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How A Niger Delta Governor Was Saved From Mob Action

THE Governor of Delta State, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa was saved by his security details last Thursday March 10, 2022 from the hands of angry retired teachers and local govt workers who ambushed him at his daughter’s program, who doubles as his Senior Special Assistant.

Okowa’s attackers barricaded the entrance to the venue of an event he was billed to attend along Okpanam Road Asaba.

They were dressed in mourning attire, just as they chanted and sang anti-government songs.

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“Okowa pay our money o… Okowa” rentwd the air as the security operatives struggled to control the rowdy protesters. Others shouted… “yeye governor.”

The state empowerment programme was disrupted by the invading aged men and women who displayed placards with different inscriptions, such as “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.

Stakeholders told Midwest Herald at the venue of event that the empowerment scheme is phantom that has been designed to fail.

Some of the protesters were aged women who went half naked and rolled on the ground and cried at the entrance gate.

To avoid ugly situation, the security details attached to the governor designed an escape route through the back door which is adjacent to the Delta State House of Assembly to avoid being waylaid by the protesters.

Speaking via 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, they explained that, “…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 an unremitted deductions of the sum of N5.9billion to the Bureau of local government pension by ALGON during the era of non-payment 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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