Osun Defender - April 3rd, 2014 Edition

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www.osundefender.org THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 Iyiola Omisore, for long nicknamed ‘Mr. Money missroad’ eventually launched his governorship campaign on Saturday in Osogbo, the state of Osun capital after a peace disturbing prelude to the event..

His campaign launch which was purely a gathering of miscreants, thugs and hoodlums of all hues

PEOPLE FIRST

Front Page Comment

Omisore’s Empty Campaign Promises plus some rentedcrowds was what has been described as nothing but a charade by those who witnessed it. And to justify this d e s c r i p t i o n O m i s o r e ’s Empty Campaign Promises

is the fact that even many of his rented crowds who would not hesitate to call a spade its name did testify much to this.

The launch was so described – charade – because it was

full of inane talks, lies, empty boasts and unrealistic campaign promises.

For a start how on earth could any sane person claim that Ogbeni Aregbesola has not done anything in the state in spite of the visible unprecedented developmental strides that have taken place under hisadministration?

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VOL. 9. NO.040

Who Killed Chief Bola Ige, formerAttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice?

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Osun 2014: Beware, Fake Policemen Arrive Osun - See Story On Page 2

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); Senator Ajayi Borofice (2nd right); President, Market Women in Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Tinubu Ojo (4th right); Nollywood Actor, Chief Jide Kosoko (left); Head of Market women in the State of Osun, Mrs Awawu Asindemade (2nd left); President, Pax Nigeriana, Mr Gabriel Okeyomi (right) and another dignitary during the first State of Osun unity and peace concert grand finale at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, recently.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

120 LP Members Decamp To APC In Osun

- See Story On Page 3

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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

Osun 2014: Beware, Fake Policemen Arrive Osun I

By OUR REPORTER

N their desperation to get to power at all cost, members of the opposition political parties in the State of Osun have devised several strategies to unseat the current All Progressives Congress-led (APC) administration in the state.

Information at the medium’s disposal have revealed how one of the major governorship aspirants of the major opposition political party has been making frantic efforts to get across to most of his friends at the corridors of power in Abuja for possible assistance on his desperation to clinch the

party’s ticket and to become the state’s helmsman after the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in the state.

To this end, series of clandestine meetings have reportedly been held at various locations across the state and even outside the state.

An impeccable source that attended some of the

meetings confided in OSUN DEFENDER how it was decided that the time has come for the opposition parties in the state to start implementing some of their plans if they are truly serious in their bid to unseat the current administration in the state, in view of its popularity even among the voting masses.

According to the source, it was unanimously agreed at one of the meetings held

at an undisclosed location within the state that fake policemen should be arranged to arrive the state and start series of arrest of the ruling-party members and supporters, with a view to getting them out of circulation ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state.

The fake policemen, the source further revealed, would arrive the state any moment from now and would start effecting the

arrest of prominent APC members and supporters with fake warrants of arrest purportedly signed by the police authorities in the state.

The fake policemen, the medium gathered, have been assured of adequate protection from above against their being caught and prosecution for running foul of the law through impersonation.

Should those penciled down for arrest resist, the

Court Didn’t Order 37 Lawmakers To Vacate Seats - APC

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) had stated that Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a High Court in Lagos did not order the 37 members of the House of Representatives, who defected to the APC, to vacate their seats, because he is not competent to issue such a ruling, as the issue of whether or not they can defect, was not before him.

The APC recalled the alarm In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its it raised in a statement on Interim National Publicity December 14 2013, that the Secretary, Alhaji Lai PDP is shopping for a pliant Mohammed, the party Judge, who will be heavily however said it will appeal the induced to do its bidding in the ruling, because Justice case over the defections from Ademola’s perpetual the ruling party to the APC. In that statement, the main injunction, restraining the concerned lawmakers from opposition party warned participating in motions and against any attempt by the debates in the House is PDP and the Presidency to unconstitutional and defeats turn back the hands of the the very purpose for which the clock as far as the cleaning up members were elected into the of the judiciary is concerned, by inducing a servile and House.

It added that Justice disreputable Judge to do the Ademola’s unsolicited duo’s bidding.

Quoting from that comments were clearly gregarious, unnecessary, statement, the APC said: ‘’We superfluous and has no recognise the efforts of the foundation in law or fact, hence present CJN to sanitise the Judiciary since she assumed should be ignored.

APC asked the Chief Justice the mantle of leadership, but of Nigeria to act urgently to she should not allow any black sanction Justice Ademola for leg to reverse the gains that engaging in mischief that could have been recorded on the altar bring the bench into disrepute. of unmitigated avarice. This is ‘’If this case had been issued because if that happens, a day later than Monday, we Nigerians will hold the would have said the Judge was Judiciary vicariously liable for catastrophic caught in the web of April Fool! the Alas, he indeed made the ruling consequences that may on Monday, hence the need for follow.’’

Noting that its alarm has us to take it very seriously for now proven to be prescient, several reasons. ‘’Firstly, the question the party wondered whether whether the House of there was any link between Representatives’ members what is clearly an exercise in should vacate their seats was judicial rascality and President not a question before Justice Goodluck Jonathan’s recent boast in Kwara that the PDP Ademola for determination.

“The only question for him would soon retrieve its ‘stolen’ to determine was whether the mandate from those who APC members, with their defected from the PDP to the numerical strength at that time, APC. ‘’That presidential boast had the right to change the raises the following questions: House leadership such as the Majority Leader, Chief Whip What did the President know and their deputies. So Justice and when did he know it? Was Ademola had no business this judgement procured by commenting on seats being the PDP for a price, in which case the President’s statement vacated. amounted to a Freudian Slip?

“Secondly, it is highly Are we to expect more of this? unprofessional and unethical ‘’It is necessary to unravel for one Judge to delve into a this so the PDP and the matter that is subjudice in presidency, in their another court. A Judge should desperation, will not paint the not make comments on matters judiciary with their brush of being litigated in another court. failure and crash our The question of seats being democracy,’’ it said. vacated or otherwise is being The party urged its heard by Justice Ahmed supporters not to panic as the Mohammed in the Federal judgement was clearly High Court in Abuja who, on intended to cause mischief, 29 March 2014, said the issue adding however that the plan was still live before him and is by the PDP and the not ripe for Judgment,’’ the Presidency has fallen like a party said pack of cards!

•Commissioning of a borehole by Special Adviser to State of Osun Governor on Works and Transport, Engineer Sabitu Amudah, in memory of his father at Community Mosque, Amin’s Compound, Araromi, Iwo, under the administration of State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, last Saturday.

fake policemen have been briefed on the need to forcefully carry out the arrest, even if it involves shooting to harm their victims and members of his household.

In a related development, the State of Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) catalogue of problems seems to have got deeper over who emerges as its flag-bearer in the fastapproaching August 9,2014 gubernatorial election in the state.

Problem was reported to have started with the entrance of the first Executive Governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, into the party’s governorship race.

According to a source within the party, Adeleke’s entrance into the race has adversely affected the party’s political calculations, most especially members of the party that are believed to be loyal to Senator Iyiola Omisore’s course within the party.

Information available to the medium revealed that some of the embattled senator’s supporters have reportedly dumped his camp and are currently pitching their tent with Senator Adeleke.

The state party secretariat was reported to have been the venue of a free-for-all recently, when supporters of the two governorship aspirants clashed with some of the party executive members as witnesses.

Court Dissolves Osun Labour Party Executive

By SHINA ABUBAKAR USTICE Jide Falola of Osun State High Court sitting in Ikirun had on Monday declared the congress held by the state chapter of the Labour Party (LP) as null and void, thereby dissolving the officers elected during the congress.

He stated this while ruling refused to grant the second on motion filed by Mr prayer of the applicant, Gbenga Afilaka, through his seeking the order of the counsel, Barrister Wilson court to commence Atirene, before the court. contempt proceeding The judge averred that the against the defendants, purported congress that saying it was not convinced ushered in the Executive that the defendants have Committee of the party does flouted any order of the not hold in the face of the court. law.

Earlier in his argument According to the judge, before the court, counsel to the issue of conflict between the applicants, Atirene, had or among parties must not be told the court the need to allowed to temper with the bring the defendants before sanctity of the court, hence it and explained their parties in a conflict, before a reasons for going ahead and court of law, must submit conducted the purported selves to the verdict of the primaries, despite an order court. of the court restraining them.

He added that the decision According to him, at this of the Labour Party to particular time in the state, conduct congress, when politicians must be made to there is a suit pending before respect the rule of law, it is an affront to the court, irrespective of their status saying the parties ought to in the society, otherwise, the have exercised restraints till state might be heading for the court completely chaos, as it moves closer to dispensed the matter before election period. it.

He stressed the need for The court, therefore, the court to maintain its granted the relief sought by sanctity and force the applicant that the politicians to respect the congress held by the party rule of the court and see between February 24 and 25, same as sacrosanct in their 2014, at the Conference Hall conduct towards the period of WOCDIF Centre, Osogbo of the election in the state. be set aside as invalid, void However, an attempt by and an affront to the dignity the defence counsel, the court and having no Barrister Rotimi Omotoso, legal effect whatsoever. to hold ruling on the However, the court application was tackled by

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Atirene, who insisted that the defence counsel should not be granted audience, as his memorandum of appearance before the court was not properly filed.

He argued that the counsel to the defendants failed to adhere to the rules of the practice of the court in filing his memorandum of appearance, despite being given the benefit of doing so at the last sitting of the court.

The court agreed with Atirene that the defence counsel failed to enter his memorandum of appearance accurately, claiming he could only be given recognition based on the memorandum.

Omotosho also sought an adjournment to enable him effect correction on the error noticed on his document on the ground that the Court Registrar erred in accepting the said document, however, Atirene disclosed that the error did not emanate from the registrar, but the chamber of the defence counsel, stressing that the application should not be granted.

The application was therefore refused, as the court disclosed that the defence counsel failed totally to admit his default in the matter, putting the blame on the registrar, who is not a party in the suit and has nothing to lose.

Meanwhile, in another suit brought before the court by Comrade Rufus

Oyatoro through his counsel, Mr Edmund Biriomoni, against the Labour Party and its National Secretary, Counsel to defendants, Mr Akin Omoware, through a preliminary objection sought to quash the motion of the plaintiff on the ground that it was moved before its maturity.

He also questioned the locus standi of the plaintiff/ applicant on the motion, but added that if the court was to hear the application, which the prayer had already been affected by the judgement of the court in the earlier suit, his client must be given fair hearing by allowing him to respond to the affidavit of the applicant.

According to him, the prayer sought in the application was an order of the court declaring the congress conducted by the party as null and void, which had been granted in another suit before it, adding that the issue of status quo ante is not sought for in their prayers.

Counsel in all the suit disagreed on where the mantle of leadership rests, pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court, particularly as no one was seeking for a status quo ante in their payers.

The court then adjourned till April 3, 2014 for ruling on the application and April 28, 2014 for hearing the substantive suit.

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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

Osun Assembly Adopts New Budget Size Of N234bn

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED HE State of Osun House of Assembly has begun the consideration of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation on the upward review of the 2014 budget estimate from its original N216 billion to N234 billion.

Chairman, House Appropriation, Honourable Committee on Finance and Kamil Oyedele, had last

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week presented the report and noted that the adjustments made on the drafts budget were done after proper consultations with the Office of Budget and Economic Planning and the Ministry of Finance.

He explained that in the

course of the budget defence, the committee observed that the state government had realised the need to reduce overdependence on oil money from the federation account and improve on its Internally Generated

Revenue (IGR).

At the Committee of whole on Monday, the assembly adopted the increase in the budget after deliberation on the report of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation.

Meanwhile, the state parliament also received two letters from the Office of the Governor dated December 31, 2013, seeking the consideration and passage into law of two bills.

The bills were titled: “State of Osun Partnership Bill, 2013” and “State of Osun Special Offences Court Bill, 2013”.

As contained in the letter read by the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam during plenary session, the governor stated that the

state executive council approved and forwarded the bills to the state legislature for their consideration and passage into law.

The governor explained in the letter that the purpose of “State of Osun Special Offences Court Bill, 2013” was to give room for trying various environmental offences and other related offences.

According to the second letter, the purpose of the “State of Osun Partnership Bill, 2013” was to promote relationship, which subsists between persons carrying out businesses, with a view to profit and also improve purposes of the law of the state in relation to limited partnership and limited liability partnership.

LG Election: Court Dismisses Case Against OSSIEC

By SHINAABUBAKAR

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USTICE F.E. Awolalu of an Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo has dismissed the case instituted against the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and others restraining it from conducting local government council elections in the state.

The case was instituted Adewuyi Oyeyemi (rtd) and •(R-L) Special Adviser to State of Osun Governor on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade; by Honourable Akanfe five others versus Deputy Director of Sports, Mr Adegoke Adeyemi; Ministry of Education Sports Coordinator, Alhaji Ilesanmi Olaniyi Ademola and others for Honourable Timothy and Mr Bolade, during the State of Osun High School Marathon 2014 in Osogbo recently.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI. themselves and on behalf of Owoeye and others, which Chairmen and is on the dissolution of Councillorship aspirants of OSSIEC and the subsequent the Peoples Democratic appointment, screening, and ARELY few months to the 2014 gubernatorial developmental projects peace, justice and respect Party (PDP) and Accord confirmation Party (AP) in the state. inauguration of the chairmen election in the State of Osun, opposition parties in executed in the last 42 for the rule of law prevail.

The prayer sought by the and members of the OSSIEC the state have witnessed another round of political months in Osun by the “We have left Labour hurricane, as no fewer than 120 members and youths of A r e g b e s o l a - l e d Party; party of cheats and plaintiffs included an order by the governor and the the newly-nurturing Labour Party (LP) in Ifon-Osun, administration, pledged the betrayal, which cannot win of the court to set aside and House of Assembly, in view declare the of the judgment of the High headquarters of Orolu Local Government Council Area of defectors’ support for the even a ward without talking to appointments, screening, Court delivered by Justice the state, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress APC. of the State of Osun.”

(APC) on Monday. and Jide Falola in suits NO HOS/ The party’s flag was later confirmation According to him, they In a political rally to mark defectors were impressed have come to the presented to the decampees inauguration of the M8/2011 and HOS/M9/2011, their defection to the APC, by the unusual performance progressive camp; the by the interim chairman of chairmen and members of which considered and which was held at the state and the quality of egalitarian party where the APC in the state.

OSSIEC unconstitutional, upheld the impracticability of party secretariat in Osogbo, u n p r e c e d e n t e d absurd and a violation of conducting local APC chieftains, led by its the rule of law. government elections in the Interim Chairman, Elder They also wanted the State of Osun, pending Adelowo Adebiyi, stated court to declare that the appeal at the Supreme Court. suspected that the police that there are vivid conduct of a local After critical examination, operatives in-charge of the indications that defectors government election in the the court ruled that the case might have been bribed are very ready to work to sweep the matter under thirty local governments of original suit of the plaintiffs

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED assiduously for the party’s the carpet, as Aminu’s Osun and Area Office, brought under the victory in the next man, Paul Ajibola of Akinode Compound, Okinni, a family was said to have risen Modakeke is not feasible. originating summon governorship election. community in Egbedore Local Government Council to the occasion.

The plaintiff also called proceeding was not While addressing the Area of the State of Osun, has been murdered over The source alleged that for an order of perpetual competent, having regard to defectors, Adelowo a land tussle.

Aminu had in the past injunction restraining commended them for their the issues raised therein.

He was reportedly killed Dada Estate Police Station engaged in similar acts, but courage to defect to APC on Thursday on the land, in Osogbo to report himself, the matter was swept under OSSIEC as constituted and The court also disclosed despite the threat from their located at Papanla in Okinni. where he was detained and the carpet when the family the government from that there was no reasonable former leader. local cause of action against the The land was reported to subsequently transferred to of the victim involved then conducting He also stressed that have been under tussle the State Criminal could no longer pursue the government elections. defendants in the suit, APC respects youths and before a court about 10 Investigation Department case.

However, the court found saying the plaintiff were that is why Governor Rauf years ago between the (SCID).

Aminu was also alleged that the issue in the suit busy bodies and interlopers, The police subsequently to have paraded himself as Aregbesola’s programmes deceased and one Aminu related to the pending and policies are youth- Olawale and the court had followed the suspect to the the Olokinni of Okinni appeal in the Supreme as they had no locus standi to institute the suit. oriented like O-YES, O- earlier fixed Thursday, scene of the crime and sometimes ago, before he Court, APPEAL NO SC/102/ Delivering her judgment, exhumed the corpse of the Meal, O-School and others. March 27 for judgment. was stopped by a court.

2013 between Justice Titus Justice Awolalu considered A family source late Ajibola.

He therefore urged them Subsequently, Aminu, the issues raised by the to abide by the rules and recounted that the late Ajibola went to visit the land who was suspected to be plaintiff by way of regulations of the party. originating summon and An APC chieftain and penultimate Thursday, but the sponsor of the murder, The government of the State of Osun interim deputy treasurer in was allegedly murdered by was also arrested by the preliminary objections raised has procured special security numbers Osun, Prince Adekunle a suspected assassin, one police and later released by the defendants before after intervention by his Benson, who introduced the Kazeem Oladele. for use by people in distress. finally dismissing the case of family members.

It was gathered that defectors to the party, The numbers are: the plaintiffs in its entirety.

As at the time of filing this advised them on loyalty, some family members, who report Kazeem was reported The court thereafter 08100000481, 08100000482, 08100000483, noticed his disappearance, while admonishing them to to still be in the custody of declined jurisdiction to 08100000484, 08100000485, 08100000486. mobilised and started work tirelessly to ensure that entertain the suit, as it for him, only to the SCID in Osogbo.

All the numbers became operational the party held sway in the searching Meanwhile, the family of find out that he had been amounted to asking the High since August 17, 2012. next governorship election killed and buried on the same the late Ajibola has started Court to sit in judgment to in the state, adding that in land.

Please, note and call to assist Ogbeni raising an eyebrow over interpret the decision of the the progressive camp, no Rauf Aregbesola, the elected governor Before the family Aminu’s release, whom Court of Appeal, hence, the member will be marginalized. approached the police to they alleged of being the of the State Of Osun, in sustaining a case as instituted by some Speaking on behalf of the report, a source said that the sponsor of the crime. peaceful and crime-free environment. members of PDP as plaintiffs defectors, Mr. Lawal Latif, suspected perpetrator of the A family member, who - Management was dismissed by the court. anonymity, who made it known that the act, Kazeem, had gone to preferred

120 LP Members Decamp To APC In Osun

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Man Murdered In Okinni Over Land Tussle •Family Suspects Manipulation

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Security Tip In Osun

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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

Alie Stool: Court Fixes May 13 For Further Hearing

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

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State High Court sitting in Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun, has fixed May 13 for further hearing of Ilie Obaship tussle.

Oyeboade Ruling House government and five of the ancient town has others, claiming that the challenged the incumbent monarch was not entitled Alie of Ilie, Oba Kareem to the throne.

Oladapo, the state While the monarch

argued that he is a member of the Oyeboade Ruling House, the ruling house however is disowning him, insisting that the monarch is from Orisajenyo family in the ancient town, which they claimed was not entitled to the throne.

The case was instituted

S/West APC In UK Canvasses Support For Aregbesola, Fayemi

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

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all commendable,” it noted.

The party then appealed to voters to avoid selling their votes to disgruntled politicians, who have no other interest except to enrich their pockets.

Doing so, the party stressed, could truncate the rapid development taking place in the two states.

on September 14, 2001 after the installation of the monarch.

Counsel appearing for the parties were Kolawole Abiri for the Oyeboades, Soji Oyetayo for the monarch and Wale Afolabi, the state AttorneyGeneral for the state government.

During the hearing of the case on Monday, the head of Oyeboade Ruling House, Prince Raimi Atoyebi, told the court that it was Kuaru Ruling House that conceded the throne to Oyeboade Ruling House.

He added that shortly after the death of the former Alie of Ilie, Oba Adegboye, the state government set up a panel of inquiry to know the component parts of Oyeboade Ruling House.

Under cross-

HE South West All Progressives Congress (APC) in the United Kingdom has charged the people of Osun and Ekiti states not to allow any politician to truncate the rapid development taking place in both states.

In a communiqué issued peace that has been enjoyed on behalf of the Interim over the years by the people Chairman, Mr. Kehinde of the two states due to Ojutalayo and signed by astute leadership style of the Publicity Secretary of Aregbesola and Fayemi are the party in the UK, Mr. Tunde Ajayi, after a meeting recently, the party said that the only way to sustain the Kayode Olanipekun, stated developmental stride is to

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO that banishing hunger and re-elect Governors Rauf HE Chairman, Osun State Agricultural poverty, creating wealth and Aregbesola of Osun and Development Corporation (OSSADEC), Engineer employment were parts of Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti.

Solagbade Atanda Oladepo, has commended the the six-point integral action Endorsing the two governors for second term administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over his plan of the present in office, the party stated continuous support to farmers in the state, especially by administration and assured that both governors have granting them agricultural loans. them that disbursement of performed brilliantly over Speaking on the loans would commence by He disclosed this at the the last three and a half May 2014. occasion, the Acting first meeting of the board for years.

Olanipekun stated further General Manager, Mr. the Year 2014, which was The communiqué reads: “Without mincing words, held at the Conference the good people of Osun Room of the corporation.

He used the occasion to and Ekiti have enjoyed the implore members of the

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN dividends of democracy for the last three and a half board and the management HE Government of the State of Osun has staff of the corporation to years. rehabilitated 30 pupils of the Baptist High “Since that is the case, as work together for the overall School, Osogbo, who were suspended for different categories of success of the agency, alleged cultism. people have testified to it, adding that members have why should we then to submit their completed The pupils were the pupils, who had gone clamour for a change? code of conduct bureau rehabilitated by the through several trainings “The social welfare forms on time. government in in moral and academics. support for the elderly, Engineer Oladepo collaboration with the It would be recalled educational reform, youth assured farmers that they state chapter of the that the state government empowerment, agricultural would soon benefit from the Parents, Teachers had in January this year and infrastructural agricultural loans and asked Association (PTA) suspended some pupils of development are all for their support and through rigorous training.

Baptist High School, programmes that are wellGovernor Rauf Osogbo for alleged planned and carried out by cooperation with the present administration.

Aregbesola has also cultism and hooliganism. the two governors. granted state pardon for The suspension of the “Most importantly, the

examination by Oyetayo, Atoyebi told the court that after the findings, a meeting was subsequently called by the Olorunda Local Government, where one Prince Ismaila Oyediran was solely nominated by Oyeboade Ruling House for the royal stool.

The State AttorneyGeneral, who represented the government, tendered the minutes of the meeting as evidence, which was objected to by the plaintiff’s counsel.

In his objection, Abiri argued that the document was issued by an interested party, which was Olorunda Local Government after the case had been instituted, as against Section 83, subsections 3 and 5 of the Evidence Act. He then urged the court

to reject the document.

Defending the document, Afolabi described the argument of the plaintiff’s counsel as misconceived, as the maker of the document was not an interested party in the matter.

He further argued that the document was made on July 15, 2001, three months before the case was instituted, hence, the document would not have been made in anticipation of the matter.

Ruling on the application, the presiding judge admitted the document on the ground that the maker was not an interested party in the case.

However, sequel to the consent of the parties, the matter was later adjourned till May 13, 2014 for further hearing.

Aregbesola Lauded Over Agricultural Reforms

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that, the State Government of Osun under Ogbeni Aregbesola had procured agro-processing equipment such as Cassava Chipping Machine, Grain Processing Machine, Multi-Grain Thresher, Rice Reaper and Yam Flour processing machine for sale to women and youths at 40% subsidy.

He also informed the meeting that the state government had further approved a 15% subsidy on agricultural implements such as harrow, plough, rigger and tipping trailer, which are available for sale at the corporation’s headquarters along Ilobu road.

Cultism: Osun Govt Rehabilitates 30 Pupils

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pupils came on the heel of the arrest made by the Nigerian Peace Corps in the state.

The pupils had before their arrest staged a protest on the schools’ reclassification policy of the state government.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, the State Chairman of the PTA, Dr Ademola Ekundayo, said the rehabilitated pupils had gone through religious, moral and

•(L-R) The President, Unit 2; Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi, the President, Unit 4; Alhaji Adelakun Idris and the Chairman, AGM committee, Mr Murtala Agboola, during the 11th AGM NACOMYO Co-orperative Society celebration in Osogbo recently.

educational trainings.

Ekundayo said the suspended pupils were trained by renowned clerics, moralists and educationists, adding that the pupils are now qualified to return to the classrooms.

He stated that the PTA took over the responsibility of the pupils when they were suspended by the state government and organized trainings for them at the state secretariat of the association.

The PTA stated further that the pupils have signed an undertaking to be of good behaviour throughout their studentship, just as he informed that their parents had attested to their good conduct.

Ekundayo said the parents of the suspended pupils were responsible for their misconducts in the school, disclosing that findings by the association revealed that most of the pupils had been abandoned by their parents.

However, the PTA chairman stated that the parents of the affected pupils had been educated and they had assured the government of their readiness to take good care of their children.

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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

Continued from pg1

Isn’t only a demented mind that would say that? For Omisore to say that Ogbeni Aregbesola hasn’t done anything in the state is the height of falsehood, nay, dementia and that speaks volume of his character as liar, an hypocrite and a politician of no shame. Today in the state of Osun it’s on record that Ogbeni Aregbesola’s achievements within just three years plus of his administration by far surpass that of PDP’s government of seven and a half years even as Ogbeni is still on the march – not relenting in his efforts to put Osun on the world map of devel-

Omisore’s Empty Campaign Promises opment – in spite of all the monetary challenges he is facing. The exodus of people from Omisore’s party, PDP to Ogbeni Aregbesola’s party, APC, on daily basis in the state today, is a demonstration of the love the people have for Ogbeni for having served them well and it is also a testament to the faith they have in him as a leader seen to have what it takes to take Osun to greater heights.

If Omisore's inane talk that Ogbeni Aregbesola has not done well in the state is ridiculous, more laughable is his promise to create 300, 000 (three hundred thousand) jobs within ten days of his administration at the rate of N75, 000 per head. Lo

and behold! Like the Yoruba would say; ‘blood doesn’t ooze from the mouth of a liar’. How feasible is this in a state that has the chunk of its income coming from federation account and whose allocation is hardly enough to settle workers’ salary and pension? Even the foetus knows that this purely unrealistic. Let Omisore therefore tell that to the marine. Osun people are too intelligent to be swayed by that unrealistic campaign promise. But for Aregbesola’s ingenuity and prudent management of the available meagre resources accruing to the state, it would be impossible to achieve all this much within a period of three years.

And we must emphasise it here; to take Osun to where it is now has not been a tea party. It is a product of Aregbesola’s vision and his prudent management of resources.

For it takes a visionary and prudent leader of Aregbesola’s ilk, not a prodigal and visionless politician like Omisore to take Osun to where it is now having been badly managed by bad managers for seven and a half years. And on this score Osun people are wont to ask him; what did he do for the state when he was a Senator?

Other than using his illgotten wealth to breed thugs what did he do for the youths? In what way did he impact positively on their lives?

PDP Gov Candidate: A time To Revisit History

H

ISTORY is rich.

There is no subject comparable to it, if truth must be told.

Towards the 2003 general elections, Otunba Isiaka Adeleke was the leading aspirant in PDP and it was obvious he was set to clinch the gubernatorial ticket. He had worked very hard and actually deserved victory. But the powers that be in PDP then, including those in Agodi Prison detention for alleged participation in the seemingly state-sponsored assassination of Uncle Bola Ige; felt Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola was more befitting a gubernatorial candidate, (expedience, allegedly borne-out of voodoo, was the reasons adduced) for the decision. Thrice, the primary elections (majority of PDP members and indeed, the watching generality of the people, described the

primaries as stagemanaged) were held, thrice, Oyinlola defeated Otunba Adeleke, including the last one that was held in Abuja. There is nothing that is happening in PDP that has not happened before. The struggle for power in the PDP is always vicious, especially, when there is a script to

rig elections at all cost in play, as it seems it is now.

Many people do not have correct understanding of many democratic concepts, hence they go on to misinterpret certain things.

Choosing a party’s candidate is a prerogative of the political party. It depends on what they, the

party members believed in and agreed to. There is no advanced democracy where primary election or what many refers to as the legitimisation of impunity by a few influential persons within the party hierarchy is seen as sine qua non! The American example which is today the most popular has been

wrongly, like many other democratic tendencies, copied and even debased!

The quality of those that will contest the American primary is always preceded by serious screening. In addition, the popularity and acceptance of a candidate would have been obvious, mostly by the start of the intra-party

campaigns. Besides, like their general elections, the primary election will be free, fair and credible, and will be seen to be so. It is not the manipulative situation that has characterised the Nigerian conservative situation. Mostly, they come in the manner of the more you look, the less you see...abracadabra! The 2014 Ekiti PDP primary election is still in contention. The result has always been less than good and enthusiastic representation. In the progressive family, the quality of representation matters. While provision is made for primary election where it becomes absolutely necessary, consensus is promoted to be able to produce quality representatives.

•ISMAIL ABIODUN, Osogbo, State of Osun.

All these and more are the questions begging for answers.As a Nigerian Omisore has the constitutional right to contest for the governorship seat of his state and any other elective office except if pronounced unfit by the court of law. But much as we agree with this position, we feel it’s absolutely illogical for him to continue to use his tongue to rubbish Aregbesola’s achievements in the state. If he believes in himself and his ability to lead the state let him engage in issue based campaign and constructive debates.

Rubbishing Aregbesola’s globally acknowledged achievements cannot, and it will not help him in the least. The Osun electorate cannot be swayed by empty promises.

The people have tasted good governance under Aregbesola and they are not ready to waste their vote by voting for a candidate who will only come to draw the hands of clock of development backward.

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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun.

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6

INTERVIEW

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

PDP Has To March On Blood To Win Osun Guber – Aregbesola Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has always been in the news since becoming governor of Osun State. Most times, the policies of his administration have come under heavy criticism by some stakeholders and opposition parties. But, Aregbesola insists that no governor has impacted so much on the people as he has done. In this interview, he speaks on governance in the State of the Virtuous (Ipinle Omoluabi), August 9 governorship election, perceived Islamisation of the state and many other issues.

What is the centrepiece of your government?

I tell people that I am yet to see a governor either before or now, I don’t know of tomorrow, who has made the people the centre of governance, as much as we are doing.

I’m not saying this because I want to sound fulfilled. I am saying this because I want people to know the distinction between people-oriented government and a government as usual. You see, the usual government panders to strict expectations and rules; roads must be built, whether it has economic or social significance, it does not matter.

Government must build roads and we are building roads. We are not against construction of roads and edifices; we are only saying that if the people are serviced in a way that their potential would be fully developed, at the appropriate time, those things, in terms of infrastructure, would just naturally come.

When you came into office three years ago, what did you meet on ground?

On the assumption of office, we saw the inhuman condition of our youths who in their thousands are unemployed. As a matter of fact, when we advertised for our youth empowerment scheme of engaging youths in community, social and public works, we received applications in excess of 250,000 for 20,000 volunteers. We advertised what the job is all about; community works such as clearing of gutters, clearing waste, cleaning roads, and so on. We equally stated those who we wanted to engage; school certificate and diploma holders, and graduates. That would tell you the proportion of our youths that simply have nothing to do. That was a graphic exhibition of the seriousness of the issue of unemployment in our land. We recruited the 20,000 without any sentiment. Hardly was there any household without a representative in that scheme.

The second phase of it is on. In all, we are touching the lives of 40,000 people in a way that we are happy and they are happy too.

That scheme has positively affected our state that our state today is the most peaceful in Nigeria. Most of what we hear in other states rarely happen in our state. National Bureau of Statistics rated our state as the state with the least unemployment in Nigeria. On the index of NBS, we rate three per cent unemployment. On social and human capacity index, we are the best. On the poverty reduction index, we came second. They claimed we are next to Niger State. When they combined all the parameters for assessing human development index, we came first because the state that came first in poverty reduction index was eighth in unemployment index. By the time you do a summary of the various social and economic indices for assessing states, we are just simply the best.

After that, we went to education. By the time we assumed office, we found out that education was not just there. We showed concern and my presentation at the education summit was that the summit participants must look at the possibilities of closing schools for two years for us to effectively do something about the structure, the capacity of the teachers and others. But my view was not popular in the summit. The summit concluded with some action plans. Heading that summit on education was Prof. Wole Soyinka. So, the reforms we are implementing on education, was the directive on the summit which we convened less than two months into office.

So, for anybody to now impugn that our

•AREGBESOLA reform, which is a direct offshoot of that summit on education, in which we had the best brains both within and outside, is to us very strange. Those who participated in the summit had no religious bias; they simply told us that if we are serious about what we told them we wanted to do, follow this course. The process given by them is that we must rebuild our schools, we must feed pupils at the lowest level of education very well to sufficiently attract and retain them in school; we must look at how to indigenise the uniform they wear, train and re-train the teachers as well as encourage them. They told us how that could be done by setting aside a school for primary education and others. These recommendations, we adopted and started aggressive implementation. Today in Osun, we feed close to 300,000 pupils in the whole primaries 1-4.

No state in Nigeria has ever attempted that scale of engagement of students. We have been doing it for over a year now at an annual cost of N3.6 billion. We are proud to say that whoever likes should come and see what they feed these pupils with.

I challenge any government in Nigeria to come and say they have done close to this, even for one day. We have been doing this since April 2012. It is unprecedented.

We are the first government in the history of Nigeria that would give 750,000 pupils in public schools uniform. The uniforms are in three categories. There is a set of uniform for

the elementary schools, uniform for the middle school and for the high school as well. We restructured basic education into elementary, middle and high school.

Again, we are providing all the students, 150,000 of them in high school, with an electronic education device in which you have all textbooks for learning, practise questions, compiled 10 years of WAEC and JAMB past questions, and tutorials for all lessons in high school. We give them this bit to ensure that nobody lacks anything that is required for successful completion of high school. No matter your background or who your parents are, you have access to the best learning tools in the state. So, we tell the students and the parents that whoever fails, either internal or external examinations, has nobody to blame but themselves. That is what Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) is all about. We did not plagiarise any material; we are paying royalties.

We pay per copy of the set we use. It’s like N26 per book. When you look at cost per book that we pay to the various contributors, you will see that it is incomparable to the hard copies. Government is to reduce the burden of care on citizens. What we have achieved with this is to provide a core need at the cheapest price to everybody. It is cheap to government, it’s free to our citizens.

We also avoid the mystery of flooding by continuously dredging, clearing the waterways

and this paid off when in 2012 the entire nation experienced terrible flooding, Osun was the only state that was never adversely affected. So, channelisation and dredging of our waterways continually totally eliminated the pain and stress of flooding some states in Nigeria experienced.

We take care of the elderly. We selected over 1,000 of them and we ensure we give them N10,000 monthly. It was not based on any sentiment. We also do home-based medical care for the elderly state-wide. I only want to paint to you our human-angle approach to governance. There is no class of people that we do not touch. Our administration is the first that can say that no household in Osun exist without an impact from our administration.

We support farmers to increase productivity. Our school feeding have positively impacted the agriculture sector. We have a 25 per cent increase in enrolment.

Today, Osun has the highest primary school enrolment in Nigeria, according to NBS data.

Several criticisms have trailed the state education sector, especially the perceived Islamisation which has affected your administration negatively?

Let me talk about two things that have gained some currency in the media. The first is that our school reform is an Islamisation agenda. When they say so, I just laugh. The poorest of the poor are those who send their wards to public schools, not only in Osun but all over Nigeria. People with very limited resources, considered public schools as the only alternative. So, with the recommendations of the summit, came the need to critically examine all aspects of it. In our examination, we discovered that there are students without teachers, whereas there are teachers without students in others. What was left to us was to restructure in such a way that we will have students as well as adequate or near-adequate number of teachers.

Two, we change the structure of education from the popular 6-3-3-4 to 4-5-3. This does not change the curriculum but the age bracket in each level of education. Before our intervention, we have six years of primary school. In our new structure, we have elementary for pupils between 6 and 9, middle school for between 9 and 14 and high school for students between 15 and 17. For us to now have this, we must relocate pupils. For the elementary schools, you mustn’t move beyond 500 metres to where your parents either live or work, depending on the choice of your mother. For the middle, it may be one kilometre or two. For the high level, there is no limit where the distance of your school can be because that is the adventurous age.

We never thought of any sentiment in all of this. But even at that, we are not unmindful of sentiments. In the re-classification and consolidation, we never moved pupils from Christian named schools to Muslim named schools. I never said Christian schools or Muslim schools. Since 1975, except for states that have done something about reversal, the law is still extant that there is no exclusively public Christian or Muslim school. All the public schools before 1975 were partially owned but after 1975, they were absolutely owned by the public, which is government. It, therefore, surprised us when people say we moved Muslims pupils to Christian schools.

That was never done. We ensured that

Continued on page 7

INTERVIEW

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

7

My Critics Are Not Honourable – Aregbesola Continued from page 7 students were moved from Christian named schools to Christian named schools.

Let me give you an example. In Iwo, we chose Baptist High School as the consolidation centre for Iwo area. We therefore moved pupils because it is named Baptist but not owned by Baptist and that name is retained. We moved pupils from United Methodist High school and St. Mary’s Catholic School to make-up the required number of students of 3,000 in Baptist High School. But because of the report against our reform, the fact that 19 female students from United Methodist High School were Hijab wearers, which the school had hitherto allowed; Six female students from St. Mary Catholic School had been allowed to wear Hijab, long before our consolidation came. We moved all of them to Baptist High School. There are, therefore, 25 female students among 3000 students in Baptist High School wearing Hijab as they were wearing in their previous schools. That was what a section of the parents in Baptist High School resisted that their school was a Christian school, that nobody must wear Hijab.

Anybody can still go to inquire about what I have said because the story is still fresh. Is there anywhere in Nigeria where students are admitted to public schools on religious basis? The answer is no!

Segregation on religion is never allowed in any school in Nigeria, public or private.

If admission into school is not faithbased, where would I now get exclusive Muslims that I will take to exclusive Christians? There was nothing like that but it was taken as the truth. Let us ask ourselves, who is at risk, the minority or the majority? There are 25 students wearing Hijab in a school with 3000 students not wearing, who is at risk? This issue happened only in one school. For Baptist High School, Ede, the problem is that its name must not be changed from Baptist High School to Baptist Middle School. Baptist Girls High School, Osogbo, its own grouse with us is that it should remain a Girls High School, when the reality on ground does not support a single-sex school. Let us assume that there are 10 schools that have hitches in our re-classification programme out of 2000 schools. How could that constitute a threat to that reform? There are actually five and they all belong to one denomination of Christianity, Baptist.

Whatever you read about it, just know that those who write about it have their reasons for such campaigns against us.

We see it as a campaign of calumny and we leave them to their conscience.

Why haven’t you considered returning schools back to missionaries?

Have you considered or studied why the schools were taken over from the missionaries in the first place? The schools were taken over because several years before the complete take-over, government was actually running the schools especially in Western Nigeria. I attended a Catholic primary school and government was responsible for the teachers, the grants for running the schools, additional infrastructure for the schools and it is still owned by Catholics.

It was the year I was leaving school that government finally announced the takeover. The missionaries protested that they must be compensated; government agreed but let us do a balance of how much we have spent over-time for teachers, infrastructure and other investment. That was how they bowed out.

In my broadcast to the state early this year, I said as we are progressing with the new school structure, spaces will be created and there will be no question of returning schools or not. It is not as if I am against return of schools, but it is the practical impossibility of it now. Until I have alternatives for the pupils, declaring that I am returning schools to the original owners would simply mean irresponsibility.

So, there is no Islamisation agenda?

Not at all! In the composition of my cabinet, over two-thirds of members of my

•AREGBESOLA cabinet are Christians. I chose them myself. More than three-quarter of permanent secretaries are Christians. All the judges in Osun, over 90 per cent are Christians, I didn’t appoint those ones.

Sixteen out of 26 House of Assembly members are Christians. So, where would anyone sustain this argument of Islamisation? I struggled to be a devout Muslim. The charge is more because of my appearance and being than any reality.

Rather than come out to say why we labelled you as an Islamist is because of how you appear; you wear beard, you put on this cap and others. They know they can’t say that because it is uncivilised, they now tell lies.

Would you really say that these allegations emanate out of mischief?

You’ve hit the nail on the head.

Mischief, biased and reckless affiliation to a tendency used to judge every issue. No government in Nigeria has ever done what I initiated in religious balancing in Osun State. The day I was sworn in, I decreed that all major religions in Osun must have equal official treatment. In official functions in Osun, traditionalists, Christians and Muslims pray together.

From that alone, there should not be any basis for religious affiliation allegation against me. Muslims were enraged on that decision. Christians fired the first salvo on me that I was encouraging traditional religion, that I am taking the society back.

I told them the oath I took to be fair on all.

Till today, no other government has joined me on this. When I recognised the Muslim New Year, that further fuelled the allegation of fundamentalism. The Muslim New Year has always been part and parcel of Islamic celebration long before Christianity and the modern trends. To casual observers, it never matter.

Are you nursing any fear about the August 9 governorship election, especially when the opposition said what brought you into the office was a judicial coup? And may be all these baggage would affect your electoral chances.

There is no baggage at all. I always want the critical minds to visit Osun and assess the impact of administrations on the people. I am confident because I have the support of a majority of our people for my re-election. Why? We have served them with the way they have never been served in their history. If election is about recompense to the administration, I told you that there is no household that we have not impacted positively in this state.

Let me tell you this, a man met me in a Mosque and struggled to let the Imam of that Mosque to engage me. He said he came to thank me that his son, an NCE holder, had been at home for 10 years without any form of employment. He said the day that boy came to give him something as his own share of the first salary he received as an O’YES cadet, he asked him, where he got the money. The boy said the new governor gave him employment as an O’YES cadet and that was his own share of the first salary. He said he had assumed that he will serve the boy till he died, but we changed that.

See, we are affecting lives. When you enter Osun from anywhere, you will see changes in the environment. No tension, no harassment, people now sleep well. For anybody to aim at disrupting that system, that person must be super-powerful. It cannot be those who have had the opportunities for 90 months but failed to do anything for our people. As we speak, we are working on minimum of 210 kilometeres of roads in all the local governments; 7 km in each of the local governments. We have done close to 500 km of roads and doing landmark road works.

I tell people that the only way the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can win is to kill a lot of people. They have to march on the blood of the people to displace us. Again, God is a God of justice; not injustice. You cannot reward good with bad and vice versa. We started campaigning for this election since the day we were sworn in. I do community

work with our people every month, through physical exercise -Work to Live.

You see how popular this initiative is among our people; it’s a momentous carnival. I also engage them on a quarterly basis on Ogbeni Till Daybreak, close to ten hours of critical engagement. Lately, we have introduced another one called ‘Gbangba Dekun’, where we are in each federal constituency to take questions, comments and opinions from people. If you add our people- oriented approach to governance, God be with us, I am looking at how they will do it. Jimmy Cliff had a lyrics, ‘The harder they come, the harder they fall’ What is the financial state of Osun against the insinuation that the state is in huge debt?

During the campaign in 2007, I wrote it that we are going to run government unusual. I have increased the revenue base of Osun from N300 million to N1.6 billion. I have been very prudent in the way I handle all the small-small surpluses I had that I still use it to augment whatever inadequacies I have. I had the best experience of governance particularly learning from the person I believe is the best public fund manager in Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The combination of my background and the experience I garnered from him, made it possible for me to manage the resources of the state in such a way that before we can be said to be insolvent, the entire nation must be down.

The debt we have is within the capacity of the state to cope. That is why we never appeared in any of the reports of those mentioned as insolvent by concerned institutions. I want to assure that we are operating within the limits of the law of Nigeria. We are not insolvent, we are not indebted. We run projects that are unburdensome. Our projects are done on flexible financing scheme and its paying off. We have not exceeded the threshold.

The financial institution cannot be manipulated. We must be commended for taking Osun from its financial rot to even start having financial relationship with institutions. We are in the capital market.

Our first appearance at the market for bond fetched us by far what we sought.

Our second attempt, we were oversubscribed. These people criticising my government are bad in governance, bad in their relationships. They are not honourable!

What is your take on the Rivers State crisis and 2015 election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)?

On the Rivers crisis, the best answer is to use Obasanjo’s word paradoxically, I dey cry o. Why I may not laugh is that the situation is gory.

On the timetable, when you are in the situation we found ourselves in Nigeria, the less you say about something, the better for you. Well, my concern is for us to have credible, free, fair and transparent election. The best thing would have been to have all the elections in one day. But whichever way it is, what is very germane is the need to give democracy full, genuine, and unadulterated expression in Nigeria. If we can give democracy genuine expression in Nigeria, there won’t be any problem. But because we know that under a free and fair process, some people cannot even smell public office, the best is to complete the process in a single day.

Nigerians have demonstrated the resilience and capacity that handling five ballots cannot be a problem. They know what they want to do with the ballots. If you want it to be easy, provide different boxes for the offices. This will eliminate all collateral effects. What I am concerned with is the fairness and transparency of the process.

Look at Ghana here; they were able to do a fairly free election. Nigeria has no business not to replicate the same. That is why some of us are waiting for biometric.

Let it be impossible for anyone who didn’t register to vote. The day we can eliminate proxy voting, ensuring that the votes that are cast are counted and announced, that is the end of all shenanigans in all elections. We believe we will get there and we will struggle to get there.

8

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

The Newly-renovated State Of Osun House Of Assembly, Under The Administration Of The Governor Of The State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Photo: JESUDOYIN ABRAHAM

•The newly-built Chapel within the House of Assembly Complex.

•

•A side view of the hallowed chamber of the House and the gallery.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

PHOTOTALK

9

The Newly-renovated State Of Osun House Of Assembly, Under The Administration Photo: JESUDOYIN ABRAHAM Of The Governor Of The State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

•Side view of the Gallery.

•The newly-built Mosque within the House of Assembly Complex.

•The hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly.

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PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

National President, The Apostolic Church Of Nigeria, Paid A Courtesy Visit To The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At Government House, Osogbo, Few Days Ago.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola(middle); National President, the Apostolic Church Nigeria/Territorial Chairman, Pastor Gabriel Olutola (left) and Pastor James Soude, during the courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Osogbo, few days ago.

•Governor Aregbesola (3rd right); Pastor Olutola (2nd left), Pastor James Soude (left), Osogbo Area Superintendent, Pastor Paul Usman(2nd right) and Oke Igboji Area Superintendent, Ilesa, Pastor Ogundele Isaac(right) during the courtesy visit to the governor.

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FEATURE

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

Who Is Afraid Of Peace In Osun M Y very good friend, Mrs.

‘wine’, ‘womem’, and ‘war’ manifested in his regime to the extent that I could have safely hinted that those were his programme of action.

Between 2004 to 2010, armed bandits were on top of the situation in Osun, political prisoners, who were thrown to jail on trumped-up charges were countless, and political thugs became lords of manor, land speculators, and kings of the jungle. Even, each time election was approaching, opposition politicians dare not campaign, unless there was preparation for blood flow.

At that material time, life was cheap and brutish, economy of the state was parlous.

Aside from the N18.3 billion loan taken for construction of six stadia to be completed at 30 percent, there was no developmental project anywhere, but very few political office holders, who reared thugs for the prosecution of future elections had money to throw around. Oh, someone needed to see how Osun’s graphical presentation was depicted like war zone.

However, the story changed when Aregbesola took over in 2010, as security was restored, peace returned, and financial and corporate institutions that had relocated to the other states began to return to Osun, and education, economy, employment, and protest of the aggrieved became issues. Mr. Iyiola Omisore, a governorship aspirant was also offered Nelson Mandela Freedom Park constructed by Aregbesola to attack his government under the guide of declaration of intent. Beauty of democracy in action!

The by and large of my story is that the peace and security ensured by Aregbesola in Osun cannot be quantified in Naira and Kobo, but it is an achievement that could not be surmounted by the PDP government at the centre. So, let no Ropo Oyewole insult our collective sensibility on the purchase of new Armored Personnel Carrier by the state government to secure our lives.

Bukola

Olatundun Oyebamji, a banker with one of the new generation banks in Ilesa, State of Osun, in our chance meet, once confidently asserted that she, likewise her colleagues, were living perpetually in fear of dare devil armed robbers, who had several times seized the banking street of the ancient town without resistance, to the extent that her mother had once suggested that should quit the banking job to live.

As a matter of fact, Bukky, as I fondly call her, related a very terrible scenario which she claimed happened around 2009, where she escaped death just by the skin of her teeth. It was said that she was eating during the break on another desk when there was a loud bang; she ignored it because the sound had become normal thing. She even thought it was happening in another bank, but on returning to her desk for duty, everywhere was riddled with bullets, her chair was condemned with bullets.

The journalist in me then pushed my curiosity to know what obtained immediately a new administration headed by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took over in 2010. I deliberately asked the question, because I knew she was apolitical or should I say, a hater of politics and politicians, but she exuded confidence in her response that the armed robbers dare not try nonsense again with the new security arrangement in place.

I kept quiet because I know I must not push her to the political discourse, for she would unleash her caustic tongue on the politicians and the misconduct of the few, but she looked at me and stressed: “I give kudos to Aregbesola on his security initiative and for creating a secured environment for investment drive.”

Honestly speaking, politics is worth participating if the goal is to serve humanity, but some of the politicians, who are jostling for positions lack the knowledge of political philosophy, rather how to make quick money is their reason for joining politics, and it appears easy for the unscrupulous ones to join politics in this part of the universe, because the misfits know that our people are bedeviled with many challenges that have reduced the size of our memory, but widened their senses of suspicion.

However, I am compelled to speak the truth to the sentiment expressed by my friend on the social media, Honourable Ropo Oyewole, the immediate-past brilliant Deputy Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, and a political soul mate of a PDP governorship aspirant, Mr. Iyiola Omisore, who thought that the purchase of new Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) for security purpose was needless, on the argument that the fund used to buy them could have been used to pay pensioners. As a result, I shall quickly appreciate the situation of the recent past in two states.

Let me be sentimental about the States of Osun and Ekiti before Governors Rauf Aregbesola and Kayode Fayemi took over. Let’s start from Ekiti. In line with the political joker of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo to secure the South West axis of the country dominated by the opposition Alliance for Democracy (AD), one political greenhorn, Ayo Fayose emerged from the blues to

•AREGBESOLA

By GOKE BUTIKA

become the governor. I learnt he ‘won’ his election on the back of baited charity, by distributing water to the people free. ‘WATER FOR VOTE’ in the land of Professors?

Politics then was an eyesore. No wonder, a politician chose to up the ante by selling kerosene at subsidised rate in Osogbo.

And when the guy with no pedigree and finesse took the mantle of leadership, he turned out to be a bully and power drunk, that was when Ekiti, the land of men and women of letters was being ruled by a cowboy. And when the people with finesse and depth woke up rudely from their slumber, Fayose on the platform of the PDP had turned violent full cycle: people of substance like Bimbo Daramola were hurriedly dispatched to their shallowed graves, opposition politicians became endangered species.

There was a time the opposition was holding a rally in an Ado Ekiti Street corner, and he came to the notice of Fayose, the governor, then he elected to pass through the place to his office, and when the security report was made available to him to take another route, he asked his Chief Security Officer who the State Chief security officer was. Of course, he knew the answer, and when the man pointed at him, he said he would take the route. He took the route, and truly blood flowed. That was the lot of Ekiti under Fayose.

As it was in Ekiti, so it was in Osun, but because Osun then was under the grip of a retired General, who made it clear that he did not eat “akara” to be commissioned an Army General, a metaphorical statement which meant that he was not afraid of war as a soldier, the case of the state was special.

Truly, the soldier in Prince

Olagunsoye manifested, and according to what he told me while on a courtesy visit to his office as an executive member of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the three Ws

•Butika is the Press Secretary to the Speaker of the State of Osun House of Assembly.

12

FEATURE

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

Remembering Obafemi Awolowo ARLIER during the month, admirers of the late sage and grand seigneur of Nigerian politics-Chief Obafemi Awolowo, converged at his Ikenne hometown to mark his posthumous birthday.

Chief Awolowo’s enormous contributions to the struggle for Nigeria’s independence certainly cannot be overemphasized, while his political sagacity has become part of Nigerian history. Awo might have not have made it to Vince Lambard’s “ No 1 “ in politics. But that may not because he lacked what it takes to be the No 1. Agreed that his diplomacy was not the most adroit and that his fiscal policy as Federal Commissioner for Finance could have destroyed his acceptance among the Igbos, but many people think Awolowo had all it takes to steer a country, that has been so buffeted with bad leadership, to the path of progress.

Of course, Chief Awolowo’s critics have never failed to reiterate what they refer to as his stubbornness and unwillingness to compromise a quality which in Nigerian politics, would account to a serious shortcoming. But Chief Awolowo seemed to be making a point that rather compromise certain principles, which are held as sacred and indeed sacrosanct, one night as well be prepared to lose the No 1 position.

Awolowo’s political ideology was a hybrid of humanism and socialism, which some of his abiding followers have come to characterize as Awoism. His ability to lead his stock derived from a certain mystique- a complex system of austere lifestyle and awesome charisma.

According to Profesor Richard Joseph, a Ford Foundation political researcher and Professor of Government at Dartmouth College, United States: “ the greatest monument that Nigerians can erect to Awo’s memory is the building of a harmonious and socially just nation, for which he laboured without respite, despite the many disappointments that would have crushed most human beings.

Awolowo was an enigmatic figure whose political, economic and social contribution to the development of Nigeria speaks volumes. He, too admittedly wrote volumes.

When in 1983, Obafemi Awolowo was campaigning for the presidential chair on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), and pointed to his achievements for education in the former Western Region during his tenure as the Premier, even his adversaries did not bother to shoot down his claims. What he did for education was so permanent and irreversible that the retort that Awo got in 1983 from the other political parties, especially the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), was; “why should a man continue to pride himself over only one achievement for so many years” ?

The truth is that Awolowo is not entitled to immortality only for his devotion to education. No less important is his contribution to the development of federalism. It is just that political campaigns are like diplomacy . As a diplomat said: “ if you don’t have the facts, quote the law, if you don’t have the law on your side, resort to facts, if you don’t have either the facts or the law on your side , then simply shout”. What Awolowo ‘s political opponents were trying to do was to “ shout” for his contributions in education were manifest and beyond dispute. Infact, his pursuit of free education, had , over the years approached the point of zealotry.

Awo, like Francis Bacon, believed that, with education, any nation would kill the blight of ignorance, disease , superstition, fear and poverty. But he did also realise that people are not equally-endowed financially, that there are gross inequalities in wealth distribution and that E

By PROF. A.S. ASAJU except education is free, a large army of children may be compelled to parade around in ignorance and illiteracy, quarantined from the possibilities of developing their talents and fulfilling themselves.

Awo’s second reason for advocating free education was that education, if available to all, would enhance the formation of a democratic society with an enlightened citizenry forming the pillars of such a society. The reward would be a deterrent to oligarchy, dictatorship and injustice.

Thirdly, Awo believed that education is an inalienable and fundamental right of every citizen, to be granted as such and not to be regarded as a privilege. To him, it is the duty of the state to educate its citizens to the limit of their ability and the debt of gratitude that the citizen owes the state is full service and complete loyalty.

Awolowo’s deep reading and meditation on history could have led him to the inescapable conclusion that the appointed hour would surely come.

Examples abound in history of gifted men who have been shunted aside by their contemporaries only to be recalled in moments of acute crisis. Churchill, afterall was regarded as a maverick an eccentric hustler by his contemporaries until the eve of the Second World War. And Charles de Gaulle was widely seen as part charlatan and part madman before his appointed hour as France’s deliverer came. Every era, out of its internal needs and necessity, must produce its own heroes and heroine. Awolowo was an authentic hero.

Awolowo commanded such a fanatic followership among the beneficiaries of his free education programme. During the Second Republic, there was “Awo Free Education Beneficiaries” a social movement group. It can be said without fear of contradiction, that no leader in Nigeria has ever had such an army of enlightened followers and disciples as Obafemi Awolowo, followers and disciples whose commitment very often approached the threshold of fanaticism.

Even though Awo has passed away, Awoism remains. In the University of Calabar in the Cross River State, Awoism is being taught under “African Political Thought” of the Political Science Programme. Naturally, Awo was influenced by several philosophers. Some of them were Plato, Hegel, Gandhi, Marx, Nehru, but he did not swallow their philosophies hook, line and sinker. For example, while Awo shared Karl Marx’s concern for society and even thought of socialism as the ultimate goal of his political crusade, Awo rejected Marx’s bloody and revolutionary approach to the enactment of socialism. Awo, unlike Marx, believed in democratic ideals which would be the opposite of Hegel’s totalitarian state. But what probably fascinated Awo about Hegelian dialectics must have been such moral principles as perfection and goodness. And Awo had a Spartan lifestyle to show for it.

Awo believed that the ultimate goal of politics is the attainment of power. And power, he defined, in strictly interpersonal terms. He also believed in a strong leadership, which may have arisen from a contiguous belief that the leader knows better than the followers, that the followers are, like the Roman mob, fickle.

Awo was a deeply religious person as well as a mystic. He believed in God and in the efficacy of dreams. Almost every year, he travelled abroad for what he called “spiritual stocktaking” and when the old man predicted his death 65 days before it happened, it was easy for the religious to posit that he may have had some sort of spiritual communion with God. It is likely, judging from his studious attention to scholarship, that Awo believed, like Aristotle, that someone must be a philosopher before becoming a King.

If he becomes a King first, he must strive to become a philosopher later, for the combination of philosophy and kingship is perfect for the direction of men’s affairs.

Awo was a philosopher, not a King. If he was a King at all, he was merely the King of philosophy, not a philosopher-king in the Aristotelian mould. In his more than 40 years in the vineyard of Nigerian politics, Awolowo had become something of a phenomenon, a veritable conquistador and indeed an enigma. His politics had the face of stoical commitment to human welfare, his style controversial while his management talent was widely rated as tremendous. His admirers and flock followed him with incredible fidelity, his beneficiaries often defended him astutely while his critics rose to the task with remarkable single-mindedness. Awo won greatness through his vision, his creativity, his economic acumen and his managerial abilities. His entrepreneurial ability is still universally acknowledged by friends and foes alike. He set standards in efficiency, honesty, integrity and dedication in public affairs and his contemporaries were compelled to struggle to attain that standard. To that end, he was a great influence and an accelerator of Nigeria’s overall development. By his death, he became a titan of history.

The greatest bequest of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to Nigeria is his commitment to democracy and democratic ideals.

Democracy and democratic ideals for Chief Awolowo entailed two distinguishable features - one is the actual substance; the other is the protocol of political conduct. For Awolowo, democracy as a form of government must be conceived not only in political terms but also in social and economic denominations.

Always for the masses, he possessed a personal charisma that made him the idol of his teeming true believers. Even those who did not belong to his party or share his political views could not fail to recognise in him a colossus, a prolific philosopher with a compelling force of logic, a truly cultured, self made man with a personal charm and magnetism. As Awo himself told one of his admirers in February, 1987 he had about one thousand files of papers which were being sought by foreign universities.

If Awo were here, he will fight sectarianism in any part of the country. If Awo were here, he will disallow ethnic bloodletting and violent tribal organisations. If Awo were here, he will test in the courts, the constitutionality or otherwise of institutionalizing any religious way of life that publicly contradicts the law of evidence. If Awo were here, he will challenge vacillation by any person, group or government, where such vacillation encourages social impropriety or political malfeasance. If Awo were here, he will get party leaders to take clear positions on security of life and property in Nigeria. The nation surely misses Awolowo.

Awo is an idea. An idea never dies, he lives for ever.

•Prof. Asaju writes from Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA)

13

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

Job Vacancies In Nigeria Jobs at APM Terminals for a Learning and Development Business Partner At APM Terminals, we are a team of over 20,000 employees spread across more than 60 countries united by a passion to provide our expertise in port operations and container management services.

By providing the expertise and port infrastructure essential to world trade, we actively support the advancement of the societies around us, enabling local economies to unlock their potential and build an even stronger global community.

Working with a team of talented professionals you will get a chance to experience different cultures and make friends all over the world. You’ll find a culturally diverse, stimulating environment at any of our offices, terminals or depots.

When you join APM Terminals, the world is your workplace.

The following vacancy exists Job Title: Learning and Development Business Partner Key Responsibilities •Facilitate values sessions for new employees and refreshers for existing employees.

•Assess participants after training delivery, and issue certificates to successful participants.

•Recommend and present training solutions and interventions that meet business objectives and maximize benefits to business and employees.

•Maintain detailed training database, with electronic records of all courses completed by Staff, with attendance, grades, final report, and so forth.

•Provide weekly and monthly reports on trainings conducted and results to the Assistant Manager, L & D. •Continually evaluate the effectiveness of training by developing and implementing post-instruction evaluation such as focus group sessions and classroom observations.

•Conduct needs analysis which articulate the current state and end state, and gap to which the intervention is targeted.

•Plan and prepare APMT Fundamentals instructor-led training with standard lesson materials.

•Ensure the quality and consistency of course content throughout a course life cycle.

•Deliver APMT Fundamentals instructor-led training courses and other soft skills courses depending on business needs.

•Partner and consult with IT/HR/Fin/Commercial departments on L & D related matters to ensure that their training needs are met in line with identified gaps.

•Register all upcoming training courses with ITF for approval two weeks before commencement of training.

•Any other assigned duties.

Who we are looking for •University Degree in Communications, Social Sciences, or related field.

•Requires at least two years of experience working in a similar role, preferably in ports and terminal operation.

•Requires some previous experience that demonstrates an ability to train others and give instructions.

•Should possess Communication, Presentation and People skills.

•Requires the ability to communicate both in English & Pidgin English.

•Must be computer literate in Microsoft Office Tools.

How to Apply https://jobsearch.maersk.com —————————————————————————— Intercountry Centre for Oral Health (ICOH) for Africa recruitment in Nigeria The Intercountry Centre for Oral Health (ICOH) for Africa with the thrust of Oral Health Development for Nigeria and the Collaborating African Countries in the area of demonstration, training and research programmes hereby invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the following position below: Job Position: Statistician II Location: Jos Requirement Candidate must possess a B.Sc degree in Statistics, Medical Statistics, Demography or Mathematics from a recognized University, with at least 1 year post qualification cognate experience.

Verifiable experience with various computerized statistical packages relevant for health-related researches is a mandatory requirement. An M.Sc degree in Statistics or one in view would be an added advantage.

Salary CONHESS 8/1 - N1,113,650.04 per annum.

Job Position: Administrative Officer II Location: Jos Requirement Candidate must possess a degree in any of the discipline of Social Sciences or its equivalent from a recognized institution and NYSC discharge or exemption certificate with at least two (2) years cognate experience.

Computer literacy (Word/Excel/Access) is a mandatory requirement.

Salary CONHESS 8/1 - N1,113,650.04 per annum.

Job Position: Asst. Executive Officer (ACCTS.) Location: Jos Requirement Candidate must possess an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Business Administration from a recognized institution.

Additional certificates of Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administration, RSA Stage I in Accounts Technicians Scheme of Institute of Accounting of Nigeria.

Salary CONHESS 5/1 - N389,518.80 per annum.

Job Position: Dental Therapist Location: Jos Requirement Candidate must possess a Higher National Diploma in Dental Hygiene from a recognized institution and registered with the Dental Therapist Registration Board of Nigeria (DTRBN).

At least One (1) year post-experience is required.

Computer Literacy (Word/Excel/PowerPoint) is a mandatory requirement Salary CONHESS 8/1 - N1,113,650.04 per annum.

Job Position: Senior Medical Record Technician Location: Jos Requirement Candidate must possess a Higher National Diploma in Medical Record Technician from a recognized institution, registrable with Association of Medical Record Technical Board, plus at least Six (6) years post qualification experience.

Computer literacy (Word/Excel/Power Point/Access) is a mandatory requirement and a verifiable experience with a practice with a dental practice or hospital software is an added advantage.

Salary CONHESS 8/1 - N1,113,650.04 per annum.

Job Position: Librarian II Location: Jos Requirement Candidate must possess a degree in Library Science from a recognized University, plus ‘Part one’ of the Associate Membership of the Library Association and at least two (2) years post qualification experience.

Computer literacy (Word/Excel/Access) and a verifiable experience with a liberary software is mandatory requirement.

Salary CONHESS 8/1 - N1,113,650.04 per annum.

Job Position: Senior Dental Officer Priorities Location: Jos Requirement Candidate must possess (i) a EDS with a least a Part I of the FMCDS or FWACS and at least eight (8) years postqualification experience in dental practice, OR (ii) a BDS with at least fifteen (15) years post-qualification. Computer literacy, (Word/Excel/Power Point/Access) is a mandatory requirement. Verifiable experience with a practice software and evidence of professional development in dentistry and clinic management would be an added advantage.

Salary CONMESS4/1 - N2,204,228.04 per annum.

Job Position: Senior Store Officer Location: Jos Requirement Candidate must possess an (HND) Higher National Diploma in Business Studies from a recognized institution with at least three (3) years post qualification experience with the Membership of Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

Computer literacy. (Word/Excel/Power Point/Access) is a mandatory requirement.

Verifiable experience with a stored related computer software programme is an added advantage.

Salary CONHESS 8/1 - N1,113,650.04 per annum.

Job Position: Junior Dental Officer Location: Jos Requirement Candidate must possess a BDS degree registrable with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, plus at least two (2) years post qualification experience in dental practice.

Computer literacy. (Word/Excel/Power Point/Access) is a mandatory requirement.

A verifiable experience with a practice software and evidence of professional development in dentistry and clinic management would be an added advantage.

Salary CONHESS 2/1 - N1,562,586.24 per annum.

Job Position: Principal Internal Auditor Location: Jos Requirement Candidate must possess a degree or its equivalent (HND) from a recognized institution, plus Ten (10) years post qualification cognate experience.

Computer literacy. (Word/Excel/Power Point/Accent) is a mandatory requirement.

A verifiable experience with computerized accounting programme and Professional certificate from ICAN or ANAN is also required Salary CONHESS 10/1 - N1,562,586.24 per annum.

Job Position: Programme Analyst Grade I Location: Jos Requirement Candidate must possess a degree in Computer Science or Statistics from a recognized institution.

Candidate must have a verifiable evidence of experience in software programme development programme networking skills (A+, ORACEL, CISCO).

Salary CONHESS 8/1 - N1,113,650.04 per annum.

How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should forward three (3) copies of their application along with photocopies of credentials and detailed curriculum vitae highlighting the following: a.) Full name b.) Place and date of birth c.) Home address d.) Contact address e.) Nationality f.) Marital Status g.) Number and ages of children (if any) h.) Institute ones attended with dates i.) Academic qualifications obtained with dates j.) Working experience. k.) Present employment, indicating present status and salary l.) Extra curricular activities m.) Referees (3) to: The Director, Intercountry Centre for Oral Health for Africa ICOH, No 3 CBN Road, P.M.B 2067, Jos. Note: Candidates are requested to inform their referees to send confidential reports on them directly to the above stated address. Only shortlisted candidates shall be invited for interview.

Application Deadline 12th May, 2014.

—————————————————————————— Back Office Assistant Vacancy at La Fayette Microfinance Bank La Fayette Microfinance Bank recently received the Approval-in-Principle from the Central Bank of Nigeria to carry out microfinance services in Oyo State. La Fayette MFB will be headquartered in Ibadan, the State’s capital. The Company will be incorporated in June 2012 and is expected to start operations in December 2012. La Fayette’s lead shareholder will be Advans S.A. with an equity investment of $3.1 million (501.0 million naira). IFC and KfW are each investing $1.1 million (174.5 million naira), while FMO is investing $940,000 (150.0 million naira).

If you are interested in joining us, we invite you Job Title: Back Office Assistant Job Description Location: Ibadan, Oyo Job Reference: ADV/BOA/MAR/14 Job Description: To provide Orbit technical support to Branches of La Fayette MFB To provide support in writing and updating operational procedures.

Together with team members; to be in charge of the management and the respect of operational procedures of Advans La Fayette.

To support in supervising the management of errors and corrections in the databases.

To be an active member the Head Office Operations Department.

Essential Requirements Degree, Higher National Diploma (preferably in Sciences, Engineering) Good relationship and communication skills, strong team spirit Practical knowledge of operations in a banking sector Very good Excel Skills Real motivation to work and grow in a challenging environment ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS REQUIRED Knowledge of microfinance bank sector Writing skills Knowledge of local languages especially Yoruba How to Apply http://recruit.lafayettemfb.com/cats/careers/index.

Application Deadline: 04.04.2014 ————————————————————— Jobs at APM Terminals for a Learning and Development Business Partner At APM Terminals, we are a team of over 20,000 employees spread across more than 60 countries united by a passion to provide our expertise in port operations and container management services.

By providing the expertise and port infrastructure essential to world trade, we actively support the advancement of the societies around us, enabling local economies to unlock their potential and build an even stronger global community.

Working with a team of talented professionals you will get a chance to experience different cultures and make friends all over the world. You’ll find a culturally diverse, stimulating environment at any of our offices, terminals or depots. When you join APM Terminals, the world is your workplace.

The following vacancy exists Job Title: Learning and Development Business Partner Key Responsibilities •Facilitate values sessions for new employees and refreshers for existing employees.

•Assess participants after training delivery, and issue certificates to successful participants.

•Recommend and present training solutions and interventions that meet business objectives and maximize benefits to business and employees.

•Maintain detailed training database, with electronic records of all courses completed by Staff, with attendance, grades, final report, and so forth.

•Provide weekly and monthly reports on trainings conducted and results to the Assistant Manager, L & D. •Continually evaluate the effectiveness of training by developing and implementing post-instruction evaluation such as focus group sessions and classroom observations.

•Conduct needs analysis which articulate the current state and end state, and gap to which the intervention is targeted.

•Plan and prepare APMT Fundamentals instructor-led training with standard lesson materials.

•Ensure the quality and consistency of course content throughout a course life cycle.

•Deliver APMT Fundamentals instructor-led training courses and other soft skills courses depending on business needs.

•Partner and consult with IT/HR/Fin/Commercial departments on L & D related matters to ensure that their training needs are met in line with identified gaps.

•Register all upcoming training courses with ITF for approval two weeks before commencement of training.

•Any other assigned duties.

Who we are looking for •University Degree in Communications, Social Sciences, or related field.

•Requires at least two years of experience working in a similar role, preferably in ports and terminal operation.

•Requires some previous experience that demonstrates an ability to train others and give instructions.

•Should possess Communication, Presentation and People skills.

•Requires the ability to communicate both in English & Pidgin English.

•Must be computer literate in Microsoft Office Tools.

How to Apply https://jobsearch.maersk.com/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/ ————————————————————— Fosad Consulting Job Openings for Drivers in Nigeria Our clients are in the financial services, insurance, oil and gas, FMCG and construction. They require drivers to transport and deliver transport services to coworkers and customers by applying knowledge of commercial driving regulations and roads in the area. The driver will be responsible for driving assigned vehicle to and from designated locations, maintaining record of duty status according to state and federal regulations, and performing pre-trip and post trip inspections.

We will require the following services: POOL DRIVERS TRUCK DRIVERS PRIVATE DRIVERS STAFF BUS DRIVERS JOB DESCRIPTION Inspect truck for defects and safe operating condition before, during and after trips and submit a written report on the condition of the truck at the end of each trip or tour of duty.

Drive vehicle to and from designated destinations of up to 11 hours with and maximum of 14 hours total as dot rules allow.

Promptly report any delays due to breakdowns, weather or traffic conditions or other emergencies.

Maintain records required for compliance with state and federal regulations including driver’s record of duty status, Mileage records, and other records required by law.

Perform all duties in accordance with company policies and procedures, and comply with all federal, state and local regulations for the safe operations of a commercial motor vehicle.

Apply knowledge of commercial driving and skills in maneuvering vehicle at varying speeds in difficult situations, such as heavy traffic, inclement weather.

Drivers must be able to lift and carry up to seventy-five pounds.

Reporting all accidents and incidents involving drivers or company equipment.

Report highway safety hazards noted in route.

QUALIFICATIONS Minimum of senior school certificate.

Must possess a valid commercial class A or B driver’s license (Optional: with tankers and hazmat endorsements).Must have working knowledge of vehicle safety and control systems.

Must have knowledge of dot regulations governing safe driving, hours of service, inspection and maintenance.

Must satisfactorily pass a drug test.

Must satisfactorily pass an alcohol test (if applicable) Must have previous commercial driving experience, or have graduated from an accredited commercial driving school.

Must have the ability to read and write English language. Perform simple mathematical calculations. Must have mental ability to handle receipts; read maps, road signs, maintain record of duty status, etc.

How to Apply Applicants can send CVs to recruitmentteam@fosadconsulting.com with the subject as Driver Recruitment and location in the body of the mail.

——————————————————————————

You can subscribe to Job Vacancies in Nigeria, Jobs in Nigeria via your e-mail: www.recentnigerianjobs.com

14

IN RETROSPECT

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

A Memorable Quote From A PDP Aspirant In The State Of Osun

“Recently, Chief Bola Ige came on radio here (Osogbo the state capital), to insult me and my family. THAT IS THE LAST TIME HE WOULD INSULT ME. He was beaten yesterday. The people of Ile-Ife beat him up and he was crying like a baby, as they removed his cap and glasses. If it had been at a political gathering, he will be dead by now..... In fact, what the people wanted to do was more than removing his glasses and cap....”

-IYIOLA OMISORE. •Culled from Vanguard Newspaper.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 3, 2014

15

www.osundefender.org

THE 6TH MOST-VISITED NEWSPAPER WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

The Chairman, Osun State Agricultural Development Corporation (OSSADEC), Engr. Solagbade Atanda Oladepo, has commended the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over his continuous support to farmers in the state especially by granting them agricultural loan.

He disclosed this at the first meeting of the board for the year 2014, which held at the Conference Room of the Corporation.

He used the occasion to implore members of the board and the management staff of the corporation to work together for the overall success of the agency adding that, members have to submit their completed code of conduct bureau forms on time.

Engr. Oladepo assured farmers that, they will soon benefit from the agricultural loan and asked for their support and cooperation with the present administration.

Speaking at the occasion, the Acting General Manager, Mr. Kayode Olanipekun said that, banishing hunger and poverty,

Integral Action Plan of the present administration and assured them that, disbursement of loan will commence by May 2014.

Aregbesola Lauded Over Agric Reforms

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

Osun Adara o creating wealth and employment are part of the Six-Point

Mr. Olanipekun stated further that, the State Government of Osun under Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had procured agroprocessing equipment such as Cassava Chipping Machine, Grain Processing Machine, Multi-Grain Thresher, Rice Reaper and Yam Flour processing machine for sale to women and youths at 40% subsidy.

He also informed the meeting that, the State Government had further approved a 15% subsidy on agricultural implements such as Harrow, Plough, Rigger and Tipping Trailer which are available for sale at the Cooperation headquarters along Ilobu road.

BACK-UP CARTOON: GOATS AGAINST PDP by Folake Adegboyega When the wicked are in p o w e r ; people,animals,vegetation and even the land groan in excruciating pain. Today in the land of Osun, even the goats know that Aregbesola has 'banished hunger', there is 'communal peace and progress', our children are well-fed& occupied in beautiful schools studying their Opon IMO not throwing stones at the goats out of boredom, OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited,

our Youths are gainfully employed not devising means of 'kidnapping ' the goats.Our women have surplus to keep their goats happy.

The goats say TUFIAKWA! OLORUN MAJE O, KO NI BAJE FUN WA!!! AFFLICTION SHALL NOT RISE A SECOND TIME! Amin.

OSUN A DARA Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All

correspondence to the Managing Editor, KOLA OLABISI, Telephone: 08033927286 (kolaolabisi@yahoo.com); Editor, KAYODE AGBAJE, Telephone: osundefender@yahoo.com, kayodeagbaje@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org.

0803-388-0205, E-mail: