The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the immediate past Governor of Edo State Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to reject the N200m mansion parting gift voted for him by the state’s House of Assembly.

In a statement on Monday, MURIC Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola said though the organisation acknowledged the contributions of Oshiomhole, the sycophant note in the assembly’s decision to give him a N200m mansion was distasteful.

“When will Nigerian politicians get it right? Why must the occupation of public office attract the accumulation of wealth? Coming from a labour background, even Comrade Oshiomhole himself was never known to be materialistic. Neither did he manifest any love for pomp and pageantry while in office. Must the honourable members coax him into their club of politicians who have ‘arrived’?

“A nation in recession cannot afford such luxury. Can the Benin lawmakers tell us that the ex-governor has no house of his own? Has he been sleeping on the streets since he left government house? We commend the governor for not owing workers salaries but can the legislators beat their chests and tell us that Edo State is not owing arrears of pensions?” Akintola said.

While saying that Edo State has not settled the 42 months arrears of pensions, he wonder if the lawmakers know what it means to retire and get nothing at the end of the month for three and a half years?

He said that it means many retired civil servants and teachers are suffering and condemned the state’s lawmakers offer of the mansion on the ghosts of pensioners.

“MURIC advises the honourable members of the Edo State House of Assembly to spend the N200 million earmarked for the former governor’s house on paying pensioners’ arrears,” Akintola said.

He added: “Oshiomhole is not a poor man by any standard. Neither can he be homeless at this point in time. The good news is that Abuja is very keen on drafting him into the Federal Executive Council. He has performed well. Let us not smear his good name with wrongful possessions.”