Military widows reject leadership imposition by Nigerian legion in Kebbi
By Yusuf Gwandu
The Military Widows Association of Nigeria (MIWA), Kebbi State chapter, has rejected what it described as an attempt by the state chapter of the Nigerian Legion to impose new leadership on the association.
The State Coordinator of MIWA, Hajiya Asma’u Kanoma, stated this at a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.
Kanoma alleged that the Nigerian Legion unlawfully dissolved the association’s existing executive and conducted an election to replace it.
She said MIWA was an independent national association with its own leadership structure and constitution, stressing that the Nigerian Legion had no authority to interfere in its internal affairs or conduct elections for the association.
Kanoma explained that the tenure of the current executive had not expired, insisting that she remained the only legitimate coordinator of the association in the state.
According to her, the purported dissolution of the executive and subsequent election conducted by the Legion were invalid and unconstitutional.
“ The Military Widows Association of Nigeria is an independent association operating nationally, with its own leadership structure.
” The Nigerian Legion has no constitutional power to dissolve our executive or conduct elections for us,” she said.
The coordinator further disclosed that the national leadership of MIWA had written to the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion to formally communicate its position and cancel the purported election.
She, however, alleged that despite the communication, the Legion leadership had failed to respond appropriately to the concerns raised by the national body.
Kanoma, therefore, appealed to the Kebbi State Government and other relevant authorities to urgently intervene in the matter to prevent further escalation and resolve the leadership dispute amicably.
She expressed appreciation to the administration of Gov. Nasir Idris, for its concern and support toward improving the welfare of military widows in the state.
Kanoma called for continued government attention to the needs of military widows, particularly in the areas of empowerment, welfare and other forms of assistance to enable them to cater for their families.
