Left to Suffer (1): Despite Politics, Nigerian Seniors Are Left to Hunger and Deprivation
On February 11, 2022, Remi Aye, 65, died at the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) Teaching Hospital in Ondo after battling a stroke and hypertension for more than six years.
"If the government had paid his gratuity, maybe he wouldn't have died," his widow, Janet, told PREMIUM TIMES as tears streamed from her eyes.
After working temporarily for the state-owned Ondo Owena Press Limited, publisher of The Hope newspaper, for two years, Mr. Aye's appointment as photographer was confirmed on January 13, 1998. He was the photographer official of the newspaper in the governor's office in Akure until his retirement in 2018.
This reporter met his widow at their unfinished house in Agbota in Oda Town of Akure South State Local Government Area.
Mrs Remi Aye narrates story at PREMIUM TIMES. (Photo credit: Mariam Ileyemi)“I am begging the government to grant us his retirement pension as I have been living in difficult circumstances with our four children since his retirement. birth. death. He tried his best to get his gratification then but to no avail which increased his anxiety and complicated stroke and hypertension for over six years.
"The day before his death, we could not immediately take him to FMC Ondo where he was referred by UNIMED because we had sold everything, including the properties he had acquired during his years of service, for manage the health crisis.
"He went through a lot in the sun and in the rain, Lagos today, Ibadan tomorrow, Abuja next. He knew everywhere in Nigeria because he followed the governor everywhere. All this stress triggered his condition but he didn't get his retirement benefits," Ms Aye said.
On February 11, 2022, Remi Aye, 65, died at the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) Teaching Hospital in Ondo after battling a stroke and hypertension for more than six years.
"If the government had paid his gratuity, maybe he wouldn't have died," his widow, Janet, told PREMIUM TIMES as tears streamed from her eyes.
After working temporarily for the state-owned Ondo Owena Press Limited, publisher of The Hope newspaper, for two years, Mr. Aye's appointment as photographer was confirmed on January 13, 1998. He was the photographer official of the newspaper in the governor's office in Akure until his retirement in 2018.
This reporter met his widow at their unfinished house in Agbota in Oda Town of Akure South State Local Government Area.
Mrs Remi Aye narrates story at PREMIUM TIMES. (Photo credit: Mariam Ileyemi)“I am begging the government to grant us his retirement pension as I have been living in difficult circumstances with our four children since his retirement. birth. death. He tried his best to get his gratification then but to no avail which increased his anxiety and complicated stroke and hypertension for over six years.
"The day before his death, we could not immediately take him to FMC Ondo where he was referred by UNIMED because we had sold everything, including the properties he had acquired during his years of service, for manage the health crisis.
"He went through a lot in the sun and in the rain, Lagos today, Ibadan tomorrow, Abuja next. He knew everywhere in Nigeria because he followed the governor everywhere. All this stress triggered his condition but he didn't get his retirement benefits," Ms Aye said.
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