The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has cursed those who diverted money meant for procuring arms for Nigeria soldiers to fight the Boko Haram insurgency, describing them as heartless.
Aregbesola who spoke today at the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day and laying of wreath in honour of fallen soldiers at the State House of Assembly in Osogbo, commended the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in unraveling the crime.
He said that every well-meaning Nigerian is of the hope that all those involved in the mismanagement of the arms fund will receive full retribution even as he insisted that all those found guilty must be brought to justice to forestall future occurrence.
“It is even a monumental scandal of unimaginable proportion that funds meant for procuring arms for soldiers are shared among members of the Peoples Democratic Party without the least compunction.
“I commend the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in unravelling this heinous crime and I sincerely hope that all those involved will receive full retribution. Some of the soldiers caught in the maelstrom and indicted have been pardoned but some have lost their commission while others face uncertain future.
“Considering the circumstances of this unusual event, it is pertinent that a fresh inquiry be set up so that justice will be given to all those involved and our gallant soldiers will not be punished unjustly.”
On the roles of soldiers in the Ekiti and Osun States’ governorship elections in 2014, which the committee set up by the Military has submitted its report, Aregbesola said the deployment of soldiers was avoidable.
“The military high command also set up an inquiry into the roles soldiers played in the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections of 2014. The committee has submitted its report and made recommendations.
“As a victim of the reckless deployment of soldiers in those elections, I will say it was an avoidable deployment of soldiers for a civilian duty and for which there was no threat beyond the capability of the police and other security agencies.”
This year’s Armed Forces Remembrance is the first to be held at the State House of Assembly after the cenotaph was constructed next to the parliament.
The Governor stressed that the symbolism of holding the ceremony at the military cemetery is impeccable, adding that bringing it to the parliament is of even greater significance.
Aregbesola said that the parliament is the symbol of authority of the people and so the fallen soldiers “being celebrated today in the midst of the people for their gallantry and supreme sense of patriotism.” [myad]
