The Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, was on Thursday smuggled out of the state empowerment programme by the operatives of the Department of Security Service, (DSS) and other security details attached to the governor following a protest by the state retirees who blocked the entrance of the event centre in Asaba, SaharaReporters has learnt.
The protesting retirees were teachers from primary schools and local government workers, dressed in black attire, who barricaded the entrance to the event centre along Okpanam Road Asaba, chanting and singing anti-government songs.
Some of them displayed placards saying, "Okowa, pay us our pensions and gratuities now," "Okowa, stop killing the retirees. Retirees are suffering and dying daily," "Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, pay us our gratuities and pension from 2014 till date. 35 years of service is not a joke, pay us now," "Okowa, the blood of the dead retirees are on your head."
As the protest was going on, the governor had already seated for the multi-billion naira empowerment programme organised by his daughter’s office who is his Senior Special Assistant on Girl Child.
SaharaReporters learnt that during the event which was temporarily disrupted by the protesters and the barricade of the entrance of the venue, some of the aged women who went half naked rolled on the ground and cried at the entrance gate.
Meanwhile, DSS operatives and other security details attached to the governor had no option but to smuggle Okowa from the venue through the back door which is adjacent to the Delta State House of Assembly to avoid being waylaid by the protesters.
A press statement by the protesting retirees under the umbrella of Concerned Delta State Local Government/Primary School Teachers Contributory Retirees, signed by Mode A.O., chairman, local government retirees, Henry Tukpe, secretary, local government retirees, Mrs. Ejieh H.C., chairman, primary school retirees and Etuwede G.U., secretary, primary school retirees, was obtained by SaharaReporters.
It partly reads, “As of November 2020, the government was owing the retirees over N51billion accrued right (value of service before we entered into the contributory savings in 2011).
"This sum is increasing daily and has increased to N55,463,940,912 as at October, 2021. There is am unremitted deductions of the sum of N5.9billion to the Bureau of local government pension by ALGON during the era of nonpayment of salaries between 2015 and 2017. The humiliation is too much or is it a crime to serve one's fatherland? Our governor has turned blind eyes and deaf ears to our sufferings and our several pleas and appeal to you, some even through eminent Deltans.
“In order to reach the governor after our several letters, we have to contact the under listed prominent Deltans to intervene. They include: Delta State Commissioner of Police, The Obi of Owa, Delta State advisory committee led by Sam Oyovbaire, James Ibori, former governor, Delta State, among others.”
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