www.osundefender.org
T HE
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Quote “Look at what we did in Osun State. In Osun, we had the best election conducted so far; the best election we have conducted so far as a commission since 2011.”
• Quote from Professor Attahiru Jega’s interview in The Guardian of Wed. Oct. 29 (2nd part of a series that •Jega started on the 28th).
5TH
M O S T - V I S I T ED
NEWS-
N50
VOL. 9. NO.148
Front Page Comment
Lean Government: Key To Posterity The situation with the turbulence in the oil market is dire. The mismanagement of the economy by the central government has left the federating units
(the states) very much up and against it. The terms of trade have simply turned against us and we did not prepare for the rainy day. Now t
hat the day of reckoning has come we have to react positively. Those who have been proactive like for example, Continue on pg5
Osun Governorship Election Tribu-
‘Omisore, PDP Fail To Prove Allegations’ - See Story On Page 2
Osun APC State, National Assemblies’ Candidates Emerge - Pg 3
Aregbesola Applauds Osun Doctors - Pg 2 In US
•(R-L) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun Chapter, Alhaji Rasaq Salensile and a Senatorial aspirant, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, during primaries/declaration of the party’s flagbearers to the National/State Assemblies, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun, on Tuesday.
Tribunal: Osun Election Wasn’t Manipulated - Voters
- See Story On Page 3
News
2
Osun Defender Thursday, December 11,
Osun Tribunal: ‘Omisore, PDP Fail To Prove Allegations’ By kazeem mohammed
C
ounsel to Governor Rauf Aregbesola before the state of Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Ajibola Basiru, has said that the defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has failed to prove any of his allegations of irregularities of the election before the panel. This is in reaction that the August 9, 2014 t o t h e c o m m e n t o f governorship election Omisore’s counsel, Chris was free and fair, votes Uche (SAN), that the w e r e c o u n t e d a n d first respondent is short results announced in the of witnesses before the presence of every voter. tribunal. Omisore is challenging This was just as more the August 9 re-election eligible voters, who are of Aregbesola before non-politicians told the the Justice Elizabeth tribunal on Tuesday
Ikpejime-led tribunal. The witnesses who were led in evidence by the lead counsel of Aregbesola, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), on Tuesday were Sanusi Balikis, Alade Rauf, Bello Afeez and Rasheed Okeowo. Balikis, who told the tribunal that she was accredited and voted at Unit 2, Ward 2, EdeNorth Local Government Council Area of the state, said everything was smooth on the election day where she voted, saying no voter was chased away. She added that that she
was at his polling unit throughout the day of the election, while there were security men on ground performing their duties. She also said she saw agents of various political parties signing the result form for the unit after the counting and declaration of the result. Also, Alade, Bello and Okeowo who told the tribunal that they voted at Unit 7 of Ward 4 and Unit 10, Ward 4 of EdeNorth Local Government Council Area and Ward 4, Unit 2 of Boripe Local Government Council
Area respectively told the court that there was no molestation or harassment of voters on the day of the election. They said that accreditations were properly done and every eligible voter was allowed to vote for the parties of their choice. The witnesses in their respective testimonies explained that there w a s n ’t a n y c a s e o f multiple voting or overvoting in their units, as no voter was allowed to vote more than once. Okeowo specifically said there was no allocation of votes to any of the candidates, as the result announced for the units reflected the real votes cast, saying: “Whoever says votes were just allocated to Aregbesola is a liar, because the votes were counted and announced
in the presence of all without complaint.” Addressing the press after the sitting, Aregbesola’s counsel, Ajibola said the comment of Omisore’s counsel that his client was hunting for witnesses was purely unprofessional and not expected of a senior lawyer. He said: “The question of litigation is a matter of tactics and strategy and we can decide how many number of witnesses we want to call and how we want to call them. “As far as we are concerned, the petitioner has not proved anything. They have called 43 witnesses who have not established anything. “So, for him to say we are scouting for witnesses, he is speaking for Facebook, or instagram,” he said.
Osun NCP Holds Primaries For National, State Assemblies
T •who’s pushing who? The police or the vehicle?
OAU Graduates 150 Ph.D, 9,094 Degree Students
O
By kehinde ayantunji
ver 9,000 students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, will graduate with doctoral and first degrees this year.
This was last Monday made known by the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Bamitale Omole, at a briefing. Omole also stated that 127 of the graduating students obtained first class from the institution. The convocation ceremonies, according to him, will hold between December 10 and 12, 2014. According to him: “The Senate of the university has approved the graduation of 9,094 first degree graduates drawn from the 13 faculties in the university. “The breakdown is as follows: 127 students
made first class honours, while 2,369 and 4,256 respectively made second-class upper and lower divisions. One thousand two hundred and thirty-two students made third class, while 123 students would graduate with ordinary pass. “For the postgraduate stu d e n ts , 3 9 4 w ill be conferred with postgraduate diplomas, 2,755 with master’s degrees, 73 with Masters of Philosophy while 150 will be conferred with Doctor of Philosophy degrees.” The V-C, who spoke on the challenges facing the institution, noted that its major issue was how to maintain its
number one position in Nigeria and moving up the ladder in Africa. Omole added that the university has made history by becoming the first ivory tower to be rated the best in the country for three consecutive years on the Webometric ranking organised by the Cybermetrics Labs of
Spain. He said: “It is on record that the Obafemi Awolowo University is the leading university in Nigeria in Information Communication Technology with internet access bandwidth of 600Mbps, which is the largest in the Nigerian
By ismaeel uthman
he National Conscience Party (NCP) in the State of Osun on Tuesday held successful primaries to field candidates for the various elective offices ahead of the 2015 general elections. At the end of the primaries, the NCP presented three senatorial; seven House Speaking at the event, of Representatives and the Deputy National 18 House of Assembly Chairman, South-West, candidates. of the NCP, Comrade Though, the entire Waheed Lawal, who c a n d i d a t e s w e r e represented the National unopposed, but the party Chairman, Alhaji Yinusa insisted on seeking the Tanko, said the primaries consent of members of the was in line with the party, through delegates, constitution of the party. before ratifying their According to Lawal, candidature, according the NCP was ready to to the Chairman of the contest the 2015 general congress, Mr Rasak elections with the All Olaniran. Progressives Congress All the candidates were ( A P C ) , t h e P e o p l e s adopted by the party Democratic Party (PDP) delegates in the presence and any other parties of two officials of the interested in the election. Independent National Lawal stated that the Electoral Commission NCP would offer credible (INEC) at the congress. leadership and quality representation to the people of the state at different fora, adding that the party has, for long, been known for credibility and uprightness. He therefore, urged the candidates of the party to be well-behaved and avoid acts capable of soiling the image of the party and disrespecting the electorate. Lawal also charged members of the party to mobilize for the victory •The Late Fajemilehin of the party in the coming and sympathised with elections. them during the demise of the General Manager, Opeyemi Fajemilehin.
Burial Plans For Opeyemi Fajemilehin Released
T
he burial plans for the late General Manager of Uniq FM, 103.1, Mr Opeyemi Fajemilehin, has been announced by the management of the station. According to a statement lying-in state would be at made available to OSUN the premises of Uniq FM DEFENDER, the burial by 9:00am. At 10:00am, the body would come up on Friday, leaves Uniq FM for Igede12th of December, 2014. The burial schedule, Ekiti and funeral service according to the statement would be held at Igedesigned by Adedeji Olopade, Ekiti by 11:00am. According to Olopade, Head of Administration of the station, the body would Uniq FM acknowledged leave LAUTECH Teaching and appreciated all those Hospital by 8:00am and who showed concern
If you have a story or advert for us, contact 08033927286, 08033880205, 08061197897, 08023191891.
News
3
Osun Defender Thursday, December
Tribunal: Osun Election Wasn’t Manipulated - Voters
G
By kazeem mohammed
overnor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Monday opened his defence against the petition challenging his August 9, 2014 reelection before the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, with ordinary voters telling the tribunal that the election was not manipulated. Four voters, who told of Aregbesola and the All the court that they were Progressives Congress not politicians and testified ( A P C ) o n t h e g r o u n d before the tribunal, said there that there were no proper were proper accreditation accreditation, that additional and the voting proper was voting points were not also hitch-free. created and that some voters T h e w i t n e s s e s w e r e were disenfranchised. Mrs Rachael Babatunde, a Giving her evidence, trader; Folorunsho Olojede, Mrs Babatunde told the a retired police officer; tribunal that she was neither Adeniji Akinropo, a retired a member of APC nor any civil servant and Rauf Ajide other political party, saying Olaegbon, a trader. when she got to his polling The defeated Peoples unit in Ward 8 of Olorunda Democratic Party (PDP) Local Government Council governorship candidate, Area, he was properly Senator Iyiola Omisore, is accredited and eventually challenging the re-election voted.
Osun APC State, National Assemblies’ Candidates Emerge
Explaining that she was not an agent of any political party, but ordinary voter who witnessed what happened at the polling unit on the election day, the witness further stated that the process followed on the said day was peaceful, as nobody was harassed nor chased away. She added that she stayed behind until after the election and the APC won at the unit, adding that she saw agents of all political parties counter-signing the result form for the unit. Also, Folorunsho told the tribunal that there was no case of inducement of voters on the election day in his Ward 3, Unit 6 of Olorunda Local Government Council Area, saying nobody was disenfranchised on the said day. He testified that after the
election, votes were counted, announced, counter-signed by party agents and pasted on the wall, saying: “When I heard that the election is being challenged, I was baffled and wondered how such peaceful election could be taken to the tribunal. “When I heard that the result of the election is being challenged, I volunteered myself to testify in this case to confirm that the election was very peaceful. “I am a retired police officer and I don’t belong to any political party. I was just a voter on that day. I decided to come and testify because of the development Aregbesola has brought to Osun and what he is still currently doing.” In his own evidence, Akinropo told the court that accreditation was properly done and voting
was conducted in a peaceful manner, saying nobody voted more than once on the said day. He said the result announced for his unit was the true reflection of the people’s wish, saying, no party was allocated votes. As against the claim that additional voting points were not created, all the witnesses told the tribunal that additional voting points were created for their various units. Also, Olaegbon testified that he was accredited and voted, just as every other voter was allowed to vote on the said day. He added that he witnessed the accreditation, voting and announcement of the result on the said day. Subsequently, A r e g b e s o l a ’s c o u n s e l
sought adjournment till Tuesday and it was granted. Explaining the rationale behind the request for adjournment, the APC counsel, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), said the request was strategic, noting that the petitioners have not made any case before the tribunal. Observing that the witnesses called so far were unshakeable under crossexamination, Akeredolu said: “We want to take our time to make sure that the witnesses we are calling are as good as the ones we have called. The witnesses have done extremely well.” Omisore’s counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), also said they were happy with the progress made so far.
By kazeem mohammed andidates for the State and National Assemblies under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State of Osun emerged on Tuesday. They emerged through three of the 38 contesting affirmation by party leaders seats cutting across the state from various state and and national assemblies federal constituencies and were yet to be resolved, senatorial districts. while promising that they P r o f e s s o r O l u s o l a would soon be resolved. Adeyeye, representing He expressed optimism Osun Central in the Senate that the APC would win and Babajide Omoworare, all the national and state representing Osun East were returned for second assemblies seats in the 2015 t e r m , w h i l e t h e f i r s t general elections. •The wife of the State of Osun Governor; Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, giving gifts to the children at the 2014 Father executive governor of Christmas party organised by OSBC in Osogbo, recently. the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, emerged for Osun West to replace Senator Mudashir Husein. While a number of the They also called on By francis ezediuno state lawmakers were also the leadership of the All returned for another term, “ A p a r t f r o m t h e i r same members, as virtually Progressives Congress some, including Samsom he newly sworn-in governor of the State of Osun, c e r t i f i c a t i o n , O g b e n i all of them had performed (APC) in the State of Osun Fafiyebi representing, headed by its new Chairman, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has been charged to make Aregbesola has to pick more than expected. Obokun State constituency Prince Gboyega Famodun, credibility a benchmark in the consideration those that the people want. S h e e x p l a i n e d t h a t to ensure that the state were dropped and replaced of political appointments as commissioners, special These two criteria must go because the team was a with the Senior Special primaries are conducted Assistant to the Governor advisers and senior special assistants for the smooth together and by so doing, we winning side, there was no within an atmosphere that running of his administration in the next four years. will discover that the state point changing a winning on Community Forum, T h i s c h a r g e w a s the duration of the first term government business will side and this was the joker is devoid of violence. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, They also charged him to g i v e n b y D e a c o n of Mr. Governor, he never be smooth just like we had that Ogbeni Aregbesola among others. build on the success of his Ayomiposi Olorunfemi, in the last four years.” had cause to reshuffle the had to go all out and break Announcing the names A n o t h e r m e m b e r o f records in his second term. predecessor, Elder Lowo of the candidates, the state t h e s p o k e s p e r s o n f o r cabinet or lay off any of the group, Mrs. Abosede Mrs. Akano described Adebiyi, and ensure that the chairman of the party, P r o g r e s s i v e C o n g r e s s his aides.” Alliance, during a parley Akano, was of the opinion He maintained that it the past state council as 2015 general elections are Prince Gboyega Famodun, said the candidates were in Osogbo, the state capital was this that enabled the that the dissolved State the winning formula of the successful. governor to achieve a lot in Executive Council should governor and she wanted elected by party leaders recently. Olorunfemi observed terms of meeting the needs be reconstituted with the the governor to see reason across the state. that the group of people and retain the old order. S p e a k i n g , t h e s t a t e that comprised the recently- of the people of the state. governor, Ogbeni Rauf dissolved State Executive Aregbesola, lauded the C o u n c i l w e r e a b l e t o maturity of the party leaders achieve success and boost By bolanle babalola Adeyemi advised youths governor of the state, and members for their the image of the governor to desist from causing Senator Isiaka Adeleke, he Federal Council of Ede Descendants Union unrest in the town and allow the Timi of Edeland, Oba discipline. because they believed in the (FCEDU) in Ede in the State of Osun has urged the peace to reign in Ede and Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, He said the way the ‘Oranmiyan’ project. They state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, to find a the state as a whole. Vice Chancellor of Osun candidates emerged has believed in the government shown the diligence of the unusual that Ogbeni Rauf lasting solution to the land disputes between the people He also charged them to State University, Professor of Ede and Osogbo. APC leaders in managing Aregbesola was all about. H e a l s o u r g e d t h e be productively engaged Basiru Okesina, immediateSpeaking at the 21st the affairs of the party. According to him: “The Ede Mapo Arogun Day governor to look into the and strive to succeed in life, past Commissioner for According to him, the g o v e r n o r w a s a b l e t o celebration at the weekend, report of a commission set rather than getting involved Environment and Sanitation in the state, Professor (Mrs) emergence of the candidates achieve the level of success the President of the union, up by former Governor in street fight. Adeyemi also charged the Olubukola Oyawoye, were was the result of effective he had in his first term Barrister Dele Adeyemi, Olagunsoye Oyinlola on management, consultation because he took his time said it has become necessary boundary demarcation, state government to revamp among dignitaries at the and harmonisation of to carefully select the very for Ede and Osogbo to stop w h i c h i d e n t i f i e d t h e the ailing Cocoa Industry event. different opinions within best from the list he had incessant boundary clashes boundaries between Ede in Ede as an economic and the party. and we can see that as a in the interest of peace and and its neighbours including employment strategy. The first civilian Ofatedo and Ido-Osun. He confirmed that only testament that throughout development.
C
Aregbesola Should Appoint Aides Based On Credibility - Group
T
Ede Seeks End To Land Disputes
T
News
4
Osun Defender Thursday, December
Aregbesola Applauds Osun Doctors In •Groups Embark On Medical Mission In Osun
I
By shina abubakar
Speaking on behalf of the team, Dr Ilupeju disclosed that the essence of the mission is to take healthcare delivery to the rural dwellers, who could not afford the leisure of medical-check up regularly. He said the enthusiasm
shown by the team against other mission programme embarked upon before was due to the fact that the mission was put together by the state indigenes resident in Maryland in the USA. According to him, the
mission would take the team to five communities, including Erin-Osun, Inisa, Iragbiji, Ile-Ogbo among others in five different local governments council areas across the state. He disclosed that part
of what the team would be doing is evaluate patients, make diagnosis and dispense drugs to the prospective patients, as well as establish a referral centre in the USA for patients that would require emergency treatment abroad.
ndigenes of Osun resident in the United States of America under the auspices of Osun Indigenes Organisation in the USA have embarked on a medical mission in Osun for five days. Addressing the team led in the state throughout their by Dr. Oluremi Ilupeju, stay. the Governor of the State o f Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, affirmed that the state commended the team for deeming it fit to give back to the society in a unique manner. According to the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, he disclosed that the state government is determined to add value to the lives of its citizenry, hence, its decision to make quality health delivery an integral part of its six-point agenda. The governor disclosed that despite the meagre resources available to the state, it leads others in innovative government policies aimed at improving the lots of the masses, such as its 24-hour free ambulance service, which is the first in the country. “We build many hospitals and are committed to building more and we are committed to providing medical services to the people free-of-charge. We are always proactive in our service delivery to the people, such as the way we fought Ebola,” she disclosed. In her address, the immediate-past Commissioner for Health in •The Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, in a group photograph with members of The Osun Indigenes the state, Dr (Mrs) Temitope Organisation in the US at the Governor’s Office, Abere, State of Osun on Monday. Ilori, stressed that medical mission is beyond providing advanced medical care, but also personnel capacity development through cross the community. By francis ezediuno he State Government of Osun is the only one in the fertilisation of ideas. Oyegoke revealed that federation with a 24-hour ambulance service owing decision to partner with She also stated that the “The state government in 2013, they had, through to the establishment of the Osun Ambulance any group that has decided was commended for the mission’s health service the Ministry of Education, provision is also critical Service by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf to give back to the people. way it responded to the awarded scholarship to 31 in rural health service Aregbesola as part of his six-point integral action plan. She noted that because Ebola scare that hit the deserving recipients to the delivery, as it makes people, This was disclosed by the state’s deputy governor, who ordinarily would not O t u n b a ( M r s . ) G r a c e States of America, a group of the seriousness with nation some months back,” university. which the state government she added. go to hospital, to seek Titi Laoye-Tomori, who based in Maryland. While encouraging attached to health, it has medical service and help in represented the governor Responding, the President everybody to sow towards The deputy governor discovering critical health d u r i n g t h e r e c e p t i o n also revealed that from gone ahead to build and of The Osun Indigenes an end, he disclosed that conditions. renovate several state- Organisation in the United t h e y h a d s p e n t a b o u t Dr Ilori told the team and courtesy call made t h e i n c e p t i o n o f t h e owned health institutions States, Pastor Oyegoke, $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 t o w a r d s t h e that the state government on the state government administration, it had been a n d w e l c o m e d m a n y would support and ensure by the Osun Indigenes pro-active about the health medical missions coming stated that all the group was medical mission but more doing was sowing back to prayers and support were the success of their mission Organisation in the United of the people, hence the to the state. still needed to achieve success. Oyegoke who was in the company of his wife, supply chicken to KFC, Yeye Osun (Mrs.) Oyegoke, By kehinde ayantunji which is the number one Dr. Ilupeju; leader of the by other Nigerians that cost of production are eatery in the world.” medical mission, other ssistant Inspector-General of Police (Zone God has blessed. The d i s c o u r a g i n g b u t t h e He then called on the members of the group were XI), Mr Ambrose Ojemudia, has urged chairman of the company company is keeping the Federal Government to at the Abiye Orphanage philanthropists in Nigeria to invest in the is advised to keep the flag flag flying because of its come up with policies Home, where they donated economy, with a view to creating wealth in the society of the company flying. I lofty aim to add value to the that will make business food items, cash and other to reduce crime rate. am delighted and impressed Nigerian economy. environment conducive items to the motherless “I must confess, this has for those in agric-related babies. Ojemudia said this in He said: “By virtue with what I saw here,” he paid off. In recognition of businesses. Osogbo during a courtesy of my job, I have been added. In attendance at the In his remark, Chairman our strides in the area of T h e A I G w a s government reception were v i s i t t o T U N S F a r m s to many places in the Nigeria Limited located country. I know people can of TUNS Farm, Asiwaju safe and quality products, accompanied during the the Permanent Secretaries a l o n g I k i n r u n R o a d , unjustifiably take to crime Tunde Badmus, appreciated aside many endorsements visit by three Deputy of the Ministry of Health Osogbo. because of unemployment. the AIG for the visit and and certification we have Commissioners of Police, and Hospital Management The AIG said if many If many Nigerians could be promised his company’s received from regulatory DCPs Omololu, Olalekan Board, Dr. Tope Oladele N i g e r i a n s c o u l d b e enterprising and invest in support for the Police Zonal b o d i e s a n d a g e n c i e s O l a d i p u p o , F r a n c i s and Mrs. O. M. Ajayi, including NAFDAC and Kumoriti, Ayankola Ojo immediate-past Special entrepreneurial and invest the country’s economy like Command. He said Tuns Farm was Standard Organisation of and Adeagbo Olanrewaju in agricultural business TUNS Farms, then problem Adviser to the Governor and other sectors of the of unemployment will be incorporated about 30 Nigeria (SON), a “Can among others. on Health, Dr, Uzamotu years ago and as at today, Do” award was presented economy, it will reduce the reduced. I am calling on and staff of the Ministry rate of unemployment in the all Nigerians who God has generated employment for to us by Yum Restaurant of Health and Hospital International. country and by extension, blessed to invest greatly in over 500 people. Management Board. Badmus added that “Today, we are among reduce the number of those the Nigerian economy.
‘....Osun, Only State With 24-hour Ambulance Service ’
T
Police AIG Advocates Investment In Economy To Prevent Crime
A
who take to crime as means of survival.
“This establishment is a model worthy of emulation
though the harsh economic environment and high
the two International certified companies that
5
Osun Defender Thursday, December 11, 2014
By ismaeel uthman
Lean Government: Key To Posterity
Continued from pg1
governors Fashola and Aregbesola saw it coming and like the Boys Scouts were prepared.Having seen adversity on the horizon they opted for a rationalisation of the machinery of government; trimming of waste, duplication and graft. This sensible route did not of course affect personnel. On the contrary it helped to elevate the living wage of the civil service. This is fundamentally important, for the civil servants have to be protected. It is after all the political leadership and not them who created the imbalance in the first place. In the face of today`s adversity there must be a
wholesale cost rationalisation of the cost of the machinery of government. What is needed now is lean government translating to smarter government. Smarter government will be more efficient and effective. This is crucial, for the aggregate savings brought about by greater efficiency will now be re-directed towards production as well as the physical and social infrastructure. This is the sort of operating framework used in the state of Osun and it has worked. It also if we may go down memory lane worked for the Obafemi Awolowo led regional government in the Western Region of Nigeria in the 1950`s. Recurrent expenditure under Awo was held to about 27%. This is why so much was done
and massive social gains were made in the region. That greatly admired government showed the efficacy of lean and smart government; it must be emulated. If social justice is to be attained there must be a re-ordering of priorities for you cannot have your cake and eat it all at the same time. What is needed today is a government focused on a direction of capital towards the creation of a new society based on social solidarity and social justice. Only a rationatilasation can bring this about. And it has to be done for the sake of the polity and in the interest of the next generation or two. The quest for lean government ought to have been undertaken earlier. It will now be done in a very difficult terrain and without very much by way of a margin of error. Fortunately people with
Aregbesola: Beginning Of A New Era
T
hursday November 27th 2014 has gone down as one of the remarkable days in the history of the State of Osun. It was a day the Lord made to enable the state citizens to praise Him and believe in Him. The atmosphere was generously permissive and enable all the buoyancy of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to exude like he’d just won some gold medals at the Olympics. The last of greatness is the page of history. Ogbeni’s name has been written in the Guinness Book of Records as he has become the most complete man of his time, a man distinguished by the stupendous many-sidedness. Samuel Johnson, an international pastor once said: “Almost every man wastes part of his life in attempts to display qualities which he does not possess and gains applause which he cannot keep.” So far so good, this Ogbeni of a man deserves whatever encomiums he has been receiving worldwide. He has proved to all and sundry that, he is truly a real leader loved at home and celebrated by all. Our God is a God of second chances and third and fourth and fifth ones too. Omo Iya Olobi began his second term
on November 27th 2014, and not until he reaches the fifth will the good people of the State of Osun, especially the Ijesas rest. He deserves our prayers every day. Pray for the good of Jerusalem and it shall be well with thee. Note, he is a president in making. A president from Osun? After many people had said openly that, can any good come from our Nazareth? They are not God. Every term of four years
that passes is another stepping stone to Ogbeni’s greatness. As this inauguration for second term marked a new and better turn in his world, may it bring inevitable joy, peace and happiness to the citizens of this great state. As the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning, so shall the Lord do unto Ogbeni, his family and the State of Osun in general. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Omo Ijesa modu apona da has been doing the impossible
with the help of God hence he continues to give thanks, honour and adoration to the Almighty God. He cooperated with God and He lifted up his head above peoples’ imagination, no wonder God Himself told him: “Rauf, when I have a plan for your life, I am not influenced by those who overlook or underestimate you”. When men are cast down, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is always lifted up. No wonder
the heavens declared the glory of God on November 27, 2014 in Osogbo during the inauguration and the firmament His handiwork. If you study the lives of successful men and women all around the world, Ogbeni Aregbesola inclusive, no matter in which field, you will discover one common factor in their lives – diligence. Ogbeni is a diligent person who puts his very best into what he does, and pay attention to details to achieve perfection. He is
breezy, charming and ebullient and has guts like a typical Ijesa man. From an unstable and unpleasant beginning, he saw himself through. Oh! My God, truly, greatness is his heritage. To this Mandela of our time, there is no room for two Wills. If you want God’s will, you must be prepared to surrender your own will, and this is the greatest respect for our creator, the Almighty God. Good men do not make history, courageous people do. Aregbesola, with the backing of God, confronted the lions personified by the Peoples Democratic Party and the security operatives in their dens, like the Biblical Daniel, he came out unscathed. Act your way into boldness, and fear will lose its ability to control or paralyse you. When the light turns green, God’s resources are available for your assignment. Those who attack and betray you are victims of a fallen world. Ogbeni, don’t place all the blames on them. Even though, Judas didn’t understand or intend to betray Jesus, he played a vital role in ushering Christ into His destiny. Ride on Omoluabi, ride on Oranmiyan and move forward Omo Ogedengbe agbogungboro of Ijesaland.
•Tunde Esan, Ilesa,
the foresight such as Aregbesola have blazed the trail and shown how lean, smart administrations can lead to greater efficiency and better use of resources. This is why in the present circumstances everyone should follow suit. For right now there is no other viable alternative. To claim that there is a viable alternative to what operates in Aregbesola’s Osun, Fashola’s Lagos plus a few other states in our federation where lean government is the principle, is to be economical with the truth. And the consequence of living in denial can only be dire for us all.
OSUN DEFENDER
Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd. Managing Editor – Kola Olabisi (0803-392-7286) Editor
–
Kayode Agbaje
(0803-388-0205)
Lagos Editor
– Kola Odepeju
– Pet-Kola Taiwo Ibitowa
Production Editor Senior Reporter Senior Reporter
(08023191891)
– Sola Jacobs – Kazeem Mohammed
Magazine Editor
– Niyi Olasinde
Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter
– – – –
Shina Abubakar Ismaeel Uthman Kehinde Ayantunji Francis Ezediuno
Photographer Photographer
– –
Oluwagbemiga Adeniyi Olushola Aderinto
Admin. Manager
–
Murtala Agboola
Computer Operator – Computer Operator –
Saheed Afolabi Mary Akintola Assistant Computer Operator – Lukman Oseni
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
6
feature
Osun Defender Thursday, December
Aregbesola: Beyond The Inauguration Ritual Our performance in the first term endeared us to you and convinced you to give us the mandate for another term – Governor Rauf Aregbesola in his inauguration speech on Thursday, November 27, 2014.
gbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of Osun State, had at least three reasons to celebrate when he was inaugurated as governor for a second term. My focus here is not so much on the reasons for celebration as on their implications for our young democracy. However, I first have to bore you with the reasons for celebration in order to appreciate the discussion that follows. First, Aregbesola won a hardfought electoral battle against the power machine of the Peoples Democratic Party. The PDP operatives maligned his administration virtually throughout his first term and distorted his records during the campaigns. In the days leading up to the election, Osun voters were intimidated by unprecedented security presence. Finally, on the eve of the election and the very day of the election, Aregbesola’s supporters were harassed, and as many as 700 of them were arrested or otherwise prevented from carrying out their legitimate duties. Clearly, these are not the best ways to grow a democracy. Second, in spite of all odds, Aregbesola won the election by a wide margin. Not only did he win with 55 per cent of all lawful votes, being the widest margin of victory in recent governorship elections, he garnered over 70 per cent of the female votes. Third, Aregbesola would be the first governor of the state to have legitimately won reelection and, therefore, the first to serve a legitimate second term in office. Interestingly, his predecessors had teamed up with him and were by his side during the inauguration. What is more, Osun voters, who made his re-election possible, were at the inauguration in all their diversity – traditional rulers, religious leaders, political leaders, business leaders, professionals, market women, artisans, youths, and so on. It was an unusually large crowd for a second term inauguration and on a week day. My encounter with one of the voters at the inauguration venue was quite instructive. The woman was pleading earnestly with the security at the gate to let her into the stadium. I decided to intervene, when I observed that she had a child on her back, while holding her young daughter by the right hand and her son by the left. The security at the gate would not let her into the VIP section of the stadium. Besides, she had no invitation card. I decided to lead her to another gate and pleaded with the security there to let her in. On the way to the other gate, I asked her why she came with her children, and without an invitation
O
•AREGBESOLA By NIYI AKINNASO
card. She said she wanted to see the governor who feeds her children in school, gives them free uniform, and gets “Ijoba” (the government) to buy fruits from her kiosk. “Iruu re s’owon pupo (his likes are very scarce)”, she added. The sentiment she expressed reflects the attitude of most Osun women towards Aregbesola. This leads to the first of three key issues arising from Aregbesola’s inauguration, namely, the role of performance as a qualification for re-election in a democracy. This is an important issue in Aregbesola’s case, given the historical, political, and media contexts of his re-election. Historically, no governor before him since 1999 ever won re-election. The odds were equally stacked against him politically: If there was one governor the PDP and the Presidency wanted out of power, it was Aregbesola. Moreover, he was a target of negative press, which often jumped on the bandwagon of the opposition to blow up distorted information about the man and his programmes. So, why and how did he win? Two short answers: Outstanding performance and the resilience of
an appreciative electorate. Here is how Aregbesola put it in his inauguration speech: “We revamped agriculture and made it a profitable venture for farmers. We have positioned our youths for greatness by providing them with quality education. We have redefined the infrastructure of education by building state of the art schools, and proving cutting edge technology, free school uniforms, free meals and so on. We have empowered our people economically through all the ‘O’ projects: O’REAP, O’MEALS, O’BEEF, O’HUB, O’HONEY, O’CLEAN and so on. We have made micro-credit available to our people on a large scale, … we have lifted the GDP of the state, making Osun the seventh largest economy in Nigeria. We have cared for the environment in an unprecedented way. We have banished flooding and cleaned the environment of filth … There is no local government that did not partake in our local and intercity road projects. We have embarked on a most ambitious urban renewal programme. We have cared for the old, the weak and infirm while special people have not escaped our touch. We have delivered on our six integral action programme”.
This leads to the second issue: Why and how was Aregbesola able to accomplish so much with limited resources and within so short a period? First, it must be appreciated that Aregbesola is a trained engineer, a pragmatic and seasoned administrator of people and resources. For eight straight years, he was the Commissioner for Works in Lagos State, under whose watch the unprecedented urban renewal projects in Lagos were crafted. His knowledge of policymaking and project execution was deployed to its fullest when he became a governor in Osun. Even more importantly, he has long adopted an ideology of governance that puts people first. The lesson here is simple: Elect candidates who have cognate experience in governance and have verifiable track records. Second, Aregbesola recruited the best people, all professionals in their own right, to his cabinet and created the Bureau of Social Services to monitor and oversee all state projects. The Bureau, headed by Femi Ifaturoti, is staffed with engineers, architects, lawyers, quantity surveyors, and other project specialists, who monitor and provide monthly assessments of all ongoing projects throughout the state. BOSS, as the department came to be known, has become an institution in the Osun government circle. Third, Aregbesola got national and international sponsors, private partners, and Osun citizens involved in appropriate projects. He also employed direct labour, where appropriate, by engaging volunteers and thousands of young graduates in his O’YES programme. Most importantly, he ensured that every single project he embarked upon generated jobs for Osun citizens and he encouraged the reinvestment of their earnings within the state. As a result, Osun became the seventh largest economy in the nation. Finally, he adopted a governance ideology of progressivism, which views social and economic development as twin engines of growth. It was not enough for him to invoke Obafemi Awolowo. He reinvented him in his approach to governance, by putting people first in all his programmes and projects. Surely, his style is different from the sage’s; but the results would have gladdened the sage as they did Osun voters. The critical question now is about the sustainability of the programmes and projects. For a start, Aregbesola’s To-Do list over the next four years must include four items. First, he should consolidate the programmes and projects he has so far embarked upon. Second, he should focus more on the necessary infrastructure that connects the people with one another and with the projects. Third, he should ensure
Osun Defender Thursday, December 11, 2014
phototalk
7
Representatives Of The Emir Of Zazzau Paid A Congratulatory Visit To The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At The Government House, Osogbo, Last Friday.
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) with the representative of Emir of Zazzau, Sheikh Jubril Abubakah (right), during the visit.
•Aregbesola (middle); representative of Emir of Zazzau, Sheikh Jubril Abubakah (3rd right); Mallam Yunusa Ibraheem (2nd right); former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, State of Osun, Barrister Bashir Ajibola (1st right); Mallam Ali Muhammed (3rd left); Senator Bayo Salami (2nd left) and former Commissioner for Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, State of Osun, Mr. Sikiru Ayedun (left) during a congratulatory visit to the governor by the representatives of the Emir of Zazzau on his inauguration for second term in office at Government House, Osogbo, last Friday.
Osun Defender Tuesday, November 11, 2014
phototalk
8
Launching Of Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate By State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, In Osogbo Last Thursday.
(R-L) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Acting Chairman, Osun Internal Revenue Service, Mr Dayo Oyebamiji and Director, Medium, Tax Department of Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr Peter Olayemi, during the launch of Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate (E-TCT), at Leisure Spring Hotels, Osogbo, State of Osun, on Thursday.
•(L-R) Governor Rauf Aregbesola; State of Osun Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye; Special Assistant to the Governor on Budget, Mr Bade Adesina and Deputy Managing Director, Infinity System Enterprises, Mr Bode Oluyemi at the event.
•(R-L) President-General, Market Women Association, State of Osun, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade; Governor Aregbesola; State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro and other dignitaries, during the launch of Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate (E-TCT), at Leisure Spring Hotels, Osogbo, State of Osun, on Thursday.
9
phototalk
Osun Defender Tuesday, November
Launching Of Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate By State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, In Osogbo Last Thursday.
•Governor Rauf Aregbesola answering questions from newsmen at the event.
•Prince Omolade Binuyo, Commissioner II, Internal Revenue Service (IRS)(middle); Adeola Adekunle Commissioner I, IRS and Guest Speaker and Director, Medium Tax Department, Federal Internal Revenue Service, Mr Peter Olayemi.
•Another cross section of dignitaries during the programme.
•Some of the dignitaries at the event.
10
phototalk
Osun Defender Thursday, December
Nigerian Ambassador To Ireland, Ambassador Bolere Elizabeth Ketebu, Paid A Trade Mission Visit To The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At The Government House, Osogbo, Last Monday.
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left), with the Nigeria Ambassador to Ireland, Ambassador Bolere Elizabeth Ketebu (right) during the visit.
•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (4th left); his deputy, Otunba (Mrs.) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left); Nigeria Ambassador to Ireland, Ambassador Bolere Elizabeth Ketebu (5th left); Mr Sean Lyons (middle); Chief Executive Officer (CEO), City Engineer Limited, Mr. Kola Bello (2nd left) and other entourage members of the ambassador during a trade mission visit to the governor at the Government House, Osogbo on Monday.
feature
11
Osun Defender Thursday, December
Entrenching National Security Through Counter-terrorism he issues involved in terrorism in Nigeria are numerous. They include religious ideology, eccentricity of religious terrorist, socioeconomic conditions, border security, global Islamic connection and international cooperation. The challenges militating against efforts to address terrorism in Nigeria include religious fanaticism, low level training and equipment of security forces, poverty, porous borders and insufficient international cooperation. Terrorism is like a tree, you keep cutting its branches, but it will continue to grow, but if you want to eradicate it completely, you have to see the roots of the tree. Panacea To Terrorism Threats Security education into the Nigerian educational curriculum for students to be aware of global security situation and security awareness. Research-based institutions on security and the institution must enjoy autonomy, documentation of historical events and effective policy drawing and making on terrorism. •Corrupt security officers are major setbacks: Security and integrity should be major considerations when recruiting security officers. Those who will not meet that threshold should not be allowed into the service. The vetting of an officer is very important to see a number of corrupt officers removed from the system. •There should be a programme to synchronize the activities of the military, the police and other intelligence bodies, in order to develop a common standard and operation procedure for forces in the country. •We need to counter religious propaganda indoctrination: Terrorism occurs when ideological motivation meets with operational capability. The way in which a terrorist group shapes its radical world view and disseminates it to audiences worldwide plays an important role in the public interface between the group and its target audience. •Social media can be used to sniff out signs of terrorism by collecting, collation and analyzing information in or order to prognosticate certain scenario. For instance, programmes such as open source indicators (OSINT)
T
•jonathan
etc.) asking where the person is going after the visit, and who system for intelligence analysis packed the passengers bags. extracts and analyzes data from Any nervousness or reluctance social media with the goal of on the part of the passenger monitoring and forecasting can result in further and even national security-related events. more detailed questioning. •Bilateral and multilateral Passengers can also be consensus: A global consensus separated from travel mates should be reached to curb the and questioned individually proliferation of small arms to determine if there are any and weapons. Nigeria should contradictions in their stories. establish a strong relationship Passengers travelling from with the international certain countries are more community, so as to enhance closely scrutinized. Arabs, intelligence sharing, law Chad and Cameroon are to enforcement cooperation, subject to intense economic sanctions, and in •Anti-Bomb Squad: The turn disrupt the flow of terrorist IED has three components, funding. We must work with the timers, triggers, detonation the grassroots first to obtain and booster and explosive with sensitive information through shrapnel etc. timer or trigger creating a secure and trust can easily be constructed with centered environment to work even an alarm clock and simple with them. batteries or cell phones and is •To counter these threats, the virtually impossible to control government needs to establish with tightening border control extensive intelligence gathering and some measures to account and security system such as for dual use substances like maintaining extensive files on ammonium nitrate fertilizer, suspected terrorists and terrorist this risk can be reduced. groups. Detonators and booster are •Security agents should key components of IED and also train how to thoroughly not easily available. The three interrogate each person coming possible sources of detonations to Nigeria through any channel and explosives are the armed (borders, Airports, Seaport forces and ordnance factories, By FADARE PETER
private factories, chemical factories, quarrying/mining and the road construction industry. Today, exemplary punishment should be given to those users who let the detonators/explosives fall into wrong hands. Also, a tactical ntelligence/espionage network would be of help too. •Community Policing: All cities must establish a network of committees and housing societies to monitor all suspicious movements in their own locality. This measure will enhance both intelligence gathering, as well as alert police to movement of terrorists. Police can circulate photographs and information of the fugitive suspects to these committees. In short, a citywide concept of neighborhood watch needs to be implemented immediately. •Effective CCTV Systems may help to deter a terrorist attack or even identify planning activity. The CCTV should be focused on city centers, public spaces like motor parks, seaports, borders, airports, public safety agencies, corporate campuses, shipping malls and sport centers. •Another preventive action that has been used is the threat of and use of pork and pork products against radical religious groups that feel that contact with pork will render them unclean. •Today, many countries have special units designated to handle terrorist threats. Nigeria needs to establish a special mission unit, whose role is to directly engage terrorists and prevent terrorist attacks. Such units perform both in preventive actions, hostage rescue and responding to ongoing attacks. Building a counter-terrorism plan involves all segment of a society or many government agencies. In dealing with terrorists, the lead responsibility is usually at the national level. Terrorism understanding, their profile and functions (Modus Operandi) increase the ability to counter terrorism more effectively. Understanding the source, motivation, methods of preparation and tactics of terrorist groups, financial tracking and identification of the sponsors can play a role, as well as communications intercept.
Feature
12
Osun Defender Thursday, December
Changing Tide For The Niger lmost every Nigerian leader has attempted to solve the problems of the Niger Delta region. Some did by establishing bodies to ameliorate the problems of the region, while some created more states for the region. These attempts may not have been satisfactory to the people of the region though, but that is not to say that the leaders have not tried at all. In 1960, for example, a body known as the Niger Delta Development Board was established. The establishment of that board formed part of the 1963 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. According to section 159 of that Constitution, it clearly states that “There shall be a board for the Niger Delta, which shall be styled the Niger Delta Development Board. The members of the Board shall be- a person appointed by the President, who shall be chairman; a person appointed by the Governor of Eastern Nigeria; a person appointed by the Governor of Mid-Western Nigeria; and such other persons as may be appointed in such manner as may be described by Parliament to represent the inhabitants of the Niger Delta. A member of the Board shall vacate his office in such circumstances as may be prescribed by Parliament. The Board shall be responsible for advising the Government of the Federation and the Governments of Eastern Nigeria and Mid-Western Nigeria with respect to the physical development of the Niger Delta, and in order to discharge that responsibility the Board shall- cause the Niger Delta to be surveyed in order to ascertain what measures are required to promote its physical development; prepare schemes designed to promote the physical of the Niger Delta, together with estimates of the costs of putting the schemes into effect; submit to the Government of the Federation and the Governments of Eastern Nigeria and the Mid-Western Nigeria annual reports describing the work of the Board and the measures taken in pursuance of its advice. Parliament may make such provision as it considers expedient for enabling the Board to discharge its function under this section. In this section, “the Niger Delta” means the area specified in the Proclamation relating to the Board which was made on the twenty-six day of August, 1959. This section shall cease to have effect on the first day of July 1969”. At the time the board was established, the Mid-Western Region has not been created from Western Region but its creation at that time was forgone conclusion. On August 9, 1963 under the tenure of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (19121966) as Prime Minister, the MidWestern Region was created and the first Premier of that region was Chief Dennis Chukadebe Osadebe (1911-1994) from Asaba with Chief James Ekpre Otobo (1925-2011) from Uzere, Isoko South in the present Delta State as Deputy Premier, while Chief Jerriton Samuel Marriere (1907-1971) from Enweren in Urhobo Kingdom was appointed Governor and Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie (18961977), the Iyasere of Benin Kingdom became Deputy Leader of the new region. At that time Asaba was part of the Benin Province. On May 1, 1967, Chief ObafemiAwolowo (1909-1987) from Ikenne in Ogun State, in his historic speech in Ibadan, advocated for the creation of two states in the Eastern Region of Nigeria as a way of solving the then political crises in the country: “It would be perfectly in order to create a Calabar State or a Rivers State by decree and without a plebiscite,” he pleaded on
A
•babangida By ERIC TENIOLA
that day. On May 27, 1967, the then Head of State, General Yakubu Dan-Yumma Gowon (80), an Angas from Plateau State split Nigeria into twelve states and created South Eastern State and Rivers State out of Eastern region. General Gowon named Calabar the new capital of South Eastern State and appointed Brigadier Udoakaha Jacob Esuene (1936-1993), an Ibibio from Eket in the present Akwa- Ibom as Governor. He also named Port-Harcourt as the new capital of Rivers State and appointed the then Lt. Commander Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff (72), an Ijaw now the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass in the present Bayelsa State, as pioneer Military Governor. Through Government Notice 955, as published in Federal Government gazette volume 46, General Gowon appointed Justice Darnley Arthur Raymond Alexander from West Indies Island of St. Lucia as Chief Justice of South- Eastern State. He later became Chief Justice of the Federation 19751979. General Ibrahim Badamos Babangida (74), from Minna in Niger State created Akwa Ibom State on September 28, 1987 and appointed Major General Jonathan Tunde Ogbeha (67) from Lokoja in Kogi State as pioneer Military Governor. On August 27, 1991, General Babangida created Delta State, with Asaba as the state capital and named Group Captain Luke Chiji Uba Ochulor from Okpofe Ezinihitte Local Government in Mbaise in Imo State as the pioneer Military Governor. In 1992, General Badamosi Babangida through Decree 23 created OIL MINERALS PRODUCING AREAS DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
(OMPADEC) and named Chief Albert Korumbu Horsefall (73) from Degema in the present Rivers State as the pioneer chairman of the commission. It was the commission that gave the first job to the present President as Assistant Director, a position he held before he became Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State in 1999. On October 1, 1996, General Sanni Abacha (1943-1998) created Bayelsa State with Yenogoa as the state capital and appointed Captain Phillip Oladipo Ayeni from Oke-Imesi in the present Ekiti State as Military Governor. Captain Ayeni has been bedridden with stroke since February 28, 1997 and is presently at a dilapidated house in Apapa in Lagos State. From the remnants of OMPADEC, President Obasanjo in June 2000 established the NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (N.D.D.C.) and appointed an Economist/ Journalist, Chief Onyeanma Ugochukwu (70) from Umuahia in Abia State as Chairman and Chief Godwin Omene, an Urhobo from Delta State as Managing Director. Section 14 of the NNDC Act stipulates that 15% of the Federal Government budget must go to NNDC. Last year the NNDC got over N300 billion. The Executive Director (Finance and Administration) of NNDC, Pastor Power Aginighan, said on August 3, 2011 that the NNDC got N561.9 billion between 2000 and 2011. This year alone, the National Assembly approved N322.6billion for the NNDC. On September 10, 2008, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (1951-2010) created the Ministry Of Niger Delta and on December 9, 2008, he named my former boss Chief Ufot Ekaette (75) an experienced administrator from IkotEdor in Onna Local Government Council
Area as pioneer Minister of the ministry with Chief Peter Godsday Orubebe (55) from Ogbobagbene from Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State as Minister of State. In 2001, the ministry got N51.2 billion, in 2010 it got N82.6 billion, in 2011,N55.2 billion, in 2012, N86.2 billion, in 2013, N63.4 billion. Between 2009 and 2013, the ministry collected over 342 billion alone. On January 25, 2009, the same President Yar’Adua issued proclamation acting on section 175 of the Constitution and pardoned all militants in the Niger Delta. He then created an office called Presidential Amnesty Programme and appointed Chief Ndu Timi Alaibe from Opokuma in Bayelsa State as Chairman and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta. Chief Kingsley Kuku (44) from Arogbo Ijaw in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, the man who succeeded Chief Alaibe, told the nation on February 17 this year that the PAP has collected over 234.1 billion since its inception. In March this year, the Senate approved another N34.8 billion for the PAP. Added to all these are the huge monthly allocations for the states in Niger Delta. For example, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (60) from Ogwashi-Uku in Delta State on June 1, at Babcock University in Ogun State, announced that Akwa Ibom State with a population of 2.5 million received N260.1 billion in 2013 alone, while Bayelsa received N173 billion, Delta N209 billion, Rivers N230 billion. Oyo State with a population of over 5 million received N82 billion during the period. For the month of October this year Akwa Ibom received N17.3 billion, Delta State received N14.1 billion, Ebonyi received N2.7 billion, while Kogi received N3.8 billion and Rivers got N11.8 billion, while Osun received N2.3 billion. Last year Obio/Akpor Local Government in Rivers State, where the former Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike once served as chairman, spent N6.3 billion according to the Chairman of the local government council area, Prince Timothy Nsim. Some of the former militants have now become “big players” in the lucrative oil business, having been given monopoly in the policing of the marine coastline routes in the Niger delta-a statutory responsibility of the Nigeria Navy, yet oil theft is on the high increase on a daily basis. Right now, we have three bodies, namely NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta and Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) simultaneously addressing the problems of the Niger Delta. With one of them as the incumbent President, and with the wild and wide presidential powers at his command, the people of the Niger delta have never been so blessed in their chequered history. My long-time friend, Professor G.G. Darah, will always insist that the money allocated to the Niger Delta cannot compensate for the destruction of the environment in that region by the oil companies.”Eric, just come to the Niger Delta and see the havoc that the oil has caused to our people” he once told me. The people of the region will always argue too that the oil money of Nigeria is their own and that they are doing us a special favour by sharing it with the rest of Nigerians. No doubt they have come a long way from the era of oppression and they still have a long way to go.
13
fOR THE RECORDS
Osun Defender Thursday, December
Osun APC Candidates For 2015 General Elec-
14
feature
Osun Defender Thursday, December
Mr President, Your Critics Are Not Your Enemies
T
he ever-rowdy and crowded Murtala Mohammed Airport was my choice of departureroute back to my base after a four-week vacationing in beautiful but sweltering and sultry Nigeria. Arriving the airport and in obedience to the Customs and Immigration prescribed compulsory rituals, I proceeded to the individual information screening counters before whom all men must appear prior to boarding a flight out of Nigeria. I filled out all the forms including the new “EBOLA” health form, whatever that was. At the first counter, a lady wrapped in traditional attire courteously swung her right hand demanding my Nigerian passport. She then did some finger-fights with the buttons on her desktop computer for about three minutes, apparently satisfied, she said ‘thank you sir, go to the next counter”, as she waved me to the immigration counter. My journalistic credo and instinct urged me on to ask her what the procedure she just went through was for. “We just want to know if you can travel”. She responded calmly. I queried some more. “So there are some people who are not allowed to travel”? ”Yes”.., her response came with some firmness in her voice. She continued, this time a bit more militarist typical of any Nigerian security official bestowed with the power to overpower the powerless; “some people have been insulting and criticizing President Jonathan. You know the man is trying his best and he is not even fighting with anybody. He is a gentle man and he is not even responding to all their insults”. I then poked further asking if someone who does not pose a clear and present threat and danger to Nigeria, but only criticizes the president, is forbidden to travel out of his own country. Probably conscious that she might be blabbing too much, she said; “Well, I am not a politician, I am SSS, and we are just trying to help the man.” This was the kind of discussion I love to bury my head in, but I was already tired from the bustle of Lagos and I just wanted out fast. But before I left, I sermonized a little bit. “Anyone who is president will be insulted and criticized. Every Nigerian president has been insulted and criticized. That is how it is all over the world. I live in America, ma. There are many Americans who speak worse things about Barak Obama. Some have even threatened to kill him. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. But the government shouldn’t take away the rights of citizens to freely move about because they criticize the president”. ”You are right sir...
•jonathan By FOLA OJO
the insult is just too much against him...Thank you have a safe trip”, she concluded. The prevalent twists-and-turns in the Nigerian political environment are not only stomach-turning, they are heart-wrenching. My brief encounter with the obviously partisan security official confirmed that there is a new shake and shift in Nigeria’s polity and politics. In our new Nigeria, if you speak against the president, your freedom will not only be restricted, worse punitive measures may be unleashed. The unwholesome trend of events now is that whenever the Nigerian president asks us to jump, rightly or wrongly, jump we must. If we don’t, then we have become his enemies. Friends, this country is daily drowning in its own body-fluid, and an environment of political asphyxiation is no doubt now here with us. I am not sure if this new wave of opposition-suppression is a direct order from the presidency, or it’s just a bunch of over-zealous, pandering, fawning and sycophantic government apparatchiks scribbling their own scripts. Wherever the dart is being fired from, it is ugly. A few
examples we remember. During the State of Osun governorship election in August, security operatives, masked-men and marksmen numbering about 90,000 were massively deployed to take over security of the state. They were wielding and brandishing guns and gleefully shooting into the air to cow down all oppositions against the major party. Opposition men were arrested and thrown behind bars without telling them what their offences were. Does this new trend of oppositionsuppression now inform why one impugning governor-elect slapped and disrobed a sitting judge with the help of security men, and no word of reprimand from the presidency? Does this also inform why seven legislators in Ekiti chased out eighteen of their colleagues and their Speaker while our security agencies watched and applauded on the order of the governor? The opposition was run out of town illegally, and the presidency keeps mute. Does this inform why twice in just two weeks, Nigeria’s security men raided the opposition offices and carted away men and materials belonging to the opposition party? Doyin Okupe, Senior Special
Assistant to the President had already forewarned us. He promised that severe government punishment awaits anyone who criticizes his boss. It is now very obvious that if you camp with the opposition in today’s Nigeria, you are perceived an enemy of the president. This is what the president’s men are missing. Those who criticize Goodluck Jonathan are not his problems. The challenges Nigerians face daily are the falling prices of oil and the eviscerating value of the Naira are the problems. Disappearing Nigerian money in batches through corruption and cronyism is the problem. China, we heard, constructed the world’s largest 22,000MW hydro-electric plant for $25 billion. Nigeria spent $35.45 billion for 2,500MW, yet supply is epileptic in some places and non-existent at all in others. In sixteen years, three presidents from the same political party have not been able to complete a 180km Abuja-Lokoja road. Enugu-Onitsha road was awarded by the Obasanjo administration. Up till today, a journey that is supposed to take about an hour takes four, when there is a downpour. Enugu-PortHarcourt Road, Uyo–Calabar Road, and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway are all in the same purulent mess. These are the problems, oppositions aren’t. N20 billion pension fund was stolen, the thieves were identified, but they are walking around free today with no comeuppance. These are the problems, oppositions aren’t. BokoHaram brigands, who hold states in the Nigerian sovereign territory hostage, took over government houses and parliaments, seized a serving service-chief’s town with audacity, walked into our churches and mosques defiling our holy places with innocent blood are the problems, not the opposition. About fifteen thousand Nigerians have been slaughtered by Boko-Haram, more than the number of casualties in the first US Gulf War of 1991. Can this government just focus on tackling problems besieging Nigerians instead of creating more by hounding the opposition with guns and goons all over the land? In Nigeria, Sanni Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida couldn’t shut down the opposition with all their armaments because no government succeeds long-term in suffocating opposing voices. That is why Mr. President must call his men in blue and black to order. Opposition members are not the president’s enemies; they just don’t buy into his worldview, and his style of governance and type of policies are not good fits for them. That is called democracy. It is a form of
Osun Defender Thursday, December 11, 2014
Phototalk
15
State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At The Thanksgiving Prayers To Mark His Successful Second Term Inauguration In Office, At The Nasrul-Lahi-IlFatih Society Of Nigeria (NASFAT), Osogbo Branch, Recently.
•(R-L) Chairman, Nasrul-Lahi-Il-Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), Osogbo Branch, Alhaji Biliaminu Isola; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; former Chief of Staff to the Governor, State of Osun, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and Vice Chairman (NASFAT), Osogbo Branch, Mr. Yinka Anjous, at the thanksgiving prayers to mark the successful inauguration of Governor Aregbesola’s second term in office at the NASFAT permanent site, Osogbo, recently.
•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right), acknowledging cheers from his admirers after the thanksgiving prayers.
•Another cross section of Governor Aregbesola’s admirers on the occasion.
www.osundefender.org
T HE
6TH
M O S T - V I S I T ED
NEWS-
THURSday, december 11, 2014
N
igerians are baffled! And the bewilderment of anomie to them is quite daunting. It is not reassuring that come February 2015, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is capable of independently conducting flawless general elections that will convince Nigerians that indeed, Professor Attahiru Jega and his co-pilots in the electoral clime are the trusted ones. Nigerians are equally worried that the President of the biggest country in subSahara Africa is prepared to stand in contest with opponents that other political parties will push forward to slug it out with, without tinkering with the whole process that will eventually bring to the fore representatives that Nigerians will beat their chests, have, emerged in clean contests. It is incontestable that Nigerians know their onions; and they are aware when a foul play is being contemplated. It is equally true that they are timid towards violent reactions, except of course when frustration is getting to the extreme. The violent reactions that greeted the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election that would have produced Chief M.K.O. Abiola (May his soul rest in perfect peace) was not unenvisaged; and the wild jubilations, sequel to the announcement of the death of Late General Sanni Abacha were not unexpected. The duo represented the moods of the nation; and I am not sure any Nigerian needs be told today what is pinching, and where the pains of maladministration are being felt. So, our leaders must not assume that all is well, just because people have not taken to the streets yet for reason of overt protests. The concomitance of Mr. President’s visit to Ile-Ife the penultimate week, and the protests that greeted his arrival on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, despite the ongoing semester examinations are in consonant with the popular saying that ‘the timidity of a tiger is not a measure of its cowardice. The students are not oblivious of the fact that their future is no longer secured due to lack of visionary leadership. They know that their efforts on personal transformation and niche creation might be delicate nictations without a shroud through which eyes are blinded. They are obviously fed up with leaders, under whose hegemony youths’ lives are engrossed in jeopardy.
By ade olugbotemi
people’s minds, and many posers are begging for answers. The soothing of frayed nerves however lies with only the President of the
Some Explanations Jega, President Jonathan Owe Nigerians
•jonathan
•jega
Obviously, they are clamouring for a change of guards in our national life. Some of the students expressed disdain over what they called Mr. President’s insensitivity to the plight of the students, when he chose to downplay their plight by laying siege to the campus with heavy presence of security personnel, not minding the ongoing semester examinations. Those students need explanations on why Mr. President had to come to OAU campus at a time when examination fever pervaded everywhere. They simply regarded the act as the extension of his insensitivity to the welfare of millions of Nigerians, who daily suffer deprivations in all spheres of life. This is another issue that cannot be wished away; especially when some students were said to have missed their examinations in the process.
People are aware at the larger society that the pervasive poverty throughout the nation is man-made and deliberate. Except for few cases of people with dysfunctional mentality, most Nigerians are not ignorant of the fact that we are treated and regarded as being equal with animals with lower level of intelligence quotients. We are equated with domesticated animals that are deficient in their thinking faculty, so we are regarded as lacking in rational inclination to decipher what evil of dehumanization they are meting out. That is why they tell us that there exist those things that are invisible to eagle’s eyes. They even tell us that objects that are naturally white in colour, and are visibly seen, are not whitish but black because they see themselves as the only rational beings, while others are morons. So many things are agitating
Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the person he has saddled with the unique responsibility of superintending the electoral processes as stipulated in the Constitution of this nation. Unless the duo give satisfactory solutions to these puzzles, we may only be playing ourselves to the gallery; the repercussions of which may be injurious to our national life, especially now that consternations are mounting towards 2015 general elections. They will do themselves good if they will not feign ignorance about the genuine concerns of the people. Only last month, Professor Attahiru Jega told the whole world that the electoral body has lifted ban on electioneering campaigns as statutorily enshrined in the Constitution, so all political parties are now free to sell their programmes and manifestoes to the electorate. Nigerians will want to know what constitutes an electioneering campaign and what is not. Nigerians are quite aware that long before the ban was lifted, a self-styled neutral body, apparently kitted with Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) cloaks had flagrantly traversed the length and breadth of this country rallying support for President Goodluck Jonathan. Nigerians want to know where it is written in the Constitution that Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) is authorized to do so. It was very obvious that while the TAN’s open campaign lasted, known leaders of PDP, ranging from ministers, governors, members of PDP Board of Trustees, and other political office holders were in attendance. PDP owe Nigerians explanation as to what constitute a political gathering and what is not. Obviously, pressure groups such as Bring Back Our Girls Group with genuine intention to right the ills of the nation have not been allowed to drive home their rational demands, while security personnel were seen always providing coverage at TAN rallies. We need to know why tax payers’ money is used to protect those who show disdain to our Constitution in illegal gatherings in support of Mr President, but the same harass others who try to draw government’s attention to some societal ills. Professor Jega recently announced the lifting of ban on campaigns by political parties. He also set up a committee to monitor expenses on electioneering campaigns by various political parties. The Chief Umpire must tell us how much PDP has spent on TAN’s campaign and add same to the amount already spent since the ban was lifted and what will be spent until campaigns are over. He also needs to explain to Nigerians what portion of Nigerian Constitution or electoral laws that allows a body to carry out campaign activities, when ban on such has not been lifted. While awaiting responses to all these posers, Nigerians must be ready to expect
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.