IDP: Osun PDP Warns Aregbesola Against Use of Security to Harass pensioners

The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Osun state Chapter, on Monday warned Governor Rauf Aregbesola to desist from using security agents to harass pensioners suspected to be the brain behind an event tagged “Internally Displaced Pensioners, IDP, camp in Osogbo.

This was just as the party accused the governor of “wasting a sum of N100 million on a walk and new year party held in the name of pensioners in the state.”

The party in a statement issued by Prince Diran Odeyemi, the PDP spokesperson in the state, copies of which were obtained by newsmen in Osogbo, said money wasted on the event, which it claimed the government organised, hiding behind a group called “Triangular Group of Pensioners” could pay part of the debt owed senior citizens in the state.

The PDP said Governor Aregbesola insulted the sensibility of Osun people by using some of his employees to directly participate in organising the event, only to claim the pensioners, who are being owed 9 years unpaid gratuities, sponsored the event.

The statement reads: “We have obtained the video of the event and analysed it. Many officials of Bureau of Communication and Strategy, office of the governor of Osun, were actively involved in managing the event. So also many APC members.”

“One Rasheed Mabayoje, an employee of Aregbesola was seen in the video manipulating drones used to capture images during the event. Also, official photographers of Ogbeni were also sighted fully involved in the proceedings.”

“Who paid for canopies, public address system, DSS escort, police and civil defence men that provided security during the event?We learnt for logistics, security, uniforms for the participants, (10 pensioners and 90 APC members dressed as pensioners) and their stipend, a sum of N100 million was expended.”

“What kind of a governor would prefer an hurriedly conceived, image laundry event to paying the dying, pauperized pensioners in Osun? We hope higher authorities in the country are monitoring the situation.”

“We also call on IGP and DG DSS to call their men in Osun to order as we have confirmed they have launched manhunt for pensioners participating in the camp. We wonder what aspect of the law forbids a camp where relieve materials for vulnerable people could be dropped”