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SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2014 In what manner do we accommodate what ought to be the backbone of democracy the ‘social contract’ in the age of what is now known as “infrastructure of the stomach”? The question is crucial now. The concept of a social
VOL. 9. NO.089
Front Page Comment THE SOCIAL CONTRACT contract should be the engine room of a democratic process. The social contract lays out the obligations of those who command the executive to those who elected
them into office in the first place. There ought to be no contradiction in complimenting infrastructure of the stomach (the immediate
quick-fix) with the long term duties and commitments inherent in a social contract. In just a few weeks down the road, the issue of“stomach infrastructure” as opposed to or in relation to the obligation Continue on pg5
Who Killed Chief Bola Ige, formerAttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice?
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August 9 Gov Election:
Osun People Reject Omisore’s Rice, Kerosene •Ex-PDP Gov Confirms His Unpopularity
- See Story On Page 2
•Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (left) and Honourable Lasun Yusuff representing Osogbo/ Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives when the Osun School Feeding Programme, O’ Meal vendors, endorsed Aregbesola for second term in office at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, recently. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
August 9 Gov Election: Osun People Reject Omisore’s Rice, Kerosene •PDP Ex-gov Confirms His Unpopularity
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HE people of the State of Osun have started rejecting the rice and kerosene being distributed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to get votes in the August 9 governorship election in the state. It would be recalled that the people. However, it was the PDP, in the recent time, has started distributing rice recently discovered that and kerosene to woo the the PDP has allegedly been electorate, with a view to distributing expired rice securing favour for its and adultrated kerosene to unsuspecting governorship candidate, the Iyiola Omisore, having members of the public to realised that the governor get their voters’ cards. Information at the of the state and the All Progressives Congress medium’s disposal has (APC) candidate, Ogbeni shown that the popularity Rauf Aregbesola, has been of the PDP candidate has registered in the minds of seriously retrogressed the
more, as the people of the state have been rejecting the rice and kerosene offered. To this end, a former PDP governor in one of the South-West states has passed vote of no confidence on Omisore, having realised that he is not popular among the people of the state. It was learnt that the former governor, who was part of Omisore’s campaign train recently, discovered that his popularity was not to be reckoned with, as people rather cheered him with
brooms, the APC symbol in their hands. Those that did not come out with brooms in their
hands, a reliable source said, folded their arms and watched Omisore’s convoy with disdain. Having seen the handwriting on the wall, the former governor was
Osun Deputy Speaker Distributes Free Uniforms To Pupils By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
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HE Deputy Speaker of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye, has distributed free school uniforms to the pupils of public elementary and middle schools in his constituency. Akintunde currently phase of the lawmaker ’s represents Osogbo State gesture were Christ African Constituency in the state Middle School, Araromi; parliament. Christ African Elementary Among the schools that School, Isale-Ijebu; Laro benefitted from the first Middle School; Muslim
Osun PDP Is Too Violent For Me To Stay - Akinbade By ISMAEEL UTHMAN
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HE governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the State of Osun, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, has revealed many reasons behind his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite his leadership role in the party. Akinbade said he hijacking the structure of resolved to dump the PDP, the PDP for their when it was glaring that ambition. the party was ‘beyond The former PDP redemption’ due to the chairman in the state excesses and violent stated that there was no nature of some of the internal democracy in the chieftains of the party, PDP and that he could not who were hell-bent on withstand the violent
nature of some of the bigwigs of the party, hence his resolution to take solace in the LP. Akinbade stated this at the last edition of Channels Television programme tagged: Politics Today, held last Sunday. He said: “There is no internal democracy in the PDP. For those of us that are peaceful, the party was not comfortable for us, and then we decided to leave
reportedly quoted to have unconsciously said: “Friend, it is like you are not popular here and we must intensify our efforts in winning that election by all means.”
the PDP. Where there is no internal democracy, there will not be progress. “We discovered that some people in the PDP are violent in nature and they could go to any length to protect their ambition, so we, the peaceful politicians, left the party for them.” It would be recalled that Akinbade was the Secretary to the State Government during former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration. He was sacked by Oyinlola alongside Elder Peter Babalola, who was the Chief of Staff to the Governor and some commissioners earlier in 2010 for their political ambition. Stating while he chose to contest the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the state, Akinbade said, he was encouraged by the people
of the state to contest, adding that the confidence that the electorate have in him bears it all for his ambition. Akinbade, who stated that he decided to contest under the LP because the party was people-based and friendly, described his ambition as long over-due. Commenting on the achievements of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Akinbade, who acknowledged the massive construction of roads in all nooks and crannies of the state, said the administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not transparent for him to judge the level of its performance. He called on the electorate to go out en masse on election day in a peaceful and orderly manner and vote for the candidate of their choice.
Middle School; Ogidan Middle School; A.U.D Elementary School, OkeBaale; A.U.D Elementary School, Isale Osun, all in Osogbo and Gaa Fulani Normadic School. Presenting the uniforms to each of the pupils, the lawmaker said the distribution of the uniform was aimed at complementing the efforts of the present administration in the area of education. “Originally, the government has been distributing uniforms to pupils in anticipation that parents would buy for their wards, but unfortunately for one reason or the other, they couldn’t afford it. “When it came to my notice that some pupils still come to school with tattered uniforms, I decided to purchase some uniforms from my own money, as part of payback to my constituents. “I did this because I know that these pupils would not be happy in these tattered uniforms, neither would their parents be happy in such situation and this is to, at least, make them happy,” he said. Appreciating the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Agbesola, for feeding the pupils with nutritious meals, he said if the kids are wellfed and have good cloth to put on, they would be mentally alert to learn, as the government would want them to. The lawmaker promised not to put a stop to the gesture, saying: “We will not stop this kind of gesture, as we will continue to do this to ensure that our children get the best in terms of education.”
Police ’ll Arrest Akere, Diekola - Omisore Boasts By SHINA ABUBAKAR
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HE Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the State of Osun, Mr Sunday Akere and an All Progressives Congress chieftain in the state, Alhaji Fatai Oyedele Diekola, may soon be whisked away by the police, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Iyiola Omisore, boasted among his supporters. It was gathered that Omisore, at a rally held in Egbedore Local Government Council Area, bragged to his followers that the police have arrested state boys and have discovered that Akere and Diekola are the key sponsors of the group; hence, the duo would soon be arrested and taken away to Abuja. It would be recalled that a PDP member was alleged to have shot a gun at APC mega rally in Ilesa, which resulted into a crisis between the police and some youths at the rally, leading to the arrest of one Mr Lawrence Dada and some youths and taken to Abuja last week.
The medium gathered that the purpose of bundling the alleged suspects away to Abuja was to cajole them into implicating some APC chieftains in a bid to arrest them and get them out of circulation before the fastapproaching governorship poll in the state. A source at the PDP rally disclosed that as soon as Omisore grabbed the microphone, he boasted openly that both Akere and Diekola would be arrested and ferried to Abuja for their role in the crisis that ensued at the rally. According to a report gathered, the threat of major arrests by Omisore was aimed at frightening
members of the opposition before the poll, so as to discourage them from participating at the governorship poll. The PDP governorship candidate was also said to have been mentioning names of some notable individuals at his rallies in some towns, asking them to either personally come around to see him or risk being arrested by the police and taking to Abuja. Checks showed that the police hierarchy is seriously influenced by the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, who was solely nominated for the job by Omisore, to ensure that chieftains of the APC were haunted ahead of the governorship poll on August 9. It was alleged that Akere and Diekola were perceived to be Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s favourite grassroots politicians and would stop at nothing to intimidate and get them out of circulation.
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
Aregbesola’s O’REAP Is A Success – Govt •Says Omisore Lacks Knowledge Of Developmental Programmes By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
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HE Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP) remains one of the most successful and laudable development and wealthcreation programmes of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration. agricultural This was the position of state’s the Bureau of programme, tagged O’REAP, Communications and was a fraud, alleging that Strategy, Office of the there is nothing to show for Governor of Osun on it in almost four years. Describing Omisore’s Wednesday while reacting to what it called “another in position as ill-informed and the litany of Iyiola Omisore’s an indication of his crass ignorance of the working of lies.” Omisore had claimed in development programmes in some media reports that the government, the bureau
said Aregbesola had not come to power before recognizing the need for massive food production to grow an economy such as that of Osun; ignite industrialization and create jobs. The bureau’s statement, signed by the Director, Semiu Okanlawon, said the allegations gave away the PDP and its candidate as a lazy bunch of people, who lack the capacity for simple facts-finding before going to the press. “Farmers are among the
happiest beneficiaries of the current administration in Osun. This is because of the prime place Aregbesola accords food production. The agricultural sector has been very strategic to the overall development of Osun. At least, the state’s massive food production programme is central to the realization of three of the sixpoint integral action plans of the administration. Only the nit-witted would conclude that agriculture has not played a lead role in banishing poverty, hunger
and creation of jobs and wealth,” the bureau stated Against the lies being bandied by the PDP that farm estates and settlements were supposed to be upgraded, he said land validation exercise and perimeter survey were done with latest technology in the nine farm settlements in the state, which he noted, was the first in the history of farm settlements in the South-West of the country. He added that over 3,070.3 hectares of land was cleared and 6,209 hectares
•ALL BECAUSE OF GOVERNOR AREGBESOLA: A cross section of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s admirers standing on a luxury bus during his re-election campaign at Unity School, Ejigbo, State of Osun, last Monday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
Osun Gets Medical Equipment, Gives Conditional Cash Transfer
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HE welfare and protection of the health system of the aged, widows and pregnant women has been deemed paramount by the provision of 100 hand-held ultrasound diagnostic scanners and Mirror 3D (colour) ultrasound diagnostic scanners for easy and effective checkup to maintain healthy living and prevention of ailment that may lead to death. The governor of the State of of Osun with the diagnostic Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, scanners arose, when he went made the revelation at the on a trip to Germany, where he launching of Conditional Cash said out of curiosity, went for Transfer (CCT) and the medical medical check up and a Mirror equipment in Osogbo, the state 3D diagnostic scanner was used for him and it accurately capital. The programme, which was showed symptom of high blood held at the Nelson Mandela pressure, while prescription Freedom Park, had was made for him and it was representation of the aged, effective. He stated that to his dismay, widows and pregnant women from Ifelodun, Iwo, Orolu, only one major health Osogbo and Olorunda Local institution had such equipment Government Council areas in in its facility in the South-West the state, who were presented and they only use it for stroke with the cheque of three patients, and that he had to hundred and seventy-five explain to them that such million naira for the Conditional equipment shouldn’t be used until after stroke but also for Cash Transfer (CCT). Aregbesola, also on the check-up and prevention of occasion, made cash stroke and other cardiac-related presentation to ten aged people ailments. “This prompted my selected from the five local government council areas and decision to provide health also mentioned that the gesture institutions in Osun with such would be passed to equipment, which is one of the beneficiaries in other council best in the world and all this is in line with my promise to areas in the state. According to the governor, restore healthy living to the decision to provide the citizens of the State of Osun health institutions in the State through my six-point integral
action plan,” he stated. The governor also stated that with effective check-up and monitoring of pregnant women through the diagnostic scanners, mortality rate of pregnant women will be drastically reduced to the minimum, while declaring that the diagnostic check-up services in all government hospitals in the state would be free. He promised continuity of
delivery of good governance when re-elected for a second term in office. “My intention is to give the people of the State of Osun good life, infrastructure and development. So far, God has helped me and He will help me to do more to improve the standard of the state when I am re-elected come August 9, 2014,” he declared. In his opening address, the Chairman, MDGs in the State
of Osun and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, appreciated the efforts of Ogbeni Aregbesola towards the development of the health sector in the state. He also revealed that aside the Conditional Cash Transfer; the governor has approved empowerment training programme for 25 beneficiaries from each of the local government council areas across the state.
Aregbesola’s Administration, Backbone Of Development - Cleric By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO
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HE Board of Ministers and Elders of Christ Apostolic Church, Gbonmi District Headquarters, Osogbo, the State of Osun capital, has described the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as the wheel and backbone of development in the state. This disclosure was made In his words: “We would by Evangelist Wale like to describe Ogbeni Opadele, during a Sunday Aregbesola as the pivot of service programme attended truth, pillar of initiatives, the by members of the State mover and shaker of Executive Council in the development, the backbone church. of development. No According to the cleric, adjective is too much to the church acknowledged describe the quintessential the brilliant, visionary, governor.” tireless, dogged and He recalled that the hardworking attributes of church was able to serve the governor of the state. God weekly because
A r e g b e s o l a ’ s administration dredged the Okooko River, which had almost swept away the church and neglected by the previous administration. “It is by divine providence and the efforts of your administration that we are comfortably seated in this auditorium to worship today. “Maybe, we would have been worshipping on the open field by now. The dredging was done not once, not twice but repeatedly at every rainy season,” Opadele asserted. The cleric noted that various life-impacting policies and programmes of the administration deserve commendation.
tractorised across the state. Okanlawon also noted that 20,000 hectares of farmland were validated in the nine farm settlements, more 4,211 hectares was discovered and reallocated to small holders. According to him: “This is a programme that was wellthought out to empower farmers. The state government procured 5,000 metric tons of fertilizers sold to farmers at 50 per cent subsidy over the last two years; 1,830 rural farmers in 61 local communities received farm inputs from the State in collaboration with UNICEF. “It’s worrisome if the candidate of the PDP can, because of politics, say Aregbesola has used OREAP to fraudulently enrich himself to the detriment of the well-being of poor farmers, when the present administration has empowered youth cooperative groups consisting of 40 youths and engaged in cattle fattening, as part of first phase of the O-Beef empowerment programme across the State of Osun. “N40 million has been given as loans to support piggery farmers in the state; 3,645 farmers across the state benefited from the sum of N476,350,000 from the Government Guaranteed Agriculture Loan Scheme; 268 farmers benefited from the sum of N45,662,065 from O-REAP Loan Scheme; N153.6m ($952,000) agriculture finance loan for 66 farmers’ cooperative groups,” the bureau pointed out. The O’REAP Academy, the statement explained, was established by the Aregebsola administration as a deliberate effort towards giving youths a sustainable career in modern agriculture, adding that 1,606 OYES cadets have been trained in modern agriculture at the newly-established O-REAP Youth academies located in the nine federal constituencies for increased food production. The bureau revealed that 40 youths were sponsored to Germany for intensive training in modern agriculture and 96 secondary schools assisted in arable crop production, fisheries and livestock production systems in 2013. He said: “Government is in partnership with TUNS Farm Nigeria Limited to promote broiler production to empower poultry farmers and create jobs under the Osun Broilers Out-growers Production Scheme (OBOPS) with the sum of N539, 435,200. 578 farms have been stocked with over 3,654,612 Day-Old-Chicks from inception in 2011 and over N200 million have been made as profit by the Out-growers in the scheme.” He noted that all these schemes supply the chicken and fish to O-MEAL food vendors to feed the Grades 1–4 pupils in public schools under the state government free school feeding programme.
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
Commuters Groan As Omisore Causes Traffic Jam To Draw Attention At Secretariat In Osogbo By ISMAEEL UTHMAN
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OMMUTERS and residents of Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun, have lamented what they described as deliberate and unnecessary traffic gridlock, being caused daily by supporters of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore, at the party’s secretariat located on Gbongan/Ibadan expressway, Osogbo. According to some of the commuters interviewed by the medium on Monday, it is an odd day for them anytime the PDP has
function or preparing for campaign at the secretariat, adding that the daily traffic jam on the Gbongan/Ibadan road frustrates their
activities. The commuters stated that they believed the PDP deliberately causes the traffic jam on the road to draw attention, adding that the crowd at the secretariat does not command such awful traffic jam on the road. Appealing to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Department of State Service (DSS) and the
police to caution the PDP against unleashing hardship on the road users, the commuters called on the party not to turn the road to its personal property. Mr Segun Ayodele, a commercial mini-bus driver, known as korope said: “Each time the PDP is holding a function at the party secretariat, they subject us to undue hardship. They will paralyze our commercial activities
temporarily because they will definitely cause traffic gridlock. “Even if the PDP members are 20 in number, there will still be a heavy traffic on the road. That tells us that the PDP members are deliberately causing the traffic gridlock to catch attention of the commuters. The PDP members will just park arbitrarily on the road without considering other road users. “That is their culture of impunity. They do not care for other people’s interest on the road, since they know nobody would dare challenge them. We do not expect the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore to allow the traffic gridlock to persist because he should know that he is inflicting
pains on the electorate that might vote for him.” A commercial motorcyclist, Mr Sunday Abolarin, expressed his disgust over the traffic gridlock on the Gbongan/ Ibadan road whenever the PDP has a function at its party secretariat, saying that the PDP was poking the people of the state in the eye. Abolarin stated that the deliberate traffic jam caused on the road by the PDP was absurd and unpleasant, saying that the road users were being subjected to suffering whenever the party has function at its secretariat. He therefore, urged the PDP to emulate the All Progressives Congress (APC) that organizes programmes at its secretariat on the same road without causing traffic jam or harassing other road users.
PVC Distribution: Group Rates INEC Better By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
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•One of the classrooms at Obada Elementary School, Ede State of Osun under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
Aregbesola Reiterates Commitment To Educational Development In Osun civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, expressed appreciation to the present administration in the state for providing an enabling for students in the state. He maintained that it is
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OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun has again reiterated his administration’s commitment at reforming the education system in the state, as he commissioned the newly-constructed Local Government Elementary Also speaking, the first School, Obada, Ede. Addressing the gathering at the commissioning of the 1000-capacity elementary school, Aregbesola By ISMAEEL UTHMAN described it as celebration HE Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Door-to-Door Campaign of good things to come in Organization (OD2D) has cautioned the Peoples the education sector. Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship He expressed happiness candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, against spreading that God has used his ‘unfounded’ lies against Governor Rauf Aregbesola in their administration to impact bid to confuse the electorate and incite them against the positively on the state governor. education sector despite Director-General of the would create wealth for the not being the first governor OD2D, Mr Segun Omoworare, people. “Aregbsola is building Osun of the state, while describing stated this on Monday in the rebuilding of public Ejigbo, during the re-election economy and he would not his own effort by school buildings in the campaign rally for Aregbesola sabotage introducing taxes that would that the PDP and Omisore state as a vision from God. put burden on the people of The governor noted that resorted to peddling the the state,” Omoworare stated. ‘wicked lies’ against parents and kids alike in the Dismissing the PDP lies on having been taxation, Omowarare said: state should be rest assured Aregbesola, rejected by the people of the “Aregbesola has no plan to of a positive future because state. increase or introduce new taxes his administration is Omoworare, who urged the the people of the state, and determined to continue to people to disregard the PDP on in his bid to avoid that, lay solid foundation for the lies, said he was reacting to the Aregbesola is focusing on generations yet unborn. recent claims of the PDP that infrastructural development in In her address, the Aregbesola would place the state. The infrastructural deputy governor of the unbearable taxation on the development will transform to state, who also doubles as people of the state during his economic development. If the economy develops as hoped, the State Commissioner for second term in office. According to Omoworare, Aregbesola does not need to Education, Otunba (Mrs) did not increase or impose unbearable taxes on the Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, Aregbesola introduce new taxes for his people. noted that education four years but was rather “Though, tax is a civic remains the bedrock to building the state’s economy responsibility of the people, development, which is why that would guarantee self- which every government resident to pay, but the current administration in reliance on the Internally encourages administration the state is investing so Generated Revenue of the state. Aregbesola’s has not in anyway imposing He maintained that taxation on the people. PDP much into education. The deputy governor Aregbesola would not sabotage and Omisore are pathological stressed that Aregbesola’s his own efforts to build and liar who have been rejected by administration remains develop the state by imposing the electorate. They resorted unflinchingly committed to taxation on the people of the to the lies because the level of saying that the development in the state giving the children, who are state, concentration of the governor embarrasses them. the future of the state, the was on developing the state to Aregbesola is constructing best it can offer. embrace viable economy that markets and attracting
worthy of mentioning that Aregbesola’s administrative style is the first in the history of the state to have invested so much in the education sector, despite not being the first governor of the state.
Non-Governmental Organisation, Justice and Equality, has rated the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as better in the distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) in the State of Osun ahead of the August 9, 2014 governorship election. The group also dismissed sections of the media. Chairman of the group, Mr the rumour that INEC members of staff are requesting for the Bafunso Tunde, said his team political party identity in the had visited 25 out of the 30 distribution of the PVC at a local government council areas press conference addressed at in the state and the INEC the Nigeria Union of headquarters, Osogbo during Journalists (NUJ) Press the PVC distribution exercise, which commenced on March 7, Centre, Osogbo. The group, which was one 2014. According to him, it of the observer-groups accredited by INEC for the observed that the INEC distribution of the PVCs across personnel were resuming at the the state, said the process so designated centers by 8.00am far has been transparent and and closing by 4.00pm and devoid of any manipulation as issuing the PVCs without any being speculated in some condition attached to it or asking for political parties. He expressed confidence in the ability of INEC to conduct free and credible governorship their farm produce easily, there election in Osun with the would be food security and ongoing preparation by the they would have no reason to commission and urged those hike the prices of their goods”. who are yet to collect their “The governor has no reason PVCs to go to the INEC offices to place burden on the people and collect their cards. The group also urged those of the state by introducing tax, rather, Aregbesola is building who registered in March and the state and human capacity those who transferred their at the same time for better registration to also check and collect their PVCs as the development.” distribution is still ongoing.
Taxation: Don’t Listen To PDP Lies - OD2D
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companies all around the state for full commercialization and its prosperity. The governor is constructing roads in all nooks and crannies of the state for easy transportation of goods, particularly for farmers at the rural areas to enable them transport their goods with ease. The belief of Aregbesola’s administration is that if the farmers are able to transport
Osun Must Not Return To Violence, Insecurity them to vote against Era – Akere Urges Electorate totheircajole belief, saying Osun must By SHINA ABUBAKAR
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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) re-election campaign rally in Ila/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro Federal Constituency in Osun State shifted to Oke-Ila and Ora in Ifedayo Local Government council Area, where the party canvassed for votes among the people. The State Commissioner for who posses permanent voters’ Information and Strategy, Mr cards in the two respective Sunday Akere, who led other towns not to give up their members of the campaign cards, describing it as their committee, charged the people power to choose who direct not to allow the state return to their affairs after every four the era of violence and years at the respective elective insecurity, by voting for level. Akere lamented the new Governor Rauf Aregbesola trend of political development again. The committee, comprising in the country, describing the of ‘Stomach of Mr Bisi Obawale, Dr (Mrs) style Temitope Ilori, Mr Azeez Infrastructure’ at the expense Moshood, Honourable Afolabi of human and national Atolagbe and Barrister Femi development, urging the Popoola, called on the people to guide their future electorate in the two towns to jealously through their votes. He also urged the people to resist the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through the vote in line with their conscience and should not power of their ballot. He cautioned the people allow anyone to use anything
not be allowed to return to the era of insecurity and violence that characterised the over seven years of PDP administration in the state. Akere further assured the people on the current administration’s committment to making the state a reference point for others in the federation and would not relent in its effort if re-elected for another term of office. The Akesin of OraIgbomina, pledged the palace support for the governor ’s second term bid, urging the teeming populace to support the governor through their votes and prayer. Similarly, the High Chief of Asaoni’s palace commended the governor for the manner his administration has been spreading development in the state, saying peace has reign more than ever before in the state.
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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
THE SOCIAL CONTRACT Continued from pg5 of a social contract could be a determining factor in the governorship election in the state of Osun. Since infrastructure of the stomach is now in the lexicon what should be the response of those who feel obliged to lay the foundations for long - term development? In the case of Osun, the jury is no longer out. The verdict is clear that the incumbent governor has spent the past three and a half years laying the foundation for sustainable development. There ought to be no conflict about defining this as the real reason, the raison d’etre for being in office. In Aregbesola’scase, he kick-started the process of a social contract in Osunstate from a very low base. He continues to implement the development effort at a time when the fiscal climate is very much against the required cash-flow of the state governments. Nigeria’s quasi-federalism means that the states cannot exploit, process their own resources and use it to develop their states. It is also a difficult time to operate a development process when the almighty allocation from the center is dwindling all the time. This represents a multidimensional dilemma. Forwithout a sound structure, even the hope of increasing internally generated revenue (IGR) as a counter-balancing force becomes forlorn. Nevertheless, in a dicey situation Aregbesolahas punched above his weight. He has in a very tight fiscal environment recreated the develop-
ment framework associated with a progressive, social democratic government. At every stage, the development thrust under Aregbesolahas been innovatively integrative. There is a clear focus of achieving a multiplier effect with each policy thrust. A good example is the school feeding programme. This involves feeding 300, 000 pupils every school day at the cost of N3.6 billion per annum. It is a transparent programme since it can be verified simply by going to the schools themselves. The programme has led to an exponential increase in enrollment figures. The socio-economic benefit here is seminal. In addition, a multiplier effect is triggered off. Food production has consequentlygone up in geometric proportion. There is a clear gain as a result in terms of the purchasing power of the farmers. This is a clear case of financial employment and poverty alleviation mixed up in line with a policy of thrust to construct the foundations for self-sustaining economic development. The fiscal injection into the economy of the state is for more than can be achieved by any immediate “infrastructure of the stomach.” The students consume 15, 000 whole chickens every week and it is served twice. They consume 400 tons of fish every week. 35 herds of cattle are also consumed every week. The financial empowerment to poultry and fish farmers is important it means that the rural economy is receiving a boost. In addition, 3,
007 women cook the meals for the students. They are paid directly through the banks and were giving seed capital to start - up. In no way is this initiative any different from the model associated which the founder of modern micro-finance MuhammedYunusused and which won him the NobelPrize. The school feeding programme also has a link with the health sector. Hundreds of thousands are now receiving proper, healthy, and nutritious meals for the first time. The long term gains in terms of a healthy mind in a healthy body will be profound. For a start, there will be less pressure and stress on the already very much up and against it healthinfrasructure structure. This is the policy thrust that the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the late highly esteemed professor OlukoyeRansome-Kutiamongst many others has been advocating for decades. In fulfillment of the need to cement the social contract, the thrust of the Aregbesolaprogramme has been to lay the foundations for self-sustaining development. On the widely copied O’Yesscheme alone, over 40, 000 cadets have been empowered with entrepreneurial skills. O’Yeshas changed the paradigm in a directly injected N9 billion to the economy. Inaddition, a meaningful programmme for elderly citizens’ care has been put into play. The most enduring type of “infrastructure of the stomach” translates into the well-worn aphorism of giving a man a hook to fish with, rather than giving him perennial hand - outs
of fish. Aregbesola is in this light providing the hook with which the state will endure in long term sustainability. Sustainability does not ignore the immediate benefit. For example, investments in roads help the trade as well as the limbs and well-being of the okada rider. Constructing over 200 kilometers of roads in every nook and cranny of the state has led to a positive flip in the transport sector. Apart from protecting lives, it has increased employment in that sector since better roads leads to faster turnaround time. As with all things Aregbesola, there is always the synergy lurking there somewhere. 200 kilometers of roads constructed under his watch translates into opening up the rural economy. This means that farm production will go up, as the farmer can now evacuate his or her produce for onward sales in the urban markets. Again, this is a gain for the farmers, as well as for theirindividual and collective purchasing power. There has also been a profound gain for the rural economy of Osunstate by opening up roads and linking it with farm gate purchases for the O’Mealprogramme. The social contract is well and alive in Osunstate. From a tight economic base, all the stakeholders have benefitted
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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
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FEATURE
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
‘High-tech Election Rigging,’ How Feasible? NO sooner the shocking result of the Ekiti election was released than curious minds began to wonder beyond the now rather facile and inadequate “stomach infrastructure” explanation. The alert keeps coming, and now with the state of Osun governorship election round the corner, it has become more importunate — the probability that some high-tech rigging stratagem was deployed in the Ekiti election should not be dismissed casually. Indeed, it is real, say proponents of the theory. Dr. Femi Orebe, columnist on The Nation newspaper, was the first to hit me with it by email within a few days of the Ekiti election. The PDP, he argues, practically signed, sealed and delivered”the election to themselves, via some devil-may-care, Israeli conspiracy, as some politicians did last year in Zimbabwe.” He then went on to allege that “a shadowy Israeli company — NIKUV Projects International, also operating in Nigeria, was used to preprogramme the ballot paper for the (Zimbabwe) country’s 2013 presidential election.” Femi Orebe went further to send a link to a Zimbabwean newspaper and to quote a critical portion of the story by Nasini CEO, Lucia Mordi, inter alia: “From our findings so far, we are 99.9 per cent convinced the election was rigged via a ballot paper. A special watermarked ballot paper was used to give President Mugabe a resounding victory. The ballot paper had a water X against Mugabe’s name such that if any ink is placed on the paper, the substance on the paper will react and remove the ink and activate the watermarked X into print.” My immediate reaction to Orebe’s alert was to wave it off as rather outlandish, especially as he has never minced words about being an APC sympathiser or cardcarrying member. C’mon bad loser, I had thought, give me another one! The point is, the ‘theory’, if pursued, opened up a number of other questions begging to be reconciled, beside the (conceited) point that Nigeria is not Zimbabwe — we are by far larger and ‘more educated’ in population. One, it is conventional political wisdom
By TUNDE FAGBENLE in Nigeria that rigging has a higher probability of succeeding only where the rigger is already as popular, if not more popular, than the opposition. Our preelection reading, erroneous now we know, was that Fayose was a less acceptable face than Dr. Kayode Fayemi throughout the length and breadth of Ekiti. Two, there was the result in Fayemi’s polling unit where he scored virtually 100 per cent (less a single vote!) of the about 180 votes. Were the ballot papers served to that unit particularly and peculiarly free from sexing? Three, could any such elaborate technological defrauding happen or succeed without the knowledge and complicity of our ‘saint’ Prof. Jega? But the thing to do was not to have dismissed it offhand like that. Outlandish things, nay, far more outrageous things, have happened in Nigeria. Indeed, the more unthinkable a thing is, the more probability that some crazy leader in Nigeria would attempt it — so long as it is retrogressive and anti-people! And to continue to believe that Nigeria is any better than a “banana republic” is to live in a fool’s paradise! Just look at our leaders, just look at our country, just look at where we are! But I digress. Importantly, a new scientific study, copy of which result came into my possession a few days ago, reveals the ease with which some advanced technology could enable ballot papers to be sexed such that the result, regardless of actual voting, can be predetermined! “It is feasible technologically,” says the report, “through a combination of invisible and disappearing inks. It is simple: use invisible ink to cast vote for a political party or preferred candidate to win, and provide disappearing inks to the voters to use for voting.” The report went on to illustrate pictorially, three sequences, one showing the voter thumbprint with disappearing ink, then ink disappearing on all candidates, and three, finally the intended winner emerging when the invisible ink reveals later under
room-temperature heat! As I said, even conceding that it is technologically feasible, the complexity of the process and the challenge for secrecy all down the line, from Jega to the electoral officers and beyond, fill me with trepidation – and sadness; trepidation that it is possible, sadness that it is conceivable in my country Nigeria in this age when the rest of the world is struggling for advancement. And we wonder why we are known as a 419 country? The Osun state election is nigh, and the running theme nationally, rightly or wrongly, is of a Jonathan-led PDP on the rampage, doing what the party historically (from Obasanjo time) does best: impeaching the impeach-able; intimidating the intimidate-able; sacking the sack-able; corrupting the corrupt-able; and generally at their best in ‘war’ (other than at the Sambisa forest), not giving a hoot what happens to anyone or indeed the country. What the country needs sorely is peace and progress. Nothing must be done to disturb this wherever Nigerians are lucky to have it going. As the newly formed “Voter-Values Volunteers” urge, voters in the state of Osun in 2014, and all over Nigeria in 2015 must be ready to cast their votes, and make their votes count as best they could. We must not surrender our country to those who do not care if heavens fall to have their way. And may he who will serve our collective interest best win. And that’s saying it the way it is! Chief Ajibola Ogunshola turns 70! On July 14, former chairman of PUNCH Nigeria Ltd turned 70. It is a great achievement in itself in a country like ours where average life expectancy is put at somewhere between 40 and 45. He is to be celebrated. I think my first meeting with him was in 1984 (30 years ago!) when he was CEO of Niger Insurance and I went to him to seek his company’s advert patronage in the maiden edition of Nigeria BANKING ANNUAL my company, Alfa Communications Limited, was set to publish. Three things struck: his easy
accessibility to someone he had not met before; his geniality; his brilliance. Did I say three? Well, four, his good looks (which he is not disinclined to humorously count)! We got on well and I can’t recall why, but, of course, I am better looking even if he is my egbon by three years! I learnt within the space of that meeting he was the first Actuary in Nigeria, if not Africa — a discipline I knew little of prior to then. I learnt he was a Government College, Ibadan old boy even though I let him know my Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo was a brighter college in our then Western Region — at least we beat them once in Olowu Cup Table-tennis competition! I learnt he was a man of integrity — in a country where that is at a discount. And I saw him as a great role model, realising little then how our paths would meet even more closely in future. Although I knew Chief Ogunshola’s brother, the founding chairman of PUNCH, late Chief Olu Aboderin, independently, and I had relationship with PUNCH prior to Ogunshola becoming the chairman, his appreciation of my little contribution to PUNCH through my columns was gracious and encouraging. More importantly, a few years after the death of Chief Olu Aboderin and that of his successor, elder brother Chief Moyo Aboderin, (sibling) fate brought it upon egbon Jibola to take over chairmanship of the then dying newspaper. That Ogunshola not only revived the newspaper but lifted it to the dizzying height of perhaps the most successful newspaper in Nigeria (certainly the most widely read demographically) today is a feat etched in gold in the annals of the industry. I salute thee! •Culled from THE PUNCH
OPINION “If anything, his efforts deserve to be applauded, and if Nigeria must develop quickly, men of ability and substance must never shy away from throwing their hats into the political ring, just like what Ogbeni Aregbesola has done” – Quoted in Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (In the footsteps of Chief Obafemi Awolowo) Page. 105. been said in several quarters that IT has Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola is the greatest positive thing that has happened to the people of the State of Osun since he was sworn in as the Executive Governor on November 27, 2010. This fact above manifested clearly again when I visited the state recently. It has been said correctly too that, no one leader or sitting governor of the State of Osun has won the hearts of the masses overwhelmingly like Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, since the state was created out of the old Oyo State on August 27, 1991. Fact is sacred! When Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola invited me to join his campaign team to Ede, perhaps for me to see things for myself, I was excited to make the trip with him. What I saw as we made our way to Ede and when we got to Ede proper exceedingly warmed my hearts. It warmed my hearts because my more than two years research into the activities of Ogbeni Aregbesola, which has manifested into a recent book on him, has turned out to be a worthy and welldeserved venture. What I saw in Ede has equally complimented the fact that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s idealism and fiery temperament has given hope to many, who hastily flocked to his train of political redemption. This man is absolutely sincere with power and what he has done and what he still hopes to do is visible for anyone that visits the State of Osun to X-ray. Indeed, what I saw on our way to Ede
A Ride With Aregbesola By IGBOTAKO NOWINTA clearly displayed that Ogbeni Aregbesola has attracted the attention of the lowly, the humble and the multitudes that have seen hope in his political proclamations. As we made our way to Ede, school children of all grades ran out of their school compounds to shout and cheer Ogbeni; on their faces one could see exceeding joy and satisfaction. After all, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is feeding them with hygienic food and clothing them as they go to school everyday, using his popular programme of O’MEAL (reserved for pupil of between primaries one-four). Women and men of all shades and the elderly people trooped out to dance and sing the praise of Mr. Governor and waved the flags and broom of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the Governor’s convoy drove slowly towards Ede. As we moved closer to Ede, the entire town suddenly rose up to welcome Ogbeni Aregbesola’s campaign train. I will never forget the experience. People were recklessly cheering, dancing and singing on the streets. What awaited us at the palace of Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, was quite unique. The mood at the palace was indeed emotionally irresistible, as the orgy of celebration was total. The crowd that had gathered within the palace listened attentively and enthusiastically as Ogbeni Aregbesola addressed them on why they should return him to power on August 9, 2014. The mood at the Seventh Day Adventist High School, Ede, venue of the Ogbeni Aregbesola’s re-election campaign rally, was
ecstatic, as people of all colours, the aged and the young, poor and the rich danced uncontrollably as Governor Aregbesola rode in .The spontaneous emotional outburst that gripped the venue of the campaign rally reached crescendo as Ogbeni Aregbesola made his way to the podium. When Governor Rauf Aregbesola said: “Our administration has treated the various political districts equally without sentiment. What we have done in less than 40 months, surpassed what they did in seven years both in quantity and quality,” he was saying nothing but the truth. I indeed saw completed township roads in Ede and the inhabitants were happy with Ogbeni. It is clear without any shadow of doubt that Ogbeni Aregbesola came and prepared to lead the people of Osun to the glorious next level. 10 kilometer of roads are being constructed in every local government council areas of the State of Osun. The crowds in Ede were simply very large. The man is indeed popular! On Monday July 7, 2014, a day before the mega rally in Ede, Ogbeni Aregbesola commissioned the Ayegbaju Modern International Market in Osogbo, the state capital. I have reliably gathered that a replica of this gigantic market will soon appear in all the senatorial districts of the state. There is something about the Ayegbaju Modern International Market, that I have not seen anywhere in this country before. The market, apart from the massive size of land it occupies along the ever-
busy Gbongan/Ibadan Road, has facilities like hotels, medical centre, banks, a Mosque, Church, filling station, Police Station, and Car Park etc. It will be a miracle of the century if Senator Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Osun 2014 governorship election wins the race on August 9, 2014? The phase two of the market is presently being constructed. With what I witnessed on Tuesday July 7, 2014, in Ede, and what I have seen on the ground in terms of honest pragmatic implementation of formulated policies like OPON IMO (Tablet of knowledge) O’MEAL, O’Schools, O’TOURS, O’AMBULANCE, re-classification of schools, Agba Osun (scheme for the elderly), O’YES (Youth Employment Scheme), O’REAP etc, Ogbeni Aregbesola will clinch the baton of re-election on August 9, 2014, in the State of Osun. Apart from Ede, the tumultuous crowds that normally trooped out to welcome Ogbeni wherever he goes on a campaign tour, is an indication that the man is the
tribune of the silent majority in the State of Osun. •Nowinta, wrote OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA (In The Footsteps Of Obafemi Awolowo).
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
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PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
Senator Mudashir Oyetunde Husain, Representing Osun-West Senatorial District In The Senate, Commissioned Some Transformers And Schools Across His Constituency, Recently.
•Senator Husain commissioning a transformer at Oke-Yidi, Ede-North recently. He’s being assisted by Chairman, Ede-North Local Government Council Area, Dr Tiamiyu Bello (2nd right) and Alhaji Surajudeen Opalola (1st left).
•Frontage of the commissioned public middle school by Senator Husain in Ejigbo recently.
•A 500KVA transformer recently commissioned by Senator Husain at Kuta, Ayedire Local Government Council Area, recently.
•Senator Husain (2nd left), flanked by some dignitaries when he was about to commission a project at Okeyidi area of Ede-North recently.
•Interior of a classroom of one of the commissioned public middle schools by Senator Husain in Iwo recently.
•A commissioned transformer at Oke-Yidi, Ede-North, Local Government Council Area by Senator Husain recently.
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
PHOTOTALK
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Senator Mudashir Oyetunde Husain, Representing Osun-West Senatorial District In The Senate, Commissioned Some Transformers And Schools Across His Constituency, Recently.
•Senator Mudashir Oyetunde Husain (3rd left) commissioning a transformer (500KVA) at Olaoluwa Ajagunlase being assisted by Oba ismail Gbadamosi, recently.
•Hon Husain (right) Commissioning Transformer 500KVAat Oni-Ibu-Eja Village, Egbedore local government council area, recently.
•Senator Husain commissioning Ayegbogbo Community Middle School, Ejigbo. He is being assisted by Ejigbo Local Goveernment Scribe, Hon Bashir Akintegbe, APC secretary in the local government, Alhaji Lateef Adegoke and other dignitaries recently.
•A 500 KVA transformer recently commissioned by Senator Husain at Irayin Ayo area of Ejigbo.
•Senator Husain (left), commissioning transformer (500 KVA) at Old Ijimoba area of Ejigbo recently.
•Senator Husain (3rd right), commissioning of Iwo Muslim Comprehensive College being assisted by APC Chairman in Iwo, Hon. Semiu Ayofe 2nd right and other Islamic dignitaries.
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PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
Commissioning Of Obada Elementary School In Ede By The Governor, State Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Recently. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
•(L-R) Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and first civilian governor in the State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke at the commissioning.
•A cross section of dignitaries during the programme.
•Some of the APC members at the event.
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•Obada Elementary School building.
11 N Saturday, August 9th, the O people of the State of Osun would go to the polling booths to cast their votes for the next governor. Ordinarily, such voting ought to be a normal political process, where the electorate exercise their franchise. However, in view of the fix everything on the way to get President Goodluck Jonathan re-elected in 2015 project, things have gone beyond the ordinary. What has even upped the ante is the last Ekiti State gubernatorial election. In the eyes of unsuspecting Nigerians, the election is by far the best conducted by the Professor Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC). The outgoing governor conceded defeat in a swift manner, which was praised as novel and courageous. Events unfolding later, however, showed that there was more to the election than meets the eye. The mystery behind the successful election in Ekiti State is yet to be fully unraveled. If information flying about is to be believed, then the President Robert Mugabe’s theory is at work. Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s octogenarian President since independence in 1979 has been winning elections in spite of his unpopularity. This, we are made to believe, it is being tested now to reach perfection stage before the 2015 presidential election. A smokescreen has been deployed to confuse the people in the form of stomach infrastructure. Rice and cash were freely offered to voters to cast their vote for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose, who eventually won. The strategy also included rationalizing the incumbent’s failure by saying, the sitting governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, is too elitist and remote from the grassroots. For crying out loud, when did being an elitist constitute a crime upon which a candidate is crucified in an election? If he is being rejected for non-performance, it would clearly have been understood. The experiment in Ekiti State worked perfectly because it was novel. Before people could realise the serious damage done, the havoc had been wrecked. A lot of analysts have tried, albeit, falsely to compare the situation in Ekiti with that of Osun. Besides the individual contestants involved, the terrain and the nature of the people also matter. That it happened
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
AUDACIOUS EXPLOIT with MURTALA AGBOOLA TEL: 0806-119-7897 E-mail: murtalamuag@yahoo.com
As The D-day Draws Nearer
•AREGBESOLA
successfully in Ekiti is not a prerequisite that the same can happen in Osun. The Ekitis are well-read and there are lots of academics but with due respect, they do not have the level of political sophistication of Osun people. The revolution that has taken place in Osun under Governor Rauf Aregbesola is unprecedented. The people of the State of Osun are appreciative of the level of social infrastructure that has taken place in the state. The expansion of existing roads, building of new schools with conducive learning environment, employment of young and ablebodied youths into the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) are to mention but a few. Aregbesola came up with
stipends for the aged and has increased the bursary given to final year students in tertiary institutions. The high tuition fees charged in the state-owned tertiary institutions was slashed to enable indigent but brilliant students to access tertiary education in the state. Ogbeni Aregbesola’s best may not be good enough for other contestants. Even though there are twenty candidates vying for the post of governor on August 9th, the major contenders are the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, who is also the incumbent, Aregbesola. The others are the PDP standardbearer, Senator Iyiola Omisore and the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade. Without the least disregard for
others, I strongly believe that one of the three mentioned above would emerge victorious. In view of this, it behoves on the major contenders to show up in public space to show why they should be voted for. The incumbent governor should be able to showcase what he has used the current term to do and why people should renew his term. The other contestants should convince the electorate why incumbent’s tenure should not be renewed. Coincidentally, the other contestants have held pubic offices previously. Omisore’s first political office was that of the Deputy Governor under the Chief Bisi Akande’s Alliance for Democracy (AD) government. He was later impeached but won election into the Senate while undergoing trial for the murder of the erstwhile AttorneyGeneral and Minister for Justice, Chief Ajibola Ige. He spent two terms of eight years in the Senate. The Osun electorate should be able to assess him by his contributions on the floor of the Senate. Beyond that, Senator Omisore should be able to point to projects he was able to facilitate while in the hallow chambers. The Ogbaaba-born Alhaji Fatai Akinbade started his political career by his appointment as Commissioner for Works during the military administration in the State of Osun. He became the chairman of the PDP in the state and later served as the Secretary to the State Government under the Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration for seven and half years. During those years in public office, Akinbade should let the electorate know what he did when he held sway. Above all these, the major contenders should engage in a public debate, where the electorate would be able to properly assess them. The media debate should not be cancelled because it offers a veritable avenue for which candidates can be assessed. Aregbesola has thrown up challenge to other candidates. They should embrace it wholeheartedly without any conditions. The organisers should, however, be told to provide conducive atmosphere for the candidates, such that nothing untoward would happen to anyone. If media debates were held in Anambra, Edo and Ondo states, then there is no reason why the State of Osun should be an exception.
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TRAVELOGUE
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
Aregbesola: God-sent; Unstoppable
••The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo counterpart, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi (on top of a bus), acknowledging cheers from the mammoth crowd, during a campaign rally for Aregbesola’s re-election at Unity School, Ejigbo, State of Osun, last Monday.
The extended mega rally held last Tuesday is yet another bundle of surprises in the annals of political gatherings. It was a proof that response to call to a rally at such short notice could be so impressive and encouraging. This is more so, when the same federal constituency had previously played host to another scintillating crowd barely two weeks earlier! The mammoth crowd that graced the Ejigbo Mega Rally elicited a unanimous attestation to the fact that whoever is sent of God is irrepressible. This assessment came as a conclusion from NIYI OLASINDE’s coverage of the historic rally. HERE was no note of disharmony in the T music. It was not a duet; neither was it a quartet piece. The people of the ancient yet famous Ejigbo community in the present-day State of Osun simply trooped out last Tuesday and sang in unison: that Aregbesola must continue in office as governor of the State of the Virtuous for a second tenure of four-year duration, starting from November 27, 2014. Someone may ask if the people under reference are musicians or choristers. Well, they are not, in name-calling; yet they elicited the attributes in the rousing welcome and demonstrated response to the call for a rally, issued out on short notice by the State of Osun Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) to the effect that another in the series of mega rallies was to be held in Ejigbo, a powerful arsenal in the political territory of the Ede Federal Constituency of the state. This extension, apparently viewed in some quarters as unnecessary, eventually proved itself out not only as necessary, but also apposite, deserving and worthwhile. The turn of events at the colourful rally was such that thrills the heart and fascinates one to politics, the commitment to the love of one’s people and devotion to their well-being and betterment. It is a combination of all these attributes, people confessed at the event that worked wonders for Aregbesola and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). The selfsame fact was confessed to be true for the Chief Host of the rally, who doubles as the Speaker of the fifth session of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Right Honourable Najeem Salaam. Much the same was reflected in the case made for the Asiwaju of Ede, first Civilian Governor of the state and former senator of the Federal Republic, Otunba Isiaka Adeleke, whose homestead of Ede constitute two of the four local government council areas which comprise the Ede Federal Constituency. In a nutshell, no venture is as rewarding as impacting the lives of one’s own people positively, at least, with every slightest opportunity that comes one’s way in life. The ancient Ejigbo community was thrown into frenzy ecstatic mood on that day, as people abandoned much of their daily routines for an event packaged into the canvassing of votes for the re-election bid of Governor Rauf Aregbesola as helmsman of the State of Osun. To most of the people, the event of that day was one which they had heard and watched to have been held in
other parts of the state. It was a similar event they had trooped out massively to co-host with their fellow constituents in Ede a fortnight earlier. Yet, they never relented, as they appeared to be unbending in their resolve and determination that there is only one man qualified and fit for the task in question – that of steering the ship of their state for the next four years, and doing so most effectively. To them, as far as the Bola Ige (White House) Government Office at Abere is concerned; and as far as the Oke Fia Government House is concerned, there is no vacancy yet. The streets of Ejigbo had come alive with activities of sorts since the early hours of the day. All manners of people, whose callings cut across diverse fields of endeavour trooped out in droves in preparation for the occasion they were billed to host later in the day. The occasion was such that called for people who had earlier held divergent views, and who may have been in the camp of the opposition to start having a rethink. Never, since the process of the ongoing contest began, had it been heard that a contestant of any other party came and shook the ground as did the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that day. Not even the fact that Ede is the indigenous home of Barrister Adejare Bello could do the magic of pulling so robust a crowd for his boss and their political front, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the ancient town! Ejigbo was agog for Aregbesola. The streets became a beehive of activities as early as the day began. The trend went on unabated till late in the evening. The ongoing Ramadan fasting was not a deterring factor for Moslems, as men and women of all faiths came out to contribute in one way or the other to the overall success of the event. At last, the faith they exercised was not betrayed; neither did it prove to be misplaced. The product they sacrificed all of their time and ventures to market is good and marketable. The gospel of Aregbesola for second term is already yielding good dividends. The stage is appearing to be set for a beautiful outing, come August 9. The venue of the mega rally had become filled up since around 10:00 a.m. The expansive premises rocked under the weight of the unprecedented crowd it played host to. It had already been a fact well accepted that never in the history of holding political rallies had such huge turnout as being currently witnessed been experienced. When OSUN DEFENDER reporter arrived at the venue much later in the day, all was set for an event which the entire Ejigbo and its
adjoining communities will find unbeatable for some time to come. The events had kick-started before the longawaited arrival. Entertainment was on by the accomplished Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1). The Fuji superstar sang beautiful numbers eulogizing the valiant works of the Aregbesola administration, even as he urged the people not to look elsewhere for a better option. To him, the bird they had in hand was already worth than tens of others parading themselves for consideration to be entrusted with the serious work involved in governance. Ayinde cautioned the people not to lose their votes by polling for selfish destroyers of the collective destinies of a people. Clearly, Aregbesola had proven his mettle by his impact made in less than four years in all spheres of life. It was a beautiful piece of music loaded with thought-provoking messages. When the preliminary events started, speaker after speaker mounted the podium to address the waiting audience. The approximation of the thrust of their words is the praise of the candidate and the caution to vote wisely on the d-day. Further in their speeches, speakers at the event cautioned the people not to sell their voting instruments, that is, their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) or exchange them or the Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) they bear for any Greek gifts. It was observed that the number of items in the assortment of those Greek gifts had been increasing in recent times; ranging from financial peanuts, though expired rice to adulterated household kerosene. It was also brought under mentioning the nefarious activities of destiny mortgagors who engage in trading of voters’ cards. The representative of Iwo Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Honourable Gafar Amere spoke at length on this issue and recommended that the treatment meted out to them at his federal constituency be introduced in the host constituency. According to him, perpetrators who are apprehended are thoroughly beaten before being handed over to the police for necessary prosecution. Speakers who spoke prior to this and thereafter directed the people to troop out en masse and cast their votes fearlessly on the Election Day. They were cautioned not to be intimidated by the huge presence of security personnel, as the apparatus is put in place to forestall security breaches and breakdown of law and order. All the same, voters were charged to stand by at their polling units after observing their civic responsibilities and observe the events
unfolding till the moment of vote-counting. This vigilance duty of protecting votes is crucial in Nigeria where anything negative that could be thought of is possible. After this session of speeches, King Wasiu Ayinde took the central stage for a long time to entertain, enlighten and educate the waiting crowd. This round of interlude lasted for slightly over twenty minutes when it was interrupted with the arrival of the Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori. At the instance of her arrival, the young artiste, who is a student of Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo, Kazeem Olatunji, a.k.a. Kazzy Roll was brought on stage to contribute his own quota to the entertainment. Kazzy Roll thrilled the audience to the rhythm of his popular track, “Aregbesola you are the Champion…” Thereafter, King Wasiu Ayinde resumed the entertainment till the arrival time of governor Aregbesola. For some time prior to the arrival of the governor, news had gone round that the governor and his train had arrived the town and had proceeded straight to the palace of the monarch of the town, the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, His Royal Highness, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode Oyesosin II for traditional homage and royal blessings. Close on hand for that portion of the assignment was the governor of the sister-state, Oyo State, Senator Ishiaq Abiola Ajimobi. Also on the entourage were the first civilian governor, State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, selected members of the State Executive Council, members of the hierarchy of the ruling party in the state and other eminent personalities. At the palace, the monarch, joined by other monarchs in the area eulogized the good works of Ogbeni and his administration, which they attested had impacted people in the entire length and breadth of the state, with particular reference to the area. They thereafter poured prayers on him for success at the polls. With that done, all was set for his departure from the palace for the venue where the mammoth crowd had stayed converged, waiting for the events-proper to kick off.
Continued on page 13
13
TRAVELOGUE
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
Aregbesola: God-sent; Unstoppable
•(L-R) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode; first civilian governor in the State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke and Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, at the Ogiyan’s Palace. Continued from page 12 From the palace of Ogiyan of Ejigbo, it was a traffic gridlock that characterized the roads down to the Unity School venue of the campaign programme. Earlier, it had been a similar experience that dominated the scene. All the way from Osogbo, the state capital, people of the communities along the access road to Ejigbo had trooped out overwhelmingly to accord Governor Aregbesola a rousing welcome to the area. In Ara community in particular, the turnout was reported to have been so thick that the governor’s entourage was force to come to a standstill. All the way from Osogbo, commercial motorcycle operators, popularly called okada riders were said to have lined up in beautiful array ahead of the governor’s procession as their own way of showing their love and appreciation for him. At Ejigbo, the scenery was easily likened to a pilgrimage centre, as people lined the streets to cheer the entourage. Each group and individual struggled to outdo one another as they scampered to catch a glimpse of the wonderful achiever and to bid him welcome and give assent to his success on the tour and in his re-election bid. Left and right of the major road leading to the town, people had laid in wait to accord the governor and his train a befitting welcome. After his departure from the palace, it proved an uphill task for vehicular traffic to make it to the venue of the big meet. The surging crowd upon his entry into town had redoubled, since news had circulated round announcing his arrival. The broom anniversary was so colourful that one could easily find himself at cross as to whether he had seem that large number of brooms all at once in his entire lifetime. Candidly, if all those brooms were engaged to sweep the floor of a community, it is doubtful whether it would not be swept bare of sand! From the ancient palace, through places like Iwo Road, Oke Moyo Junction, Royal Hotel Junction and Moyepe Road down to Unity School, the final destination, the constriction was so tight. At the venue, the crowd that had already converged was astonishing. This was coupled with the fact that the crowd met in town followed still till the arrival at the venue. The density of the crowd was unimaginable. It was wonder in action! Upon his arrival, the governor was seen atop his characteristic mini luxury bus, brandishing his enormous broom vehemently in acknowledgement of cheers from the crowd. The first pointer to it that the governor was with one outstandingly powerful co-traveller was that he was seem beckoning to someone to come up the bus and join him in the task of acknowledging the crowd. It was with surprise that the expectant crowd sighted the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi mounting the bus and waving his the crowd with the governor. The uproar was terrific. Upon alighting from the vehicle, the governor exchanged pleasantries with dignitaries already waiting before heading for his seat. The time of arrival was 4:44 p.m. The big arrival culminated in the commencement of the programme-proper.
The National Anthem and State of Osun Anthem were sung back-to-back. By 5:05 p.m., the programme had kick-started in full swing with the introduction of guests and dignitaries. The first speech after the official commencement of events was delivered by the Chairman of the Aregbesola Second Term Campaign Committee for the federal constituency, an indigene of the town, who also is the Speaker of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Right Honourable Najeem Salaam. Salaam mounted the soapbox on the note of music, as he raised the song “Kele gbe e tabi o gbe o ee…” In his protocols, he acknowledged the presence of all dignitaries and then greeted and thanked the attendees for honouring the clarion call, and for exercising such time-tested patience as to wait since morning. Honourable Salaam then prayed for god outcome at the polls, come August 9. He drew attention to it that all attempts by the swindlers of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to bribe the people with all manners of Greek gifts had failed. He assured the governor that as far as the federal constituency is concerned, the people would not be overswayed with such demeaning gifts. According to him, it is an insult on our persons and traditions in Yorubaland for our conscience to be bought, how much more with pittance! He cited the gift items to include coffin cash, expired rice, ritual crash helmet and latest, adulterated kerosene. He cautioned the people not to honour any such gifts, as the end-result could be catastrophic. Salaam went further to urge the people to troop out on the Election Date to poll massively for Aregbesola. He charged them not to succumb to threat or intimidation, which could be the sole motive behind the boasting of the opposition-led Federal Government to fortify the state with series of battalions of security personnel. Lastly, the Speaker cautioned prospective voters not to give out their voters’ cards or release the PIN on them in exchange for any consideration – financial or material. He broke into songs intermittently as he spoke, singing “Erin l’enu wa…”; Ibi o ba lo l’a nlo…”; B’o wu yin e pin ‘resi…” The crowd burst out in enthusiastic refrain of these songs, adding to the impact and import of the speech. It was the turn of the senator representing the Osun West Senatorial District at the Senate of the Federal Republic, Senator Mudasiru Hussein Oyetunde. Also an indigene of Ejigbo, Hussein treated the people to a round of songs as he sang “E e r’egbe e wa bi…? He then spoke at length in the second lingua franca of Ejigbo indigenes, that is, the French Language. Indigenes of Ejigbo are traditionally reputed for their massive engagement in farming and trading, both engagements which have taken them to transverse the shores of far away Cote d’Ivoire, thereby making the cocoa-rich country their second home till date. Having spoken in French, Oyetunde sang a political death song for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He then said prayers in Arabic, according to Islamic injunctions. Next to come on stage was one of the senators representing Ekiti State in the National Assembly, Senator Babafemi Ojudu. Senator Ojudu simply led the people to sing a number: “Mo gbo’ro
kan, won nle’ri won l’a won fee gba ‘joba…” The song is loaded with meanings as it conveyed the impossibility of impostors and interlopers taking over the reins of governance in the state ever again. Next, Senator Isiaka Adeleke mounted the rostrum. He gave the assurance as a bona fide citizen and a political arrow-head of the area that Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) would poll an overwhelming 95 per cent votes cast on the Election Day. He acknowledged the crowd and urged them to translate their turnout to votes. Adeleke sent the people of adjoining communities to elders and chiefs of the area to announce to them that the coast was clear: that he was now in the fold of the APC, and as such, he would no longer work against their collective wishes. The areas he mentioned include Afake, Ola, Masifa, Agurodo, Songbe, Olorin, Isundunrin and others. He then promised that following his cross-over, a day would henceforth be set aside to visit the areas. Adeleke cautioned the people not to tolerate fraud on the day of election. He announced the plan by the Federal Government to arrest and detain him on the Election Day. He cautioned security personnel against honouring such unlawful order as the aftermath could spell disaster for such personnel. It was then the turn of the Oyo State helmsman, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to speak to the audience. Ajimobi conveyed the compliments of the people of his state and their goodwill message to the people of the state. He congratulated the Osun people in advance, as he expressed confidence that victory shall tune the songs of progressives on the dawn of August 10. He concluded by raising three traditional songs: “E ku ewu omo…”; “Ina Ran… “ (Haruna Ishola version); and “Kinihun d’eru jeje f’eran ni’gbo…” All the three were given enthusiastic refrain by the crowd. The long-awaited moment was heralded at that juncture. It was time for the people’s governor to address the crowd. It was indeed broom revolution moment. D J Bazzman was on hand to tune in the old School track of “Stand up for the Champion!”. Aregbesola came on stage, flanked by Governor Ajimobi and Senator Isiaka Adeleke. Governor Aregbesola’s first remark after the long list of acknowledgement was the crowd, which he commended. He took the people down the memory lane that as that was the ninth in the series of mega rallies, it was still well attended. He then appreciated all the people for always heeding the clarion call and for waiting for the train with patience since morning. Governor Aregbesola cast the people’s mind on the good works so far which he tagged as foretaste, compared to what he still has in stock. He compared the ongoing process to that of igniting a car engine. According to him, the car of progress had been kick-started, and that it shall be on progress movement till 2018. He enumerated the woes and affliction with which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is known – Poor school, poor people, poor road, dearth of potable water and retrogression in all that is good. He then reminded the people of how the incumbent administration
had come to set new records. All the achievements recorded so far were described by the governor as “foundation”, which he is now seeking re-election to build upon. He gave reasons for the relevance of his intervention efforts and why the people should not allow a sad recourse to those long-gone eras of captivity. He charged all and sundry to break away from any affinity with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He cited their candidate who prides himself as Eni Iyi as afar-cry from that appellation, since his entire conducts violate the etiquette of a honourable person – for instance, his disorderly conduct, championing the cause of thuggery, disrespect to elders, assault to elders by removing cap off their head, promising to convert school structures to poultry farms and demolition of reconstructed school structures. Aregbesola tongue-lashed the opposition’s Greek gifts and counseled the people to keep them always at an arm’s length. He spoke on non-edible kerosene that it could be consumed if properly tested and certified safe for use, after all it was provided with the money stolen from the people. The largesse could after all be a way of returning to the people what had earlier been stolen from them. As for the edible things like rice, the governor counseled the people not to eat them at all. Aegbesola hammered the importance of early collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) and announced the July 26 / 27 date of collection of cards for new registrants. He also announced that the display of voters’ register is on and that people should approach their polling units henceforth for verification, so as to lodge timely complaints as necessary. Anyone whose name is missing or has any complaints was directed to intimate party elders and chieftains in his ward. Also, the cards to be distributed on the said dates are to be conveyed to voters’ respective wards. The governor announced that the Osun Micro Credit Scheme he announced had taken off with a huge sum of N4 billion, and directed interested people with genuine business interests to approach the offices for an interest-free loan. He cautioned people not to doubt the sincerity of his projects, promising that all outstanding projects shall be completed before the current year runs out. The school projects in Ejigbo too shall be completed soon, regardless of sabotage efforts of detractors. He cautioned the people to desist from all acts that could return the state back to slavery; including voting wrongly. Aregbesola rounded off his speech on a prophetic note. He prescribed portions of scriptural references for Christians and Moslems to pray with. For Christians, he prescribed I Samuel 17:4546; while for Moslems Samf ‘Il Fati 1-9 was cited. Finally the governor raised two departing songs: “A o pade ni Abere…” and “O ya yo ‘gbale re…” With these dismissal songs, the crowd dispersed. So far, the ninth mega rally held at Ejigbo last Tuesday recorded an outstanding success. By the outcome of these rallies, we can rest assured with a safe conclusion that all is beautifully set for the astounding success of the progressives at the polls, come August 9 this year.
14
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
Omisore Will Lose The Election His Deposit - Octogenarian, Pa G. O. Lawal Honourable Gbadamosi Okunlola Lawal was a member of the old Oyo State House of Assembly between 1979 to 1983. He was elected under the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Honourable Lawal has been a progressive since 1952. He had a stint as the Chairman of Ikirun District Council between 1959 to 1961. Since early fifties, the octogenarian politician has remained in the progressive fold. In this interview with him in Ikirun, he spoke about the progressives, his party; the Aregbesola administration and the forth-coming election in the state among other issues. Excerpts: SDF: Sir, you are known as a progressive in the politics of Osun, what differentiate the progressives from the conservatives and how can you relate that to your All Progressive Congress in Osun? LAWAL: To start with, I have been in politics since 1954. I contested as a Councilor in 1954 and I won that election. Since then, I have been in the progressive. I can never be in a party that is conservative in nature. Personally, I like to serve my people rather than going about collecting money for my own gain, I also hate a situation where people intimidate others. When I compared both sides, it became obvious that I should be a progressive. The APC for example in Osun is truly a progressive party. Since Aregbesola got back his mandate, he has been doing a lot of things that we have not witness in this state. If it is for him to get money, he wouldn’t have come to Osun at all. All what the governor is doing are pointers to the fact that he is a progressive. Within his first 100 days in office, he employed 20,000 youths under Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES). That means a lot, because we have never witness such governor in the state, this scheme cost government 200 million naira in a month, after that is the O-meals programme where primary school pupils are being fed every day, there are some pupils before now who attend school without taking any meal from their house, but now, pupils are eager to go to school because of the free meal, it has also increased enrollment because most of these pupils live with their grandparents who can hardly take care of them, but government is doing that. As if that was not enough, through the feeding programme, government also employed over 3000 caterers who cook for these pupils, some of the caterers through the job feed their families, then O-REAP for farmers, O-SCHOOLS, where government is building new schools and renovating others, including those that were built during the Awolowo era. With the standard of the structures that Aregbesola is putting in place now, some of the so-called universities that we have now cannot boast to have what we have in Osun. The people in the state love this government and I am sure that if the governorship election is free and fair, we must get about 85% of the vote. For example in my own council area, we are working towards 95% now, because we feel the pulse of O
the people. That is why we can say all these. OSDF: People are saying much about what this government has borrowed. Some say Osun’s debt is N350 billion. What is your take on this? LAWAL: I am sorry to use this language; they are mad. How can a government borrow over N350 billion? I don’t think banks can give a state up to that amount. Does their banking regulation allow for that? How can a government borrow N350 billion? When Olagunsoye Oyinlola borrowed N18 billion during the immediate-past administration, people raised questions over what he was going to do with the money at a time when his administration was coming to an end. Was it not when Aregbesola came that he re-negotiated the conditions of the loan? Let us now assume that he borrowed money, we can all see what he is doing with the money, because in the olden days, people were agitating for the nonpayment of taxes and that was not general, but if people see what they are doing with the money, nobody will agitate. Like I mentioned earlier, if the state is saying to everybody that it has borrowed N35 billion, we can all see what Aregbesola has done with the money. There is development going on in all the nooks and crannies of Osun. The noise is the handiwork of the opposition, because they have nothing to offer and they have to discredit him. Have you listened to their campaign? Do they have any manifesto? OSDF: What is your reaction as a resident politician in Osun that most of the people in Aregbesola’s cabinet are from Lagos? LAWAL: No, they are not Lagosians. The person sitting next to you is an appointee and he is from Ikirun and so many of them like that. They may be living in Lagos. The State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice is from Ikirun and we all know them. Assuming we don’t even know them at home, does that mean we should allow them to die in foreign land? We want to bring them home. I believe there is no point in that. they are all from Osun, but may be resident in Lagos. What about Aregbesola himself? But the people prefer his government to every other government they have seen in the state and that of people who have been living in the state, whereas he was in Lagos before he came home to contest the election in 2007. So, that should not be an excuse at all.
•LAWAL
OSDF: As the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election approaches, what are your expectations? LAWAL: We are going to win the election; the other candidates will lose their deposit because in those days, if you want to contest election, you have to pay certain deposit. If you score a certain percentage, you will get your money back, but if you score below that, you will lose your deposit. Sincerely speaking, after they lose that election, they will also lose their various deposits. OSDF: What gives you this confidence? There are insinuations that the state will be militarized and coming from the background of the Ekiti election, where we have heavy military presence and that of other security agents, don’t you think people would be intimidated? LAWAL: We have no fears as far as that is concerned. Our people would be educated. We have been telling them should the security personel be soldiers or police, they have only come to protect them and not to harass them and the party is doing much on that before the election. There is no compound in this
state where you will not get a graduate. We would use them to educate people that soldiers are meant to protect them and we also advise every security officer that will be drafted to Osun to play according to the rules of the game. OSDF: What is your general assessment of Aregbesola’s administration, would you say it has affected positively on the masses? LAWAL: I have said that before, is it the children that he is giving free meals to that you want me to talk about. Go to town and listen to the songs on their lips, “Daddy, Mummy, Uncle and Sisters you Must Vote for Aregbesola.” Nobody taught them. We have no fear about the election. As far as we are concerned, it is going to be victory all the way, because our people are not ingrates. The positive transformation of Osun by Aregbesola would translate to massive votes by our people, come August 9, 2014, victory is certain. Osun cannot be left in the hands of people, who are going to set it back. The consequences would be so great that the children coming behind will suffer for it, and they will not forgive us. Aregbesola has brought genuine development and he deserves to continue his purpose-driven government.
15
PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, July 26, 2014
More Pix OnAll Progressives Congress (APC) 2014 Re-election Governorship Mega Rally At Unity School, Ejigbo, State Of Osun, Last Monday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI And SHOLA ADERINTO.
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, acknowledging cheers from his supporters and admirers during his re-election mega rally at Unity School, Ejigbo, State of Osun, last Monday.
•A crowd of Aregbesola’s admirers at the event.
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I
F elections are won or lost on character and performance, as they should, Osun State’s governorship election coming up on August 9 should be a shoo-in for the incumbent, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. But then, as we saw in the June 21 Ekiti State governorship election, the almost universally hailed character and performance of the incumbent, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, seemed to have counted for practically nothing when he suffered heavy defeat at the hands of Mr Ayo Fayose, the candidate of the country’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In Ekiti at least, what seemed to matter most was instant gratification for the people through the so-called “infrastructure of the stomach” and, even more importantly, the use of Federal Might (with capital F and capital M) to cow any opposition (It’s only a foolhardy man who would challenge the well-armed 30,000 security agents drafted into the state for the election who, as the governor said based on intelligence at his disposal as the state’s chief security officer, had instructions to “mow down” anyone who dared raise his figure in protest at their open partisanship). As it was in Ekiti so would the PDP like it to be in Osun. One big difference, however, is that, unlike in Ekiti, a not-sosubtle religious propaganda weapon against the governor is being added to the other two. No less a person than the PDP governorship candidate himself, Senator Iyore Omisore, gave this game away. Asked in an interview in PUNCH (July 18) if he was sure he would win the election, he said: “Of course, yes. I mean the indices are there for all to see; the decaying infrastructure, the disrupted education system, THE RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY, infrastructural inconvenience, social malaise, impoverishment of our •AREGBESOLA people.” (emphasis mine). Omisore went further to accuse the governor of wrongly “lumping students issuing policy statements and indirectly from Islam-based faith schools with denigrating Islam. Even then for anyone students of Christianity-based faith to equate Omisore with Christ is really schools together AND EXPECTING the height of blasphemy. But then this is ONE RELIGION TO SUPERCEDE THE Nigeria where politicians think nothing OTHER…” (Again emphasis mine). As a of invoking the Good Lord’s name in Christian, it is obvious Omisore is vain. For someone who, at the least, is not accusing the Muslim governor of averse to being compared to Christ, it favouring Islam. Since Aregbesola dared to declare a was truly amazing how he could lie public holiday to celebrate an Islamic through his teeth about his relationship New Year in the state two years ago, many with the late Chief Bola Ige, whose of his critics have worked overtime to murder several years ago he was cast him in the image of a Muslim implicated in and tried for and eventually extremist. For many of such critics, the acquitted. In the PUNCH interview I’ve referred absurdity of the logic that what is good to, the newspaper asked him point blank for one religion is necessarily bad for the if he did not kill Ige. “I did not,” he other has clearly escaped them. Not surprisingly, beneath Omisore’s replied, “kill Chief Bola Ige at all. I can’t apparently inadvertent betrayal of his kill anybody, anyway, not to talk of Chief religious animosity towards the governor, Bola Ige. Chief Bola Ige was my leader. an even more insidious crude religious He was like an uncle in-law to me.” He campaign is being waged where did not, he also said, instigate the removal Christians in the state are being told that of Ige’s cap and glasses in the palace of a vote for Omisore is 10 votes for Christ! the Ooni of Ife, a humiliation which In this manipulation of religion to gain presaged Ige’s brutal murder in his own power, Omisore is only in the excellent residence in Ibadan. An amicable relationship between the company of our president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for whom the Church had for two was definitely not what it looked like a long time become his platform for nearly 13 years ago when Omisore denigrated the chief in an interview in
By MOHAMMED HARUNNA
Osun Governorship Election: Aregbesola’s Big Challenge
•OMISORE
the rested TEMPO weekly newspaper (December 27, 2001). In that interview, he called Chief Bisi Akande, who he was deputy governor to and from whom he was estranged at the time, some of the foulest names imaginable and added Ige to the target of his diatribe. “Recently too,” he said in the interview, “Bola Ige came on radio here to insult me and my family. THAT IS THE LAST ONE. He was beaten yesterday, the people of Ife beat him up and he was crying like a baby as they removed his cap and his glasses…He was disgraced out of Ife, he had to be dressed like a woman to get out of town.”(Again, emphasis mine). Asked in effect if he approved Ige’s humiliation, he said yes in effect. “He has offended Ife people. If he insults me, he has insulted my people and they have the right to react.” Omisore concluded the interview by describing Ige as a Yoruba traitor. “Bola Ige,” he said, “is a traitor to Afenifere… He is the Akintola of our time. What Akintola did to Awolowo is what Bola Ige is doing to Adesanya and to the Yoruba people.” It is truly amazing how the man can now turn around to say he never held anything against Ige but, instead, had
always regarded the chief as his leader and an “uncle in-law”, whatever that means. Omisore would not only tell a lie about his relationships to curry favour with Osun voters to the extent that his implication in the murder of Ige is an issue in the elections, it is also obvious he is afraid to engage Aregbesola in any debate over what each of them can offer the good people of their state. Challenged to a debate by the governor, first he said Aregbesola was mentally unfit. When that did not seem to wash with the public he changed his tune and said in effect that the governor is a thug-in-chief. “Going to participate in a debate with violent people with array of thugs will be too much of a risk to take for us,” he said in another interview in PUNCH (July 20). In an interview in THE GUARDIAN (July 10), Aregbesola said he was confident he would win any election in his state that was “credible, transparent, free and fair.” Therein lies the catch; an election can look credible, transparent, free and fair but the reality may be totally the opposite. An election in which a central government squeezes the opposition by slashing revenue allocation to states under the guise of falling revenue due to massive oil thefts and delays the release of even the little that is left in order to cause disaffection between opposition states and their civil servants, an election in which huge numbers of security agents are deployed to intimidate the opposition, etc, such election can hardly be described as credible, transparent, free and fair. Actually the rigging of elections can be even more cynical than financially squeezing opposition states and deploying massive force to intimidate. The other day, I received an email about the election which, on the surface, seemed too farfetched. “Do u ever thk along this line…” it said in the arcane language of texts. “200,000 ballot papers thumb printed in Abj, CBN abj convey to CBN Ado ekiti, CBN Ado to some selected commercial banks, some selected commercial banks to some party leaders in Ekiti land, party leaders to some ward leaders, ward leaders to 10 women per polling unit…Each woman with 10 already in their body, they pick one each and drop 11 in the box where they v bought agent.” My instinct was to dismiss this as an outlandish conspiracy theory. But then when I remembered the memorable words of Major-General IBM Haruna, a former minister of information, in one of the most interesting interviews published by the rested Citizen, which I headed, I said to myself this may not be as outrageous as it sounds. As the general said, any time anyone tells you something is impossible in Nigeria, consider it done. In spite of all these great odds against Aregbesola, I believe Ekiti is unlikely to be repeated in Osun on August 9. But then so many impossible things have happened in the country since 1999 that it will not surprise me if, in spite of Aregbesola’s character and performance, he loses the election. •Culled from THE NATION
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