www.osundefender.org SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014 From another PDP stalwart came a message of 'well done a good ambassador' to the workaholic and result-oriented Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over the weekend. The pat on the back
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"It's always the Front Page Comment best policy to Who Killed speak the truth Orji Kalu's assessment unless, of course, Chief Bola Ige, is exceptionally formerAttorneyof Aregbesolawith his team is quite one a liar". Truth, they say, is given to Mr. notable. And it reminds General and bitter. But no policy Aregbesola by a former us of that very imporsurpasses speaking Governor of Abia state, tant quote from that Minister of the truth. Dr. Uzor Orji Kalu who great thinker, Jerome was on tour of SouthK. Jerome; Continue on pg5 Justice? West
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August Governorship Election:
Osun APC Holds Primary Today - See Story On Page 2
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, acknowledging cheers from his admirers. With him is his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, during the endorsement of Governor Aregbesola for second term in office by the Nigerian Union of Tailors (NUT), State of Osun Chapter, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, last Tuesday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
Osun Assembly Warns Omisore, Adesiyan Against Violence
- See Story On Page 3
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
August Governorship Election: Osun APC Holds Primary Today By ISMAEEL UTHMAN
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N preparation to contest the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in the State of Osun, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it will conduct governorship primary for aspirants of the party today. The primary is to unveil under the APC. A press statement signed and present a candidate that will contest the election by the party’s Director of
Publicity, Research and Strategy, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, in Osogbo on Thursday, stated that the primary would hold in all the 332 wards in the state. According to him, officials from the APC National Secretariat in Abuja have arrived Osun to ensure that
the primary process is democratically applied as stipulated by the Electoral Act for the exercise. Oyatomi said the primary is scheduled to take off at the ward centres between 8 and 10 am; while results will be collated at the local government headquarters
World Bank Adopt OYES Template For Osun Youths Empowerment By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
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HE World Bank has earmarked $300 million to support youth empowerment intervention in Nigeria under the bank’s Youth Empowerment Social Support Operation (YESSO), using the template of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES). The World Bank Task so that the targets, who are Team Leader for YESSO, poor people can be in the Professor Foluso captured Okunmadewa, disclosed programme,” he said. Speaking, the Senior this at the Training the Trainers Programme On Special Assistant to the Community Based Governor of the State of Targeting and Unified Osun on Community Forum, Registry of Beneficiaries of Tunbosun Oyintiloye said the scheme for participants the YESSO, just like OYES, from Osun, Ekiti and Oyo would go a long way in reducing unemployment states. The three states were rate and poverty in the among the seven pilot country. Expressing satisfaction states for the scheme, which that the World Bank and the include Bauchi, Cross River, Federal Government are Kwara and Niger states. YESSO is a Federal keying into the idea of Government’s World Bank- OYES, Oyintiloye said the supported intervention on OYES scheme alone has poverty reduction, targeted taken 40,000 youths off the at the extremely-poor in streets within the last three Nigeria to access increased years. He averred that through opportunity for youth employment and social the OYES alone, Osun is injecting N200 million into service delivery. Okunmadewa said the the local economy, which, training by the World Bank he said has further boosted would help the pilot states the state’s economy. He then counselled to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their government at all levels to various youth key into the culture of reducing the rate of empowerment schemes. “The main focus is to unemployment across the train on how to do country. Also, the State community-based Operation Coordinator of targetting and how to create a single register for YESSO, Mr Femi Ifaturoti, beneficiaries of each state, said the interest of the
World Bank is to develop the capacities and expand the youth empowerment intervention programmes in Osun and other pilot states, so that it can be replicated in other states of Nigeria. The main focus of the
training, he said, was to create community-based targetting and create registers for the beneficiaries, so that whenever such registers are needed for anything, it would be available.
between 12noon and 2pm. He stressed that the final collation and endorsement of the candidate will be made at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo on the same day. As at the time of filing this report, Governor Rauf Aregbesola was the only aspirant, who had picked and returned the party’s form to affirm his interest in running at the next governorship election. The APC however, urged its members to conduct themselves peacefully during the primary election, saying that is the characteristic of the virtuous citizens of State of Osun. Meanwhile, Oranmiyan
Worldwide, a socio-political organisation, has appealed to the delegates participating in today’s primaries to vote for the current governor of the state, Ogbeni Aregbesola in view of his sterling performance since his assumption of office. This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the PresedentGeneral of the organisation, Prince Felix Awofisayo, and made available to newsmen in Osogbo, the state capital. According to Awofisayo: “It is no gainsaying the fact that Osun has witnessed u n p r e c e d e n t e d developmnental strides since he came office.”
Osun Looks Inward For Revenue Generation By SHINA ABUBAKAR
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fertilisation of ideas on how to make MDAs more viable and cynosure of all eyes in revenuegeneration in the state, so as to reduce dependence on federal allocation. Oyebanji emphasised the need for dedication among members of staff of MDAs, as a major way of re-enacting the era of
N a bid to enhance the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State of Osun, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the state have been urged to double their efforts toward realising their various revenue estimate target for this year. This was disclosed by payment transactions. Also, he stated that the the state Internal Revenue Service Acting Chairman, discussion offered an Mr Dayo Oyebanji, at the avenue for crossjust-concluded two-week bilateral discussion that involved MDAs in the state on the automation of revenue collection. The event was organised by the Internal EQUEL to the violence and political killings Revenue Service (IRS) in recorded in the State of Osun during the last collaboration with the voters’ registration exercise and ward congress Budget and Economic of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Planning Commission, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights Government Parastatals, (CDHR) has alerted security agencies in the state Monitoring Team, Office over what it called an attempt to bring Osun under of the Accountant chaos, confusion and crisis. General, as well as IRS The state branch of the Tax Consultancy firm on CDHR stated that going by agencies in the state to rise the record of political up to the security threats revenue automation. According to the acting activities in the state since and violent disposition of chairman, the essence of the voters’ registration some politicians, with a the gathering was to make exercise, violence was view to ensuring that sure that MDAs in the imminent before, during peace continues to reign in state comply with and after the August 9 the state. The organisation in a Governor Rauf governorship election in the state. press statement signed by Aregbesola’s directive on The CDHR therefore, its Acting Chairman, automating all their challenged security Comrade Akinkunmi
efficient internal revenue generation, which was used to finance developmental project in the old Western Region. “The recent influx of viable economic activities in the state could translate into more internal revenue generation, if MDA’s are focused and goaloriented,” he added.
CDHR Raises Alarm Over Political Violence In Osun
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•An ongoing construction of over-head bridge project along the East By-Pass, Osogbo, road under the administration of the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as captured by our cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, last Thursday.
Asifat, on Thursday, condemned political violence in the state in general terms, warning that Osun should not be brought back to the dark era of insanity, when peace eluded the state. According to Asifat, it was evident that some politicians in the state, who want to clinch power at all cost, are now breeding hoodlums and stockpiling weapons to be used to unleash terror on the people of the state before, during and after the election period. Making reference to an allegation by an aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who said the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, PDP governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, attacked him and were after his life, Asifat wondered what would happen to the ruling-party members and ordinary
members of the electorate, if two aspirants in the same party could be threatening to kill each other. The CDHR chairman stressed that the violence recorded in some parts of the state like Ede, Sekona, Osu and Ijebu-Ijesa during the PDP ward congress on Wednesday was a pointer that some politicians in the state are preaching violence and practising political brigandage ahead of the August 9, 2014 governorship election. Asifat said the spreading political violence in the state should be curtailed before it gets out of hands, maintaining that the development in the PDP fold has become a serious concern, which calls for decisive action. He said the killing of two PDP chieftains in IleIfe and Ilesa and the assassination of a Labour Party chairman in Ilesa is a threat to the forthcoming governorship election in the state. According to Asifat, the police and other security agencies should try as much as possible to maintain and sustain the peaceful atmosphere of the state, and should not allow politicians to truncate the current security and peace of the state. The human rights crusader also pleaded with all political parties in the state to preach and practise peace in their political activities, while urging them to play politics by the rule.
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
Osun Assembly Warns Omisore, Adesiyan Against Violence By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
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minister would display the character of Omoluabi, but in this case, it is absurd that the reverse is the case. “The police should abide by a lawful command and safegaurd the peace and the orderliness we have been enjoying in the state,” the Speaker said. The Deputy Speaker,
Honourable Akintunde Adegboye, wondered why a politician aspiring to occupy a governorship seat would still be scaring the people to make the election a do-or-die affair. Also in their separate contributions, Honourable Kamil Oyedele (Irepodun/ Orolu), Rasheed Afolabi (Ifelodun), Debo Akanbi (Ede-North) and Wasiu
Adebayo (Olorunda) among others, called on the Federal Government to check the excesses of the two politicians and their cronies. They maintained that the state parliament would not allow the current peace of the state to be compromised by any individual, while urging security agents to
be alive to their duties and not be partisan in politics. Meanwhile, four bills, Osun Primary Health care Development Board Bill 2014; Osun Tertiary Institutions Retirement Age Bill 2014; Osun Partnership Bill 2014 and Osun Special Offences Court Bill 2014, scaled through their first reading at the plenary.
HE State of Osun House of Assembly has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore and the current Minister of State for Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, against causing violence before, during and after the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the state. “It is expected that The state legislature stated that the activities of somebody who is the duo in the recent representing Osun as a times, especially during the last voters’ registration exercise, have shown their desparation to clinch the governorship seat by hook or crook. Raising the issue under matters of urgent public importance at the plenary on Tuesday, member representing Ife-East State Constituency, Honourable Busola Adeyeni, recalled how Omisore and Adesiyan were using hoodlums and policemen to harass people and threatening the peace of the state. He noted that the duo instigated violence during the exercise and still used policemen to arrest and detain members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking, the Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Najeem in the Federal House of Representatives (5th left); State of Salaam, said the security •Honourable Sunday Abegunde, representing Akure North South Federal Constituency th left) in a group photograph with Aregbesola Sunshine Movement Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) Acting Chairman, Elder ‘Lowo Adebiyi (6 operatives in the state Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI. Group during their endorsement of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for second term in office in Osogbo recently. must not allow themselves to be used by any politician against others, irrespective of positions. Noting that there had been series of reports of violence and plans to unleash same during the people. Our priority is to governorship election. By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI artisans in the state. election, he urged the make life more abundant Earlier in his address, He said: “When the security operatives to OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni for the people. the State Secretary of the governor reclaimed his check the concerned “At this Freedom Park, union, Alhaji Adejumon mandate, he called on us Rauf Aregbesola has said that the reign politicians, so as not to of conservative politicians has never the market women, Olaiya, said Governor and promised to give us trigger violence. favoured the people of Yorubaland from inception. NATA members, hair- Aregbesola has created the uniform contract. Only According to him, the for the 12 local government He added that the it is for five months, there dressers and other wealth attack on the former artisans, massively professional tailors were governor of the state and various democratic party will be crises here and endorsed our second term through OYES uniform chapters a PDP aspirant, Senator platforms, which also there. Corruption and ambition and declared in his less than 100 days participating in the union, but since the opportunity Isiaka Adeleke, by transformed to the insecurity will be the their support in recognition in office. Peoples Democratic order of the day. That another PDP aspirant and of our good work, which He said apart from came, we have all the 30 his cronies, has shown the Party (PDP) reigns in was our experience further convinced us that endorsing the governor local chapters now fully desperation attached to power were always during their seven and a our people understand our for the second term, the participating in the union associated with agony, half years in the State of the race. vision,” Aregbesola union will also volunteer activities. “The opportunity given “We cannot fold our oppression, corruption Osun. to be part of the stressed. “In our three and a half the union has assisted the arms and do nothing and under-development. He therefore, urged the campaign team to work Aregbesola stated this years, there is no regarding series of for the electoral victory union to have a permanent union members not to stop reports we have been at Nelson Mandela community or family that at the endorsement, but of the governor. tailors’ hall named Ola receiving regarding the Freedom Park, Osogbo, has not benefited from continue sensitising the State Chairman of the Aregbesola Tailors’ Hall. election. That is why we during his investiture as our programmes. That is people and jealously union, Alhaji Olayiwola It has also affected the are appealing to the the Life Patron of the the difference. Our protect their voters’ cards Akinloye said they lives of our members security operatives to be Nigeria Union of Tailors, government is the to be able to vote in the converged the members positively, as those whose unbiased in discharging (NUT) and endorsement government of the August 9, 2014 of the union to appreciate workshop have folded up, their duties of protecting for second term in office the excellent are currently back on their the lives and property of last Tuesday. performance of the feet again in the business He said: “I thank God the people in the state. governor, most especially, through the uniform that our people recognised “The era of sending his gesture towards the contract.” The government of the State of Osun has people away from their the bold steps we are procured special security numbers for use by Change Of Name Change Of Name houses because of taking as a government. people in distress. It is beyond human election violence is over I, formerly known as I, formerly known as The numbers are: and it will no longer be wisdom. It is by God’s MISS OLANIYAN A K I N F E H I N WA 08100000481, 08100000482, 08100000483, grace. I always laugh at tolerated. SEYI OLAJUMOKE, HANNAH MODUPE, now 08100000484, 08100000485, 08100000486. the Demons, whenever “Those that are now wish to be known wish to be known and All the numbers became operational since and addressed as MRS planning to perpetrate they are saying their addressed as FAKANKUN August 17, 2012. A K A N L E violence should know that seven years in power was HANNAH MODUPE. All Please, note and call to assist Ogbeni Rauf O L U WA S E Y I nobody has monopoly of a mistake, and that they former documents remain OLAJUMOKE. All Aregbesola, the elected governor of the State valid Oriade Local violence, but rather than want to correct it now. It former documents Government Ijebu-Jesa, using violence, we will use is not by mistake, it is their Of Osun, in sustaining a peaceful and crime-free remain valid. General LGSC Osogbo and general all the legal means to put character. Whenever environment. public should take note. public should take note. they are in power, even if a stop to it. - Management
Yoruba Has No Tie With PDP - Aregbesola •As Osun Tailors Endorse Governor For Second Term
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Security Tip In Osun
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
Osun Guber Race: Fresh Trouble For Akinbade T By SHINA ABUBAKAR
HE ambition of former Secretary to Government of the State of Osun, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, to contest the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the state on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) has suffered a setback. This was on the heel of status quo ante, which the order of the State High handed the party over to Court setting aside the Comrade Rufus Oyatoro, purported congress pending the determination conducted by the party of the suit, he (Akinbade) that culminated into his has been told to go back candidature as the party and register with his ward before aspiring for the flag-bearer. Following another order candidature of the party. of the court that all parties Findings gathered that before it maintained the Akinbade, faction within
the party has been jittery with the pronouncement of the court on the application and is currently doing all it could to salvage its loss. Days after the ruling, a faction allegedly loyal to Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, was said to have invaded the Fatai Akinbade Campaign Office located along Osogbo-Iwo road, with a view to taking it over. However, loyalists of the former government’s scribe resisted the move,
on the ground that the office was solely financed by Akinbade and would not allow anyone take control of it. In an effort to avoid breakdown of law and order, men and officers of the State Police Command stormed the party secretariat on Monday to enforce the court order and ensure that nobody would cause trouble at the office. It was gathered that members of the Akinbade faction of the party had treated the suspension
order issued by the Mimiko faction with levity, saying the faction was not the one recognised by the court order. However, when Oyatoro visited the office on Tuesday, though, he disclosed that he was there to fraternise with those at the office, he added that anyone seeking to contest on the platform of the party should first register before the conduct of its primary election. With the statement from Oyatoro, the Akinbade group, which had earlier been alleged of hijacking
the party structure after allegedly settling a national officer of the party, was gathered to be currently confused and contemplating on the possible next line of action. OSUN DEFENDER gathered that some loyalists of the Ogbaagbaa-born politician have started working seriously to ensure that their principal’s ambition is not truncated with the crisis engulfing the party and are weighing the possibility of working with Oyatoro or seek another platform before other doors will be shut.
Alayegun Lauds Jonathan Over Homosexual Bill
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•An ongoing construction of an ultra-modern Ayegbaju International Market in Osogbo under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, as captured by our cameraman, JESUDOYIN ABRAHAM, last Thursday.
traditional ruler in the State of Osun has said that President Goodluck Jonathan, the Senate and House of Representatives have performed well for jettisoning Homosexual Bill and banning the proposed anti-religious practices in Nigeria. The Alayegun of Odeomu-land in Ayedaade Local Government, Oba Abdul barbaric act is being Kudus Lamidi Oke, dropped practised. The monarch who is also the commendation in his palace while speaking with the Baba Adinni Musulumi of the State of Osun newsmen recently. Oba Oke said the habit of specially reffered to how man to man and woman to God used the Dead Sea to Sodom and woman sexual intercourse destroy Gomorrah due to their attract severe consequences from God, practice of homosexualism which tend to breed anti- in those days. He enjoined the Federal socialism and will in future reduce population of the Government in condemning nation anywhere the the homosexuality to save the country from destruction and calamity. The Alayegun advised Nigerians to always tell the truth as a means to reduce various vices that have eaten deep into fabric of our strides in the last three and societies, adding that all should go back practising a half years. farming which used to be the He specifically mainstay of our economy in commended Abegunde for this country. mobilising Ondo indigenes to support the second term ambition of the governor and urged the ASM members to work hard to achieve their vision.
Ondo Indigenes Launch Movement For Aregbesola’s Re-election •As Ondo Rep Lauds Governor’s Achievements By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
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NDIGENES of Ondo State residing in the State of Osun last Friday inaugurated a 40-man State Working Committee of Aregbesola Sunshine Movement (ASM), a group that will work for the re-election of the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. “They have transversed ASM was launched at the state secretariat of the the length and breadth of All Progressives Congress the state and have decided (APC) in Osogbo, the state to give support to whom support is due, by capital. The convener of the mobilising the generality of group, Honourable Sunday Ondo State indigenes in Abegunde, popularly called Osun for the August 2014 Abena, representing Akure governorship election.” Abegunde added that the North and South in the Federal House of state had not had it so good Representatives, said they with Aregbesola’s landmark launched the group to achievements, which mobilise mass support for include the enviable Opon the governor, especially Imo, which contains 54 among the indigenes of textbooks and ten years Ondo State residing in Osun. past questions of JAMB, Abegunde said, NECO and WAEC; building Aregbesola has changed of model schools and the political, economical construction of 61 township and social stories of the roads.” state from the worst to best While calling on the and has become a source of people to reject election envy among the comity of rigging, Abegunde said states. government rules by the He said: “ASM is a group consent of the people, of Ondo State indigenes therefore, people must resist residing in the State of Osun, from imposition in the state who share the same vision by coming out in multitude of ensuring the continuation of the good to enthrone the government work of this government led of the people. He also urged the by Ogbeni Aregbesola. movement coordinators to They are living here; they benefited from the laudable continue and expand programmes of the meetings in their various administration on local government council education, health, areas to the ward level and agriculture and promised to be visiting the infrastructure development. local government council
area meetings from next month. State Coordinator of the Movement, Honourable Saka Yusuf, noted that positive changes in the state have left permanent good impression in the minds of the people of Ondo State living in the state and assured the people of Osun
that the group will do all legally and humanly possible to re-elect Aregbesola. Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented by his Assistant Chief of Staff, Barrister Gbenga Akano, appreciated the movement for recognising his giant
International Bodies’ Recognition Of Osun Education Reforms Justifies Aregbesola On Education By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO “THE recognition of educational reforms of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration by UNESCO and other international agencies has increased his determination to take education in the state to higher heights.” These were the words of teachers’ salaries, of the Deputy Governor of recruitment of additional the State of Osun, Otunba teachers, massive (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye construction of modern Tomori, at the official school buildings and handing over to the State provision of furniture. Government of two The deputy governor, renovated blocks of ten who thanked the Old classrooms at Ebekun Students of Ebekun Middle Middle School, Iresi in School for partnering with Boluwaduro Local Government Council Area. the state government, then According to the deputy assured that Governor governor, who was Aregbesola would soon represented by the commission 34 schools Permanent Secretary, that have been completed. She then called on other Ministry of Education, Mr Lawrence Oyeniran, the d e v e l o p m e n t - l o v i n g state government individuals, groups and demonstrated its corporate organisations to commitment to emulate the kind gesture educational development of the school’s old through prompt payment students.
Earlier in his welcome address, the National President of Ebekun Secondary Commercial Grammar School Old Students Association, now known as Ebekun Middle School, Alhaji Ibrahim Ademola Moronfolu, appealed to the state government to reconsider and reclassify the school as high school, being the first to be established in Iresi in 1972 . Other speakers at the
event were the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Sikiru Adeseun Ibiloye 11, the Oluresi of Iresiland, who was represented by Chief Obala of Iresi land, the Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary, Osun Central Education District, Mr Bunmi Obisesan, the Principal of the school, Mr Ayantoye Ayandokun, who all thanked the old students’ assocition for their timely intervention in the School.
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
Orji Kalu's assessment of Aregbesola Continued from pg1
To possess the courage to call a spade a spade is really edifying. And this is the reason why our society must not hesitate to recognise a few men of honour who have chosen to follow the path of honesty by being able to speak the truth when the need arises irrespective of their political, religious and other ideological beliefs. The positive comment by Dr. Kalu about the performance of Ogbeni Aregbesola in the state of Osun shows that there still exist among our leaders, those who prefer to say things as they see it irrespective of whose ox is gored. We believe this to be the hallmark of honourable people. Even as a member of opposing political party Dr. Kalu would not close his eyes to the reality he found on ground in Osun apropos the sterling performance of Ogbeni Aregbesola. With his objective assessment of Ogbeni's performance in the state the former number one citizen of Abia state has identified himself as a person who would not see white and call it black and vice-versa. In his words over the weekend as reported by Sunday Sun Dr. Kalu had said among other things that; "though I am a mem-
ber of the Peoples Democratic Party, I cannot close my eyes on the numerous achievements the government of Aregbesola has recorded which spread across almost all areas of human life". While we cannot quote verbatim all that the candid Dr. Kalu said, it is still important to quote him further; "with what I have seen in Osun, I have come to the conclusion that the PDP has nothing to offer in this state. This is a state where you can see true development, a state where the government is committed to the development of its state and its people. We will not because of our party divides not to say the truth". Dr. Kalu's courage for saying the truth as quoted above deserves to be appreciated. We are proud of him for his sense of candour. The PDP in the state have also heard for themselves from one of them. Thus what this means is that no amount of desperation on its part, no amount of running from pillar to post and no amount of campaign of calumny against the government of Aregbesola can make the party (PDP) win the coming governorship election. No doubt the victory is for Ogbeni Aregbesola whose government has done much good for the state. It's also important to mention it at this juncture that Dr. Kalu would not be the first PDP bigwig to commend Aregbesola's performance.
We recall here that Senator Chukwumerije did openly applaud Aregbesola's good work in the state when he and other members of the Senate Committee on education came on assessment tour to the state in 2011. He even recommended his (Aregbe's) style of governance especially his education reforms to other state governments then. In the light of the above we believe the truth has spoken for itself. Truth, as the saying goes, is constant. It's uncoverable just as it's unchangeable. It will always speak for itself as it will speak in the coming election when the wish of the Osun electorate will prevail; when Ogbeni Aregbesola will have cause to stand before his people again to say; 'thank you for returning me, the good work continues'. Until then, who will tell the PDP and its desperate candidate not to continue to chase shadow?
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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. All correspondence to the above mail address. ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
Osun LG Creation: Prospect And The Challenges
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T is believed that agitations have been on for long in the State of Osun for the creation of additional local government council areas and the administration of Chief Bisi Akande, which was at the helm of affairs in the state between 1999 and 2003 had made the move to create more councils. The defeat of the then governor by his successor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in a poll widely believed to have been heavily-rigged, brought an end to the move. The successive administration neglected all the efforts that had been made and no step was taken to continue the process, hence, the move died a natural death. However, the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola began another process of creating new councils, when he inaugurated a Local Government Creation Committee, led by a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Professor Mojeed Alabi, with the mandate to undertake a comprehensive review of the existing local government councils in the state and recommend new council areas as demanded by the people, with the objective of laying the foundation for governance that is democratically elected and sovereign. The committee was charged with the task of subsequently preparing and presenting a report for a Bill for a law to the Osun House of Assembly for the purpose of creating new local government council areas in conformity with Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The report of the assignment of the committee landed on the table of the State Executive Council, which set up another committee to review the report. The outcome of the review committee was its recommendation for the creation of additional 27 local government council areas, based on which a bill, title: ‘Local Government Creation and Administration Bill, 2013’ was developed by the state executive council and presented before the State House of Assembly by the governor on December 16, 2013. Presenting the bill before the state parliament, Governor Aregbesola said the reality found out since the inauguration of his administration was that many local government council areas as presently constituted, are too large in size, as regards the area they cover; the size of its workforce, as well as the quality of representation needed at the grassroots level. These, he said, have hindered the smooth running of the councils to the extent that they merely survive to pay salaries and nothing more, while the statutory duties of the local governments have been neglected, so much that people had actually forgotten their existence within their locality. In view of the popular agitation of the people for new local government councils and with a view to repositioning existing ones for the optimum benefit of the people, the governor noted that his administration begun the processes for the creation of new councils in compliance with the provision of Sections 7 and 8 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
•AREGBESOLA By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
This bill has some unique features that are, according to the governor, meant to make local government administration cost-effective, peopleoriented and development-based. Such feature is the proposition in the bill to establish a parliamentary system of government at the local government level, meaning that any intending Chairman and Vice Chairman of councils would be an elected councillor, who would subsequently be elected by his or her colleagues from the party having majority seats in the council. This feature, Aregbesola noted, would inevitably reduce cost of governance; enhance quality of representation at the grassroots level and ensure smooth running of local government administration. “It is clear that despite the acute paucity of funds available to local governments, the amount spent on over-head and personnel already gulps all the council allocation. This proposed system would ensure transparency, probity and a more productive local government administration system in the State of Osun. “Section 17 of the Bill further creates the office of the Council Manager who shall be the Administrative Head of the Local Government Council. He or she shall be designated as “Council Manager”, who shall be a civil servant not above grade level 14. The Council Manager shall be the highest level of officer in the local government council.
“In view of this, officers in the employment of the local government, upon advancement beyond Grade Level 14, shall be deployed by the State Local Government Service Commission in conjunction with the Civil Service Commission to any ministry, department or agency of government, as they may so deem fit. In the view of the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, with the feature being proposed in the bill, the new council, apart from serving as platform for effective, efficient and all-inclusive governance at the grassroots, would not constitute a burden on the existing ones. He regretted that the last administration of Oyinlola neglected the efforts that had been made by its predecessor, Akande over creation of new councils, instead of consolidating on the gains of the aborted councils. “By now, we ought to be consolidating on the gains of the aborted councils created by the former governor of the state, Chief Bisi Akande, but we were forced to open a new page for the creation of new development outposts at the grassroots in our state and the only way we can appreciate history this time is to latch on the opportunities that would be created to turn around our cities, towns and rural areas.” Though, the bill has passed through the second reading before the Assembly, but the controversies surrounding the creation and location of the councils could not side-lined. In the course of the consideration of the bill, the Assembly, through its Committee on Local Government and
Chieftaincy Affairs, led by its Chairman, Wasiu Adebayo, had between Feberuary 26 and March 10, visited the proposed headquarters of the new councils. This was sequel to series of petitions received by the Assembly from aggrieved communities, who believed that the headquarters of the councils should be located in their communities. This was just as some other communities, which were not captured in the exercise, demanded for more councils. Due to the petitions received from some of the aggrieved communities and individuals, the Assembly had sometimes defferred further consideration of the bill, arguing that due to the technicalities and petitions arising from the bill, the issues would have to be resolved before moving ahead with the bill. The legislature further resumed consideration of the bill. However, during the visitation to the designated headquarters of the proposed councils, one established fact was that residents of the state were eager to see the new councils created, which confirmed they actually wanted it. This was because all the communities for the proposed headquarters have secured buildings to be used as temporary secretariats, while some have even secure parcels of land, where temporary secretariat would be constructed. Many of the communities boasted and promised to use their agricultural potentials to sustain the councils, if eventually created. Honourable Wasiu Adebayo, during the visitation, assured the people of the state that creation of new councils was a done deal, as the Assembly would conclude the process before the end of the second quarter of the year. Commending the governor for coming up with such idea of creating more councils to bring development closer to the grassroots, the lawmaker urged the people to cooperate with the government on the project, as all communities could not be made headquarters. Meanwhile, inspite of all the efforts that have gone into the deal, a resident of Osogbo, Adeyemo Abayomi had criticised the rationale behind the creation of new councils, noting that the new councils may be a burden on the economy of the state, considering the dwindling allocation to the state from the Federation Account. Head of tail, it is expected that a referendum would be conducted to formally seek the opinions of the people, as far as the new councils are concerned. It is expected to be conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and this is when all the required processes would be said to have been concluded. At the end, the bill, when eventually passed as presented, would raise the number of local governments in the state to 57. The question however remains whether the Assembly would increase or reduce the number of the proposed councils presented by the governor and whether all the propositions in the bill would be given approval. Only time will tell.
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
FEATURE
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Faces At The Event Of O’Calisthenics Display In Osogbo, State Of Osun In 2013. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
•Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (standing) acknowledging cheers from pupils. With him, his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left); Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam (left) and other dignitaries.
•Some of the pupils displaying OSUN ADARA during the programme.
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PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
Faces At The Event Of O’Calisthenics Display In Osogbo, State Of Osun In 2013. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
•Another cross section of pupils displaying OSUN.
•Another calisthenics displaying WELCOME.
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
PHOTOTALK
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Faces At The Event Of O’Calisthenics Display In Osogbo, State Of Osun In 2013. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
•Another cross section of pupils displaying OSUN DEFENDER.
•Another cross section of pupils at the event.
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PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
Faces At The Event Of O’Calisthenics Display In Osogbo, State Of Osun In 2013. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
•Pupils displaying RAUF NEW ERA.
•Another calisthenics by the pupils displaying OSUN A DARA.
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
FEATURE
Aregbesola: Working For The Future PRESIDENT John F. Kennedy did not live to witness the final fulfillment of the most ambitious of his goals: the landing of man on the Moon by the United States, as he predicted. The Soviet Union had had a head start many times over, starting with the Sputnik in 1957, and the United States saw it as a competition between “tyranny” (Moscow) and “freedom” (Washington). Since the Soviets had not landed man on the Moon, Kennedy saw such a feat as being the achievement to settle the matter once and for all. So, on May 25, 1961, the American leader went to the Congress and threw the challenge that had since changed the face of space exploration. He told the lawmakers: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before the decade (the 60s) is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind or more important for the long range exploration of space and none could be so difficult or expensive to accomplish… I believe we should go to the Moon.” That historic goal was fulfilled on July 20, 1969 before the decade was out. But alas, Kennedy, who broached the vision had been assassinated on November 22, 1963. He was gone: but he had worked for history. He had seen beyond his day and prepared for the future and history he had peeped into. That is how most observers view the pace of developments in the State of Osun under Governor Rauf Aregbesola. His policies suggest that he has one foot in today and the other in tomorrow. The criticism leveled against him has to do not only with a gross misunderstanding and ignorance of his long sightedness and mission; but more importantly also with the critics’ refusal to look beyond the present. We are too burdened with anxieties of the day; we do not want to
By KUNLE OYATOMI brace for an encounter with history and the future. That is not the way of Aregbesola. We seem to be thinking that the future generation would take care of their own headache when the time comes. Really? No! Not so! The leader is only a good leader if while addressing today’s challenges, he is able also to do today what the future would benefit from, without compromising today and the future. That is the stuff of great men. Ghana is a stable polity today on account of the institutional philosophy of governance and probity its founding leader, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah worked out in the 50s and 60s, while he was at the helm. The Southwest is still a leader in a number of spheres in Nigeria today because of the developments pioneered by its first Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Ditto for the role played by the United States’ founding presidents, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson among others together with the civil war hero, President Abraham Lincoln. None of these rooted themselves in the present. They all spent precious time looking into history. They asked what they could do to make a difference in leadership, in governance and in the lives of the people. And history and society have always honoured them. In my candid opinion, that is exactly what Governor Rauf Aregbesola is doing in the State of Osun. His deep thrust of intervention in education will have irreversible impact on the citizens, who will emerge as the leaders of tomorrow by virtue of the fact that he is getting exposed to the technology and skills that would make him fit into the future. His uncanny policy of employing 20,000 youths at a go in his first 100 days in office in 2010 has succored a depressed economy to push the young ones for a say in the affairs of history. The figure has gone up to 40,000 now.
•AREGBESOLA How about agriculture? Aregbesola has introduced a strategy to capture part of the thriving multi-billion naira market in Lagos for the farmers of Osun. Not only that,the Osun farmers have already been empowered. Many were given loans for poultry and fish farming and they are doing very well. He has established a meeting point at Dagbolu on the outskirts of Osogbo, where the farmers can get their crops transported by rail to the old federal capital for sale, for prosperous business. In tourism, the Aregbesola administration is targeting N15 billion as revenue in 2015. He met an Internally Generated Revenue of about N300 million and today, the government is raking in N1.6 billion monthly without
subjecting anyone to extra taxation. In the strategic health sector, the government is undertaking radical changes in the primary, secondary and tertiary stages of health delivery. Like John Kennedy, it is obvious that Rauf Aregbesola is thinking beyond today. That is the key to solving society’s fundamental problems. The serious problem with leadership in Nigeria is that our helmsmen are too stuck in today. Let us have an eye on history. Let us do what the present and tomorrow will hail us for. •Oyatomi is the Director of Publicity, Research & Strategy, All Progressives Congress (APC), State of Osun.
Osun PDP Could Become Jonathan’s Albatross
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OBODY capable of sober thinking will feel
happy
about what is unfolding on the political scene
in
the State of Osun; and the picture it throws up to the calibre of politicians the PDP is showcasing for the governorship race is gory. The stories emanating from the state are so scandalous, they involve murder, thuggery and violence to the extent that one wonders whether the characters behind these sad events deserve to participate in the political process at all. Only recently in a meeting of the party in Osogbo, the first executive governor of the state was physically assaulted by party chieftains at the highest possible level, and was told by one of them from Abuja that they would “waste” the lives of his supporters, if he continued in the governorship race. The former governor also said that his life was threatened by one of the then aspirants. According to him, the aspirant was possessed by desperation to become governor in Osun, but since the former governor was not prepared to shed anybody’s life for that post, he quietly withdrew from the race. This is direct from one of their own. What makes these stories even more disgraceful is that the politicians involved boast of good education, but in their approach to politics, they behave far worse than stark illiterates and common criminals. We have Federal Ministers in their ranks and Ph.D holders allegedly from France, who are like terrorists in their make-up and everywhere they go these days in the State of Osun, they leave a trail of blood, misery and destruction. The tragedy is that these people claim leadership position in their party and they are in utter desperation to rule State of Osun. They were once in-charge between 2003 and 2010. Osun saw hell when they ruled the state. Violence was everywhere, people lived in fear and the scene was like a Mafioso enclave of arsonists, assassins and hit men, who murdered at will and with utter impunity. Uniformed men joined in the orgy of violence. And when the people of Osun told these merchants of death in 2007 that “we would have no more of you,” they stole the mandate of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola until the Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan told them in 2010 that they were usurpers and drove the PDP out of power.
•OLAOLUWA By TORIOLAAJIBADE
Since then, Osun has known peace. But taking advantage of our constitution, these political terrorists are out again on our streets, wanting to return to power and their signature of violence is unfolding with a sinister tinge of vengeance and a murderous desperation that is ominous of bloodbath. The PDP has returned to Osun with their trademark of terror is beginning to unravel. What is worrying, however, is that they have unleashed the terror first on themselves in the run-up of their own primary in a most despicable display of contempt for civilised conduct involving a federal Minister and another notorious aspirant in a gangstarlike abuse of the federal authority and power to
physically assault another aspirant, who incidentally was the first civilian executive governor of the state. We were appalled at the conduct of these PDP gangstars and the level to which they can sink in their disregard and disrespect for the person of a former governor of the state, as they punched, slapped and disgraced him in public, because one of the aspirants is so murderously desperate to become governor of the state. The PDP has thus become a thorough nuisance in the State of Osun, and the greatest threat to peace and security in this part of the country. Mr President and the PDP National Executive have a responsibility to take a second look at the circumstances of their party in this state, as it could well become the albatross that will haunt the PDP into its worst defeat ever in the Southwest and in Nigeria, and perhaps even place a burdensome tag of political terrorism on the PDP-led Federal Government, if nothing is done to stop this gangster on the people of Osun, who is being aided and abetted by a Federal Minister, who was once a notorious player in the terror game of the last PDP government that was sacked in 2010. The people of Osun are appealing to Mr President to demonstrate a degree of political maturity and stop this rape on democracy, which the PDP is in the process of instigating in Osun. The chances are that if Goodluck Jonathan does nothing to arrest this descent into anarchy that looms over Osun, he will have to take full responsibility for the bloodbath that everybody now fears will mar the August 9 election. The level of desperation of the PDP candidate in the State of Osun can lead to calamitous consequences for Nigeria, if the President plays along, or pretends not to notice that grave danger lies ahead, if soldiers, police and other security forces of the Federal Government are put at the disposal of this man in an attempt to return the loathsome PDP to power in Osun. We urge the President not to forget in a hurry the history of S.L Akintola and Sir Abukakar Tafawa Balewa. A word here should be enough for the wise, so that history does not repeat itself. •Ajibade is a retired teacher and lives in Osogbo, State of Osun.
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
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FOR THE RECORDS
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
A memorable quote from Senator Isiaka Adeleke on the PDP candidate in the State of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan and another PDP chieftain in the state, Sogo Agboola. Omisore, Police Minister Beat Me Up - Adeleke “On entering the hall, I saw Omisore, Adesiyan, Sogo Agboola sitting together. I went to Adesiyan to complain that police officers and DSS operatives were holding party men outside. But, instead of listening to me, he jumped over a table before him and hit me with a blow on the chest. Sogo Agboola also attacked me. Before I knew what was happening, Omisore hit me with a blow from the back. About seven guns corked were pointed at me,” Adeleke asserted. •Culled from Nigerian Tribune, Thursday April 3, 2014
•OMISORE
•ADELEKE
•ADESIYAN
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, April 12, 2014
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S
OME analysts saw it coming. They are the people described as discernible minds or better still the clairvoyants. As soon as their names came up as ministers-designate, those who know and can read between the lines said their choice at this particular time is for a purpose. They added that, these politicians are primed for some less-than dignified jobs. During their screening in the Senate, there was opposition from the ruling party in the South-West. The All Progressives Congress (APC) had wanted the Green Chamber to follow existing rules in the Senate, which demands that Senators in the state from which a ministerial designate is nominated must consent to his/her approval. In the case of Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, nominated from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun, the three APC senators did not give their blessings. In the case of Senator Musliu Obanikoro from Lagos state, the senators were not in agreement that he should scale the hurdle of screening. Inspite of this opposition, the two ministerial designates scaled the hurdle along with their other colleagues and were inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Executive chambers at Aso Rock, Abuja. Obanikoro was made Minister of State for Defence, while Adesiyan heads the Ministry of Police Affairs. In response to the allegation of having a hand in the gruesome assassination of erstwhile Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Ajibola Ige on the floor of the Senate, Adesiyan shed tears and denied having anything to do with the murder of Ige, who he claimed was his political mentor. His outright denial in such an open place like the Green Chambers may have led to his confirmation as a minister of the Federal Republic. However, hardly had they settled down when Nigerians began to see traces of what people with inner minds had anticipated earlier on. In Lagos State, the former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Obanikoro was accused by the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola of stopping construction work on houses on the Lagos Island, ostensibly because Obanikoro is of the view that the land belongs to the Federal Government. There is a dearth of housing for
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They Saw It Coming
•ADESIYAN
the teeming population of Nigerians, hence anything to bring about the construction of more houses should be encouraged. It is however, shocking and surprising that the Minister of State for Defence would stop the state government from constructing more houses. Is the minister trying to prove that inspite of the opposition of the APC senators, he was able to scale the screening exercise, hence the state should be paid back in its own coin? If anything at all, one would have thought that the PDP would try to warm itself into the hearts of Lagosians. By this act of stopping a popular programme of the Lagos State government, is the party endearing itself to the people or distancing itself from the people, knowing full well that elections are around the corner? In the State of Osun, what transpired at the Ideal Nest Hotel, Osogbo, where the PDP topshots met to finalise their preparation
•OBANIKORO
towards the last state gubernatorial primary election was less than charitable. An ex-Governor, Mr Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke alleged that Otunba Iyiola Omisore slapped him. The Minister of Police was also alleged to have contributed to the squabble. Adeleke was on tape to have reported this ugly act with the Commissioner of Police, State of Osun in Osogbo. It was well feasted on by newspapers the day after. Though the spokesman of the Iyiola Omisore’s Campaign Organisation, Mr Diran Odeyemi, has denied the allegation, many people in the State of Osun are saying such denial can only be taken with a pinch of salt. Despite the denial, many Nigerians are asking, could Adeleke, a Senator and exGovernor deliberately lie to score a cheap political point? Others have also enquired to know whether truly Omisore and Adesiyan indeed assaulted
Adeleke? Whatever the true position of what transpired at the hotel was, some analysts have said they have been proved right. They saw it coming and it has happened. What they saw coming was really that as Minister of Police Affairs, Adesiyan would use the Police Force to support the party at the control of power at the centre during elections in the South-West. By this, Adesiyan would use the Nigeria Police Force to do untidy job during the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states. This column made a passionate appeal in the recent past that President Jonathan should try to learn from history. Unfortunately, however, if history is anything to go by, then it is unfortunate that people hardly learn from it. The beginning of the end of the first republic started from Western Region partly because rather than the leaders at the power in the centre intervened in the Western regional crisis, the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), led by Sardauna Ahmadu-Bello, preferred to take side. We all know what happened later. Nigerians are more sophisticated now than they were in the first republic. The people of the southwest are not known to take manipulation of election lightly. The experiences of the then deputy governor of old Ondo State, Chief Akin Omoboriowo and his boss, Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin in 1983 is still very fresh in our memory. With the support of the police, Omoboriowo claimed to have won the gubernatorial election in Ondo, even though he could not wait to savour the victory. He had to run for his dear life when Ondo became too hot for him, He escaped to Lagos. It is against this background that as a patriotic citizen of the Federal Republic, I want to once again plead that we should not tamper with the decision of the people. The security agents, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all those concerned with election should ensure credible, free and fair results. We should be able to state in this column after the Ekiti and Osun elections that the fears anticipated by people in these states were misplaced after all. It is after that, that we can clink glasses for a victory well-deserved.
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.