Osun defender feburary 20, 2016 edition

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THE

6TH

M O ST - V I S I T E D

saturday, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

The news that the government of the state of Osun recently paid the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees of 11, 394 pupils seeking to sit for the exam this year, is another good news forwhich the govern-

VOL. 11. NO.014

Front Page Comment

As Payment Of WASCE Fees Continues In Osun

Ogbeni Aregbesola deserves another round of applause.

This is so because it’s another feat the governmentof that state has again recorded in spite of the challenge of paucity of funds which the state is facing.

For it’s unimaginable that the state could still be able to meet up with this achievement given what it as been passing through financially since the drop in federal allocations fora couple of years now.

NEWS-

That the government is able to achieve this feat again even in spite of the financial mess it has found itself sort of testifies to the determination of Ogbeni Aregbesola to continue to bring divi-

dends of democracy to the people

of the state most especially in theeducation sector.

The 11, 394 pupils whose WASSCE fees were paid for are the ones who were able to have four credits

including English Language and Mathematics in their preWASSCE which is known as mock examination. We see this development as highly commendable for it’s of double advantage.

Osun Govt Faults Protesting ment of

...continue on pg5

- See Story On Page 2

‘Allow Reasons To Prevail In The State’s Interest’

•State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his deputy, Otunba (Mrs.) Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (2nd left); Chiarman, Association of Medical Officers of Health in Nigeria (AMOHN), Osun State Chapter, Dr. Fabiyi Oluwole (3rd right); Secretary of AMOHN, Dr. Olusegun Olaogun (right); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (2nd right); Head of Service, Elder Sunday Owoeye (left) and others, during a courtesy visit to the governor, at Governor’s Office, Abere, Osogbo, on Thursday.

Bank Customers Complain Of Arbitrary

- See Story On Page 3

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Osun Defender Saturday, February 20,

Osun Govt Faults Protesting By kehinde ayantunji

he Government of the State of Osun has described the continuous strike of a section of medical doctors in Osun as “insensitivity to the plight of the people” and unnecessarily risking the lives of patients, who need their services in the state hospitals.

It also described the Semiu Okanlawon, Tuesday protest of the o n Tu e s d a y, s a i d doctors as needless government has made and an attempt to necessary concession smear the image of on the demands of t h e g o v e r n m e n t , the doctors but it is while the doctors are obvious that they are jettisoning the main not willing to resume issue revolving around work for best reasons known to them. the strike.

He said, the doctors A statement by the Director of Bureau a r e i n s i s t i n g o n of Communication demands that they and Strategy, Office know obviously are of the Governor, Mr impossible for the government and T

wondered why the doctors will abandon their responsibility to their patients and the state at large.

Okanlawon explained that the government will continue to promote and protect its working force but could not force any unwilling worker to work.

He s ai d: “I n t he face of the current economic realities, it remains unbelievable that doctors would insist that they would not be bound by the payment regime agreed to by over 39,000 other workers in the state, which was arrived

at after a rigorous deliberation on the finances of the state within the context of the national economic realities.

“The doctors have abandoned their work since September 28, 2015, noting minding hundreds of people lying on sick beds, and despite the ugly situation, the striking doctors were paid for that month.

“In December, we told them to resume work, but they have remained adamant that they want to earn what we cannot afford. In the first instance, except in

communist countries, you cannot force anybody to work. You can’t drag workers to work under democracy.

“It is either you want to work or you don’t want to work. But if you cannot take what we are offering and what other workers including doctors in local government council areas, including consultants at the state level are taking, we cannot afford it.”

O k a n l a w o n

counseled the doctors to allow reasons to prevail in the interest of the state and stop playing to the gallery It would be recalled that medical doctors in Osun, on Tuesday, staged a protest to the State House of Assembly against the non-payment of their salaries by the state government.

The protesters, led by the state Chairman of

Widow, 70, Arraigned Over 20 Years’ House By ismaeel uthman

7 0 - y e a r- o l d w i d o w, M a d a m E l i z a b e t h Adeoni, has been arraigned before a customary court at the Oja-Oba Palace Square, Osogbo, the State of Osun capital, for allegedly owing house rent for 20 years.

Adeoni’s landlord, Mr things became worse when Lateef Adegoke, told the she lost her two children.

The aged woman, who court that the old woman h as n o t b een p ay in g was weeping in the court, rent since 1995, praying lamented that her business the court to help him to collapsed after the death recover his money from of her children and that she often slept with empty the septuagenarian.

Adegoke also urged the stomach.

She pleaded with the court to order the aged woman to pay and vacate court to help her beg the the house, so that he would landlord not to eject her take a new tenant, saying from the house because that he needed money she had nowhere to go.

The President of to take care of certain the customary court, financial obligations.

Speaking at the court, Chief Ladipo Balogun, Adeoni said that life has admonished the woman not been very difficult for her to lose hope and charged since her husband died her to find something to many years ago and that do, so as to be able to pay her landlord.

The judge then the state as a trailblazer in terms adjourned the matter till of providing adequate environment 15 of March, 2016. for security operatives to succeed.

A

•State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), presenting a wheelchair to one of the benefactors, Abimbola Fakayode. With them is the Executive Secretary, Boripe Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun (left) during the commissioning of medical equipment by the governor in Iragbiji last Wednesday.

Osun Assembly Attributes Success In Security To State Govt Investment strategy, which was commitment to serving

By KAZEEM M0HAMMED

responsible for the the people with integrity s u c c e s s t h e p o l i c e and unalloyed loyalty, leadership of Rt. Honourable Najeem Salam achieved during the saying the support the enjoyed from has attributed success recorded in the area Friday Ikirun robbery command the various stakeholders of security in the state to foresightedness of in the state. are enough to spur them the government and investment on security The Commandant into greater heights. times, the command reiterated the command equipment.

Playing host to the should sacrifice for the Osun Commandant time being”, he added Honourable Salam of the Nigeria Civil

By SHINA ABUBAKAR Defence and Security however called on the Corps on Tuesday, the residents of the state T he immediate-past Commissioner for and Strategy in the State of Speaker, Honourable to cooperate with the Information Mr Sunday Akere, has called on the N a j e e m S a l a a m command in providing Osun, residents of the state and Nigerians generally said the efforts of result oriented services to desist from the act of cursing leaders due to difficult times, urging them to pray for the government has to the people.

Speaking, the State them regularly instead. created a conducive He made the call while speaking at the Fidau atmosphere in the state Commandant of the for securitymen to Corps, eulogized the organized by theatre commissioner then state government for practitioners for Alhaji called on Nigerians operate. the country needs E x p r e s s i n g providing an enabling S i k u r u A d e s h i n a that prayer than satisfaction on the state environment for the (Arakangudu) who more curses at this trying command to operate died recently after a of security in the state, times, saying the illness. he commended the men since its inception in brief people should seek Akere said despite the state. intervention in of the civil service and meagre resources divine the ongoing economic According to him, the other security agencies available to the state for their commitment Local Government government, it still crisis.

Speaking at the to duty, and urged them A u t h o r i t i e s , s t r u g g l e s t o p a y gathering, the Chief salaries and ensure Traditional Authorities to be more diligent in Public notice that it executes critical the discharge of their and individuals have projects within the This is to confirm that been extending hand available means at its responsibilities.

TSESE AVALUMUN H e a l s o s a i d of comradeship to disposal. is the same He assured residents JEPHTHAH intelligent gathering the corps as different person as AKOR AVas soon as the ALUMUN JEPHTHAH. on the part of security authorities have been that economic situation donating offices and agencies will go a long documents upon the people All way to ensure safety of land for the command improves, which the two names would continue to life and property in the to excel in its duties. w i t n e s s t h e h u g e appear remain valid and He acknowledged i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l should be regarded as country.

The general “ T h o u g h , t h e the success of the development the state authentic. upon when public should take note. nation’s economy is state government in embarked assumed office. passing through hard implementing security it T he former

S

tate of Osun House of Assembly under the

He also charged the citizenry to always work with security agencies when they noticed abnormal behavior in their communities, as well as from strangers that might have come to their areas.

Pray For Leaders, Don’t Curse Them, Tell Citizens I m a mAkere, o f O ffCleric a in Kwara State, Alhaji Muideen Salman, said leaders would triumph when citizens assist them with prayers rather hurling curses at them, stressing that the general public is bound to suffer the consequences of such curses.

He said Governor Rauf Aregbesola meant well for the state and its people but people thrive when they offer assistance to one another.

Public notice

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss OGUNSOLA MODUPE HELLEN, now wish to be known and addressed a s M r s O L AD E J O MODUPE HELLEN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should

the economic situation is beyond the governor, urging the people to be patient and assist government with prayers at all times.

The cleric also called on theatre practitioners in Nigeria to go back to the basics of the profession, rather than producing films that encourage social vices among the teeming youths in the country.

He then urged the practitioners to always assist one another, rather than embarking on trying to pull one another down, saying

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Osun Defender Saturday, February 20, 2016

Osun Govt Seals Off Globacom Head Office In Osogbo over N532m Tax possible efforts to agency boss said that t h a t t h e c o m p a n y on Communication By ismaeel uthman

overnment of the State of Osun is aggressively clamping down on companies that have been refusing to pay taxes in the state, in the face of the current G

financial challenges confronting the state.

The Osun Head Office of the Globacom Communication in Osogbo and and its four based stations in the state were on Wednesday sealed off by the state government over N532 million tax debt.

Chairman and Chief E x e c u t i v e O ff i c e r (CEO) of the State Internal Revenue Service (OSIRS), Mr. Dayo Oyebanji, led a tax team to seal off the office located opposite former Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo.

Oyebanji explained that the action was

aimed at ensuring remittance of all the outstanding tax due to the state which has not been paid by the telecom company, adding that the revenue agency had already secured warrant from the State High Court against the company to effect the closure.

Oyebanji, who was accompanied by security agents, ordered workers of the communication outfit out, as the agency officials padlocked the office.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the closure, Oyebanji noted that the revenue agency had tried all

resolve the matter amicably in the last two years, accusing the Globacom managemnt of not cooperating with the agency.

Oyebanji added that the State House of Assembly had also intervened in the matter by inviting Globacom, which representatives promised to remit the outstanding tax liabilities within two weeks without fulfilling the promises.

The state revenue

while other individuals and corporate bodies have been voluntarily complying with the payment of taxes, management of Globacom has failed to show any sign of compliance.

He added that the company has also failed to obtain relevant approval for laying of fibre optics in line with the state’s relevant regulations on physical and urban planning.

Oyebanji declared

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ank customers have decried arbitrary deductions from their accounts, some respondents revealed to OSUN DEFENDER in Osogbo and Ile-Ife. A c c o r d i n g t o their money in banks, as consumers of banking they would prefer local services, they have been contribution collectors, subjected to series of who will not charge them poor and unsatisfactory more as conventional t r a n s a c t i o n s a n d banks.

He stated further that relationship terms.

Mrs Abibat Adeyanju, the banks do debit their a p e t t y t r a d e r a t customers’ accounts at Orisunmbare Market will for services such as in Osogbo, said the statement of accounts, bank’s services are not letters of introduction encouraging, as she and other services.

He carpeted the had to queue for long hours anytime she had Central Bank of Nigeria to transact businesses for aiding and encouraging at her bank and also exploitation of customers complained of uncertain by the banks.

Supporting the claims deductions from her of bank customers, Mr account by the bank.

An economist and Sola Salako of Customer lecturer, Mr Onigbogi, Advocacy Foundation, noted that the current a non-governmental banking policies and o r g a n i z a t i o n , o n operations do not consumers’ rights, encourage customers at s t a t e d t h a t c h a r g e s the grassroots to keep on ATM withdrawals

but we are yet to get reasonable response from the company.

“It is only the Globacom Limited that we are sealing because others, especially those invited by the assembly, have responded to our calls. It is only Globacom that has not shown up. They were always giving one excuse or the other.”

Oyebanji, therefore, appealed to the residents of the state

Osun Assembly Passes Primary Healthcare Establishment Bill Honourable Oyeleke

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

he State of Osun House of Assembly has passed into law, the State Primary Health Care Development Board Establishment Bill 2016.

T h e p a s s a g e o f Timothy Owoeye, for the bill on Tuesday, the third reading and followed a motion seconded by member by the Leader of the representing Ayedire House, Honourable State Constituency, T

Bank Customers Complain Of Arbitrary

By SOLA JACOBS

would not be reopened until it remits all the outstanding tax dues to the coffers of the state.

He said: “Before this time, the state government had been lenient with Globacom because of the importance of their business to both the people and the government. We engaged them in series of meetings with the assistance of House Committee

that were free before, now costs N65, while customers pay N1000 for a debit card issuance and renewal.

He continued that customers pay N105 for every online transfer and the same amount is being charged for annual debit card maintenance He also carpeted the banking sector for a new stamp duty charge of N50 on every credit of over N1000, which has just been introduced.

Salako therefore, promised that advocacy

and pressure will be put on the sector to protect the rights of the customers and as well improve their services to promote banking culture, especially among the rural populace.

Ogunsola, at the plenary.

The bill, which was sponsored by the executive arm of government, was seeking to provide for the establishment of the State of Osun Primary Health Care Development Board and for Matters connected therewith.

The state parliament had held a public hearing on the bill, last year November, where professional bodies and other stakeholders lauded the bill and observed that it was coming at the appropriate time.

Pronouncing the passage of the bill, the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, said its passage was necessary in order

for the state to benefit from federal health bodies and international donors.

He said the bill would create an enabling environment for the state to develop its Primary Health Care sector and enhances the health status of its citizenry.

According to the Speaker, now that the state parliament has joined others in the federation to pass the bill into law, Osun would enjoy the benefit accruable to other states in the country that had earlier passed the bill establishing the board.

He then urged the executive arm of government to ensure that the benefit that the state would enjoy from the establishment

DPO Warns Motorcyclists

By MURTALA AGBOOLA

he Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of T Ataoja Estate Police Station, Osogbo, Mr Clement Agbemoroti, has warned motorcyclists to refrain from carrying two passengers at a Relations Committee time.

Agbemoroti stated this (PCRC) held at the at the monthly meeting police station recently.

He stated that if it of the Police Community

•Scene of an accident at CMS Bus Stop, Lagos, last Thursday.

becomes necessary to pick two passengers, then it is better to pick aged people or women.

This, he said, was borne out from reports, that some two able-bodied persons conspired to snatch motorcycles from the riders.

The police chief equally warned residents of his jurisdiction to refrain from calling for control-room telephone numbers emergency situation anyhow.

He said recently, some people made distress calls to the police in the Pure Water area that robbers were in operation, only to get there and discovered that it was a frivolous call.

In his welcome speech, the Chairman of PCRC, Ataoja Estate Police Division, Chief Gbadebo Adeyemo, asked members to contribute meaningfully by attending meetings promptly and paying their financial dues.

Chief Gbadebo also told the gathering that in an attempt to create awareness about the activities of the PCRC, the State PCRC executive members visited some traditional rulers, companies and broadcasting stations.

Among the monarchs visited were, the Orangun of Ila, Oba AbdulWahab Oyedotun, Bibire I; Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II and the Aragbiji of Iragbiji ,Oba AbdulRasheed Olabomi, Odundun IV. Others were Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, Larooye II and the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran.

The team also visited International Breweries, Ilesa the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) led

by Mr Kola Akanji and the management team of

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Osun Defender Saturday, February 20, 2016

IGR: Osun Butchers PledgeourSupport To Government state, but to challenges. all government’s By kEHINDE AYANTUNJI

government’s efforts for he State of Osun chapter of Butchers’ general development.

“Though, we are all Association of Nigeria has stated that it is ready to partner with the state government in her aware of the current drive to increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) economic situation of the state with prompt payment of their taxes and levies. i n t h e c o u n t r y The association, during a courtesy call on the and its effect on our state, but governor in his office to deliberate on how to irrespective of this, in Osogbo, commended move the state forward by our governor has Governor Rauf Aregbesola extending our collective remained resilient for living up to expectation s u p p o r t t o w a r d s t h e in his resolve not by improving the standard only to reposition of living of the citizens in the state.

Chairman of the

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED association, Alhaji S u l a i m a n A d e b i m p e , The State of Osun House of Assembly has again lauded Aregbesola for appealed to striking doctors in the state to taking the state to greater suspend their industrial action as a leverage for the h e i g h t o f e c o n o m i c House to intervene and resolve the issue.

T h e S p e a k e r , NMA, had on Tuesday prosperity in the face of the current economic H o n o u r a b l e N a j e e m staged a peaceful protest challenges confronting the S a l a a m , m a d e t h e to the assembly complex appeal while meeting over unpaid salaries. nation.

The medical and dental H e d e s c r i b e d t h e with the leadership of governor as a lover of the the Nigerian Medical officers in the service of masses, saying the impact Association (NMA) in the state government have the state capital, embarked on industrial of the current government Osogbo, on Wednesday. action since September has been directly felt by The striking doctors, people of the state and under the aegis of the 2 0 1 5 , r e j e c t i n g t h e payment of their 50 per members of the association in particular.

Adebimpe, who acknowledged the numerous landmark achievements of the state government, said the association was fully ready to support the government in its bid to place the state on the front burner of the economic sustainability.

According to him: “Governor Aregbesola’s landmark achievement has shown to us that truly, he is a man of transformation and development, as these were manifested in all his policies and programmes. “ We a r e h e r e t o commend our governor on his giant strides in the state, even at this time of economic hardship, he has never deviated from the right course.

“Our meeting with Mr. •Singa Market in Kano gutted by fire last Thursday.

Governor was also aimed

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place Osun on the front burner of economic sustainability.

“It is on these giant strides and track records that made us to identify with Mr. Governor at this period of economic

“Based on this, we shall do all we could to ensure that the state moves forward, as we are ready to contribute our quota by performing our civic responsibilities and as well support

policies to make our state the best place to be in Nigeria, Africa and the entire world,” Alhaji Adebimpe stressed.

cent salaries, being paid to workers by the state government in line with the agreement with the Nigeria Labour Congress as a result of cash crunch in the state.

The doctors demanded that they should be paid full of their salaries for October, November and December as a solution to their industrial action.

Salaam however said the financial crunch, which the state was facing, was responsible for the delay

of payment of workers’ salaries.

“You must all know that your fight is against the masses, who have no alternative. For the sake of the masses, we are appealing to you to call-off the strike for negotiation to continue.

“But for us to be able to intervene fully, you must first call-off the strike,” the Speaker appealed.

The NMA Chairman, Dr Suraj Ogunyemi, said the situation they are facing

over the non-payment of salaries was critical, tensed and serious.

He said: “Appealing to doctors to resume back to work without being paid was not possible.”

He insisted that before the doctors could call-off the ongoing industrial action, there must be full payment of October, November and December 2015 salaries, as against the new arrangement with the other sections of the civil service.

“Appealing to do this is not enough to take the doctors back to work. It will be difficult to sell that idea to other members of the association.

Other doctors, in their various contributions, also insisted that three months out of the salary arrears must be paid before they could call-off the strike.

However, after several appeals by the Speaker, the NMA Chairman said the doctors would go back to review the issue and get back to the state parliament in the next 24 hours.

Responding to the doctors’ protest, the Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, in a statement, said government has made necessary concession on the demands of the doctors but it is obvious that they are not willing to resume work.

He said: “In the face of the current economic realities, it remains unbelievable that doctors would insist that they would not be bound by the payment regime agreed to by over 39,000 other workers in the state, which was arrived at after a rigorous deliberation on the finances of the state within the context of the national economic realities.”

He noted that the doctors have abandoned their work since September 28, noting minding hundreds of people lying on sick beds, and despite the ugly situation, the striking doctors were paid for that month.

Ooni’s Dad Condemns Pupils’ Attack On Orisun

By our reporter ather of the Ooni of Ife, Pa Ropo Ogunwusi, has condemned the recent destruction of some items belonging to Orisun FM in Ile-Ife by some secondary school pupils in the ancient town.

P a O g u n w u s i m a d e the vandal-pupils that some t h i s r e m a r k w h i l e of the parents in Ile-Ife were h o s t i n g m e m b e r s o f active financial supporters I n t e r i m M a n a g e m e n t of how the destroyed C o m m i t t e e ( I M C ) o f broadcasting station came Osun State Broadcasting into being.

Corporation (OSBC) led His words: “Some of us

by Mr Kola Akanji, who parents complemented the paid a condolence visit to efforts of the government the monarch’s father on to make the existence of penultimate Wednesday the station a reality. I spent over the recent death of his about N400,000 together mother in Ile-Ife. with investment of my The monarch’s father time, when the broadcasting said he saw no reason why station was about to be some youths, who should be established in Ile-Ife. busy about the easiest way “This is the same station to secure their future, should that these children having turn to hoodlums. no home training have He called on parents and destroyed. I have solace guardians to be alive to their in the fact that our father, responsibilities of teaching the Ooni, has offered to their children the virtues offset part of the cost of the in being non-violent in all damaged items.” ramifications.

He was full of gratitude Pa Ogunwusi recalled that to the visiting IMC-OSBC perhaps it never occurred to team, who came to console

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him over the death of his mother saying:” I can be said to be fulfilled as I did not die before my mother, who went to the great beyond at 104”.

Pa Ogunwusi disclosed that the final burial of his late mother would take place in April.

In his condolence message, Akanji enjoined the bereaved to take heart with a belief that no leaf falls off a tree without the knowledge of God. He said, the corporation thought it wise to console him over the death of his mother because he was one of them before his retirement, telling him that the corporation would do everything humanly possible to partner with the bereaved in giving the departed a decent burial.

Other members of the IMC on the condolence entourage were Alhaji Bayo Oyekanmi, Alhaji Oyolola and Ogbeni Kola Olabisi with the Station Manager of

the destroyed radio-station, Alhaji Adeoye Bakare.

Osun Government Appoints New Eburu Of Iba

By SHINA ABUBAKAR he Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf

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Aregbesola, has approved the appointment of Professor Adekunle Okunoye as the new Eburu of Iba in Ifelodun Local Government Council Area of the state.

Aregbesola has approved T h e a p p r o v a l o f your appointment as the t h e a p p o i n t m e n t wa s new Eburu of Iba, Ifelodun contained in a letter from Local Government Council the State Ministry of Local Area of the state with effect Government, Chieftaincy, from February 16th 2016 Water Resources, Rural in accordance with Section and Community Affairs 20, sub-section (1) of the signed on behalf of the Chief’s Laws of the state Permanent Secretary by of Osun, 2002”.

Mr Femi Ogundun.

The letter then The letter addressed congratulated the new to the new king said: “I king, while saying the am directed to inform process of gazzetting the you that the Governor- appointment is ongoing. in-Council, ably led by Governor Rauf Adesoji

As Payment Of WASCE Fees Continues In Osun ....continued from pg1

Osun Doctors’ Strike: Assembly Strengthens Appeal To Suspend Action

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Osun Defender Saturday, February 20, 2016

On the part of the students it will encourage seriousness. It simply means you must work hard to be qualified for the government scholarship. In view of the parlous state of the state’s economy the era of paying for the exam fees of every Tom, Dick and Harry has gone, and armed with this consciousness, pupils will now face their studies squarely knowing fully well that there’s no Father Christmas again as far as government’s payment of exam fees is concerned. You must work hard to be a beneficiary.

On the other hand government will be able to cut cost since it’s paying for only the

serious ones amongst the pupils who are able to fulfil the new condition for payment. Thus government will be able to save some money here to attend to other obligations. Of course it will be foolhardy on the part of the government to continue to play Father Christmas in the midst of this scarcity of funds.

It’s just commonsensical for government to spend within her means by paying for only those pupils who know the reason of being in school. After all it’s the same for every other pupil in terms of studying under a conducive atmosphere and enjoying other educational facilities being provided by the government.

Thus if government could go extra miles to provide a conducive

Obey Environmental Laws

I

want to use your

m e d i u m t o appeal to the good people of the State of Osun to obey environmental laws, as the state government has done much in enlightenment and sensitizing all on the need to promote and practise healthy living on daily basis.

T o m y understanding, an average Osun resident knows what constitutes environmental offences but if we know, why do we still commit such offence?

Even in high brow areas we regard as estates in Osogbo metropolis, which

are mostly resided by the elite, who ought to know more and supposedly be in the vanguard of educating the people on the need to maintain clean environment, people

are still as guilty as others in the densely populated areas.

As I was driving through Oroki Estate last week around 6.30am, I noticed an occupant of a car, who parked closed to the junction in front of a private crèche and behold, in a swift

manner, he dropped two bags full of wastes on the road median and zoomed away.

I was disappointed by the behaviour of those that are

downturn we cannot but salute his courage, determination, vision and financial prudence. We therefore like to urge the pupils whose fees have been paid to make sure that they finally justify government’s effort by working hard for their WASSCE and come out in flying colours. We wish them well…!

learning environment for the pupils then why would the pupils be so lazy not to be able to have the minimum requirement to be qualified for government scholarship? We sincerely think that in this era of scarcity government - at whatever level - must be able to justify whatever it’s spending on pupils/ students. Like the Yorubas do say ‘it’s unwise to use scarce money to purchase an expensive material’.

One just cannot afford to be penny wise and kobo foolish. It’s not in sync with commonsense.

For continuing this laudable programme and other ones like ‘O MEAL’ in the midst of this scarcity of funds Ogbeni Aregbesola deserves to be given credit. For being able to pay such amount of money for that number of pupils amidst this economic

us before we obey environmental laws; it is for the betterment of all, as epidemic and diseases know no boundary.

Be promoter of healthy living and habit!

In a similar development, an illegal dump site has resurfaced at Awosuru ar ea, just on the government acquired land by the road side, despite the daily collection of refuse by the waste operators It is time to change our bad habit and be responsible citizens.

supposed to be promoters of healthy habit, who turn out to be polluters.

One could as well ask: Can’t this young man afford to pay N500 in a month to • R asheed the waste collectors?

Abdulkareem Let us not wait 10, Old First Class till the long arms of law catch up with

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OPINION

Osun Defender Saturday, February 20,

rejoinder

6

Osun Defender Saturday, February 20, 2016

Re: A Prayer For Aregbesola, The Impatient ReBy KIKIOLU ILEOWO

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola rendered.

Boyinde, in accusing Ogbeni of n my few years of sojourn on I financial impropriety; ignored earth, I have encountered diverse people, but of all them, Nigerians facts that are publicly available, dwelling only on fiction authored stand out! Nigerians are a by the opposition to discredit special breed of people. Our a performing, but financially ability to stay satisfied with challenged government. What are underdevelopment and even crucify those who dare change the te facts? The State of Osun has an over-bloated civil service. World status quo is unprecedented. over, no one sees government I read with amusement, an completely as a business entity, article put together by a citizen hence, the reason many in the who heads an ‘organization’ Osun civil service haven’t been calling for Renaissance in sacked. In fact, no politician will Ijesaland. Though the entire dare touch this special breed of write-up betrays the very workers. thing Renaissance stands for, Anyway, I see the civil service I will try my best to analyze in Nigeria as a Social Protection some of the issues raised in Scheme used for Cash Transfer Oluwatomilola Boyinde’s piece to a privileged few. With all due titled:A PRAYER FOR OGBENI respect to professionals who are RAUF AREGBESOLA, THE in the system, many others who IMPATIENT REFORMER [1], are in the civil service have no published in TheCable [2] online business in government business. newspaper.

Though, I tried to identify some The proper thing would have been to sack over 60% of government of the issues Boyinde raised, a workers, and save the state a large part of the article, though huge cost. I find it absurd that a laced with fine English, lacks a segment of people, not up to 1% fair grasp and depth of the real of the entire state population; gulp issues facing the state of Osun. I will start by stating that Boyinde’s more than 80% of revenue that accrue to the remaining 99%. introduction was accurate, but at It is unfair on other citizens some point, he veered off reason and such is the case across states and logic, dealing only in the in the country. But despite this, realm of clairvoyance and Hocus Ogbeni’s Osun has paid its civil Pocus that has kept our people living the life of 1900s in the 21st servants till date. In fact, the December salary was paid two century. weeks ago, days after the Federal That Aregbesola started “with Government shared the December a steering mission, one deeply 2015 allocation. Contrary to the rooted in the vision of our heroes wrong information in Boyinde’s past; people-driven governance, reminiscent of the Chief Obafemi piece, Osun pays its salaries. This is the story of Osun many in the Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige rank of Boyinde don’t want you to eras” is not in doubt, however hear, while states like Ondo, Imo unknown to Boyinde, Ogbeni among others, still owe upward of remains focused in that path, despite genuine economic reasons 3-6 months salaries. People don’t argue with results! to abandon ship. In the mind-set In the game of football, you of many Nigerians, it is more than okay for a governor to pay salaries don’t rest your best players when you need goals the most. You of civil servants for eight years; I encourage them to deliver results. bet that is optimum performance Aregbesola, despite the cash for many. crunch, continues to feed over In fact, before leaving office, 250,000 pupils in public schools public office holders who can daily. 3000 caterers have been do this consecutively during empowered through Aregbesla’s their tenures are showered with O-Meals programme alone. This numerous award of performance, excludes other citizens employed excellence, merit, distinction and in the supply chain. State of other nonsensical appellations Osun Feeds the pupils through to massage their ego. We must the O’Meals programme, which refuse this narrative. It saddens consumes 250,000 eggs, 15,000 my heart that in a time when the chickens and 15 cattle heads on a world is moving at tremendous weekly basis. speed beyond technological This is about the protein advancement into sustainability, contents.

I am not talking about a citizen in Osun is clamouring the carbohydrate content, which the society crawls out of the 19th sees 250,000 loaves of bread century. also consumed by pupils on a The Martin Luther Kings and weekly basis.

And, as at today, many other reformers of this the feeding is still ongoing. Little world, refused to accept the wonder, school enrolment took status quo, they stood radically a 25% leap in the space of three for what they believed in, years. What’s more? Old schools though it was against the norm across the state have virtually of their time. Aregbesola leads turned to construction sites due to a unique government in Osun, the reconstruction and upgrade of a government impatient with most of them. As at the last count, backwardness, poverty and 22 elementary schools, 18 middle under-development. Eight years schools, and 10 high schools are is too short to be ‘patient’ about at various stages of completion. reforming a state considered one These are projects embarked upon of the most backward in Nigeria in the last two years alone. prior to 2010.

They do not include several The state needed a leap and elementary schools that have that is what the administration of

•AREGBESOLA

already been commissioned across the state. Governor Aregbesola, speaking during commissioning of Wole Soyinka High School, Ejigbo According to the National Bureau of Statistics, unemployment dropped from 12.4% to 3% in three years. It is no joke that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo recently declared that Osun is one of the states with lowest in poverty in Nigeria.

“The indication (in Osun) is that because there is a lot of investment on the people, poverty has been reduced and that is what we (the Federal Government) are trying to achieve in Nigeria,” Osinbajo said. Osun, out of the 36 states, has the lowest rate of unemployed people, particularly among her teeming youths, due to the determination of Ogbeni’s administration to banish poverty and unemployment among its people. round 10 kilometers of A roads have also been constructed in each local government in the state of Osun.

I can go on and on reeling the achievements of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, but maybe some other time. Osun is working with the World Bank and French Development Agency to fund the construction of 500km rural roads across the state; one of only six states being partnered on this.

Osun’s rural road maintenance practice has been singled as a model for these six states and the nation.

CONCLUSION – OSUN, A

State of Osun no longer relies on allocation from the Federal Government when Ogbeni is handing over come 2018. This is Osun under Aregbesola. sun may be financially O challenged, but it is not a failed state. Osun still meets its growing concern with the internal revenue it generates monthly. The (social) media in Lagos may be unhappy with Ogbeni’s unusual style of governance or dressing, but that does not make Osun unviable or make the citizens hate their governor. On a recent trip to few local government council areas in Osun, I was shocked at the people’s instinctive show of love for Ogbeni.

Testimonies abound on how he has transformed their lives. One wonder what is it that endears them to him this much, even in these difficult times.

It appears his commitment and investments in the human infrastructure, school feeding, education is unrivalled in the state’s history. No government before him has brought so many economic opportunities and development for the people. When he leaves in 2018, he will be leaving a very big shoes for his successor to fill.

•Ileowo is a social commentator.

Tinubu’s Political Orchard And His

7

By EHILE MANASEH

he former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, needs no introduction, as his profile is in the public domain and he stands tall among equals and he is popularly known as ASIWAJU or JAGABAN but in this piece, I will call him Asiwaju.

In the recent, some events had taken place in the Nigeria political arena and had played a leading and memorable role. He was prominent in dislodging the Peoples’ Democratic Party [PDP] from the seat of power at the centre in Nigeria. In the beginning, it seemed an impossible task but he did the impossible by breaking the barriers of ideological leanings. He mobilised the progressives and conservatives, even the reactionaries. He united the divergent views and built bridges across the ethnic enclaves and brought people from different backgrounds and manners together to confront the plague [PDP] ravaging their fatherland, Nigeria; a feat that could be achieved by an ideologist and nationalist and with the theme: “Change’’ the years of the locusts of the PDP were brought to end in Nigeria.

In the calculation and the build-up, he and his comrades worked with his enemies. He knew them but to save the entity, Nigeria, he worked with them.

Asiwaju led the progressives to shop at the motor park of the misfits [PDP] and ‘wannabe’ [pseudo] progressives from other political parties, with a view to changing and removing the corrupt regime of PDP and totalitarian tendency brewing up in Jonathan.

Asiwaju’s dragnet caught all these scorpions, snakes and crabs. It would have been easier to separate them but the fundamental problem of ethnic perception of issues and the oligarchic tendencies of some states in the corporate Nigeria made it rather difficult and tricky; so, Asiwaju had to let go and carry on as a real General.

Asiwaju believes in the theory values of progressiv[ism], which is a philosophy and an ideology and it is highly cerebral. It takes time and patience to grab the theories and practices.

It is a way of life not many have acquired.

Asiwaju believed they should be tolerated as long they were ready to abide by only one of the required values that is DISCIPLINE. Unfortunately, the snakes and the scorpions in the dragnet laid in wait to strike at Asiwaju.

Immediately, the change was effected at the centre, they ganged up and struck. After striking, they became jittery, believing that there would be consequences for their act of betrayal and backstabbing. They wanted to hit at Asiwaju but unfortunately, they hit at the party hierarchy. Unfortunately for them,

T

•TINUBU

they have skeletons in their cupboard and they are guilty and are always afraid. They went further to create a scenario of ‘everybody was and is fighting’ Asiwaju, so, whenever, they were called to defend their criminal past, it was

“Asiwaju believes in the theory values of progressiv[ism] which is a philosophy and an ideology and it is highly, cerebral. It takes time and patience to grab the theories and practices. It is a way of life not many have acquired.”

Asiwaju witchhunting them.

Asiwaju has finally, become an issue and a force. Some he helped attain positions and some who had no direct contact or link with him are now shouting on top of their voices maligning and abusing him for them to be recognised.

With all these trouble-shootings arising from the amalgam for the purposes of ‘change’, I think it is time Asiwaju and his comrades established a ‘’College of Progressives’’ to equip the future progressives with enough materials, character and behavioural patterns and discipline required of a progressive because there must be ‘Life Abundant’ in Nigeria again.

So, the balance between Asiwaju and his traducers has been seriously altered. Asiwaju has grown through time. He is busy making history and gaining more grounds in the contest for greatness.

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phototalk

Osun Defender Saturday, February 20, 2016

Association Of Cattle Dealers And Butchers In The State Of Osun Paid A Courtesy Visit To State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At State Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, Last Tuesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

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phototalk

Osun Defender Saturday, February 20, 2016

Commissioning Of Medical Equipment By State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, In Iragbiji, Last Wednesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Executive Secretary, Boripe Local Government (right) and the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi, at the event.

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori and former Commissioner for Agriculture in Osun, Mr Wale Adedoyin.

• (L-R) Alhaji Basiru Bushari; Chairman, Butcher’s Association in Osun, Alhaji Sulaiman Adebimpe; Chairman, Cattle Dealers Association in Osun, Alhaji Usman Garuba and Alhaji Alade Owo.

• A cross section of butchers and cattle dealers in Osun.

•(L-R) Honourable Toogun Oguntola and State Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye.

•L-R) Wife of Executive Secretary Boripe Local Government, Mrs Jelilat Moronkeji; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and Alhaji Issa Azeez.

• A cross section of dignitaries at the programme.

•Some of the medical equipment.

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feature

Osun Defender Saturday, February 20, 2016

Aregbesola Commends Doctors At LGs For Commitment To

•Accuses Striking State Doctors Of Collecting 6 Months Salaries Without he Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, last Thursday, Work commended members of the Association of T

Local Government Medical Officers of Health in Nigeria, Osun Branch, for demonstrating clear understanding of their duties by committing themselves to the service of saving lives. ýAregbesola, saying but for the active while receiving the commitment to service association, chided by members of the the striking doctors, association and other describing the boycott medical personnel, the of work as a betrayal of state’s healthcare system their Hyppocratic Oaths. would by now have been Aregbesola said compromised. unknown to many According to Nigerians, who listen him:”But for your own to the doctors’ tales, active commitment to the doctors collected service to the generality six months full salaries of the citizenry, contrary without doing any work, to what we have in some as he challenged them sections of the press, to tell the world whether Osun does not have any they did not collect feeling of the strike at their salaries up until all. ý September when they “They have been went on strike. out of work for eleven The governor however months and they have lauded the association refused to tell the world for their active service that they have received and commitment to the their full pay for six of generality of the people the eleven months. They in the state. will rather emphasise He stated that the that we are owing them local government health for the five months since workers are not only the September 28 for which bedrock of any state’s they have not rendered healthcare sector but any service to anyone. also the proverbial stone “We are not here to rejected by the builder, talk about them but which however became we cannot discuss the corner stone. your presence without He noted that more bringing in our own than 90 per cent of the frustration from people pass through their attitude to the the doctors at the local profession.” government health The governor care facilities, thereby noted that medical relieving the secondary practitioners are people, healthcare facilities of who should be imbued meeting the huge task with extra milk of of healthcare needs of compassion and must millions of people. value lives and prevent He lamented the loss of lives, adding that industrial action it was shocking to see embarked upon by those trained to save the state doctors for lives abandoning their more than 11 months, duty posts for humanity

•Aregbesola and Chairman, Association of Medical Officers of Health in Nigeria (AMOHN), State of Osun chapter, Dr. Fabiyi Oluwole, during a courtesy visit to the governor, at Governor’s Office, Abere, Osogbo on Thursday.

to suffer.

He said: “The organ, which the doctors are going about what they are doing by making separate demands from government is not a recognised trade union.

The secondary organ that is today leading their agitation is a clear professional body, which in our constitution lacks all legal rights to negotiate wages and salary with any management.

“Putting this in context, the general medical practitioners in the state had been on strike since eleven months ago, safe all the three to four weeks they were at work after the

general strike before they absconded.

“I must thank your association and through you, other medical practitioners outside the recalcitrant doctors in our health centres for their support, zeal and commitment to serving our people in the health care delivery system ýat the local and state level.

“Nobody is trying to discount the significant of doctors, but it could have been very devastating if the other health workers have joined in this unnecessary boycott of work,” ýthe Governor stressed. regbesola A restated how on assumption of office,

he changed many existing traditions such as the date for payment of salaries, leave bonus, increased car loans, increased housing loans and a host of other proworkers initiatives.

He demanded how the same doctors who were beneficiaries of his pro-workers policies would therefore want to hold the state to ransom, when it is clear to all that the financial situation is not the making of the government.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the association, Dr. Fabiyi Samson, said primary healthcare is the bedrock of any state’s healthcare system.

•From left: The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs.) Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Chairman, Association of Medical Officers of Health in Nigeria (AMOHN), State of Osun chapter, Dr. Fabiyi Oluwole, during a courtesy visit to the governor, at Governor’s Office Abere, Osogbo, last Thursday.

Samson said the governor should therefore be commended for what his administration has done on the primary healthcare system.

He disclosed that Osun is second to Lagos in the provision of sound health care system in the country.

According to him, primary healthcare holds a strategic position in the healthcare ladder, as more than 75 per cent of the people are attended to at the primary healthcare level.

He also called on the governor to quickly ascent to the Primary Healthcare Board Bill recently passed by the State House of Assembly.

“We appreciate what you are doing in primary healthcare system at the local government level.

This has helped the health status of the state appreciably. We are now the second in the whole of the country.

“This has helped in improving our healthcare system, reducing mortality rate and increasing the immunisation coverage.

In the last immunisation campaign we had 100 per cent success.

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feature

Osun’s Strategy Against

Osun Defender Saturday, February

By AYO AKINOLA & BOLA

he National Bureau of T Statistics (NBS) revealed

that no fewer than 5.3 million youths are jobless, while 1.8 million graduates enter the labour market every year. This figure could be a conservative estimate of the actual number of unemployed youths in the country, going by previous statistics released

by NBS, which put the number of jobless Nigerians at 20.3 million.

The above is a reflection of previous governments’ inability to design policies that will create more jobs, or provide enabling environment that could encourage both individuals and the private sector to expand employment opportunities without let or hindrance.

It is in line with the above that the Osun State Government established an office known as Osun Job Centre. This is in pursuance of a key component of Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola-led administration’s Six Point Integral Action Plan which is banishment of unemployment from the state. The Job Centre is established as a State Government-funded one-stop employment agency with desk offices located at each of the 30 local government areas.

The Centre will act as a facilitator between job seekers and employers by providing employment information and services to a wide range of people, from the unemployed looking for employment, the underemployed looking for better jobs, to employers advertising job openings.

It is aimed at eradicating barriers to employment by promoting education, training and business enterprise. It will contribute to the personal

•OYES beneficiaries on display.

development of the labour force through the creation of opportunities for their productive engagement and utilisation.

The centre provides employment service tools such as an infrastructure for the business community to post its skills needs as well as in-house computers with free access to the internet.

To provide a venue where job seekers can meet and network with representatives of prospective employers from diverse sectors of the economic with the possibility of securing employment.

However, the private sector also has a role to play in creating employment, as experience has shown that government alone cannot provide all the needed jobs.

Unemployed persons will also have to start working towards self-employment, through which they may even provide jobs for others.

Unemployment and poverty have become serious problems that all levels of government must tackle with sincerity of purpose to keep the nation’s youths productively engaged and out of avoidable trouble.

These efforts by Osun government are worthy of emulation by other states of the federation. Governor Aregbesola once declared that Osun, out of the 36 states, has the lowest rate of unemployed people, particularly among her teeming youths, due to the determination of his administration to banish poverty and unemployment among its people. his new move at T establishing a job centre is just one of them. These efforts were recently corroborated

by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, when he declared that Osun is one of the states

•Governor Aregbesola

with lowest in poverty.

“The indication (in Osun) is that because there is a lot of investment on the people, poverty has been reduced and that is what we (the Federal Government) are trying to achieve in Nigeria,” Osinbajo said.

Aregbesola was quoted as saying: “The development of micro and small businesses forms a core component of our poverty alleviation and

genuinely set them on the path of self-employment and selfreliance.

“I am certain that our people are hard-working and would at all time take pride in working to earn a decent living.

“With the numerous programmes we are implementing, we are on the road to change the fortune of our state and lives of our people for better.

“Many of these programmes economic empowerment strategy. such as OYES, O’REAP, O’YESTECH, O’MEALs, “This is part of our six-point integral action plan that, among O’Schools, O’Beef and O’BOPS, among others, have others, seeks to banish poverty, offered many of our youths selfunemployment and hunger. reliant job opportunities.”

“We have designed · Ayo Akinola, is a publisher programmes aimed at unlocking and media consultant based in our people’s creativity and

•Youths at OREAP Youth Academy.

HEALTH

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Osun Defender Saturday, February

Some Amazing Benefits Of Peanuts For Skin, Hair And he most common ways of using peanuts T

in India is in the form of oil and as roasted snack Peanuts are popularly used as seed oil in India. Since they are obtained from the ground, they are also sometimes called as groundnuts and also known as ‘Mungfali‘ inHindi, ‘Pallelu‘ in Telugu, ‘Kadalai‘ in Tamil, ‘Nilakkadala‘ in Malayalam, ‘Kadale kaayi‘ in Kannada, ‘Singdana‘ in Gujarati and ‘Shengdaane‘ in Marathi. Peanuts are easily available round the year and almost everywhere in India. They are easily available round the year and almost everywhere in India.

Peanuts are also taken as snacks in many households especially in India. In reality, peanuts are actually legumes. But since they have all the properties of nuts like almonds, cashew nuts, etc., these are also included in the family of nuts.

Health Benefits of Peanuts: Here are some of the most well-known health benefits of Peanuts.

1. Rich in Energy: Peanuts contain vitamins, minerals, nutrients and anti-oxidants and thus are rich energy sources (1).

2. Cholesterol: It lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol in the body (2). Peanuts contain mono-unsaturated fatty acids especially oleic acid that prevents coronary diseases.

3. Growth: Peanuts are rich in proteins. The amino acids present in them are good for proper growth and development of body (3).

4. Fights Stomach Cancer: Poly-phenolic anti-oxidants are present in the peanuts in high concentrations. P-Coumaric acid has the ability to reduce the risk of stomach cancer by reducing the productions of carcinogenic nitrous-amines (4).

5. Fights against Heart Diseases, Nerves Diseases, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Infections: A poly-phenolic anti-oxidant, Resveratrol present in peanuts prevents heart diseases, cancers, nervous diseases and viral or fungal infections efficiently (5).

6. Reduces the Chances of Stroke: The anti-oxidant, Resveratrol in peanuts prevents heart strokes by increasing the production of nitric oxide (6).

7. Anti-oxidants: Peanuts contain anti-oxidants in high concentrations (7). These anti-oxidants become more active when peanuts are boiled. There is a 2-fold increase in Biochanin-A and 4-fold increase in Genistein content. These reduce the damage done by free radicals produced in the body.

8. Protects Skin: Vitamin E in peanuts helps in maintaining the integrity of cells of mucous membrane and the skin. This protects them from free radicals which cause great damage (8).

9. Vitamins: Peanuts contain B complex, vitamins like niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin B6, vitamin B9, pantothenic acid etc (9).

10. Minerals: Potassium, manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium and zinc are some of the minerals present in peanuts. These play an important role in many different body functions (10).

11. Gall Stones: Just an ounce of peanuts or two tablespoons of peanut butter each week can save you from gall stones or gallbladder diseases with 25% reduced risk. This amazing health benefit of peanuts keeps all the diseases at bay (11).

12. Low Risk of Weight Gain: Women who eat peanuts or peanut butter at least twice a week are less likely to be susceptible to obesity than those who don’t.

If you eat peanut butter every morning with bread slices, you have less chances of gaining weight (12).

•Peanut

13. Colon Cancer: Peanuts can reduce colon cancer especially in women. Eating at least 2 spoons of peanut butter twice a week can reduce the risk of colon cancer in women by up to 58% and in men by up to 27%. This is one of the best benefits of peanuts for women (13).

14. Helps in Fertility: If taken before and during early pregnancy, the folic acid lowers the risk of baby being born with serious neural tube defects reduced by up to 70% (14).

15. Regulates Blood Sugar: anganese in peanuts helps in M calcium absorption, fats and carbohydrates metabolism and sugar level regulation in blood (15).

16. Fights Depression: Low Serotonin levels leads to depression.

Tryptophan in peanuts increases the release of this chemical and thus helps you fight depression (16).

Eating peanut benefits health in many ways and you should make it a point to take in a minimum of two tablespoons of peanut butter each week in order to keep those dangerous diseases away and stay healthy!

Peanut Benefits Of Skin: Apart from satisfying hunger pangs, consumption of peanuts also makes the skin smooth, supple and younger looking.

Some of the benefits of peanuts for skin include: 17. The anti-inflammatory properties of peanuts treat skin disorders like psoriasis and eczema. The fatty acids present in peanuts also reduce swelling and skin redness. Peanuts contain Vitamin E, zinc and magnesium, which keeps the skin glowing from within and fights the bacteria that lead to acne. The protein content in peanuts also helps with cell regeneration (17).

18. Peanuts contain a relatively good amount of fatty acids which is believed to be critical to the brain’s nerve cells. This brain friendly cell helps with stress management and mood swings to prevent various skin disorders like wrinkles, fine line and dullness.

19. Fiber in nuts is essential for the elimination of toxins and waste. Toxins inside the body reflect on our outside appearance, causing breakout, dullness and excess oil.

Eating peanuts regularly helps flush out excess toxins from the body to give you a healthy skin (18).

20. Peanut is loaded with magnesium (19) which calms our nerve, muscles and blood vessels to provide better blood flow to the skin.

This, in turn, gives you a youthful and healthy skin.

21. Skin damage occurs as a result of oxidation, a chemical process in which unstable molecules called free radicals steal electrons from healthy cells. Vitamin E in peanuts defends our skin’s cells against the damage of oxidative stress. It guards our skin from the harsh UV rays of the sun to protect against sun burn and skin damage (20).

22. Signs of ageing like wrinkles, discoloration and decreased elasticity are one of our biggest beauty concerns. Peanut contains significant amount of Vitamin C which is required for the production of collagen. Collagen is required to sustain tendons, skin and cartilage. It provides firmness and elasticity to the skin to keep it young and supple.

23. Beta carotene, an antioxidant found in peanuts (21) is very critical for skin’s health. It is converted into Vitamin A in the body which helps in the growth and repair of body tissues.

Thus peanuts help to heal wounds and bruises at a faster pace.

24. Peanuts are packed with omega 3 fatty acids which help our skin in many ways (22).

Omega 3 fatty acids reduce inflammation in the body to prevent skin eruptions. It lowers the risk of developing squamous cell skin cancer.

It also moisturizes and hydrates the skin from within to treat dry and scaly skin.

25. Peanuts are very effective for treating skin problems like pustules, skin rashes and rosacea.

26. Peanut butter facial mask is gaining

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finance

Osun Defender Saturday, February 20,

So, Is Every Chief A Thief?

Simon Imobo-Tswam

“If you steal, do not steal too much at a time: you may be arrested. Steal little by little.”

– Mobutu Sese Seko to Ministers/Party Delegates, 1971.

must apologize for taking so long to write this I second part. I took time to go and launch my book: IMPRESSIONS & EXPRESSIONS. That was last Saturday, 13th February. Well, I ended the Part 1 of this piece by saying Buhari is not a friend of chiefs, and the first time he was here as C-in-C, he gave the chiefs long jail-terms; and, funny enough, they carried their National Honours and Medals along! Today, we go on.

And so history seems to be repeating itself. It is as if anytime the chiefs mess things up with their unbridled thieving, or every time our nationwide community chiefs gorge themselves on our commonwealth to the point of suicide. Providence sends the ascetic general to come do some housecleaning. And because Buhari is also a chief, but one of a different kind, anytime the chiefs see him, they scamper. As in 1984 when the Umaru Dikkos, the Joseph Wayas, the Uba Ahmeds and the Adisa Akinloyes ran away, today too the Mainas, the Adokes, the Kukus, the Alison-Maduekes, and the Sambos…have taken off. But where Buhari became burdened with Umaru-cargo then because of his reliance on non-state actors, today, he is tempered by the demands constitutional correctness: he is, therefore, banking on Interpol, an international actor. In 1984, he came with gun-powder; this time, he has come with Broom-power. While gun-powder maybe explosive, fast and furious, broom-power is slow, but steady and thorough.

It is now sweeping the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). From there, it is moving gradually, but steadily to the ministries, beginning with Defence. It will proceed thence to ATM machines like the NNPC, Petty-Cash points like SURE-P and cash-cows like Customs, NPA, FIRS etc. Already, 26 DGs of federal agencies, commissions and departments, some of them, chiefs in their own rights, have been shoved aside. Put another way, since some of these Dasukigate chiefs are versatile and rapaciously avaricious. It is very possible that many of them will also have mentioned in SURE-P-gate, NNPC-gate, NNDC-gate, Customsgate, Immigration-gate, FIRS-gate, Maina/Pensiongate ….

Everywhere one turns now, there is a gate of some kind or a potential gate waiting to open and assault our already over-tortured imagination with its ugly skeletons. And mind you, these are not the type of gates that keep criminals out; these are the types of gates constructed by thieves, sorry, chiefs, who love themselves immeasurably far above their neighbours, their oaths of office, their country, their generation and their God! This means there are many more chiefs waiting to be unveiled or unmasked, to be exposed for whom they really are. We may then discover that they may be knights, but there is no “K” in their “knights.”

Meaning: They are people of the night: I am not saying they are thieves, although like thieves, the chiefs like operating in the night.

In the end, only the courts can authoritatively say whether or not a chief is also a thief. You can call that Combined Honours! But these are chiefs, so even when they are convicted, we cannot call them common thieves or petty criminals. We must, therefore, show some respect by calling them: executive thieves, posh criminals, stylish shysters, expensive crooks, classy hypocrites….

And likewise, the “hoods” in their knighthoods may be closer to the “hood” in hoodlums. This makes them modern-day Robin Hoods! (And by the way, Robin Hood, the legendary English criminal, was not convicted too! In other words, many of these our chiefs in resplendent attires and bombastic dictions may not be real Knights – despite their GCON, GCFR, OON, CON, CFR… – , but people of the night who are closer to hoodlums than knighthoods.

The worry is that they are so everywhere. My

landlord is a chief! The chairman of the security committee in our estate is a chief! The school my daughter attends is owned by a chief! And the school is located near a massive estate said to be the property of a chief! There is a filling station adjoining it: it as owned by a chief! Everywhere I turn, I am assaulted by the sight of a chief! And crime statistics are on the rise. So, is there any connection between chiefs and thieves?

Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, while he lived, used to say the only thing distinguishing a Chief from a Thief is the C. Does this mean the “C” in “chief,” most times, stands for “Criminal?” In Tiv language, the “T” in “Thief” can mean “Tchough Kwagh!”

Meaning: The Thief who is no ordinary criminal, but a con-artist!

Although every financial scandal under the Jonathan government staggers the imagination, given that they always run into billions, even trillions, the Dasuki-gate, with its emerging details, is especially numbing. Dasuki allegedly collected money in the name of Boko Haram, and then commenced pumping it, wholesale and full-scale, into President Goodluck Jonathan’s Re-election “Logistics.” If his office were not clearly advertised as that of the NSA, one might think he was PDP’s Director of Contacts-cum-Mobilization-cum-Logistics. And after Contacting and Mobilizing PDP chieftains, whatever “Change” that was left therefrom, Dasuki reportedly committed same into the building his personal estates and hotels in commanding locations across the country. And it seems whatever “Change” that remained of the “Change,” he went shopping with it in Dubai or any place that caught his fancy!

So, as the APC shouted itself hoarse with its “Change mantra,” Dasuki, sitting pretty on $2.1billion, knew better! CHANGE may be an English word, but it had different meanings to John Oyegun and Dasuki. And so, it had to the array of chiefs in the Dasuki army: Dokpesi, Kuku, Amosu, Badeh, Obaigbena, Yuguda, Falae, Obanikoro, Muazu, Tompolo, Segun Osoba, Ayu, Metuh, Yarkin Bello, Bode George, Odili, Tom Ikimi, Nwobodo, Yerima and, wait for it, Bafarawa & sons Ltd. You can also add: Haliru Mohammed & Sons etc, etc, etc, etc…! It is a long list indeed, and it is growing. afarawa may not be a lion, but when it B came to the Dasuki-Bazaar, he allegedly took the lion-share! Besides netting N100 million from Yuguda and another N100 million from Chairman Muazu, he is said to have grossed a hefty N4.6 billion for “Prayers and Spiritual purposes.” Since the Jonathan crowd was paying for endorsements (according Falae), and the Association of Nigerian Witches and Wizards endorsed Jonathan’s re-election bid, was settling the Witches/Wizards also part of Bafarawa’s brief? And since Bafarawa knows the efficacy of prayers in electoral victories, did he also pay for his election wins in 1999 and again in 2003? If Yes, how much? And if No, why did he collect billions from Jonathan for “prayers?” Was he really Jonathan’s helper or a buccaneer, preying on Jonathan and his vacuity?

And what about Chief Olu Falae, ex-banker, exFederal Permanent Secretary, ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ex-Finance Minister and ex-double presidential candidate? He collected money from Jonathan, on behalf of his party, the SDP, so the party would support Jonathan. But he kept mute and the party did not know about it until Dasuki started singing like a canary! How long has Falae been collecting money to endorse aspirants/ candidates…for Senate, for governor, for president?

Is the SDP a party or a shop? If it is a party, is it in the public space to secure political power or to secure lucrative endorsement deals? If it is a business, a limited liability company, how long has Falae been trading with the SDP? So much honour! So much transparency! And so much for integrity! If Falae became President in 1992 or 1999, is this the baggage he would bring to the Presidential Villa?

Even Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, the World Bank technocrat, could not resist the temptation of joining the merry-go-round of corruption. She admittedly “loaned” Dasuki over $2 billion! It defies logic

•DASUKI

or the international best practices she claimed to have brought from the World Bank! Is the Finance Ministry a Bank or a Finance House to loan people money out? How come some of us did not know about these “loans?” Was this how she was “loaning” out money at the World Bank? If it is a bank, which collateral did Dasuki give Okonjo-Iweala, the bank’s CEO? How many other chiefs did she “loan” public funds to? There is not even a letter that Dasuki wrote to her, requesting for the “loan!” And the money she illegally “loaned” to Dasuki was not even appropriated in the budget! But then, when you give out a loan, there is something called “commission.”

And such other sweeteners like COT, banking charges, percentages etc.

Well, this $2.1 billlion “loan” was not captured in the budget. This was the recovered Abacha loot!

Meaning: There was money already appropriated for Dasuki’s office – close to N1 trillion. And this was outside the $1billion loan President obtained to “buy arms/prosecute” the Boko Haram war! lainly put, Dasuki creamed off his N1 P trillion budget for the year; cleaned out the $1 billion “Boko Haram loan,” and turned voraciously on the Abacha loot! Truly, only a Locust-Army could have achieved this rapacious feat so effortlessly – and all the while, mouthing patriotic slogans of “Transformation, Continuity and Consolidation!”

And our Mrs. World Bank was, sadly, part of this army! Of course, she was neither the Commander nor the Quarter-Master nor even the Chief of Logistics of this despoiling army, but she was a Matron, a Coordinator, of sorts. So she was, besides being the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, perhaps, also Minister of Corruption and the Coordinating of the Dasuki Bazaar!

An authentic African High Chief, Field Marshal Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga told his chiefs (ministers and party delegates in 1971: “If you steal, do not steal too much at a time: you may be arrested. Steal little by little.”

With the benefit of hindsight, President Jonathan did not so advise members of his entourage. May be he did not know or read about Mobutu, the promising Congolese nationalist, who left the French Army for journalism: that is one benefit of scholarship; reading.

Although the chiefs started their looting schemes with millions, they graduated to billions of Dollars!

Today, the bubble has burst, and the veneer of innocence has been washed away. To paraphrase a poet from another country and civilization, we can •Imobo-Tswam, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja.

14

Osun Defender Saturday, February 20, 2016

Job Vacancies In Nigeria HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Company: Ebony Links Limited Location(s): • Delta • Lagos • Rivers Specialization: • Human Resources / Recruitment Industry: • Manufacturing / Production Application Deadline: 01 March, 2016 Job Type Fulltime JOB DETAILS Ebony Links Limited - Our client who is into the Manufacturing of Meters in one of the South- South States, has vacancy for the vacant position below: Job Title: Human Resources Manager Locations: Port Harcourt, Warri, Lagos JOB REQUIREMENTS MIN REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: 5 year(s) DESIRED COURSES: Not Specified OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Requirements: B.Sc/HND in Business Admin Plus CIPM Certification.

A minimum of 5-10 years experience.

Application Closing Date: 1st March, 2016.

Method of Application: Interested and qualified candidates should send their Application letter and CV’s to: ebonylinkslimited@yahoo.com Or Visit any of our offices: Port Harcourt Ebony Links Limited, Plot 144 Trans Amadi, Opposite Michelin, Port Harcourt.

Warri Ebony Links Limited 4 Effuru/Sapele Road, Eku House, Enerhen Junction, Effurun, Delta State.

Lagos Centage Plaza 14 Allen Avenue, Opposite Mama Cass, Ikeja - Lagos State. ...............

WELDING INSTRUCTOR Company: Ebony Links Limited Location(s): • Delta • Lagos • Rivers Specialization: • Technical/ Artisan Industry: • Manufacturing / Production Application Deadline: 01 March, 2016 Job Type Fulltime JOB DETAILS Ebony Links Limited - Our client who is into the Manufacturing of Meters in one of the South- South States, has vacancy for the vacant position below: Job Title: Welding Instructor Locations: Port Harcourt, Warri, Lagos JOB REQUIREMENTS MIN REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: 5 year(s) DESIRED COURSES: Not Specified OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Requirements: HND/B.Sc in any discipline.

A minimum of 5 years experience.

Application Closing Date: 1st March, 2016.

Method of Application: Interested and qualified candidates can send applications to: ebonylinkslimited@ yahoo.com Or Visit any of our offices: Port Harcourt Ebony Links Limited, Plot 144 Trans Amadi, Opposite Michelin, Port Harcourt.

Warri Ebony Links Limited 4 Effuru/Sapele Road, Eku House, Enerhen Junction, Effurun, Delta State.

Lagos Centage Plaza

14 Allen Avenue, Opposite Mama Cass, Ikeja - Lagos State. ..............

GENERATOR OPERATOR (CONTRACT) Company: Hilton Hotels & Resorts Location(s): • Abuja Specialization: • Technical/ Artisan Industry: • Food Services / Hospitality / Hotels Application Deadline: Not Specified Job Type Contract JOB DETAILS Hilton Worldwide is one of the largest and fastest growing hospitality companies in the world, with more than 4,200 hotels, resorts and timeshare properties comprising more than 690,000 rooms in 93 countries and territories.

What will it be like to work for this Hilton Brand?

One of the most recognized names in the industry, Hilton Hotels & Resorts offers travelers a world of authentic experiences. The brand continues to be the innovative, forward-thinking global leader of hospitality.

With products and services that meet the needs of tomorrow’s savvy global travelers, we shape experiences in which every Guest feels cared for, valued, and respected.

If you understand the importance of upholding a brand’s reputation and value the effort it takes to provide a globally recognized hospitality experience, you may be just the person we are looking for to work as a Team Member with Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Because it’s with Hilton Hotels & Resorts where we promise an exceptional Guest experience every time.

We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Generator Operator (Contract) Job Number: HOT02F4L Location: Transcorp Hilton Abuja Job Description: A Maintenance Operative with Hilton Hotels & Resorts will Monitors, maintains, repairs and carries out the preventive maintenance program on the hotel’s UPS generators and public utility supply..

What will I be doing?

As Generator Operator, you will Monitor, maintain, repair and carry out the preventive maintenance program on the hotel’s UPS generators and public utility supply.. Specifically, a Generator Op will perform the following tasks to the highest standards: Responds to customer calls and complaints to correct temperature conditions in a positive, polite and timely manner. Monitors public space temperatures, making appropriate adjustments when necessary.

Performs scheduled and non-scheduled maintenance on all UPS generators and related equipment, including making repairs such as replacing mechanical seals, re-packing pumps and valves, replacing bearings and belts, checking for proper alignment, repairing fan coil units, brazing and soldering, calibrating controls, working on pressure vessels, replacing piping and fittings.

Maintains appropriate record of preventive maintenance and repairs.

Visually inspect gauges, dials and mechanical equipment, make basic mathematical calculations, and move and climb on all types of uneven surfaces Interact with the Operating Engineer and assist in start-up, shut down and operation of all UPS generator equipment Maintain all tools, equipment, and working areas in proper condition Follow all Health & Safety rules within the Department and the hotel Perform any other tasks as requested by the Chief Engineer to ensure the smooth operation of the hotel JOB REQUIREMENTS MIN REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: 1 year(s) DESIRED COURSES: Not Specified OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Requirements: What are we looking for?

Generator Operators serving Hilton Worldwide Brand hotels and vacations are always working on behalf of our Guests and working with other Team Members.

To successfully fill this role, you should maintain the attitude, behaviors, skills, and values that follow: Considerable knowledge of UPS generator including repair and maintenance, basic electric and mechanical skills.

Skill in the use of hand and power tools Basic Mathematical skill in the use of calculator to prepare moderately complex mathematical calculations Basic mechanical aptitude for operation and repair of hotel equipment A Technical or Trade Test certificate in Engineering, OND preferred It would be advantageous in this position for you to demonstrate the following capabilities and distinction: Strong interpersonal and communication skills Ability to work without close supervision and within established timeframes Strong work ethic A passion for managing a variety of projects and tasks throughout the day Previous experience in a similar role What benefits will I receive?

Your benefits will include a competitive starting salary and holiday entitlement.

As an employee you will become a member of the The Hilton Club which provides reduced hotel room rates in our hotels worldwide, plus discounts on products and services offered by Hilton Worldwide and its partners.

15

sport

Osun Defender Saturday, February 20, 2016

Edinson Cavani Should Join Real Madrid, Man United Or Juventus - Dad dinson Cavani’s father has said the forward remains unhappy with his role at Paris SaintGermain and that he would like to see him join Real Madrid, Manchester United or Juventus.

Cavani, 29, joined PSG to accommodate Zlatan from Napoli in 2013 in a I b r a h i m o v i c a n d h a s deal reported to be worth made little secret of his around €64 million but he preference to be used as a has struggled to replicate central striker, prompting the form he showed in Italy. regular speculation about The U r u g u a y an exit from the Parc des international has often Princes.

The forward’s father, been played in a wide role E

Luis, has told Israeli TV station Sport 5 that his son remains disenchanted at PSG and said: “I would like to see him playing for Real Madrid, Manchester United or Juventus.”

He added that he wants him to join a club that is capable of becoming European champions.

“I want him to win the Champions League, but

•Nick Powell is expected to leave Manchester United when his contract expires this summer.

JurgenKloppMy‘MostWickedCoach’ -AC Milan’s Kevin-Prince Boateng

evin-Prince Boateng has praised former G e l s e n k i r c h e n , b u t Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp as S c h a l k e s p o r t i n g the “wicked coach” of his career. executive Horst Heldt F o r m e r G h a n a he trains will always said he does not fear any international Boateng, develop an incredible extraordinary revelations now with AC Milan, team spirit, and die for b e c a u s e B o a t e n g played under the current him on the pitch.” signed a non-disclosure Dortmund declined to agreement before leaving Liverpool boss during a six-month loan spell sign Boateng after his the club. from Tottenham Hotspur loan spell, during which “It’s no news to me he had made a series of that Boateng wants to in 2009.

T h e 2 8 - y e a r - headlines for his off-field publish his memoirs,” o l d m i d f i e l d e r h a s behaviour, saying his £5 Heldt told reporters on represented Hertha BSC, million asking price was Wednesday.

Tottenham, Dortmund, too high.

“Should there indeed He only returned to be passages in the book Portsmouth, Milan and Schalke, playing for Germany in 2013, when where he makes negative coaches including Martin he joined BVB’s arch- comments about persons Jol, Juande Ramos, Harry rivals Schalke from AC formerly or currently Redknapp, Avram Grant, Milan. at the club, he will not A f t e r o n e s o l i d be able to sell as many Massimiliano Allegri, Roberto Di Matteo and season, his time at the books as the fine will his current boss at Milan, Royal Blues came to an cost him.” unpleasant end after he Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Revier Sport and He said Klopp was his was suspended from the kicker both report that favourite, though, despite team in May last year and Boateng would have to his limited time at the never returned.

Tw o o f t h e e i g h t Westfalenstadion.

“Dortmund was like chapters in his book Christmas, Easter and focus on his time in New Year’s Eve on one day,” Boateng wrote in an excerpt from his new autobiography published

by German tabloid Bild.

“Klopp’s just the most wicked coach I have ever worked with, and not even because of his sporting skills, but just because he’s a wicked guy.”

He added that Klopp has always been a genuine person, adding: •Jurgen Klopp managed Kevin-Prince Boateng at Dort“That’s why every team mund prior to his switch to Schalke.

K

he has to play for one of the few teams who can do so,” he said. “You have to go to Barcelona, Real or Manchester, who invest in order to be European champions. It’s like with our national team — I always say that even our grandchildren won’t see them winning the World Cup.” Cavani Sr., who was speaking prior to his son’s winning goal against C h e l s e a o n Tu e s d a y, said he does not believe Laurent Blanc’s current side are Champions League contenders.

“PSG can win titles in France,” he said. “They are not quick enough or lively enough. They are a slow team. When they play in the Champions League, you can see the problems.

They will win everything in France, but you have to accept that winning the Champions League will be very difficult.”

Discussing the transfer speculation surrounding his son, he said: “There are only talks around Edi. Nothing is official.”

He added: “We’ve heard that teams are interested.

Manchester United are always mentioned in transfer windows. There are always reports that Real Madrid and Man United want him, but in the end it comes to nothing. It’s more down to spin than real negotiation between clubs.

“I was lucky enough to talk to the PSG president.

He told me that they expect a lot from Edi, that he loves him and doesn’t want to sell him because great things are ahead. When you hear that, it means that moving to another club will be difficult. But football is about businessmen and business nowadays. They tell you that someone won’t be sold, but then someone appears with money, and they are sold.”

He remains optimistic that a transfer might take place, saying: “I can see Edi in another club. He is young, there are a lot of talks, and sometimes that leads to something.

“I think he can play for any team in the world. He can be important for any team. A lot of managers talk about him. They say, ‘We need a striker like Cavani.’ “[Diego] Simeone has always wanted him at Atletico Madrid. The problem is that Atletico are not strong enough financially to buy players like my son — I am talking about price and not professional level. They are up there as far as the price is concerned, and it is difficult.

“Maybe a big team will pay for him. Manchester United or Real Madrid.

Real have a good team and good players, but maybe not enough players because they play in a lot of competitions. Wherever

he goes, the family will be behind him.”

Asked under what circumstances he would like Cavani to stay in the French capital, he said: “If PSG allow him to play in his natural position, I’d want him to stay, but he suffers a lot. He doesn’t enjoy his position. I want him to be happy and play where he wants to. The managers make decisions, and he is where he is, playing where the coach tells him to play.”

He said his son is “happy because he lives in one of the best countries in Europe and plays for one of the best teams in Europe” but added: “They signed him as a central striker, but now he plays in a position that he is not supposed to fill.

“He isn’t as useful to the team as he could be — that’s his feeling at times. That’s why he is uncomfortable at times. That’s natural for a footballer.”

He added: “The problem is that PSG have a striker that can only play centrally.

Zlatan can’t play on the wings, and therefore it is logical that they sacrifice Edi. As long as Zlatan is there, Edi will always play on the wings. It is obvious that he would be more useful in the centre. He is a born scorer. Even on the wing he scores 19-20 goals a season.”

Keane Slams ‘Spoilt Child’ Haz-

F

ormer Manchester United captain Roy Keane

launched a scathing attack on Eden Hazard, labelling the Chelsea midfielder a “spoilt child”.

Belgium international “I really can’t Hazard talked up a move understand these players. to Paris Saint-Germain in He signed an extension the lead-up to Chelsea’s last year to his contract Champions League last-16 for another five years. We first leg against the Ligue saw how good he was last 1 champions on Tuesday. year,” Keane said on ITV. Keane said it was up “And then he’s coming to the 25-year-old’s older out with all that nonsense team-mates to teach him on the eve of a big, big a lesson, particularly after game. their 2-1 loss in France in “If I was one of his the first leg. team-mates I’d kick him up and down the training

pitch. Some of the senior players have got to get hold of him.

“A talented, talented boy but his attitude, even last night, he’s like a spoilt child. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Hazard struggled to have an impact in the first leg, leaving the Premier League giants with work to do ahead of the return clash at Stamford Bridge on March 9.

AC Milan Could Sign Franco Vazquez From Palermo - Maurizio

P

alermo president Maurizio Zamparini has said he will meet AC Milan counterpart Silvio Berlusconi to discuss the sale of Franco Vazquez to the Rossoneri.

I t a l y i n t e r n a t i o n a l his disappointment at not Vazquez is set to leave having succeeded in signing Palermo at the end of the Dybala [who moved to season, with speculation Juventus in the summer]. suggesting he could cost “He had offered €40m more than €30 million. in cash, but Dybala’s agent “It’s possible he will join already had an agreement the Rossoneri,” Zamparini with Juventus. told Radio 2.

“I would have preferred “Berlusconi, who I spoke to have given Dybala to to last week and who I Milan because I’m on more am going to see again on friendly terms with the Saturday, has expressed

Rossoneri than I am with Juventus.”

Vazquez, 26, has scored four goals this season.

•Franco Vazquez

www.osundefender.org Saturday, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

N

igerians are indeed going through hard times. This is very obvious because the price of our major export earner, petroleum, continues to plummet.

This has continued for some time now and has manifested in so many ways.

The statutory allocation to states has been badly affected, such that by the time President Muhammad Buhari was inaugurated in May 2015, over thirty states could not meet their financial obligations to their workers. The President had to package succour to bail out the affected states.

What went wrong from the General Yakubu Gowon regime, when money was not our problem but how to spent it, to Present Goodluck Jonathan’s era, when salaries could not be paid as and when due?

Nigeria is still endowed and continues to generate high revenue from petroleum, such that during this fourth republic, there was a time the price of a barrel of crude oil exceeded hundred dollars.

In spite of this humongous revenue from the black gold, there is very little to show for it. In simple economic terms, the country witnessed economic growth but not development. The current vicissitude shall pass away. But how do we adjust beyond the current travails? This is not the first time that Nigeria would go through such hard times but experience has shown that we hardly learn any lessons from the adverse situations.

Nigerians would still remember that President Shehu Shagari adopted the ‘Austerity Measures’ to check flamboyance and but encouraged moderation in public expenditure.

From the benefit of hindsight, can the oil revenue be said to have benefitted the country? The simple answer is ‘No’, because immediately things improved, we were back to our usual lifestyle. Is there any guarantee that as soon as we come out of the current situation, we would not like a dog, go back to our vomit?

What can or should we do to avert a repetition of the past?

To my mind, a lot can be done, if we are really serious as a country.

First and foremost, a think-tank should be set up, made up of eggheads and renowned economists, to marshal plans to get us out of the woods.

There are bound to be disagreements among them because Economics, as a course of study, involves Normative and Positive.

While positive deals with facts, normative deals with issues like “ought to”. For example, while some economists will agree with

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decision of the government on a particular issue, others will state that the government ought to do this or that. Ultimately, however, they would arrive at a solution that would be beneficial to all.

People in government alone should not profess to have monopoly to the solutions to our economic predicament.

I personally support the stand of President Buhari on devaluation.

Buhari has stated unequivocally that he is yet to be convinced about the need to embark on devaluation to solve the economic problems we face now.

Devaluation is an economic therapy recommended for countries which have balance of payment problems. The balance of payment

problems arises because such a country, like Nigeria, imports more than it exports.

Basically, in spite of all the avalanche of resources, which could or should be tapped, we have adopted the reductionist or the lazy approach, by depending solely on the exportation of crude oil, not even refined petroleum. s a c o u n t r y, w e h a v e n o t A added value to our Godgiven resources. What ought to be net gains in terms of employment of our youths and increasing inflow of hard currency has been lost.

The theory underpinning devaluation is that when a country faces such a problem, it is recommended that the country devalues or reduces the value of

NEWS-

its currency in relation to hard currencies. That is necessary to ensure that such a country’s exports will become cheaper for other countries to feast on, compared with its other competitors. By the time people import more from such a country, its exports would increase and it will overcome the balance of payment problem.

However, for such theory to work effectively, the caveat is that the exports of such country must be elastic, which means by reducing the prices of its exports, many countries would buy from her.

Technically, what such a country loses in terms of reduction in the value of its currency is made up in the qualities sold.

A related condition is that the leadership of the country must be disciplined.

Nigerians still remember the experience the country went through under the regime of President Ibrahim Babangida.

The devaluation policy was adopted by the government under the Structural Adjustment Programme in 1987 and for the first time, the Naira was six to a dollar and since then the country has yet to come out of it. he theory cannot work in T N i g e r i a t o d a y, e x c e p t w e have exports, which can engender successful implementation of the policy. Except we engage in the production of goods for exports, which can increase when we reduce the value of our currency, it will compound our problems.

How do we get out of the current situation? The political leadership has to be disciplined and show by its words and deeds that these are indeed hard times, which cut across every gamut of the society.

Related to this is the fact that the economic team of the President and the think-tank should fashion a long term policy, where agriculture and solid mineral will become the basis of our development.

We should endeavour to add value to our God-given resources, which will enable our youths to be meaningfully engaged. The government has laid emphasis on agriculture and solid mineral, as the basis of employment, but should start now rather than later.

The government should also ensure that frequent travels abroad, except for serious medical check-up, which cannot be handled locally, be

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.