Osun Govt Yet to Receive 2nd Paris Club Refund, Pensioners’ Protest Political

The Osun state government has appealed to pensioners to understand the financial situation of the state and be sincere in their agitations, alleging that a section of the pensioners is being mischievous about the financial status of the state.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa stated this while reacting to the protest staged by a section of pensioners who alleged that the Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration has received the second tranche of the Paris Club refund and diverted it.

According to Baderinwa, the protest was politically motivated as the allegation could not be substantiated; it is unfair and sheer blackmail on the state government.

He stated that state government was yet to receive the second Paris club refund and when it does, it is going to be used judiciously and wisely like the first tranche which was used to pay three-month salaries and pensions.

Baderinwa charged the pensioners to stop blackmailing the Aregbesola’s administration, saying that they were being used by the opposition party.

The commissioner maintained that if Aregbesola could use the first tranche of the Paris club refund which was not known to the people to pay salary and pensions, it is unjustifiable for the section of the pensioners to say that the governor has received the second tranche and diverted it.

He said: “I want to categorically say that it is not true that government has received the second tranche of the Paris club refund money. It is not something that can be received behind the people, everyone will hear about it as the federal government will announce it to the general public.

“Therefore, it is preposterous for anyone to say that the money has been received when in the actual sense, it is yet to be received. I want to quickly add that it is mischievous to continue trying to blackmail the government of Osun state with that claim, because it is not new.

“We know the set of pensioners that are protesting, it is not the entire pensioners of the state. We know those who are being used by political blackmailers.”

Baderinwa added: “The first fund was never diverted, rather it was used to pay three months of outstanding salaries and no one knew the first fund was coming and government on its own without being prodded used it to pay salaries.

“For crying out loud, why would anybody be thinking that the second tranche would be diverted and used other than paying salary? If government on its own used the first one without anyone’s knowledge, don’t you think there is more to it than meet the eye?

“The allegation is unreasonable. For whatever that it worth, whenever it comes, it will be wisely and judiciously used like the previous funds by the Aregbesola’s administration. The truth of the matter is, when you look at it critically, you will conclude that it is political blackmail from the camp of opposition.

The elder statemen who are allowing themselves to be used by the political blackmailers should be appealed to; to desist from it.