Posted by By CHRIS IKWUNZE, Port Harcourt on
It was a show of shame recently in Port Harcourt as pensioners in Rivers State, some of them as old as 90 years, were manhandled by anti-riot policemen who wanted to stop them from demonstrating over the non-payment of their pensions, gratuities and other entitlements.
It was a show of shame recently in Port Harcourt as pensioners in Rivers State, some of them as old as 90 years, were manhandled by anti-riot policemen who wanted to stop them from demonstrating over the non-payment of their pensions, gratuities and other entitlements.
Curiously, the pushing and shoving of these old men and women took place in front of Rivers State Government House under the full glare of top officials of government justifying claims that the policemen may have acted under instructions.
By the time normalcy was restored following decision by pensioners to vacate the Government House precinct, two of the pensioners, Mr. Elekima Igbiriye, 74, and Madam Evelyn Amachree, 80, had already collapsed, and had to be carried on motorbikes to a nearby clinic.
The pensioners numbering about 300, had gathered at the secretariat complex at about 11a.m from where they began a peaceful procession with placards to Government House.
But as they were approaching the entrance gate to the secretariat, they were intercepted by a truck-load of policemen who came in a pick-up van and asked them to call off the demonstration since they didn't have a police permit. But leader of the pensioners, Mr. Festus Abibor told the police that they didn't need a permit since the demonstration was peaceful.
As they marched to Government House holding placards with inscriptions such as 'Odili You're Wicked to Rivers Pensioners", 'Pensioners Are Senior Citizens, Odili Respect and Honour Them", 'Odili If Your Father Is Among Us Would You Treat Us In This Manner?" among others, they were again intercepted by policemen. In the struggle with the police, one of the pensioners collapsed. Sensing danger, the police had to let them go.
But they later mobilized by calling in more policemen who came in Operation Fire for Fire vehicle numbers 013, 026, 027 and 031 to stop the pensioners from gaining entry into Government House.
There was pandemonium as scores of policemen, SSS operatives and top officials of government blocked the demonstrators about 50 metres from the gate.
In the pushing and shoving that ensued, two pensioners collapsed. The most advanced ones who could no longer withstand the scorching heat and decided to sit on the ground, were not spared, as the overzealous security and government officials kicked and chased them out of the area. A journalist with Port Harcourt-based The Telegraph newspaper who photographed the melee was harassed and ordered by an operative to surrender his camera.
Speaking to newsmen later, Abibor described the action of the law enforcement agents and the officials of government as barbaric and crude.
'We are here on a peaceful demonstration to make the government and Nigerians know that our governor, Dr. Peter Odili, has not been fair to pensioners. He is owing pensions and gratuities from 1998 up to date and he is also owing arrears of 150%, 30% and 142%. Every effort, every appeal by prominent opinion leads, religious and political figures had fallen on deaf ear", Abibor said.
Efforts by newsmen to speak to any government official was not successful as the commissioner for information Mr. Magnus Abe was said to be too busy to speak with the press when newsmen called in his office.