By Victor Osehobo Ofure
Edo State pensioners on Monday in Benin City continued their protest as they mourned two of their members who died as a result of medical challenges last week.
Their spokesman, Mr. Gabriel Osemwekha said that their members died because they could not afford medical treatment.
According to him, “Most of the pensioners have health challenges and the state governor, Gov. Goodwin Obaseki is feeling reluctant to pay our gratuities and pension arrears.
“These gratuities and pension arrears is the only means of our livelihood… we are frustrated and our creditors are dragging us to pay the accumulated debt we are owing”
Osemwekha added that “Kwara governor just paid both the local and state government pensioners, yet Gov. Obaseki refused to key-in.”
He said in overseas, pensioners were well respected and treated as well as honored, but here in Edo the governor turned them to beggars and destitute.
Another pensioner, Mr. Michael Oloiki alleged that Edo has gotten over N23 Biillion from the Paris club bailout funds yet the pensioners in the state were left as destitute.
Oloiki said the Paris club bailout was not loan yet the government refused to care for pensioners’ lives and happiness which is an attribute of good governance.
The pensioners promised to continue their protest to disturb the peace of city until the governor decides to pay their arrears.
The pensioners, who barricaded Oba Ovonramwen square for several hours, were dressed in black attires.
It was gathered that the pensioners as usual during their protest, forced diversion of traffic which resulted in unusual traffic gridlock in adjoining roads.
The pensioners, former employees of the state and local government, chanted solidarity songs and carried placards with inscriptions. #
