Before the establishment of VFN and eventual creation of Ministry of Veterans affairs, veterans unity is non-negotiable. Therefore, the circulation of pictures suggesting that appointments in the Nigerian Legion are skewed in favour of the Army is nothing but mischief-making. There has been no official release from the Legion to that effect. For clarity, the present partial appointments are all-inclusive of all services, a Rear Admiral serves as Director of Legal Affairs, a Naval PO as SA Media, and an Air Force MWO as Director of Procurement, among others. These are verifiable facts, not assumptions.
The truth is that the few appointments given so far are part of a deliberate process to allow veterans take full control of the Legion from civilians who had dominated its leadership for decades. Before now, many managerial positions were held by civilians, but for the first time in history, veterans themselves are taking interest and gradually occupying leadership roles. This is progress that must be nurtured, not destroyed.
Within just a little above one month of her appointment, Ms. Morenike has achieved many milestones that deserve commendation. From initiating structural reforms, to personally identifying with bereaved families of fallen comrades, to working tirelessly to attract budgetary allocation for the Legion, her impact has been visible and undeniable. Instead of tearing her down, we should be strengthening her hands.
Let’s remind ourselves, before now, only a few veterans were even willing to associate with the Legion, let alone participate in its leadership. But times have changed. We now have highly educated veterans with capacity, exposure, and professionalism. Instead of tearing down progress, why not leverage this strength to reposition the Legion for greatness?
To those claiming that Ms. Morenike’s appointment signals the death of the VFN struggle, you are wrong. She has been, and still remains, an integral part of the agitation from inception. Every veterans leadership can testify that she availed herself for meetings and stood shoulder-to-shoulder in veterans activities. Her track record speaks louder than propaganda.
Let us also understand this clearly, laundering the image of the Legion Chairman is not her individual duty, but a collective responsibility of all veterans, especially NCOs. If she fails, we all fail. If she succeeds, we all rise. Those who prefer to sit on the sidelines and throw stones without facts should rethink. The Legion is open now, unlike before, any veteran can walk into its offices nationwide and confirm the true situation for himself.
Now, let’s sincerely reflect from the time she took over
- How can we fail to celebrate a Legion Chairman who personally visited the family of our late MWO Anthony Agbas, send delegate to attend his wake-keep, and stood by the family at his burial?
- How can we abandon the one who is fighting tirelessly to attract budgetary allocation to the Legion for the very first time?
- How can we silence the voice of a leader who is pro-VFN and openly advocates for the creation of a Ministry of Veterans Affairs?
- And how can we sabotage a chairman who is consistently pushing for opportunities that will benefit us all?
Before the establishment of the VFN and the eventual creation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the Nigerian Legion remains the only statutory institution recognized by law and government to represent veterans. That reality is unshakable. This is why, in all my submissions, I have consistently encouraged veterans to register with the Legion as our statutory home after retirement. Until the establishment of VFN and creation of Ministry of veterans affairs, any attempt to undermine the Legion is an attempt to weaken our only lawful platform before government.
Let us not forget, we are veterans, not politicians. We are bound by principles of service, sacrifice, and discipline. And above all, we cannot fight God, for where He provides, He guides. If this opportunity has come, we must embrace it, nurture it, and protect it.
The truth is simple, the narrative is changing positively. For the first time, veterans alone are managing the Legion, and not civilians. That is progress, and it will only continue if we unite. The Legion belongs to us all. Its success or failure will reflect on every one of us.
Suspicion, propaganda, and petty division will only take us backward. But unity, loyalty, and collective effort will secure recognition and lasting progress. If we rally around the Legion today, before the VFN fully matures and before the Ministry of Veterans Affairs is created, history will record us as the generation that rose above self, protected its statutory home, and restored dignity to the veteran community.
Chief Aliyu Umar
20 August 2025