…As far as we are concerned, if anybody is doing good for us, we will vote for him, says chairman of Pensioners
Pensioners in Ogun State who recently avowed deep seated resentments for Gov. Dapo Abiodun, threatening not to vote for him in the 2023 General Elections for what they described as his failure to accord priority to their welfare may have now changed their minds on this hard line stance.
By his equivocation during an exclusive interview with THE STATEPOST in his Abeokuta office during the week, the Chairman of the over 20,000 strong Nigeria Union of Pensioners in Ogun State, Comrade Waidi Olayiwola Oloyede seemed to have done a volte-face as he now distanced himself from his former confrontational stance.
Asked if his members will still make good their threat not to vote for Governor Abiodun in 2023, Comrade Oloyede said government has agreed to look into our matter and to do something by the third quarter of this year.
Pressed further for a definite answer, the chairman of Pensioners responded with a veiled answer saying: “As far as we are concerned, if anybody is doing good for us, we will vote for him”.
Asked if he believed that the governor would do something this time around as Oloyede had alleged that Gov. Abiodun has not been fulfilling promises made to them in the past, the obviously satisfied unionist said: “We have no doubt, he will make good his promises this time as he met us, union leaders by himself and not by proxy as in the past”.
It will be recalled that the chairman of pensioners at an interview with THE STATEPOST about a fortnight ago has vowed that about 20,000 pensioners and retirees of his Nigeria Union of Pensioners in Ogun State may refuse to vote for Governor Dapo Abiodun in the coming General Election of 2023.
Comrade Oloyede claimed that Governor Abiodun deceived his members in 2019 to vote for him on the assurance that he would accord priority to their welfare if elected because his own parents too were pensioners.
According to the chairman, the union fell for the governor’s pledge then, believing that he would be better than the previous administration in the state and so begged their over 20,000 strong members to vote for him.
However, Comrade Oloyede said his members were now regretting that decision to vote Dapo in the last election as they have been treated badly by the administration of Governor Abiodun who has not even said anything about their gratuity which has remained unpaid since June, 2014.
Speaking then in obvious anger and disappointment, Oloyede said: “As I’m speaking with you , he has not even paid our last month’s pension”.
Meanwhile, in our most recent interview with the Ogun State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Oloyede appeared less agitated as he answered all questions calmly and with smiles as he assured us that his members’ welfare would soon be met by government.
