By Ibe Pascal Chinedu Arogorn
The tune changed on Tuesday as suspected pro-government youths unleashed mayhem on
protesting pensioners in Owerri.
The pro government youths who were wielding long canes and horsewhips were allegedly
engaged by the Imo State Environmental
Transformation Commission
( ENTRACO) in an apparent bid to foil the demonstration of the retirees.
This followed the invitation of the leaders of the
protesting pensioners, Iyke Ohaneje and Maurice Amaechi by the Department of State Services (DSS) the previous day, Monday.
The youths, who had alighted from a bus with whips numbering over 20, had descended on the hapless pensioners at the Government House
Roundabout, flogging them in an attempt to prevent them from advancing to the Government
House Gate .
One of the pensioners that was attacked, Chief Ibekwe lamented that young men who should be their children attacked; flogged and pelted the senior citizens with sachet water all in a bid to frustrate their resolve to demand what was rightful theirs.
He however noted that if government has resolved not to pay them their due entitlements, then they would also resolve not to leave the streets of Owerri.
Ibekwe stressed: “Governor Hope Uzodimma and his urchins would have to kill us to stop us from demanding our pensions and gratuities, after decades of meritorious service to our state.”
