“I Have Neither Requested Nor Received Any Money From Govt – Former Gov Ikpeazu On Repeal Of Abia Pension Law

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Immediate past Governor of Abia State, Dr Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, has said that since  relinquishing power on May 29, 2023,he has neither requested for,  nor received from the Abia State Government, any  money, under any guise whatsoever.

The Former Governor’s assertion comes on the heels of the repeal, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, of the Abia State Governor and Deputy Governor’s pension Laws  of 2021, by the Abia State House of Assembly.

The Bill which was sponsored by House Majority Leader, and Member Representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon Okoro  Uchenna Kalu, according to  the Speaker Rt Hon Emmanuel Emereuwa, when assented to, will ensure that the outrageous cost of governance is reduced and funds freed for the execution of developmental projects.

Emereuwa also stated that the Bill which will be cited afterwards as ” Abia state Governor and Deputy Governor ( Repeal) law 2024, will be deemed to have taken  effect from March, 29, 2024.

The Source reports that the now repealed Governor/ Deputy   Governor Pension Law 2021  had, among other things, provided for the payments of N12 million and N9 million monthly to former Governors and their Deputies respectively as pension benefits.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, March 20, by his  Media Adviser  Onyebuchi Ememanka, former Governor Ikpeazu  insisted that he has moved on with his life, and is currently engaged in other areas of interest to him.

He consequently called on the Abia State Government to face the business of governance and desist from engaging in needles media sensationalism.

“The attention of the immediate past Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has been drawn to reports circulating online to the effect that the Abia State House of Assembly has repealed the 2021 Law under which former Governors and Deputy Governors are paid some money as pension.

“The said reports which are obviously sponsored, are mischievously couched to give the false impression that Dr Ikpeazu is amongst former Governors of the state currently receiving pension from the Abia state Government.

“Dr Ikpeazu wishes to make it abundantly clear that since after handing over the reins of power as Governor of Abia on May 29 2022, he has neither requested for, nor received any dime under any guise whatsoever and has no intentions of doing so”, the statement noted.