Pensioners in Niger state yesterday barricaded entrance gate into Government House, chanting anti-APC administration songs and calling out Governor Abubarkar Sani Bello to pay their entitlements before vacating office.

Also, apparently to forestall possible breakdown of law and order, Niger state police command rolled out its Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), conspicuously being positioned at the entrance gate as Local Government Chairmen were being sworn-in.

The pensioners in their numbers had positioned themselves at the entrance into the Government House; venue for the swearing-in of the chairmen scheduled for 10 am, but could not start as planned because of the activities of the pensioners.

Carrying placards with different anti-government inscriptions, the pensioners, some carrying mats and pillows formed human blockage around the government house gate also prevented people, including the chairmen and their supporters from going in or coming out.

While mostly the female pensioners chanted and danced, ‘Lolo, pay us our money before you go,’ their male counterpart took positions at the entrance of the Government house gate and resisted people as they try to force their way in or out from the government facility,

Though not invited for the swearing-in, some journalists who were on hand during the combined lamentations and celebrations by the two groups had hectic time assessing government house as they maneuver their ways amidst the seeming helplessness of the police at the entrance gate.

Reports say that the intervention of the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago calmed the frayed nerves of the protesters from continuing their siege.

Unconfirmed sources said Bago had invited the leadership of the protesting pensioners to a dialogue and consequently dislodged them from continuing protest for payment of their pension and other retirement benefits.

Meanwhile, the anti-riot/APC of the Niger state police command was conspicuously positioned at the exit side of government house gate in apparent move to forestall possible breakdown of law and order as the chairmen were being sworn-in.

Though Governor Bello eventually performed the swearing-in, it was however reported that some chairmen and supporters missed out as they could not make it into the conference hall due to the grid-lock caused by the over an hour blockage by the pensioners. (Daily Independent)

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