…as retirees vow never to vote Okowa, Oborevwori
Association of Contributory Retiree (ACR), Delta State chapter, said that they will never vote for the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa in the 2023 general elections.
The senior citizens equally vowed not to vote for the PDP Governorship candidate, Sheriff Oborevwori and all the party candidates in next year’s election.
They disclosed that since 2015, till date, Okowa, has refused to pay their entitlements, leaving them in hunger while some of their members are no more alive as some others are bed-ridden without hope.
Speaking during the association’s monthly meeting in Ozoro, Isoko north local government area of the state, when the incoming Governor of the state under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), His Excellency, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi OON, visited them, the Chairperson of the Association of Contributory Retiree, Mrs. Ejieh Helen, swore that Okowa and his stooge, Oborevwori, would never become Vice president of the country and governor of the state respectively.
Hear her: “We will never vote for PDP, God will never allow them. How can we vote for Okowa or whoever that Okowa will bring? Okowa, will monitor him. In fact, Okowa, of course, will be in charge.
“In fact, he is an enemy to retirees. His plans, is a third term agenda. So, PDP is gone in retirees’ lives” she stressed.
Also speaking during an interactive session, a member of the group, Prophet Jonny Friday, who doubles as the Chairman, Olomu Pastors Political Forum, Ughelli south local government area, disclosed that the issue of nonpayment of gratuity has been on for over 10 years.
Similarly, Mrs Eburu Jane, Warri south local government area, said retirees in the state have been pushed to the wall.
“My fellow colleagues, we have been pushed to the wall. If you look at our hearts, we are walking but deep down in us, we are crying.
“Every top government officials have disappointed us because there is nobody who has not heard our case.
“Many of our members have died because of what this Delta State has done to retirees. Our eyes are so open. Retirees are crying, some are bed-ridden, some cannot take care of their families, it is a sad situation that I cannot recount.
“But whoever is coming, we are praying, that day, the Lord will lead us to the right person with our PVC. They have failed us in this State”, she said.
In same vein, Mr. Emi Vickers, from Ndokwa west local government area noted: “Let us forget the fact that we all belong to different political parties.
“If we begin to grumble because we get peanuts and for six to seven years, one has not been paid his pensions and gratuity and if one feeds fat and others are dying, have I succeeded as a retiree?
“What we need in this country and the state, we don’t need party. What we need is individuals and personalities. So, I wouldn’t say because I come from Abe and as a Master of Ceremony, when I go to occasions, politicians when I praise them and they give me N5, 000 or N10, 000, I wouldn’t know the right person to vote for.
“Let us be very frank and it is very unfortunate that some of us who are grumbling never one day attended our protests in Asaba and see what we suffered. We need somebody that will change this state for the better” he added.
Earlier, Gbagi FNIM, who was represented by the Director General, Gbagi Campaign Council, Prof. Jiff Mokobia, told the visibly angry retirees that Gbagi, a political juggernaut, would clear their arrears in 200 days as governor.
He lamented that civil servants reduce their ages because of the fear of the unknown, assuring that “If Gbagi takes over as governor, within the first six months, all your arrears and pensions will be paid, note it.
“These are senior citizens, after working, you leave them. Unfortunately, we chased all the oil companies away because of insecurity.
“All these borrowing, it is you, your children and grandchildren that will pay. And they borrowed to become Vice President and to give Atiku who has never been a patriot in this country” he alleged.
“So, Gbagi is coming as a game changer. He is coming to put industries, employ our children and to remove them from the street and to pay pensioners.
“Like I told you within six months, he will pay pensioners. The money is there, it is a matter of prioritizing the government.
“I am aware that pensioners use to build houses with their gratuity but today, some have died, they have no houses. God will not forgive those who maltreat pensioners.
“Gbagi is not that type of politician that speak from the two sides of their mouth. Let us vote for the Social Democratic Party”, he charged them.
