An on air personality, Mr. Olubukola Olowoyeye, has an uncommon passion for issues relating to the military. This is understandable having lived in the barracks for a long time by virtue of the fact that he is the son of a retired personnel.
In this interview OLAOLU OLADIPO, he talked about his visits to retired personnel with a call for greater attention to their welfare and wellbeing. Excerpts:
As a journalist, you seem to be fascinated by the military, why so?
My father served in the Nigerian Air Force for 35 years and by default I can say that I spent 35 years of my life in the military barracks also. With this, I can say that I know the day to day activities of soldiers in any given military formation.
I saw the love and the enthusiasm that these soldiers displayed while carrying out their assignments. I saw firsthand the passion and patriotism they showed in their work. For me, the service rendered by these gentlemen has not been reciprocated by the government and society enough. Many of these patriots feel neglected and lone- ly after service.
They feel like the whole world has neglected them. Since I have been part of the system, I felt it was wise of me to go look for them. To celebrate them and encourage them. I also feel the society needs to celebrate them.
What has been your experience so far in your visits to the veterans?
It’s been life changing for me because ever since I started it, I notice that most of them have been able to share their pains and frustrations with me.
For that singular act, a lot of them have been able to come out of their loneliness and have been able to send messages to the Federal Government also.
Most times, when I visit them, I go with toiletries and some other items. I see joyful expressions on their faces during the visits in terms of how they appreciate my efforts. I love the fact that they feel energised when they see me.
In what way do you think the government can ameliorate the sufferings of these veterans?
Let me say that these veterans are the people those still in service should look up to for inspiration but the way they are being neglected by the Federal Government is not encouraging, and when those still in service see this, they will realise that they too will join the people who have retired. If they see a positive development, they too will put in their best.
This is one thing that I have been advocating in the past. This is the way it is in developed countries where they enjoy a lot of rebate and subsidies from the government for normal day to day needs such as food and transportation or hotel accommodation.
They should be looked after by the government and all Nigerians. Also, the stipends and pensions should be enough for them to live a decent life.
I am also advocating for a housing scheme for those in service so that they won’t suffer lack of accommodation after service. For instance the gesture would boost the morale of personnel in the war front who would put in his best when they realise that they have a roofs over the heads of their children and wives.
Are you saying the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre has not done enough to rehabilitate these veterans before being disengaged?
The Federal Government has done its best by creating the centre but you will agree with me that times are changing very fast.
There is the need to restrategise by reworking its (Armed Forces Resettlement Centre) operations through redesigning the vocational training that they give these retiring personnel.
There are some other vocational training that should be given to them apart from barbers’ skill and car washing. As the world is gradually changing, there are jobs they can do now from the comfort of their homes without being physical.
Things can only get better but the management of the centre must review the training they give to them to prepare them for life after retirement. Most of the jobs and vocational training they are getting are obsolete if you ask me. I am talking of vocational training in the use of social media to generate income.
You talked about these veterans expressing positive ideas with regards to solving the numerous security challenges plaguing the country; are you saying they should be drafted in to help? In what ways do you think they will be useful?
I think we should look at how the military of the United States of America is structured. It is not all the personnel who are retired, even some of those retired are placed on reserves. With what I have seen so far, a lot of them are specialists in various fields.
Those who came as specialists have their skills relevant to the aspiration of the country to curb the rising insurgency. I think what the country can do is to recall them from time to time to train those still in service in the specialised fields.
They (the retired servicemen) should be called at intervals to generate plans and strategic papers on how to arrest the situation.
My thinking is that these personnel shouldn’t be left idle but be made to utilise their expertise for the good of the country.
Finally, are we to look forward to a report from you to the government with regard to what you’ve seen?
Yes! I am currently documenting my activities and findings, I have also been engaging with those in authority with regard to my observations.
It is also interesting that many people in authority watch my programme and they are aware and conversant with my activities.
They are following the programmes too. I hope that the Federal Government will invite me to render an account of my visitations.
