Abia PDP, Concerned Pensioners clash over cleared arrears

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abia State chapter has again picked holes in the clearance of pensions owed retired workers in the state by Governor Alex Otti, alleging that pensioners were tricked in forefeating most part of the backlog.

In a press statement by Amah Abraham, the Vice Chairman and acting Publicity Secretary of the Abia PDP, he alleged that the actual number of months paid by the Governor did not tally with the actual number of months that the state owed the retirees.

According to Amah, the position of the PDP was based on the outcome of the enlarged executive council-in-session of the Abia state chapter of the National Pensioners Union, NUP, concerning their outstanding pensions.

Amah, while saying that former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu paid 51 months and owed 45 months of pensions during his 8 years of administration, said that it was wrong for the present administration in Abia state to say that it cleared 9 or ten years of pensions arrears.

But a group of retired workers known as Concerned Abia Pensioners has drummed support for Governor Alex Otti, saying that he cleared their pensions arrears.

The Concerned pensioners, who staged a city wide celebration in the streets of Umuahia before terminating their jubilation in front of Abia State government house last week, said they were satisfied with what Governor Otti did.

Led by Emeka Okezie, the Concerned Abia Pensioners, who were dressed in white attires, berated those criticising Governor Alex Otti and also used the occasion to thank him for paying full pensions in April, as he had earlier promised.

“We are in solidarity march in support of the Governor for what he is doing everywhere in the entire state and to alleviate the sufferings of pensioners, paying us our arrears of pensions and full payment this April.

“We are praying for him and nobody will try to tarnish his image. God will not allow that,” Okezie said in front of Abia government house.