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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2013 It is Christmas. It is a day in which the entire humanity joins the Christendom to observe the birthday of its avatar, Jesus Christ. In the boundless festivities that have come to define its essence over the years, individuals, families and institutions have been known to switch to the overdrive: the expectation of new clothes to be bought for children and othermembers of the household; the house
Front Page Comment
A Pause At Christmas requiring new coat of paints to transform; the trips to be made to see family members and acquaintances and other festivities associated with the period – all of these, not excluding the unfulfilled expectations have been known to raise the adrenalin to dangerous levels.
Christmas is of course a lot more than the outward traditions that have come to define it. Yes, it is the occasion for exchanging gifts, for sharing with the needy and for showing fellowfeeling among the neighbourhood folks. However, the opportunity to reflect and reconnect with
VOL. 8. NO.156 the original message – that teachable moment for humanity to reflect on God’s love for mankind is what stands the Christmas story out. Like nursery rhyme, the story behind Christmas is familiar. God gave His only son as a gift to the world. For a Saviour who was spoken of by other prophets long before he was Continue on Pg. - 5
Who Killed Chief Bola Ige, formerAttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice?
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Osun, Most Secured State In Nigeria - Okiro - See Story On Page 2
•A cross section of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s admirers and supporters in Modakeke, State of Osun, during the adoption of the governor for second term by the people of the ancient town last Friday. The governor (arrowed) acknowledging cheers from his admirers on the occasion.
Modakeke Agog For Aregbesola
- See Story On Page 3
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
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Osun, Most Secured State In Nigeria - Okiro A By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
former Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Nigeria, Mr. Mike Okiro, has confirmed that the State of Osun remains the most-secured state in Nigeria. He added that the state has made it one security profile of the of the most attractive
states for investors from all over the world. Okiro, who is the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), spoke in Osogbo on Friday,
Aregbesola, Best Governor Of The Year - OPU By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
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used the occasion to generate fund for Osogbo Progressive Union by calling on local government council chairmen from Lagos and State of Osun, who were present at the event, to donate to the coffers of the union. Other awardees at the event included the wife of the governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, whose award was received on her behalf by her son, Kabiru Aregbesola, the state deputy governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, who received the award of ‘The Most Loyal Deputy Governor of the Year’. Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, and former state governor, Chief Bisi Akande represented by his former deputy, Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin was also honoured., * The awardees also included the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his wife, the Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye among others.
during his tour of police formations in the state and a courtesy visit on the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in his office. The former IGP, who was accompanied by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 11), David Omojola and the State Commissioner of
Police, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba, added that Osun has the lowest crime rate in the country. According to him, Osun is more secured and peaceful than many other states in the country. He noted that the influx of people and investors to Osun was as a result of
guaranteed security in the state, adding that security agencies in the state are doing very well in protecting lives, properties and investments. Okiro further stressed that throughout his stay in the state, he did not receive any report of security breach in the state.
Be People-oriented
HE governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in recognition of his developmental efforts, was on Saturday crowned: “The Best Governor of the Year” by Osogbo Progressive Union (OPU). By SOLA JACOBS people outside The governor was the and honoured with the Nigeria HOSE in positions of authority in Nigeria have been OPU’s greatest award industrialise the state to urged to always place emphasis on the plight of the people in all their undertakings and lead with at the 2013 edition of improve the economy. Aregbesola said once people-oriented conscience, together with proper Osogbo Oroki Honours consideration for the good of their followers, on whose ongoing Oba and Awards held at the mandate they thrive. Osogbo City Hall in Adesoji Aderemi East Governor of the State of every society, said high rate road, Bisi Osogbo, State of Osun By-pass Osun, Mr. Rauf Adesoji of abuse of leadership Akande Trumpet capital. Aregbesola, made this call position in Nigeria has It is the highest R o u n d a b o u t , while speaking after being pitched government award bestowed on dualisation of Akodaconferred with the against the governed in the Gbongan Junction, and any individual by the National Gold and country. national body of Old Garage to Kwara Diamond Award of The governor Osogbo Progressive State boundary are Excellence as the best emphasized on the need for completed, all parts of Union., performing governor in purposeful collaboration Nigeria between 2011 and between The arrival of the state capital would leaders and 2013 by the Leadership and followers and enjoined Governor Aregbesola have been opened up F o l l o w e r s h i p those occupying leadership Osogbo will to the venue of the and Development Centre positions in the country to centre of award ceremony was become (LEFODEC) in Lagos. attraction. lead with the fear of God, greeted with Represented by his coupled The governor, who with the tumultuous applause by deputy, Otunba (Mrs.) consciousness of the indigenes of Osogbo recalled how he was Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Mr. interest of the people. gathered on the almost killed at the 2006 Aregbesola said the call for Governor Aregbesola occasion, who had Oroki Day celebration, purposeful leadership has however used the occasion declared that he would waited patiently for his become imperative to him, to reel out his have been a dead arrival. with a view to rescuing administration’s score card person by now, if not The Ataoja of Nigeria from the claws of a in the State of Osun, huge gap, which exist anchored on a six-point Osogbo, Oba Jimoh for divine providence between leaders and integral action plan and Olanipekun presented and intervention. followers in the country expressed strong hopes “Seven years ago, I the award to the and has since been that, with the level of governor, who he was almost killed here. militating against the successes already recorded, described as the The bullet was aimed at nation’s development. the state is at the verge of my head, but if not for symbol of steady Governor Aregbesola, becoming a haven of progress and divine intervention, I who spoke extensively on development among all the would have been a development. , the interconnectivity states of the federation. Responding after the dead person by now,” between leadership and In his address, the conferment of the he stressed. followership as a tool in Executive Director of the The governor also award on him, achieving overall success in Leadership and Governor Aregbesola thanked the people of Osogbo for the award and standing solidly behind his administration since its inception. He urged them to continue their support for his government in order to record more successes in the years to come. Ogbeni Aregbesola promised not to relent in his efforts aimed at transforming the state and ensuring that Osogbo attains the status of a true state capital. He promised the people of the state to expect more from his administration in terms of unprecedented physical and infrastructural development. He added that the intention of his administration for embarking on massive •(L-R) Immediate-past President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Dr. Afe Mayowa; i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, displaying award of ‘Best Governor of development in the the Year on Infrastructural Development’ received on behalf of Governor Aregbesola and Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, state capital is to make Nigerian News Direct, Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi during the 3rd Anniversary ceremony of the News Direct, at De Renaistourism attractive to sance Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State, recently.
- Aregbesola Urges Nigerian Leaders
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Followership Development Centre (LEFODEC), Alhaji Solanke Hamzat, appreciated Governor Aregbesola for his giant strides in all sectors of the state, despite the meagre resources accruable to the state. Alhaji Hamzat said the ongoing infrastructural transformation that has turned the entire state of Osun to construction sites, alleviating sufferings of the aged through the Agba Osun programme, transformation of basic education in the state through O-School projects, as well as myriad of reform programmes in the agriculture sector among others, endeared the centre to confer the award on Governor Rauf Aregbesola. He thereafter called on other state governors in the country to take a leaf from the State of Osun in their quests of transforming plights of their people.
Senator Omoworare’s Media Aide Loses Mother
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HE death of Mrs Veronica Iyabode Layode Salako has been announced. Late Veronica Salako was the mother of the Media Assistant to Senator Babajide Omoworare, representing Osun West Senatorial District, Comrade Olatunde Dairo. A statement by the family on Friday said Madam Salako was called to glory on Monday 23rd, December, 2013 at the age of 78 after a brief illness at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. She was a retired headteacher, as well as a devoted member of Deeper Life Bible Church, Bethel District, Egbeda Region, Ibadan, dedicated community leader and philanthropist in her lifetime. She is survived by Mrs Abayomi Oriowo, an Ibadan-based business woman, Mr Adekunle Layode, the Principal Partner of Providence Realtors, a Lagos-based property development firm, Mr Olatunde Dairo, a Media Assistant to Senator Babajide Omoworare, as well as sisters, brothers, grand children and great grand children. Burial arrangements and other details to be announced later by the family
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Modakeke Agog For Aregbesola •Gets Endorsed For Second Term
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HE people of Modakeke, Ife-East Area Office last Friday declared their support for the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for a second term in office and pledged to mobilize support for him in the next year’s governorship election. Leaders and members of tourage arrived the town at All Progressives Congress exactly 2.37 pm and went (APC), community leaders straight to the Central and residents of the town, Mosque to observe Jumat at a mega rally held at service, where he charged Itamerin Palace Square in Muslims faithful to ensure Modakeke, publicly threw peace and always exercise their weight behind the patience in every situation. governor’s second term The governor said peace, ambition. patience and endurance are It was a political carnival the attributes of any Muslim as youths, women groups, and therefore urged them to artisans and community always pray for the progress leaders trooped out in their and development of the thousands to welcome the state. governor, rolling out drums The Chief Imam of the from all the nooks and cran- town, Alhaji Wahab nies of the ancient town. Odeyinka described the Aregbesola and his en- governor as a symbol of
peace, development and progress and therefore, encouraged him to continue treading the path of honour. He then prayed for a successful second term election for the governor, while soliciting on behalf of the Muslim community, the assistance of the governor to complete the new central mosque for the town. The governor thereafter led a large crowd of party members, supporters and admirers to the council development area headquarters, where he commissioned Werenike Multipurpose Hall constructed by the administration of Mr Wale Amusan, the current Executive Secretary of the Area Office. He later proceeded to the
By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI palace of Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Francis Olatunji Adedoyin, on a courtesy visit to the monarch. Oba Adedoyin, while eulogising the governor, said his administration has placed the state on a global map with innovations and developmental projects that are second to none in the history of Nigeria. He therefore, urged the governor to fulfill his promises to the people of Modakeke and urged him not to relent, saying; “distractors are relaxing, but by God’s grace, you will conquer them and emerge victoriously for a second term.” At the rally attended by the National and State As-
•A lady at Oluode Market in Osogbo carrying chickens for the New Year celebration, as captured by our cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, last Saturday.
Onigbinde Lauds Aregbesola’s Adoption For 2nd Term By Modakeke
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HAIRMAN of Action Progressive Congress (APC) Lead ers’ Forum in Modakeke in Ife-East Area Council of the State of Osun, High Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, has lauded the successful adoption of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for second term by the entire people of the comwhereby a lawyer is flagrantly munity last Friday. The APC stalwart who was betraying confidence is an inthe coach of the Super Eagles dication that virtue has taken and member of Confederation flight from such an affected of African Football (CAF) human being. The party stalwart said noted that the large turn-out of the people of the commu- that right from the point of our nity in front of the palace of meeting where an arrangement the Ogunsua of Modakeke, was made for the successful Oba Francis Adedoyin, in the hosting of the governor, ancient town was a testimony Manaseh thought he was that Aregbesola’s second term smart enough to falsify the programme. was a done deal. In his words: “The develOnigbinde pledged that everything legally possible would opment is a serious issue be done to ensure the re-elec- which all right-thinking memtion of the governor who, he bers of the society should consaid, has touched the lives of demn. Is this how there will be so many people during the sanity in our society? There is vice anybody who engages past three years of his admin- no in a vice of such magnitude can istration. not engage in. It makes much The Modakeke chief how- news when the principal perever faulted the falsification petrator of the falsification aland distortion of the legation is a lawyer. It has to programme of the events by be addressed. one Barrister Manaseh Ehile to “For instance, no role was suit his own selfish purpose. given to Manaseh on the occaHe said he was surprised sion. But he gave himself a that the programme of the prominent role through falsifievent given to Manaseh for cation of the programme. typing was completely falsi- None was given to Wale fied and doctored to give him Popoola who was tried for cerand some of his allies unde- tificate forgery sometime last served advantage over mem- year; and none was given to bers of the Elders’ Forum who one Daud. But Manaseh dubiously assigned roles for them planned the event. Onigbinde noted that a law- through the falsification issue. yer should be a responsible It is indeed a serious issue. “Well, the important thing person as law profession is a noble one. But in a situation there is that the adoption of
Mr Governor for second term has been done successfully in our domain but the scar of the less than dignifying roles played by Manaseh, an Igede man who hails from Benue State but practises politics in Modakeke and members of his cohorts will take sometime to vanish.” Some of the notable members of the APC Leaders’ Forum that were on the occasion were Chief Wahab Adetunji a.k.a. Olowoasalu, Comrade
Tayo Kehinde, Mr Kola Olabisi, Mr Wale Amusan, Mr Amos Olusegun Adegboye, Chairman of the party in the Area Office, Hon Sesan Oyedele, Mrs Idowu Sakunle, Women Leader in the Area Office, Mr Awopetu Yekeen, Mr KareemIsmaeel Akande, Hon Animashaun, Hon Goke Adebowale, Hon Tunde Olarewaju, Mr Biodun Amola and Hon Titilola Moshood among others.
sembly members, members of the State Executive Council, APC Zonal and State Working Committee, speakers after speakers urged the people to double their support for the governor in next year’s governorship election. First to speak was the former Nigeria’s Super Eagles Coach and FIFA consultant, who is also the leader of the party in the town, Chief Festus Onigbinde, who announced the resolution of the people of Modakeke at home and aboard to endorse and rally support for the governor’s second term ambition. He said:”We have gathered here today to formally inform the governor and the whole world that the second term ambition of the governor is endorsed and sealed in Modakeke town and villages. Aregbesola is a visionary leader, who has made us proud and this steady progress and development must continue.” Senator Babajide Omoworare, representing Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, commended the people of Modakeke for their resilience and unalloyed support for the governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at all times and urged them to continue with the trend. South-West Interim APC Youth Leader, Enilolobo Rasheed, described the governor as a committed and dedicated leader, who is passionate about development of the state and Nigeria at large. He said: “When Aregbesola was in Lagos as the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, he laid the foundation for the new Lagos and that is what his predecessors are building on. By the time he completes his eight years in Osun, no governor will match his record in the years to come.” Responding, Governor Aregbesola said the people of Modakeke have again written their names in the golden book of progressive politics in Nigeria with his endorsement by the youths, women, community and religious leaders. Aregbesola said: “Whenever we remember that people of Modakeke are strongly behind us, it gives me joy, confidence and motivate me to do more. Even
when the situation was so tensed and difficult, you stood by us. “If not God, it would have been difficult to be standing here today and discussing politics, considering the previous turbulent period in this town, but we thank God, we have every reason to celebrate.” He then urged the people to update their voters’ registration cards, whenever the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commences the exercise, saying it is the only power to ensure continued development. He said: “We are so confident that God is with us, but we must not take very serious issue like voters’ registration for granted. For those who were below 18 years of age during the last registration exercise and are now 18 years, they must go and register and those who might have misplaced their cards, it is important to update your registration. That is your power you have to choose your leaders. “You must not allow them to deceive you. Labour Party, Accord Party and Unity Party of Nigeria are all branches of PDP, therefore be vigilant and courageous. There is no military or police power outside the power of God,” Aregbesola stressed. Dignitaries at the rally included the former deputy governor in the state, Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin, APC State Chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, Secretary, Prince Gboyega Famodun, House of Representatives member, Honourable Rotimi Makinde, House of Assembly member representing Ife-East and Modakeke, Honourable Olusegun, Adeyeni, OSUN DEFENDER Managing Editor, Mr Kola Olabisi . Others included the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Kolapo Alimi, Special Adviser on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade and Comrade Tayo Kehinde; Mr Amos Adegboye Olusegun, the party’s Chairman in the Area Office; Chief Wahab Adetunji a.k.a. ‘Olowoasalu’; Mrs Idowu Sakunle, the APC Women Leader; Hon Olusesan Oyedele; Hon Awopetu Yekeen Adisa; Mr Abiodun Dixon Amola; Mr KareemIsmaeel Akande; Hon Goke Adebowale among others.
Omisore Is A Liar - Osun PDP Aspirants By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
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HE tactics of Senator Iyiola Omisore to curry favour for his governorship ambition in the 2014 gover norship election through suspected lies have been punctured, as the other governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have denied his purported endorsement. Senator Akinlabi Recently, the Director of and Media and Strategy of Olasunkanmi respectively, Omisore Campaign the aspirants described the Organisation, Mr. Diran claim as a blatant lie, as Odeyemi, was reported to none of the PDP aspirants have said that about eight has stepped down for governorship aspirants had Omisore. Oke, in his own submisagreed to step down for the candidature of Omisore be- sion, wondered where cause of their belief in his Omisore got the imaginary capability to win the state’s eight aspirants he claimed governorship election next to have stepped down for him, when only four aspiryear. However, in separate ants have identified their statements issued by Mr. intentions to vie for the seat Yemi Giwa and Ayo Aluko- on the platform of PDP in Olokun, both media aides the state. The aspirants, according of Honourable Wole Oke
to the statement, are Wole Oke, former Chairman, House Committee on Defence; Akinlabi Olasunkanmi; Iyiola Omisore, and the former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade. “Till today, no other person within PDP in the state, apart from the four aforementioned, has signified his or her intention to run for the state’s number one seat. One cannot but wonder then where Omisore got his eight imaginary aspirants that have stepped down for him. It is delusions of grandeur and nothing more. “It is always unhelpful to feed the public with false information, because the wisdom in Yoruba proverb, which says: “a person
who plants 20 yam sets, but claims 40, will harvest 20 lies after he might have exhausted the real tubers. “Till date, it is only Akinlabi and Oke that have collected the nomination forms; could it have meant that Omisore was talking in parable, as he might be contemplating stepping down for other aspirants. “What kind of mathematics is that, where eight are stepping down out of four aspirants! It is a logic upside down,” the statement read. In his own response, Akinlabi insisted that Omisore’s claim was incorrect, wondering why somebody aspiring to occupy the governorship position would be feeding the public with lies.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
A Pause At Christmas Continued from Pg. - 1.
born, he was born of a virgin, Mary, in a most unlikely place – a manger. And while the Magi announced his royal birth, the whole world could not hold back the joy that the promised Saviour of mankind has truly arrived. That is the story; although meaning is deeper than the narrative. We see it in the unity of the heavenly hosts; the love that was actuated at Christ’s birth, the humility that defined His essence, the sacrifice he bore in order to reconcile mankind, once estranged from
His Maker. Finally, we see it in the simple message of salvation. Never perhaps before in the history has our dear country, Nigeria, is in dire need to relearn the Christmas story. Today, our societies are riven with divisions along religious and ethnic lines. Lost in our strife-riven country is the peace that Jesus Christ symbolises. We see the evidence in religious intolerance, the ethno-religious carnage going on in parts of the North-east, the greed and lack of compassion by leaders – not least in the avarice and the ostentation that
have left the masses of our people impoverished. We are a nation that revels in the preaching of the virtue of giving; yet we withhold our hands when it comes to helping the needy in our midst. Rather than recognise the humanity that binds us together, we are more adept at spotting artificial divisions that divide us. If not tribe, it is religion, or even social class. It is ‘we’ versus ‘them’. Here in Osun, the message of Christmas is even more pertinent. We need to go basic to the basic commandment: Love your neighbour as yourself. Or put differently – Do unto others
Aregbesola’s Award: Honour Well-deserved
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INDLY provide a space for the publication of this piece in your widelyread and highlyreputed newspaper – OSUN DEFENDER. I would have written this piece much earlier than now. The lateness is premised upon the fact that I got wind of the conferment of the latest award on the governor only on the D-day of the award. But I am sure that the saying that ‘it is better late than never’ will be brought to bear in the treatment of this letter. I had always continued to wonder if somebody somewhere would ever come to the open to show appreciation for the good works being carried out by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in our state. By his mien and candor, I have no doubts that he is the type that would want
to resist being honoured, especially at this stage when work is still very much in progress. But as the news of this award filtered in, I was gladdened beyond description. Why? Because it is deserving and worthwhile that a dedicated worker be appreciated so as to get
him adequately motivated and reinforced to carry on. With the Environment Gold Award recently conferred on Aregbesola, the Man of the People, I enjoin our people to begin to see the award as our collective prize for keeping safe, beautiful
and befitting environment. More awards await us as we banish diseases, epidemics and preventable deaths from our midst. We also stand to bequeath a priceless legacy to our children – A safe, befitting and enviable habitat. Let us all keep the flag flying.
I also wish to thank the bodies that presented the award to the governor. You demonstrated great courage and valour by taking the bull by its horns in conferring that honour on a performing governor in an era when gladiators who jostled to honour empty vessels in the
past are keeping mute when they suppose to turn around to celebrate real performance. As the saying goes that “next to excellence is the power of appreciation”; I am sure that your continued support, counsel and c o n s t r u c t i v e reiterations would count to make the administration and its exertions, called Rauf Revolution to reach greater heights. I enjoin our people to continue giving their support to the administration so as to jointly benefit fully from the comprehensive package of goodies which our leaders have in stock for us. Osun A Dara O. •JOHN EGBEDELE, Faji Road,Igbaye, Odo Otin LGA, State of Osun.
as you will have them do unto you. We need unity without which development would remain elusive. It is time for us to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood being torn asunder by those who seek to profit from divisions. This year’s Christmas in particular should afford us the opportunity to dwell more on our common humanity. We need this to challenge the forces of division in our midst. We need to explore how we can live together in peace despite our differences. And for us all, to recognise that we all are God’s children irrespective of differences in faith.
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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 above mail address. ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com
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Infrastructure OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
AREGBESOLA'S URBAN RENEWAL PROGRAMME IN THE STATE OF OSUN:
New Lease Of Life; New Turn-Around The Government Unusual of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, in its third year, has celebrated ground-breaking achievements in the area of infrastructural rebirth and socio-economic regeneration - that of State of Osun Urban Renewal. NIYI OLASINDE dedicates this series of editions of our Magazine segment to this highly commendable effort of the administration and such other efforts as are related to it in giving the state a long-deserved facelift and the pace of development that is long overdue.
•The picture shows the beautification of sections of Alekuwodo road in Osogbo in the night .
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MAGAZINE
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
New Lease Of Life; New Turn-Around
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed) acknowledging cheers from his admirers during an interactive programme tagged: ‘Gbangba D’ekun’ in Ilesa, State of Osun, recently. Contiuned from page 5
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HE ongoing pace and trend of development; especially that of provision of infrastructural amenities in the State of Osun; shall now
seize the attention of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine. We view the current trend of events in the area of infrastructure provision so serious, urgent and impressive as to compel a break in the serial edition at hand; so as to do timely justice to this all-important aspect of our life as a state and a people. This is more so as we look backward and view in retrospect the lack and deprivation we had suffered in the entire years of our statehood since creation, prior to the coming on board of the incumbent administration into the saddle of leadership service and stewardship. It is in fondest pride and appreciation of these laudable achievements of the Rauf Aregbesola administration in the State of Osun that the OSUN DEFENDER Magazine is putting a hold on the edition hitherto in progress to treat this emerging one as a matter of urgency. One best identified way of starting this edition is to cast a retrospective glance back to the State of Osun; and Osogbo, the state capital in particular and its outlook and features during the years of the fiery siege; that is, the years immediately preceding the emergence of the Aregbesola administration in the saddle of governance.. In our most vivid memory, we remember a state that was grossly devastated and impoverished; we bring back to memory a distasteful environment of horrible sites. Roads became erosion paths and flooding canals; the entire terrain was that of terror
and spoke of imminent destruction to the lives of the residents. There were perennial occurrences of flooding and erosion, which inflicted losses of incalculable magnitude on the lives and properties of the people. Road carnages were on the increase; occasioned by poor and derelict state of road infrastructure. In any attempt made at talking of infrastructure and its provision, roads are not to be taken in isolation. That is the reason why during the course of the current discourse, we shall be making occasional digression to speaking of other forms of infrastructure other than roads. While some are quite related to roads; there are quite a number of others which are not in any way related to it but speak volumes of the wonders-inprogress in the State of Osun; and which shall not be spared to pass unnoticed. This edition, therefore, shall be a thorough attempt at baring details of the monumental achievements of the Rauf Aregbesola in the aspect of provision of infrastructural amenities in recent times. To start with, definitions of key terms shall suffice. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines infrastructure as the basic systems and structures that a country or organization needs in order to work properly, for example, transport, communications, and banking systems; the country’s economic infrastructure. The same dictionary defines amenities in singular sense, amenity as something such as a piece of equipment, shop, or park that makes it easier to live somewhere.
The definition goes further with citing instances of usage of the term as “a town with all the amenities of a larger city”; and basic amenity as:”simple huts with only the basic amenities”. Before going on further exploration, we ponder a bit to comment that in the ongoing drive toward the full infrastructural development, the State of Osun is fast-becoming that illustrative town with all the amenities of a larger city captured in the above-cited definition; most especially when it is compared with other states of the federation. Its capital in particular, when compared with other state capitals in Nigeria, is coming up with standing a more favourable stead in terms of amenities, outlook, conducive climate for good, worthwhile living and other indices of development. The direct inference from this is that whatever our faintest memory of the past situation in the state presents regarding presence (or otherwise) of infrastructural amenities; the reverse of the situations portrayed in our definition(s) was the case with our state in years past. Why? There was acute lack of the basic systems and structures that a country or organization needs in order to work properly. Better put, things were far from working properly in the systems and structures of the state. To make fool-proof of claims and assertions made above, another attempt shall be made at definitions by other authorities. This time around, our authority of choice shall be in the related field of electronic broadcast journalism. So we turn to definitions in the way and pattern prescribed by the
British Broadcasting Corporation in its BBC English Dictionary. In that effort, it is defined that the infrastructure (or infrastructures) of a country, society or organization is the structure which helps it to function effectively, such as the facilities, services and equipment that are provided. An illustrative statement follows that: Western technology needs a reliable infrastructure which is sometimes lacking in developing countries. Amenities in the same dictionary means the facilities such as shopping centres or sports centres that are provided for people’s convenience or enjoyment. Cited instances include Canary Wharf – a complex of offices, shops, restaurants and leisure amenities on derelict dockland. These latter definitions share lots of visible commonalities with the former. However, like the cited developing economies, Osun had been wallowing in the dearth of these facilities, services and equipment since its creation and the state and its people had been yearning for that change-agent who would champion the society’s desired change and infuse into it a new lease of life. It is today no longer in doubt that that yearning has come into realization with the advent of the Aregbesola administration. We were persistently and assiduously committed to creating awareness and drawing attention to the spate of abandonment, negligence, rot and decay in the state of infrastructure in the state and the urgent need for rebirth, regeneration and intervention in order to reverse the sad trend for the young state and its indigenes Contiuned on page 7
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
PHOTOTALK
7
2013 Iwude Ijesa Festival In Ilesa, State Of Osun, Last Saturday.
•Owa Obokun of Ijesa-Land, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran (left); State of Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Elder ‘Lowo Adebiyi (3rd right); State Tresurer, Mr Kunle Odeyemi (2nd right); State Secretary, Prince Gboyega Famodun (right) and other dignitaries during the programme.
•Governor Aregbesola (arrowed) acknowledging cheers from his admirers.
•Supporters of Ogbeni Aregbesola struggling to catch a glimpse of him during the programme.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
PHOTOTALK
8
All Progressives Congress (APC) Members And Supporters In Modakeke Area Office In The State Of Osun Adopted Governor Rauf Aregbesola For A Second Term In Office Last Friday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI
•Governor Aregbesola addressing party members and supporters during the programme.
•
•
Governor Aregbesola; Senator Babajide Omoworare, representing Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly; State of Osun APC Chairman, Elder ‘Lowo Adebiyi and Secretary, Prince Gboyega Famodun.
•Aregbesola; the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Francis Adedoyin and Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti
•A cross section of market women welcoming the governor to Modakeke.
9
PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
All Progressives Congress (APC) Members And Supporters In Modakeke Area Office In The State Of Osun Adopted Governor Rauf Aregbesola For A Second Term In Office Last Friday.
•Governor Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from his admirers during his endorsement for a 2nd term in office by Modakeke community in Ife East Area Office
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
MAGAZINE
11
New Lease Of Life; New Turn-Around
•AREGBESOLA Continued from page 6
and residents All along, all access roads leading in and out of the state had been in a state of abject disrepair. The State of Osun is so amply situated as to enjoy multiple boundaries with five or six states. In the North, the state shares boundaries with Kwara State; Oyo State from the West; Ogun State from the South; and Ekiti and Ondo states from the East. From all these axes, the access roads had been in such bad state of disrepair that the economic, commercial and industrial prospects of the state were crippled and jeopardized. Apart from these inter-state roads, the intra-state linkage roads were in no way better. Administration after administration in the state stood at askance and aloof to the needs of the people especially in the aspect of road infrastructure; not to talk of other aspects. Within the metropolis of Osogbo, the state capital, the situation presented no remarkable improvement. Apart from the abject lack of other vital infrastructure that were necessary to position it State of Osun had maintained the status quo ante of a glorified country-side village which could not in any way compare favourably with local government headquarters in other parts of Nigeria. The Osogbo Township Stadium, the one and only conventional sports complex that had been on ground prior to the creation of the state remained worse-off; especially at the end of the inglorious administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. The city roads were narrow; being further narrowed down by illegal structures and illegal trading activities of traders who believed that the only viable spots for the display of their wares were the road-sides. The state capital was bereft of organized modern markets; while the new Orisunmbare Market put in place by the Alliance for Democracy (AD)-led Bisi Akande administration was left to rot due to its not being utilized. Persistent efforts by successive administrations in the state to sanitize the Alekuwodo/Olaiya junction and free the passage-way from over-congestion caused by illegal trading activities became futile due to absence of political will. We remember with nausea and disgust the spurious move by the ousted Oyinlola administration in August 2010 to clear the congestion along the said
•LAOYE-TOMORI
Alekuwodo/Olaiya area and the Fakunle/Ogo Oluwa road. This was only as the administration prepared to host contingents at the first-ever Global Conference for Black Nationalities held in Osogbo at that time under the sacked administration. It was clear that no such sanitizing effort would have been made if that kind of mammoth gathering was not to be hosted, As it turned out at the end of the day, the effort was a mirage. Earlier similar efforts were made consecutively by earlier administrations prior to the coming on board of the Oyinlola administration in the state; all of which in the end culminated in a farce. We place on record that it was the first administration in the state: the administration of Colonel Leo Segun Ajiborisa that opened up and macadamized the Olaiya/Alekuwodo/Oke Fia Road; which hitherto was impassable. Some other administration later came only to attempt the naming of the same road after their helmsman! The Western Bypass, popularly referred to today as Ring Road in Osogbo, the state capital, was constructed by some of the earliest administrations in the state that were wellmeaning and progressive-minded. If subsequent administrations and military regimes in the state had initiated and put in place similar road projects in the state capital, the spate of stunted progress which the state had hitherto grappled with helplessly would have become nearextinct. Apart from that Ring Road, the only major road in Osogbo, the Ayetoro/Old Garage Road axis, had been the narrow single-carriage way inherited from the era when the town was yet to become a state capital. It was this same road that extended through Olaiya Junction to Ogo Oluwa area to link Abere, the State’s ultramodern Secretarial and yonder to Gbongan and further into other neighbouring states. The time strenuous efforts of the immediatepast administration to dualized the first phase of this road from Akoda Junction down to Old Garage Area, which spanned its entire period of seven and a half years in office, was at the end of the day the equivalent of deception, as the ensuing road was just a make-believe. It took the timely intervention of the incoming Aregbesola administration to bring the hitherto overbeaten abandoned project to the standard
of utilizable road of our taste. The Ilesa/ Ile Ife roads are nothing to write home about, regarding how they fared during the era of the fiery siege, mounted by BrigadierGeneral Olagunsoye Oyinlola and his cohorts in depravity and infamy in the Hole-infested umbrella party – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). For the Ijesas, their crime as perceived by Oyinlola and his party was that their son, kinsman, kith and kin, Engineer Aregbesola dared to contest an election for the soul of his “captured empire” against him. For the Ifes of the same Ife/Ijesa Senatorial District, the matter was that of betrayal; a sort of conspiracy by some frontline indigenes of the ancient town in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who were comfortable with diverting all the monies that could have been expended for the ultimate good of the entire citizenry of the area into their private coffers. Even the story of Osun Central Senatorial District from where Oyinlola hailed was in no way better. The roads remained narrow and in gross disrepair; flooding and water erosion were rampant on annual basis; the environment became grossly degraded; the schools, hospitals and other public institutions were simply unserviceable. In a nutshell, the State of Osun under the immediate past administration was almost in shambles; bing almost entirely in the doldrums. Prior to its naming as the capital of the new Osun State, which was carved out of the old Oyo State, Osogbo had been the commercial hub for the entire South-West and even some yonder lands. With the exception of Ibadan and the cosmopolitan Lagos, Osogbo was next to this side of South-West in terms commercial vibrancy and viability. It was a reputable convenient meeting point for traders from upNorth and down-South for exchanging wares and bettering the lots and economic fortunes of the people thereby. With the gradual loss in the quality of infrastructure however, this attribute started disappearing until it was almost completely a thing of the past. One other sad trend was the perennial flooding and water erosion which poised terrible and life-threatening doom to the people, their lives and property, their socioeconomic Contiuned on page 12
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
MAGAZINE
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New Lease Of Life; New Turn-Around
•Beautification of the road at Abere. Continued from page 11
exertions as well as the prosperity of the state. Unfortunately, apart from the Alliance for Dem0ocracy (AD)-led administration of Chief Bisi Akande, successive administrations in the state did something close to nothing to alleviate the sufferings of the people of the state in this regard. This problem got to a head in the years 2009 and 2010, when erosion and flooding threatened to decimate the lives and property of the people of the state. Yet the administration of the time did nothing decisive to combat the menace until it was unceremoniously disgraced out of office. Generally the entirety of our environment was nothing to write home about in the years preceding the advent of the incumbent administration in office. We on the crew of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine have written a lot on this distasteful situation of the past in volumes of editions. We would not like to bore our readers with repetitive editions, That is why we shall now swing forward to give apt consideration to other captivating issues that are instrumental to our being and our forward march. THE State of Osun is located in the SouthWestern part of Nigeria. It covers an area of approximately 14,875 square kilometres. It lies between longitude 04 00E and 05’ 5 and latitude 05’558N and 08’07W. It is bounded by Ogun, Kwara, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti states in the South, North, West and East respectively. The state lies within the Tropical Rain Forest. According to the National Population and Housing Census exercise of the National Population Commission conducted in 2006, the State of Osun has a population of Three Million, Four-Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Five-Hundred and Thirty-Five (3,423,535). It is not unlikely that the population as at today might have appreciated to almost Four Million plus, barely ten years after the last head-count. The indigenes of the State of Osun belong to the Yoruba tribe and are composed of the Oyos (sarcastically called the Oyo-proper), Ifes, Ijesas, Igbominas, Osuns and the Ibolos.
However, non-indigenes from all parts of Nigeria and foreigners reside in the state and live together in harmony. Yoruba and English are the languages used for official and business transactions. The people have a rich cultural heritage which is eloquently demonstrated in all spheres of their lives. Their culture finds expression in their arts, literature, music and other social activities. It is marvelous being among the people, savouring the beauty of their wellacclaimed cultural inheritance. The state is prided, and rightly so, as the haven of culture, tourism and hospitality. Tourist centres abound across the state. Some of the popular ones are the Oranmiyan Staff; Ife Museum; Obafemi Awolowo University Zoological Gardens; Ile-Ase; Yeyemolu and Oduduwa shrines and Grove, all at Ile-Ife. Others include Osun-Osogbo Shrine, which is the venue of the internationally recognized Osun-Osogbo Festival; the Mbari-Mbayo Cultural Heritage; Idi-Baba Cultural Centre; Adunni Susan Wengers Centre and Ike Arts Gallery, all based in Osogbo. There are also the Olumirin Water-Falls at Erin-Ijesa; Igbo-Sango, Ede, Kiriji War Site, Igbajo and the Ayikunnugba Water-Falls at Oke Ila-Orangun. The state government accords great importance to tourism. All issues pertaining to tourism are handled by the State Ministry of Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism. This Ministry is charged with the responsibility of modernizing and developing tourism and culture in the state. Osun Osogbo Grove has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, while the Osun Osogbo Festival has been listed as an international festival. The UNESCO has also established the Centre of Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo, the state capital. Col. Leo Segun Ajiborisa was the pioneer Military Administrator of the State from August to December 1991. He wielded both executive and legislative powers. He was succeeded by Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, the first
democratically-elected Governor, who ruled from January 1992 to November 1993. With the take-over of the government by the military, the state was administered from November 1993 to May 1999 by a succession of Military Administrators. They were Colonel AFK Akale, Navy Captain Anthony Udofia, Colonel Anthony Obi and Colonel Theophilus Bamigboye. On 29th May, 1999, Chief Bisi Akande was swornin as the second Executive Governor. He was succeeded by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola from 2003-2007. He recontested for the second term and assumed office from 29th May 2007 till 26th November, 2010 when he was recalled by a Court order which declared Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola as the winner of April 14, 2007 Governorship election. Consequently, Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola was sworn-in on 27th November, 2010 as the Fourth Executive Governor of Osun State. The Executive arm of Government is headed by Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola; and assisted by his Deputy, Otunba Grace Titilayo LaoyeTomori, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti, the Chief of Staff, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the Head of Service, Mr. Yinka Owoeye and 14 Commissioners. The State House of Assembly consists of 26 honourable members. The speaker is Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, while the Deputy Speaker is Hon.(Barr.) Adegboye Akintunde. The Judiciary is headed by Hon. Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, the first-ever female Chief Judge in the state.. The Chief Judge is assisted by 18 other High Court Judges in the dispensation of justice. The Customary Court of Appeal is headed by Justice Gloria E. Oladoke (Mrs.) and consisted of other judges. The state is divided into three Senatorial Districts, viz, Osun I (West), Osun II (Central) and Osun III (East). Each of these districts is further divided into two zones, making a total of six zones. Osun I is made up of Ede and Iwo Zones while Osun II comprises Osogbo and Ikirun Zones. Osun III consists of Ilesa and Ife Zones. The state is made up of 30 Local Continued on page 13
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MAGAZINE
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
New Lease Of Life; New Turn-Around Continued from page 12
violence and unlawful detention of innocent citizens for demonstrating their civic rights was used by the With the time ripe for another round of governorship instrumentality of the power that be to keep themselves election in 2007, the coast was becoming gradually in power. clear from year 2005 and thereabouts for contestants An aftermath of the massively rigged and grossly to make their bids and ambitions known to the people stage-managed elections was a long legal tussle, of the state as to their intended plans and programmes, spanning a complete period of three-and-a-half years. embodied in the prorammes, agenda and manifestos The rest is history. At the end of tunnel came shining of their respective political parties. With the total the perpetual radiance. On Friday, November 26, number of political parties in Nigeria reaching up to 2010, the Federal court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, fifty; the State of Osun, being an elitist state and one the Oyo State capital, in a unanimous judgment of the most volatile and intellectually advanced in the canceled the election of Brigadier-General land, had an impressive number of aspirants contesting Olagunsoye Oyinlola of the People’s Democratic for its seat of governance. Party and reversed his declaration by the Independent Out of this lot was an enigma, an extraction from National Electoral Commission (INEC). In his place, the camp of the progressives, an accomplished the election of Engineer Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola of mechanical engineer and former commissioner for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of the time roads and infrastructure under the administration of was upheld as the validly and credibly elected Asiwaju BolaAhmed Tinubu as the governor of Lagos helmsman of the state. Thus was the ball set rolling State, Engineer Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. A contestant for a lineup/series of dramatic transformation which from the fold of the Action Congress (AC) which later the state, its indigenes and residents alike would became known as the Action Congress of Nigeria continue to witness, savour and relish for a complete (ACN); a party which has today fused with two others four-year tenure in office. The good trend is currently as an amalgam in a merger mega political structure in progress; and we stand tall to celebrate the greatest ever known in the annals of the country, the All- achievement of progress ever made in the annals of a Progressive Congress (APC); Aregbesola adopted young state in the first two decades of its lifespan. the name of the great Yoruba legendary prince and THERE is no gainsaying the fact that to a crossprogenitor, Oranmiyan as his campaign title/ section of citizens and residents of the state, the appellation. campaign promises of the SYMBOL of the Of all the political parties contending the governance Oranmiyan struggle, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola were of the state at the time, hardly was there any that could just too good to be true. Arguments were rife in some match the programmes and manifestos of the Action quarters that no person or government anywhere in Congress (AC). Aside this party body of plans and the nation; given any magnitude of resources or tenure programmes, Aregbesola rolled out his own personal of office to serve could be so magnanimous as to programmes which rapidly and increasingly warmed give such ample lease of life as promised to the people. his love into the hearts of the people he offered to To most pessimists, the trend of the ugly scenario of govern; his own kith and kin; his own people. Thus the Oyinlola administration is what the people of all set, Aregbesola emerged the party’s symbol for the ages should be prepared to settle for. To the cross 2007 Gubernatorial race in the state; and his soaring section of we optimistic progressives however, we popularity sent jitters of fear down the spines of agents knew too well that the Man Aregbesola would live of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party’s up to his promises. If nothing at all taught us to hold (PDP)sit-tight agenda in the State of Osun. What him credible, the Lagos experience did much followed was the use of the most oppressive and convincing. repressive form of force to perpetuate the grip of So the man rolled out his campaign promises. The power-drunk captors on power. Massive rigging was promises, according to him were his pact with the perpetrated, killing, maiming, arson, widespread Government Areas and Ife-East Area Office.
•A completed road project at Fagbewesa, Osogbo.
people; along which he should be assessed during the entire period of his stewardship as the servant of the people. We shall now make an adventure into the pact that was made with the people before relevantly delving into how well he has made good his promises. According to Aregbesola, in September 1886, at a camp between Okemesi and Igbajo the armistice ending the twenty year civil war in (KIRIJI), our Obas, generals and leaders pledged themselves to the pursuit of PEACE PROGRESS and PROSPERITY among the children of Oduduwa. This grace was enjoyed till about 1962 when the Western House of Assembly was sacked and the federalism which gave the Yoruba room to pursue the promise of KIRIJI was terminated in all but name. The end result was that till that time at the approach the 2007 general elections peace, progress and prosperity could no longer be taken for granted amongst the Yorubas in particular and the entire nation in general. There was, according to him, imminent fear of 1)
Political disenfranchisement;
2)
Economic stagnation; and
3)
Socio-psychological insecurity
It was the above-cited reasons that spurred the decision of Aregbesola to run for the office of Governor in the heartland State of Osun – ipinle Omoluabi. The following are the words with which he succinctly and pungently spoke his heart’s desires to the people whose mandate he sought for service and accountability. What I offer you therefore can be termed Government Unusual-A Government totally committed to unlocking the latent potentials in our people, a phenomenon unknown in southwest Nigeria since the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Continued on page 14
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
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MAGAZINE
New Lease Of Life; New Turn-Around
•(L-R) Special Adviser to the Governor on Sanitation, Honourable Bola Ilori; Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and Elder Lowo Adebiyi taking part in a sanitation exercise. Continued from page 10
CASH CROPS and also improve in mileage on every kobo accruing to the state by: What obtains today is a ruling class tainted with greed, avarice, ineptitude and barefaced terrorism while our people continue to · Encourage production of cash crops which can enhance · Ensuring real time online access to actual position of the languish in hunger, insecurity, disease and squalor. state finances to prevent misuse and other forms of abuse by receiving farmer’s income and provide basis for an effective agro-industrial society in the state of Osun. agencies. My mission and ambition are to restore to the people, a state of peace, opportunity, for progress and room for the pursuit of · Specified to vigorously develop extensive farming in · Reducing leakages in the tax collection and administration prosperity in our time under a people friendly government. palm trees to create a fully integrated oil palm processing industry. process. I give you Six-Point Integral Action plan, to the intent that they constitute my actions of faith concerning which I want to be held accountable at any time during my stewardship. SIX-POINT INTEGRAL ACTION PLAN ·
Banish Poverty
·
Banish Hunger
·
Banish Unemployment (Create Work/Wealth)
·
Restore Healthy Living
·
Promote Functional Education
·
Enhance Communal Peace and Progress
·
BANISH POVERTY
COMMERCE
·
Running a transparent and accountable government.
·
Ensuring prudent management of the state’s resources.
· To target and capture minimum of 10% of the multibillion naira- per day food market of the neighbouring states. ·
Support cooperative efforts by farmers
· Ensuring that the funds of the state are used for developmental purposes.
· Be a catalyst to the development and promotion of micro, small and medium enterprises that will exploit available · Create viable Public/Private sector partnerships to jump raw materials. start the economy. · Set up price support scheme for farmers through · Our overall goal is to reduce dependence on federal commodity exchange board. allocation as a means of funding the government. · BANISH UNEMPLOYMENT (CREATE WORK & WEALTH) · BANISH HUNGER FOOD& AGRICULTURE
No job loss, more jobs.
Osun people are peaceful, dignified and hardworking people Vision: Our government shall banish hunger in Osun and who desire and deserve gainful employment for their children enhance wealth through massive increase in food production and and themselves. Rather than policies that will create employment agriculture. and wealth for the people, the policies of the PDP government in Every farmer shall sell his products and be prosperous. The place serve to enrich few at the expense of majority of our people.
Vision: To make Osogbo the second hub in international labour of the farmer shall no longer be in vain because we shall trade in goods and commodities in the Southwest. provide assistance and support to farmers in finding and exploiting profitable market for their goods. Osun people’s natural affinity for commerce has been dampened over the years by unfriendly and unfocused economic We do not presently grow enough food in Osun to feed us round policies of government thereby popularizing poverty among a the year and this should concern a government that cares for its people, who are naturally hardworking, industrious and people. adventurous.
As part of our GOVERNMENT UNUSUAL programme, I Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola make a pact with you good people of the State of Osun, in the presence and by the grace of God Almighty that our government shall create immediate employment for 20,000 people within our 100 days in office.
5,000 of these places shall be reserved for those who were retrenched and are still willing and able to work. Our government shall support farmers to attain increase in food Our purposeful government of ACN shall revitalize commerce production, better storage and delivery. We shall provide assistance and restore wealth back to the land through: As a people-friendly government, our policies shall help to: to farmers in exploiting profitable markets and market opportunities for their products. · Market friendly policies that will revive the customary · Create economic environment that ensures availability commercial activities in Osogbo and other towns in Osun. of jobs for all Osun indigenes. To maximize the benefit of resultant massive increase in food · Promotion and support of activities focused on wealth promotion for our people.
production, we shall improve:
· Establish one LIFE ACADEMY in each of the three · Access roads and general transportation to even the most Senatorial constituencies for the building of life- long skills in out of schools, youngsters as well as adults seeking alternative remote areas of the state. · Transformation of Osogbo into an International competencies. market where goods will be procured at prices comparable to · Storage process and capacity. any other part of West Africa. · Promote labour exchange centres to facilitate employment of graduates from our Life Academies. · Processing of agricultural produce. FINANCE & ECONOMIC PLANNING I shall increase the internally generated revenue of the state
·
Rural electricity and water supply.
·
To be continued.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, December 31, 2013
15
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2013
I
T is the last day of an epoch-making year,
difficult to forget so easily by the present generation of indigenes and non-indigenes resident in the length and breadth of the State of Osun. Long before now, if there were to be noticeable events with a toga of transformation, such would suffer forced restrictions that only limit major projects to a few urban centres outside the state capital. The erroneous belief that all towns and villages are represented in the state capital made successive government to get sassy about the ubiquitous push for all-encompassing developmental initiatives. Ruralurban drift thus caused the available social amenities to get overstretched.
By ADE OLUGBOTEMI
vanish with the outgoing year.
This Day For Genuine Repentance
The trend was perfectly enjoyed by the majority. Most rural settlements have been deserted by the natives, who have chosen to migrate to the state capital. Agricultural outputs are on the decline because most migrants to the urban centres are idle as a result of leisure that has taken the position of hard work in peoples’ table of preference. This trend has led to serious impoverishment; but people enjoy it upon the thick skin that has inordinately been developed. As at last count, only 6 percent of the total population stay back on the farm to cultivate the land that is supposed to get the attention of seventy five percent.
The present administration is resolutely determined to reverse the former trend; hence the opening up of the rural area through massive construction of road network across the state. Some people have been seriously angered by this attempt, because the usual practise is for people to earn regular income that they never worked for. The statement that the labour of the hand does not betray the industrious does not matter to the set of people within the short period that I became interested in this subject matter. It has been discovered that people still prefer the easy way to make wealth, by imagining wealth and hope to get wealthy without any labour. Power supply in the rural areas is presently being underutilised, despite the fact that the usual outages that are the order of the day in the urban centres are not what obtain in the rural areas. Skewed utility is bound to be counterproductive, because the rural inhabitants sometimes put on light in the afternoon because they feel there is nothing wrong in doing so. The option of generating sets with the attendant air pollution has continued to constitute health hazard that is even sending people to early graves.
It is very appalling that some notable individuals still give in to sensibility bashing that has ever been the hallmark of political persuasion in our land. Most of them have their children at home after graduation without any scintilla of hope for tomorrow’s respite. No jobs and the inclement national economic environment cannot guarantee any viable venture to keep body and soul together. Such people are not contemplating lifeline that will gradually save the system, so that the hopeless situation can be upturned. The desperation of opposition has gagged them that they concoct fallacies, but their claim of inactivity against the government of the day cannot be substantiated, and is belied by numerous visible projects that are changing the face of our environment. Few hours from now, we shall enter the year of destiny. 2014 is going to be a make or mar year for the people of the State of Osun, depending on the way we handle the activities in it. A lot will be happening through our political calculations and permutations. Two major elections will be taking place to anoint those holding executive powers at both state and local government levels. The governor and the councillors will be elected for four and three years respectively. Sentimentality must not be allowed to becloud our need for rational judgement. We know what is right, and we must stick to it and do it.
•AREGBESOLA
The second issue that will remain topical in the looming year is the gubernatorial election that is fastapproaching. A lot of propaganda is all going as the re-enactment of the usual way through which perceived foes are pulled down. This is an indirect way of lying to the people that the government of the day has done too little to deserve re-election. I think the blind can see the unequalled exploits of the current governor of the State of Osun. Our inertia can quickly resist the tendency of disquiet to give us an impression that being patient with the government is not only reasonable, but can otherwise be highly rewarding. Those waging war of attrition against Aregbesola are quite aware that the war is desperately hypocritical. All ongoing projects are visible and quantifiable to daily assess the progress made. They are equally available for quality assessment that can make for critical evaluation. All exaggerations are also
Politicians are sanctimonious when it comes to the game of outsmarting one another. It is for us the electorate to remain steadfast in our resolve to do things right and elect those who have programmes and well-laid down policies that will be further halt depression that seems to have permanently pitched its tent with us. We must say no to the antics of moneybags, who will be out to lure people with their stupendous spendings to feign generosity and kindness in an attempt to make us mortgage our birthright. We must remember the repercussion of past carelessness and refrain from actions that will land us in trouble again.
meant to suggest that the story with our government is pitiable; not minding the proportion of the population being affected. If areas of leakages are not properly studied, so that together we All of us are stakeholders in the can make sabotage unprofessional and project of making the State of Osun unpopular, we must be ready to face the consequence of mortgage that will safe and secure, we must not fold our arms and allow some prodigal elements follow. in our midst take advantage of us and Year 2014 is here with us whether drift us into socio-economic doldrums we like it or not. It is our own year of that past inactivities have plunged us. electioneering, when political parties will Taking the state to the promised land is once again roll-out drums to convince a collective task and we cannot afford people towards themselves and confuse to rest on our oars. We cannot afford them away from their opponents. The to take things for granted because it can kind of desperation we nurture at times be very costly. Our destiny is in our makes us loose rationality upon which hands, we have a choice of what we success is anchored. For instance, how want it to be. Stiff resistance against can a person with the right frame of political brigandage is the sure way to mind voice out that Governor permanent freedom. Never again must Aregbesola is not doing anything; when we be sold into political slavery, which indeed developmental activities are in the past has undermined our reason ongoing with billions of naira going into for living. it? This is part of insincerity that has Wishing you all prosperous 2014. beclouded our judgement; and this must
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