Delta retirees warn Okowa against mother of all protests

By Jon Egie

Local government contributory retirees have issued a notice to the Delta State governor and vice presidential candidate of the PDP, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa warning that should the Delta State government further fail to keep her promise of releasing the sum of N10 billion on or before the end of October ( tomorrow, Monday, October 31), the government would be confronted with the mother of all protests at Asaba any time soon.

The notice was contained in a Communique issued at the end of a recent meeting of the Concerned Delta State Local Government Contributory Retirees held on Tuesday, October 25 in Ughelli.

In the Communique signed by Mr Mode Augustine and Sir Tukpe Henry, Chairman and Secretary of the Local Government Contributory Retirees respectively, the senior citizens recalled that since the March protest staged at the gate of the Govt House, Asaba on March 10, 2022 during which the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Sir Patrick Ukah and the Chief of Staff to the governor, Rt Hon Festus Ovie Agas Esq pleaded passionately for time to dialogue with the governor with a view to intervening to effect payment of their retirement benefits, nothing has been heard from the State government up till date.

“Eight months have passed since then and nothing is heard from the State government. It is quite sad and painful that seven of our members have died since the March protest, some are experiencing several stages of illnesses such as Stroke, Diabetes, High and Low Blood Pressure and have no money to take care of their medical needs.

They therefore, reminded the State government led by Sen Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who is the state governor and vice presidential candidate of the PDP, of the release of N10 billion promise he made to retirees during the March 10, protest.

The retirees said they were not unaware that a Court Injunction was imposed on the State government restraining her from collecting the proposed loan facility of N150 billion, part of which was intended for the release of N10 billion to clear part of the accrued benefits of the retirees.

They pointed out that they were also aware that the restraining order has long been vacated.

“We have also been mindful of your political ambition and the competitive political scheming for your election as the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and hence our restrain for the past eight months.

“But should the State government fail to keep to her promise of releasing the N10 billion on or before end of October, 2022; she shall be confronted with the mother of all protests at Asaba by the retirees in the month of November, 2022.” They warned.

It would be recalled that the State government through its Commissioner of Information, Charles Aniagwu in July, 2022 shortly after a repeat protest staged also at the gate of the Govt House, denied responsibility to the demands of the retirees saying that the protesters were not reirees of the State government but primary school retirees under the local government councils.

He said the protests were targeted at maligning and impugning the reputation of Governor Okowa’s rising political profile.