth