IKPO IGBINOBA
One of Nigeria’s boxing greats, Obisia Nwankpa has lashed out at the Nigerian Army for withholding his pension since 2002.
The boxer exploded with rage on Thursday while speaking with PM EXPRESS at the National Stadium in Lagos “I am disappointed in the Nigerian Army for the way they are paying me back after serving them and the country with all my heart.
Do you know that for 15 years, the Nigerian Army has refused to pay my pension, causing me a lot of misery and pain”
“By withholding my pension for so long, the Nigerian Army has succeeded in reducing me to penury”.
Obisia, known also as “Golden Gloves” in his fighting days said the Nigerian Army stopped paying his pension in 2002 because he failed to appear for a verification exercise.
According to him “I missed one verification exercise in 2002 and that was the beginning of my problem.
“Since then I have explored every avenue to have my pension back but to no avail”.
Early this year, a desperate Obisia sought the assistance of a General who intervened in his plight.
“I thought my problem was over when a General intervened but alas they paid me a year and still left the backlog of 15 years” he said.
With his voice rising, the soft spoken boxer queried “What reason has the Nigerian Army got to withhold my pension which I laboured for during the most productive years in my life?”
Obisia said if anyone was to be treated so shabbily by the Nigerian Army, “that person should not be Obisia Nwankpa”.
He remarked ” Without trying to sound boastful, I dare say no soldier living or deadhas brought more honour to the Nigerian Army than Obisia through sport.
“All my boxing laurels as a professional were won for the Nigerian Army and they enjoyed massive media spotlight during my career.
“Outside my African and Commonwealth titles, I also won two gold medals at the World Military Games(CISM) for the Nigerian Army in 1974 and 1975”.
Obisia who had a shot at the world title in the light welterweight category against Saoul Mamby of United States in December 1981 in Lagos appealed to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Burutai to step into his matter.
“The Chief of Army Staff should come to my rescue and save me from further agony. I have had enough”.
Obisia Nwankpa had an illustrious boxing career both as an amateur and a professional from 1966 to 1992. At a time, he held the African and Commonwealth titles and crowned his career with his 1981 world title shot against Saoul Mamby. He retired from the Nigerian Army as a Warrant Officer Class One