– Commends PDP Governorship Candidate, Anyanwu’s Reassuring Goodwill Message
The candidate of Young Progressive Party YPP for Okigwe South Federal constituency in the February, 25, 2023 National Assembly election, Comrade Kesandu Kenkwo Kingsley, (KKK) has berated the Governor of Imo State Senator Hope Uzodinma, for treating pensioners in the state with disregard and disdain, even on a day set aside to honour, celebrate and appreciate their efforts while serving their father land in different capacities.
KKK, who stated this in a release he issued, lamented over how the pensioner who came from different parts of the state converged at the venue of the event but were abandoned, ignored and left to wart for several hours until the Governor eventually addressed them at about 3:40pm.
The release reads in part, “Yesterday, 10th day of October, 2023, all retired civil servants in Imo State, came together to celebrate their Senior Citizen’s Day. A day set aside to appreciate the work and efforts of these men and women, who sacrificed their time, talent and even treasure in the service of our dear State, Imo.
While our heroes came out en masse, waiting to be addressed by the Governor on their special day celebration, it was so sad to note that from at about 9am they arrived the venue, neither the Governor, nor his representative, had the courtesy and respect to come and address these aged men and women until at about past 3pm in the afternoon. It is worthy to note that most of these elders are hypertensive and are basically living a drug supportive life. If not for any day, are these men and women not supposed to be adequately taken care of today by the government who has held their gratuities? Watching most of them stand helpless under the sun, as seats were not provided for majority them, aches my heart. It was also alleged that some fainted. Does it mean the Governor does not appreciate the sacrifices and efforts of these our parents, that he could allow them stay over six hours waiting for him, while hoping to see and hear him at least talk to them of his plans to pay them, even it’s almost a hopeless situation?
It was gathered that while he arrived very late, though majority of them had left, he did everything humanly possible to hoodwink elders who are capable to have him as a son, on his ‘never to mature’ plans towards paying them their gratuities after November 11, gubernatorial election. But unknown to the Governor, he was talking to highly sagacious people who are well lettered, retired but not tired and very conversant with his gimmicks and abracadabra.
Every right thinking Imolite will ask why he has not paid them their gratuities for the past four years he has being in charge and why talk about it now our election is around the corner, if this is not an apt description of deceit.
These same elders he tried to confuse and convince to support his reelection bid, are the same parents of youths who have been murdered in Imo. Same parents of youths who are unemployed in Imo. Same parents of youths who are on daily basis harassed and assaulted by known and unknown gunmen in Imo. Same parents whose houses and properties have been set ablaze and I ask, Your Excellency, where is thy conscience?
It is rather painful, unfortunate and irresponsible that most State Governors now use payment of pensions as an achievement, and one wonders if these Governors truly understand what pension means and know they have done no favor by handing over one’s entitlement to him/her.
Nonpayment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, unknown to government remains the reason behind the lackadaisical attitude of some workers towards their duty today.
Today in Imo State, while some senior citizens receive their pensions some of them still cry of nonpayment and it had led to the death of many of them. Same applies to current civil servants, and you ask, how do you expect to get the best out of them”?
“However, it is gratifying to note that some of the governorship candidates, in their goodwill messages to senior citizen gave them hope and relief that there is light at the end of the tunnel as regards the welfare, needs and aspirations of the pensioners who the current administration in the state has really dealt with”.
“For instance, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, in his message, appreciated the efforts of our revered senior citizens who he described as the real heroes of the state, while assuring them that their affairs and welfare will be giving priority if he becomes Governor.
He also said that the payment of pension and gratuity should not be seen as achievement by government because it is what the beneficiaries laboured and worked for while serving the state and nation. He prayed that God grants them long life and ood enjoy the fruits of their labour”.
“Frankly, our dear elders who have served this state meritoriously, should not at any point be treated with so much disregards and disdain by government, for they have more stake in the state than the Governor himself having offered thirty five years of their youthful years to the service of our own state”.
