Osun Defender - July 17th 2014, Edition by OsunDefender

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www.osundefender.org THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

PEOPLE FIRST

VOL. 9. NO.085

Osun 2014 Governorship Election:

Ilesa Agog For Aregbesola’s Campaign •As Oyinlola’s Aides Join APC

- See Story On Page 3

Who Killed Chief Bola Ige, formerAttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice?

N 50

IGE

Osun 2014:

Plan To Assassinate Aregbesola Uncovered •Fayose, Omisore Fingered As Sponsors Of Israeli Snipers - See Story On Page 3

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (left on top of a bus), acknowledging cheers from a mammoth crowd of Aregbesola’s supporters during his re-election campaign mega rally in Ijesa-South Federal Constituency, held in Ilesa, State of Osun, last Tuesday.

Phototalk

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

All Progressives Congress (APC) 2014 Governorship Re-election Of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s Mega Rally In Ilesa, State Of Osun, Last Tuesday. Photo: GBEGAADENIYI And SHOLAADERINTO.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left on top of a bus), acknowledging cheers from his admirers in several thousands during his re-election campaign rally in Ijesa-South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun, last Tuesday.

•A mammoth crowd at the Aregbesola re-election mega rally in Ilesa last Tuesday. INSET: (L-R) First civilian governor of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Governor Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat and member, House of Representatives, representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency, Honourable Ayo Omidiran, during Aregbesola’s re-election Campaign in Ijesa-South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun, last Tuesday.

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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

Osun 2014: Plan To Assassinate Aregbesola Uncovered •Fayose, Omisore Fingered As Sponsors Of Israeli Snipers The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Aregbesola’s popularity warned the Israeli Israel gets itself within the country not to State of Osun has received a red alert that the soars, PDP in panic, has embassy to place close negatively involved in an fold their arms and watch Peoples Democratic Party has contracted Israel decided to go for the check on its citizens in explosive situation in the PDP set Nigeria snipers to assassinate Governor Rauf ultimate price: assassinate Nigeria, who may have Nigeria that could affect ablaze, because that is Aregbesola during his campaign trail across the the man of the moment, been contracted by the relationship between the what assassination of PDP, so as to nip the evil two countries. Rauf Aregbesola will the governor himself.” state. plot in the bud before The APC therefore, It also called on elders instantly cause. However, as The name of the leader of the snipers is given as Francis and the masterminds behind this satanic plot are Ayo Fayose, the governorelect of Ekiti State and Iyiola Omisore, the PDP”s candidate for the August 9 election in Osun. Sources from within the PDP informed the APC that there is great consternation within the party that for as long as Aregbesola is present and visible, there is no way the PDP can rig the election, so their last option to ‘win’, according to sources, is to take out completely the governor. Since they needed the best professional killers in the world, this is why they have contracted the Israelis. It is not clear if Abuja •(L-R) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun at Owa’s Palace during Governor Aregbesola’s homage payment to Oba Aromolaran on his way to his 2014 re-election was involved in the plot, Senator mega rally in Ilesa State of Osun, last Tuesday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI. but sources said that security infrastructure in the country may not be unconnected. The APC recalled that By KAZEEM MOHAMMED it has alerted Nigerians and the international destroyed the government venue of the Olagunsoye Oyinlola. LESA, the headquarters of Ijesaland the was at a the community of PDP’s of the PDP. Receiving the flag on programme, there was heavy standstill on Tuesday, as the governor of the State of plans to militarise the state “The only way we can behalf of other defectors, Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his Ogun State vehicular movement, as take Osun to a greater height one week to the election counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, as well as leaders members of APC were in Alhaji Oyelami described is to team up with and terrorise APC and members of All Progressives Congress (APC) stormed joyous mood and dancing PDP as a cursed party that has nothing good to offer Aregbesola to achieve in his leadership and the ancient town to campaign for the second term bid of on the streets. efforts of developing the Virtually in every house the people of the state. assassinate some of Aregbesola. because the He acknowledged that state, on the road leading to the them. A tumultuous crowd of Assistant to former their former party does development he has brought venue, old and young members and Governor Olagunsoye “We also alerted the APC trooped out with joy on everything with force, into the state can never be nation that the PDP has sympathisers graced the Oyinlola, Alhaji Rasak their faces and brooms on noting that the party has no over-emphasised. just as some Oyelami; former Chairman, “We are aware that it is the respect for the downtroding brought into Osun, fake campaign, former leaders of the Osogbo Local Government, their hands to cheers the masses. PDP that is behind the heavy police and army uniforms, Peoples Democratic Party Mr Teslim Igbalaye; former APC members who were “PDP is a party of reduction in the allocation to passing by. which their thugs will use (PDP) defected to the APC. Assistant State Secretary of Meanwhile, the governor arrogant people that Osun, but inspite of that, Among those that joined PDP, Alhaji Akinloye; Mr to terrorise voters at presented the APC flag to compare themselves to God Aregbesola has not wavered polling units and possibly APC were former State Moyinoluwa Ogunwale and the new members, who were and they have no fear of in his developmental effort. Secretary of the PDP, Yinka Mrs Kemi Adejare. God at all. They have again That is how you know a snatch ballot boxes. Adeojo; the Personal About four kilometres to loyalists of former governor

Ilesa Agog For Aregbesola’s Campaign •As Oyinlola’s Aides Join APC

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Grand Reception For Aregbesola’s Mega Rally In Ilesa •PDP Thugs Attack K1 After Rally By SHINA ABUBAKAR

HE ancient town of Ilesa was centre of attraction last Tuesday, as members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ijesa-South Federal Constituency, comprising Ilesa-West, East, Atakumosa West and East Local Government Council areas berthed in the town for its mega rally. Coincidentally, the incumbent Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, hails from the federal constituency , thus making the people vow to show solidarity with the governor, whose performance makes an average Ijesa man proud of him. Residents of various communities thronged the major roads leading to the open field of Leventis Agricultural Training Institute, venue of the rally. As early as 10.00am, party loyalists began to troop to the venue, in anticipation of party leaders, who thronged the

venue to show solidarity for the governor’s re-election bid. The Ereja Square roundabout was jam-packed with traffic, as vehicles could only manoeuvre their ways through to the venue. The venue of the rally was filled to capacity at about 12.00 noon, as several groups competing for recognition, dressed in various uniforms. OSUN DEFENDER observed on entering the town that a particular Ankara was chosen for the rally, as youths, elders, men and women dressed in the same Aso-ebi.

Similarly, the Okesa area of the town was a beehive of activities, as most people, who could not cope with the stress at the venue, were seen seated under canopies and were entertained by several musicians. Speakers after speakers at the rally charged the electorate in the state to come out en mass on August 9, 2014 and vote for Aregbesola for another four years in office, saying it remains the only way to guarantee the development of the state. A unique highlight at the rally was the open defection of some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among whom was former Osogbo local government council chairman, Teslim Igbalaye, Razak also known as KK and other

supporters of the former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Nollywood actors and musicians were not left out of the rally. Some of them, led by Toyin Adegbola and Saheed Balogun, added glamour and glitz to the rally. Similarly, Tony Tetula led other musicians came to the venue and entertained people at the rally. As Governor Rauf Aregbesola was driven into the venue, swamps of brooms were dancing in the air, welcoming the governor into the rally ground, who was accompanied by some national party leaders. A party chieftain in the state, Alhaji Fatai Diekola, while addressing the crowd, disclosed that Governor Aregbesola is not just seeking second term in office, but seek the support of the people of the state towards making Osun a pride for

indigenes at home and in the Dispora. He urged the people not to be afraid of anyone that might be attempting to intimidate or harass them before or during the polls, charging everyone in IIesa and its environs to come out and vote en-masse for Aregbesola come August 9, 2014. Diekola disclosed that the APC-led administration in the state has delivered on its 2007 electioneering campaign promises and should be reelected for another four years to further make Osun proud. It was gathered that King Wasiu Ayinde, K1, who played at the Ilesa mega rally was attacked in the town after the rally by a group of thugs suspected to be sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Full details of the attack was however not available at the time of filing this report.

leader that is committed to development,” he said. Speaking earlier, the APC Acting State Chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, stated that Aregbesola has done so much for the people of Ijesaland in terms of development, just as he has done across the state. The party chairman charged those that have not collected their voters’ cards to do so, to be able to vote on the election day and vote massively for Aregbesola. In his own address on the occasion, the first executive governor of the state, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, was optimistic that 95 per cent of the votes in Ijesaland would go for Aregbesola. Calling on the electorate to vote massively for Aregbesola for second term in office, he also charged them to stand by their votes, with a view to preventing stealing of their votes. He charged the people not to be intimidated by the antics of the opposition, who are hell-bent on taking over government by hook or crook means.

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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

2014 Governorship Election: Ilesa Stands Still For Aregbesola •Amosun Says Stomach Infrastructure, An Insult To Yoruba Race his administration will Obokun, the Oba Adekunle By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI

LESA community on Tuesday was agog as the campaign train of Governor Rauf Aregbesola moved to Ilesa on Tuesday. The mass rally shook the at Leventist Agric Open nooks and crannies of the Field at Irojo in Ilesa. ancient town, as old and As the governor entered young, men and women the ancient city through were trooping out from all Omiru, in company of the major streets in the city Ogun State Governor, to welcome the governor. Senator Ibikunle Amosun, The reception for the Oranmiyan Youth governor in the city was Vanguard in their overwhelming, as various thousands, raised the political groups, social and Oranmiyan and APC flags professional associations to welcome the governor. in their hundreds, gathered C o m m e r c i a l

motorcyclists, popularly called Okada, and horse riders, also added colour to the rally, while people were waving brooms to cheer the governor with excitement. Aregbesola and his entourage, Amosun, the first lady, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, the first Executive Governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Laoye-Tomori, among others, moved to the palace of Owa

Aromolaran. The monarch at the palace lauded Governor Aregbesola’s performance in the last three years and described the governor as a pride to Ijesa land. He urged the governor to complete all the ongoing projects in Ijesaland and reminded him of his earlier promise to build a new palace for him, while showering blessings on the governor and praying that the second term election would be an easy

ride. Responding, the governor appreciated the traditional rulers from Ijesa South for their support since the inception of his administration and promised not to disappoint them if elected for a second term He assured the traditional rulers in attendance that all the ongoing projects would be completed, while there would also be new ones that will make life better for the people, adding that

•(L-R) The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; first civilian governor in the State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat, at the Ilesa APC mega rally last Tuesday.

Osun 2014: Ijesa-South Declares Support For Aregbesola •Assures Of Their Votes By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

S the mega rally campaign train for the second term re-election bid of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola moved to Ijesa South Federal Constituency comprising of Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakunmosa East and Atakunmosa West Local Government Council areas, the electorate has once again spoken out and assuring the All Progressives Congress (APC) of victory in the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in the State of Osun. This was the view election by the grace of expressed by most of the God.” second term supporters of Mr. Wale Balogun from Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as Ilesa East cited free health, they trooped out en masse good roads, schools reand converged in Ilesa for c l a s s i f i c a t i o n a n , the mega rally. urbanisation and peaceful Olayinka Adegunju said co-existence, as advantages that the current peace being that the Ogbeni enjoyed in Osun in the past administration has been three and a half years was able to bring to bear on the an achievement on its own people of the state in just and for that, Ogbeni three and a half years of Aregbesola is fit to rule governance. again for a second term. He observed that no She attributed the recent administration has been wave of bomb blasts being able to achieve that within experienced in the state to such a small space of time, the election preparation in but Aregbesola had been the air. able to achieve that because “It is clear from that peace God has been with him. has been reigning in the He also said he was at the state for the past three years rally to support Aregbesola and the bomb blast that we because he is a son of Ijesa had experienced recently land, who has been able to was as a result of the make his people proud, election preparation and it while praying for God to help is because some criminally- him win the election. minded individuals within Mrs. Florence Olatunde the PDP are bent on ruling of Ward 2, Ipetu-Ile in the state at all cost. Obokun Local Government “The opposition is using Council Area of the state, tactics to scare the people said that as a result of the and he will never win the coming of Ogbeni Rauf

Aregbesola to government, the lifestyle of everyone in her family has changed for better. She noted that all her children and their spouses had been gainfully employed and they were now financially independent. She expressed thanks to the governor and stated that his second term in office would further improve the economy of the state and the social standing of its citizens. Johnson Adeniyi, the APC chieftain in Ward 7, Ilesa-East, said his purpose for coming to the rally was primarily to show his support for the governor. The party chieftain described the governor as a reliable person, soft-spoken and rational and he had brought it to bear on the people of the state. “His administration has been able to affect the people of the state positively and their welfare has improved. “We believe in him and know when he comes back to Abere, he would continue with his good works.” Oduwoye Ibrahim revealed that he came all the way from Iragbiji to show his support for Ogbeni Aregbesola and prayed that he would achieve victory at

the polls. He said that the governor had been able to attain allround success in all the projects he embarked upon, as attested to by the way the people embraced them. In her own view, Morufat Babatunde said she observed that the State of Osun is now better than before and that within the short period of the administration of APC, the state has witnessed better road infrastructure, potable water distribution, stable eletricity supply and provision of different basic amenities. Alhaji Rasheed Owosho, Ward 1, Okesa, Ilesa, was full of confidence that the APC and Aregbesola would trounce the other contestants because the people were behind him solidly. He identified the good projects that the governor had carried out as an evidence that he had the backing of the people. He identified the turnaround in the education sector, construction and rehabilitation of roads, peace, youth employment, care of the aged, free health care, intervention in the tuition fee of Osun higher institutions, agricultural expansion and urbanisation

as some of the laudable programmes and policies that would earn the governor a second term in office. “I believe when he gets there again, his achievements in his second term would overshadow the first.” Madam Adejare Emily revealed that Ogbeni Aregbesola has not done anything wrong that would not make him to come back for a seond term and going by all he had achieved, another ticket is sure. She admonished the electorate not to trade off their voters’ cards for peanuts, adding that by the time the election is over, the N10,000 offered in exchange for the voters’ cards by the PDP would have been exhausted. She stated that the future that the people thought was bleak had already taken a new look, due to the intervention of Ogbeni Aregbesola and Osun taken a new look, which is wearing attracted so many investors both within and internationally. Highlight of the mega rally campaign in Ilesa was the public support of the Hausa and Igbo communities in Ijesa-South and the presence of the Ogun State governor; Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his entourage.

sustain his social and welfare programme if reelected. Aregbesola, in a long convoy, moved to the venue of the rally, where he presented All Progressives Congress (APC) flag to new decampees from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Aregbesola, while addressing the mammoth crowd at the campaign rally, urged the people not to be intimidated with huge presence of security on the day of election, but come out to vote massively. He said: “The opposition are bragging to use police to harass the people, but by the grace of God, it will not be possible. The police and other security men are meant to protect us. They are funded by our collective resources. Therefore, it will not be possible to be pointing gun at innocent citizens.” The governor also advised the people not to sell their cards or give it to anybody, while urging them to report such incidents to the police. According to the governor, his administration has distributed 3,000 tablets of knowledge to pupils in public secondary schools in the federal constituency and so far spent N26 million on welfare of he aged. The governor added that his adminsiration has constructed and rehabilitated major roads in Ilesa, Atakunmonsa-East and West and promised to do more if elected for a second term. Also speaking, Governor Ibikunle Amosun described Aregbesola as an exceptional human being, who is always concerned about the welfare of the people and urged the people to vote for him. He said: “It is only a person that wants to deceive us that would be coming now to distribute rice and money. The effort of our governments is to develop our states and region in general and we have been achieving it one after the other. We are making efforts to create wealth for our people, as our leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, Bola Ige and the rest of them did it, and as we have stepped on that path, we should not allow anybody to bring us backward through lies and peanuts. “For anybody to reduce governance to “stomachinfrastructure” is an insult to the Yoruba race and we should not take it. “Aregbesola has started well and we should vote for him again so that he can complete the job,” Amosun said

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

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Osun 2014: Modakeke Youths Warn Omisore

RKED by a statement credited to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, that he would not need the votes of Modakeke people to win in the August 9, 2014 governorship election, a concerned group of youths in the town, Modakeke Youths’ League, has warned Omisore to stop playing dirty politics with the community. Rising from an emergency the votes of their meeting in the town early community to win the Tuesday morning, the August 9 governorship youths through their election. The youths recalled that spokesman, who craved for anonymity, gave Omisore a throughout the seven and a years of the seven-day ultimatum to half deny the statement credited governorship candidate in to him that he doesn’t need the senate, there was

nothing to show his impact in their community. They told him that those who are telling him that the PDP is rooted in Modakeke are only interested in what they would gain personally from him. According to the spokesman of the youths, “Omisore is a bad product in their community. He is not sellable. Why is it that it is now that he has an election to prosecute that he remembered that Modakeke people are his kinsmen? He should point out to the

number of the army of unemployed graduates in various disciplines from our community he had used his position to secure means of livelihood for. His words; “Omisore thinks the people of Modakeke are daft. So, our people should be professional voters while the Ife people should be reaping where they did not sow. Enough of this rip-off. “What efforts has Omisore made to improve the status of Modakeke from three wards to a full-

fledged local government council? Has he forgotten that at a time when the Old Oranmiyan Local Government Council consisted of eight wards, five came from Ile-Ife while the remaining three wards were from Modakeke? “Is Omisore not aware that the then five wards in the Old Oranmiyan Local Government Council have now metamophosed into two local governments - Ife Central and Ife East while the three wards in Modakeke remain three wards for over 40 years? “Now, the two-term senator wants the votes of our people. I wonder what he will base his campaign on. Prevailing events have shown that all Omisore wants from Modakeke are our votes, which he cannot have because of his sheer neglect of our people, when he had ample opportunities to be of help to the community.” The concerned youths said it was like Omisore is now being haunted by his past, a development which

makes one to believe that the former senator never believed that he would need the votes of the community one day. They reminded him of the ignoble roles he played in seizing the farmlands of Modakeke cocoa farmers at Ogudu village, where he has an arrangement with the imposed monarch of the settlement not to allow any Modakeke farmer an access to their farmlands. “Be informed that those who are professing to be your supporters in Modakeke are only interested in what they would make from you, as no freeborn Modakeke native can support any Omisore. It is a simple fact. “Those who support you now are risking confrontation from the people of the community as, if you get elected, you will originate draconian laws and regulations against the people of the community. “This is going to be the basis upon which hatred would mount against your pocket of supporters in the community.”

Lying Is PDP’s Trademark – APC •Senator Adetunji Adeleke, acknowledging cheers from the crowd at the Ilesa Mega Rally last Tuesday.

Osun Agric Commissioner Lashes Omisore Over Comment On Food Production By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI

advent of the current administration in the state. He said through poultry farming alone, the state government had generated 3,500 and 6,500 indirect employment with the revenue of N2,500,000 as revenue being profit with tax voluntarily paid by the outgrowers. Adedoyin explained that the governor has expanded the state economy through agriculture, saying the challenges posed by bad roads are no longer thaere, which has created wealth in the

TATE of Osun Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Production, Mr Wale Adedoyin, last Friday urged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore, to roll out his manifestoes instead of “lying on Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s projects.” Adedoyin said: “If Omisore in the state. has not lost his sight and human He challenged Omisore to sense of judgement, he will not produce any evidence of be saying that the agricultural performance of their party’s programme of Governor Rauf seven and a half years in Aaregbesola has not been agricultural sector, which yielding fruitful results.” according to him, was in The commissioner stated deteriorating state before the this while addressing the staff of the ministry under him in Osogbo at the Local Government Service Commission Hall during an assessment meeting with the senior and junior officers of the agencies and parastatals under By KAZEEM MOHAMMED the ministry. According to him, no OME Independent National Electoral Commission government since the creation (INEC) officials were alleged to have connived with of the state has surpassed the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to deny the huge investment by Governor electorate their voters’ cards ahead of the August 9 Aregbesola’s administration in governorship election in the State of Osun. food production, which has This is just as it has been (APC). made life easier for all the established that the major There have been alarms farmers in the state. He said Aregbesola, through reason the Osun PDP is raised by politicians of the purchasing APC extractions and the provision of various allegedly infrastructure, has made farming voters’ cards was to reduce party itself that the PDP has attractive to the youths, elite and voting strength in the resulted into massive all strata of the society, which stronghold of the All purchase of voters’ cards Congress for N10,000 each from has increased food production Progressives

economy He also stated that the government has been making fertilisers available at subsidised rates and advised Omisore to accept defeat before election and not to resort to lies and deception. Adedoyin also assured the members of staff of the ministry of improved welfare package and dismissed rumours of retrenchment, assuring that the state government would instead employ more workers.

INEC Officials Connive With PDP On Voters’ Cards Issuance

Change Of Name

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AFOLABI TEMITOPE RACHEAL, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ILIYA TEMITOPE RACHEAL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS O P A D I R A N F U N M I L O L A ADEKEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS O Y E K U N L E F U N M I L O L A CAROLINE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

innocent people of the state. Some members of the electorate have also been asked to come and register for non-existing job vacancies with their voters’ card numbers. The style of registering with voters’ cards number, the APC has alleged, was designed to clone the voters’ cards and render them useless on the election day and beyond for the owners.

The PDP is however reported to have intensified efforts in the purchase of the cards, especially now that governorship election is approaching. The major places being target were Osogbo, Iwo, Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Ikire, Ede, Ikirun, Ila, Esa-Oke and Modakeke among others. According to the source, the towns were being targeted because of the high population and the popularity of the APC and Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the areas. However, some INEC officials have allegedly started issuing voters’ cards that have not been claimed by their owners to PDP leaders in the state. Subsequently, some electorate allegedly visited INEC offices in their areas, but they could not find their voters’ cards, as they claimed that the cards have not been produced.

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun has alleged that lying remains the trademark of the Peoples Democrtaic Party (PDP) from top to bottom. The party was reacting anything wrong in telling to a statement credited to ignoble lies like the one PDP’s National Publicity Metuh has told. So Metuh Secretary, Olisa Metuh can run his mouth as that, “while its candidate dishonorably as he could. “However, the fact is: and members had been campaigning for the Osun people have never support of the people, the seen crowds since the APC had been engaging in creation of the state, and massive public political gallivanting, a rigmarole and ineffective demonstration of support for an individual as APC propaganda.” “This is not different governorship candidate, from the low-level Rauf Aregbesola, has intelligence of the Osun attracted all over the state. “Olisa Metuh may wish PDP executives,” the APC contended, because, to ask for a video of all according to the party, coverage “that Olisa Metuh is Aregbesola’s campaign unaware of the rallies and those of since the unprecedented crowds that Omisore grace APC rallies shows campaign started. If his the abysmal level of ability for rational and ignorance at the apex of intelligent comparison is functional, he PDP hierarchy, or the still sorry state of denial or both probably would like to in which the PDP wallows. withdraw his statement “Olisa Metuh is as much because against those a liar as Omisore,” the APC evidence, it would take a stupid fellow and a declared. “Metuh is not worth his criminal to say what he status as an information was reported to have said. “And for the avoidance practitioner, if all that he knew of about what is of doubt, APC would like going on in Osun is the to draw public attention to garbage that he is fed with the fact that PDP is only by his discredited PDP preparing people’s mind leadership in Osun. “We for a pre-determined had thought that he was a result, which the party is professional,” the APC fully aware will be false, unpopular and most likely said. “Another side to this to create chaos. “Where the PDP is nonsense from Olisa Metuh is a possible attempt to leading Nigeria is very create an excuse to rig the clear; it is into the dumps election by making people of a failed state,” the APC believe that the PDP is said adding that “it is now “campaigning hard” while absolutely clear that a plan the APC is supposedly is already perfected to rig in Osun election.” “gallivanting. “But the PDP will be “We know that PDP is a by the “nest of killers” as stunned described by noble determination of the people laureate, Professor Wole of Osun to choose their Soyinka, and those who leaders themselves, the are inhuman enough to be PDP’s evil plan will fail”, “killers” would not see the APC said.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

Compatriots, Jealously Guard Your Votes! As August 9 draws closer by the day we must continue to remind the electorate in our dear state of their responsibiliies; the need to vote right and to jealously guard their votes. To use the power of our thumb to vote for continuity - as the state cannot afford to do away with the level of unprecedented development going on in the state since the inception of Ogbeni Aregbesola's administration - is our first major responsibility as responsible citizens of our state. Of course we are not in doubt that the votes of our people will be for Ogbeni Aregbesola who has done the state much good.

cedent violence and rigging are their stockin-trade. And since there is no hope for them of winning the coming election through 'One man One vote' then their hope lies in repeating what they know how to do best.

But to guard our votes jealously could even be said to be more important than casting our votes. This is in view of the desperation of the far from being democratic Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial 'wannabe' in the state, Iyiola Omisore Mr. 'Money miss road', to coast home victory in the coming election. Thus while it's important to give our votes to Ogbeni, it's even more important to jealously guard our votes. This is what we need to do to ensure that the PDP doesn't succeed in its evil machinations.

This stratagem rather than strategy, being viciously employed by the PDP in the state of Osun, is what we see as 'jeun s'iku' should citizens get swayed by it. 'Jeun s'iku' literally means 'eat and die' or 'eat the food that will lead you to your grave'. The money and other forms of gift which the PDP and Iyiola Omisore rely on to buy citizens' votes are nothing but 'Greek gift' and 'blood money' and collecting them to do their biding means doing so at one's peril. It simply means sending our state back to the pre-Aregbesola era; backwater of development. May God forbid!

Already there are threats of violence from the party on members of the ruling party, APC as they (PDP) are threatening fire against APC members. Going by their ante-

But it's not enough to pray to God to forbid evil things. We the citizens must also not use our own hands to bring evil things on our heads. To collect PDP's blood money to sell

Another way through which the PDP is hoping to claim victory is by throwing money and other valuable gifts out to entice voters to sell their votes. In this regard the handwriting had for long appeared on the wall. With the distribution of kerosene to their members and some members of the public which started last year their journey to entice voters with the aim of buying their votes started.

our conscience in the coming election will be tantamount to 'jeun s'iku' the consequence of which will be dire for our state. Of course the citizens can collect the gift of money and other gifts the PDP is ready to offer them but they must not do so to do their bidding. The votes in the coming election are for Ogbeni Aregbesola who has raised the bar of good and responsible governance in the state and should never go to any other party let alone the PDP. The PDP and Iyiola Omisore are free to go about to throw carrot to the people in their desperation to capture the conscience of voters but never should the voters allow their conscience to be captured by these unscrupulous elements who have nothing to offer our state. The PDP has been in power for close to eight years here without any positive thing to show for it. All it had to show for its eight years of misrule are purely negative; violence, hunger, unemployment, collapsed school system, bad roads and general under-development across the state. And on the part of the party's candidate, 'Mr. Money miss road' himself, he too had nothing positive to show for representing the state at the highest legislative body of this country even as he held a juicy position in the Senate, being Chairman Appropriation Committee for four years. Rather than serving the people and made positive impact in their lives he was only there to serve his own pocket. So in what way are they - both the PDP and Omisore - going to effect

INEC And Osun Guber Poll to formally I write welcome you and your wonderful crew; and the entire good people of the State of Osun, the political class in particular to this election season. Finally, the long-awaited time has arrived. As I write this letter, it remains approximately one month to the d-day! I only hope that you would find a suitable space for this letter in one of your juicy packages of editions, well ahead of the August 9 ultimatum. The atmosphere is already charged with an admixture of fear, tension, hope and apprehension. What the approaching election means to an individual among these feelings is dependent on which side of the divide each person belongs to. To us the progressives, we are hopeful. How hopeful? I answer by saying that we are more hopeful than ever before. I only wish to sound a note of caution for care and vigilance. Following the electoral miscarriage of Ekiti, which produced Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor-elect,

the leading opposition in the State of Osun has renewed its bragging over winning the polls by all means and at all costs. I may not be physically present in Ekiti for the election exercise, but what I could discern so far from their ranting is that the victory has a taint of fraud. The fraud, this time around was so calculated that it took care of all stakeholders from the planning stage; blocking all chances of them to suspect any foul play. The noise of the oppoositn over their victory ahead of the August 9 election is bold and loud. At best, it could be likened to the gaffe made during the Second Republic by the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), which held sway over the political terrain by then through all crook means. One top secret which I discovered is that President Goodluck Jonathan and his Poverty Dispensing Party (PDP) are hell-bent to nail the coffin for our polity,

political system and entire nation. His wild ambition is to rule the nation by all means for another dour-year term and then hand over the baton of misrule to another worthless fellow in the camp. One measure they have devised in the conspiracy is to “capture” the entire South West in order (in their view) to silence the most potent opposition. I stand to be corrected, but I suspect that the Independent National Electoral

Commission (INEC), under the chairmanship of Professor Attahiru Jega has compromised its credibility in bargain for organizing spurious and apparent truly free, fair and credible rounds of elections across the nation. To me, nothing tends to improve in Nigeria. With each revealed strategy and tactics in election rigging and manipulation, our captors are swift to devise new smarter ones to employ in subsequent polls. Recently, the wife of the

outgoing Ekiti State governor alleged that the June 21 election was manipulated from source in favour of Fayose. That allegation should not be ignored with the wave of the hand, especially when the insistence from the PDP flag bearer in our state, Iyiola Omosore had been that another official aside Ambassador Rufus Akeju should be the chief umpire in the polls. My suspicion is that Omisore and the powers he represents had found Akeju intractable in their manipulative plot. Now that a temporary redeployment has been effected in answer to their prayers, I call on the leadership of the APC and the law enforcement agencies to monitor and keep Agbaje in close tab. It is not impossible that the reshuffle was made deliberately to give the PDP an upper hand in the polls. Much as we know, given a credible process, Omisore and his party cannot win any election against Aregbesola and the APC in the State of Osun. We should not be ignorant of the devises of the enemy. We should tread with caution so as not to play into the hands of captors. Osun a dara o! •MUSTAPHA OLAYIWOLA, Lokore, IleIfe, the State of Osun.

any meaningful change in the life of the state as they are shouting around? We know that the virtuous and responsible citizens of our state who have enjoyed dividends of democracy in unprecedented term under the able and visionary leadership of Ogbeni Aregbesola will not waste their votes. We are sure they are not going to sell their conscience. We believe fervently that their votes will be for Aregbesola as they are not ready to 'jeun s'iku'. However,as we said above it's one thing to vote, the next important task before them come election day after voting is for them to protect their votes. Our people must guard their votes jealously so that these visionless elements who rely on vote stealing like they did in 2007 and who have nothing to offer the state and its people don't succeed in their fraudulent and evil plans. For them not to succeed the ball is in the court of the people. Our responsibilities are clear; to vote and to protect our votes. These are what we must do to ensure the return of the Aregbesola-led progressive government that has done so well for our state.

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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the above mail address. ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

All Progressives Congress (APC) 2014 Governorship Re-election Of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s Mega Rally In Ilesa, State Of Osun, Last Tuesday. Photo: GBEGAADENIYI And SHOLAADERINTO.

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•A long queue of vehicles during the rally.

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•A sea of heads of Aregbesola’s supporters at the Ilesa mega rally.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

PHOTOTALK

All Progressives Congress (APC) 2014 Governorship Re-election Of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s Mega Rally In Ilesa, State Of Osun, Last Tuesday. Photo: GBEGAADENIYI And SHOLAADERINTO.

•Some of the Aregbesola supporters and admirers.

•Some of the ecstatic APC supporters in Ilesa.

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•Aregbesola (on top of a bus), acknowledging cheers from public school pupils in Ilesa on his way to the rally.

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

All Progressives Congress (APC) 2014 Governorship Re-election Of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s Mega Rally In Ilesa, State Of Osun, Last Tuesday. Photo: GBEGAADENIYI And SHOLA ADERINTO.

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•First civilian governor, State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (top left), addressing the crowd, during Aregbesola’s re-election campaign mega rally in Ijesa-South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun, last Tuesday

•Governor Aregbesola (on top of a bus), acknowledging cheers from the supporters and admirers on his way to the venue of the mega rally in Ilesa.

FEATURE

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

Reasons Why The Good People Of Osun Should Vote For Ogbeni Aregbesola Again Aregbesola RAUF Adesoji popularly called “Omo Iya Olobi, is an embodiment of the principles, attributes and virtues laid down in the Holy Books through the mouth of the Prophets of God. This is why Aregbesola is an “uncommon leader”. Who is a leader?What are the qualities of a leader and how has Ogbeni exhibited these leadership virtues and qualities. 1. A leader leads by spirit and inspiration of God and not by sight or dictation. To be led by the spirit and inspiration of God, you must believe in God and have relationship with God. Ogbeni believes so much in Almighty God and always attributed his success to the hand of God. The Bible in II Chronicles 20:20 and Quran 65:2-3 says when you believe in your God, He will establish you and bring blessing upon you. Shortly after Ogbeni became governor he convened a meeting of spiritual leaders (Christians and Muslims) in Osun, in one of the meetings, while he was giving his address, they were clapping for him but he stopped them and said “Don’t clap for me, rather, clap for Almighty God, because if a small David like me could defeat a goliath like Oyinlola, it is nothing but the hand of God and I will stop at nothing in promoting that God”. 2. A leader should be a source of encouragement and inspiration to his people. The Bible in Galatian 6:2 and Quran in 28:77 and 2:25 says we should do good to our neighbours or people by bearing their burdens. Ogbeni loves putting smile on the faces of the people. When he was commissioner in Lagos, he could go to any length to assist the poor, the physicallychallenged and the unemployed youth. As the leader of a youth coalition then: “Nigerian Youth for Drug Free”, I have records of numbers of the youth that he went all his way to secure employment for. The most amazing is that he did not stop at ministries, he gave many youths letters to Banks, companies and private firms. Little wonder when he became governor, he established many outfits to create employment opportunities to ease the burden of unemployment in Osun. 3. A leader should be an epitome of humility. Ogbeni’s lifestyle exhibits humility in totality. You can never see pride in him. The Bible in 1 Peter 5:6 and Quran 31:17-18 says that we should humble ourselves under his mighty hand and not be a braggart boaster. Ogbeni respects the old and the young.He is a true Yoruba man when it comes to respect for elders. By virtue of his humility, he is able to adapt himself to every class of people, the low, the average and the underprivileged. 4. A true leader must seek the face of God in prayer for himself and his people. It is an established fact that Ogbeni is a prayer warrior. The Bible in Thessalonians 5:17/Luke 18:1 and Quran 25:17/2:186 says that we should always pray and that God will only have interest in our prayer. Ogbeni will never miss his prayer time. Many at times, he will break important meeting to go and pray. It is on record that he fasts, at least, four times every week. His present stature is not because of sickness or malnutrition but the evidence of a man who is sold to

•AREGBESOLA By OMOFUNMILEWAADE-JOMBO

fasting. 5. A leader should lead by example and not by precept. See the lifestyle of Prophet Mohammed and Jesus Christ in the Bible in Mathew 4:19-20 and Quran 33:21, Ogbeni will never ask his people to follow a path and then stay behind. In the struggle for his mandate, he was always at the forefront even in the face of gun. In all the walk through embarked upon in Osun, he was always in the front. When he created O’YES, he put his son among them even when he has the opportunity to put his son in a far better position. 6. A leader should be disciplined and have integrity. The Bible in Philippian 4:8 and Quran 23:1-8 talks about disciplining the members of our body and live a modest virtuous and praiseworthy life style. The crux of Nigerian problems today is because most leaders have no integrity and are not discipline. But Ogbeni is very disciplined and has earned integrity. He does not take to womanising, smoking, drinking or unruly behaviour. 7. A leader should be trustworthy. A governor is the custodian of the wealth and money of the state. Any leader who is extravagant or flamboyant cannot manage the wealth of the state judiciously. It’s only a man with simplicity and contentment that can be entrusted with the wealth of the state. The Bible in Philippian 4:12 and Quran 23:63-67 enjoined us to live a life of contentment, modesty and not flamboyancy or extravagancy. You can entrust the wealth of Osun into Ogbeni’s hand and you will be sure that he will not abuse it. If you meet Ogbeni

walking on the road without entourage, you can’t take him to be a councillor talk less of a governor. You can see his simplicity and modesty in the nature of cloths, shoes, wrist watch etc that he wears. We used to make jest of him when he was commissioner because he used to wear low quality and cheap wristwatch. At a point, he started turning the face of his wristwatch backward so that we would not see the face. He does not believe in buying expensive things or acquiring wealth. As a two-term commissioner for works in Lagos, while in service, apart from the official residence in GRA Ikeja, he built only one house in Akowonjo, the suburb of Lagos. When he left government office and needed a private office to do private business, he has to hire an apartment at Omole Bus-Stop, Ojodu, Lagos. Osun’s money is secure in his hand. 8. A leader should have answers to the problems, yearnings and aspirations of his people. Reading through the Bible and Quran with particular reference to Prophet Mohammed and Jesus Christ, they came to solve numerous problems and proferred solutions to the yearnings and aspiration of the people. When Ogbeni came into governance, he knew that his people needed good roads, food on their table, employment for the youths, security for their lives and property, standard quality education, improvement in moral standard of the youths. Within three and a half years, he has solved greater percentage of these problems, yearnings and aspirations by injecting some programmes into the system. In the education sector, the first thing he did was re-introduction of those old songs that will inspire moral values in the life

of the pupils and prepare them as future leaders e.g. Ise logunIse, Bata re a rokokoka etc. This was followed by the Opon-Imo and others. Other programmes include O’ this, O’ that. Today, we have good roads, employment for the unemployed youths, production of more food through improved agricultural schemes, security on the road and at home, rural development, hope for the poor and underprivileged. 9. A leader should be tolerant and devoid of vengeance. Ogbeni doesn’t believe in vengeance. The Bible in Psalm 94:1 and Quran 178-179 admonished that we should not avenge the evil deeds done against us by our adversaries and enemies. Ogbeni was tortured and threatened to point of death by the then government in power. But when he became the governor of the State of Osun, he refused to persecute them even when some of his associates and followers wanted him to revenge. He always says: “Vengeance belongs to God”. 10. A leader must lead his people and make sacrifice for them. Ogbeni is a leader that is ready to spend for his people. The Bible in John 15:12 and Quran in 4:135 says that we should love one another as God loves us and that the greatest love is that a man lays down his life for his people. Out of love and concern for the people of Osun, Ogbeni risked his life in the hand of the then government of the PDP, so that he could bring the true dividend of democracy to his people. He nearly lost his life. Today, there is evidence of true dividends of democracy in Osun despite that Osun is one of the least viable states in Nigeria. 11. A leader must be an agent of transformation and must have a focus destination where he is taking his people to. He must not leave his people worst or poorer than he met them but must take them from their present condition to a better condition. Ogbeni has achieved this leadership role through the opening and construction of new roads and his numerous programmes on health, education, electrification/development of rural areas; improved production of food through government assistance to farmers, creating employment opportunities for the youths, housing scheme and establishment of O’ YES,. 12. A leader must value his people and the mandate given to him. Ogbeni started from the scratch. He struggled through thick and thin to get to the top and the position where he is now. He was not born with silver spoon. No man values what he never suffered for. He suffered to get there and that is why he places a lot of value on the mandate you gave him and the welfare of the people of Osun. Comparing Ogbeni with his predecessors, it is crystal clear that his government has delivered to the good people of Osun the dividends of democracy more than any previous government in the state. Conclusion: Considering the qualities, life style, background and performance of Ogbeni Aregbesola, he is the best alternative compared to candidates of other parties. You have done it before, you can do it again. See the catalogue of his achievements in the next edition.

FEATURE

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

When Ede Stood Still For Aregbesola, Adeleke at the ancient WHAT happened city of Ede, the hot-bed of Osun politics, on July 8, 2014 has gone a long way to prove, without any iota of doubt, that the All Progressives Congress (APC), is indeed alive and well-embraced by the electorate of the town, where Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the first executive governor of the State of Osun and the ASIWAJU of the town still calls the shot and at the commanding height of its politics as a Commander Order of the Niger (C.O.N). It was the day, the amiable and humble Isiaka Adeleke, proved cynics wrong, by showing that he is fully in control of political machineries in Edeland and beyond. He manifested the electorate’s trust in him as an ever-dependable leader, whom they could continue to rely on as a selfless politician, with milk of human kindness flowing in his veins. July 8, 2014 in Ede, marked a positive turning point for the APC, since 2011 general election fiasco. Party faithful in their tens of thousands, spontaneously trooped out to make a point, that their darling party remains the beloved of the grassroots people. They were clad in Ankara print (EGBE JODA), with Mofla, scarfs and fez caps done in APC colours. What a sight to behold! As early as 7a.m, they massed at both the Ede South and North secretariats of APC at Mosebolatan and Okegada respectively, to partake in what eventually turned out to be a mega rally. The type that has not been witnessed in recent times. Give it to the APC faithful, they conducted themselves in orderly and matured manner. So much, so that, the policemen deployed to oversee the event, were virtually on holiday. At both secretariats of the party, gaily dressed party men and women danced merrily to the melodious songs by different musicians, as they waited eagerly for the arrival of ‘SERUBAWON’ himself, Senator Isiaka Adeleke and the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. At the dot of 12.00 noon, Isiaka Adeleke arrived in a convoy of cars to a tumultuous welcome from the ecstatic members and “hell” was literally let loose. Serubawon was full of ‘infectitous’ smile and appreciation to the cheering crowd. “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.” From Mosebolatan APC Ede South Secretariat, Adeleke and other party leaders, drove through the three-kilometre stretch of Babangida Way, which is the heart of the town, down to Timi’s Palace, into the waiting hands of Ede North APC members. Now you may ask, what really was at stake? It was a continuation of the statewide campaign rallies organized by the Osun APC chieftains to drum support for Ogbeni Aregbesola’s second term in office as governor. Most importantly, it was an event to showcase Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s

•AREGBESOLA

on Adeleke as a true leader of the party in Ede, and of course, a politician they look up to, to bring grip of politics in Edeland, contrary to about greater cohesion in APC in the the opinions sold out to the electorate state, going by his splendid by the opposition. performance at the 2011 presidential In the course of the movement poll, where he was the only politician, through the Babangida Way to the that recorded more than 75% of palace, residents, irrespective of party votes for President Jonathan from his affiliations, came out to share in the two local government council areas. joy of the moment, chanting and Adeleke went down the memory shouting, “Serubawon, Serubawon; lane. He informed the ecstatic crowd, Isiaka is our man o”. Vehicular which included the former governor movement was at a standstill. APC of old Oyo State, Dr. Victor Omololu slogans, even from unexpected Olunloyo, that he came to Ede in quarters, rent the air. Ede was agog 1986 to boost the economic for Adeleke and APC. Pessimism development of his home town, with went to sleep. Optimism reigned the establishment of Pacific Farm, instead. Love and affection for which gave employment opportunities Adeleke took over the air. It was to many people. This he said, was reminiscent of January 2, 1992, when followed by his emergence as the first Adeleke rode triumphantly into Ede executive governor of Osun State, after he was sworn-in as the first during which he was able to put many executive governor of Osun State and Ede indigenes in local government Ede became a ‘Mecca’ of a sort. administration, some of whom are The arrival of the state governor today directors in different cadres. signaled the events to follow. Senator Adeleke was prompt to tell the Adeleke at this point insisted that all cheering audience, that though he was party leaders and supporters should not instrumental to the establishment come out of their cars and trek the of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, the distance for the rally, which was the credit of which goes to Alhaja political carnival of 2014 in Osun Ramota Adisa, he however facilitated State. Pronto, the walk-of-joy started the take-off grant of N60 million from from Oja-Timi to Polytechnic Road, Babangida’s administration. passing through Isiaka Adeleke To cap it all, Adeleke told the ancestral home at Bode axis, bursting audience, that the first private out at Ojularede Avenue and emerged University to be owned by a dynasty at Agip area and back to Adventist was established by his Adeleke family Grammar School, where the carnival in Ede. He further said that work on reached a crescendo, with the the permanent site of the university multitude of people not less than would soon be completed and 80,000 in attendance, even though it hundreds of Ede indigenes would be was a Ramadan period. gainfully employed. Cheers of Addresses were delivered by party Serubawon at this stage rented the leaders, with encomiums showered air. By OLUMIDE LAWAL

From here, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took over in his charming and disarming manner, eulogising Ede electorate for the fantastic outing he witnessed on that day, affirming that since the rallies started, he had never witnessed such a mammoth crowd, who were so committed and loyal to the cause of APC. Aregbesola said, with what he saw at Ede, he could go and sleep with his two eyes closed with the assurance of more than 90% of Ede vote coming the way of APC. He told the Ede Federal Constituency audience, that in the course of his second term in office, a 1,000 Agbale Housing Estate will be built in Ede town, while the Akoda to Erinle water work stretch of road would be dualised, as well as the revamping of Ede Cocoa Products Industry of which an Ede indigene, Sir Adewale Adeeyo, is the chairman. On possibility of intimidation and harassment from any quarter, Aregbesola told his audience to be vigilant, unrelenting and not to exhibit any act of cowardice. Rather, they should follow all electoral laws, so as to be above board and prove that they are patriotic Nigerians, only out to exercise their civic responsibilities. It should be emphasised however, that some APC chieftains should be cautious in their speeches at rallies, as nothing would be gained from their inciting utterances to the electorate. They should watch their tongues and not heat up the polity for no just cause at this particular time. They should discuss issues rather than provocative language. Also, Ogbeni Aregbesola should ensure, that the silent frosty relationship between Adeleke and some current elected APC members, who see Adeleke defection into APC as a threat to the furtherance of their ambition should be nipped in the bud, if they will not be seeing to be working at cross purposes. This is the home truth and a hidden fact, that those concerned may not want to play up. Senator Adeleke should continue to extend olive branches to all stakeholders to work with him and APC and make Ede nay Osun State an ELDORADO. He should employ his large-heartedness and magnanimity to reach out to everybody. All eyes are now on him to deploy his magic wands to polish the image of the party and correct certain just and unjust misgivings about Aregbesola from some quarters, which is expected in competitive politics. Osun electorate are wiser and they are ready to ensure continuity of the projects already initiated by Aregbesola. From what happened at Ede 2014 APC Mega Rally, the political equation seems changed in Edeland, where Isiaka Adeleke holds the ace. OSUN 2014, IT IS AREGBESOLA VERSUS AREGBESOLA. •LAWAL contributes this piece from Ede, State of Osun.

INTERVIEW

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

Aregbesola ‘ll Defeat Omisore Convincingly - Senator Adeyeye Senator Sola Adeyeye is representing Osun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly and is currently the Director-General (DG) of Governor Rauf Aregbesola Re-Election Committee. In this interview with OLUWOLE IGE, he speaks on the factors that will guarantee victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the August 9, governorship election, the opposition parties, the Ekiti saw that the PDP had a walk through election, among other issues. Excerpts:

OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola had said that if Senator Iyiola Omisore was picked as PDP’s standard bearer, he would just go to sleep because the election would be a walkover for him. However, the governor appears to be stepping up campaign despite the emergence of Omisore. Is the governor jittery or what? All human beings, including politicians, speak in hyperbole. So, when Aregbesola said he was going to sleep if Omisore emerged as the candidate of the PDP, he was not being literal because no matter how weak your opponent is, you cannot go to sleep. Even, with your eyes opened in Nigeria, your mandate can be stolen, how much less when you go to sleep. In the very recent history of Osun, Aregbesola can never forget that by 2007, he was equally loved by the people, but the apparatus of federal might was used to supplant his mandate and he had to fight a tough battle to get that mandate restored. To me, Aregbesola cannot allow that history to repeat itself. I was not allowed to vote for myself in 2007. So, that is why we are going round educating the people not to sell their votes for a pot of porridge and not be like the Esau of Bible who, because of belly aching, sold all his inheritance. We know without a shadow of doubt that of all the major characters in the PDP, the weakest that could have been nominated to face Governor Aregebesola is indeed Omisore. You must not forget that less than four years ago, we had an election in which erstwhile governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor IsiakaAdeleke, Senator Omisore contested for opportunities to go to the Senate. Of all of them, Adeleke performed the best and won in two local governments in Ede, coming second was Oyinlola, who did not win his local government because I won in OdoOtin. At least, Oyinlola won in his own ward. Of the three of them, only one candidate could not win his local government and his ward, but he narrowly won in his polling booth. It was in his constituency throughout Osun that we had violence in 2011. Despite the threats and wanton display of intimidation, our youngest candidate for the Senate, Babajide Omoworare trounced Omisore mercilessly and I have no doubt that in the coming election, Omisore will meet his waterloo. It has been severally alleged that Aregbesola, who often preaches peace and harmony, seems to be resorting to self-help by grooming some violent young men, known in Osun as “State Boys” ahead of the election. At any public function and campaigns, he always recognises them. What is your take on this? With unemployment that is raging the country now, you will know that the state government has no choice than to find a creative way to arrest the attention of many of these young unemployed youths. Part of the efforts of doing that is the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) programme, where people are brought in and paid some stipend and are also trained so that they may have a means of livelihood without permanently looking for government job. The truth is the “area boys” that nag

•ADEYEYE

Lagos, thanks to Asiwaju BolaTinubu, many of them were recruited into LATSMA and parking agents. The scourge of “area boys” in Lagos has now been tempered. It is unfortunate that Osun does not have one tenth of resources of Lagos. If Osun has the same resources of Lagos, by now those people you are calling “state boys” would have been creatively deployed into various means of livelihood. In the meantime, they are just essentially being used as community patrol to prevent crime. But, you should know that because of the background from which they are coming, many of them can get very overzealous. Some of us complained about what we saw in some places, but upon investigation, PDP people worn APC uniforms and started a crisis to attack our people. It was these “state boys”, who then ran to the place and rescued the situation before police came. Having said that, there is something about violence, once it starts, it’s like cancer, it will spread and that is why every serious government does everything to make sure that violence does not start within its domain. Aregbesola has that commitment. I assure you that anyone who breaks the law, whether the person is”state boy” or federal boy or local government boy, will pay for whatever crime they commit. I want to assure you that we will not condone any form of

violence from anybody, even from our own party. The Aregbesola that I know is the one who will not condone violence from anybody. Osun APC has been accused of mobilising its supporters and members from many local governments to a particular community or town where campaign is held, instead of mobilising people in that community and consequently ascertainthe level of the party’s popularity. When we have mega rallies, it is a celebration of our strength. It is a demonstration of your capacity or a way of saying let’s come together and examine issues. When you bring a man from Ila to Iwo, he can see whether Iwo has done better or worse and he can learn from it. In any case, no politician will change a formula that has worked well. The concept of mega rallies was how Aregbesola ran his campaigns in 2007. We had many rallies, but we had nine special rallies at the headquarters of federal constituencies. It is only to those rallies that we brought people from everywhere so that, together, you can see the strength in the state. Anyone who was in Ikirun last week would know that if everybody at that rally votes for Aregbesola, we have won the election. There is no question; it is that kind of capacity that we are demonstrating. Only a few days ago, we

Osogbo. I just imagine if you ask any of our House of Representative members, you will see the kind of crowd we will get. If we ask Aregbesola to walk in Osogbo today from Abere all the way to Ajegunle, the crowd will be non-stop. We want to show them that our party is loved in this state. We own this state because what we have done is being appreciated by the people. That’s why we have mega rallies. It is a formula we have used in the past and you don’t change what works for you. What has the Osun APC learnt from the defeat it suffered in Ekiti governorship election? Honestly, I have been reading endlessly, reports about what happened in Ekiti. First, I am glad few days ago when the Guardian wrote a fantastic piece on Fayemi’s performance. Almost in every newspaper, you get rising commendation of KayodeFayemi. Everybody has said he did well. If that is the case, we have only two conclusions. It is either that the election was stolen and that we don’t know the mechanism of thievery yet. But God is eternal;there is no secret that he will not reveal. I am confident that the revelation will not take a long time before it comes out because we are carrying out investigation. There was some stealing that we are yet to decode or that Ekiti people made an error. If they made an error, I guarantee you it will not take six months that they themselves will come to the realisation that they have made an error. This is because Ekiti people are learned, intelligent and the chicken will always come home to roost. I don’t believe what happened in Ekiti will repeat itself in Osun. Let me tell you the reason. Let’s cast our minds to three years ago, when we had the election of 2011. In 2011 when we held the presidential election, it was not an election we were held under spell. We had a man who can only claim he has been a lucky man and what he did in office has shown that he doesn’t have the capacity to hold the Presidency and to deliver the goods that the Nigerians needed. On the contrary, let us say we have another man that when he was out in charge of EFCC, he had the capacity to take the cankerworm that paralysed Nigeria. Only one state out of 36 states in Nigeria was wise enough to know that choosing Jonathan was a total tragedy and you have seen what he has done in the last three years. Are we better off in any infrastructure? Are we better off in area of security? Are we better off in area of national cohesion? Are we better off in the rule of law? Are we better off in even the tenets of democracy? Osun demonstrated in 2011 that, even if Adamawa, Yobe, Borno would not vote for their own son, Osun is wise enough to know that they can make the right choice. Osun demonstrated that, even if Lagos could make the wrong choice, Osun would make the right choice. Osun is unique because we have articulate and good leadership. That is why we are supremely confident that by the grace of God, Osun people will make the best choice on August 9, if there is a free and fair election. •Culled from TRIBUNE

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

A Meta-commentary On The Ekiti Election

•AREGBESOLA

•OMISORE

•FAYOSE

Although the Osun State governorship election is around the ‘corner, speculations about the possible influence or bandwagon effect of the Ekiti election on that election must consider the realities of Osun politics. Three things are clear: Osun is not Ekiti. Rauf Aregbesola is not Fayemi. And Iyiola Omisore is not Fayose, although they both caught the same bolekaja figure. Aregbesola’s popularity in Osun is not a fluke, while Omisore’s negative baggage tops his positive attributes. In a way, Aregbesola has Fayose’s mass appeal, but without Fayose’s negative baggage. True, Aregbesola has delved into some controversial projects, but the controversies were politically motivated, being drummed up by the opposition, precisely for its possible electoral value. The truth is that Aregbesola’s policies, programmes, and projects are as widely accepted as he is popular. - By NIYI AKINNASO

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•Culled from The Punch of July 1, 2014.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, July 17, 2014

PHOTOTALK

All Progressives Congress (APC) 2014 Governorship Re-election Of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s Mega Rally In Ilesa, State Of Osun, Last Tuesday. Photo: GBEGAADENIYI And SHOLAADERINTO.

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•A mammoth crowd of Aregbesola’s admirers at the rally.

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•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle), welcoming the bidwigs of the PDP who decamped to the APC at the re-election campaign of Aregbesola in Ilesa last Tuesday.

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TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2014 S we get to the A countdown period of fate-decider Gubernatorial Election of the State of Osun, it is imperative to remind ourselves of some events that may likely spur us to take rational decisions concerning those to be entrusted with our mandate come August 9, 2014. This is necessary against the backdrop of our proclivity to dare consequences, albeit irrationally, of our actions. This characteristic has largely been responsible for the emblematic retrogression that is peculiar to us; and the needless attendant agony that we often smart in through our existence as a sovereign Nation. Although we still see ourselves as people basking in freedom, the dehumanization that is laced therein is worse than that being experienced by those in slavery. Self-determination is germane to human freedom; that is why rational Human Beings would do everything humanly possible to ensure that the right to personal discretion and resistance against perverseness and oppression are guaranteed. It is for this reason that anyone should feel compelled to do a critical x-ray of what has been our experience over the years. We have been living like strangers in our land of nativity because the right to self-determination is not guaranteed. What we don’t want is foisted on us as if we are accursed to be Nigerians. There is no government ever formed at the centre in Nigeria that we can boast of as popular because the majority always have their wish, not their way because the former is upturned to usher in those anointed and approved by the oligarchs. Very disheartening though, we cannot boast of being near the bay of contentment and satisfaction, because we have been stripped of our human essence by the self-imposed leaders; and as if it is not enough to be involuntary and unwilling followers, the conscience we nurture is beleaguered with craftiness and battered by adulation of deception that is often applied to momentarily assuage our causative wounds by those who want to take us for a ride. Unfortunately, we have developed very thick and stubborn skins that propel us to endure the pains of wounds that darts thrown at us by the ruling class incessantly inflict on both our physical and mental frames. Our frailties are increasingly multiplying because those ruling us have sworn on oaths that the masses must be made to systematically sign treaty with idealistic impoverishment. Our undoing in Nigeria is pathologically caused by Personalities who come together on oaths to carve a comfort zone for themselves and pitch agony tents in zones of excruciating pains for others. As it was in the beginning (at

By ADE OLUGBOTEMI

Lest We Forget

•AREGBESOLA

independence), so it has been all along in our Nationhood, and so it is even now; as if it is divinely destined to be so. We are well conscious of this problem as long as we have survived as a Nation; that is why we coin the word “DEMO” to describe those who always form a clique in the name of a political party to thwart the popular will of the people to be ruled by Leaders of choice, only to forcefully exert their hegemony over us. Such individuals flagrantly disregard piety in policy formulation and execution. They are generally known as nonperformers because there is no strict adherence to work plans (if there are at all). When Nigeria became a Republic in 1963, it was Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), in collaboration with Zik’s National Council for Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). In the second Republic, it was National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in collaboration with Zik’s Nigerian People’s Party (NPP). Since 1999 when the third Republic came on board, it has been Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) till date. Every Nigerian is aware that PDP, like her Precursors, has never won

any Elections in Nigeria; yet they have been collaborating with notable individuals and groups in our Country to rig popular Parties and Candidates out. That is why PDP will remain unaccountable to the Electorate because they are conscious of never having enjoyed popular support ever. Our Rulers make promises during campaigns; they promise to do many things paradoxically unimaginable and unfathomable. Some of them go extra miles to do what their nature and character could normally not accommodate. That accounts for why a two-term Senator, Iyiola Omisore, who was elusive to his Constituents as Representative in the Senate will suddenly become Okada Riders’ playmate and Corn-sellers’ Soul-mate: all because August 9 Election is around the corner. When considering promises, we must take pragmatism into consideration for the benefit of hindsight; so as not to fall to errors that rhetorics predate. Any Political Parties that roll out manifesto programmes now must be assessed holistically. We have Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Centre; and the All Progressives

Congress (APC) is ruling in many States of the Federation. We must be rational and logical enough to juxtapose the scorecards of these two major Political Parties as they affect the lives of ordinary Nigerians on the streets. Today, many PDP States have backlogs of unsettled salary arrears, and provision of social amenities is begging for attention; an indication that the much orchestrated Central Might and Mainstream Politics are thoroughly jinxed under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. Here in Osun, we have many things to learn from. We may at this juncture have to discountenance military interregnum. We must concentrate on our fifteen years of democratic rule for meaningful assessment. Coincidentally, PDP has steered the ship of governance for seven and a half years, while Alliance for Democracy (AD) ruled for four years. The same AD has metamorphosed and grown to become All Progressive Congress that has been in the saddle for three and a half years; a matter of 50-50 one would say. We are rational enough to spot the difference and see which of the two political groupings has been more beneficial in terms of life-changing policies and programmes that have been put in place and executed. It is crystal clear that both the Parties and Personalities involved in the fast approaching fierce political contest are known inside-out. The two major Contenders (as of Parties and Personalities) are well known to the people of the State of Osun who will troop out en-mass on August 9, 2014 to cast their votes. Chameleonic overtures must not be allowed credence to blindfold the people. Fallacy must be stripped of prominence. We must all hold high our integrity. We must repudiate sentimental and emotional cajoling that may likely dub the campaigns as we go deep into the count-down period. The Elites and Stakeholders must hold firm the radar and mobilize in such an objective manner that the changing face of our environment through projects that are propelled by visionary leadership is not impeded. Limbless flood will not relent in its effort to render homeless the man well given to industry that resulted in him putting in place a magnificent edifice; it is the house Owner that must passionately, fiercely, and vehemently resist limbless flood, so that the labour and toils of many years that resulted in beauties to behold are not allowed to go down in ruins. Pains of transformation have so long been borne and endured in the State of Osun, the paeans that are beginning to sprout require a little patience to blossom; and it is he that endures to the end that will be fit to reap the benefits to the fullest. Osun o ni baje o o.

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.