…ARRIVES IN LUGBE
By Okosun Dennis
Passion is innate. Some get involved because of love for humanity and to make a statement that beyond the inscrutable angles, lies the untapped treasure.
For the love he has for the military men, Egeh Dagogo, decided to embark on 800 kilometres to create awareness that the time has come for Nigerians to see soldiers and appreciate them, saying “We look down so much on them despite their tasking jobs.”
“This trek is basically to draw the National Assembly’s attention to the plight of the Nigerian Armed Forces to see how to improve their welfare. There should be legislation on the welfare of soldiers.”
He started the walk from the National Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) on the 15th of January, 2024 to terminate at the Ministry of Defence, Abuja.
Egeh, aka “Ejiedagogo,” a Benue-born food driller and a basketball coach will be received tomorrow, 19th February 2024, by Hon George Adegeye, representing Amowo-Odofin Federal Constituency, under the Labour Party, is expected to meet with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and some political leaders.
Before he took off from Lagos, he spoke with our Correspondence on his mission and why he decided to embark on the journey, adding that members of the Armed Forces deserve more in the area of Welfare, health insurance, good accommodation and handsome remuneration considering that their risky jobs predispose them to a lot of danger and sudden deaths.
“I am very passionate about humanity and secondly, I am passionate about the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is my constituency.
“Why I am doing this is to draw Nigerians’ consciousness and selfless sacrifice of our armed forces. Over the years, their sacrifices have been going on unacknowledged. Look at the old man spoken to over there (during Remembrance Day), as he spoke, he was not smiling!
“I am doing this because I want Nigerians to show gratitude. I am from a military background. My father was a soldier, and he served at the Defence Headquarters. If he were to be in Lagos, he would have been in this parade. However, I have siblings that are in the Armed Forces,” he explained.
Egeh further reiterated that, “I am embarking on this journey from here at TBS, Lagos to Abuja; which is 800 kilometres to create awareness that the time has come for Nigerians to see soldiers and appreciate them. We look down so much on them despite their tasking jobs.
“People should endeavour to give a soldier a lift not to be late to work. That in itself is an appreciation.”
Asked if he was conscious of the security challenges especially kidnappings on the highways that have become a recurrent decimal, he noted that he wasn’t oblivious of the suffocating insecurity but he would leave that to God to handle.
“Physically, mentally and medically, I have been working on this for the past five years. God willing, this is the best time for me. Security-wise, that is in God’s hands. You may have all the convoy and still have problems.”
During the journey, he has been live on social media platforms with tracking devices to monitor his day-to-day journey covering 24 kilometres per day.
“I have a tracking system I could be tracked on; when I go live on my social media handle – Facebook, Instagram, X handle, and Tik-Tok. To God be the glory, everything is good.
“I thank Hon George Adegeye, representing Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, under Labour Party for his support and agreement to receive me in Abuja, the Chief of the Defence Staff, and intend to meet other politically exposed persons.
“Why can’t a soldier travel within the country without paying for transport? Get to a park and be given a free ride with his identity card. Or pay 50 percent of the fare while travelling outside Lagos. It will boost the morale of the soldiers.
“Health-wise, soldiers are going through a lot. The Health Management Office (HMO) needed to be addressed. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) needs to be reviewed. Soldiers are dying of cancer and other ailments; the HMO are not taking some of those terminal diseases into consideration. They are dying except you are close to them. The NHIS pharmacy doesn’t have drugs. These are the things I am taking to the National Assembly,” he reiterated.
With the five-week trek ending tomorrow, Egeh Dagogo has is already within the circumference of Abuja. With some pictures and live broadcasts on Instagram, Egeh noted that he is on the verge of fulfilling his lifelong dream of launching a campaign to better the welfare needs of soldiers and their families.
“It is taking me five weeks of 24 kilometres per day.”
Speaking with our Correspondent during the journey when he arrived at Kwali, he said this is 33 days of #thankAsoldier trek. At 0705hrs from Kwali, I arrived Wawa District at 1847hrs, having covered a distance of 35.59km. I’m okay, safe and camping at a facility in the most uncomfortable and unconducive condition for anyone in my condition, but I still thank God for this luxury. See you all at Lugbe tomorrow!
Recounting some experiences during the journey, Egeh explained that at Yangoji village, I had one of the best Tuwo Chinkafa ever.
However, today is Day 34 of #thankAsoldier, I’m live in Abuja with one more lap to go.
“Special thanks to you all for your support throughout this mission. We did it guys! You all are the best teammates I ever had. We shall win more laurels together. See you all tomorrow at the Defence Headquarters for the closing ceremony,” Egeh Dagogo recounted in his live broadcast on Facebook.
