The Disabled ex-Biafran soldiers have called on the governors of the seven Igbo-speaking states to urgently come to their aid.
DAILY POST gathered that they have been surviving on alms and donations by public spirited individuals
The wounded soldiers were relocated from the dilapidated rehabilitation centre at Oji River, Enugu state to the new centre built for them by the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike at Umunamu-Okwe in Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State recently.
In spite of their relocation to the new center where some decent houses were erected and some stipends paid monthly for their upkeep, the ex-Biafran soldiers lamented that the inmates and members of their families had been living under a very difficult situation.
In a statement signed by Comrades Law Akpu and Festus Mba Onu, President and Secretary General respectively, the wounded Biafran soldiers said: “They took us from Oji River, Enugu State where we were begging for alms at the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway to Umunam-Okigwe where we are today. May God be the Glory.
“Many of us died at the Expressway where we had motor accidents on daily basis. We are therefore a bit now secured accident wise.”
While felicitating with the new governors of Abia, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers, Anambra and the new Igbo political leaders that assumed the mantle of leadership on May 29, the ex-Biafran soldiers invited them to urgently come to their aid.
The statement added: “We need your help. Chief Dr. Ralph Uwazuruike, the MASSOB leader and MASSOB members have tried their best and are still trying but we are still lacking so many essential necessities of life. We have no water in this our camp, therefore we eagerly need borehole and as old and disabled sickly soldiers we need constant-instant medical attention.
“We have no light now, we therefore need Electric light in this camp, we also need fund/money to send our children and wards to school and this is very important to us. “The wheelchairs we are presently using have gone bad, we need new matic wheelchairs and crutches and whichever way you can come to our rescue please like donation of food, materials and money we shall be very grateful to ensure our survival in this camp.”
The wounded Biafran war veterans had been surviving through the mercies of public spirited individuals and a few Igbo leaders who donated food and money for their upkeep and the welfare of their family members while at the Oji River rehabilitation centre.
Worried by their harrowing experiences, the MASSOB leader constructed an improved rehabilitation centre for them in Imo state in addition to paying some stipends monthly but the inmates said the amount is barely enough to take care of their needs hence the passionate appeal to the governors of the seven Igbo speaking states for assistance.
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