Edo Pensioners regrets Obaseki’s comments on protests

PENSIONERS in Edo State on Tuesday berated the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Mr Crusoe Osagie over comments on pensioners in the state, describing his action as “a clear manifestation of youthful exuberance and overzealousness.

The pensioners under the aegis of Aggrieved Edo Pensioners, in a statement signed by its acting Public Relations Officer, Mr Amadin Edobo Okoro, and made available to journalists in Benin on, said government’s attempts to brand them as fake and pawns in the hands of opposition politicians was viewed by them as a prelude to a planned crackdown on their agitation for their rights.

It would be recalled that the Special Adviser on Media to Edo State governor, Mr Crusoe Osagie in a statement last week, described the pensioners’ protest as fake and anti-government targeted at destabilising government by the opposition party.

However, the statement by the Aggrieved Pensioners stated that Crusoe erred for commenting on an issue that does fall within his purview and should stop making comments on issues that are beyond him.

“Pensioners and other reasonable people in Edo State know that the Special Adviser on Media to Edo State governor has gone beyond his mandate. Obviously, Pension issues do not fall within the ambit of his duties. We need to be corrected.

“Apparently, we see manifestation of youthful exuberance and overzealousness in the governor’s aide. Clearly, in his effort to please his principal, Mr Crusoe Osagie threw caution to the wind”, the statement pointed out.

The statement also said pensioners were enlightened and it was wrong to have branded them as a gang of fake pensioners just because they demanded for their rights.

The statement advised Crusoe to always strive to achieve mutual cooperation with the “Aggrieved Pensioners” in the state and stop maligning them.