TheCable

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, has warned pensioners to desist from being used as “propaganda tools”.

In a statement on Monday, Obaseki said he was not bothered by the “stage-managed” protests put up by some pensioners.

He said those involved in the protest were anti-development elements, adding that the genuine pensioners were happy with him.

“The good people of Edo state should not be hoodwinked by the stage-managed protests being organised by negative, anti-development elements in the state,” read the statement issued on his behalf by Crusoe Osagie, his special adviser on media and communication strategy.

“The genuine pensioners are satisfied with the effort that Governor Godwin Obaseki has made to ensure that every pensioner in the state’s payroll is paid as and when due at the end of every month.

“These people are intimidated by the rising profile of Governor Obaseki on account of his astuteness in governance and the fact that he is reforming institutions within the state to plug holes in government and systematically end the mindless corruption that had characterised governance in the state before the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over as the ruling party.

“Good enough, these diversionary efforts will never be effective in deceiving the Edo people who are much more sophisticated than these puppet-masters can imagine.

“How possible is it that pensioners who they claim are dying of starvation and are bed ridden with various illnesses will purchase hundreds of red t-shirts and print sophisticated flex banners with huge sums of money just to drive the baseless and dishonest protest?

“It is being sponsored by anti-development elements who this government know too well but has chosen to ignore because lies and dishonesty always have short limbs and can never travel long distances but the truth, on the other hand, is immutable and cannot be drowned by an ocean of falsehood.”

Obaseki had earlier cautioned pensioners in the state over what he described as slander against his administration in spite of efforts being made to settle all their outstanding wages.