RSG Hails New Nigerian Legion Exco …As Col Chinda Gets Second Term Mandate

Rivers State Government has hailed the newly re-elected Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, King (Col) Philemon Chinda following an electoral college election conducted by the body from 22 local chapters except Oyigbo yesterday in Port Harcourt.

Chairman of the electoral body, and Permanent Secretary of the Special Services Bureau in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Sovens Okari assured the new exco of government’s support to advance the welfare of ex-service men in the state.

“Government will always consider you people as the apple of its eye, “ Okari emphasized. The governor acknowledges the wonderful contributions you people made for the security we have now ‘’.

The permanent secretary who acknowledged challenges ahead of the elections commended the men of the legion for conducting themselves peacefully and called on both those who contested and those that voted to work together to move the body forward.

Mr Okari further charged them, “ to ensure that those who have stood with you  in respect of this election, please, you should accept them as friends and colleagues. You must not go down because somebody stood for an election with us. Instead we should come together as friends and colleagues and comrades and  of the Nigerian Legion’’.

Also, an official of the Ministry of Defence in the Veterans Affairs Department, Dr. Jude Alozie expressed appreciation to the state government ,especially for the support it gives to the legion, urging other states to emulate Rivers State. Dr Alozie also hailed the outcome of the elections, “ this is victory for the legion it shows democracy all members should come together for a virile legion’’.

Later in  his speech, re-elected Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Rivers State chapter, Col. Chinda has pledged to carry all members of ex-military servicemen along in the scheme of things.

He remarked “ we have done very good work. Inshort this year’s election is the best of its kind. There is no infighting fomerly when we want to do election other times we used to fight and faction here and there, but this one was done well’’.

King Philemon took had a landslide of 19 votes over Boma LongJohn who polled only three votes at a keenly contested elections.

Others officials elected at the polls include Wilberforce Josiah as Vice-chairman and Ihenacho Agburuga as Treasurer.