Anthonia Greg
Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised concerns over what he described as the government’s blatant disregard for the welfare of pensioners.
During a visit to Shanahan College of Nursing Sciences, Nsukka, Obi recounted an encounter with a distressed elderly woman who persistently sought his attention despite efforts to restrain her. Upon inquiry, he discovered she was a retired civil servant struggling without her pension—an experience he found both infuriating and heartbreaking.
Criticizing the government’s failure to prioritize pension payments, Obi labeled the neglect of retirees as a cruel injustice. He stressed that denying senior citizens their rightful entitlements after years of service exemplifies the insensitivity of political leadership. Reflecting on his tenure as governor, he highlighted that over N30 billion was allocated to pensions and gratuities in Anambra State to ease the suffering of retirees.
“I was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions—anger at leaders like myself who have allowed greed to erode empathy and pity for pensioners whose pleas for justice remain ignored,” Obi stated.
Moved by the woman’s plight, he provided her with financial assistance and assured her that he would personally follow up on her case to ensure she received her dues.
