A member of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners in Osun State on Wednesday denied that heurged the Central Bank of Nigeria to put an embargo on the N34.988 billion bailout loan released to the state for workers’ salaries and pensions.
Tunde Oguniyi, who was quoted by Punch newspaper as the Chairman of Osun State NUP, made this denial while speaking with journalists shortly after the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Osun State Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the disbursement of bailout loan, which commenced on Wednesday.
Oguniyi said at no time did he speak with the PUNCH correspondent while denying being the chairman of NUP or a member of the executives in the state.
Oguniyi held that he was the state Chairman of the 2011/2012 retirees, a subset of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Osun State Chapter.
He stated that he did not address a press conference or sign a press statement let alone granting any interview in whatever form to the Punch newspaper or the correspondent in Osun State.
Oguniyi stated that he was embarrassed by the publication of the Punch newspaper of September 16, 2015, where he was quoted to have called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to declare emergency rule in Osun State because the state is gravitating towards anarchy following the non-payment of salaries and pensions.
The former NUP boss held that there was no time that he spoke with any media outfit in Osun State or elsewhere in Nigeria that Governor Rauf Aregbesola has refused to use the bailout fund for what it was meant for.
He threatened to drag the Punch Newspaper to court within 15 days if the story is not retracted by the organisation.
He described the report as false and that which could damage his reputation.
According to him: “I woke up this morning, reading in the Punch that I addressed a press conference calling on the CBN to stop Osun bailout.
“The report is a misrepresentation and completely false.
“It could have been sponsored by faceless people whose identity are not clear to me.
“The period that the Punch reported that I was addressing press conference, I was at the Government Secretariat negotiating on salary of pensioners as one of the eight-man negotiating committee of the NUP.
“I still find it disturbing on how it is possible for me to be negotiating in Abere on behalf of my colleagues and at the same time addressing a press conference even when I am not the chairman or secretary.
“I am not the chairman Osun NUP and at no time was an executive member of the union.
“Dr. Olunlade is the current Chairman.
“But to my surprise, I was quoted as the Chairman who signed a purported statement that I have not even sighted as at the time of addressing you.
“The report is wicked, ridiculous and malicious and it is important for me to dissociate myself from such report because there was no time we discussed such press conference or anyone sought my consent to such press release.
“Before coming here this morning, I have contacted the Punch correspondent and I gave them 15 days ultimatum to retract the story or meet me in court.”
Osun pensioner denies asking CBN to stop state’s N35b bailout
