Don’t Divert N16.6m Paris Refund – Adeleke Warns Aregbesola

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the September 22 governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke has said his party will resist alleged attempt to divert N16.6 billion ParisClub refund allegedly released to Osun state government.

Addressing newsmen in Osogbo Wednesday, Adeleke said the money is meant to be used for the payment of salary arrears of workers and pensions and gratuities.

His words: “You are all aware of the recent announcement of release of N16.6 billion Paris Club refund to the Osun state government. The fund is meant for the payment of workers’ salary arrears and pensions and gratuities in the state.

“Similar funds running into several billions of naira have been released to Osun state government severally in the past starting with the bail out funds. Yet ,Osun state workers and pensioners continue to suffer 34 months of untold hardship.

“Let me make it abundantly clear that the criminal diversion of this latest release will be resisted.The government officials who are directly or remotely connected with the application of this new release MUST ensure workers’ salaries, pensions and arrears are paid without further delay.

“We warn that any attempt to divert the fund for bogus contractor payments or for any electoral purposes will be resisted by our people.

“Every kobo from the refund must go to settlement of outstanding salaries and employment of workers.

He vowed to ensure full recovery of the refund to the last kobo on assumption of duty if voted to power adding all those involved in such criminal diversion of the Paris refund or any other funds meant for the welfare of the workers and pensioners will be pursued, arrested and prosecuted.