Chikwe Udensi Fetes Pensioners, Elderly In Abia State
An Interpol System consultant and a renowned philanthropist, Sir Chikwe Udensi, under the aegis of Chikwe Udensi Foundation in conjunction with the Rotary Club International has ended his tour of Local Government Areasin Abia state to dole out cash and palliativesto Pensioners and the Elderly
The final lap took Udensi to Umunneochi LGA on Wednesday 26, January.2022 and anchored at Bishops Quarters, beside local government headquarters Nkwo-agu, where thousands of pensioners and elderly persons received cash and palliatives. The train moved to Isuikwuato LGA on 27th January, 2022 at Obayi community hall, Ovim, while Umuahia North, Umuahia South Isiala Ngwa North Isiala Ngwa South LGAs had theirs on 28th January,2022, at Awka Hall Umuahia. The first phase ended with Aba North, Aba South,Osisioma, Obingwa, Ukwa East, Ukwa West and Ugwunagbo LGAs on 29th January, 2022at BANA house, No. 1 Factory road, Aba, Abia State.
Addressing Pensioners and the elderly at the different locations, Udensi described the non-payment of stipends to Pensioners by the Abia State government as evil and wickedness. According to him, as a leader, he does not make promises rather he gives whatever he has but made a promise that those causing hardship in Abia State would be removed and taken over by him for proper administration. He said “It is pathetic that someone would put in thirty five years of his or her youthful years of service in a state and you refuse to pay him or her even after deducting money from his or her salary as contributory pension. The elites in Abia State are benefiting from the rot, in a conspiracy of silence, that is why they are not talking about it. Instead of fulfilling the agreement, you start playing politics with his or her welfare; that is mere wickedness. I promise you that I will do two things: Firstly, I will give whatever I have, not once but as often as I can. And secondly, I will ensure that these wicked people are chased out of government offices. We will elect those who have the fear of God at heart into House of Assembly, House of Representatives Senate and as Governor”
Udensi said he has finalized arrangement with relevant groups to establish Charity Commission, to be managed by the Clergy. He said “In Charity Commission, a certain percentage of the Sunday contribution is set aside for the welfare of the Motherless, Cheshire homes, Psychiatric hospitals, Old people’s and Elderly hospitals, Old age comes with all kinds of sicknesses. In other states, old people are taken care of but not in Abia; old people are neglected. It will be a private citizen bill. I am also drafting suit against the state government for violating the Pensions Act and pressurize them to pay the money. Abia State gets triple the amount of money Ebonyi state gets and doesn’t get 15% derivative so also Enugu state, so, where is the fund?
“I will contest the 2023 governorship election in Abia State under APGA party, because, it is Igbo party, Nkea bu Nke anyi” Continuing, he said “We will have one common voice. We thank God that our brother, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has taken charge of Anambra State and if, I, Chikwe Udensi takes over Abia State, we will make sure that other states in South east are taken over by APGA. We need to do that because we are marginalized in Nigeria; our shares do not reach us. I am only here to give you what I have” he concluded. Udensi expressed shock that the Abia State Governor, Dr.Okezie Ikpeazu, may not be abreast of what is on ground because the condition is worse than envisaged. Over 70% of the Pensioners examined medically have elevated high pressure.
Apart from the gifts and feeling of appreciation, the Pensioners and the Elderly praised the benefactor for his benevolence and impressive service track record in Nigeria. Most of them who spoke to newsmen, said that the gestures are very pleasing to the citizens which have religiously restored the pensioners’ faith in God, as He has used Sir Udensi to bless them.
The beneficiaries who spoke to us; Elder Simeon Mbadiwe, Madam Bernice Uko, Ume Jonathan Okechukwu, Mrs Ugochukwu Gladys,Mrs. Eunice Mbakwe, Mrs Ngozi Blessing ,Mr. Patrick Eche, Emereole Nnenna and others expressed happiness that if Chikwe Udensi is given chance to rule Abia State, things will surely change and pray that God will do it for him. According to Madam Uko, the State government has not even paid her the gratuity of Four Million Naira, not to talk of pension. Of special significance is Mr. Godwin Anaba from Ohanze in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, who received two sets of wheel chairs in addition to cash and palliative. According to Anaba, the two sets of wheel chairs were for Bright Lawrence and Favour Ezinne Eze.
Pensioners in Abia State had accused Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of being insensitive to their plights and welfare. A worker deserves his or her wage, to refuse or neglect to pay and pill it up for months or even years amounts to executive recklessness rascality and wickedness Last year during the 2021 Pensioners’ Day Celebration/Solemn assembly, Comrade John Ekpendu, acting Chairman of the Union lamented that pensioners were amongst the vulnerable people, weak and easily hurt physically and emotionally; adding that many pensioners have gone to the great beyond as there was no money for them to buy drugs due to the pattern of pension payment in Abia State.
Ekpendu revealed that matters of concern presented to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on the 6th of July 2021, when the leadership of the Union met with him include: Irregular pension payment in the state; unilateral slashing of pensioners’ take home package to as much as 60 percent by Government; Nonpayment of gratuities and; Non-implementation of pension increases in Abia State including the recently approved consequential adjustment on pensions as a result of the approved new minimum wage.
It will be recalled that Sir Udensi’s charity outreach in partnership with Rotary International, Rotary Club of Abuja Down Town District 9125 had late last year and early this year doled out cash gifts, palliatives and medical care to pensioners and elderly persons in Abia State. The heart cry of Abia State pensioners and workers for payment of backlog of pensions and salaries owed them by the government is deafening in the ears of patriotic Nigerians. The condition of Pensioners and the elderly in Abia State has been a source of worry to many Abians and non-Abians. Udensi’s concern was particularly for the pensioners, who are being owed their stipends by the Abia State government for upwards of 33 months. It was this cry that touched the heart of Sir Udensi.