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•Imo’ll recruit Legionnaires as volunteer workers –Okorocha
From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka and George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
Two military personnel slumped at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, Anambra State, during the 2018 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day ceremony, yesterday.
The two soldiers, one Army and the other Navy, who slumped while participating in a parade, were attended to by the medical team in the arena, including the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabuike, before they were rushed to an undisclosed hospital.
When contacted on phone, Dr. Akabuike declined comment on the matter, but asked the reporter to “Go on with your investigation. I will get back to you later.”
But, Army personnel, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that the victims might have been affected by “sun-stroke” as a result of heavy sunshine, adding that it was not unusual during parades.
“It’s not unusual to see such occurrence during parades, more so, under intense sunshine. We are hoping they would come back in the end.”
However, when newsmen contacted Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, a source, who spoke in confidence, confirmed there was a soldier in the intensive care unit whose case was critical.
In a related development, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said his government has decided to recruit ex- servicemen in the state establishments as volunteers.
This was even as he commended the members of the armed forces for making the nation proud in spite of the challenges.
Okorocha stated this yesterday during the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration held at the Heroes Square, Owerri. He said his government has decided to recruit the retired servicemen into the state owned establishments, ministries and parastatals to work as volunteers.
He also announced that his administration would build a befitting headquarters for the legionnaires in the state to help them conduct the affairs of their legion and to constantly remind those in positions of power the need to relate with the legionnaires, especially at this painful moment of their lives.
