May 08, (THEWILL) – A Group under the aegis of Concerned and Aggrieved Pensioners in Benue state, have taken their ‘Save Our Soul’ case to the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), to stop governor Samuel Ortom from seeking to be voted into the Senate in next year’s general election.
Leading a peaceful protest to anti graft bodies in Makurdi on Thursday, the chairman of the group, Mr Alex Akosu Orban, accused governor Ortom of owing them 35 and 75 monthly pension arrears for the State and Local Government Pensioners respectively.
“He has not paid Gratuity since he came to power. He has refused to harmonise Pensioners and because of this, some Pensioners are still taking N800.00 per month. Poverty, sickness, hunger, nakedness, accumulated bills are killing pensioners.”
Some of the Pensioners bearing iron plates and spoons to signify begging, also had some placards which reads in parts: “Use Pensioners money and buy the whole of Benue.”
“Ortom, you are leaving a very bad legacy for your children, if any. Stop lying against Aku and Adasu, they left no pension arrears. Pension money is Pensioners rights and not Ortom’s free gift to Pensioners.”
The leader of the group, Mr Orban, while handling a copy of a letter containing their grievances to the Officer in charge of the ICPC in Benue state, asked it to help compel governor Ortom to pay their outstanding entitlements or not go to the Senate next year.
Responding, the ICPC boss, said the commission have a working template and will study the document and get back to them in writing as soon as possible.
He commended the senior citizens for their orderliness in the course of demanding for their entitlements.
When our correspondent sent text messages to the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Nathaniel Ikyur and the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Michael Inalegwu on Thursday for their reactions, none were returned at the time of filing this report.
About the Author
