Osun defender feburary 25, 2016 edition

www.osundefender.org Thursday, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

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VOL. 11. NO.016

Ooni Ogunwusi’s Commendable Peace Tour

The Ooni of Ife has deftly negated any lingering doubts as to whether or not his youthfulness will be a hinderence to his performance. In a very

promising start he has shown with his steady mien and gait a commendable maturity far beyond his biological age. He has confounded the doubters.

And initially there were quite a few; including some vociferous nay sayers.

The maturity displayed is inspired. Age long feuds are being dismantled with prescient ease.

This is a big gain for the Yoruba speaking nation. It will stand the Yoruba in good stead in what is shaping up to be difficult

For it is clear that in the years ahead, a lot of negotiations will have to take place in order to resolve the issue of the peaceful co-existence of the

a diverse federation.

The yorubas have to be united when the negotiations begin.

This again is why the valiant efforts of the Ooni is so important.

Striking Doctors:

Osun Govt Slams PDP Over ‘Native Doctors’ Comment •Says PDP’s Logic Is Weird - See Story On Page 3

•Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye (right); Chief of Staff to the state governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (middle); State Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye (2nd left); President-General, Yoruba Community across Nothern States, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Oguntoyinbo (left) and other dignitaries when the Yoruba community paid a courtesy visit to the government, at State Secretariat, Osogbo, recently.

Group Carpets Omisore, Others For Disregarding Ooni

- See Story On Page 3

osun Defender Thursday, February 25, 2016

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Striking Doctors: Osun Govt Slams PDP Over ‘Na•Says PDP’s Logic Is Weird tive Doctors’ Comment By kehinde ayantunji

he Government of the State of Osun has said that the state wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is “mentally sick” and urged the people of the state to ignore the party over its comment on the striking doctors in the T

state teaching hospital.

The government in response to the claim of the State PDP Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Diran Odeyemi, said the idea of replacing medical doctors with native doctors only exists in the imagination of the opposition party.

Odeyemi had alleged on Monday that the state government was planning to replace the striking doctors with native doctors.

A statement by the Director Of

Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, stated that the government has left no one in doubt on its efforts to deploy doctors from the State Ministry of Health, doctors in the security agencies in the state to compliment the consultants and local governments doctors who are working.

Okanlawon said: “Weird is the logic of the PDP and nothing can change that. That explains this weird and wild thinking process of

the PDP. “The ‘native doctors’ idea is in the imagination of those who are touting it and honestly it amounts to a waste of time not to ignore PDP. “As for its other allegations, the indices are there to confirm that Osun has witnessed good governance and PDP fails to point to any other thing other than the fact that there are challenges in the finances of the state. Is this peculiar to Osun or even Nigeria?

“Despite the fact that the world faces its most turbulent time ever, N i g e r i a ’s e c o n o m i c woes would not have been this worrisome, had the PDP managed the affairs of Nigeria the way

Aregbesola has managed Osun resources, when Nigeria had it good with petrol dollars. Crude sold for above $100 for many years and PDP frittered away the gains.

“It was desperate to hold on to Nigeria jugular, embarking on a spending spree like demented souls. The sorry state of national economy today is the ugly offspring of PDP’s mismanagement of our affairs.

“Ironically, Aregbesola was only one alerting Nigerians to the evil the PDP was perpetrating.

They have no moral standing to examine what Aregbesola is doing let alone condemn them.

“In education, the PDP knows that the results under the Aregbesola years are incomparable to the pre-Aregbesola era. The massive infrastructure upgrade, better learning facilities have all changed the face of education in Osun.

Despite the noticeable improvements, we do not even believe Osun people have seen the results yet. Wait for years to come, when current beneficiaries of the Osun education turnarounds must be leading in their respective fields,” Okanlawon said.

Okanlawon, in the statement, recalled that

about 100 doctors in the state civil service abandoned their duty posts in the past eleven months, despite collecting full salaries for first six months.

He added that according to civil service rules, anyone who abandons his or her duty post for more than six months is considered automatically sacked.

Though, the government has issued no sack letter to anyone, it has only moved to replace the absentee doctors.

Osun Micro-credit, Customary Court Bills Pass First Reading By kazeem mohammed

•(L-R) President Muhammadu Buhari in a discussion with King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, during his visit to Saudi Arabia last Monday.

he State of Osun Micro-credit Agency Bill T has passed through the first reading before the State House of Assembly.

This followed a At the committee of m o t i o n m o v e d b y the whole, chaired by the Deputy Majority the Speaker, Honourable Leader, Honourable Najeem Salaam, the title, D e j o O s u o l a l e enactment and citation of a n d s e c o n d e d b y the bill were considered.

Honourable Babatunde The amendments Komolafe representing made in the bill were Atakumosa-East/West subsequently made to constituency at the form parts of the bill. plenary on Monday.

The Assembly had on Also, Osun Customary Thursday, November Court Bill 2015 was 5, 2015, held a public also taken through the hearing on the bill, first reading, following which was seeking to another motion moved help to control erratic

by Honourable Osuolale. and illegal construction Meanwhile, the state of buildings and other parliament has begun structures in the state. the consideration of the Professional bodies Urban and Regional a n d o t h e r r e l e v a n t Planning Bill, 2015. stakeholders in urban and regional planning in the state at the pay to register for the public hearing threw examinations. their weight behind “The payment is to the passage of the bill the professional bodies into law for effective like ICAN, NIM and town planning to attract other. They are not further development. going to pay us but The bill, which some of them said we w a s s p o n s o r e d b y should be the ones to the executive arm of pay for them, whereas government, has already passed through the second reading before the Assembly.

The Speaker said the change of name bill was important to guide the people and I, formerly known the government on how and addressed as the environment would AINA MOBOLAJI look like.

EMILY, now wish He said if the to be known and environment is adressed as OWOEYE MOBOLAJI EMILY. properly planned, All former documents it would improve the remain valid. General administration of good

Protesting Students Set School On Fire At

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By ismaeel uthman

tudents of Southern Nigeria Institute of

Innovative Technology (SNIIT), Ifewara in the State of Osun, have allegedly set some buildings of the school campus on fire in a violent protest on Sunday evening.

No fewer than 12 the students studying buildings of three to management courses four storeys were razed that it could no longer and vehicles were burnt give them certificate for by the students. their National Diploma OSUN DEFENDER (ND). gathered that two According to the indigenes of the management, the community, who were National Board for caught at the school Technical Education premises with petrol, (NBTE) did not accredit have been arrested by management courses for the police on the day of the school. the incident.

The medium learnt Two students of the further that the students institution were also had reportedly spent arrested on Monday, two years having paid according to sources.

N50,000 per semester It was learnt that the as tuition fees before management of the the announcement of institution had told non- accreditation of their courses.

The medium gathered that the aggrieved students felt cheated by the school management, which asked them to pay for professional examinations, instead of the management courses they had put in for.

Chairman of the Governing Councils of the school, Dr Kola Christwealth, confirmed the incident, even as he said that he could not ascertain the level of damage done to the school campus until he got there.

Christwealth, however, denied that some courses of the institute were not accredited, saying that the management of the school only advised the students to put in for professional

examinations to add to their certificate.

He said: “It is not true that our courses were not accredited by the NABTE. We are only encouraging our students to enrol for professional exams. We did not charge them anything for preparing them for the exams but they will only change of name I, formerly known and addressed as Miss OLADELE ASIATA OMOLOLA, now wish to be known and adressed as Mrs BELLO ASIATA OMOLOLA. All former documents remain valid. FCMB, GT Bank and general public should take

public should take note.

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osun Defender Thursday, February 25, 2016

Group Carpets Omisore, Others For Disregarding monarch was installed.

It further reads: “Our people are worried that some of their kinsmen, either for political or other untenable reasons or interests, appear to be denigrating and disrespecting the Ooni

of Ife through their lukewarm attitude to the monarch, who has become the symbol of unity, not only in Yorubaland, but in the nation.”

The statement further stated that the people of

the ancient city demand an explanation as to why the calibre of Senator Omisore and Chief Adedoyin, who contested the Ooni’s stool with Oba Ogunwusi among others have not deemed it fit to congratulate the new

Ooni.

The statement group, Ife Youth Movement (IYM), has A posited that some other carpeted some indigenes of the ancient sons of Ile-Ife, who city for disregarding the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan contested the throne Adeyeye Ogunwusi. with Oba Adeyeye and In a statement issued him a courtesy visit, as indeed all responsible in Ile-Ife by the chairman respectable sons of the individuals, are expected of the group, Kehinde ancient city since the to close ranks after Omiyefa, it was stated such contest and the that it had observed the coronation. lukewarm, uncharitable It pointed to the fact and disrespectful that the personality of the posture, particularly of monarch soars on daily Senator Iyiola Omisore basis, especially with and Chief Raheem his visits and messages Adedoyin among others of peace and unity to to the Ooni since his other Yoruba rulers and ascendancy to the throne. the steps the Ooni has The statement stated been taking to provide further that since the meaningful jobs for the monarch was enthroned, teeming Ife youths. the aforementioned The statement people have not deemed therefore, urged all sons it fit to either congratulate and daughters of Ife to the monarch either in dissociate themselves public or private, or pay from anyone or groups of people, who could not rever and partner with the Ooni to develop the city.

However, the group he Permanent commended former S e c r e t a r y , •USA President Barack Obama (right) in a discussion with 106-year-old woman, Virginia McLaurin, during her visit P r e s i d e n t O l u s e g u n M i n i s t r y to President Obama at White House last Monday Obasanjo, who in spite o f H e a l t h , D r. of his personality and Adeyinka Esho has age, openly prostrated disclosed that about for the Ooni as a sign of 8,157 pupils from his respect for Oduduwa By sola jacobs selected 17 pilot throne. schools across the state he steps taken by the Government of the T The group therefore, are benefiting from State of Osun to restore sanity to schools q u eried Omisore, sweet potato and who got the support p o r r i d g e f e e d i n g in Ile-Ife have begun to pay off.

The Ooni’s palace, of Ife people in last OSUN DEFENDER every Wednesday. governorship election Dr. Esho stated this investigation revealed the medium learnt, through the Director, in the ancient city that has contributed in no against the sitting Primary Healthcare, the development is small measure to reach governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Ogunniyi, not unconnected with various leaders in each has not deemed it fit to during the sensitization respect the monarch, as community of the city, disciplinary measures meeting held in Osogbo he had been a beneficiary with facility-based by the State Ministry who have also been of the palace. h e a l t h w o r k e r s o n of Education imposed co-opted in the crusade n u t r i t i o n a l b e n e f i t o n t e a c h e r s a n d against indiscipline in o f O r a n g e F l e s h e d students of schools the schools Sweet Potatoes (OFSP). that participated in the The private schools According to Dr. civil disturbance that have also joined in the Esho, the purpose of occurred in the city few exercise, as it was learnt the sensitization was to that various meetings promote the benefit weeks ago.

T h e m e d i u m were held with parents of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes among o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e of wards in their schools school children. c o m m o n s i g h t o f to be of good behaviour lady with a bright While speaking at pupils roaming the or face the wrath of the future, urged the court the programme, the streets during school government. to give her another By shina abubakar Project Coordinator hours and lateness The medium in Nigeria, Mr. Justus young lady, Bisola Yusuf, has been chance at life, saying discovered that Lotade Manje, said to schools have been hoodlums who posed ordered to sweep Osogbo Magistrate’s he believed she would that Orange-Fleshed reduced to the barest Court premises for one week after being turn over a new leaf.

Sweet Potatoes have minimum, as school as pupils have kept The convict also long-term sustainable authorities have started off the schools, while found guilty of stealing chicken and fertilized pleaded with the court replacement for Vitamin imposing discipline on p u p i l s h a v e a l s o eggs.

The charge sheet read Area of the state at to have mercy on her ‘A’ supplement because any improper conduct b e e n b a n n e d f r o m and promised she of its natural beta- and disobedience to in the court alleged that about 5:15pm. caroten level, which rules and laws.

The suspect however, would never repeat the convict stole eggs such criminal act again contains high level of valued at N4,500 and pleaded guilty to the if given another chance.

It was also gathered Vitamins B, C, and K. a chicken valued at o n e - c o u n t c h a r g e Magistrate A. He added that Vitamin t h a t t h e P a r e n t s / N3,000 at a poultry against her.

Olowolagba, in her ‘ A’ d e f i c i e n c y i n Teachers Associations Defence counsel, Mr ju dgment, o r der ed belonging to one Tijjani pregnant and lactating in various schools Okobe Nagite, urged that she should sweep women can result in have joined in the Alade, contrary to severe health damage for crusade against any the court to be lenient the court premises for section 390 of the State both mother and child. form of disobedience w i t h t h e c o n v i c t , one week and should Criminal Law. According to the having pleaded guilty be monitored as she and indiscipline, as they have collaborated charge sheet, the young and showed remorse, reports daily for the with the schools’ lady committed the saying she is a first time duty. authorities in the proper offence in Ido-Osun offender.

He added that the upbringing of their area of Egbedore Local wards and children.

Government Council convict, being a young By sola jacobs

8,157 Pupils In Osun Benefit From Sweet Potato

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Sanity Returns To Ife Schools

Woman Gets One Week Punishment For Stealing Chicken, Eggs

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osun Defender Thursday, February 25, 2016

Osun Trains Rural Road Project Maintenance By kehinde ayantunji

overnment of the State of Osun in collaboration with EZ73 Solution, a community development partner, this week embarked on road maintenance training p ro g r a m m e f o r O s u n RAM P - II R o a d Maintenance Group in Osogbo, the state capital.

T h e t r a i n i n g , declaring open the twoa c c o r d i n g t o t h e day training programme facilitators, is to equip on Team Dynamics the participants with on 61km Pilot Roads the required knowledge in the State of Osun, on record keeping, held at Leisure Springs project monitoring and Hotel, Osogbo, the state community engagement capital. to ensure that those According to roads are durable for the him, the intention of benefit of rural dwellers. the programme was It also intends to t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e design a documentation benefiting communities mechanism for the see the project as their community engagement personal investment. on rural roads to He said the challenges institutionalise the f a c i n g f a r m e r s group in order to mentor and artisans in the other communities and society include poor participants. maintenance culture, Osun Rural Access lack of record keeping, and Mobility Project which always hinder Coordinator, (Osun- p r o j e c t m o n i t o r i n g R A M P - I I ) , and evaluations and E n g i n e e r A d e l e r e urged the participants O r i o l o w o , s t a t e d to always seek for this while this while knowledge and plan G

very well, adding that they must convert residing in rural areas to societal prospects.

Oriolowo also assured the participants that Governor Rauf Aregbesola is committed to make life more abundant for the people in rural areas through the mobility access roads in partnership with developing agencies and advised them to maximize the opportunity.

L e a d e r Consultant of the partnering organization, EZ73 Solution, Mr Nnamdi Azikwe, stated that the aims and objectives of organising the workshop was to train the rural dwellers to be self-sustaining and to maintain the earth roads themselves.

He appealed to the groups to sit tight, as it would have good impact on the people in the area of socio-economic

activities, and reduce road accident of lives, noting that the success of this initiative will go a long way to provide an avenue for assessing the performance of maintenance groups and get more support from the development partners.

Also speaking, the Development

and always think of what they can do to help the country and not the other way round.

He said: “Obviously, the inclusion of civic education in the curriculum of schools is commendable and

timely. It is the best approach to change the militarised mentality of some of our youths.

“It is correct to say that the survival of this country depends solely on the youths; they are the real harbinger of

Communication Specialist for Osun RAMP-2, Prince Oladoja Adedokun, commended the excellent performance of the maintenance groups on the Pilot Roads, and implored them to sustain and improve the pace of their performance.

25-year-old suspect, Folorunsho Oloyede, has been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly possessing a locally-made pistol illegally.

According to the charge sheet read in the cartridge, an offence open court, the suspect contrary and punishable was caught with the under section 27(1), (b) said weapon and could (ii) of the firearms law.

The charge sheet stated not offer satisfactory that the suspect was explanation, contrary caught on January 17, to section 27(1) of the 2016 at Iludun Area of Firearms Act of the the state capital.

Federation of Nigeria However, the suspect 2004. pleaded not guilty to He was also alleged A

of possessing a live

Don Urges FG To Increase Patriotism Through Civic Education Teaching

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By ismaeel uthman

senior Lecturer of the Department of

stability and oneness. It is therefore pertinent to teach them the dignity of nationhood and commitment to nationbuilding.

“The youths should

....continued from pg1 •AREGBESOLA

preferred against him by the police and agreed to summary trial at the court.

Defence counsel urged the court to admit the accused person to bail, saying the allegations against him were bailable in nature, adding that the suspect is ready to face trial and would not jump bail if admitted.

The counsel further urged the court to exercise its discretionary right to grant in favour of his client, saying before the law, the suspect is still innocent, until proved otherwise before the court.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Elisha Olusegun, did not object to the bail application on the ground that the court has the right to grant bail as it pleases.

Presiding magistrate, Mr Olusola Aluko, admitted the suspect to bail in the sum of N100,000 and two sureties in the like sum, adding that one of the sureties must be a civil servant within the state and of not less than Grade Level 14.

The case was then adjourned to March 29,

L i n g u i s t i c s , O b a f e m i Aw o l o w o University, Ile-Ife, Dr Sola Ajibade, has said that the inclusion of civic education in the primary and secondary schools curricula would increase A j i b athe d e ,tempo i n of a npatriotism in Nigerians. interview with OSUN He also urged Ooni Muhammadu Buhari, pea k e r , S t a t e o f O s u n H o u s e o f DEFENDER on Adeyeye not to relent in a p o s i t i o n a l w a y s Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, Monday, stated that has felicitated with the Ooni of Ife, Oba his effort to foster unity entrusted to frontline the introduction of Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), over his in Yoruba nation and the m o n a r c h s o r r e c o r d such subject at both appointment as the Chancellor of University of country at large, saying breakers in their chosen his mission perfectly fits primary and secondary Nigeria, Nsuka (UNN) by President Muhammadu the role of traditional fields.

Buhari. acknowledging that Ooni levels will go a long S a l a a m , i n a Adeyeye is one monarch ruler in a democratic way to revive national release signed by his with robust patience, arrangement.

It would be recalled consciousness among spokesman, Mr. Goke uncommon humility, that Ooni Adeyeye has Butikakuro, said the m e n t a l m a g n i t u d e the youths. carriage, comportment and future-driven, the just been appointed the According to the and bridge-building attributes expected of a Chancellor of University of Nigeria by President lecturer, the era of mission of the great university Chancellor. monarch have spoken military interregnum volume on the unique diminished and washed leadership he is bringing away patriotism in to the table in the ivory tower.

Nigerians, who were He further stressed that militarized, particularly Ooni Adeyeye has done the youths, hence the the Yoruba nation proud with the way he has been need to re-orientate making peace with other them and instill core traditional rulers, and national consciousness rallying the youths for meaningful engagement, on them. which assures a better He asserted that no future, asserting that the country survives with state parliament would continue to identify with m i l i t a r i z e d y o u n g the progressive mission p o p u l a t i o n , s a y i n g of the natural father.

Salaam then lauded that the development President Buhari for is a direct product of making the foremost egalitarian society with Y o r u b a m o n a r c h Chancellor of the patriotism from all and the university, saying that sundry. once again, the President Ajibade enjoined has demonstrated his •All Progressives Congress (APC) National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (middle); Lagos State Governor Akimwumi Ambode (2nd left); State of Osun Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye -Tomori (right); Chris for the Yorubas at youths to be focused love Ngige (left) and other dignitaries when The Sun honoured Tinubu in Lagos last Saturday. home and in diaspora;

UNN Chancellorship Appointment: Osun Speaker Congratulates

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osun Defender Thursday, February 25, 2016

Ooni Ogunwusi’s Commendable Peace Tour

Man In Court Over Illegal Possession Of Firearms the two-count charges By shina bubakar

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The Ooni is traversing the length and breadth of yorubaland preaching the gospel of unity in strength. Others are beginning to key into the new road map. In this way the Ooni has very cleverly changed the territory of debate in a positive direction.

This is a positive restatement of the beautiful prayer of St. Francis to the effect that “where there is discord let us find harmony; where there is a dispute let us seek for the truth.....”. This is the template that the new Ooni is setting to the admiration of all throughout the length and the breadth of yorubaland. His good work is also resonating positively

amongst the yorubas in the Diaspora as well. Morning has indeed broken in yorubaland and we will all be better off for it.

He must be encouraged to continue in this way. For there is strength in numbers. Unity means that there will not be that chink in the armour which leads to divisions and the weakness that allows the enemy to come in. For as the yorubas themselves do say; ‘It’s the crack in the wall which allows the lizard to enter’. This is not the time for such indulgence.

The effort of the Ooni also commendably compliments the effort of those who have for long sensibly championed the worthy cause of Regional Inte-

Now that the paramount ruler in yorubaland is on the same page with us in our collective aspiration in yorubaland then it has become imprtant for all and sundry to work together towards making this goal - regional integration

Tackling Indecent Dressing

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he r a t e a t which raping of teenagers is increasing in Nigeria is currently becoming unbearable and the menace needs to be curbed before it becomes a norm.

One of the factors contributing to the high rate of rape in our society, in my view, is the dressing manner of our young females these days. Even fellow women, sometimes cannot, but get aroused by the way some ladies dress in public.

Some have actually argued that men that cannot control their lust for sex should not live among humans.

However, it is also despicable as Africans for women to dress half-naked in public places, especially in schools, where young

men with active sexual desires cohabit with them.

I want to make it clear that from my experience as a student, you cannot eradicate the issue of rape, if we do not address the issue of indecent dressing among women.

On many occasions, I have had cause to speak with some ladies in my school regarding their dress pattern and the danger inherent in it. However, most of the excuses put up by the ladies are that we are in a civilized society.

As much as one could be forced to play along, the persistence issue of rape would make one wants to prefer the traditional code of dressing, especially for ladies.

I even pity some lecturers that have to live with the seduction

cum temptation of having to stand in front of these ladies, whose sole aim is to make the men helpless.

My sincere advice goes to the parents to always train or inculcate the value of decent dressing in the minds of their

- realisable.The new emphasis will make the logic of Regional Integration unstoppable. This is vital. In our considered opinion, cometh the moment, cometh the man. In the Ooni Ogunwusi the yoruba nation has found a monarch to march the mood as well as the temper and the needs of the times. We should be grateful for this for anything else will be destructive. Let us all move on with greater vigour and renewed hope. Kudos to the Ooni Ogunwusi; he has made an inspired, promising start.

gration in the South-West. Coincidentally the governor of the Ooni’s home state the astute Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been at the forefront of this move. More than anyone else the Ogbeni has walked the talk and did so before it became fashionable. Now the strategic imperative of this position is now incontrovertible.

It confirms once again just how pro-active and astute the Ogbeni governor really is. For as the saying goes ‘only the deep can all the deep’.

young girls before they become adults.

Also, some teachers, lecturers and bosses should devise a means of checkmating or advising their female subordinates on control of their mode of dressing in the interest of posterity.

Finally, being religious people, there is no religion in this country that does not forbid indecent dressing, hence, every home should ensure that their female children learn how to dress properly and decently from childhood to save our society from rape and make it safe for the girl-child.

• M a r i a m Olawore, Osogbo.

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osun Defender Thursday, February 25, 2016

Osun Land Use Charge And Implication On Governance

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By kazeem mohammed

here were series of deliberations upon deliberations among members of the State of Osun House of Assembly over the Land Use Charge Bill, brought before them by the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, but at the end, the bill was passed, and only awaiting the assent of the governor.

It was a bill for a law to make provision for the consolidation of all property and land-based rates and charges payable under the Land Rates Law, the Neighbourhood Improvement Charge Law and Tenement Rates Law in the State of Osun into a new land-based charge, to be called Property Land Use Charge, to make provision for levying and collection of the charge and for other connected purposes.

Though, the bill had been presented before the House since 2015 during the fifth Assembly, but fresh deliberations began on the bill shortly after the inauguration of the sixth Assembly.

The consideration took the legislature over three month of deliberations to give its approval, an exercise, which the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, said, was aimed at ensuring that unnecessary burdens are not put on the people.

The Assembly had on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 held a public hearing on the bill, where professional bodies and other stakeholders in land-related matters lauded the bill and said it was coming at the appropriate time.

The objective of the bill was aimed at improving the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the government, especially at this critical period of economic downturn, which has hit the state and Nigeria as a whole without putting unnecessary burden on the people of the state.

At the public hearing for the bill, it was the views of the representatives of professional bodies in the property-related matter that the enactment would not be out of place, considering the fact that it was the practice all over the world that such charges are paid.

They averred that it would help government to have more fund for the good governance of the state, especially when the current administration has shown readiness to change things for the better, but for paucity of funds.

Under the new law, each property owner in the state shall be liable to pay charges on any of their taxable property, in line with the formula adopted in determining the payable charges. The

•AREGBESOLA

same formula was approved by the professional bodies as appropriate.

In determining the charges to be paid, it has been specified in the law that to be taken into consideration are, the annual charges rate expressed as a percentage of the assessed value of the property, which might at the discretion of the state government vary between residential property and commercial property.

Other considerations, according to the bill, were the area of land parcel per square meter and average value of a land parcel in the neighbourhood; the total developed floor area of building on the plot of land per square meter; the average value of medium quality building in the neighbourhood among others. onsidering their non-profit making disposition, some properties have been exempted from paying the charges as indicated in the law, and they were, property owned and occupies by religious bodies and used exclusively for public worship; cemeteries and burial grounds that are not privatelyowned; a recognised and registered institution or educational institutes certified to be non-profit making; and property used as public library.

Other such property are; any property used solely for non-governmental organisation work and motherless babies home; any property specifically exempted by the governor by notice published in the state government official gazette and all palaces of recognised Oba/Baales and chiefs in the state.

To ensure prudence in the management of the fund collected through the Land Use Charge, the commissioner had been mandated by the law to establish and maintain a fund, to be known as Land Use Charge Collection Fund, consisting of all payments made to the purse of the government through designated banks.

According to the bill, each local government council area would be a collecting authority of the charge for its area of jurisdiction and deposited

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•Speaker Salaam

to the designated bank account. However, not later than 10 working days of every month, each local government shall be paid their share of the charge collected as agreed between the state and all the local government areas. peaking shortly after the passage of the bill, the Speaker, Honourable Salaam, said in line with the commitment of the legislature to be on the side of the people, moderate and appropriate rates have been arrive at, with supports from experts to ensure that unnecessary burdens are not placed on the shoulders of the masses.

Urging the people to show understanding with the government and be proud to make sacrifice, he stressed that the present economic situation require that every property owner must contribute to support the government to meet its obligations with the people.

“It is a practice all over the world that every citizen pay his dues to the government and it is important for all of us here to do the same, especially at this critical period that the government needs money for the development of our state.

“We seek the understanding of the people over the new law and assured that the state Assembly would monitor its implementation when assented to by the governor, to ensure its effectiveness to the extent that it would not add unnecessary burden on the people of the state”, he added.

The Speaker also charged the executive to ensure effective sensitisation of the people to key into the new law and see reason to pay the appropriate charges, just as he cautioned the implementers of the law not to hide under it to inconvenience the people, urging that the law should rather be used for the benefit of the people.

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osun Defender Thursday, February 25, 2016

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Ikirun Black Friday: How Police Gallantry Foiled Robbery

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By shina abubakar

ast week Friday was a bad day for some families in Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun, to remember, but for the State Police Command, it would be a milestone in the history of the force, foiling attempts by a dare-devil armed group to cart away their loot of N7.5 million, not only that the robbers were killed in a gun duel, but four were also caught alive to face the wrath of the law.

Although, Ikirun banks in the past were susceptible to robbery, but since the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration purchased and distributed the sophisticated Amoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the state police command, robbery incidents has reduced greatly, even in Ilesa, which was termed a haven for men of the underworld.

So, most observers never expected such huge operation in the town, while security analysts believed it was meant to test-run the skill of the police, as well as the effectiveness of the machines, which has never put to test since they were acquired. The operations seems a success for the gang, haven bombed the tyres of the APC stationed in Ikirun, but nemesis eventually caught up with them with the timely arrival of another one from a nearby community.

Everything seemed calm in Ikirun in the early hours of the day, as all residents went about their daily activities without any hitch and by 1.00pm, Muslim faithful in the calmed town went to their various mosques to observe their two-feet weekly prayer rites and prayed for protection from imminent danger, not knowing that dangerous men had already lurked within their community and were only waiting to unleash mayhem on the unsuspecting populace.

Barely two hours after the Jumat service, men, women, children and traders were in disarray, as the sounds of explosives pervaded the atmosphere, signaling the arrival of danger and dangerous men to the hitherto calm community.

While the robbers were having a field day inside one of the banks they attacked, residents were running helter shelter, seeking a safe place to hide their heads, while those that could hold their calm put calls across

•Some of the arrested armed robbery suspects.

•Some of the Armoured Personnel Carriers, acquired by Ogbeni Aregbesola administration to equip the police.

to their relatives in adjoining communities to intimate them of the danger going on in the town. One of those callers eventually reached the immediate-past Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Mr Sunday Akere, who ultimately called the Police Area Commander for appropriate action.

Before the arrival of the State Anti-Robbery Squad led by the Area Commander, the notorious gang had already killed the two regular policemen attached to the banks and shot other residents, who were running for safety. he arrival of SARS however changed the entire movie, as major roads were barricaded and the redeployed APC attacked the fleeing armed robbers, thereby exposing them to the mercy of the police and the vigilante groups that surrounded the town.

But for the gallantry of the SARS team, as well as the DPO of Iragbiji Police Division, who drove the second APC to catch the run-away robbers and destroyed their vehicle, leading to their arrest around Oke-Amola area of the town.

For almost one hour that the heist lasted, the entire community was in disarray, as the people scampered for safety and the fear of stray bullets having learnt that many people had fallen victim of such. For the first time, according to one of the eye witnesses, that

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•Osun CP, Kola Sodipo

the police force in the state made him proud as a citizen. The witness likened the situation to a Hollywood movie scene, wondering what could have happened, had the police chickened out in the tensed situation.

Another resident, Moshood Oluawo, was of the view that the consequences of the robbery would be a hot lesson for those who might be nursing similar ambition in the community, commending the state government for its foresightedness in providing such sophisticated APCs for the police in the state. He added that for the availability of the vehicles, the notorious robbers could have escaped, considering the sophisticated nature of their weaponry.

“I have never seen anything like this, except in the movies. Is it the superiority of the weapons or the determination of the young men that is to be talked about? It is really glory to God and the gallantry of the police; we could have been facing a different situation.

If those guys had succeeded, it would have been an encouragement for other gangs to invade the community frequently. We should commend the state government for its effort in providing these APCs; until today, one could have thought investing in it was a waste,” he stressed.

Having caught the robbers in their act and believing that they would go through the eye of the law, residents believed police should intensify their investigation, as to getting to

phototalk 8 Deputy Governor, State Of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, Visited Some Government Schools In Osun Recently.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

osun Defender Thursday, February 25,

osun Defender Thursday, February 25, 9 phototalk Council Of Chartered Insurance Institute Of Nigeria (CCIIN) Paid A courtesy Visit To State Of Osun Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, In Her Office, State Secretariat, Abere, State Of Osun, Recently.

•Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (left) in a handshake with the President and Chairman of CCIIN, Lady Isioma Chukwuma.

•Deputy Governor, Mrs Laoye-Tomori in a discussion with John Mckay Government Elementary School pupils during her visit.

•Mrs Laoye-Tomori (2nd left); Lady Chukwuma (middle); General Manager, Chatered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (2nd right); Rector, College of Insurance and Financial Management, Mrs Yeside Oyetayo (right) and others in a group photograph.

•Mrs Laoye-Tomori (sitting); Permanent Secretary, SUBEB, Alhaji Fatai Kolawole (2nd left) and others.

•A cross section of St. Charles High School pupils, Osogbo during the visit.

Girls Brigade In The State Of Osun Command, Paid A Courtesy Visit To State Government Of Osun, At State Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, Recently.

•Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (4th righ); Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (5th right); State Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye (5th right); in a group photograph with Girls Brigade members during a courtesy visit.

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osun Defender Thursday, February 25, 2016

news feature

osun Defender Thursday, February 25,

11

Aregbesola Moves To Explore Agriculture To Rescue Osun

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n a bid to cushion the effect of the current economic downturn on the residents and government occasioned by the dwindling revenue from the federation account, Government of the State of Osun has renewed its commitment and called on the people to embrace farming, as the only alternative way out.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola recently noted at a gathering that the situation with the drop in oil prices and the sharp reduction in the federation accounts from N1.2 trillion in 2012 to N369 billion in November allocations shared in December 2015 has reduced the running of government to little or nothing hence, the need to look inward in increasing IGR. Apart from measures government is taking to revive the state’s economy, Governor Aregbesola further promised the readiness of his administration to render assistance to young graduates and people having interest in agriculture.

Recently, the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for the establishment of a demonstration farm at Ago-Owu Farm settlement in the state for best farming practices.

The state government, in the agreement, would make available 20,439 hectares of land at the farm settlement for the development of agriculture and production of massive food as alternative to reliance on the oil sector.

The demonstration farm centre is also for the purpose of conducting research and training young farmers in the state in modern, commercial and profitable farming. Under the agreement, the IITA will also carry out cassava, plantain and other crop multiplications.

Besides, the state late last year signed $50 million Agriculture Investment with a United States of America (USA) firm for the provision of modern agricultural technological services, aimed at giving fresh impetus to its agricultural sector revolution drive in the state.

The MoU covered the development and infrastructural upgrade of breeding, fattening and processing of beef cattle ranches and the establishment of agricultural equipment leasing and hire centres to be managed by JIL farm Limited.

The government has also promised to reinvigorate the bee-keeping business in the state, with a view to keeping the youths especially, young graduates, as well as women, busy and get them out of the problem of seeking non-existing white collar jobs.

Speaking on the determination and commitment of the state government to boost agriculture, the National Coordinator of Federation of Bee Keeping Association of Nigeria (South West), Mr Femi Komolafe, said that the state government is doing everything possible to reinvigorate agriculture as one of the strategies needed to transform the state.

Komolafe, an expert in bee-keeping and one of the aides to Governor Aregbesola, stated that aside from massive food production and generation of revenue from cash crops; the state is focusing on bee-keeping.

He stressed that the state government has created a honey processing centre at Oyan, in Odo-Otin Local Government Council Area of the state to standardise processing of honey to meet international specifications now that the world has discovered that African honey is the best organic honey from nectars of flowers.

According to him: “The world is looking for African honey this time around because they have discovered that it is the best because we are producing organic honey. It is honey that does not strive with sugar or any other thing.

It is natural substance that was gotten from nectar of the flowers of the plants. So it is more nutritious than any other honey from other parts of the world.”

While stressing on the importance of honey,

either having individual or joint farms in order to have access to funds from the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and Bank of Industry (BOI).”

Komolafe explained that the state government has opened up windows of opportunities to all interested bee farmers in the state with the processing factory created at Oyan in Odo-Otin local government area of the state to mop up all the products and process them for export.

He declared that Beekeeping is a business that does not require more money to start unlike poultry and other agricultural business.

According to him, “Bees require no feeding; what they require is the house, where to house or hive the bees. We are so fortunate in this part of the world that we have vegetation and flowers that bees always exploit (the nectars). The nectar from flowers is what the bees always gather to make the honey.

“Unlike in the temperate region where they need to feed their bees, we don’t have that problem in this part of the country because we have enough vegetation that can give flowers at different period. It is from the nectars that the bees acquire what is needed to form their honey and other bee products.”

Also, Governor Aregbesola recently hinted of his plan to establish a Commodity Board that will ensure that Osun ranks among the best cocoa producers in Nigeria within the next two years.

Meeting with produce merchants in the state recently, Aregbesola stated that with the new cocoa development initiatives in the state, fresh revenues will be available to the state thus making the economy of the state prosperous in 2016. he governor noted that the state will soon bounce back with the identification of 60 million Cocoa trees presently in the state, adding that government henceforth will criminalise any action of farmers and merchants that runs afoul of government laws on cocoa.

He pointed out that government will soon be registering all farmers in the state for easy implementation of government policies on agriculture thus giving adequate room for monitoring and giving the necessary support for farmers.

According to him: “To show the people of the state that we are ready to face agriculture squarely in Osun, I am establishing a Commodity Board that will be supervised directly from the Office of the Governor.”

“Our bags of cocoa in Osun will be branded; government will be able to ensure that the quality of cocoa coming out of the state meets international quality standards. When there was free money coming from oil, no government was looking at what cocoa could bring to the economy; we are back to the days where cocoa will be the main stay of our economy in Osun.”

Aregbesola hinted that produce tribunals will be set up across the state and that a special colour will be given to vehicles transporting cocoa within the state.

The governor reminded produce merchants of the immense wealth that cocoa alone brought to the Western Region and the good use to which the revenues were put by the then governments.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Osun Investment Company, Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji, disclosed recently that the company alone has cultivated no fewer than 1,500 hectares of cocoa at Ibokun in Obokun Local Government Council Area and Iwo in Iwo Local Government Council Area of the state, all in an attempt to boost the economy of the state.

The old Western Region under the administration of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, made landmark achievements in the region without oil but relying on agricultural produce. Aregbesola is ready to follow suit.

T •aregbesola By joshua dada

Komolafe noted that bee-keeping business is generally acceptable worldwide, unlike some agricultural produce such as piggery, which is not embraced globally.

His word: “Honey has been recommended as complete food that contains protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and the rest adding that there are lots of benefits from honey which makes it a veritable business. e emphasised that the state has made huge investments in processing of honey and other beehive products and intends to encourage the bee farmers in the state to process their honey in a modern way that would be able to match the international standard and make it exportable.

“The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has also stepped up campaign on the processing of honey because it was discovered that most people that have been producing honey in the past are doing it in a crude manner that makes it not exportable.

“For the processing of honey to be actualised in the state, we have designed a programme of mobilising more people into the honey business, encouraging them to produce more, so as to meet the supply of honey and supply other bee products.

“Arrangements have been put in place to organise seminar even for the existing bee keepers within the state of Osun and at the same time to encourage more people who are fresh to come into the business. Bee keeping is not a business that is difficult to learn. It is so easy to learn and manage, once you know the rudiments of handling the bee and managing apiary, the sky is the limit for anybody that goes into the business.”

“Apart from organising seminars, encouraging more people into the sector, we try to make sure that in each local government, the bee farmers organise themselves into cooperative bodies

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•Culled from Leadership Newspaper

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osun Defender Thursday, February 25,

12

Political Parties Must Be Repositioned In this piece, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, x-rays the roles of political parties in a democracy as agents of change, education and enlightenment, and midwife of people-oriented policies and programmes.

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have been watching with ken interest the nature, character and direction of politics in Nigeria in recent times from a vantage position of an observer who have equally been privileged to be close to those who practice politics at the various levels.

To say the least, I am very uncomfortable with these developments, which are indicative of the level of our degeneration in political culture, ethos and participation. As a master of the act and science of public administration, political participation and interest aggregation, I wish to call the attention of all to certain neglected themes in the way politics is practiced today.

The Alaafin is the beneficiary and custodian of a political system that not only survived over six centuries but equally stands out as the best political edifice ever constructed by an African state; ancient or modern. As rightly observed by a British colonial administrator, long before many European states had the slightest understanding of a centralised system of public administration, the old Oyo Empire had created a central authority system with elaborate palace and provincial administrative and governance structures.

The Alaafin sits on a throne whose pedigree has never been doubted but widely acclaimed as the exemplar of the delicate and elaborate mechanism of constitutionally guaranteed system of checks and balance. Before and since I became the Alaafin of Oyo, I have been genuinely interested and deeply involved in politics and the management of the political estate for the socio-political and economic good of he people.

It would seem to me that the practitioners of what is today derisively called Nigerian politics are oblivious of the historical and intellectual development of the art of politics properly so called.

What is being practiced is a far cry from the ideal as it is a clear departure from what the founding fathers of the Nigerian state envisioned for the country.

It is obvious that the political culture has moved many poles away from what could make politics participatory, engaging, interesting and alluring.

The introduction of the elective principle in 1922 by the colonial administration under the leadership of Sir Hugh Clifford paved the way for political participation and the development of informed attitude to political developments by Nigerians.

The end of World War II in 1945 quickened the pace of political activities and widened the frontiers of participation.

The demobilization of the Nigerian veterans of the war coupled with their new awareness led to what is generally and popularly called militant nationalism in Nigeria. The involvement of the Labour Union in the struggle for decolonization added the much needed rive to political participation,. There were also, all over the country but especially in Lagos, the emergence of Literary and Debating Societies which provided for a and opportunities to discuss every aspect of Nigerian life and debate political issues. The old Glover Hall, Lagos, became beehive of activities and venue for debates and other literary and political activities.

One organization, the Nigerian Youth Movement, which was established in 1936 provided opportunities for budding public office holders and political enthusiasts to meet and to analyse political developments all over the world and how they impacted on Nigeria. Needless to say, the press organizations in the Lagos-Ibadan axis, the Zik Group of Newspapers especially the West African Pilot and the Southern Nigeria Defender and of course, Gaskiya Tafin Kwabo (the truth is worth more than a penny) in the North sufficiently mobilized the citizenry for enlightened political participation and robust engagements with the political process.

However, progressively as from the 1950s, political parties begun to play more prominent and patriotic roles in the design of the political architecture of Nigeria. These parties with varying degrees of commitment and success were responsible for the political transformation of the country, from the backwater of a colonial estate to a country ready for self government and independence. The three major political parties, The National Council for Nigeria

•alaafin

and Cameroon (later known as National Council of Nigerian Citizens when Southern Cameron became excised from Nigeria), The Action Group and the Northern People’s Congress co-jointly raised the be in political participation. These parties, before the introduction of sectional or ethnic politics provided the tuft for aspiring politicians to learn the rips and participate in the process. he period between 1945 and 1960 was therefore characterized by intense political activities inspired and moderated by the existing political parties and not the electoral agency. The globally recognized mandates of political parties were vigorously pursued and to a very large extent, party supremacy was not to be negotiated. The political parties imposed upon themselves the task of constructing an informed political culture which became generally accepted as norm. With the benefit of hindsight, it may not be too farfetched to claim that the political parties of that era demonstrated a high sense of organization and their leadership appreciated the role of political parties in the political arena and democratic process.

It is however sad to note that the political parties of the present era have not fully appreciated their role in a democratic society and they are limited or constrained by the poor vision of their leadership, the regulating institution and over the law of the land. The new party system has abandoned its traditional roles and seems to be comfortable with being the political orgnisations of a few extremely rich party leaders who parade themselves as party bosses and money bags. Unlike what obtained in the immediate pre and post independence eras, when charismatic leaders served the interest of the party, it is the party now serving the private and inordinate interests of money bags in as many parties as they want.

As observed by other public commentators on the political and party system in Nigeria, contemporary Nigerians political parties lack ideological foundation and there seems to be no difference between party A and party B except of course in their names, logo and physical address.

Political parties in Nigerian are now being run and managed like business outfits to ensure access to the corridors of power and by extension the national wealth.

Political parties are only concerned with supporting aspiring candidates for political

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office on their individual merit and not as official representatives of the parries in government to ensure the implementation of party programmes, polities on the different sectors of national life and indeed party manifesto and pact with the electorate.

It is therefore convenient for parties that are in fact partly funded by the government to abdicate the role of soliciting and priotising needs and policy in line with the needs, wishes and aspirations of the their members and supporters.

Nigerian parties no longer familiarise or educate voters’ and citizens in the functioning of the political and electoral systems and in generating correct political values. What they do at best is to criticize the activities and progrmmes of government appointed and funded electoral supervising authorities. They neglect the role of educating and training party members and leadership on a continuous basis. Members are only called upon during elections and compromised with what is generally known as empowerment, dividend of democracy or even the more recent terminology of stomach infrastructure; whatever that means.

Nigerian political parties no longer care about balancing opposing demands and converting them into general policies because they seem to lack intellectual premise or foundation. Unlike what obtained in the First Republic when every intended government policy enjoyed very robust debate and trenchant analysis by party members, our politicians no longer have time for such niceties because according to them, such intellectually stimulating exercises waste precious time and resources.

Today, the Nigerian political culture has been so mismanaged that it could hardly be described as coming close to anything scholarly or intellectual.

This negative development has produced a situation in which political parties can no longer activate and mobilize citizens toward political participation or transform public opinion into viable policy options for the government in power. especti v e m i n i s t e r s a n d h e a d s o f government agencies and parastatals are now left almost alone to design and implement policies without the input of their political parties and with scant regard to the aspirations of the citizens.

What is even more worrisome is the inability of political parties to recruit and train candidates for public office. As if standing common sense or logic on its head, candidates now shop around and finance political parties to ensure the realisation of their selfish and narrowly defined political agenda. There is a complete breakdown of order, discipline and system. Individuals within political parties now loom larger and more influential than political parties. They easily subvert popular will and subsume the general will of the real owners of the process under their own inordinate ambition.

To the leaders of the various political parties, I wish to, with humility, call upon you all to have a second thought on the mandate of your party, its role in a democracy, its obligations to the citizens of this country and how the counter can use the agency of these political parties to develop a progressive, dynamic and participatory political culture which will be capable of producing correct political values and attitudes.

If Nigerians will live up to the bidding of being the giant and power house of Africa, it must begin with a repositioning of our political parties for relevance.

Political parties are the engine rooms of change and are responsible, in the main, for the development of government programmes and policies that are capable of transforming the Nigerian society. It is indeed your patriotic duty to rise above pettiness and bickering to do what is right and noble and for which you will be eternally remembered.

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osun Defender Thursday, February 25,

Fani-Kayode, Okupe Slam PDP Leaders Over Choice Of Sheriff As N/

wo prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party, Femi Fani-Kayode and Doyin Okupe, have lambasted the party’s leaders for installing a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, as its national chairman.

Mr. Sheriff was picked as the PDP national chairman on Tuesday at the party’s national executive committee meeting in Abuja.

Apart from his alleged ties with the dreaded Boko Haram, Mr. Sheriff was until 2014 a member of the All Progressives Congress, the product of the 2013 merger talks between his former party, All Nigeria Peoples Congress, and two other opposition parties.

He also served as a two-time ANPP governor of Borno State, a former ANPP senator, and former Chairman of the APC Board of Trustees.

Mr. Fani-Kayode, who was the spokesperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation in the 2015 elections, in an opinion article, lamented that the quality of the party had worsened by Mr. Sheriff’s appointment.

He said, “What on earth has happened to us? As the Book of Galatians in the Holy Bible asks, “who has bewitched us”?

Over the course of the last 17 years, in terms of the quality of party leadership, the PDP has gradually descended into the unceremonious cesspit of mediocrity.

“Worst still, with the recent appointment of Ali Modu Sheriff as our Acting National Chairman, we have chosen to spit in the wind, sleep with the dogs, dance on the graves of our fallen heroes, piss on the blood and bones of the slaughtered innocents and wallow in the filthy pool of compromise, deceit, doublespeak and shame.”

Mr. Fani-Kayode, who described Mr. Sheriff as the “indisputable founder of Boko Haram,” said the new PDP chairman “is also the erstwhile godfather and sponsor of Governor Shettima Ali, the present APC Governor of Borno State (until they fell out); he is a man that has a very deep and profound relationship and association with Idris Deby, the President of Chad and he is a man whose son is married to the daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

According to him, many had argued that Mr. Sheriff’s allegiance was more to the Republic of Chad than it was to Nigeria and that he was an agent of the Chadian intelligence agencies and even a Chadian citizen who often flaunts his Chadian passport.

“I cannot confirm the veracity of these assertions but one thing that I know is that most of Modu Sheriff’s funding and stupendous wealth emanates primarily from the Republic of Chad, and that that country is as much a home to him as is Nigeria,” Mr. FaniKayode said.

“Yet, it is not his connection with Chad that gives me cause for concern. Rather it is his role in the establishment of Boko Haram. The truth is that appointing him as our Acting National Chairman is like appointing Jack the Ripper as the leader of the Conservative party in Victorian England.”

The former PDP campaign spokesperson praised the elders in the PDP Board of Trustees, a number of state party chairmen and a number of key individuals in the PDP Ministers Forum for taking a courageous and noble stand by rejecting and resisting the imposition of the “abominable monstrosity”.

He stated further, “What Ali Modu Sheriff stands for and represents is utterly repugnant to every fiber of my being. Yet I have no objection to his being a member of the PDP simply because politics is a game of numbers. It is a game in which everyone, no matter how big or small, counts. If you want your party to grow and make progress you must accept the good, the bad and the ugly.

“To this end when he left the APC and joined the PDP sometime back, I was one of those who gladly welcomed him into our ranks and defended him in the public realm. This was at a time when others criticised the party for accepting him.

“There is however a world of difference between accepting him as one of the many leaders of the PDP and appointing him as the Acting National Chairman. Others may seek to justify such a course of action but I cannot, in good conscience, do so. To me it is a matter of principle.

“If we accept this, then on what moral grounds did we condemn or oppose the APC or the APC-led Federal Government during the course of the last presidential election?”

“On what basis can we accept as our National Chairman a man who helped to create an organisation that wishes to establish sharia as the norm in our country, repeal all our criminal and civil laws, ban all our civil liberties and human rights, proscribe the teaching of western education in our schools, turn our women into sixth century sex slaves and abrogate the secularity of our state?”

Mr. Fani-Kayode argued that if PDP members were comfortable with Mr. Sheriff’s leadership of the party, they had no reason criticising and opposing President Muhammadu Buhari for appearing to support Boko Haram when he (president) said “an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the north”.

He also argued that if the PDP was comfortable with the Mr. Sheriff as chairman of the party, it should as well go and apologise to the APC for all past criticisms and condemnations and join them.

He demanded to know the basis on which Mr. Sheriff as a man who encouraged the establishment of Boko Haram and supported a group that wished to suspend Nigerian constitution, wipe out the Christian faith and the practice of moderate Islam in Nigeria and create an evil ISIL-type empire in the country should be supported as the national chairman of the PDP. He said, “I really do wonder whether those that made this decision have lost all sense of rationality. I wonder whether they have lost their ability to see reason properly and to exercise their T

•fani-kayode

•sheriff

discretion in a logical, responsible and lucid manner.

“I wonder whether they have lost their fear of God. I wonder whether they have forgotten the evil that was visited on our people, and is still being visited on them, over the last seven years by Boko Haram?

“I wonder whether they know at whose instance it was that Mohammed Yusuf, the erstwhile leader of Boko Haram, was killed by our security forces whilst in police custody in 2009 just so that he wouldn’t live to tell the whole world who gave him the funds to set up his murderous cult?

“I wonder whether they have forgotten the terrible havoc that Boko Haram unleashed on our citizens. I wonder whether they have forgotten the tears, wailing and suffering of the bereaved.

I wonder whether they have forgotten the slaughter of the innocents. I wonder whether they have forgotten those that were beheaded, those that were chopped to pieces and thrown down wells like dog meat and those that were burnt alive.

“Simply put has the leadership of the PDP gone completely mad or are they working for elements outside the PDP? Are they suggesting that you need a godless Haramite to run the affairs of the party before we can ever win power at the centre again? Where is the patience and fortitude that is required from true leaders?

Where is their faith in God? Where is their sincerity of purpose?”

Mr. Fani-Kayode said there were so many other people that could have chosen to lead the PDP from the North-East zone where Mr. Sheriff comes from.

He listed some to include Mohammed Wakil, Nuhu Ribadu, Bala Mohammed, Wilberforce Juta, Aliyu Modibbo, Ahmed Gulak, noting “these are all committed people with impeccable records of public service, high moral standing and good character”.

He also wondered if the PDP was still the party once led by successive groups of seasoned and formidable intellectuals and great men of power, vision, courage and good character.

•okupe He said, “This is what the party that was founded and once led by giants like President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Tony Anenih, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Aliyu Gusau, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, General T.Y. Danjuma, Vice President Abubakar Atiku, President Umaru Yar’adua, President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Bode George, Col. Ahmadu Alli, Chief E.K. Clark, Professor Jerry Gana, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, Chief Ken Nnamani and so many others has degenerated to? What a pity!

What a monumental tragedy!” e stressed, “Imposing Ali Modu-Sheriff is an insult H t o a l l t h o s e t h a t h a v e f o u g h t f o r, l e d , s e r v e d , defended, supported and risked everything for the party, at every level, over the last 17 years. Only the deeply malevolent can be comfortable with such an arrangement.”

Also, Mr. Okupe, who was the special assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on public affairs, in a statement on Friday, said though the capability of the PDP and its leadership to make grave errors of judgement was legendary, what is intriguing was that even out of power that tendency seemed unabated.

Stating that though Mr. Sheriff was his longstanding political associate, his choice as PDP national chairman was wrong.

“Alhadji Ali Sheriff is a longstanding political associate of mine and a very adroit and astute politician of perhaps a sublime class,” he said.

“But for the post of the national chairman of the PDP, he is a wrong candidate and also coming in at a wrong time.”

Mr. Okupe, who initially backed Mr. Gulak for the position, said he recalled that many of the proponents of the former Borno governor had said his (Sheriff) strong point was his wealth with which he could use to fund the activities of the party.

“But the antagonists believe that he is bringing along with his wealth a crushing weight of burden capable of fatally destroying the few strands of moral fibres on which rejuvenation will depend on,” he said.

“For a morosed and severely prostrate political party, thanks to the overwhelming and effective propaganda machinery of the (opposition) party in power, this may yet be the mortal wound that may cause the eventual haemorrhage of its long perplexed followership.”

The former presidential aide noted that the present crop of the leadership of the PDP had not fared well, stating that “impunity, presumptive reasoning, highly stratified and restrictive consultative processes, absolute lack of inclusiveness, mercantilism, group conceit with a resultant total disconnect with the main stake holders and the followership are some of the florid signs and symptoms of the terminal disease that is killing this erstwhile great party.”

Mr. Okupe vowed not to leave the PDP, stating that in spite of the present situation of things “we will continue to engage all who care to listen and deepen consultation across the country seeking help from everyone ready to help to revive this severely challenged sickened giant.”

He added: “But if it is the divine will of God that our present masters must kill PDP, then by the Grace of God, we shall yet tarry at the graveside to bid it farewell.”

•Culled From Premium Times

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health

osun Defender Thursday, February 25, 2016

Top Health Implications Of Pawpaw You Should Be Aware efreshingly sweet in taste, pawpaw, R also known as papayas are bright, pearshaped, exotic fruits that you’ll easily find in the market throughout the year. Enclosing hundreds of black, rounded gelatinous seeds, the soft, edible orange flesh of papayas is actually nutritious, offering numerous health benefits.

Here’s why you need to include these ‘fruits of angels’ in your diet.

3. Boosts your immunity: Your immune system acts as a shield against various infections that can make you really sick. A single papaya can fulfil more than 200% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C, making it great to build a stronger immune system.

4. Good for diabetics: Despite being sweet in nature, papayas are low in sugar content (8.3 gm in one cup of sliced papaya) as well as glycemic index. This property makes papayas excellent fruits for diabetics. The vitamins and phytonutrients present in them prevents development of heart disease in diabetes. Also, people who don’t have diabetes can eat papaya to prevent it from happening. You may also want to read how to prevent diabetes with a fibre-rich healthy diet.

5. Great for your eyes: Papayas are rich in Vitamin A and flavonoids like beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, cyptoxanthin and lutein which keep the mucus membranes in the eyes healthy, preventing them from damage. Vitamin A in them also prevents the development of agerelated macular degeneration [2]. The best thing about papayas is that the carotenoids present in them are more bio available than those present in other vitamin A rich foods like tomatoes and carrots [3].

6. Protects against arthritis: Arthritis can be a really debilitating disease and people who have it may find their quality of life reduced significantly. Eating papayas are good for your bones as they have anti-inflammatory properties along with Vitamin C which helps in keeping various forms of arthritis at bay. A study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases showed that people who consumed foods low in Vitamin C were three times more likely to have arthritis than those who didn’t. Also read 9 ways you can fight arthritis with food.

7. Improves digestion: In today’s times, it is near impossible to avoid eating foods that are bad for your digestive system. Often we find ourselves eating junk food or restaurant food prepared in excessive quantities of oil. Eating a papaya daily can make up for such occasional mistakes, as it has a digestive enzyme known as papain along with fibre which helps improve your digestive health.

8. Helps ease menstrual pain: Women who experience menstrual pain should help themselves to several servings of papaya, as an enzyme called papain helps in regulating and easing flow during menstrual periods. Here are some home remedies to relieve menstrual pain.

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ive candidates will battle in Zurich this Friday to become FIFA president in one of the most important elections in the organisation’s 112-year history. Here we take a look at how they are shaping up as they head into the home straight and the odds on whom might cross the finish line first.

The president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is spending the week in Zurich after suffering from fatigue, following a punishing schedule in which he visited more than 100 countries in his quest to land the game’s top job. He has fought a strong campaign and despite being a former ally of Sepp Blatter, vows to change how FIFA does business. The Bahraini royal is backed by his own confederation and the Confederation of African football (CAF) and is going into the election as the favourite.

2. Helps weight loss: One medium sized papaya contains just 120 calories. So, if you’re planning to lose weight, don’t forget to add this light fruit to your diet. Besides, it also packed with a considerable amount of dietary fibre that aids weight loss by promoting a feeling of fullness and controlling cravings [2].

9. Prevents signs of ageing: All of us would love to stay young forever, but no one in this world has managed to do it. Still, healthy habits like eating a papaya daily will prolong the process and may make you look 5 years younger than you are. Papaya is rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and antioxidants like beta-carotene which helps prevent your skin from free radical damage keeping wrinkles and other signs of ageing at bay. Here’s how you can use papaya to keep your skin beautifully glowing.

extract to the scalp can help you get rid of dandruff. The nutrients present in them help hair loss. They boost hair growth and strengthening.

Although there is no scientific evidence, papayas are also thought to prevent hair thinning [3].

11. Prevents cancer: Papaya is a rich source of antioxidants, phytonutrients and flavonoids that prevent your cells from undergoing free radical damage. A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health’s Department showed the richness of beta carotene in papayas protected 10. Promotes hair growth: Apart from keeping against prostate cancer and colon cancer growth the skin healthy, papayas are very effective for [3]. maintaining healthy hair. Vitamin A in them is utilised in production of sebum, a compound 12. Helps reduce stress: After working hard for that is crucial for keeping the hair smooth, shiny and moisturised. External application of papaya

The Benefits of Pawpaw awpaw (or papaya) is a fruit that grows in tropical areas throughout the world and is easily available throughout Australia. Most Australians enjoy paw paw simply because it is delicious, but increasingly, research is showing that the health benefits of paw paw may be even greater than its delicious taste. In fact, paw paw and paw paw derived products are increasingly used for a variety of medicinal and therapeutic purposes both by natural health practitioners and in conventional medicine.

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The Benefits of Paw Paw No one argues about the health benefits of fruit, but what makes paw paw special? These are just some of the major vitamins and minerals found in large quantities in paw paw: dietary fiber, folate, vitamin A, C and E. It also contains small amount of calcium, iron, riboflavin, thiamine and niacine. It is also very rich in antioxidant nutrients flavonoids and carotenes, very high in vitamin C plus A, and low in calories and sodium.

Vitamin A Vitamin C Vitamin E Calcium Iron Riboflavin Thiamine Niacine In addition to these, paw paw is high in dietary fibre and rich in important antioxidants. At the same time, paw paw is low in calories and sodium. As if these were not reasons enough for making paw paw a regular part of your diet, the fruit also includes unique ingredients

not found or found in limited concentrations in other fruits. Two of these, papain and chymopapain, are enzymes that help break down proteins and convert them into amino acids, making paw paw an excellent digestive aid, reducing bloating and indigestion.

Paw Paw also has anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce the severity of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and aid in recovery from sports injuries, amongst many other conditions that are caused by or exacerbated by inflammation. These include everything from the common cold to more serious diseases.

Continuing studies also indicate that paw paw and paw paw derived medications also show promise in the relief from side effects of cancer treatments such as mouth ulcers and difficulty in swallowing as well as providing a boost to the immune system.

Gianni Infantino UEFA’s general secretary arrives in Zurich in a buoyant mood with his camp claiming that the momentum is with him. The Italian has the backing of UEFA, of course, CONMEBOL, and also has made considerable gains within CONCACAF, which has resulted in the election effectively becoming a two-horse race against Sheikh Salman. At the start of the campaign there were strong rumours that the two might strike a deal, but Infantino and his backers believe that he will be able to land the FIFA presidency on his own.

FIFA advisory panel member Shaka Hislop

assesses the candidates for the FIFA presidency in Friday’s election.

Prince Ali bin alHussein Prince Ali stood against Blatter last May, where he won a credible 73 votes.

He will be lucky to get close to that figure this time round but could pick up enough votes (between 25 and 30 according to some estimates) to influence who will be the eventual winner.

Despite issuing a radical manifesto for reform and

being well connected within the game, the Jordanian royal has failed to make an impact in the way he would have expected. The crucial question will be if Prince Ali’s vote holds up in Zurich, where will it end up once he is eliminated?

Tokyo Sexwale The South African businessman has fought an uninspiring, low-key campaign and may not even have the vote of his own national association while CAF is publicly backing

here is no good way to navigate the twilight of a one-club legend. Whether it be Kobe Bryant, John Terry or Raul doesn’t matter; there are simply some that are less bad than others.

T

Roma knew the day was coming when Francesco Totti would become an issue. He turns 40 in September and for the past five years he has simply kept going when others might have contemplated retirement. By and large, he also produced, chipping in 30 goals over the past three years on a team that twice finished second.

This year, partly due to injuries, he has been limited to six appearances.

Last week, he came on for the final four minutes against Real with Roma 2-0 down. It was probably not something he appreciated.

“Being managed better is something that would benefit everyone,” he said Saturday. “A bit of respect for what I’ve given this club... I admire [Roma coach Luciano Spalletti] as a manager and a person...

But I wish he had said to my face some of the things I read in the papers.”

EPN FC’s Steve Nicol

believes that the FA need to use their power to better organise the FA Cup in order to garner respect.

It’s not clear to what exactly Totti was referring.

Local media has found quotes with Spalletti talking in general terms about the need for energy and self-sacrifice or saying that Roma fans had seen great players like “Batistuta, Falcao and Totti,” basically referring to him in the past tense.

Whatever the case, the “respect” dig was enough for Spalletti to drop Totti from his matchday squad for Sunday’s game with Palermo, which Roma won 5-0. The resounding win — and Mohammed Salah’s wonder goal — kept some of the controversy at bay, but only some. (Heck, even Lindsey Vonn weighed in.)

Sheikh Salman. Sources within his camp have told ESPN FC that he may even pull out ahead of the election and do the same. Despite impeccable connections within the game and even being heralded as a potential replacement to Blatter after announcing his candidacy, he arrives in Zurich a disappointed man.

Jerome Champagne The former French diplomat and FIFA deputy general secretary has struggled to make any

impact during his campaign.

He may pick up a handful of votes if he is lucky but despite clocking up the miles and visiting 90 countries, he has never been viewed as serious candidate and has always competed as a rank outsider. He has proclaimed the “reform” mantra the loudest of all the candidates and was the only one willing to take part in a public debate organised by the European Union and the European Parliament but all to no avail.

Howard’s Rapids Move Slows Down

T

im Howard to Colorado Rapids has been a mooted deal for a while — but it may be about to become more complicated than first thought, according to The Sun. The paper claims that’s “wants a four-year deal because T h athe t , U.S. i t sgoalkeeper ays, has worth more than £14 “ s h o c k e d R a p i d s million” ($19.8m) if he is officials,” who are keen to make the move. to tempt Howard from Goodison Park as “a

What Will Roma Do About Francesco Totti?

Paw Paw and Antioxidants The antioxidants found in paw paw, while not unique to this fruit, are extremely beneficial to health and are believed to be amongst the most important reasons for making fruits and vegetables a large and regular part of your diet. Antioxidants have been shown to scavenge the free radicals that play such an important part in the development of cancer, heart disease and other life threatening diseases that have become so prevalent in modern society, where processed and other unhealthy foods have become such a large part of our diet.

15

FIFA Election: Handicapping The Five Candidates To Replace Sepp

Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa

1. Lowers cholesterol: Papayas are rich in fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants that prevent cholesterol build up in your arteries. Too much cholesterol build-up can block the arteries completely, causing a heart attack. Papaya extracts have also found to reduce lipid and triglycerides in diabetic rats [1]. You may also want to read how to reduce cholesterol levels naturally.

sports

osun Defender Thursday, February 25, 2016

marquee signing.”

Howard has two years left on his deal at Everton, where The Sun reports that he is on £70,000 ($99,000) a week. It says he “is looking for the same level of wages” at Colorado and wants a contract that lasts for the

next four seasons.

Taking all that into consideration it’s not surprising that negotiations are, as the report puts it, “dragging on.”

the minute he hangs up his boots — just as he has arguably done more for Roma than anyone in its history.

There is a reasonable solution to this; there must be. The real issue, and one that applies to Totti as it does to other one-club legends cited above, is that Roma is all he has known since 1989 when he joined the club just before his 13th birthday. And perhaps, in his heart of hearts, he knows that right now he won’t be able to contribute as a club official even a fraction of what he gave Roma as a player.

It won’t happen, but maybe the best solution would be for Totti to leave in the summer and go elsewhere. Far away. Keep playing if he wants to (and if his body lets him) but above all, learn something new and different. Then, come back in a few years’ time in a club role.

Spalletti’s relationship with Totti goes back a decade, but things and people change over time.

As a club, Roma have bent over backwards for him — a gig as an executive is no doubt waiting for him

In short, the benefits of paw paw are potentially enormous. Both the natural fruit and natural paw paw supplements can be of benefit. While many health care professionals recommend consulting a holistic doctor with knowledge of both natural and conventional medicine for existing or suspected diseases, taken regularly, paw paw may play a vital role in preventing those diseases from occurring.

•EPN FC’s Steve Nicol believes that the FA need to use their power to better organise the FA Cup in order to garner respect.

•The ESPN FC crew react to rumours that Everton and United States goalkeeper Tim Howard is interested in a move to MLS.

Why Are Real Madrid Still Struggling?

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he Madrid papers went with “Adios Liga” alongside Sergio Ramos, headlines after both Atletico and Real were comes back to hurt you held this Sunday. Atletico failed to break unless Luka Modric and down an excellent Villarreal — you can see why Toni Kroos are in “beast they’re fourth in the table — and paid a price for the mode” or unless you absences in central midfield (from Gabi to Agusto score three or four at the Fernandez to Thomas Partey, who may be young, other end. but could have done a job). Games like these surely The main difference, it leave Colchonero fans wishing Diego Simeone had would appear, is that the a bit more faith in Claudio Kranevitter. have nice things As for Real Madrid, rather, that he’s a “false players to say about Zidane both their 1-1 draw at Malaga nine” in the literal sense. in public and behind his was messy. Cristiano The lack of midfield back, something that Ronaldo missed a penalty, cover for a back four simply wasn’t the case but both sides fluffed that isn’t exactly water- with Rafa. But to expect numerous chances to the tight, though Nacho Zizou to get radically point that it could just as did alright deputizing better results with the same ill-constructed crew easily have ended in a is simply unrealistic. home win. Statistically, Zinedine Zidane hasn’t been an improvement imitri Payet won’t win any Player of over Rafa Benitez but the Year awards in the Premier League. the real issue goes well It’s already going to be tough enough for the beyond the managers and goes back to what has voters to give Riyad Mahrez or Jamie Vardy serious dogged the club for the consideration, so what chance does Payet have? past few years: it’s simply a poorly constructed But on Sunday, in moved towards squad.

West Ham’s 5-1 romp athleticism and power away to Blackburn, he and away from technique The ESPN FC panel showed again that in in many ways, but to share their thoughts on terms of technical ability, put it simply, guys who how Arsenal can limit he belongs among the can make the ball do Barcelona’s chances and what they want still have make the most of theirs highest tier in the Premier an edge — particularly League. It wasn’t just his when they combine it on Tuesday. two goals — a superb with the kind of decisionWith Karim Benzema free kick and a pretty making and awareness a b s e n t , t h e r e ’ s n o long run and finish — he has shown since his bonafide center-forward but the effortlessness of move from Marseille. and Jese showed that it all. he’s no “false nine” — or,

Payet, One Of The Best In The Premier League

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www.osundefender.org

THE 6TH MOST-VISITED NEWSPAPER WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

thursday, february 25, 2016 By adebayo mabayoje

“I am convinced that Nigeria would have been a more highly developed country without the oil. I wished we’d never smelled the fumes of petroleum.”

technology has shown that there are alternatives to fossil oil.

Researches are still underway regarding ‘clean energy’. So where would Nigeria be from next decade? However, the good news is that there is no alternative to food; and invariably, agriculture.

As a matter of fact, agriculture remains most significant in the new energy source that modern science is prospecting.

-Wole Soyinka ith the Brent crude trading at around $34 a barrel today (Monday 22 February, 2016); while the American benchmark was at around $31 a barrel; my country, Nigeria “is still in soup”. The reason is simple. For far too long, we have lived our lives on oil money, as though that is the only gift God gave us.

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Reasonably, such endowment like oil would have been great blessing for a growing country like Nigeria when oil was discovered. Rather, the discovery of oil in 1958 killed every other ways by which Nigerians and Nigeria knew how to earn their living and generate revenue as a country. The more the industry grew since then, the worse things get for the country. Since 1958, when the first oil well was drilled at Oloibiri, over 1,481 oil wells have sprung up, producing from about 159 oilfields. Today, there are more than 7,000 kilometres of pipelines and flow lines, and 275 flow stations. Today, contemporary countries that share Nigeria’s oil endowment are quite better for it. For Nigeria, a major curse came in 1958, and successive governments are no doubt the main road.

Wished There Was Never Oil

Before 1970s, Nigeria was highly revered, particularly for its great foreign earnings which accrued basically from agriculture. It was phenomenal that the three regions of Noth, South and West of the country had enviable agriculture profiles. The North and the West were renowned for their groundnut and cocoa pyramids respectfully; just as the East was the only source of Nigeria’s coal export. These are no more today. Such glory lasted till late 70s and 1988, from when dependence on petroleum, which accounted for 87 percent of export

There have been records of rise and fall of oil prices internationally. The same goes for prices of food commodities.

However, available statistics show that fall in prices of major agric exports; cocoa for example, has never been as drastic as what is recorded against oil. The oil industry, with its history of booms and busts, is in its deepest downturn since the 1990s, if not earlier. arnings are down for countries, particularly Nigeria; with terrible records of good governance. The country suffers from fund paucity as a result of plunging price of a barrel of oil, which has fallen more than 70 percent since June 2014. Whatever the outcome of the talk our President, Buhari is having with his Saudi Arabia and Russia counterparts, one thing is sure; experts believe that it will be years before oil returns to $90 or $100 a barrel, a price that was pretty much the norm over the last decade.

E

For close to six decades now, it is expected that revenue from oil would create chances of great national income generation; which invariable would increase living standards of Nigerians.

It is rather not so. Since when Nigeria started selling oil, the industry had become the biggest attraction of foreign exchange for the country. Unfortunately, oil has been a fast source of capital accumulation for some individuals.

Successive governments have realized huge revenues from the wide differential; between unit production costs and economic rents, royalties, petroleum taxes, oil exports, etc.

Insignificance portion of Nigeria’s oil revenues were channeled to right uses, such that would have developed the country. Many call this experience “a big curse for the country”. This is because the situation has shown how successive Nigerian governments have failed to convert oil wealth into broad-based improvements in economic performance and human development.

Most often than not, what happened was that Nigeria has never been quite lucky to have had any pragmatic and willing government, led by a determined hand that has the right supporting individuals to use Nigeria’s natural gifts to develop the nation. Year in, year out, our traditional means of revenue generation die naturally.

While it makes sense to argue that the ‘new energy’ initiative is still far away, it makes more sense to face the reality that technology is even more responsible for current slumps of oil prices. However, situation is different for international agriculture markets.

What this means is that for current government to have as much as, or close to such foreign revenue that the last government had to run the country, it must look elsewhere outside oil revenue, which will not improve significantly probably in another five years.

•President buhari

receipts and 77 percent of the Federal Government’s current revenue started.

Nigeria has ever since, heavily depended on oil export to the detriment of cocoa, groundnut and coal; our historical and earliest ‘natural resources’. The effect, of course, has been negative. The country’s economic, social and political developments have been drastically affected. Nigeria’s oil prospect faces domestic corruption unprecedented and excessively abundant supply of oil in the international market.

Currently, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, is trying to address the two challenges. He wages the biggest ever anti-corruption battle, starting with the oil industry. Also at the moment, he has tolled the line of powerful oil countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia, which have agreed to freeze oil output at near-record levels. This move is aimed at countering the international oil price slump that continues to affect economies around the world, including Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari has announced the country’s readiness to also freeze Nigeria’s crude oil production at 2.2 million million barrels per day for

February. What would happen from next month would depend on the outcome of the meeting. He left for Saudi Arabia and Qatar to engage officials of both countries in further talks to ensure stability of oil prices. hile this initiative is laudable, it would only end up as an abatement of the woes of Nigeria’s sole dependence on oil revenues.

The major factor responsible for how or why discovery of oil in Nigeria became somewhat curse is not far from corruption. And while some argue that it might be early to speak on the success of Buhari’s anti-corruption regime, it has gone down on record that this is the only time in Nigeria that corruption and corrupt individuals have been so exposed, addressed. Hence, it makes sense to ask President Buhari to jumpstart initiatives that have potentials to encourage agriculture on a large scale; such that would bring back good days when Nigeria generated its revenue from enriched exportation.

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Wi t h i n t h e l as t t wo d e c a de s ,

So it is interesting to note, however, that while price of oil continues to fall drastically, cocoa, one of Nigeria’s major exports in the 70s and early 80s today sells more profitably than oil, for more than $2,968 dollars per ton. Nigerian government should look at this, just as it gives critical thought to how huge importation of tons of rice affects the Naira. One of the most pragmatic and quick initiative that can encourage agriculture is the creation of platform, where farmers can quickly earn income from their produce. The school feeding proposal of the Federal government is key in this respect. A veritable example is what Osun government has been doing for more than four years now. Farmers, especially those in the poultry industry smile to the banks with boost that are being recorded in their businesses. Through a formidable system, government buys from farmers to provide protein for elementary school children in Osun. The same goes for fish farmers, cocoyam farmers, vegetable farmers etc.

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.