Osun Defender - August 19th 2014, Edition

www.osundefender.org TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2014

THE 6TH MOST-VISITED NEWSPAPER WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

VOL. 9. NO.099

N50

The victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC in last Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Osun State reinforces the opposition against a seemingly rampaging political train of President Goodluck Jonathan

Front Page Comment

Osun and 2015: The game changer It was a welcome relief to the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Those who saw him yesterday morning as

the result of the Osun State governorship poll was declared said they saw a man greatly relieved but reinforced for the battle ahead.

Besides being an elixir to the opposition that was badly traumatized by defeat in Ekiti a month ago, the Osunvictory acts as a spring for the

opposition towards the 2015 presidential prize that was being considered a foregone booty of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The message yesterday

was that 2015 is still within play. Despite earlier claims by the APC that the presidency was determined to rig the election in favour of the PDP’s Senator Iyiola Omisore, the outcome of the election showed the limit to which President Goodluck Jonathan would go in forcing his will on the electorate.

Continue on pg5

Omisore's Canvassers In Trouble Over Election Fund •As Failed PDP Gov Candidate Issues Ultimatum For Refund

- See Story On Page 3

NGF Condemns Police, SSS’ Partisanship - Pg 3 During Osun Polls, Hails INEC

Osun Govt Introduces Marathon To- Pg 9 Osun Osogbo Festival - Pg 4

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); his wife, Sherifat (2nd right); the deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Laoye-Tomori (2nd left); her counterpart from Ekiti State, Professor Modupe Adelabu (3rd left); wife of Ekiti State governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi (right) and member of National Assembly representing Osun Central Senatorial District in the Senate, Senator Sola Adeyeye, during a congratulatory visit to Aregbesola for his victory in the 2014 gubernatorial election at the Government House, Osogbo, recently.

LG Staff Celebrate Aregbesola On His Reelection - Pg 4

UNIOSUN Students Protest Colleagues’ Death •110 Laptops Stolen

- See Story On Page 4

News

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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Omisore’s Canvassers In Trouble Over Election Fund •As Failed PDP Gov Candidate Issues Ultimatum For Refund

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EQUEL to his defeat at the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the State of Osun, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in the election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has reportedly turned his anger on the party mobilisers across the 30 local government council areas of the state.

According to an impeccable party flag-bearer was more source within the party, the than disappointed over the

outcome of the gubernatorial election in which he was flatly beaten by the incumbent governor of the state and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The source further revealed

that days before the election, Omisore had boasted to whoever cared to listen that the election was just a mere formality as he had been assured by the powers that be in Abuja that irrespective of the outcome of the election, he

•A newly-constructed Ejigbo High School under the administration of Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as captured by our cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, few days ago.

Ebola: Govt Declares Low Key OsunOsogbo Celebration, Restricts Tourists

By SHINA ABUBAKAR

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determined to take all necessary steps to avert an Ebola epidemic in our state.

Consequently, scaling down this year as celebration of the Osun Osogbo festival is a sacrifice we must make in order to prevent a crisis that will put human lives in jeopardy.”

He therefore appealed to the Osogbo Traditional Council, the Osun-Osogbo Festival Committee and other stakeholders to accept the restriction with understanding as a necessary measure to

preserve Osun as an Ebolavirus-free state.

Speaking in a similar vein, the coordinator of Osun festival, Mr. Ayo Olumoko, said both Osogbo Traditional Council and adherents of Osun have been properly educated on the necessity of action of the state government, adding that whatever step taken by government to prevent the spread of the disease into the state during the festival far outweigh effects they would have on the event.

would be announced as the winner.

However, not taken chances with the Abuja assurance, the PDP candidate was reported to have raised a group of mobilisers from among his loyalists within the party and saddled them with the responsibility of persuading the electorate on queue on the election day with monetary gifts.

To make their jobs easier, the source revealed that large chunk of money was made available to the mobilisers with instruction to disburse the cash at the rate of N10,000 per voter depending on how strong the ruling-APC was in such area.

The mobilisers, according to the medium’s findings, also played smart while disbursing the money on election day, as the highest amount given to any voter that received the cash was between N2,000 and N2,500.

There was however the case of a particular polling unit in Osogbo, the state capital, where the PDP mobiliser was observed to have given money to 347 would-be voters on the queue, while at the end of the exercise, the PDP candidate scored only 55 votes.

Angered by his dismal outing at the poll, Omisore was further reported to have sent out his men to go after the mobilisers and retrieve his money from them, since by his own calculation, the votes he got did not commensurate with the number of votes he scored at the end of the exercise.

One of the mobilisers, who is currently on the run, confided in OSUN DEFENDER that he had to run away from those Omisore sent with members of his immediate family, as he could not actually account for the money given to him to mobilise votes for his principal.

According to him, he actually distributed cash to some of the would-be voters

O ensure that the rampaging Ebola disease does not found its way to the state, Government of the State of Osun has stated that it would restrict attendance at all events leading to the grand finale of this year’s edition of annual Osun-Osogbo festival to adherents and residents of the state only.

The state government has ensure the safety of lives and therefore declared that this good health for the people, year ’s edition of Osun especially in situations of celebration would be low- mortal threats such as the one keyed and that, movement of posed by the deadly Ebola tourists into the state would virus.

“We are therefore be restricted during the event.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, the state capital, the State Commissioner for Information

By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere, said the step became eschew partisanship and learn us hope that the 2015 elections necessary because of the large to discharge their would most likely be free, fair HE Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, has asked the number of visitors that usually with and credible.” nation’s institutions and security agencies to borrow responsibilities attend, especially the grand It stated further: “We urge a leaf from the Independent National Electoral professionalism. They should finale of the festival, from all Commission, INEC, in the discharge of their responsibilities put their services at the the commission to remain parts of the world. disposal of all Nigerians, focused and continue to perfect during elections in the country.

Akere said the state has put irrespective of political its processes ahead of the The forum in a statement on forthcoming elections. We in measures in place, which Friday by its Director General, the eve of the governorship affiliations. election, as well as the election include meeting the already- Asishana “Our security agencies are the NGF are ever-ready to Okauru, day. partner the commission in identified groups that usually congratulated Governor Rauf But the Governors’ Forum important national assets in mobilize in large number to the Aregbesola of the State of argued that the nation’s security which all Nigerians have stakes whichever way we can to grand finale of the festival, to Osun on his victory in the agencies belong to all Nigerians and must not only be fair to all ensure that it delivers on its explain why visitors would not August 9, 2014 governorship and should not be placed at the parties during elections, but mandate.”

While saluting the people of be allowed into the state during election in the state and disposal of a particular political must be seen to be so.”

Osun for their conduct during The forum hailed the stressed the need for party. the festival. the poll, the forum also He said: “Only the institutions and security “We urge all other national handling of the election by congratulated all the other 19 INEC, saying its near-perfect agencies to be professional and traditional worshippers and institutions and security conduct of the exercise “gives candidates and their parties for well-wishers, who are resident avoid partisanship in the agencies to emulate INEC, discharge of their duties. in the state, would be allowed It stated this against the to partake in the celebration, with a view to minimising backdrop of the clampdown on bodily contacts between members of a particular people and God during the political party before and persons, which is the primary during the election. campaigns, election and mode of transmitting the virus.

The All Progressives before his emergence as the “Government does not in Congress (APC) had earlier

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO winner. any way intend to deprive the stated that about 150 of its It added that their belief EMBERS of Inisa Descendants Union (IDU), festival of its glamour or keep members were arrested and comprising sons, daughters and well-wishers of in the governor was people away from being a part harassed by the police and of the festivity. However, operatives of the Department Inisa town, have felicitated with Ogbeni Rauf reported in the delivery of government has a duty to of Security Service (DSS), on Aregbesola and the good people of the State of Osun for a the four wards in Inisa well-deserved victory at the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial during the election and the Change Of Name Change Of Name election. wild jubilation that Speaking in a press outstanding performances welcomed his victory at the I, formerly known and I, formerly known and addressed as statement that was jointly of the governor since his polls. addressed as BABATUNDE FATAI, signed by its National assumption of office in OYEGBADE IBRAHIM, They wished the now wish to be known Chairman; John Kayode November, 2010 was a governor sound health, now wish to be known and addressed as Olanipekun and National recipe that aided his Godly wisdom and courage and addressed as OYEGBADE IBRAHIM BABATUNDE FATAI Secretary; Usamat Adetunji, success at the poll. to continue serving OLATUNDE. All former AYOMIDE. All former the group stated that the The group saluted the humanity with passion, as documents remain valid. documents remain valid. governor’s re-election did courage, resoluteness and he prepared to commence General public should General public should not come as a surprise. absolute faith of Ogbeni another term in office. take note. take note.

It highlighted that the Rauf Aregbesola in the

on queue as instructed by their principal but was surprised to see that the number of votes recorded by his party candidate did not commensurate with cash he disbursed at the polling unit.

All efforts to speak with Omisore’s spokesman, Diran Odeyemi, to comment on the development proved abortive as all his known telephone lines could not go through.

It was also gathered that some of the mobilisers did not distribute part of the money meant for the mobilisers, banking on the assurance by the Federal Government that the Osun election was a done-deal for the PDP. Some of the affected mobilisers were overheard at Adepele Guest House, Osogbo, few days ago, complaining regretting about their involvement in the development, vowing that they would never be part of such an arrangement in their lives again.

“This is about the first time that a candidate will demand for refund of election money after such election has been held. It is unheard of in my so many decades’ involvement in active partisan politics. If God should see me through this challenge this time around, I will never be involved again.

My children should not hear about the development. It is nauseating. I am not growing younger”, one of the affected canvassers lamented.

The elderly canvasser advised the other younger canvassers to go and return the Omisore money as he would not have anything to do with the situation when it gets out of hand.

Investigation showed that Omisore has issued an ultimatum to the canvassers who might still be holding on to his money where he lost the election to pay up or be ready to see the red part of his eyes.

NGF Condemns Police, SSS’ Partisanship During Osun Polls, Hails INEC

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IDU Celebrates Aregbesola For His Electoral Victory

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their peaceful conduct before, during and after the election, and for demonstrating a rare spirit of sportsmanship by accepting the outcome of the poll.

It added: “We urge them all to work with Governor Aregbesola in taking Osun State forward.

“The people of the state have made all Nigerians proud by demonstrating, again, that Nigerians, on their own, can choose their own leaders on their own terms, in an orderly manner. The peaceful conduct of the election assures us all that the future of democracy is bright in our country.

The forum called on Aregbesola to be magnanimous in victory, as he continued to savour the joy of his triumph at the keenly contested election.

“He should consider the election as one in which there was no victor and no vanquished. We urge him to put behind him the acrimony and controversies that characterized electioneering in the state in the past few months and continue to work on his master-plan of giving quality governance to the people of the state,” it stressed.

The forum also urged other co-contenders in the election to be gallant in defeat and demonstrate the requisite largeheartedness to warm-up to the governor to take Osun State forward.

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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

FG-PDP Met A Tough Competition In Aregbesola - Commentator

By ABOSEDEAKINPELU

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NE week after the State of Osun gubernatorial election, so many issues have arisen to highlight some events that took place during and after the election.

Based on the reports that Government, the Peoples the election was not free Democratic Party (PDP) and fair in some areas, came in with all their might which has been the bone of in terms of security forces, contention in Osun, a social money, and the power at the commentator, Mr Olusola federal level, all in a bid to Salami, has stated that the support their candidate, election, from his point of Senator Iyiola Omisore.

He emphasised that the view, was a battle between the All Progressives election was partially free Congress (APC) and the and fair, as the Federal Government rigged and the Federal Government.

According to him, with state government matched the help of the Federal them on a level play-ground.

“The Federal Government rigged by providing money to buy the people’s votes, even on the election day while on the queue.

“They sought to distribute rice and kerosene and also influencing the election by all means, while the incumbent governor encouraged the people to come out massively to vote for continuity and also for the electorate not to sell their votes and conscience.

Although, the PDP succeeded in some polling units, where they were able to buy the electorate, but they did not carry the day

and win the gubernatorial election.

One of the areas, where the APC candidate outwitted his PDP counterpart, was at the All Progressives Congress mega rally in Osogbo, where the governor laid emphasis to how the electorate should fold their ballot papers and few hours after that, “the PDP claimed that the APC have hired tugs and have sewn police uniform to create fake officials.

“The Peoples Democratic Party are so confident that they will emerge the winner of the election even when

the APC has 20 local governments and the PDP had 4 local governments.”

“I believe what really helped the state governor, is the even development he has effected in the state.

This has actually touched every live in the state, in education, health, provision of social amenities, infrastructure, employment and the peace and security in the state.

“Another area is that of his manifestoes, openness, loyalty, and equal treatment of all the citizens. Ogbeni

Aregbesola is the people’s choice,” he added.

“If as at today, all the remaining political parties are rejoicing with the incumbent government and only the Peoples Democratic Party is left out, it signifies the general acceptability of the election result from the INEC. “Mr. Olusola Salami disclosed that the number of votes recorded by the APC candidate was due to the people’s love for him and not based on any material gift.

Osun Govt Introduces Marathon To Osun Osogbo Festival

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

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•Director, Research and Publicity, State of Osun All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Kunle Oyatomi (6th right); OSUN DEFENDER Newspaper Editor, Mr Kayode Agbaje (at the back of Oyatomi); Administrative Manager, OSUN DEFENDER Newspaper, Mr Murtala Agboola (6th left) and others in a group photograph during a celebration of declaration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for 2014 governorship election by the Osun APC Directorate of Publicity, Strategy and Research, recently in Osogbo.

HE Government of the State of Osun has introduced a new dimension into the celebration of the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) adopted Osun Osogbo festival.

The Ogbeni Rauf Sunday at the Osun Groove, A r e g b e s o l a - l e d Osogbo, while addressing administration has the marathoners and Osun introduced a marathon race, worshippers at the end of as part of the activities the marathon race for the heralding the Osun Osogbo 2014 Osun Osogbo. festival.

The governor ’s aide Special Adviser to commended the Aregbesola on Tourism and participants at the race to Culture, Mr Oladipo keep up and assured the Soyode, said the winners of compensation at introduction of marathon a programme later. race to 2014 edition of Osun The race took the Osogbo festival was an marathoners from Onido of innovation and an Ido-Osun palace, down to improvement on the last Lameco junction to Osogbo festival.

Stadium, Mandela Park, Soyode stated this on Ataoja Palace and at Osun grove.

At the end of the race, Jayeade Sodiq came first, second term more than what it Taiwo Osuolale came did during his first term.

The statement also appealed second, while Adeyemi to party supporters to shun Olaoluwa took the third any provocative act from position. members of the the opposition, Present at the event were who were bent on causing directors and staff of trouble in the state.

Ministries of Home Affairs, It also called for the support of all and sundry in the second Tourism and Culture and term of Aregbesola’s Youths, Sports and Special and Zeigists administration as done before, Needs saying, this would again ensure Aesthetics.

Ijesa-North Campaign Committee Eulogises Osun People Over Aregbesola’s Return

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

traditional council of Obas for HE All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign their elderly advice, guidance Committee in Ijesa North Federal Constituency of and support to the present the State of Osun has stated that the re-election of administration in the state.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola has explained the commitment It also appreciated various of the people for continous development of the state. religious groups, artisans, In a statement jointly-signed irrespective of any federal labour unions, transport unions and religious leaders of all by the chairman of the power. committee, Dr Wale The statement specially extractions for standing firms Bolodunro, who is also the acknowledged the support of with whatever they had to State Commissioner for chiefs, market women and ensure his return.

Finance and the Secretary, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, who is also Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on C o m m u n i t y Forum, commended the people of the state, especially Obokun and Oriade Local Government

By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI Council Areas for displaying unprecedented love and total support for the return of STUDENTS of Ikire Campus of the Osun State University, Aregbesola-led administration, State of Osun, on Saturday trooped to the street in the ancient by voting massively at the town to protest the death of their colleagues, who died in a August 9, 2014 governorship motor accident.

The protesting students Two students of the election held in the state. on Friday barricaded the ever-busy IkireIt said that the outcome of university the election actually reflected reportedly lost their lives while Ibadan Expressway and set the wishes of the people, who coming from an excursion with bonfires on major streets are committed to further a chartered commercial before the detachment of police dispersed them with development of the state, vehicle.

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According to the statement, what the people of Osun saw in the first term of Aregbesola that facilitated their support for him would be a tip of an iceberg of what to witness in his second term.

It further reinstated the commitment of the administration to again touch all parts of the state during the

its success.

UNIOSUN Students Protest Colleagues’ Death •110 Laptops Stolen

LG Staff Celebrate Aregbesola On His Re-election

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HE victory of the State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in the just-concluded election showed that people acknowledged and appreciated the good work of the present administration.

The Chairman, Local Gov- vants should love themselves ernment Service Commission in and desist from any form of victhe state, Elder Peter Babalola, timization, as well as “pull them stated this on Sunday during a down syndrome” in a bid to be thanksgiving service for the re- favoured by politicians. election of the state governor According to him, the state with all Heads of Local Gov- governor, Ogbeni Rauf ernment Administration and all Aregbesola, is a committed and departmental directors in the Godly person, who will always thirty local government council treat the citizenry of the state areas including Ife-East Area equally regardless of political Office. party affiliation.

Elder Babalola, who thanked The Local Government Serall local government staff for vice Commission boss then their support and cooperation promised that the promotion during the election, noted that exercise for qualified council there is a clear winner of the elec- staff for the Year 2013 would tion but there is no vanquished. commence in September and last He emphasized that civil ser-

till the end of October.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner 1 of the commission, Alhaji Kehinde Olamolu, appreciated God for the success of the election which was without bloodshed.

He also commended the effort of the chairman of the commission, Elder Peter Babalola, who he described as an action man for his doggedness and support for Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary of the commission, Mr. Dayo Olaluwoye, stated that the purpose of the gathering was to praise God, saying inspite of the tension and circumstances that surrounded the election, God made it to be peaceful and victorious.

tear-gas in the morning.

The major grouse of the students, according to findings, was what they described as monopoly of the school buses by the university management, who denied students access to the buses whenever they needed them.

One of the protesting students, Kehinde Akintoye, said: “The students are angry because of the neglect of the students’ welfare by the university management, which was responsible for the deaths of our colleagues.

“The only bus belonging to the university community has been monopolized by the management, as students don’t have access to it at all.

That was why we were always forced to hire buses whenever we are moving out of the university. Whether the chartered buses are in good condition or not, we have no option”.

However, the president of the students’ union, who is in Osogbo campus, could not be reached as at the time of filing this report, but reports from Ikire confirmed that normalcy has returned to the town.

Meanwhile, the management of the university has closed down the Ikire

campus indefinitely.

The management, in a memo, issued by the Registrar of the university, Dr Julius Faniran, announced the indefinite closure of the institution following the protest by the students.

The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Oladeji Abokede, confirmed the indefinite closure of the Ikire campus.

He said: “The management has closed down the Ikire Campus due to a violent protest by the students. The closure is indefinite. We will inform them when to resume.”

Commenting on the develoment, the provost of the college, Professor Kizito Folorusho, said he was surprised the way the students behaved over an auto-accident that happened outside the campus.

He said, as a parent, he felt disturbed over the death of the student as no father will wish to lose any of his children.

Professor Kizito said no application for any vehicle from the management by the students got to his desk as such could not have been turned down as students from other departments have

been enjoying the same facility with ease.

He said his on-the-spot investigation on the development showed that the students wrote an application to travel to the sub-dean students’ affairs in charge but were told to rewrite it as it was not properly written, adding the students never came back to submit any rewritten application.

The provost alleged that the crisis was the handiwork of cultists among the students as guns, cutlasses and other cudgels were freely used.

"So many things were destroyed and stolen by the students. Both official and private vehicles of the workers were upturned and destroyed, glasses of windows and doors were destroyed, offices were ransacked, while the 110 pieces of the laptops for the institution by Honourable Ayo Omidiran, were stolen during the crisis. It is that bad", the provost said.

He said it was too early to quantify the cost of all the items destroyed or stolen as at the time of filing this report.

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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Osun and 2015: The game changer Continued from pg2

Overwhelming presence The overwhelming presence of security men in the state in the days ahead of the poll did not impede the electorate from exercising their will on who governs them. That indeed, is a reassuring sign for many Nigerians and the international community that the 2015 election could be a free and fair election.

Indeed, ahead of the polls last weekend, the APC and its flag bearer, Aregbesola, had in the face of the strong presence of security men around the state betrayed clear signs of unease. The APC’s national spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in statements painted the impression of the determination of the presidency to rig the election in a clear determination to reshape the political configuration of the Southwest ahead of the decisive 2015 election.

Such panic caused the opposition party to summon all its elected office holders and political appointees from across the country to show presence in Osun State from last Tuesday as a way of boosting the morale of its supporters in that state.

The PDP’s candidate was also lifted by the presence of strong detachment of the security forces whose presence helped to suppress whatever advantages the incumbency factor would have given to Aregbesola.

Omisore also had his friends from the Senate including Senators Enyininnya Abaribe, Ehigie Uzamere and some others to lift his

heart. But the most decisive factors were the voters on ground who at the end of voting on Saturday showed their preference for the incumbent.

The outcome was, however, not a rout as the Aregbesola camp had predicted it would be without rigging. That underscored the agitation among some PDP loyalists who had sought for an alternative candidate. Omisore, a former deputy governor of Osun State had before this election been on the winning side of all the gubernatorial elections conducted in Osun State. He was deputy governor to Chief Bisi Akande, strongly supported the immediate past governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola in 2003 and 2007, but, however, came short in delivering himself into an office he had in the past helped others to enter.

Though a very lively man with sound education, the factors against Omisore were mostly fanned by perceptions about him arising from his trial for the murder of Chief Bola Ige, a former attorney general of the federation. Omisore who was acquitted of complicity in that murder, however, did little to clear that perception. Besides, his political foes helped to fan the negative perception about him.

Oyinlola, the immediate past governor of the state who himself had a grudge against the PDP rubbed in the Ige wound on the people when he questioned why President Jonathan had surrounded himself with all those who were questioned over the murder of Ige. “The candidate of the PDP was arrested for killing Ige. He was arrested and detained. “The national secretary of the [PDP], Professor Wale Oladipo, was also detained in connection with the killing. The Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, was also detained.

“The chairman of the party in this state, Ayobami Olaoluwa, was also arrested. So, why is everyone who was in detention given appointment or put in a position of authority? We need to ask the government,” Oyinlola said.

Great minus Linking anyone or party with the death of Ige was a great minus especially given the adoration that Ige continues to draw from most parts of the state. The election was also an opportunity for political enemies in the Southwest to hit at him. Tinubu had by every indication mounted the platform of political leadership of the Southwest with the dominance of his party in five of the six Southwest states. After the loss of Ekiti, his political empire was trimmed to four states and the prospect of losing Osun, had in the last weeks of the campaign become an exciting lure for Tinubu bashers in the region.

Internal dissent It was especially so, given that Aregbesola was generally considered the closest of the APC governors to Tinubu.

The internal dissent to Tinubu in the Southwest was especially fanned by vestiges of Afenifere, the socio-political organization through which Tinubu, himself emerged as governor of Lagos State in 1999. But the former governor’s alleged role in splintering Afenifere after his emergence as governor helped to create animosity that today irks many Yoruba leaders.

Even though many Afenifere leaders did not come out openly to antagonise Tinubu and Aregbesola ahead of the election, some of them were enthusiastically waiting to celebrate the downfall of the APC in Osun.

Celebrating the downfall APC leaders who learnt from their laxity in Ekiti were well prepared for Osun and went out of the way to woo known and unknown enemies. PDP

Ayegbaju Market: Creative Access To Wealth

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salute your effort in the area of information dissemination, most especially, your honest and accurate reportage of activities, events and programmes concerning the giant strides of Ogbeni Aregbesola in the State of Osun. I remain one of your most regular readers. I found out long ago that getting committed to a task like you have at hand could not have been possible without the spirit of courage and patriotism. By the grace of God, your strength, courage and intellect will not diminish.

I have been observing with keen interest for close to two years now; particularly when Ogbeni Aregbesola laid the foundation stones of three separate markets within Osogbo metropolis. The markets are the Ayegbaju Market, the Aje Market and the International Market at Dagbolu. At that time of inception, I was wondering how those gigantic projects could be funded to completion stage, not to talk of how they could solve the problem of poverty plaguing our society. To be direct, I felt that siting markets

around had nothing to contribute to solving our problems.

Now, I know better. With the recent completion and official commissioning of the new Ayegbaju International market, I begin to view the State of Osun as a fulcrum of trade, commerce and industry. I begin to visualize Osogbo, the state capital being restored to its old place of

glory as the commercial nerve-centre of the O’odua states.

I watched the programme of official commissioning of the market live on television.

When I saw the market women raining prayers and encomiums on Ogbeni, his family, life endeavours and his administration, I came to a conclusion that those praises and prayers are deserved. This is because he has removed the veil of

obscurity from many of them and brought them to limelight.

Locating a market of that status in Osogbo at a time like this is like fulfilling an agenda of bringing Osogbo fully up to the status of a state capital. Not only that, Osogbo is fast becoming a state capital with a difference in the entire nation. By extension, the State of Osun is beginning

to find its foot as a land of prosperity. In other words, by the time Ogbeni’s agenda for commerce, industry and cooperatives comes into full swing, poverty and unemployment would have been completely banished, in fulfillment of one of the tenets of his Six-Point Integral Action Plan.

I foresee Osun as a state that offers equal, brighter opportunities to all citizens.

The traders displaced due

to ongoing transformation projects in roads and urban renewal can now heave sighs of relief as they become permanently settled at decent, serene, dignifying and vantage market complexes. Petty and itinerant traders can now broaden the scope of their operation by accessing credits at the new Osun Micro Credit Scheme. Now they have state-of-the-art market places where they can daily display their wares conspicuously without harassment or risks of auto accidents. Young unemployed school leavers can now safely venture into various trading enterprises.

Above all, employment opportunities of sorts are being created for the people of the state.

In sum, the State of Osun is set for the skies, its starting limits, as regards growth and development. I call on all citizens to rally round the incumbent administration so as to attain success in all its efforts at fully transforming the state.

Osun a dara o!

•FEMI JAYEOLA, OgoOluwa Area, Osogbo, State of Osun.

on the other hand did not help its candidate with the clear animosity towards rebels in the party. The treatment of Oyinlola and another former governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke subsequently proved to be one of the major problems for the PDP on Election Day. Though Oyinlola did not muster enough votes to win his booth, Adeleke’s grip on Ede, one of the largest towns in the state helped to firmly deliver the town to the APC. After being lured into the PDP gubernatorial contest, the former governor was allegedly forced out by what he claimed to be impediments put on his way. That was the beginning of his defection to the APC, a move the PDP would now regret not to have stopped.

One APC source revealed that Adeleke was the candidate the party feared most could trouble Aregbesola. But even after he withdrew, the PDP hierarchy in the state failed to soothe him giving him room to defect. Tinubu, the APC national leader and the many presidential aspirants in the party would be very gleeful with the outcome of the polls. Yesterday, a source said Tinubu was himself very bouncy as he saw the result as a vindication against the aspiration of his internal foes in the Southwest. For the presidential aspirants, the outcome of the election gives hope that their permutations of forging a Southwest and Northern alliance against the PDP remains feasible.

For President Jonathan, the permutation may have been that whatever loss of support he may have suffered in the North would be gained in the Southwest. Now, it is back to basics.

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

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

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6

Politics OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Osun 2014 Gubernatorial Elections:

Victory At Last!

Electoral contests have been the standard modalities of emergence of political leadership presiding over the affairs of modern societies in all spheres. This civilized practice of electing leaders has come to stay as one of the integral imperatives of democracy. The recently-held Gubernatorial Election in the State of Osun may have come and gone; yet its imprints are replete with lessons, glad revelations and pieces of bitter truth for and to all stakeholders. Central to this is that as second timers in particular, contemplating election into public offices should henceforth be predicated on solid concrete achievements that touch and impact the lives of the citizenry positively.

On this note, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine congratulates Ogbeni RAUF ADESOJI AREGBESOLA and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for trail-blazing this trend. We as well congratulate the people of the state in general for the victory we had; and appreciate them for their doggedness, courage and determination. For some who were first-timers in the contest, we wish they could pick their cues from the way the contest played out. The stark revelation is that electoral victories are not won with Greek gifts and antics of do or die. The taste of NIYI OLASINDE’s pudding lies in the eating.

•(L-R) National Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ambassador Muhammed Wali; Secretary of the Commission, Mr Oladapo Oladipo; Acting Director, Legal, Mr. Ibrahim Bawa; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori, at the presentation of Certificate of Return to Governor Aregbesola and his deputy at INEC headquarters, Osogbo, State of Osun, recently.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

PHOTOTALK

7

Osun Divisional Conference Of Obas In Osun Central Senatorial District Paid A Congratulatory Visit To The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, In Osogbo, Last Thursday.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (6th left); the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Rauf Adedeji (5th left); the Olokuku of Okuku, Oba Samuel Oluronke (6th right); the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Rasheed Olabomi (3rd left); the Owa of Otan Ayegbaju, Oba Lukman Fadipe (5th right); the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan (4th left); the Elerin of Erin-Osun, Oba Yusuf Oyagbodun (4th right) and other prominent obas, during the congratulatory visit to Governor Rauf Aregbesola in Osogbo last Thursday.

Former All Progressives Congress (APC) Acting National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande Hosted The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, On His Victory At Chief Akande’s Resident In Ila-Orangun, Recently.

•(R-L) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; former interim National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande and member, National Assembly, representing Osun Central Senatorial District, Senator Sola Adeyeye, during the governor’s visit to Chief Akande in his resident, Ila-Orangun, recently.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

PHOTOTALK

8

Governor Rauf Aregbesola Paid A Courtesy Visit To Members Of Nigeria National Shurah Hotably In Ilorin, Kwara State, Last Friday.

•(L-R) Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; members of Nigerian National Shurah Hotably, Ustaz Hafiz Muhammad Abdullah; Dr Monsoor Rahman and Ustaz Abdullah Jamiu during the courtesy visit.

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•Governor Aregbesola (with mic), addressing Islamic faithful during the courtesy visit.

Jubilation For Declaration Of Governor Rauf Aregbesola For 2014 Governorship Election In Osun Recently.

Photo: GBENGAADENIYI.

•A cross section of Aregbesola’s supporters during the jubilation.

9

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Birthday Ceremony Of Senior Special Assistant (SSA) To The Governor Of The State Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola On Community, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye At Aregbesola’s Campaign Office, Ibokun, Last Saturday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•Tunbosun Oyintiloye (4th right) in a group photograph with some traditional rulers in the state during the programme.

State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Turned Sod For Mini-Bus Factory Building At Free Trade Zone, Ede, State Of Osun, Recently.

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left); the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal (left); Alhaji Oladosu (3rd right); Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Dr Olalekan Yinusa (right) and other dignitaries, during the turning of sod for mini-bus factory building at Free Trade Zone, Ede, State of Osun, recently.

10

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At Osogbo Central Mosque For His Re-election’s Thanksgiving On Friday.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (on top of a jeep), acknowledging cheers from his admirers after the thanksgiving on his re-election, during Jumat prayer, at Osogbo Central Mosque, Osogbo, on Friday.

•Governor Aregbesola (arrowed), acknowledging cheers from his admirers.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

MAGAZINE

11

Victory At Last!

A

N event occurred which nearly set the stage for a Matinmas summer for the State of Osun and its people. That event began to unfold in early August, as preparations reached the climax for the grand-finale of the political rallies of the leading opposition party in the state – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party holds sway at the federal level; and as such, the National Leader of that party, who doubles as the incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was being expected in the state for the afore-mentioned occasion. Naturally, it was expected that if such a dignitary is being expected in any part of the country, advance team of sorts, comprising security details, protocol and other retinues. In view of this fact, the development under reference should not have, ordinarily been a serious cause for worry. More so, the 2014 Gubernatorial Election was barely a week away! But there was more to the event than was pleasant to the eye.

Following the Gubernatorial Election which held in Ekiti State on June 21, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), apparently spurred by euphoria of victory at that election made a declaration that it was about to mount a close-down on Osun, whose turn it was to elect a governor.

There was much wonder as responses trailed that declaration from various quarters. But just as we were all taking it for granted that the declaration was made in the heat of passion, indications began to appear that the party, through the instrumentality of the Federal Government it heads was actually set for a close-down or something close to it in the State of Osun.

On the evening of Thursday, July 31, I was appointed to meet a junior professional colleague at the popular Oke-Fia Roundabout. I arrived at the scene promptly as appointed and waited by. While still laying in wait, an activity caught my attention. A peaceful political rally was going on just by the roadside at the shoulder of the roundabout. I guessed from the contents of the political talk I overheard that it was a political rally put together by Ward 4 of Osogbo Local Government, in solidarity for the governorship aspiration of the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Participants at the rally sang, danced, made speeches and brandished their brooms with ecstasy and dexterity. It became a centre of focus for all passers-by. It was a pleasant sight to behold.

The venue of the occasion is the moderately spacious arc adjoining the State of Osun Government House Annexe.

That arc is set on a triangular space stuck in the clef of Ilobu / Government House Road and the Iwo Road end of the roundabout. It is directly overlooked by the projector placed conspicuously at the centre of the turning point.

The rally went on peacefully. It thus became spectacular for anyone who cared to stay by and participate or listen to the contents of the proceedings.

The first inkling I got about what would happen next was prompted by a phone call from the colleague I was waiting for. He called to tender an apology for the delay in his arrival. He hinged the delay on a traffic gridlock which caught him all the way from Ogo-Oluwa axis through Olaiya Junction down to Alekuwodo. Eager and perplexed to the marrow, I asked him if that excuse was tenable in a place like Osogbo where we both reside. Then he opened up that a huge number of masked security operatives, all dressed in black and armed to the tooth had besieged the streets in a long convoy; shooting sporadically into the air. Then I began to wonder why that could be happening as I waited

to witness the show of power if it should come to Oke-Fia. In the fullness of time, it did! On arrival at the junction, several gunshots were released to the air. I was expecting them not to have done that, most especially as they had sighted the political rally being held few metres away. As trained security operatives deployed on assignment to secure lives and property, duty demands that they should not demonstrate any act that could provoke violence and public unrest. But they shot the bullets on and on. The response to that event took various forms.

For the participants at the rally, they intensified their singing and dancing; frantically waving their brooms. They did all these fearlessly. Some hordes of passers-by and street hawkers who are less courageous withdrew from the scene as early as they could. I was amazed at the degree of courage demonstrated by motorists, cyclists and motor park conductors who defied intimidation and just watched and marveled at the reason for the unfolding scene.

Some of the motor park men accosted some elitist people around, my humble self inclusive, and asked what the fuss was intended to create. The elderly among them expressed shock and disappointment that this kind of event was unfolding under a democratic dispensation. They went as far as citing the various rounds of elections they had witnessed in the country, all of which were bereft of such brazen shameless show of might. On top of it, they chipped in the suggestion that the powers at the top and their might should direct their show of power to Boko Haram-ravaged states instead of dissipating needless time and energy in Osun where peace, tranquility and harmony are a creed.

They never knew that they were giving a reportorial assignment to a willing pressman who would report their outcry purely as it is. But it gladdened me that people are becoming more vibrantly aware of the numerous acts that are out of place in our polity.

Earlier than the arrival of these security operatives, the same masterminds of intended hostage had constituted nuisance to public peace by mounting illegal road closures, indiscriminate blow of sirens, violation of traffic regulations and attack on members and supporters of other political parties in the state. They had as well been loud and noisy in their gaffe that they were going to win the upcoming elections by all means and at all costs. They went further that an election result would be declared in Abuja; if the State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should fail to declare them winner against majority demand indicated by actual results of the election.

OSUN DEFENDER Magazine had bared several facts on the atrocities perpetrated by the leading opposition party to secure fraudulent victory at the polls. These include sharing of Greek gifts like cash, rice and kerosene, massive purchase of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from electorate and reports on how the party had been conducting clandestine voting ahead of the actual voting.

Above all these, it was as clear as daytime that the Federal Government favoured the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in all things at the prejudice of other parties. For instance, when that party’s governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore discovered that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the State of Osun, Ambassador Rufus Akeju did not succumb to his dirty deal, he hammered for his deployment, which was granted. That caused the temporary redeployment that brought the Resident Electoral

Commissioner (REC) for Kogi State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje to the scene.

Another instance in hand unfolded on the eve of the election. Vigilant and eagle-eyed youth of a community in Obokun Local Government Council Area of the state caught a van loaded with already thumb-printed ballot papers. They acted lawfully well by handing the van and its ferry-men over to the police authorities at the State Police Headquarters at Osogbo. It was reported that the leadership of the state headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had owned up that one of its staff, an electoral officer of a local government was among the arrested ferry-men of the impounded van. The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Police authorities hurriedly effected a change in the police hierarchy in the state; obviously to cover their tracks in the electoral crime.

Mr. Maishanu who had been the State Commissioner of Police was transferred to give way for Mr. Mbakaboko, who obviously was an odd-jobber on assignment to act a script. Mr. Mbakaboko’s first (and probably the only) assignment was to address a press conference where he told the whole world that no vehicle was ever arrested by his command. So, the culprits were let off the hook!

There was also this reported case of illegal purchasers of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) apprehended by eagleeyed patriots at Ajegunle Area of Osogbo, the state capital.

The apprehenders acted on tip-off by vigilant members of the public; and they acted promptly. The culprits were reported to be card acquirers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and as such; they were having a free day with an air of impunity! As a matter of fact, aside the fact that no members or supporters of any other political party could demonstrate such lawlessness; they dared not, as there were no immunity to give them defenses against the long arms of the law. So the story went: the culprits were handed over to the police authorities upon apprehension. Before long, their sponsors at the “almighty” federal seat got the news. The next line of action on their part was to get the State Commissioner of Police on phone and having confirmed the account, ordered him to effect their immediate release and get the case closed for good and all! Not only that, as the time of day was evening, they ordered the police boss to feed their sacred cows to aid their recuperation upon release as they must have been famished. The officer of the law found himself helpless; his arms being tied. So, he was left with no better option than to sacrifice his meal for that day’s break of fast as the time of occurrence coincided with the holy Moslems’ month of Ramadan.

It was this police boss who did the biddings of his masters above who was summarily redeployed on the eve of the governorship election. He then got replaced with another one who was given a hurriedly-prepared script to act. I never considered that the job of policing could be so rubbished! I guess that it was shame that prevented the new police boss from gracing the events at the election collation centre with his presence. His seat was vacant on that night and so it remained all through the night. Men and officers of our forces need greater touch of professionalism. The President should also ensure that those appointed to man political leadership of ministries are experts and professionals of relevance to respective ministries. Much of our problems stems from putting square pegs into round holes.

Contiuned on page 11

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed), showing his appreciation to his suppoters after the INEC declared him the winner of the 2014 governorship election last Sunday at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, recently.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

MAGAZINE

12

Victory At Last!

•(L-R) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun, Mr Olusegun Agbaje; Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Bamitale Omole; Supervising National Commissioner, Ambassador M.A Wali and INEC National Commissioner, Engineer Nuru Yakubu during the announcement of the 2014 governorship election result at INEC headquarters, Osogbo, State of Osun, recently.

Contiuned from page 6 Another account which the afore-cited van arrest at Obokun Local Government substantiated is the widespread rumour making the rounds prior to the elections that the votes for so and so local government council areas had been cast. The first inkling of that that I got derived from the newspaper account I read of a man in Ekiti State; a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who gaffed about that his party’s victory in the yet-to-be-conducted election, was a long-settled case! There was much to that account than could be entertained in this edition. But the confirmation came when on the eve of the Osun Gubernatorial Polls a van filled with thumb-printed ballot papers was impounded within the precincts of Obokun Local Government. If we did not confirm the earlier reports and rumours, that incident alone confirmed that those atrocities were truly committed and with the covering of the powersthat-be at the federal level.

THE Gubernatorial Elections which held penultimate Saturday all over the State of Osun has ended with a note of victory on the part of the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola and his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). The victory has put final rest to fears and apprehension nursed in some quarters that the election and its aftermath could spell disasters of grave proportions for the state and its people.

Declaring the results of the elections in the wee hours of Sunday, the state returning officer, who doubles as the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Bamitale Omole premised the delay in the release of the results which dragged all through the night on the long distance which some collation officers and other election personnel had to travel to Osogbo, the state capital to turn in the results they had.

In his declaration, the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola polled a massive figure of three-hundred and ninety-four thousand, six-hundred and eighty-four (394,684) votes to defeat the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, whose total number of votes was two-hundred and ninety-two thousand, seven-hundred and forty-seven (292,747). The winning margin in the polls presented a clear difference of one-hundred and one thousand, nine-hundred and thirtyseven (101,937).

In the breakdown of election results, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled a rousing majority; making him the winner in twenty-two local governments. These local governments include Osogbo (39,983 votes); Olorunda (26,551); Iwo (20,827); Ilesa East Local Government Council, the home of the governor (16,106); and Ilesa West (15,427).

Others include Irewole (18,328); Ifelodun (17,447); Boripe (12,723) and others like, Oriade, Ifedayo, Ede North and South, Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West and a host of others.

The winning areas of Senator Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) include his home local governments, Ife Central, Ife East and Ife South; Isokan, Ife North, Boluwaduro, Odo-Otin, and Ayedire.

The Chief Returning Officer appreciated God and the people of the state for a hitch-free election; though some pockets of hitches were reported in Ward 11 of Boripe Local

Government Council Area, Ward 5 of Ila local Government Council Area and one other unit each in Atakunmosa East and Ejigbo local governments, where petitions trailing the polls reported elections irregularities like over-voting which necessitated the results to be cancelled. On the whole, the Governorship election was adjudged to be overwhelmingly successful.

Displaying the score sheets for the results, the Chief Returning Officer, Professor Bamitale Omole showed the securely sealed forms EC 8D and EC8 E, which added credence to the credibility of the exercise.

In attendance at the results collation and declaration ceremony which held at the open arena of the State of Osun Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Gbongan / Ibadan Road, Osogbo were National Supervisor INEC, Ambassador M.A. Wali, National Commissioner INEC, Engineer Nuru Yakubu and the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Kogi State, who doubles as the Acting Resident Electoral Commissioner of State of Osun, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje.

Others present at the event are directors from INEC headquarters, Messers Oladimeji and Telma, H.O.D. Operations for the State of Osun INEC, Alhaji A.W.O. Azeez, resident electoral commissioners for Ondo and Ekiti states, academic icons who doubled a collating officers party agents, security operatives and members of the press.

On hand to comment on the exercise were the State of Osun Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere, the Director of Information and Strategy for the State of Osun Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Kunle Oyatomi and the State Chairman for the National Conscience Party (NCP), Honourable Waheed Lawal. In their separate comments, the trio lauded the credibility of the entire exercise, though they noted that lots need be improved in the conduct of elections in the nation.

It was however noticed that the agent for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) absconded from signing the necessary results sheets, a development which was considered in many quarters to be a sign of discontent of the party against the results, even in spite of the prejudices it received from the Federal Government during the contest that brought about the results.

THE entire communities in Osogbo, the State of Osun capital city stood still penultimate Saturday as the Gubernatorial Elections were held all over the state. Earlier on Friday, the State Government had culled out a holiday to get voters adequately prepared for the exercise, especially in getting to their various towns of registration before the outset of the restriction of movement ultimatum, which lasted between 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.

At various polling units visited by our reporters, voters and election personnel had been spotted on site as early as 7:00 a.m. The turn-out of voters in particular was remarkably impressive as they were found on queues, their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in hand, ready for accreditation.

At the polling units lying between Oke Onitea and Old Garage axis of the city, the turnout was quite indicative that the outing of the day would bring great success for Nigeria’s electoral process. At St. Michaels Primary School, Ago Wande / Oke Onitea, through BCGA area, people were found in their large numbers, comporting themselves in peaceful

manner ahead of actual voting exercise.

From Old Garage through Olaiya Junction to Ogo-Oluwa area, the streets were bereft of the usual hustle and bustle as traders, motorists and residents in their entirety took their time out that day to stay at home to perform their statutory civic duty of voting.

At various strategic locations in the town, armed military officers and officers of other security apparatus could be sighted mounting road blocks in order to provide added security for the .election exercise.

Roads and streets were deserted, save for few motor vehicles moving on election duty. However, people were seen moving in occasional droves, in attempt to locate their voting units. As at 8:00 a.m. it had become crystal clear that the security scam and apparent pressure intended to intimidate voters and create apathy would not deter people from trooping out to vote their leaders in the capacity of governor and deputy governor.

At the Station road / Oja Oba / Ilesa Road axis of the state capital, the same trend of encouraging turnout was recorded. At the Ataoja Palace / Central Mosque area, the people of that core area trooped out massively. The trend was replicated along Oke Baale and Isale Osun where people were sighted in large numbers at their polling units, ready for their work of franchise.

The mood was quite encouraging at Omo West; Ikirun / Offa Road up to Ota Efun and Kobo N Gbodbo E area where people moved out massively to perform their civic obligations within the statutorily stipulated time frame.

At Testing Ground / Kola Balogun area, the stage was obviously set for a good day of prospective move toward the consolidation of sound democratic culture. In all the areas mentioned, politicians across various divides were seen moving from house to house to mobilize voters to go out for the all-important assignment.

The early morning drizzle was not a deterring factor. In spite of absence of means of mobility, voters who had long distances to transverse from their places of abode to their voting units set out early enough. They were encouraged by the fact that they found out that they were not alone in the trek.

At the various polling units, orderly conduct prevailed all through the exercise. At United African Primary School, adjunct to former Fakunle Comprehensive College, Gbongan / Ibadan Road, two polling units were located; peace an orderly conduct prevailed throughout the exercise.

Even though there were earlier speculations of plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use armed thugs dressed in military uniform to snatch ballot boxes and replace them with already stuffed ones, the way things played out was entirely different as voting went on smoothly throughout the exercise.

At the end of the exercise, the results were flawless at the two units, as voters were all engaged in the process of loud counting. Recording was done in the full glare of all, and this added to the credibility of the entire exercise. Voters eventually dispersed fully satisfied as the results and their manner of counting were fair to all.

On the overall, the final results of the State of Osun 2014 Gubernatorial Election as released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are as presented below: Contiuned on page 12

13

MAGAZINE

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Victory At Last!

Contiuned from page 11

T HOUGH come and gone, the results and aftermath of the Osun 2014 Gubernatorial Elections are filled with revelations, pieces of bitter truth, lessons and assessment of progress made so far in our democratic adventure. The antecedents to and play-out of events during the polls also have much to lend to our future and the sustenance of our democratic culture. Lots have been said and discussed during the election campaign period. The discussions, conclusions and forecast made are not a closed case. Day-in, day-out, lessons are bound to be learnt. Whether one likes it or not, realities of lessons we fail to learn are bound to unfold in their due seasons. To shy away from drawing analysis and inferences and from taking proper cues from lessons from an event or from a process is to be guilty of bad fate.

For good and all, the period of attempting to entice voters with Greek gifts has gone. The pilferers of our collective fortunes have stolen so much that the owners have discovered. Having discovered, the owners have begun to consider any Greek gifts offered to them as a stylish way of returning to them those precious wealth earlier stolen from them. So, any politician who comes out at the approach of elections, doling out Greek gifts does so as effort made in the line of redistribution of income. It is better to use every opportunity that avails itself to provide amenities that add value to the lives of the citizenry than taking the people for granted that they could be bought over with oneshot inducements – financial, material or any other form.

The administration of the winner of the election, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taught us that the most potent and vibrant tool for winning and sustaining the trust and confidence of the people is to provide amenities, infrastructure and facilities that touch lives and turn them around positively now; and that would remain as lasting legacies for generations unborn. Also through the Aregbesola school of thought, we have come to the realization that the greatest asset to politicians and statesmen alike is the people. Human resource is the greatest wealth of any society. It is therefore demeaning and dehumanizing to take for granted the intellectual faculty, mental reasoning, conscience, pride and dignity of a people. As a matter of fact, it is a crime against humanity. This is a lesson for all those who shall henceforth be aspiring to lead us as a people in these parts. We are not a people to be bamboozled with fake, unrealistic promises or dumb-driven or tempest-tossed as if we have no conscience.

People have often blamed much of our predicaments in the line of successfully nurturing our democratic culture on lengthy years of military rule. But our democracy is now almost sixteen years old, yet there has been no remarkable improvement. We need to examine what is being done wrong and make proper amends. Our political leadership at the centre us currently handled by a civilian. By this, I mean that President Goodluck Jonathan was never a military man. In spite of this, it appeared as if the disposition of his administration on election matters has a bent towards winning empires by all means! As surprising as this is, it does cannot help our democratic culture. People should be allowed to have the final say on the choice of who leads them and manage their resources for them.

President Jonathan appears to be too desperate in the realization of his ambition – that of succeeding himself next year.

He tends to be doing that without measuring up to being competent and able to provide solutions to our numerous problems. The enormous financial resources wasted on the fortunes of his party’s candidate in the just-concluded State of Osun Gubernatorial Election alone could have gone far in fixing all federal roads that criss-cross our territory. If he had done that, people would have become ingrafted to him without force or intimidation.

OSUN DEFENDER Magazine also reasons that the huge security apparatus deployed to the state during the last polls has better task to carry out in the core North area where the dreaded Boko Haram is dealing fatal blow on citizens of this country.

Security matters during an election are what the police can handle without reinforcement. More so, the State of Osun has fared well in security matters under Governor Aregbesola. Since 2010 when the incumbent administration came on board, crime wave has so reduced that the state has been ranked as one of the most peaceful in the country. This feat was achieved internally without reinforcement from anywhere. How then has reinforcement become necessary during an election; save for the reason that someone somewhere is desperately bent toward favouring a particular candidate above others. Before the elections and now that the elections are concluded, the governor remains the chief security officer of the state. How then is it that during election, someone somewhere wanted to usurp that responsibility from him?

Before it is too late, President Goodluck Jonathan should get rid of bad eggs in his cabinet. The likes of Musiliu Obanikoro and Jelili Adesiyan are misfits who have no value to add to any administration. Their ignoble role in Ekiti and Osun is a clear attestation to this. If nothing about their antecedents is sufficient to convince anyone, their roles in these recent outings should do the convincing.

Here we are! The collective will of the majority of our people has prevailed. In spite of harassment, intimidation, provocation and threats, we have all won at last! It remains indelibly true that the people’s will is mightier than the force of arms. The resolve of the people is irrepressible. In vain was the guard and spies. We have fought and won in spite of all antics and machinations of our collective foes. Congratulations, Osun.

Concluded.

FOR THE RECORDS

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

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I Dedicate My Victory To The People Being the text of the acceptance speech by the governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on the occasion of the presentation of certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in the state.

Protocol

imagine that elderly persons, who are vulnerable, without fear, will get from government, monthly stipends? Who could have thought that every community in Osun will have sufficient government attention to make them feel that they are part of government? Who could have taught that farmers will need not to worry about money to buy agricultural inputs? Who could have taught that every child in our public schools will have their data on a computer base that will be permanent? Who could have ever thought that Osogbo, the state capital, will be gradually turning to be the Dubai of Nigeria and by 2018, by the grace of God, Osogbo will be so much transformed that any visitor, who has been away for a year, will certainly miss roads and this will not be limited to Osogbo alone; we are working on an ambitious nine-city urban renewal projects. US Habitat told me that there is no place in the world, where any government had ever embarked on the urban renewal of the size we are embarking on. We are not only developing Osogbo, we are doing Iwo, Ikire, Ede, Ila, Ilesa Ikirun and Ejigbo.

Because of the predominance of Ejigbo people in French countries, that is why we take special interest in Ejigbo in addition to whatever support we are getting from the UN habitat. Also in IleIfe, and when I talk about Ile-Ife, besides urban renewal, there is an historical assignment we must do in Ile-Ife.

without equivocation that those, I say on whose behalf, I receive the certificate of return, are the great people of Osun, who against all odds, stood by us and made this possible.

Otherwise, if the wish of powerful forces prevails, we would have by now been eased out of the Government House, even though it is illegal by law because our tenure will end by November. Glory be to God and the people of Osun, who sacrificed everything; who risks everything, to stand and support us. I dedicate this certificate to you. I thank you. Through you, God delivered this to me, not by my might, not by my strength, not by my power, it is solely because of your zeal, commitment and total sacrifice and amazing support, under the direction of God, that I am happily today qualified to receive this certificate of return. I thank you.

I thank the leadership and members of my party all over Nigeria, most especially in Osun, for their support and diligence displayed before, during and after the election. Inspite of evil forces, you were determined to survive the will of the people. I thank all our party faithful and sympathizers across the globe; the human rights organizations, progressives in general, international and local observers, including but not limited to African Union (AU) and also to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). I congratulate you for the successful conduct of the election.

I have said it before and I will say it again, that we must not fail to remind INEC the obvious lapses, which could have marred the election. Without doubt, I scored INEC 75%. However, INEC must in future elections, take seriously, the security of election materials. Please, it is still right and appropriate to be extravigilant with election materials. We were victims of the similar poor management of election materials, which is more reason it is important to emphasize this.

In 2007, the current Speaker, Rt. Honourable Najeem Salaam from Ejigbo, Honourable Abiodun Awolola, from Egbedore, and current Deputy Speaker, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye, from Osogbo, were victims.

In 2007, the election that was conducted, without any sin, had to be voided because of the compromise of some junior staff of INEC, who were custodians of those election materials.

Some unscrupulous elements influenced them to tamper with the electoral materials, which led to the loss of electoral mandate. A recent reoccurrence happened in 2011, when Honourable Nathaniel Agunbiade was almost denied of his position, but for the wisdom of the judges, who refused their tricks. He still retains the office because during the examination of the facts available, it was discovered that some unscrupulous elements in INEC voided some of the ballots after election, but God caught them. The ones they voided did not match the serial numbers of the ones they originally used during election.

•AREGBESOLA

Otherwise, there would have been a rerun in that constituency. That is why we are appealing to INEC to please to be on alert, extra-vigilant and more determined to secure the election materials. If you do not guard those materials, they are open to all sorts of manipulations. If the integrity of the organization, as important to us as it is important to you, you should be able to protect the materials. I trust that you will do your best to prevent compromise, manipulation and tampering of election materials.

The election was largely successful, with the exception of some wards in Ife Federal Constituency, where by our own reports, a large section did not even have any election at all. Except these inadequacies, you have conducted a successful election. I congratulate my opponents, who participated in the election. I thank them for the spirit with which they contested the election. It is my belief that electoral process is an expression of a democratic process, so we must commend those who took the pains, who made the effort to strengthen our democratic process. I pray that in the same spirit of Olympic, in which they participated in the process, let them all come to us to advance the interest of our state and provide to our people, a better life. For those who chose legal option, we are not in any way inducing them not to pursue to any length the litigation of the election, but we are so confident that such process will further

convince them beyond any doubt that we won the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election fair and well. But even as they pursue the litigation, lets us all come together to advance the cause of our people by guaranteeing peace for our people, progress for all of us and ensure development.

I have no reason, since 2004, to be involved in this process, if not for the progress and development of black man on earth. It is my zeal and passion to use my God-given talent to give meaning to the black race, which today is underdeveloped internationally. I believe I can use my God-given talent, within this small pace, to make a difference in leadership. That is why since 2004, when I have privilege and opportunity that will make the world to know that the blacks are capable of effective leadership and I am proud to say that our 44 months in power has demonstrated what purposeful leadership could do. Who would ever thought that school children of close 300,000 could be eating delicious meals everyday? Who could have ever thought that 40,000 unemployed youths could be taken off the streets and made to serve their communities and yet get some remunerations or who could have ever taught that schools worthy of highlywealthy children, could be built for children of ordinary people? Who could have ever thought that Osun could guarantee buses for our students and subsides the buses? Could anybody

Ile-Ife is the source of all Yorubas across the globe, and there are over 33 million in the world. As the origin of our race, we are because of this rebuilding Ile-Ife. We will trace the history of Yoruba 500 years back before the contact of white men, and we are going to project where we want to be in the next 500 years. This historic assignment will be called Yoruba International Heritage City. We are going to start the project. There is no way we can complete it in four years, but with this, we are going to show the people of IleIfe that we are not parochial; that we are committed to the development of IleIfe, and we are going to see Ile-Ife in its historic and cultural context. We all go to Mecca, we all go to Jerusalem and in no distant time, we are going to have Ile-Ife that we will be proud of. At the same time, we are not going to relent in our efforts to meet other essential needs of our people. Our six-point integral action plan still stands to ensure that peace and harmony reign supreme; that we sustain sound health, qualitative and functional education.

We are grateful to God that we won this election and we want to assure our people that whatever we have done or we have seen is just the foundation of what is coming in the next four years.

As I was saying, we want all, who are genuine in their profession; who are genuine in their commitment; who are genuine in their vision for Osun, to come to us, to collaborate with us to make Osun a model of progress, a model of development, a model of dignity. I thank you for your time. I pray that by the time we will be handing over again in 2018, there will be every reason to thank God.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, August 19, 2014

PHOTOTALK

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State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At Osogbo Central Mosque For His Re-election’s Thanksgiving On Friday.

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from his well-wishers and supporters on his way back from Jumat service last Friday.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2014 WO weeks before, I had made a case for the reelection of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State in the (then) forthcoming governorship election in the state billed for August 9. I mentioned some of Aregbesola’s many achievements in less than four years, and in spite of financial limitations. As I said then, such campaign would have been unnecessary as Aregbesola’s achievements should have spoken for him. But we have entered a dangerous era in our political development where achievements alone no longer speak. That much was learnt from the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State in which the incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost to his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenger, Ayo Fayose.

By TUNJI ADEGBOYEGA

T

evergreens it was who sang that ‘ka to fi’yan j’oye larin Egba, o ni lati je’ni rere’ (before anyone is given chieftaincy title by the Egba people, such a person must be worthy of it). Ekiti people say their land is ile iyi; (land of honour); but this is not true of the Ekitis alone, it used to be like that all over Yorubaland.

Beyond Aregbe’s Victory For the progressives, it’s time for introspection

Mercifully, the Osun election result was different. Although Osun people took ‘political notice’ of the nuisance value in Aregbesola’s challenger, they rewarded performance by retaining Aregbe (APC) as governor with 394, 684 votes against Iyiola Omisore’s (PDP) 292,747. It would have been tragic to have allowed unserious people and impostors to take over another state in a pace-setter region like the south-west. It was not that they did not try; they did, but the people’s eternal vigilance and God made it impossible for them to carry out their satanic desire. This is why I find it so ridiculous to laud President Goodluck Jonathan for deploying troops to Osun as he did in Ekiti.

Only that in the former, we saw not only genuine soldiers but also suspected fakes; both hooded and hoodless.

Moreover, the motive for sending the soldiers was not altruistic. An account had it that at a point, the soldiers were reminded of the ‘patriotic duty’ not to disappoint their C-in-C in Osun.

But everyone who should know ought to have realised that Nigeria is one of the very few places where President Goodluck Jonathan could be a political asset. A situation where the president would have thrown his hat into the ring should have been avoided instead of allowing him to do that only to start looking for security agents to ensure his party was rigged in. More importantly, soldiers would have had no business in elections if the ruling party had done what was required in the police force all these years. Why should soldiers take up police duties while duty calls at Sambisa Forest?

It baffles me that despite what happened in the Western Region in the ‘60s and ‘80s, some people still had the effrontery to want to rig election in the region so barefacedly like the PDP tried even in Osun on August 9. But, as we all know, if history is always to repeat itself, there must be people to make that happen. Renegades there always will be. They were there even in Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s time. With every 12 disciples, there must be a Judas. I mean sons of perdition will always be sons of perdition, no matter what.

But, it is good we continue to remind such people that they rig election, especially in the south-west, at their own risk. This is not a clarion call to arms. And even if it is, it is nothing to be apologetic about. After all, John Kennedy in 1962, it was who said, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” This is forever true, whether in Kennedy’s America or anywhere for that matter. America will not experience violent revolution today simply because politicians there would not attempt to subvert the will of the people blatantly as our politicians do at the polls. Elections are supposed to be sacred and those who desecrate that sacredness are like people who cause rain to fall. Unfortunately, they did not reckon that when the rain starts,

Yes, the PDP might have fielded Omisore, not necessarily because of what he has to offer, but, as a source put it, because it wanted people who have an infinite capacity to cause trouble; still, the Yoruba people would have rejected him resoundingly at the polls. I hear the ruling party also sponsored another candidate in the region because, again, as the source said, ‘he get craze for head’! These are, trying times for the south west; indeed trying times for Nigeria!

But, the point is, if the Yoruba people were ready to insist that their votes count in the 1960s, breaking their rediffusion sets which they saw then as the roguish government’s tool of propaganda in the process; and if they were ready to do same even in 1983, then there must be a reason why they think such struggle is no longer worth it today when robbed of their votes, even in broad daylight. Agreed, as Hans J. Morgenthau argued ‘… all politics is a struggle for power’ but not all struggles for power are struggles for people’s development. If politicians in Nigeria devote only 30 percent of the energy they give seeking power into governance, things would never have been this bad. Indeed, as we saw in the First and Second Republics, and as we must have seen so far after more than 15 years of PDP rule, the struggle for power has largely been a struggle for personal aggrandisement. “If someone spent eight years in power, I should be able to beat that record”.

“If someone who entered the Government House in bathroom slippers is able to come out in golden shoes barely a week after, I should be able to do same in two days”. This may seem more of exaggeration, but that is the spirit among many of our public office holders now.

•OMISORE the possibility of its being accompanied by thunderstorm is high. Yet, they do not want thunderstorm.

One of the reasons why Africa is in a shambles today is because people who do not deserve to lead have forced their way into positions of authority in many African countries. And they always want to stay put even when it is clear that they have outlived their usefulness. When undeserving people sit tight in power, it has implications not only for today but also for tomorrow. It is people’s future; people lives and people’s progress that such usurpers arrest for every minute that they stay in power.

Anyway, having driven away those who wanted to reap where they did not sow in Osun, it is time to tell the progressives some home truths. Posterity would not be kind to them if they give people who have nothing to offer the opportunity to fish for ridiculous excuses why politicians who perform cannot be reelected, thus

throwing the people into perpetual lamentation.

All over the democratic world, performance is key. We should resist the attempt by nonperformers and vagabonds who are lurking around, waiting to exploit minor weaknesses of some of the region’s performing politicians. We have passed that stage in our political evolution where achievements would take the back seat; we should not allow the PDP to reduce the region to its base standards.

I say this because if truly Omisore scored the 292,747 votes that INEC said he scored in the August 9 election, then, the value system that we used to hold dear in the south west is being gradually eroded. And this is dangerous. In the past, no one in Yorubaland would touch Omisore, not even with a long pole, given his antecedents.

His acquittal over the murder of Chief Bola Ige might have had the force of law, but it would have lacked the force of votes in the south west because the people’s court too used to count.

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, in one of his

“If the Yoruba people were ready to insist that their votes count in the 1960s, breaking their rediffusion sets which they saw then as the roguish government’s tool of propaganda in the process; and if they were ready to do same even in 1983, then there must be a reason why they think such struggle is no longer worth it today when robbed of their votes, even in broad daylight... Like the biblical missing axe, it is that missing link that the progressives must find to make the difference in 2015.”

Without doubt, the PDP would not mind allowing people who want to ride Okada from Lagos to Ibadan on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway kill themselves if that would fetch it votes. It is ready to return Nigeria to the Stone Age, provided that would bring in votes. Such is its desperation. And it is understandable; that is the only way it can get gullible people to still reckon with it in spite of its monumental failure since 1999, especially at the centre. I am not arguing that the south west should fall to such base standards, because the region has always been a pace-setter, but the political leaders in the region have to learn to sell their programmes to the electorate instead of putting up a ‘knowall’ posture or being arrogant or messianic in doing things. And, when like all mortals, they find they are wrong, they should not hesitate to reverse themselves. That is one sure way to keep the predators at bay.

All said, the progressives family has to call a meeting where they have to tell themselves the bitter truth. As I argued earlier, if the Yoruba people were ready to go the whole hog like they did in 1966 and 1983 when roguish politicians subverted their electoral choice, then something is missing if they cannot take a similar risk today in the face of a rampaging ruling party that has nothing to offer and yet wants to ‘capture’ more states in the country, particularly in the southwest. Like the biblical missing axe, it is that missing link that the progressives must find to make the difference in 2015.

•Culled from THE NATION

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.