A Non-Governmental Organization, Old Barracks Boys And Girls Association (OBBAGA), in the Diaspora, Showed Love to Wives of Fallen Soldiers on New Year’s Eve by Distributing food and cash gifts to them so as to have a Joyful New Year celebrations, Peak Newspaper reports.
This is the maiden edition of this program within the barracks and not less than 80 people were attended to, including widows, sick and incapacitated and some ex-Barracks Boys who have health and financial issues.
During the event which took place inside the 12 Field Engineer Regiment Multi- Purpose Hall, Sappers Barracks, Ijebu-Ode, the coordinator of the event, Mr. Odia Stanley Otaifo, explained to the beneficiaries that the food and cash materials were donated by our members in Diaspora, both home and abroad.(In our local palance, diaspora means our members living outside Ijebu-Ode and Ogun State).
He further explained that OBBAGA : Diaspora Commission, came up with this initiative, to render financial assistance to the widows and children of slain soldiers, calling on other well meaning Nigerians to join the association in this humanitarian efforts. ‘I want to call on all well-meaning Nigerians to join us in this noble endeavors. Let us come together to support these widows and children of our fallen heroes. Let us show them that their loved ones did not die in vain and that we appreciate their sacrifices. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can bring hope and comfort to these brave women and their children’.
He further commended the donors, many of whom want to remain anonymous, and prayed for God to bless them in all their endeavors.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Secretary of the Organizing Committee, Mr Gibson Adoh, stressed the need for better living conditions for the widows. Government alone cannot do that, hence he called on other Non-Governmental Organizations to come up with viable programs, that will make life and living, worthwhile for the widows.
According to him, ‘The labor of our fallen heroes cannot be wished away in a hurry, because they have paid the ultimate price for our nation to remain intact. I want to assure these brave women that we are here to stand by them and to identify with their situations and to honor the memories of their late husbands, who paid the ultimate price for the security and unity of our great country. This token is a way of saying “thank you” to your late husbands for their selfless services to the nation’.
Other members of the Organizing committee, who spoke to our reporter include : Glory Asein(Ambassador), Gloria Adoh, Funmilayo Jonathan, Grace Akinwunmi, Latifat Sunday nee Adebayo, reminisced on their childhood days in Ilese Army Barracks.
The Magajia of the unit, “Which is the title for the head of the women group in the barracks, expressed appreciation to the body and said that this is an indication that soldiers’ children are kind-hearted and compassionate”
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Itoya, Mrs Edet, Mrs Omosuwa, expressed their joy and satisfaction to the group for their kind gesture, which is a way of bringing succor to the widows. They said that the most significant aspect of the whole program was that there was no discrimination among the widows. They prayed for the donors and other members of the organization.
Obbaga, Diaspora Commission hopes to sustain this gesture and make it bigger in the years to come.
Long Live OBBAGA!
Long live Diaspora Commission!
Long live Ilese Army Barracks, Ijebu-Ode!
