Amalgam of pensioners in Osun State, on Thursday embarked on a protest, blocking the popular Ola-iya junction, and causing gridlock along the axis.
The protesting pensioners through their Chairman, Comrade Omoniyi Ilesanmi, who addressed pressmen at the scene of the protest said the protest became necessary as over 2000 of their members have died during the struggle to get paid.
According to Ilesanmi, the Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has failed to use the resources of the state judiciously, and be sensitive to their plights.
He alleged that the governor embezzled over N16bn out of the N34bn accruing to the state from the Paris Club over deductions.
The senior citizens carpeted the governor for reneging on his promise to pay their outstanding gratuities on the receipt of the “bail-out funds.”
The continued payment of half of their monthly pensions was also condemned by the protesters who said there is no justification for such arrangement.
As they marched on in the procession, different placards of different inscriptions were displayed. Some read “President Buhari, come to our rescue, Aregbesola is a thief” , Where is the Paris Club deductions, Aregbesola! others say” we are tired of tyranny, Osun pensioners are dying, and many others.
“We are resolute in our demands, our gratuities and outstanding half payment of our pensions must be paid, we are tired of insensitive government with utmost impunity.
” Moreso, we gathered from a reliable authority that governor Aregbesola is planning to divert the second tranche of Paris club fund released to state government,” Ilesanmi said.
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