Okowa didn’t sign new governors’ pension benefits - Commissioner

The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu says Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta did not sign any law to give governors new retirement benefits.

Aniagwu, who was reacting to allegation from certain quarters, made the clarification at a news conference on Tuesday in Asaba.

He said the detractors and opposition political candidates also alleged that the Okowa-led government sold the state Liaison Office in Lagos.

He cautioned the detractors to stop casting aspersion on the governor through their porous claims, adding that the incumbent would remain focused in delivering the promises made to the people until the last day in office.

Aniagwu said, “They claimed the liaison office in Lagos had been sold; to who, for how much? You can’t sell the property of the state; no amount, no buyer.

“We only engaged a developer to tap into the opportunities therein to build a 10 storey building as approved by the Lagos Government, to make more money for the state and to house the liaison office on completion of the project, which is currently on rent.

“Also, we did not sign any law to give governors new pension benefits. Those who say that we are going and that we have passed a new law to give governors a new benefit package, they know they are making lies.

“We challenge them to tell us the date that the new law was passed, where it was passed and who signed the law?

Aniagwu said elections had been concluded and had been won and lost, while advising the losers to pursue their cases in court and stop chasing shadows by maligning the governor who did not contest elections with them.

Aniagwu thanked the people of Delta for their support to sustain the developmental trajectory of the Okowa-led administration and for voting en masse for Chief Sheriff Oborevwori to deepen the development.