Osun Defender - April 8th, 2014 Edition by OsunDefender

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TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014 The crises that have been rocking the two communities of ObaIIe and Oba-Oke in Olorunda Local Government Council Area in the state of Osun call for worry. What, for God's sake, are the warring communities stand to gain from constantly being

VOL. 9. NO.042

Front Page Comment Oba-Ile/Oba-Oke: Let Peace Reign Please at war with one another, other than loss?And when we talk of loss here we mean loss in all its ramifications as a Yoruba adage says; "brawl (and a bloody one for that matter such as the ones we witnessed

between these two communities towards the end of last year) doesn't enrich the pockets of thegladiators, it only gives them a bad name". Lessons of history have also taught us that war doesn't breed gentle and prosperous offspring but

belligerent ones that can never do the gladiators any good. Hence the globally accepted saying that; 'it's better to jaw-jaw than to war-war'. Continue on pg4

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

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IGE

Aregbesola Deserves Another Term- Ex-Gov Kalu - See Story On Page 2

•(L-R) Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Titilayo Loaye-Tomori; former Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed); member, National Assembly representing Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Babajide Omoworare and other State Executive Council members leading Aregbesola’s admirers, during the 15th Edition of Walk-To-Live-for-Healthy-Living exercise in Ife-North Local Government Council Area of the state at Origbo Community High School, Ipetumodu, State of Osun, last Saturday.

Osun PDP Governorship Pry Election: Omisore’s Emergence, Good For APC - Osun APC

- See Story On Page 3

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

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Aregbesola Deserves Another Term - Ex-Gov Kalu By BOLANLE BABALOLA

OT minding whose horse is gored, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a two-term former governor of Abia State, Chief (Dr) Orji Uzor Kalu, has thrown his weight behind the second term ambition of the incumbent governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. According to him, the state Council Area of the state along in its current form does not with the state governor, need to change a winning team Aregbesola, last Saturday. in view of the monumental As a statesman, he said he chain of achievements recorded could not shy away from the by Aregbesola’s administration truth, while admitting that since its inception on indeed, that Aregbesola’s November 27, 2010. outstanding performance in all Kalu stated this while sectors of governance has participating in the 15th edition qualified him for a second term of Walk to Live exercise held in in office. Ipetumodu, headquarters of Ife Speaking further, he North local Government emphasised: “I am still a

member of the PDP, but what I have heard and seen about your governor, made me to come out to support good work.” While praising Aregbesola for all his efforts in putting the state on the global map, Kalu noted that for the few days he spent in the state, the way and manner people talked about the governor, it goes a long way to show the people’s desire to see him continue the good works he has been doing through to his second term in office. “Few days that I have spent here and the way his people talked about him truly showed that Governor Aregbesola deserves another term to complete the good works that

the good Lord has used him to start during his first term,” the former Abia State governor stated. Admitting that the recentlyselected gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore is his personal friend, Kalu stressed that no matter the circumstances, he will always say the truth. “Iyiola Omisore is a personal friend of mine, but I will always say the truth,” he stressed. Speaking further on the Walk to Live programme, the PDP chieftain said only few governors in the country could walk freely among their people as Aregbesola had done without

being pelted with sachets of pure water. This, in his own assessment, has shown how popular the governor is among the people of the state. “If what I have seen today is a test of popularity, then Aregbesola is indeed popular,” the former governor reiterated. While expressing his support for President Goodluck Jonathan, Kalu reiterated that what the president needs from all and sundry at this material time is the collective prayer of all, since according to him, the man

is trying. It would be recalled that prominent Nigerians had in recent past acknowledged Governor Aregbesola’s good works in various sectors of governance. Of particular reference was Senator Uche Chukwumerije and former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, who at different fora, had acknowledged Aregbesola’s efforts in raising the standard of education and enhancing security of lives and property in the state respectively.

Osun Residents Panic As Omiosre Emerges PDP Candidate By SHINA ABUBAKAR

•Managing Editor, OSUN DEFENDER Newspaper, Mr Kola Olabisi (3rd right); Admin Manager of the Newspaper, Mr Murtala Agboola (4th right); Leader of RAFOMANIA Group, Aremo Adegboyega Abdullateef (4th left) and other members of the group during a courtesy visit to OSUN DEFENDER Newspaper Management last Friday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Yoruba Group Condemns Adesiyan, Obanikoro’s Roles In Violence In South-West

leading Yoruba organization, the Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Groups (COSEG) at the weekend, called on the Presidency to call to order two of its serving ministers from the South West zone, saying the conducts of the two ministers are capable of threatening the peace enjoyed by the people of the zone. COSEG said the Minister of newly appointed Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Adesiyan from Osun and Adesiyan, unleashed violence Musiliu Obanikoro, who is the on one of the aspirants and his Minister of State for Defence supporters.” In the statement, COSEG from Lagos State have commenced using their said Adeleke narrated how he respective offices to cause and his men were molested and repression and endanger the assaulted by security agents, the minister, another aspirant; peace of the zone. In a statement released on Senator Iyiola Omisore and one Sunday titled: Threat to Peace Sogo Agboola, at the Osogbo of South West by Police Affairs, hotel, venue of the meeting. It added: “Adeleke said he Defence Ministers and signed by COESG’s Chairman, Dayo went to the venue to meet the Ogunlana and Secretary, Rasak five-man committee sent from Olookooba, the group said the Abuja to conduct the party’s use of policemen by Adesiyan primary, which was slated for to attack a governorship Saturday, 5 April 2014 in aspirant and former governor of Osogbo. “He first noticed the Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke and the use of soldiers to halt harassment of his supporters by construction works at a housing security agents and he went into estate being built by the Lagos the hall to lay a formal State Government are strong complaint, having been told by indications that both Adesiyan the security agents that they and Obanikoro are on a sinister were acting on the instruction of the minister, Adesiyan. mission in the South West. “Inside the hall, he disclosed COSEG said, “Our attention has been drawn to an ugly that he saw Omisore, Adesiyan, unfolding drama in the State of Sogo Agboola sitting together and he approached them to Osun. As a concerned group and complain. He narrated: “I went to stakeholders in the South-West politics, welfare and socio- Adesiyan to complain that economic growth, we deem it police officers and DSS feet to promptly respond to any operatives were holding party untoward behaviour of those men outside. But, instead of whose action or inaction listening to me, he jumped over constitutes threat to this region. a table before him and hit me “We gathered that at a venue with a blow on the chest. Sogo slated for the meeting of the Agboola also attacked me. “Before I knew what was Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in the state, a happening, Omisore hit me with section of its leaders, led-by the a blow from the back. About

seven guns, corked were pointed at me.” COSEG described as undesirable, the action of the Minister of Police Affairs, saying: “First, as a Minister of the Federal Republic, one expects a man of his calibre to observe and act with decorum and ultimate care. “Secondly, as an indigene of the state, we think what should be uppermost in Adesiyan’s mind should be peace and security of the state. “Thirdly, we are completely miffed that an ordinary familiarisation meeting among contestants in his party could snowball into violence, the news of which has sent panic down the minds of the citizens over the possible violence about to be unleashed on the state in the bid by the PDP to capture Osun. The group said the appointment of Adesiyan, one of those suspected, arrested and prosecuted over the heinous assassination of former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Ajibola Ige, is an insult on the psyche of Yoruba, adding that with Adesiyan presiding over the Police Affairs Ministry, the powers that be in Abuja have told Nigerians that the killers of Ige cannot be found. On the conduct of Obanikoro, the group stated: “In the same vein, we view with concern the alleged show of power by the Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, with his occupation of a Lagos State-owned construction site at Ilubinrin in Lagos by men of the Nigerian Army.

“The drama that is unfolding in the South West region with the shameful conducts of Adesiyan (in Osun) and Obanikoro (in Lagos) is a vindication of COSEG’s earlier position and alarm that the appointment of the two were targeted at some sinister moves by the PDP to repress the people of the South West.” COSEG therefore called on well-meaning opinion leaders in the South West and the Presidency as well, to call both Obanikoro and Adesiyan to order immediately. The group said failure to do this could stoke embers of violence in the only region of the country, where there is still some semblance of stability, peace and tranquility.

ESIDENTS of major towns in the State of Osun have started panicking as Senator Iyiola Omisore emerged the flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state in August. The people of the state have According to him, it does not been following development in matter who emerges as PDP the party with keen interest as candidate or how the person the party primary built up for emerged, but whether the about two weeks. electorate in the state would Findings showed that the have a chance to vote during people were concerned with the election and if their votes the calibre of aspirant that would count. would eventually emerge as “I am saying that the the party candidate, believing peoples’ votes must be allowed it would have a lot with the to count. In other words, INEC populace before and during the would have to convince election. Nigerians with the election in As the party announced its Ekiti and Osun that it is capable candidate after the primary, of giving Nigerians an election some residents expressed their they would be proud of,” he pessimism on the peaceful added. conduct of the August 9 poll, Also, Mr Bashir Alabi in particularly with the event Osogbo said the people would leading to the build-up to the have to be very careful and party primary election held vigilant, as the PDP primary last Saturday. has shown the direction the An Ilesa trader, Mr Isola party is tilting for the August Obatola, disclosed after the gubernatorial election. announcement of the He emphasised the need for candidacy of the senator that the concerned institutions to be security operatives would have objective before and during the a lot to do in their task of conduct of the election, ensuring a violence-free poll in especially as violence preceded the state. the conduct of the PDP He noted that the crisis that primary election in the state. engulfed the party before the Also, OSUN DEFENDER conduct of the primary was a gathered that residents across pointer to what the electorate the state were surprised with should expect from the PDP the outcome of the party in August. primary, particularly as Senator Another resident in Ikirun, Isiaka Adeleke pulled out due Mr Safiu Ayanlande, disclosed to threat on his life and those that having followed of his supporters. development in the state in the According to some last six months, the residents, if the likes of Adeleke Independent National Electoral could pull out due to threats, Commission (INEC) would what is likely to happen to the have to convince Nigerians electorate who do not have the with the conduct of a fair poll wherewithal to confront the in the state ahead of the 2015 enormous violence associated general elections in the country. with the PDP.

Omisore Is Over-ambitious - Osun Lawmaker By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

State of Osun lawmaker, Honourable Kamardeen Akanbi, has said that the conduct of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, so far has shown that he is desperately relying on violence to win the August 9, 2014 governorship election. He said that the reported of his initiatives by re-electing attack on a former governor, him in the next poll. “Whoever the PDP Isiaka Adeleke, who is also a PDP aspirant, by Omisore and candidate may be, he cannot his cohorts, including the compete with Aregbesola in Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili the August 9 election. “People want a government Adesiyan, has shown that he that can fulfil promises and that is over-ambitious. The lawmaker, representing is what Ogbeni Aregbesola has Ede-North Constituency in the done. If you consider his State House of Assembly activities, you will see that this noted that Omisore’s administration has fulfilled his antecedents cannot withstand promises to the people of the the popularity of the state. “He has been able to touch incumbent Governor Rauf all sectors of governance, Aregbesola in the state. According to him, ranging from education, health, Aregbesola has been able to industrialisation, economic, infrastructural convince the people of his security, ability to transform the state development and many others and people want to enjoy more and he has performed above the

required level of expectations. “For them to say they want to unseat this government, it is a laughing matter because it is not possible. “Neither Omisore nor any of them can unseat Aregbesola. “What happened few days to their primaries, whereby Adeleke was attacked by Omisore and Adesiyan and their thugs have shown that they only believe in violence. “We are aware that the Presidency has shown interest in taking over the state and we know that the target is to rig the poll for the PDP, but they will fail, because you can only rig where you are popular,” Akanbi further stressesd. Noting that there is no town, where Aregbesola has not touched by his developmental strides, he alerted the people not to allow themselves to be deceived by those he described as disgruntled politicians, who only believe in enriching their pockets.

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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Walk-To-Live: Development ‘ll Cut Across Every Part Of Osun - Aregbesola By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI

HE Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that the ongoing construction of ultra-modern schools embarked upon by his administration would cut across all nooks and crannies of the state. Aregbesola said no area of particularly the modern the state would be exempted schools, Aregbesola said it was from the ongoing modern the duty of every responsible schools construction. government to ensure The governor stated this at development of all parts of its the 15th edition of the keep-fit state. programme of the state tagged: He said he would stop at “Walk-to-Live” held in nothing to transform the state Ipetumodu, headquarters of Ife and bring smiles to the faces of North Local government the people by ensuring that his Council Area of the state. administration’s programmes Responding to request of the are centred on infrastructural people of the area to have more and socio-economic infrastructural development, developments.

On the Walk-to-Live, Aregbesola said he chose the programme to embark on street mobilisation of the people, saying research has shown that Africans do not attain their maximum lifespan because of lack of physical exercise. Aregbesola added that the programme gives him the secondary opportunity of knowing the yearnings of the people, just as he lauded the people of the area for trooping out en masse to participate in the exercise. Speaking at the programme, former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, who said he was purposely in the state for the programme, congratulated

the people of the state for having Aregbesola as their governor. Kalu said despite being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, he was dutybound to laud the governor for a job well done, adding that only few governors in the federation can walk like that without been assaulted by citizens. Orji and Aregbesola had earlier during the exercise stopped by at the Apetumodu palace to commission a newlyconstructed Town Hall of Ipetumodu community. In his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the governor on Youths, Sports, and Special

Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade, said the programme has not derailed from the purpose of institution, which is to show to all the citizens of the state the importance of exercise in keeping the body in good shape. He said the programme was in accordance with the electioneering campaign promises of the present administration in the state. Speaking on behalf of other monarchs in the council area, the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba James Adejoke, said he was pleased that Aregbesola deemed it fit to take the train of the exercise to the area. Oba Adegoke said all the

monarchs in the local government council area were impressed with the developmental projects of Aregbesola, even as he enjoined the people of the state to support the Aregbesola-led administration in moving the state forward. The train of the exercise, which took off from Edunabon junction, went through streets like, Isale-Akuro, Oke Odo, Sekona road, Powerline, Itamerin among others, all in Edun-Abon, Yakoyo, Moro, Ipetumodu and terminated at Origbo Community High School, Ipetumodu.

Ede Headworks Would Be Shut Down For Three Days

S a result of the on-going rehabilitation works at Ede Headworks, the plant would be shut down for three days commencing from Tuesday April 8, 2014, in order to put in place the newly-purchased plants and equipment. This is contained in a that once the installations statement issued by the are completed, water supply management of the State will be restored before the Water Corporation. The said dates. The corporation statement therefore enjoined members of the therefore called on the general public to store general public to kindly bear potable water for their use. the inconveniencies which The management then the closure might cause assured the general public them.

New Constitution Provision: Do Not Tie Nigeria To The President’s Apron Strings, ARG Cautions •The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Dr. Uzor Kalu; officiating minister; Senator Babajide Omoworare; Senator Emmanuel Onwe, at St Benard’s Catholic Church in Osogbo for Sunday service, last Sunday.

Make Osun O’Meal A Model - Osun Dep Gov Urges FG By SOLA JACOBS

of Osun from stunted growth. In the words of the Chairman of the House Committee on Education in the State House of Assembly, Honourable Folorunso Bamisayemi, the state parliament is committed to constant support for the state government’s giant strides and excellent performance in all sectors of the state education in particular. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs) Temitope Ilori, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Temitope Oladele, Chairman, Osun State Univer-

EPUTY Governor and Commissioner for Education in the State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, has re-newed her call to the Federal Government to adopt the state’s elementary school feeding system, as a model for for the implementation of National School Feeding Scheme in the country. She made the call in Osogbo, soup, chicken and banana with the state capital, while speak- the pupils, said the report, ing at the flag-off of the second which put the population of phase of the Deworming Exer- children of school age with recise for elementary school pu- tarded growth across the nation pils in the state-owned public at over forty percent is worrischools under the Osun El- some, but was pleased that ementary School Feeding with the introduction of OProgramme (O-Meal) held at Meal programme, Governor the AUD Government Elemen- Aregbesola has rescued every tary School, Isale Osun, public school child in the State Osogbo. In her address titled: Healthy Children, Wealth of a Nation, Mrs. Laoye-Tomori said the purpose of the deworming exercise was to showcase the commitment of the present administration in the By ISMAEEL UTHMAN State of Osun to ensure that all the pupils in the state’s public HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the schools are physically and emergence of Senator Iyiola Omisore as the gover mentally sound and upright. norship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Describing the deworming (PDP) for the August 9 gubernatorial election as a good exercise as one in line with the omen for the APC. World Health Organization The APC said Omisore’s norm for political engagement (WHO), the state deputy gov- emergence made victory easier is gangsterism. Oyatomi said Omisore’s ernor said the biannual for the party, because the PDP programme was an important has a candidate that lacks pedi- emergence was not unexpected, step aimed at forestalling any gree, credibility, responsibility as his co-aspirant had to withdraw from the race because of unforeseen health-related haz- and focus. According to the APC in a the alleged threat from ards that could nip in the bud effort of the state government press statement signed by its Omisore and his loyalists. He said Omisore would stop in investing N3.6billion annu- Director of Research, Publically in the feeding of over ity and Strategy, Mr Kunle at nothing including fatal vio300,000 elementary school Oyatomi, on Sunday, the lence to pick his party’s ticket, pupils across the state under people of the state do not want which he did to pick the govercandidate with questionable norship ticket of the party. the school feeding programme; acharacter. According to Oyatomi, courtesy of Governor Rauf The APC described the pri- Osun people have good inAregbesola’s administration. mary election that produced stinct to decide whether to vote Mrs. Laoye-Tomori, who Omisore’s candidature as typi- for a desperate politician who took time time to share in the cal of a party, which ground will swim in the ocean of their mid-day meal of rice, egusi

sal Basic Education Board, Chief Felix Awofisayo, represented by Mr. Kenneth Akanni, along with the State Co-ordinator of O-Meal, Mrs. Bunmi Ayoola, all appreciated Governor Aregbesola for his commitment to the state’s education sector, which has positively transformed the sector. Highpoint of the event was the symbolic flag-off of the deworming exercise with the deputy governor administering deworming tablets to selected pupils, which marked commencement of the programme across all the 1,789 elementary schools in the state.

HE Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has raised a cautionary flag about the initiative to enable the Nigerian president call for a new Constitution. In a press statement signed for such to be left to the by its publicity secretary, exclusive interpretation of the Kunle Famoriyo, the group said office of the president.” “We wish to impress it on the country needs a new Constitution but warned that our federal legislators that the the National Assembly must quest for a new Constitution not vest this power on the for Nigeria, of which the ARG office of the president without is a notable vanguard, is explicitly stating when and premised upon the over how this power can be centrality of power to the president in the 1999 exercised. The statement said: “ARG Constitution.” “Therefore, giving the notes that the 1999 Constitution already reeks of President the power to call for many undesirable lacunae that a new constitution without are being exploited to the stating unambiguously how detriment of good governance. and when such power could be While ARG will always activated will tie the country support constitutional to the President’s apron provisions for initiating a new strings.” “Hence, the proposed constitution, we do not wish provisions must be exercised by the activation of a clearly defined and nationally acceptable procedure for able with no commerce, no in- convoking a Constituent dustry, no business status the Assembly. There must also be PDP put it before Aregbesola’s constitutional provisions for emergence. referendum. By doing this, any “So he would put bulldoz- new constitution that emerge ers to work, to destroy what will give procedural validation the APC government has done; to the most important phrase ‘for that is what it takes to reverse what the governor has in any constitution, “We the people”. We suggest that the done.” The APC spokesperson Senate also organise a public stated that Yoruba nation does hearing on this very important not deserve a man of irratio- issue.” nality, who wants to rule the The group, quoting a former state by force. US President, Theodore Oyatomi added that the Roosevelt, said, “This country APC said “the quintessence of will not be a good place for any Omisore’s engagement in Osun and national politics is de- of us to live in unless we make graded indeed and Osun people it a good place for all of us to are too intelligent to prefer a live in.” It therefore urges the National Assembly members destroyer to a builder.” The APC however said it “to rise above partisan welcomed Omisore to the race political dictates and mutual and expect him to be a lot less suspicion and work out violent about political engage- constitutional provisions for ment this time around because he is unlikely to get away with reviewing and validating Nigeria’s sovereignty.” it.

Osun PDP Governorship Pry Election: Omisore’s Emergence, Good For APC - Osun APC

blood to get power, or the one they know who has put Osun on the world map, and has changed their environment and lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens in the last 40 months. He said: “This character of a PDP candidate has openly boasted that he would reverse all the good works Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has done. “He has boasted he would stop the feeding of children in primary schools. He will stop the O’YES programme, just as he said ‘Agba Osun’ makes no meaning to him. “Omisore is on record as saying that Osun does not need the kind of good schools that Aregbesola is building. “He has boasted that he will stop all the road construction works going on in the state because the people are comfort-

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Oba-Ile/Oba-Oke: Let Peace Reign Please Continued from pg1

Whether at a micro or macro level of a community of people no matter what level of provocations from any quarters humans have come to realise the advantage, nay, superiority of negotiation and amicable resolutions of issues over settling of disputes by going into war. This is because after the war, when lots - in terms of lives and properties - must have been lost, the warring parties must still come to a round table for an amicable resolution of their crisis. What this means invariably is that no dispute can ever be settled through war.

There is no denying the fact that there cannot be progress in an atmosphere devoid of peace. There can only be progress and development where there is peace. History has testified much to this assertion. No doubt the commendable progress that Osun has witnessed under Ogbeni Aregbesola's leadership is made possible by the peaceful atmosphere that exists in the state since the inception of his administration. The Governor deserves kudos for this. Therefore nothing should disturb the peace in the state. This is necessary so Ogbeni can continue

his good work without hindrance or distraction. In our country Nigeria, nay, our own dear state of Osun stories of communal clashes leave a sour taste in the mouth. Take for instance the devastation war wrought on Ife and Modakeke towns when it visited them cannot be easily forgotten. The memory is sad. Ugly sites of the devastation can still be seen all over the towns. The unquantifiable loss of properties to the war if could be replaced with time it's not the case with the precious lives lost to the war.

Of course those lives have become eternally irreplaceable. We don't want a reoccurence of such a sad event in our state. And this is why as good citizens of the state we must avoid any acts of omission or commission on our part that can lead to such a devastating development.Brawl and war do nobody any good. under our focused and visionary Governor, Ogbeni Aregbesola. They only deter progress and affect us negatively in many ramifications. This is why we are appealing to the people of Oba-Ile and Oba-Oke to embrace peace. There is need to allow

Stop Illegal Dumping Of Refuse

NE aspect that I admire in the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the State of Osun is his zero-tolerance for filth, which prompted him to declare a 90day emergency in the state at the inception of his administration to rid the state of dirt. The declaration of sanitation days in the state, has no doubt, ridden the state of outbreak of diseases and has equally promoted healthy living among residents of the state. The dredging of the waterways and canals have also saved the state from perennial flooding, which often

had led to loss of lives and properties in the state in the past. The daily collection of wastes by the stateowned OWMA, the agency saddled with waste management in the state is commendable, as the

citizenry of the state are getting used to waiting for refusecollecting vans for proper disposal of their wastes. However lately, I noticed the resurface of illegal dumping of refuse close to Aye

River along Ondo road at Ayeoba area of IfeSouth Local Government Council Area of the state, and another illegal dump of refuse between Ifetedo and Olode area. Please, let’s behave

prosecuting sanitation offenders. Aregbesola’s plan for us is to promote healthy living and banish flooding from our state. Let us all join hands in our individual communities to discourage illegal disposal of our wastes, but comply with the state government’s directive by using refuse vans to dispose our wastes. We, the Omoluwabis in Osun, say ‘No’ to illegal dumping of wastes in our waterways and undesignated areas.

as responsible citizens of the state and dump our refuse at areas designated for such. The environmental • O N I FA D E officers in the council Odoarea should be alive to LUKMAN, Aladura area, their responsibilities by apprehending and Garage Olode, State of Osun.

also no quished.

peace to reign as we stand to gain aplenty both individually and collectively in an atmosphere of peace. Finally, we must commend Mr. Governor for taking steps towards ending the ObaIle/Oba-Oke crisis permanently especially the setting up of a Committee to work out amicable resolution of the problem. In the interest of peace and continued progress in our dear state the two communities must abide by the recommendations the Committee will come up with as conditions for peace. No party in this case must see itself as the victor while there is

van-

More than ever before this is the time we need peace most as election is on the way to re-elect our performing Governor who is set to take Osun to a great height. Osun needs peace so we can continue to enjoy dividends of democracy.

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Renaissance OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

THE OMOLUABI CONCEPT IN THE STATE OF OSUN

Humanizing Education Through Reclassification (II) In continuation of the series which took its debut last week, Niyi Olasinde uncovers the various aspects through which the schools’ reclassification exercise embarked upon by the incumbent administration in the State of Osun, South West Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria has impacted on entrenching the ethos of Omoluabi. As the general overhaul of the various sectors of life in the state wears on, Education is here focused as the first sphere of influence of the Omoluabi concept.

•O’CALISTHENICS, ONE OF THE INTEGRAL TENNETS OF THE OMOLUABI CONCEPT:A cross section of participants displaying calisthenics of ‘RAUF REVOLUTION’ and ‘OSUN A DARA’ during the Oodua Children’s Day celebration at Osogbo City Stadium in May last year. Inset: (L-R) The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; the governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on the occasion.

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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Humanizing Education Through Reclassification (II)

•BOLD STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF SCHOOLS’ RECLASSIFICATION: The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed), addressing his numerous admirers during his official commissioning of Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, recently. Contiuned from page 5

•Continued from last week. E find it most convenient and appropriate to maintain a link with the last week edition in order to avoid disjoint or disconnect. In this regard, relevant portions where the curtains were drawn on the last week edition shall here be recapped: The recent efforts of the incumbent administration in the State of Osun at bringing back the long-lost pride and glory in the Education Sub-sector, especially in the public domain now attracts our attention. The efforts of the administration, which kick-started with the introduction of free, functional and qualitative education upon the ascension of the administration barely three years ago, had metamorphosed into the introduction of free school uniforms to pupils and students at all levels up to Senior Secondary three, free school feeding programme for pupils up to Primary Four in the elementary rung of the school ladder under the State of Osun Schools Free Feeding and Health Programme (O’ Meals) and had culminated into capital intensive programmes such as the State of Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Programme (O’ SCHOOLS) and the introduction of the broad-based jet-age instructional support package, the Tablet of Knowledge, known in our tongue as Opon Imo. This is not to talk of other programmes like the Osun Schools Calisthenics and the drastic increase in the subvention and grants to our schools. Also in addition are the massive recruitment and selection / placement of qualified, competent and experienced teachers into the system. All the foregoing are undoubtedly laudable pluses for any administration anywhere, especially in the face of the present spate of rot and decay witnessed in the subsector in this part of the globe. The most recent of all is the ongoing schools reclassification programme. For its relentless auspicious and invaluable efforts, the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has become the envy of other states, especially the adjoining ones from which battalions of students cross daily to reap the benefits of good, sound academic and moral instruction. In spite of all these innovative intervention efforts which have so far impacted positive turnaround in the terrain of public education in the state, there still subsists a reasonably large cross section of people and residents, who are yet to see, recognize or appreciate the good works of the administration in the afore-mentioned regards. Most unjustly and ingratuitiously criticized of all these laudable programmes is the reclassification programme, which classifies our schools into

Elementary, Middle and High schools. Concerning this policy, my personal take is that even in the highest heavens, the first law is order. The classification of schools as such is even in order with the reclassification earlier carried out by the Federal Government under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and other stakeholders. Under the Federal Government reclassification, modifications were done to the 6-3-3-4 system of education which was introduced in 1987/88 academic session throughout the federation. The earlier modalities comprised for each child, six years of primary education (between the ages 6 and 11); three years of junior secondary education (ages 11 to 14); three years of senior secondary education (ages 14 to 17); and four years of tertiary education. In the schema presented above, the double three in between covers the whole range of the student’s secondary school career spanning six good years in all. In the reclassification of the government at the centre, introduced in 2001/2002; and which hardly ever went beyond the demonstration stage, the six years of primary/ elementary education and the first three years of secondary education, called the junior secondary school years in the 6-3-3-4 system were joined together to form an expansive period of nine-year basic education; while the remaining three years of secondary education – the senior secondary years stand apart. As it proved, the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme presented a farce at the end of the day. The stage at which the incumbent administration met the public institutions of education in the state was such that barely was up to 5 per cent of our secondary school leavers matriculable into any institution of higher learning. The performances of candidates of the state at public examinations; be it those of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) recorded below 2 per cent of credit passes in five subjects, with the inclusion of English and Mathematics. The situation was so terrible and abysmal that the state’s ranking among the comity of states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) numbering thirty seven in all was that of a laggard. The state took the backward position in the thirties! Now that the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Aregbesola has in its wisdom resolved to fin lasting panacea to all lingering issues which had hitherto plagued the sub-sector, it would not only be wise and appropriate;

but also complementary and supportive to give it free hand to approach the hydra-headed albatross confronting the industry head-on. In the new classification, the naming of education stages as Elementary, Middle and High schools is not entirely new. What could be new are the positive approaches and strategies; and these are necessarily so. In the new classification, the first six years of early education of the child, called the Elementary stage, comprises children of ages spanning between 6 and 11 years. The Middle School entertains products of the Elementary schools for about three years, till they reach ages about 14 years; after which they proceed to the High school. At the highest, an average student is ready, armed with brilliant academic performances evidenced by good results to proceed to his choicest tertiary institution at the age of seventeen in the maximum. The new classification, apart from removing the misfortune of bad results after the whole career of about twelve years; also seeks to make parents more alive and amenable to their God-assigned role by deemphasizing pre-primary education. In our days, pre-primary education was a complete rarity. Yet students who started solid primary education at the age of six or thereabouts coped effectively with the challenges of their sudden transition from home to school. Another issue which bothers the minds of genuine stakeholders is whether many of the agitators against the new classification, the teachers inclusive really have their wards in the various public schools on which these vital far-reaching decisions are being taken. To me, anyone who is not a stakeholder to the extent of having a ward in the public institutions should not even contribute to; not to talk of kick against any reforms fashioned out for them. I proudly add that in our days, teachers took pride and glory in having all of their children pass through their same sphere of influence i.e. the schools where they taught. The trend today is shameful indeed! Teachers who make the loudest noise of dissent against every reform in the sector hardly have any of their children in the public schools. I am sure that if all had been well with the system, they would have had no reservation in making their children pass through the system. Lots and lots have been said and written on the spate of decay, rot, devastation and deterioration that befell the public sector of the education industry in the State of Osun prior to the emergence of the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in the reins of governance. Right from the years of the cankerworms; Contiuned on page 11

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

PHOTOTALK

15th Edition Of The Keep Fit Programme Of The State Of Osun Tagged: “Walk-ToLive Exercise” In Ife-North Local Government Council Area Of The State Last Saturday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

(L-R) Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Loaye-Tomori; former Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; member of National Assembly representing Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Babajide Omoworare and other State Executive Council members leading Aregbesola’s admirers, during the 15th Edition of Walk-to-Live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ife-North Local Government Council Area at Origbo Community High School, Ipetumodu, State of Osun, on Saturday.

•A cross section of participants at the Walk-To-Live.

•Another cross section of participants at the Walk-To-Live.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

PHOTOTALK

15th Edition Of The Keep Fit Programme Of The State Of Osun Tagged: “Walk-ToLive Exercise” In Ife-North Local Government Council Area Of The State Last Saturday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Loaye-Tomori (3rd left); former Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu (4th left); the Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (5th left); member, National Assembly representing Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Babajide Omoworare ( 6th left) and other State Executives leading the crowd, during the 15th Edition of Walk-To-Live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ife-North Local Government Council Area at Origbo Community High School, Ipetumodu, State of Osun last Saturday.

•Loaye-Tomori (2nd left); Dr Kalu (3rd left); Aregbesola (4th left); Senator Omoworare ( 6th left); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (7th left) and other State Executives leading Aregbesola’s admirers, during the 15th Edition of Walk-to-Live in Ife-North Local Government in Ipetumodu, State of Osun, on Saturday.

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

15th Edition Of The Keep Fit Programme Of The State Of Osun Tagged: “Walk-ToLive Exercise” In Ife-North Local Government Council Area Of The State Last Saturday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from his admirers, during the Walk-To-Live exercise.

•The Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Loaye-Tomori (2nd left); former Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu (3rd left); Governor Rauf Aregbesola (4th left); member, National Assembly representing Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Babajide Omoworare ( 6th left); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (7th left) and other State Executives leading the crowd, during the 15th Edition of Walk to Live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ife North Local Government at Origbo Community High School, Ipetumodu, State of Osun, on Saturday. •

•A cross section of participants at the 15th edition of the Walk-To-Live exercise.

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

15th Edition Of The Keep Fit Programme Of The State Of Osun Tagged “Walk-ToLive Exercise” In Ife-North Local Government Council Area Of The State Last Saturday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•(L-R) The Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Kalu; Mr Bayo Fatusin and Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, during the exercise.

•Honourable Afolabi Olalekan (left); Dr Peter Babalola (middle); Honourable Ipoola Binuyo (at the back of Babalola); and State of Osun Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye during the exercise.

•(L-R) Laoye-Tomori; Aregbesola and Kalu at the event.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

MAGAZINE

Humanizing Education Through Reclassification (II) Contiuned from page 6

by that we mean the years of the ousted administration of Brigadier-General Olagunsoye Oyinlola (retired) in office, we had not failed in our duty to point out the degenerating trend of things in our public schools. While that oppressive tenure lasted, nothing was done to arrest the deplorable conditions of those schools, in terms of infrastructure, systems overhaul, quality control, syllabus enrichment and personnel selection strategy, This sordid situation caused the standards to decline to the extent that it became repelling for any parents or guardians to deliberately put their wards in public schools. Even teachers in those categories of schools could not muster confidence to entrust their own ward to the care of the schools, where they were supposed to be pacesetters as stakeholders in the strength of biological parenthood! What this implies in essence is that it was those who were constrained financially and who could not afford the high cost of getting their wards educated in the numerous private schools that dominated the landscape who resorted to putting their wards in these private schools. Lest we forget, these public schools were the pride of the Nigerian society during the good old days. Most of those who invested their times in office to destroy our public educational institutions were once beneficiaries of the same system, It was a clear case of someone who having ascended a tall edifice, removed the same ladder with which he climbed up with the wicked intention of preventing others from having the sweet experience of an upward journey to a higher altitude! It therefore came as a soothing relief that upon his coming on board as the Chief Executive of the State of Osun In November 2010; about three years ago; one of the first set of promises echoed and reechoed by Ogbeni Aregbesola was his avowed determination to turn the tide around positively for education, most especially the kind that is provided in the public (government-owned) institutions in the state. According to him, he did not come to send the proprietors of private schools out of business – no! But as chief proprietor of public schools, the responsibilities which the office he occupies reposed on him behooved him to take good and adequate care of the public sector of education in the state; and our public schools and pupils / students by extension. This stance / position by a public office holder, especially in the pedigree of a governor is quite responsible, touching and worthy of emulation. On this note, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine hammers it strongly that those who aspire to step into elective public offices should imbibe this kind of attitude and mindset. Today, we write as those whose captivity is returned. Our captivity in the State of Osun has been turned around. The governor who gave those lofty promises mentioned above; alongside those that were boldly enshrined in the Six-Point Integral Action Plan contained in his pact with

•AREGBESOLA: Governor, State of Osun

the people has measured up with the tone and spirit of his promises. He has not let the people down; neither has he reneged on his pledge to bring forth a complete turnaround in the entire aspects of life of his beloved people. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine has in the last edition made reference to the relevant portions of the Six-Point Integral Action Plan contained in the Pact made by the First Omoluabi with the entire people of the state during his election campaign preceding the 2007 Gubernatorial Elections in the state. But it is here considered not to be in any way out of place to recast those relevant portions. Here we go: “My mission and ambition are to restore to the people, a state of peace, opportunity, for progress and room for the pursuit of prosperity in our time under a people friendly government. I give you Six-Point Integral Action plan, to the intent that they constitute my actions of faith concerning which I want to be held accountable at any time during my stewardship. SIX POINT INTEGRAL ACTION PLAN · Banish Poverty · Banish Hunger · Banish Unemployment (Create Work/Wealth) · Restore Healthy Living · Promote Functional Education · Enhance Communal Peace and Progress” Further in the line of drawing specific reference, we have the following: CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS “There is the need for a civil service reform that will not lead to any loss of jobs as I Rauf Aregbesola do not believe in laying people off in the name of reforms. Our reform will make the work environment more conductive, stimulating and development oriented. Bonuses, incentives and regular awards shall be instituted to promote a culture of excellence in the civil service along with the prompt payment of salaries, allowances, leave bonuses and year end performance bonuses. Promotions and comprehensive salary reviews and increases shall be regular. Internal and external training, work exchange programmes and overseas training shall be actively reinstituted for comprehensive human development in the civil service. New Tutor General/Permanent Secretary Cadre shall be created for Teachers in new education districts for better school administration. We shall institute Home Ownership Scheme for public servants and also support and encourage their backyard food production business ventures.

We shall do a comprehensive review of civil service names and conventions as part of our efforts to create a people- friendly civil service. Appropriate nomenclature will enhance accountability and promote public access to the services of the ministry. A citizen with a complaint of blockage of drainage will find a Ministry of Roads and Drainages easier to identify with than Ministry of Works, a Ministry of Human Resources and Development will more appropriately communicate its services than a Ministry of Establishment.” WE now swing to the Education sub-heading of the Pact, which we quote as follows PROMOTE FUNCTIONAL EDUCATION Vision: Eradicate the frustration of youths caused by education that does not lead to employment. “To achieve this, the government of AC under Rauf Aregbesola shall: · Provide free education at all levels in Osun State. Focus on functional education. Education that makes one useful to himself and society. · Improve incentives to teachers and work with the NUT to restore the dignity of the teaching profession. · Restructure administration of school management and create Tutors-General (Permanent Secretary Cadre) from among Head Teachers in three Educational Districts which we will establish.\ · Fix all collapsed educational infrastructures in all the schools. · Support with modern teaching aids and wellstocked libraries. · Ensure cooperation with parents and teachers to improve discipline and morality. · Introduce non-partisan community-based governing boards for all schools. · Reduce number of students per classroom immediately. · Introduce home development plans for teachers who wish to build houses in their home towns, through access to special mortgage packages. · Promote mass adult literacy and numeracy programmes. · Promote and support Special programmes that give special attention to education of girls and women. · Establish institutions that impart life-long skills for all, in and out of formal schooling. ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY · I am committed to ensuring that an Osun State University takes off on a sound footing and becomes a first-class institution with linkages to renowned universities in the developed world. · I will make every tertiary institution in Osun State an independent degree-awarding one. Contiuned on page 12

•LAOYE-TOMORI: Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Education

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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Humanizing Education Through Reclassification (II)

•PROMOTING THE ETHOS OF OMOLUABI THROUGH MASSIVE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (with fez cap), leading thousands of OYES cadets in the endurance trek. With him are his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (right) and other dignitaries sometime ago. Continued from page 11 made so far. To these numerous tasks shall OSUN

· Encourage use of services of retired, but not tired dons and administrators, from reputable institutions.” It is in copious and consummate pursuance of these beautiful and hope-inspiring promises contained in the Six-Point Integral Action Plan encapsulated in the Pact of the incumbent governor that he swiftly swung into action upon the restoration of his stolen mandate through the justice upheld by the courageous judges of the Federal Court of Appeal situated at Ibadan, Oyo State on Friday, November 26 2010. Since his inauguration and official assumption of duty on the next day, the state has up till now stopped to witness unprecedented accelerated progress in all spheres of life; a development which has made it the envy of all states in the country. In the area of education in particular, lots of achievements have been recorded by the Aregbesola team since inception. In our last edition, which doubled as the first part to this current one, not only did we mention in passing the lineup of astonishing ground-breaking achievements recorded so far by the Government Unusual; but we also went further to state categorically that the most currently in vogue and widely misconstrued among a large cross section of residents is the ongoing reforms in the schools’ structure. The reforms popularly referred to as the State of Osun Schools’ Reclassification programme form our current focus of public enlightenment on this series of editions. The first in the lineup of efforts known in public parlances, consciously and deliberately made by the incumbent administration, aside the free, functional and qualitative education which took effect right from its very first day in office is the convening of the first ever State of Osun Education Summit. The summit, held in February 2011, was convened with the sole intent and purpose of charting a decisive and definite course for the turning around of public education at all levels of the rungs of the educational ladder in the state. Time and again, lots have been written and said in an attempt at portraying the true picture of decay and rot in the sector prior to the emergence of the Government Unusual. We are at this stage not going to procrastinate by repeating this all over. We shall however begin to take another dimension in approaching the entire concatenation of events which form a build-up to the rot; the extent of the rot as at the time of the coming on board of the government of the day; the quick diagnosis of the degree and intensity of the ravaging extent of the rot; the prognosis of the right decisive steps to take to ameliorate the depth of decay as well as mitigate against a continuation of the bad trend; the prompt, timely and proactive intervention efforts taken; and the progress

DEFENDER Magazine now proceed. We shall thereafter proceed to give perusal to the Schools’ Reclassification programme of the incumbent administration and its multiple dimensions of benefits to all and sundry in the State of Osun.

RIOR to the emergence of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola and his team on the saddle of leadership, governance and service in the State of Osun, the entire sectors of life in the state were riddled with innumerable crises of seemingly insurmountable magnitude. As a matter of fact, the terrain of the time was replete with abounding evidences that the education sub-sector of the Social Services Sector of the economy of our state stood as the most terribly bedeviled; being adversely devastated and most critically ill. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine casts a retrospective glance at its numerous revealing editions of the time, which were totally committed to unraveling the depth, extent, gravity and intensity of devastation, rot, abandonment and negligence which befell the all-important sub-sector as the period of fiery siege mounted by the captors of the time; the bandits of the conservative People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rolled by. We need to sound a reminder note that while that fiery siege of the Oyinlola years lasted; our medium never compromised its avowed stand of confronting and criticizing the oppressive policies of the time which nearly snuffed life out of all sectors of life in the state. Measured by all known standards, it became confirmed beyond all reasonable doubts that there was hardly any other single sector or sub-sector in the state which suffered blows as terrible, palpable and debilitating as did the education industry. As at the time of coming on board of the Rauf Aregbesola administration over the reins of power, governance and service in the State of Osun, it appeared that the public sector of the state’s education industry was heading for the rocks. It had nosed-dived and degenerated so much that government could no longer find its foot to stand the competition poised by the huge and ample presence of private investors at all rungs of the ladder within the industry. Readers are here reminded of the ugly rot of that time as showcased in our series of editions. It is for this selfsame purpose of sounding a reminder that this edition had in the first part, brought back to sight the sorry, sordid, gory and horrible sights which called for urgent emergency and intervention which the purposeful, focused and foresighted administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola came to provide. Barely 100 days into the administration of the progressive Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of the time, now the All Progressive Congress (APC), the very

first decisive steps in the right direction for turning the tide around in favour of revamping the dwindling fortunes of education in the state, were made. Long before that solution hour, the desiring hearts of progress-loving indigenes and residents had panted continuously for positive changes that would set the state back on course of its old glory of excellence in academics and scholarship. As at that time, records and visible evidences had begun to prove that it had become a case of clear impossibility for the state to have above 2 per cent five credit passes for its candidates presented annually for public external examinations, i.e. the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSSCE) as organized by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC); and the Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE) as conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO). The foregoing, by implication, stands to reason that it was fast-becoming difficult for the state to assert itself among the comity of states in the federation of Nigeria in filing up its admission quotas in federal institutions of higher learning. This, by extension, implies that it was becoming what could be likened to the Biblical case of a camel passing through the eye of the needle for the state’s school leavers to scuttle through the rigors of the “almighty” Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). As if to add salt to injury, the governmentsponsored free enrolment policy for school certificate students of public secondary institutions which the defunct Oyinlola administration paraded as the prime of its acclaimed free education programme ended up in a farce! This was as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) withheld the results of the state’s public schools candidates for the 2009/2010 outing of the examinations. The reason for this step was not remote to discern: The Oyinlola administration defaulted in its financial obligation to pay up for the entry of its students for the examinations! As a matter of fact, one of the first numerous shockers which the new administration had to muster and grapple with upon assumption of office was having to pay up for an examination it did not enter students for; more so, when the results of students in the examination were consistently poor, constituting disappointment and embarrassment thereby. All through the entire Oyinlola years, which at best could be described as years of the holocaust, education in the State of Osun suffered a terrible set-back; not only in terms of poor quality of results and feedback, but also in terms of what went into it i.e. funding, staffing, materials and aids, infrastructure and the Continued on page 13

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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Humanizing Education Through Reclassification (II)

•Oyeduntan: O’School Chairman

•AWOFISAYO: SUBEB Board Chairman

Continued from page 12

in the area of Western Education in the nation.

learning environment. It was perhaps the urgency imposed by these sordid and despicable conditions into which this vital industry had been plunged in the state that the new administration took the bull by the horns to explore and exploit means and ways of arresting the decay being witnessed by the sub-sector. Following the declaration of a state of emergency in the education industry in the state, the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola swung swiftly into action when in February 2011, the first-ever Education Summit was put together for the State of Osun. The agenda and thrust of the summit was to actively engage a rich pool of ideas, skills, experiences and expertise of participants; drawn from diverse and related disciplines from Nigeria, Africa and the Diaspora in order to fashion out lasting panacea to the multifaceted hydra-headed challenges that had hitherto plagued the sector. As part of the findings and recommendations of the summit, which was chaired by no less a personality than the academic icon and internationally reputed Nobel Laureate in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka, the teaching-learning environment was identified to be of high preponderating and contributory influence on impact of delivery, efficacy and good outcome. It would not be a mismatch, therefore, to attribute the emergence and/evolution of the State of Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Project, known for short as O’SCHOOLS to the numerous landmark breakthrough achievements of the inaugural Education Summit for the State of Osun held in February 2011. This far into the exposition at hand, our teeming readers have been taken down the memory lane, as we went through the spate of rot, decay and abandonment which our public educational institutions were made to witness in the past decade or thereabouts; particularly, during the time of the fiery siege unleashed by the immediate past administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. We availed the ample medium offered by our numerous editions to explore the multiple ugly sideeffects of the careless neglect of the time and the extent and depth of dungeon into which the state had been plunged. We further went through the details of devastation; the extent and intensity of damage and the resultant effects of the declined quality on the state, its people and the products of the rotten system directly. Part of this was the abysmally poor academic performances of the state’s candidates in annual external examinations, to the extent that it was becoming increasingly difficult for the state’s candidates to fill their allotted spaces for admission in federal tertiary institutions, due to dwindling performances. Also, admission into stateowned institutions became difficult due to much the same reasons. As a result, rate of dropout became very high. This presented a sharp deviation from long-known traditions whereby our state was one of the leading lights

The prevailing situation in the State of Osun was that bad! Fortunately, the coming on board of the Aregbesola was a timely development; which brought with it timely relief to all and sundry in the state. Rather than moaning and groaning under the yoke of the colossal loss suffered by the state and its people over the years, the progressive and dynamic administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola knew what to do and when exactly to act. This timely intervention, according to opinions expressed by sources close to the governor and his team was due to long time of planning and deep-seated interest which the Symbol of the struggle for the revival of Osun, Ogbeni Aregbesola has in the education of youths in the state and bringing back quality to it. The factors which provided impetus for the first ever State of Osun Education Summit; and which added credence to the O’SCHOOLS project have been attributed the decisive steps taken so far and the huge success recorded to early recognition of requisite elements for effective learning, accurate diagnosis of the affliction which had bedeviled the subsector and recognition and proper application of efficacious therapy. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine casts readers’ minds back to excerpts of interview held with one of the principal actors in the education policies of the incumbent administration in the state, the Chairman of the State of Osun Schools’ Infrastructure Development Project (O’SCHOOLS) Committee, Otunba Lai Oyeduntan, who justified the Education Summit, its rationale and aftermath as follows:

“Well, I’m sorry to say that I’m not aware that anybody has criticized that summit. I have not seen any fellow doing that! The summit was widely attended. It was widely graced from all over the world by people who are knowledgeable in education, policies, and even in intellectual aspect of it. I am going to answer that question simply because I was involved, both in planning and implementation; and the after-effects. How did we come about the summit? Long before Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came into office, right from the moment he indicated interest and was given the ticket to contest, he had shown a lot of interest in education. As far back as 2004, he sponsored a remedial programme for Osun boys and girls preparing for external examinations. That time, 2,000 candidates were involved. Extra-mural classes were organized in Osogbo, in Iwo, in Ilesa - about 2,500 candidates I think. And Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola picked the bill to fund the classes, paid for their school certificate entry fee and paid them (the candidates) allowances. When the results came, it was disappointing! It was obvious that there was a lot more wrong with the education sector than trying all these cosmetic approaches for a solution. So between 2005 and 2011, there were so many committees he instituted focusing on education! That is why it was possible that within the

•KOLABALOGUN: Social Welfare, Youth Sports and Special Needs

first 100 days of his being sworn in, an education committee - a summit chaired by no less a personality than Professor Wole Soyinka took place; inviting resource people from all over the world; many of them, our own people, who had made marks in the United States, in Europe, in the Americas and other parts of the country and Africa. Okay, the summary of the findings at that summit identified that it takes more than the teacher, it takes more than the pupil, it takes more than all of these to have all the impact that it requires to increase the fortunes of the education sector. One of these is that the teacher who will teach must be made more efficient. The students must be well prepared, and of course, the environment must be made more friendly and befitting - more enabling! So, the environment must be properly taken care of and that led to the uniform concept introduced by the Government of the state to encourage and of course to motivate the pupils. Teachers are being recruited and being retrained via programmes of training, retraining and promotion courses. Now, we are talking of the environment - we have the O’MEAL programme, we have O’UNIFORM, even O’TEACHERS, so to say, all came as a result of experts identifying and pointing out the crucial steps to take, to set the sector back on track.” So, we can deduce from the foregoing that the bulk of the beautiful package of intervention programmes we now have on ground and their impact came courtesy of the summit and the responses to the challenges that necessitated it. As a matter of fact, the impact of the incumbent administration on the education terrain of the state has been fat and colossal. Today we see the hand of a government that works in all sectors. With our focus on education, never in the annals of the State of Osun has the education sector fared better than it is doing now! Following the declaration of a state of emergency in the education industry in the state, the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola swung swiftly into action when in February 2011, the first-ever Education Summit was put together for the State of Osun. The agenda and thrust of the summit was to actively engage a rich pool of ideas, skills, experiences and expertise of participants; drawn from diverse and related disciplines from Nigeria, Africa and the Diaspora in order to fashion out lasting panacea to the multifaceted hydra headed challenges that had hitherto plagued the sector. As part of the findings and recommendations of the summit, which was chaired by no less a personality than the academic icon and internationally reputed Nobel Laureate in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka, the teaching-learning environment was identified to be of high preponderating and contributory influence on impact of delivery, efficacy and good outcome. It would not be a mismatch, therefore, to attribute the emergence and evolution of the State of Osun Schools Infrastructure Continued on page 14

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

MAGAZINE

Humanizing Education Through Reclassification (II)

•BEFITTING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG OMOLUABIS: An aerial view of Baptist Elementary Central School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, recently commissioned by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. superintend the development of the most dilapidated. You must know, for fear of teachers’ retrenchment: Continued from page 13 decayed and largely dilapidated Development Project, known for short structures in the schools for basic emphasis, we only go to remove those “I would have to clarify certain things. as O’SCHOOLS to the numerous education in our state. I don’t know structures that have been identified by landmark breakthrough achievements of whether I will agree with you that the the schools. So we only go to those schools The policy of restructuring the schooling the inaugural Education Summit for the public does not know. If anything at all, on invitation by the heads of the schools system, the policies of even the average to help remove dangerously dilapidated size, optimum size of these schools are State of Osun held in February 2011. we have had a lot of exposure in terms of structures. What that means in essence, not arbitrary. They are not new and they what we stand for, what we do, how we Another in the list of programmes do it and even the activities that we have is that whatever structures we remove, are not even far-fetched. The results of rolled out by the incumbent been engaged in. The name, the coinage would have no adverse effect on the that reorganization will justify the administration sequel to the State of Osun ‘’O’SCHOOLS’’ has been the name for capacity of the affected school to function exercise. Right now, most of these schools Education Summit is the ongoing Schools the committee to the extent that many of the morning after; because we are only are already of that same size. We have Reforms and Reclassification. By the us have had to answer to the name invited to come and remove structures primary schools with the population in tone of the reclassification, no school ‘’O’SCHOOLS’’. O’SCHOOLS is the that were not in use as at the date of excess of one thousand (1,000) all over removal. So it is not true that the intention the state. We have secondary schools with was going to, in nomenclature or identity alias of the committee.” was to put the schools and the users in population in excess of 2,000 plus all over lose the name given to it by its initial hazard or difficulties; the intention was the state. But what do you have? In one owners before the take-over of the The impetus for the new infrastructural not haphazard. The structures were premises, you have three, four schools. mission schools by the government in development is here given in lucid terms: demolished based on the specification of In one premises, you have several schools. September 1975. Also by it, the the users. It was structured and it was All we are doing is rationalization; which speculation that some pupils or students “Firstly, there’s no difference. It is a is optimizing the allocation, the would have to trek long distances to and development. It is an enhancement. It is mapped out.” application of resources. Part of the fro schools on daily basis is off-track. It an enhancement of the environment where The devilish notion contrived that the resources is the teachers, and they are on is also an unfounded fallacy that our teaching and learning functions take government has the ulterior motive of place. Why I say there’s no difference? administration intended through the top of the chart. Why do you have schools partial or massive retrenchment of One, the setting on which we are doing O’SCHOOLS or the Reclassification with two teachers, three teachers; four teachers at the back of its mind by our intervention is based on the existing exercise to make pupils or students of teachers; five teachers; and they have initiating the programme. In addition to schools. The schools are there, but they schools to trek long distances to and fro two or more schools in that same premises? Why not aggregate them and this, the calculated lie fabricated that the have deteriorated so badly that they had schools is debunked with this response: reschedule them and make the time table Government Unusual has embarked on become dysfunctional. Yes, some people “It is not true. It is not possible. It is and allocation of teachers a lot easier? the mass demolition of school structures started that idea in the past, and it is claimed to have been erected by the time to improve on it, to modernize it, to not practical that we ever moved pupils/ Then comes the issue of maintaining the immediate past administration is both bring it up to track with modern Twenty- students from Ipetu-Ijesa to Ijebu-Ijesa schools. The environment is very, very unsystematic and irrational. The governor First Century standards. So what we’ve or any of such locations. First of all, I’ve important for the development of the has continuously spared no available been making is a transformational thrown a challenge to the public. Anybody mind. That is even more so for the young medium to debunk these rumors. The projection of what we have been doing who can identify a structure that was mind, the young impressive mind. That Deputy Governor, who also doubles as and bringing it up to track with the best removed without the invitation of the is the budget and that is what we are affected schools should please let us know aiming at - That the environment should the State Commissioner for Education has practices all over the world.” or contact us. I don’t want you to confuse be conducive; and be of support to a never relented in disabusing the minds of an attempt by a committee in the Ministry developing mind that is learning and citizens and residents and insulating them Reacting to the insinuation that from believing these bunches of lies. demolished school structures are strong of Education to implement the new maturing into wholesome personality.” Below are excerpts from responses by edifices that are legacies of the immediate schooling structures. That is a different These question and answer sessions Otunba Lai Oyeduntan to questions past administration in the state, the thing entirely. That was a recent event and the government is on top of it to make were held at a time when the schools’ bordering on these malicious insinuations: chairman responded as follows: sure that this is done properly. For us as reclassification exercise had not begun O’SCHOOLS, our relics, purview, our to take effect. At the time the responses On the negative protestation against the “Well, the truth is that we have had to mandate is to superintend the introduction were made, the idea of reclassification whole essence of providing the public remove dangerously dilapidated structures education sub-sector with brand-new from our schools. One, at the beginning of infrastructure in our schools, and had not yet been publicly known it was infrastructure, this response provides the of this committee’s assignment, we toured nobody has suffered any deprivation as then at the conception stage. Yet the a result of our activities. The only responses are still found apt and relevant! most apt response: the schools and found structures that wholesale demolition we witnessed so far This shows the depth and extent of the constituted immediate danger to the users commitment and “Osun Schools Infrastructure of the premises and this made us to invite are those school structures marked for preparedness, Development Committee is the Project the heads of the schools; that is the demolition for the purpose of immediate consistency of the Government Unusual Management Office (PMO) of Schools headmasters and the principals to give redevelopment; and as of today, twenty- to its programmes and policies. Infrastructure Development Project for us reports and file their returns and give four (24) of such schools have been The programmes and policies of the the State of Osun. The Schools us details of such structures in their developed.” incumbent administration in the Sate of Infrastructure Development Project is an premises that are considered to constitute Lastly in this edition, we shall refer to Osun are mutually reconstructive. They intervention mechanism, one of the immediate danger to students. We intervention mechanisms introduced by received their requests and we found out the Chairman’s response to questions are integrative, well-knit, symbiotic, the government of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji that four thousand and fifty five (4,055) bordering on speculated schools’ merger interdependent and interwoven. Aregbesola to revamp the education sector structures were noted to be dangerously and the imminent submerging of initial ownership. Also, this response allays the · To be continued. of the state. Our project is essentially to

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 8, 2014

PHOTOTALK

Primate Of The Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, Paid A Courtesy Visit To The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At The Government House, Osogbo, Last Saturday.

•The Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), presenting gifts to Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh (left). With them is the state, Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, during the visit.

•Reverend Abraham Akintola (left); former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (2nd left); Most Reverend Okoh (middle); Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right) and Reverend (Dr) Samuel Sowale, Bishop Ilesa Anglican Communion, during the visit.

•(L-R) Most Reverend Okoh; Laoye-Tomori; Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat, and Reverend Sowale, during the courtesy visit to the governor.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014

are T HE a Bramblers set of people, who once lived in the oasis area of Malimo in the Middle East, where there was an intractable problem of thorns and briers growing from the soil that was expected to grow edible plants and vegetables. The case was made worse for these beleaguered people by the exclusive availability of delicate velvet fabrics that got torn easily, as they went about trying to make ends meet. They became so devastated, and were desperately in need of solutions that could alleviate their despicable situation. There was no means of communication with the outside world, hence the quest for internal remedy capable of assuaging their perpetual near-nudity and excruciating hunger. They conjured and prayed, all to no avail until an adventurer strayed into their land. The Bramblers were initially hostile to the adventurer, and even threatened to kill him, unless he could proffer solutions to their multi-faceted problems. The man promised to help them, if only they were ready to cooperate with him and allow him consult with the oracle. They repented of their earlier stance and promised to do according to the dictates of the oracle. The adventurer made good his promise and came up with what appeared like a lasting solution to the people’s age-long predicaments. They were only required to chant CHANGE seven times for seven days, which they did and their problems vanished as though they never existed. People continued to enjoy, as the land no longer grew thorns and briers, but good vegetables that were good for food and their fabrics became durable. Year upon year, people continued to bask in the euphoria of the eventful life pattern, until one day when one of the aborigine leaders felt they should strip the Adventurer of his invincibility, so that he could become like any of them. Majority of them consented and they seized all his amulets, charms, and other things they perceived were responsible for the man’s pervasive ingenuity. After three years, former situations betided the Bramblers and the Adventurer’s incapacitation came to the fore: what was required to appease the oracle every three years had been destroyed. The man left the Bramblers and went back to his land of nativity. They thereafter chanted CHANGE seven times for seven days, but there was no positive

By ADE OLUGBOTEMI

Avoiding The Hallo Effect Of The Bramblers’ Naivety “The enemies of our land are already at work! They seem to have discovered the magic wand that may be applied to blindfold people so as not to see the positive changes that are now evident all over the places within the state. They seem to have discovered the antics that will cajole people, so that the negative aspect of the current changes in our dear State of Osun will be magnified out of proportion. They intend to propel the chicken-heartedness of the feeble into the consciousness and the subconscious of the generality of the people, so that the pain of transformation that is bound to be borne by everybody, in order to have our heads satisfactorily raised up as architects of a new State of Osun will not be pungently endured.” change any longer. The enemies of our land are already at work! They seem to have discovered the magic wand that may be applied to blindfold people so as not to see the positive changes that are now evident all over the places within the state. They seem to have discovered the antics that will cajole people, so that the negative aspect of the current changes in our dear State of Osun will be magnified out of proportion. They intend to propel the chicken-heartedness of the feeble into the consciousness and the sub-conscious of the generality of the people, so that the pain of transformation that is bound to be borne by everybody, in order to have our heads satisfactorily raised up as architects of a new State of Osun will not be pungently endured.

It would have been good if there are alternatives to what we are passing through now and still get to the same destination. It will be pleasantly alright if it will not be necessary to endure any pains before we begin to enjoy good road network that will be devoid of those past unnecessary rigmarole of vehicular logjams that characterized our cities and big towns in the period prior to the present dispensation. We are loving enough to remember that many of our dear ones were drowned in floods occasioned by lack of drainages and wellchannelised rivers and streams that used to veer-off their courses, entering residential houses and commercial shops and stalls to destroy lives that could not be redeemed with money and properties worth millions of naira impossible to be salvaged.

We must be able to differentiate between a sickening regime that squandered our collective heritage at night parties through rations that bore no subheads and one that believes in relatively equitable wealth distribution that individuals, irrespective of party affiliations, can access as public utilities all over the state. We may also need to embark on simple sample survey or better still, through research to know the number of beneficiaries that are now gainfully employed without partisan attachment. These are unprecedented in the annals of our political evolution; and people must appreciate this new trend that places all and sundry on equal pedestal, living politicking to only those party faithful to profit withal. Considering the reality that needs and wants are insatiable, we need to order our priorities right once and for all. We must be followers who show interest in the general growth and development of our state and our nation. We must always compare notes and see where we are faring better and where we are lagging behind. We must be courageous enough to applaud merit and exhibit no less courage to ask questions where it becomes necessary and when we are dissatisfied with the leaders’ performances. The psychological freedom that is able to propel us to call our leaders to order will also go a long way to propel us to sacrifice the little we can to move the state forward. We know how much suffering and humiliation we endured before we arrived where we are, and with nothing to show as solace for endurance in the immediate-past dispensation. Unfortunately, the present crop of leaders did not envisage any abrupt decline in revenue that seemed to be built up in Abuja, the Centre of Unity. We must all put heads together to fashion the way out of the current economic quagmire that makes it difficult for salaries to be paid and compelled the development initiatives to be slowed down. We cannot afford to feel unbothered at this critical stage that all hands are supposed to be on deck. Any disequilibrium occasioned by irrational precipitations from never-say-good opposition bigots will only aggravate the already tensed-up economic situation. This tough time will surely abate, if only we all resolve to put our divergent ingenuity to task.

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, 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: 0803-388-0205, E-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com, kayodeagbaje@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org.