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Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Pensioners in Ogun State have pledged their readiness to mobilise support for All Progressives Congress candidate (APC) candidate for state governor Dapo Abiodun, ahead of the March 9 gubernatorial election.
The retirees under the auspice of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ogun State chapter, made this pledge on Thursday while playing host to Abiodun at their state secretariat in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Speaking on behalf of the pensioners, state chairman Kessington Oduwole expressed optimism that if the APC governorship candidate is elected, he will bring succour to the lives of pensioners in the state.
Oduwole, who disclosed that Abiodun’s father is well known to him as a pensioner himself, declared that with the candidate at the helm of affairs in the state, pensioners’ plight would receive adequate and prompt attention.
“Dapo Abiodun is someone we have known from childhood. His parents are also pensioners and are well known to us. I want to assure you that all our wants and needs will be met when he becomes the governor. I hereby implore you all to rally round him and mobilise for him during the poll. I am promising you that he will not let us down. By the special grace of God, we shall accompany him to Oke Mosan Governor’s Office after his inauguration on May 29th,” the state chairman stated.
Earlier in his remark, the Secretary of the Union, Bola Lawal, listed some of the challenges confronting the pensioners in the state to include failure of the current administration to pay members’ gratuities since 2013, irregular payment of pensions and entitlements, lack of input in the current government and many more.
The former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, who accompanied the candidate to the event, expressed shock that the pensioners could be owed that much, assuring them that Abiodun will meet their demands if elected governor.
Addressing the pensioners, Abiodun thanked them for their rare show of love and support. He, however, promised to run a qualitative governance at all levels, if given the opportunity to pilot the affairs of the state.
“I want to appreciate our fathers and mothers who have worked tirelessly for the service of this state. My parents, who were both teachers, are also pensioners. Pensioners are an informed electorate that have influence within their communities and I want to express gratitude for their support. As someone from the private sector, my aspiration was borne out of my desire to see our people being provided with a quality of governance they deserved.
“I am assuring you that all your demands will be addressed when I become the governor, and I also promise to run a listening and inclusive government,” Abidoun said.
