Thousands of pensioners again, barricaded the government house in Asaba, putting a hold on commercial activities for long hours over non payment of accumulated entitlements.
This follows barely 20 days after Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa led government released N2.5 billion for the payment of local government retirees.
The pensioners who comprised more of old men and women marched from Summit Junction to the Government House Asaba wearing black and black carrying placards with several inscriptions.
As reported by The Story, the protesters who rained curses on Governor Okowa vowed to storm Asaba again on Wednesday for another round of demonstration.
Some of the inscriptions read “Wicked Okowa ! Where is the N55 billion naira for Retirees for 8 yrs”, Okowa you are owing both the living and the dead; Commissioner for Misinformation, Charles Aniagwu, where are you, we are here now! Okowa wicked Governor, a man without conscience!
The pensioners who are primary school teachers, lamented that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has abandoned them to die in pains and penury after serving the government for 35 years.
“Many of our members are dying daily as a result of sicknesses, inability to pay hospital bills, feed and send our children to school, one of the protesters noted while shedding tears.
The teachers who are mostly aged men and women also decried the utterances of the governor and his information managers who first of denied that primary school teachers are not their workers or been sponsored by a political party.
“We are not sponsored by any political party or candidate. We are fighting for our legitimate right and as you can remember, there was no protest or delay in payment of pension arrears during the time of Governors Ibori and Uduaghan. In their era, retired teachers were paid promptly and they enjoyed their sweat before they die, why is Okowa wicked and does not want us to taste the benefit of our work before our demise, he queried.”
Continuing, the protesters who were visibly bittered, expressed regret with the treatment a man who claim to be a son of a teacher is dishing out on them even as they rain curses on him and his lineage.
They said, if he knew primary school teachers are not his workers, then he should stay of the allocation coming to the local government and stop interfering in the affairs of local government.
