By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia
A group of concerned Abia technocrats, professionals, and businessmen under the aegis of Abia Freedom Alliance (AFA) has berated Governor Okezie Ikpeazu over what they described as non-performance in the last six years.
In a statement tagged: ‘Okezie Ikpeazu At 6: Why We Must Rise To Reclaim Our State From Political Opportunists’, signed by Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, Coordinator, and four others, AFA posited that democratic governance as symbolised by PDP and Ikpeazu in Abia appear hollow, empty and hypocritical to the hard-working citizens of the state, particularly the civil servants and retiree population, and their families.
They frowned at the inability of the Ikpeazu led administration to pay workers and pensioners their salaries, gratuities and pension arrears.
“As much as we know that the pains of working on empty stomach and returning home at the end of every month to a dejected family can be quite excruciating, it pains us to acknowledge that apart from those owed months of accumulated salaries and pensions arrears by the most inconsiderate government in our history, the fate of other Abians not connected to the ‘blood tonic’ pipe in Umuahia is no better,” AFA posited.
Responding, Abia State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu said Abia workers are largely happy with Ikpeazu for not only paying them regularly, but also being the first in the region to pay a new minimum wage.
