Seventy-five-year-old Corporal Philip Babawande (retd.), tells OLUFEMI OLANIYI his experience during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war and the plight of some ex-soldiers who fought on the side of Federal Government but have not been receiving pensions for the past 44 years

When did you join the army?

I joined the Nigerian Army in February 1968. I left in December 1978. I spent 10 years, but any soldier who fought in the war was given two and a half years. That is a bonus and it is added unto your years of service. That is why the number of years I spent is put at about 13.

Did you fight during the Nigerian civil war?

Yes, I fought. I started my battle experience in Asaba, which is the present day Delta State capital. I ended it in Onitsha.

Were you conscripted into the army?

I joined the army voluntarily. I went the first time but I was rejected based on my stature. I went again to Abeokuta when it was a depot and I was eventually selected in February 1968. I did three months training and immediately after the training, we were deployed to the war front. The war started in 1967 and after the three-month training, we were sent to the war front.

Where was the first place you were deployed?

I was deployed in Asaba.

Can you remember the name of your commander then?

It’s been a long time, I can’t remember his name. But one of our officers then was the former Military Governor of Oyo State, Major General Oladayo Popoola ( retd.). At a time, we were under General David Jemibewon

What rank was General Popoola then?

He just graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy. He was a second lieutenant then as a fresher from the NDA. We were together at Asaba.

Did you have any near-death experience during the war?

I had many but I can never forget one experience in Asaba. We went for an attack where I was almost killed, but God just saved my life in a miraculous way. We were going into the rebels’ area in a single line formation and I was the fifth person from the front. We did not know that we were very close to where Biafran soldiers had planted landmines. Whenever I remember now, I still thank God for saving me; it was a divine intervention and I owe God gratitude for that forever.

Some of my pieces of ammunition fell and I just left the rank and started picking them. As I stepped aside to pick the ammunition, some of my colleagues had passed me and by the time I finished picking them, about 20 soldiers had passed so, I was now about number 20 something. We did not know that the Biafran soldiers had planted landmines where we were and they had laid ambush for us and were watching us from their hideout. We were the ones going to their stronghold to meet them; so, it was easy for them to prepare to attack us. The wire with which to ignite the mines was buried under the ground. Immediately I joined the rank back, I heard terrible explosions and my colleagues were torn into pieces; I could have been one of them if not for God’s intervention. God orchestrated how my pieces of ammunition fell and I stepped out of the rank to pick them back. The explosions were followed by heavy shooting and we had many casualties that day. God spared my life. Although as soldiers, we also fought back, we lost quite a number of our colleagues that day.


Which other place were you deployed after Asaba?

We were deployed in Onitsha. We were there in October 1968. Lots of people died during the war, but God saved me.

After those experiences and you have not been paid your pensions for the past 44 years, do you regret fighting in the war?

The only regret I have is that we are not being paid our pensions and that is quite unfortunate.

Did you gain anything from fighting on the side of Nigeria?

I did not make any gains in terms of money, but I gained experience. I might not have travelled to the East, but fighting during the war gave me that opportunity. During our time, promotion was so rare. I was in the rank of corporal for nine years. I served under the military police after the war.

Will you have preferred that the Biafran succeeded in breaking away with the way you are being treated now?

No. Not at all. My anger will not graduate to that level. I never regretted that Nigeria won the war. I also don’t have any regrets fighting on the side of Nigeria, because I fought to defend the unity of my country. Nigeria is my fatherland and I have no regrets at all.

Were there promises made to you then by the Nigerian government?

There were no promises made to us.

You said you were a Buhari boy while in the army…

Yes. He was a Major then. Although I was not directly under him, some of my colleagues served under him and that is why I have kept saying that Buhari is not aware of our plight. I am sure if he is aware of what is being done to us, he will take steps to redress it because he knows what it is to fight a war. We are living in poverty and we are supposed to be receiving pensions every month like others, but we are still praying to God that we won’t die without collecting our entitlements.

They have deprived us of our rights for the past 44 years. They have denied us our pensions for so many years and the irony of it is that they said we are not qualified, because we didn’t spend up to 15 years in service. It was Decree 102 they used against us. This Decree 102 was not supposed to be used against us, because they didn’t use it against the then rebels, the Biafran soldiers, who fought against Nigeria. The Biafran soldiers were paid in batches and they have all been paid to the last kobo. The last batch was paid last year, about 112 of them.

How old were you when you joined the army?

I was around 21 years old then. Many of us were in our early 20s and we all enlisted in the Nigerian Army and we fought for a period of 10 years and more, when the government depopulated the Nigerian workforce. Some of us crossed to various places like the police, Customs, immigration, schools and other places, where we continued with our lives.

When did you start this agitation for the payment of pensions?

We have been on this agitation since but it was renewed in2002. In 2007, there was biometric capturing and out of those of us who were captured, few people were paid and those who were paid have been collecting their pensions since then.

Why were they paid and some of you were not paid?

They paid those who spent 15 years and above in the army.

Were you paid any money when you retired?

We were paid gratuities, but it is the pension we are fighting for now. So, they owe us 44 years’ pensions now. But we are appealing to them to consider our plight. Some of us are very poor. Many don’t have money to feed or buy drugs, and that is why we are making this passionate appeal to the government to pay us.

https://punchng.com/we-regret-fighting-to-keep-nigeria-one-leader-of-unpaid-civil-war-veteran-pa-babawande/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1652618723-1

Imagine being denied pension for 44 Yrs and you're still claiming you have no regrets!
May this type of spirit of mental slavery never come near me, abeg!

One nijiriya people ngwanu

And some go still join vote buhari to add to their sins

Devil should turn luggard like barbecue in hell, demonic Freemason that created this shit union for Satan to drink blood

https://districtgrandlodgeofnigeria.com/northern-nigeria-lodge/

That's how some of them presently working against IPOB and Biafra would still regret later in their lives. Now that we are telling them, they will be thinking we are fools.

The same way we warned them about Buhari, they said GEJ is clueless. I'm sure we have been vindicated. The funniest thing is that their master is begging GEJ to comeback. Lol! You see life?

ndi sophistication....after 44years u still neva get sense. a fool @40 is a fool 4eva indeed.

I trust you and your children are enjoying the Nigeria that you fought for.

They're reaping the generational poverty they planted,...44years koo,...444years ni.

Everyone who fought to destroy Biafrans for the mohammedans will live long enough to see them fluorish while they die penniless with empty bellies. In Jesus name Amen.

I have 2 things to say.

One is this will never make front page.

Two is you haven’t start regretting.

Anyone who played a role in the Civil war will never know peace. Ask gowon, can’t you all see how his people are been murdered like bush meats? I’m very sure he can’t travel to his home town freely.

No matter how hard or long it may take, one day the Sun must surely rise completely