By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—Imo Newspaper retirees have declared seven days fasting, prayers and mourning in honour of 29 of their members who died without getting their retirement benefits from the state government.

The decision was part of the communique issued by the aggrieved retirees and signed by the Chairman, Mr. A. U. Ike; Secretary, Chief Henry Nwosu, and three other officers of the group.

It said: “The week-long mourning and prayers is to ask God for the repose of the souls of 29 retirees, who died of hardship occasioned by lack of funds to take care of their needs.”

The senior citizens urged Governor Rochas Okorocha to pay their end-of-service entitlements, adding that they did not want more deaths in their ranks and that his predecessors, Chief Achike Udenwa and Chief Ikedi Ohakim never hesitated in paying those that retired earlier.

The statement said: “We wonder why Governor Okorocha has refused to pay us our rights. We are not aware of any sin we committed to merit such punishment.”

The retirees called on well meaning Imo citizens, including church leaders and the governor’s political associates, to help them appeal to Okorocha to pay them their end-of-service entitlements without further delay.