Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, narrowly escaped been lynched by angry retirees under the platform of Delta State Local Government/Primary School Contributory Retirees.
Miffed by the none payment of their gratuity running between 5-7 years, with no hope, considering the fact that many of their members are dead, the retirees said even some of their benefactors could not claim their benefits.
Okowa allegedly took to his heels from function at the event center Asaba when retirees who were owed various sums of money as their gratuity and pensions staged a protest at the two entrance of the event center.
The retirees barricaded the entrance gate, chanting songs and saying that the Governor must pay them their money, that they are tired of empty promises year in year out.
The aggrieved retirees said that Governor Okowa has been deceiving them and from his actions is bent on not paying them their retirement benefits before he leaves office.
They said that they have decided to stage this protest here to drive down their grievances.
Governor Okowa who was informed that the retirees are outside the gate laying siege for him cut his stay short and ran through a non exit gate, abandoning elder states men and women unaddressed.
The retirees claimed that majority of their members are dead and their benefactors cannot access their parents gratuity. Some said that they’re owed for over 5-7 years now with no hope of getting their money.
Some of the inscriptions reads: “Luke 10v7, For the worker needs his wages”, “Okowa pay us our pensions and gratuities now”, “Okowa stop killing the retirees”, “Retirees are suffering and dying daily.
“Governor Okowa we urge you to pay our fathers and mothers their retirement benefits and save the state this show of shame exhibited today.
“If you call yourself EKWUEME please act in accordance with your name and save the state this kind of embarrassments all the time”.
Credit: Tony Okwunebe|Facebook
