Pensioners in Rivers state have resolved to vote out the All Progressive Congress in the February elections due to the alleged poor administration by the Amaechi state government.
Chairman of the Association of Rivers state pensioners, Edward Abibo, lamented tothe Daily Post that many pensioners were being impoverished because of the failure of the Rivers state government’s non-harmonization of pensions from 2003 to the present, valued at three billion naira.
Abibo decried the insincerity of the Governor Amaechi-led administration, adding that the pensioners held a meeting with the commissioner for finance which proved abortive.
Abibo said, “We the pensioners numbering about 11,000 felt very aggrieved by the actions of the Rivers state government headed by Governor Rotimi Amaechi over non-harmonization of pension from 2003 to date valued at N3billion, and non-payment of monthly pensions allowance for Nov-Dec 2014.”
“We are now pushed to the wall hence our going to the public for sympathy and appeal to the government for payment of our allowances.
“We are aware that the Rivers state government collected about N13billion from federation account in December 2014 and raised about N10billion from IGR, we are therefore at loss why the pensioners should be made the sacrificial lamb of the political adventures of Governor Amaechi.
”We have come to the conclusion that Governor Amaechi has not shown any kindness to the pensioners by his utterances and actions.
“Pensioners have therefore resolved that while we will not renegade in our civic responsibility as far as elections are concerned, but we will reciprocate the negative reactions of the governor in our votes if there is no change of attitude of his government towards pensioners.”
“That we shall carry out peaceful demonstration and as much as pur strength will allow us and block the Ministry of Finance from where the Rivers state funds are squandered to other states and political adventure.”
The pensioners who claimed they were being punished by Amaechi vowed not to vote for Hon Dakuku Peterside, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Rivers state in the coming election.
Governor Amaechi who is a known critic of President Jonathan has accused the president’s administration of not impacting meaningfully in the South-south region.
READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/377365-pensioners-vow-not-to-vote-for-dakuku-apc-in-rivers.html