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www.osundefender.org TUESDAY, JULY 29, 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 contract should be
VOL. 9. NO.090
Front Page Comment THE SOCIAL CONTRACT 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 du
ties 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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Osun August 9 Governorship Election:
APC Blasts Omisore Over Nonappearance At Governorship Debate - See Story On Page 2
Osun Election: Omisore, Akinbade, Akinwusi Shun Governorship Debate - Pg 2 Osun APC Warns President Jonathan Against Sponsoring Bloodbath - Pg 3 Omisore Takes Delivery Of Another N1bn Election Fund From Abuja - Pg 9 Muazu’s PA, INEC Staff Fingered In Plans To Rig Osun Gov Election - Pg 9 Osun Students, Youths Roar Supports For •The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (on top of a jeep), acknowledging cheers from his admirers and supporters at Ife- Aregbesola’s Re-election Odan, State of Osun, during his visit to the town last Friday.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 29, 2014
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APC Blasts Omisore Over Non-appearance At Governorship Debate
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HE State of Osun chapter of the All Progressives By KEMIAKINPELU Congress (APC) has responded to the reason given by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship then has a man, who till O’Level certificate to INEC. candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, for not participating today, presents court The party stressed in the American-sponsored pre-governorship election affidavit to show that he further that Omisore had debate in Osun last Saturday, describing it as ‘the wisdom went to primary and missed his greatest chance secondary schools, to to convince the world that of a fool’. denigrate another person, he is mentally and Omisore had reportedly Owo, Ondo State. “What moral authority who he said presented his intellectually mature claimed that he was supposedly superior to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, which made it a match ‘between two unequal parties’, and inferred that weeks into the administraBy ISMAEEL UTHMAN the ‘weaker of the two tion to address the fallen parties may resort to HE governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic standard of education in the physical assault and Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and the Social state. harassment’. According to Aregbesola, Democratic Party (SDP) Iyiola Omisore, Fatai According to the party’s Akinbade and Segun Akinwusi respectively failed to ap- the education sector was in spokesman, Barrister Kunle pear at a governorship debate organized by the Interna- a state of comatose to the Oyatomi, “it is disheartening tional Republican Institute, on Saturday. extent that only three per that this remark came after Of the 20 candidates con- toes, Aregbesola said his ad- cent of pupils that wrote the event at which testing the August 9, 2014 their O’ level results were Aregbesola was majestic governorship election in the ministration has, no doubt, being matriculated to tertiary developed the State of Osun and at home with facts and state, only Governor Rauf and institutions in Nigeria, addfigures on how his Aregbesola, who is the can- economically infrastructurally and that he ing that the school strucadministration had of the All Progressives has been able to reduce tures were majorly dilapiprudently managed the didate Congress (APC) and the poverty and hunger to the dated and the environment economy of the state. was equally not conducive “Omisore sounded mean Unity Party of Nigeria can- barest minimum in the state. for learning. He added that his various and shallow when he tried didate, Mr Ibrahim Adeoti, Aregbesola stressed that intervention programmes to denigrate Aregbesola’s participated in the debate. he genuinely has passion for The debate, according to like the OYES, O’REAP, academic qualification that the promotion of functional the governor ‘presented the organisers, was to afford O’MEAL, O’Schools, mas- education; he could not do O’Level (certificate) to the gubernatorial candidates sive road constructions, anything less than to call on INEC’. Again, that’s the the opportunity to present building of markets, empow- stakeholders in the educawisdom of a fool; but for the their manifestoes to the erment of cooperative soci- tion sector to advise his govfoolishness embeded in that people and guide the elec- eties among others, have al- ernment on how to revamp piece of information is that torate on their choice of leviated poverty and hunger Omisore’s current certificate choosing a candidate on the among the people of the the education sector and make it a shining star that state. presented to INEC was a election day. Aregbesola was the first When asked on the con- would guarantee successful court affidavit in place of his primary and secondary candidate to appear at the troversies surrounding his future for the pupils of pubprogramme, while Adeoti, education programmes, lic schools. school certificates. He maintained that the The APC therefore the UPN candidate, joined Aregbesola stated that the revolution in the education implementation of the Educhallenged Omisore to few minutes after. Answering questions sector was the result of the cation Summit recommendaproduce his certificates from St John’s Grammar School, from the moderator on his Education Summit organized tions was the construction Ile Ife and The Polytechnic, achievements and manifes- by his government some of model schools across the state, the distribution of Opon Imo, the distribution of the free uniforms, the feeding of elementary school pupils among other interventions in the education sector. The governor maintained that the interventions have increased the number of enrolment of pupils in the elementary0 0 schools; it has improved the performance of pupils in their O’ Level examinations and while also reducing the burden of financing education on the part of the parents. On the issue of hijab, Aregbesola stated that his administration has not given any directive on the compulsory use of hijab in the public schools, just as he dismissed the insinuation that there were popular protests against the use of hijab. Aregbesola declared that he is not an extremist as some people are badly portraying him, saying: “I chose to be a devout Muslim and I am happy to be that. If some people are criticizing and attacking me for being a devout Muslim, then I accept it. “My wife does not use hijab, neither my daughter. How would I make compulsory, the use of hijab, when my own immediate family members are not using it? To say that is mischievous. “I appointed 32 Permanent Secretaries; only eight of them are Muslims. I appointed 38 members into the State Executive Council, only 12 of them are Muslims. How am I an Islamic fundamentalist? I’m a serious Muslim and I stand by that!” Condemning the ascription of ‘State Boys’ as political thugs, Aregbesola said: “State boys are the youths of my party. The constitutions of my party and that of Nigeria allow them. They do
enough to handle difficult situations under pressure in a robust and critical debate. “The truth of the matter is that, like all inadequate personalities, Omisore was and continues to be afraid of confronting Aregbesola who can expose his lies with
incontrovertible facts. “That was why he ran away from the debate simplicita! “His claim to superiority is empty. A so-called Ph.D holder, who is afraid to confront an O’Level opponent in a debate, is a moron,” the APC said.
Osun Election: Omisore, Akinbade, Akinwusi Shun Governorship Debate
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not in any way represent violence. They are the vibrant, committed and energetic youths of the party. “I am a peace-loving person and a strong advocate of democracy. I know that democracy can only thrive in a peaceful society. So, I will not engage nor encourage anybody in violence. “Those who fought us on the way to power are benefiting from us. That is a compliment. We are not vindictive; we are not wicked people. Life, to me, is too simple and at the same time risky for us to engage in vendetta. “By this time in 2007, opposition could not move freely in the state. My life was being threatened then, likewise that of my party members. I was chased out of Osun and I was declared personal non granta in the state a week to the election. I came to vote on election day. “But because we do not revenge, that is why we are enjoying peace in Osun today. Some people wanted to revenge, but we called on the police to curtail the situation. We have been able to excuse violence in our state because of our persistent campaign against violent politics.” Dismissing the false reports by the PDP that the Federal Government had awarded the dualisation of Osogbo to Kwara State boundary road, Aregbesola challenged anybody that has evidence and the document of the contract to present it to the public. Aregbesola said: “No contract was awarded for the dualisation of Old Garage, Osogbo to Ila-Odo, Kwara State Boundary road by any government before we came into power. I challenge anybody that has anything to the contrary to present the contract papers. “What the Federal Ministry of Works did before the dualisation of the road was spot-patching. It was our own decision to modernise
the state and Osogbo in particular through dualisation, urban renewal, street lights and others. The Old Garage to Ila-Odo is an inter-Federal Government road. “No government attempted to dualise the road and I challenge anybody to come up with an estimate of the contract that put the cost at N8 billion. Sammya, the contractor, is financing the contract; we are only guaranteeing him the payment. Our flexible financing was copied by the Federal Government on Lagos- Ibadan Expressway. We are not comparable to any of the PDP governments at all.” Aregbesola disclosed that his administration has paid June and July salaries for the workers in the state, when the Federal Government has not even released the June allocation to the state, saying that his government is more committed to improving the welfare of the people of the state. The governor said: “I want to assure our people that their welfare is our focus and priority. They are the basis for our policies and programmes. That is why my slogan is ‘Power is Responsibility. Power is commitment to constructing good roads, building good schools, promoting healthy living and so on. “We are committed to you; we believe in you and together we can guarantee the future of our children. That is why we are seeking your support for a second term. I believe you will not spare me your votes in the coming election. We are passionate about your welfare and the development of the state. “Osun will be a model and central for African society by the time we complete the second term. Our second term will set Osun the best state in Nigeria. Thank you all.” Adeoti, the UPN candidate commended Aregbesola for what he described as undeniable development of the state, even as he said he has reservations for some of the programmes of the governor.
Osun Govt Allocates Lands To MDS to develop major towns in the state, government Shop Owners administration does not want to cause
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OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has distributed letters to occupants of land allotted to shop owners of the old MDS road, whose shops were separated as a result of the road rehabilitation work in the area. The land, located at IdoOsun besides the new Aje Market, has space for over 1,500 shops, which has been laid out for the displaced shop owners to occupy. Speaking during the presentation of the letters to the excited shop owners, Aregbesola stated that about 1,333 letters have been prepared for the shop owners. He said despite the determination of the present
hardship on the people. He said the developmental drive of his administration is to make life easier for the people of the state and not to inflict pains on the masses. Aregbesola explained that the state government will continue to provide all social amenities that will make life easier and comfortable such as banks, petrol station, police station at the place. The State Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Architect Muyiwa Ige, stated that over 1,500 spaces for shops, which the layout has been done are available to be allotted to the shop owners. He said the shop owners can start work as soon as possible, as everything has been made available for the smooth takeoff of the market.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 26, 2014
Osun APC Warns President Jonathan Against Sponsoring Bloodbath By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
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HE State of Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned President Goodluck Jonathan to desist from moves to sponsor bloodbath through the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the state, as it is battle-ready to resist such move. At a press conference President to caution the addressed by the Acting State Minister of Police Affairs, Mr Chairman of the party, Elder Jelili Adesiyan, and his Adelowo Adebiyi, the party Defence counterpart, Musiliu said it has been reliably Obanikoro, who are said to be informed by inside sources in part of the plot, saying the the Peoples Democratic Party plots have shown that the (PDP) of the plan of mass security apparatus is being arrest and possible planned to be put to illegal and assassination of top unconstitutional use against government officials considered the people of the state. Among the plots, Adelowo to be loyal to APC and party elders, who are said to be on said, was the invasion of the hit-list of the PDP, saying soldiers and security forces, as Governor Rauf Aregbesola is well as a militia force in military camouflage, who top on the list. He specifically called on the would be armed for war about
a week to the election in the state to intimidate citizens. The party chairman also alleged that explosives and incendiaries have been amassed by the PDP for use before, during and after the election, as part of a reign of terror to silence the people, if there is any widespread protest against any rigged election. He said: “As commander-inChief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there is practically no way the security apparatus under the charge of these ministers can undertake such a major operation without, at least, the knowledge of Mr President, which makes the presidency implicitly involved. “Our first instinct was to disbelieve this possibility, but
on second thought, we realised that the entire exercise is being stage-managed by the PDP in support of Mr President’s second term ambition. “What surprises us the most, is that contrary to Mr President’s ascertion that his presidential ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian citizen, the blood of the Yoruba nation is already being spilled for the purpose of making his ambition a reality in 2015. “PDP, with impunity got away with murder to seize Ekiti State through a fradulent electoral process. They are now being encouraged to plan a massacre in Osun and a very loud conspiratorial silence is coming from the Presidency that wants us to believe that it
does not accept blood-letting of any Nigerian citizen for his presidential ambition. “Mr President, if there is a river of Yoruba blood spilled in Osun to make PDP win, will you renounce your ambition for a second term or joyfully announce your determination to contest in 2015? “We are battle-ready to defend the rights of our people. Osun is not Ekiti and if what was done on Ekiti is tried in Osun, it would be resisted. We don’t have guns, but we are battle-ready. “If soldiers and police must come for the election, they must come with their I.D cards and chest tags for proper identification to avoid fake soldiers and police officers, because we know the PDP is scheming to bring fake police,” he reiterated. Adelowo also expressed concern by what he called the complicity of the INEC in the rigging plan, requesting the president to restore the confidence of the electoral body
by instructing the commission to use the “Card Reader” to ensure that the voting process is clinically rig-proofed and the electoral process is not manipulated. He also asked the President to give the country and the world guarantee that he is totally committed to a free, fair, peaceful and unmanipulated electoral process in Osun. Among those that have been marked for either arrest or assassination, according to Adelowo, are the first Executive Governor of the state, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke; Speaker of the state parliament, Honourable Najeem Salaam; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; Adelowo himself; the APC Secretary, Prince Gboyega Famodun; Alhaji Fatai Diekola, Dr Peter Babalola, Chief Kunle Odeyemi, Senator Bayo Salami, Mr Ayo Afolabi, Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin and Prince Felix Awofisayo among many others.
Aregbesola Receives Award On Good Governance By SOLA JACOBS
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•(L-R) Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; President, Oranmiyan Worldwide, Prince Felix Awofisayo and Parents Teacher Association (PTA) Chairman in the state, Dr Ademola Ekundayo, during the Award Presentation and the Inauguration of Public Schools Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) Executives, Osun Chapter and endorsement of Governor Aregbesola for second term in office in Osogbo recently. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
HE sterling performance of the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has been described as a worthy contribution towards the sustenance and promotion of democracy in tjhe country. District Governor of BOSS ing Nigerian leaders to give good Friendship Club in Nigeria, governance and outstanding Kwali, Abuja, Dr. Edet leadership to Nigerians, with a Ekpeyong, stated this while view to sustaining development decorating Governor Aregbesola in the country, said the adminof Governor with an award on good gover- istration nance in 2013 as the “All- Aregbesola has impacted meanRound Best Performed Gover- ingfully on the life of the people nor in the South-West Nigeria.” of the state. He thereafter urged the Dr. Ekpeyong, who said the award was aimed at encourag- people of the state to support the present administration in the forthcoming August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in the need barons and barbarians to state to be able to complete all bestow it on us. So far, so good; ongoing projects in the state. Responding, Governor Osun youths and students appeal to all voters to listen only to Aregbesola appreciated the club the voice of reason. The voice for the award, describing it as a roars in a massive tone that morale boost to his administraAregbesola is still the answer; no tion. Represented by his deputy, room for usurpers and rogues,” Otunba (Mrs.) Titilayo Laoyehe stressed Tomori, Aregbesola said brilliant ideas of his administration has repositioned the state as a haven of economic developvelopment, the APC condemned ment. He said his administration in the strongest term the recourse to violence by some desperate will not rest on its oars until the politicians in the PDP in Osun, glory of the state is restored as who have been boasting publicly the cradle of human race. to use every means, including ‘fedAlso present at the award eral might’ that can only be presentation were the Etsu of authorised by the presidency to Kwali and Chairman of the attempt to remove the APC from Board of Trustees of BOSS power in the state. The APC therefore, warned Friendship Club in Nigeria, that “those who start violence and Alhaji (Dr.) Shaba Audu Nizazu, Chief of Staff to the war usually get consumed by it. “Jonathan owes his office to Governor, Alhaji Gboyega democratic elections without vio- Oyetola, and Special Adviser to lence. He therefore, cannot keep the Governor on Youths, Sports it through undemocratic means,” and Special Needs, Comrade the party observed. Biyi Odunlade among others.
Osun Students, Youths Roar Supports For Aregbesola’s Re-election By ISMAEEL UTHMAN
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previous governments. He has been unusual and extraordinary. “We know that even the peace and tranquility that we have enjoyed since Aregbesola came on board is expensive and rare to come by. “The other parties and candidates in the coming election
have bad history and nothing fruitful can come out of their Bethlehem, needless to say that they have failed to come out with clear programmes on education and some other significant sectors. “Osun people already personalise honour. We don’t
HE campaign for the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola has received a boost from some youths and students in the state-owned tertiary institutions. Some youths and students treated the student movement under the aegis of Youth like a true alumnus. Reformation Group, thronged “Aregbesola has clearly major streets in Osogbo, in a shown a difference from peaceful match rally to drum support for the re-election of Aregbesola. The excited youths and students said there was no alternative to Aregbesola, adding that they are direct beneficiaries of his unusual programmes. HE State of Osun Chapter of the All Progressives Con APC governorship candidate, Chairman of the coalition, gress (APC) has alerted members of the public in the Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Comrade Abiola Oludele, in an state of a grand plan by the the presidency to despatch a shooting sporadically, causing resiinterview with our reporter, contingent of a Joint Task Force (JTF) to the state. dents to flee in different directions. stated that Aregbesola’s During the melee, a young According to the party, the being one of the most peaceful in intervention in the education duty of the task force is to iden- the country. man, Mr Tolu Adeosun, did the sector, among other areas of tify residences of the leaders of “The necessity for this irratio- naming ceremony of his first development, convinced them APC on the hit list of PDP with nal deployment of JTF does not born on Thursday was gunned to embrace his second term a view to arresting them on the exist in Osun, except for the rabid down in front of his house on ambition and work for his re- eve of the forthcoming gover- and unbridled ambition of PDP to Friday while returning the genelection. norship election and possibly as- capture Nigeria, even if it cost erator he hired for the naming According to Oludele, the sassinate some in order to create lives,” the party stressed. ceremony of his child, by thugs In another development, some led by Ibukun Fadipe a.k.a. Omo youths and students in the state an intense atmosphere of fear and are benefiting from the Osun scare off as many voters as pos- PDP thugs went wild again in Ilesa Oloka, a PDP chieftain. Reacting to they recent deYouths Empowerment Scheme sible from participating in the elec- on Friday, burning billboards of the (OYES), O’Meal, reduction in tion. the tuition fees of the tertiary “The APC wants the world to institutions, increment of know that we are not secondbursary allowance from N3,000 guessing the presidency because to N10,000 and the construction our sources are authentic. By SHINA ABUBAKAR “Come August 9, the PDP will of modern schools for the Elementary, Middle and High begin the process of virtually deTATE Government of Osun has alerted members of the stroying Nigeria, starting from Schools. public of plans by some unscrupulous people to go round Oludele recalled that Osun. major cities in the state marking buildings for demolition “Once again, we want the presieducation was commercialised in a bid to incite the populace against the government. dency to think twice before plungby the Peoples Democratic ing into this dangerous enterprise, A statement signed by the Similarly, the commissioner Party-led (PDP) administration, because it will significantly State Commissioner for Informa- refuted claims by members of the which he said victimised students destabilise Nigeria, and more imtion and Strategy, Mr Sunday opposition party, particularly, activities at their various portantly truncate democracy. Akere, disclosed that the state campuses and proscribed their ‘With the introduction of the government is not embarking on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the state government unions for challenging its Joint Task Force into Osun, the obnoxious education policies. Federal Government is putting the any kind of demolition and it is has concluded plans to introduce not sending its officials on such a new tax regime if re-elected into He said: “Aregbesola has been State of Osun on a war footing. office. “Let the Nigerians, who love assignment. the most tolerant governor so He urged residents to question Akere said government has far to the students and youths in this country prevail on the presithe state. He continues to listen dency that this is not a war that anyone that inscribe any mark not in any way thought of inand engage us without attacking the Federal Government can win. of demolition on their buildings troducing any tax regime nor inor victimizing us like the former It is supposed to be an election in and report such person to the tend to increase its usual tax levy as claimed by the PDP, saying PDP government. He has indeed a state that has the reputation of police for proper action.
Again, PDP Thugs On Rampage •Go Wild In Ilesa As FG Despatches JTF
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Osun Alerts Public On Illegal Demolition Exercise
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the claim is a figment of the PDP’s imagination. “It has come to the notice of the state government that the PDP, in a leaflet it is distributing, claimed that Governor Rauf Aregbesola is planning to introduce a new tax regime on operators of private schools. This claim is fictitious and a figment of the author’s imagination. The PDP is totally at loss with the reality on ground, its problem is lack of ideas and wondering how the present administration raised its internal revenue from a mere N300 million, when the party was in power, to N1.5billion within three years, hence its attempt to incite the
populace against the APC-led administration,” the Commissioner stated. He then called on the members of the public to ignore the claim by the PDP, describing it as a rumour and a hint that the PDP is at a loss with realities of governance, hence its resort to deceiving the populace in the state. Akere challenged the PDP and its candidate to make its campaign issue-based, rather than playing dirty politics by playing with the people’s intelligence, which has been their trademark since it commenced its so-called campaigns in the state.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Eid- Mubarak: Osun Indigenes Laud Aregbesola’s Free Train •Passengers Undergo Security Checks
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NDIGENES of the State of Osun residing in Lagos have commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for sustaining the free train service for the indigenes of the state residing in Lagos and Ogun states. The beneficiaries, who doubted the ability of the arrived Osogbo terminal on governor to sustain the service Saturday night with excitement up till date. He described the service as a almost rolled out drums and be campaigning for the re-election relief to thousands of Osun indigenes and urged the people of the governor. Adediran Ibraheem , a teacher of the state to re-elect the in Lagos, said in the last three governor for a second term in and a half years, he and his office. Also, Mr Hakeem family members have been coming home during festive Olaosebiakn, a businessman in periods with the free-train Lagos, described Aregbesola as service, saying many have a blessing to the state.
“I stay in Lagos,; my family is in Osogbo, while two of my children are beneficiaries of Aregbesola’s free education at the elementary level. They eat nutritious meals in schools and in the last three years, this is how I have been enjoying the free train services. Aregbesola is a blessing to my family, we are praying for him and we are coming home to vote for him again.” To ease the transport burden of Osun indigenes who wish to celebrate this year ’s EidMubarak with their family members and relatives at home,
By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI the state government provided 10 coaches of train from Lagos to Osogbo. The fully-loaded train departed from Nigeria Railway Corporation Terminal, Iddo, Lagos by 2.00pm on Saturday and picked passengers from Agege, Oshodi, Ikeja, Ijoko, Abeokuta, Ibadan to Osogbo, State of Osun capital. The train was billed to move in the morning but suffered delay as a result of the strict security checks and the monthly sanitation exercise in Lagos, which was responsible for the late arrival of the
passengers at Ido terminal. As early as 6.00am, the terminal platforms were under lock and key, which was unusual and when the NRC officials were contacted, it was disclosed that there was an instruction not to allow the passengers to the platform “for security reasons”. Immediately after the sanitation exercise, a combined police team from Iddo Division and Anti-Bomb Unit arrived the terminal and subjected passengers to security search with bomb detectors. The police officers declined comment on the rationale behind the sudden security checks, which, according to the regular passengers, was unprecedented in the terminal since the state government has been providing the free train service. Findings from a top police officer from the Iddo Terminus, who pleaded anonymity, said the screening of passengers and luggage was in connection with the forthcoming Osun governorship election. When contacted, the State of
Osun Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Ismaila Alagbada, who spoke through the Director, Commerce and Investment Promotion, Mrs Kehinde Odediran, said the state government was in agreement with the security checks. According to Odediran: “We have no problem with the security checks. It is in our interest, considering the security challenges in the country. It is our responsibility to protect the lives and property of our passengers. The screening is very important to us for the safety of our passengers.” She described Governor Aregbesola as the man of the people, who always work tirelessly to ease the burden of the masses, adding that the state government will continue to sustain the free train during festive periods. Odediran however, cautioned the beneficiaries to conduct themselves peacefully during and after the Sallah celebration. The 1000-seaters capacity train is billed to return to Lagos from Osogbo on today.
Ife-North Political Office Holders Distribute Free Uniforms To Public School Pupils By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO •(R-L) The Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam, Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, Alhaji Mudashir Husain, during a prayer session for Governor Aregbesola’s re-election during his visit Ifeodan last Friday.
Osun Berates SSS Over Clampdown On Research Firm By SHINA ABUBAKAR
to citizens’ liberty and the Nigerian nationhood. “The SSS must be wary of returning Nigeria to the inglorious era of General Sani Abacha, when might was right and the citizens became serfs in their own republic. “The State Security Service had before been known as highly efficient, professional and unbiased security service that could hardly be manipulated for partisan purposes. Emerging trend now shows that the highlyrespected service may be losing its impartiality for an avowed tool of unconstitutional assignment in flagrant disregard
State Government of Osun has decried the State Security Service over illegal invasion of the corporate head office of its client TNS-RMS, holding its staffers hostage for seven hours before hounding some officers into detention. The condemnation was seek inquiry into whatever the disclosed by the State TNS-RMS had been doing and Commissioner for Information advise appropriately, but would and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, not accept any act of infringing while addressing journalists in on its constitutional right as a Osogbo, the state capital, on registered company in Nigeria. He said: “What is not Sunday. He disclosed that the outfit, a acceptable and open to duly-registered research agency, resistance is for the SSS to engages in empirical surveys present itself as an agency in the across the country for firm grip and manipulative government agencies and private control of the rulingindividuals had been conducting P e o p l e s D e m o c r a t i c Needs Assessment Performance Party (PDP) and a direct threat Evaluation Study (NAPES) for the Aregbesola administration periodically since the advent of the administration over three and a half years ago. He added that the Aregbesola administration took the periodic More astonishing revelations have been brought to the survey seriously and as a matter attention of the All Progressives Congress as to how the of duty, since it serves as a Peoples Democratic Party intends to rig the August 9, 2014 feedback mechanism to test the governorship election coming up in the State of Osun. impact of government policies The latest is that the PDP difference in facial appearance on the populace. has penetrated the ranks of the between the voter’s and the picAccording to the National Youth Service Corps ture on the computer record and commissioner, no reason was (NYSC) members pencilled allow the mercenary voter to given for the clampdown on down by the Independent Na- cast his/her vote. TNS-RMS, which witnessed tional Electoral Commission However, sensing that this prevention of inward and (INEC) for use as electoral of- could be dangerously problemoutward movement of both staff ficers. atic, one of the corps members and visitors of the poll research Investigations by OSUN allegedly asked: ‘suppose party organization other than that the DEFENDER have revealed that agents discovered and raised SSS operatives, who were said already, 70 of them have been alarm?’ to be taking any document compromised to look the other The question to which the (including computer systems) way when PDP agents use PDP officials were reported to that has anything to do with the other people’s voters’ cards to have replied; ‘don’t worry about government of the State of Osun. vote during the election. that, the security people will Akere wondered why the SSS It will be recalled that the deal decisively with any troubleclamped down on the company APC had brought to public some agent’. that conducted social survey for knowledge, the criminal actions At that meeting, the PDP disthe government barely two week of PDP buying up voters’ cards tributed N20,000 each to the before the gubernatorial election from unsuspecting members of corps members and promised in the state, describing the action the electorate across the state, N30,000 more when the next of the security operatives in the which they intend to use for rig- meeting holds. company’s Lagos office for ging purposes during the elecThe next meeting, according about three days as unwarranted tion on August 9. to impeccable sources, will hold aggression and violation of the According to credible infor- in few days in Ile Ife. 1999 Constitution that allows all mation, 96 of the corps memIt was further revealed that lawful pursuits and endeavours bers were invited to a closed the reason Osun PDP is investin the Federal Republic of door meeting with PDP officials ing on this method is that at the Nigeria. last week, but only 74 attended, apex of INEC, the party was The commissioner stressed during which the corps mem- told in blunt terms that snatchthat the SSS was at liberty to bers were told to disregard the ing of ballot boxes and stuffing
for the 1999 Constitution and violation of the inalienable rights of Nigerian citizens just to protect the ruling party.” Akere, while asking for the immediate release of the arrested TNS-RMS staff and allow to continue the lawful and constitutional engagement between them and government of State of Osun without let or hindrance, charged the SSS to jealously guard its professionalism in the performance of its constitutionally assigned role of securing Nigeria without surrendering its awesome credential to partisan manipulation.
More Revelations On How PDP ‘ll Attempt Rigging Osun Poll - APC them with already thumbprinted ballot-papers would not be permitted, while INEC had insisted that the PDP should look for the voters and make them vote. To effect this, the PDP was reported to have adopted two methods; beef up the number of uniformed men from other states to 150,000 and spread them across the state to vote by force; and produce as many other mercenary voters as they can bring to the polling units to cast votes with other people’s cards. The first method was successfully used in Ekiti in conjunction with preventing media presence in several collation centres, where collation of votes was allegedly manipulated in favour of the PDP. In all these, the alleged complicity of INEC in corrupting and manipulating the process was palpable. The medium observed that with this secret let out of the bag, corps members acting as electoral officers will now come under close scrutiny during the election and party agents and observers will be further armed with this information to prevent PDP fraud at the polls.
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S part of the policy of revamping the public education sector of the State of Osun by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, political office holders from Ife North Local Government Council Area of the state have commenced free distribution of school uniforms to pupils of 52 elementary and 12 middle schools. Speaking at the event, which sive Congress (APC) in Ife came up at the Market Square, North, Elder Rufus Awotidoye, Ipetumodu, the Special Adviser maintained that there had always to the Governor on Local Gov- been peace within the governernment and Chieftainy Affairs; ment and APC. Honourable Bisi Odewumi, reAwotidoye explained that vealed that the free uniforms since the APC came into govwere meant for only pupils and ernment in 2010, numerous students, whose uniforms have projects had been unveiled for completely worn-out, indigent the people. students, whose parents cannot He cited drainages, markets, afford the money to purchase the power supply and construction uniforms and also as a support of 10 Kilometres of roads in for the good things the governor Akinlalu, Asipa, Ipetumodu, is doing in the state. Yakooyo, Moro and Edunabon, Honourable Odewumi urged renovation of Ipetumodu Town teachers to be up and doing, so Hall by Senator Babajide as to encourage the pupils under Omoworare, road linking them to compete favourably Ipetumodu and Ode-Omu, disamongst themselves. tribution of textbooks and writHe revealed that Ife-North ing materials and O’Meal as sevwas the first local government eral projects that the people were council area in the state, where enjoying in the local council. all the political office holders It was also revealed that St. have come together to do what Augustine Elementary School, they were doing, adding that the Ipetumodu would be the first gesture was also a measure of beneficiary of the school transpromoting peace and unity and formation in the council, as conimplementing the six-point in- tractors that would handle the tegral action plan of the gover- project are currently on ground nor. In his own remark, the law- and the total cost for providing maker representing Ife North the free school uniforms was put State Constituency in the State at the sum of N2.84 million. Benefitting schools included; House of Assembly; Honourable Ipoola Binuyo, noted that the Baptist Day Elementary School, distribution of uniforms was not Ipetumodu, AUD Elementary an inducement, but a gesture School, Edunabon, CAC Elfrom the state government, so ementary School, Edunabon, that the parents and their chil- CAC Elementary School, dren would know that all gov- Ipetumodu, Christ Elementary ernment projects and School 1, Ipetumodu, AUD Elprogrammes are conceived and ementary School, Ipetumodu, implemented with the people in LA Elementary Schools mind. Edunabon, Yakooyo, The Apetu of Ipetumodu; Ipetumodu and Iwaro, CAC ElOba James Adedokun Adegoke, who spoke on behalf of all the ementary School, Moro, Saint traditional rulers in the council Augustine Elementary School, area, prayed for success and Ipetumodu, Saint John Anglican God’s goodness on all of them Elementary School, Asipa, LA for remembering and carrying the Elementary School, Asipa, Saint school children along in their gov- John C&S Middle School, Ipetumodu, Saint John Elemenernment. He declared that the tary School, Yakooyo, Saint Jude programme was a good one and Elementary School, Moro, Saint he and his brother traditional rul- Michael Elementary School, ers were happy to be alive to Edunabon, Saint Michael C&S, witness such. Edunabon, Saint Peter ElemenThe leader of the All Progres- tary School, Edunabon.
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THE SOCIAL CONTRACT Continued from pg1 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 multi-dimensional 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 development 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 OlukoyeRansomeKutiamongst 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 wellworn aphorism of giving a man a hook to fish
Omisore’s Negative Campaign In Osun
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ENATOR Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State has been going about his campaign in the most negative way. This could be either he is not acquainted with the fine art of mounting the soap box or he does not believe in wooing the electorate whom he hopes to preside over. First, he started his campaign by pretending to be populist by eating two corns with both hands at the same time, thereby giving the impression of a greedy person; he wore Ankara blouse over a lace trouser (in a mocking gesture of the poor) thereby presenting himself as a person of low birth and breeding. When this did not work, then he changed tactics. Now, he has been going round telling lies and intimidating the people. He has never proposed any agenda of governance. Rather, all he keeps telling people is that he would reverse all the policies of Governor Rauf Aregbesola on education. He kept referring to Osun indigenes that have
returned home to help in the development of their state as ‘foreigners’. He has been bandying words like ‘capital flight’ without explaining what he meant (obviously, he does not know the meaning). He does not know and does not care to know about the policy of backward integration in the state that mandates contractors and government officials to maximise items
purchases in the markets in the state and it is only where this is not available that other markets can be considered. He also is not aware of the 10-kilometre roads constructed in each local government and handled exclusively by local contractors. He has also been constituting nuisance everywhere he goes to campaign. His convoy would deliberately block the roads and
force other motorists to queue behind them for hours, in order to give the impression that they are all together. This infuriates them to no end. Then his scanty crowd at the Gbongan Road campaign office will take over the entire express road, stalling traffic on the ever busy road, in gross act of lawlessness. On the contrary, the All Progressive Congress (APC) secretariat on the other side of
the road, though with bigger crowd, conducts its affairs with discretion, with its crowd tucked neatly into the belly of its wide compound. While the state governor moves quietly, without siren and not disturbing anyone, Omisore’s convoy moves about the state menacingly, driving other road users out of the road with his thugs hanging precariously on tailboards, car bumpers and car roofs, with
doors open, wielding various cudgels and whips, creating an atmosphere of terror and insecurity, making citizens and other road users to scamper for safety. The worst part is that he keeps threatening every community he goes to campaign that he would flood their communities with soldiers and arrest their leaders and opposition figures few days before the election. I thought he could not do this but I was horrified to hear him on tape threatening the people of Ifewara that he would flood the community with Hausa soldiers who would not hear a single Yoruba word. He has never articulated any policy on education, healthcare, job creation, agriculture, infrastructure, rural development and road construction. How on earth does he hope to win? Distributing kerosene and other subversive gifts a few days before the election will simply not cut it. He does not know that he is being tolerated and August 9 would be his Judgement Day. •MICHAEL OGUNDELE, Osogbo, State of Osun.
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
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 29, 2014
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Politics OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Aregbesola On The March Again
Ilesa Mega Rally: Its Beauties, Wonders As the eighth in the series of mega rallies of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the State of Osun unfolded in Ilesa, an ancient town which engendered the governor some six decades ago, the events translated into a rousing reunion with his kith and kin. More than that, the fold of the progressives swelled in numerical strength, as many of the hitherto stalwarts of the opposition party and their teeming supporters dumped their old political camp to openly declare for the party to beat. With this recent development, the reigning party in the state is gaining more in numerical strength. As democracy is a game of majority, it becomes more obvious that the party is far better positioned than any of its co-contenders to poll a convincing majority in the Gubernatorial election holding in less than two weeks’ time. NIYI OLASINDE was on hand to capture how events played out at the big meet. The distinct beauties and wonders which gave intricate quality to the convergence are here chronicled.
•A mammoth crowd at the Aregbesola re-election mega rally in Ilesa last Tuesday. INSET: (L-R) First civilian governor of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Governor Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat and member, House of Representatives, representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency, Honourable Ayo Omidiran, during Aregbesola’s re-election Campaign in Ijesa-South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun, recently.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 29, 2014
PHOTOTALK
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Distribution Of Free Uniforms By Political Office Holders To Pupils Of Elementary And Middle Schools In Ipetumodu Town In Ife-North Local Government Council Area Of The State Of Osun, Recently.
•Special Adviser to the State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Bisi Odewumi, handing out bags of free school uniform to a teacher.
•Traditional rulers in the council area. (R-L) the Apetu of Ipetumodu, the Salu of Edunabon, the Alakinla of Akinlalu and another guest Oba on the occasion.
•Odewumi and Honourable Ipoola Binuyo, representing Ife-North State Constituency in Osun State House of Assembly at the event.
•Bales of school uniforms ready for distribution to elementary and middle school pupils on the occasion.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 29, 2014
PHOTOTALK
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Faces At A Prayer Session Organised For The Re-election Of State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At Ife-Odan, Last Friday.
•(L-R) The Adimula of Ife-Odan, Oba Adeyemi Emmanuel Morontade; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam and the Senator representing Osun-West Senatorial District, Alhaji Mudashir Husain, during a prayer session for Governor Aregbesola’s re-election during his visit to the town last Friday.
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•Governor Aregbesola, addressing some traditional rulers gathered at the Adimula of Ife-Odan’s Palace.
•Governor Aregbesola (on top of a vehicle) acknowledging cheers from the ecstatic people of Ife-Odan.
PHOTOTALK
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Faces At A Prayer Session Organised For The Re-election Of State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At Ife-Odan, Last Friday.
•Governor Aregbesola (right with mic), addressing his supporters at Ife-Odan during his visit to the town.
NEWS
Omisore Takes Delivery Of Another N1bn Election Fund From Abuja F RESH information creeping into our news desk indicated that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, last week, took delivery of another N1billion ‘gift’ to prosecute the August 9 governorship election.
behind such dictatorial approach to party affair by Omisore.
candidate would be ‘cleared’ by a special arrangement from INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the candidate of the party, leaders and followers of Omisore have been saying categorically that whether the electorate vote or not, the PDP
Anytime he went for campaign, he asked for names and identities of APC leaders in such ward
It was gathered that the N1billion was specifically given to Omisore by the PDP headquarters in Abuja to distribute to potential voters on the election day.
some elders and leaders of the PDP in the state who are questioning the rationale
Investigation further indicated that the money was sourced by all the PDP governors at the prompting of Alhaji Adamu Muazu.
HE leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is hell-bent in rigging the August 9 governorship election in favour of its candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, by disenfranchising majority of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters and members.
A source closed to the Osun State secretariat of the PDP in Osogbo however, disclosed that the appropriate person to keep the money caused schism between the candidate, Omisore, and the party chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, who was allegedly slapped by the candidate when he insisted in keeping the first tranche of the money (N1billion), a forthnight ago. Olaoluwa, it was further gathered, has conceded the custody of the fresh N1billion to Omisore, in order not to rock the boat. The disbursement of the election fund solely by the candidate is however said not to go down well with
or local government, saying that he has a working arrangement with Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, Police Affairs Minister and Musiliu Obanikoro, Junior Defence Minister, to flood Osun with soldiers and police officers during the elections.
Omisore was said to have been boasting ceaselessly that some of them (APC chieftains) will not be around on the election day as the soldiers will be there and the police to keep them in detention till after the election.
Muazu’s PA, INEC Staff Fingered In Plans To Rig Osun Gov Election
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Investigation showed that the rigging of the election is normally effected at the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) headquarters in Abuja by an Information Technology staff (deputy head of ICT) who goes by the name Tunde.
Osun APC Congratulates Muslims By MUTIYAT GANIYU Progressives Congress in the State of A LL Osun has congratulated muslims for the successful month-long fasting and devotion to the will of Allah which ended Sunday. The period which has elevated the spiritual consciousness of muslims will lead them to take the right decisions on matters which affect their faith and their lives in an environment that is constantly threatened by thugs, rapists, assassins and mischievous politicians. At least, those who have been faithful in their devotion during this Ramadan will come with clear conscience to sort out the evil from the good when
they take a critical decision on August 9 whether or not criminals should CAPTURE power in Osun, or Allah’s grace that rained on the State since Nov. 2010 should continue. The Ramadan came just in good time to assist not only muslims but every adherent of faiths in Osun to consciously resist evil which desperate politicians that have gone mad for power pose to the progress already made since 2010.
Citizens of Osun, whether muslims, christians or traditional religionists have a duty to stand up to evil as a united people, and to use the very high ideals of their faiths to prevent the goodness of Allah, the Almighty God, and Eledumare from being destroyed on August 9, by the combined forces of evil characters in our country and state that are already amassing in Osun, preparatory to August 9. Ramadan, in the collective spirit of goodness, has prepared all citizens of Osun that the big decision before
them is whether or not they will bow their heads to terror and allow criminals, who our people call ‘Ojelus’ to come to power and destroy our ethos, pillage our collective patrimony and ruin the future of our children that has since November 2010 been meticulously charted by the Aregbesola administration. With our faiths intact, our conscience renewed, and our resolve strengthened through fasting and prayer by all religions, the citizenry of Osun will proceed together, with God on their side, to effect the victory of good over evil. Happy Eid-el-Fitr.
It was gathered that Tunde who works in conjunction with one Akin who is the Personal Assistant to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, have professional capacity to hack into INEC data base where they will remove the names of some eligible voters especially in more than 75 per cent of the wards in of the State of Osun. OSUN DEFENDER investigation showed that the National Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, was not in the know of the shady arrangement to rig the Osun election. This is the basis of the bravado being exhibited by the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, that he would win the election, come what may.
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PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Commissioning Of Local Authority (L.A) Elementary School At Imo, Ilesa, State Of Osun By Governor Rauf Aregbesola Recently. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
•(L-R) Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otuba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Honourable Timothy Owoeye.
•(L-R) Chief of Staff to State of Osun Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola; State of Osun Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye and state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Prince Wale Adedoyin, at the programme
•A cross section of public school pupils and others during the programme.
•The back-view of the newly-commissioned L.A School building.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 29, 2014
MAGAZINE
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Ilesa Mega Rally: Its Beauties, Wonders
•(L-R) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran and Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun at • Owa’s Palace during Governor Aregbesola’s homage payment to Oba Aromolaran on his way to his 2014 re-election mega rally in Ilesa State of Osun, recently. Contiuned from page 6 NOW, the die is almost cast. In barely a week and a half to this time, the State of Osun shall be approaching the polls to elect a governor to steer the ship for a four-year term ending in 2018. In pursuance of this, lots of things are happening as build-up to the d-day. We find out that in the camp of the opposition, unbecoming and unsavoury events, which constitute sad indices to what to expect on the Election Day have begun to unfold. In the last OSUN DEFENDER Magazine edition, much was discussed on the outlawry displayed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the penultimate week. As at the time of filing that report, little did we know that the party had almost been torn apart over the sharing formula for a lodgment of largesse which came from their “almighty father” in Abuja. The entire events, as it unfolded, happened as expected. A political party which has as its stock-in-trade the capture of “empires” and the sharing of booties would never have anything to offer other than strife, scuffles and bouts of pandemonium. The show of shame degenerated to the extent that the so-called standard bearer of the party in the forthcoming election landed a dirty slap on the face of the state chairman of the party! That slap is the most deserving bang of the year. Why? Like Emperor Nebuchadnezzar boasted over Babylon as his handiwork in ancient times, Omisore could brag over Olaoluwa’s chairmanship of the party as his singular creation. The entire episode unfolded even before the last edition hit the newsstand. In the last edition, we diagnosed the many incurable diseases and infirmities with which that party of conservatives is afflicted. Part of the diagnosed ailments identified is the fact that only one person, simply for the sake of his ill-acquired affluence had pocketed the hierarchy of leadership and procedures of the party. To the bargain, all known and acceptable standards and procedures which form the hallmark of democracy had been thrown to the winds. Like Esau, in the Bible, the rank and file of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun has sold their collective birthright for a meal of pottage; yet they remain famished! They will never be fed. On the note of the foregoing, we sound the note of caution on the ears of those who have ears in our state not to fall victim of the deceit of the party. I well understand that I am in the midst of the wise. We are cautioned not to be entrapped into the enticements coming from the people who have been afflicted by same syndrome of misfortune. In the midst of their misfortune, they exercise rabid desperation to clutch power by all means and at all costs. They are determined to stop at nothing. First, cash gift was the decoy. Next, it was expired rice. Sometime later, it was ritual crash helmet. At a later date, it was one accursed “Egbe Omo Ilu” contraption. Today, the bait in vogue is the massive distribution of adulterated kerosene. The motive behind this revisiting of kerosene formula is to eliminate voters through the conflagration effect its household use may produce. Since they have lost out in their bid to disenfranchise voters through massive purchase of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs); they have contrived another quick and massive means of extirpation. We warn our people not to honour these cursed Greek gifts. They all are a grand design to lure the people and misguide them to embrace the wrong electoral choice. We are a wise race. Beware of those who are all-out to deceive you with meal tickets that will never translate into putting food on your table. Few words are sufficient for the wise. TWO weeks ago, the campaign train of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola stormed the ancient town of Ilesa on the routine campaign mega rally packaged into this season. The significance of the rally, exemplified in its beauties and wonders are the themes which this edition of reports sets out to dissect. The mega rally, apart from the unusual mammoth crowd it drew unto itself, unraveled the wonders of massive unexpected defections. Few days after the rally at Ilesa, another giant in the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a former senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Chief Felix Kola Ogunwale (a.k.a. Jumokol) also took the bull by the horns as he led his teeming supporters to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). What made this political giant to call it quits with his old party? The answer is not far-fetched: No fine politician of virtuous extraction will find it comfortable to remain in that devil’s enclave. Since the coming on board of the Aregbesola administration in the State of Osun, there has been several batches of defection from the party into none other party than the All Progressives Congress (APC). If there is still anyone left in doubt over the reason for this massive defection, let such one be pleased to be informed that the defectors found their new party to be better by far! They made timely discovery that there is nothing good the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can offer anyone. To the society, all they have had to offer all this while is misrule, corruption, retrogression and systemic failure. Since this season of mega rallies started, there has been recorded series of such similar defection. I could remember that it was recorded at Iwo, Ila-Orangun, Ede, Ikire and Ilesa. At other political rallies outside the mega rallies, defection has occurred into the All Progressives Congress (APC) on more than three occasions. Instances of this latter
case are those involving two big shots – Adeleke and Ogunwale. What do we make out of this analysis? The scriptural injunction that says a house which divides against itself shall not stand communicates an eternal truth. It is a truth for all generations. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a collapsed structure as far as the State of Osun is concerned. The emergence of the worst human species as its governorship candidate in the next election came as the most terrible catastrophe that nailed the coffin for the party. Now, we need explanations on how a party that is deserted and forlorn intends to win an election against that which has a majority of the people on its side. The fact is that Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) stock-in-trade is electoral fraud and manipulation. Consider how Omisore brags about, exuding confidence of victory! See Fayose gallivanting about, parading himself a tactician. I remember that at his flag presentation ceremony in Ado-Ekiti prior to the June 21 election, a number of their party leaders referred to him as an expert in supplanting. They kept saying that as he did it successfully in 2003; so he was set to do it again! Now that he has done it, we can be sure that it was done through the same way he did it in 2003. It was done through some form of manipulation. But we are sure that whatever forms the manipulation took, it will not work here in Osun. It is a slap on our face that these electoral robbers are globetrotting; swaggering about with an air of impunity. They are so lawless, so unruly. It’s quite saddening and unfortunate. As the Osun Gubernatorial election draws near, we are confident that their devices will fail. The threat of huge presence of security personnel is in vain. So far as the fortification is not intended to divert the will of the people, all is well. But if indications point to it that they are here to aid and abet rigging, fraud and manipulation, then, things must definitely fall apart. ANOTHER milestone was reached penultimate Tuesday. The weather was cool and clement, reminiscent of Providence smiling on the second term bid of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; as the governor’s campaign train moved to Ilesa, the headquarters of Ijesa South Federal Constituency, to keep appointment with destiny as the eighth in the series of mega rallies packaged to hold round the nine federal constituencies of the state settled on the ancient town. The federal constituency comprises four local government council areas, namely Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakunmosa West and Atakunmosa East local councils. With the earlier campaigns held at Ile-Ife and Ibokun, it is the last of the three federal constituencies in the Osun East (Ife / Ijesa) Senatorial District of the state to be so covered by the campaign rally. The mega rally at Ilesa was true to its rightful description in all ramifications, as it turned out to be a homecoming indeed for the incumbent governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, at the instance of whose re-election the rally was convened. Ogbeni Aregbesola hailed from the Ogbon Arogbo Quarters of the ancient town of Ilesa. By this fact, he is from the Ilesa East Local Government Council Area of the state. The fact remains therefore that it was normal and deserving that his own people troop out to accord him a rallying welcome; not only for the fact that he is their kith and kin, but because he took time out, daring the limitations imposed by paucity of funds to cater for the people of his place of birth in the areas of provision of amenities and infrastructure and rendering of quality service. For the first time in a long period, the Ijesas had a genuine feel of a government at work. The town was already set for the event of the day. As early as the dawn of the day, people could be seen rushing up and down, obviously to get themselves adequately prepared for the big gathering. It was as if Ogbeni paved the way purposely for that particular event. The network of roads which he labored to put in place, which was commissioned sometime early this year; got its test-running as it came into full use on that occasion. This is not to say that the roads had not been in use since date of official commissioning. As a matter of fact, they had been in use like others in their category upon completion, prior to their date of commissioning! The mammoth crowd of the day, coupled with what the degree of attendant gridlock on such occasion would have been justified the paving of such type and quality of roads. All the way from Osunjela, the Ijesa border-end with Osogbo, the state capital territory; through all the communities which adorn the way to Ilesa, people trooped out in droves to await the governor and his train and give cheers of compliments and goodwill to them as they rode to Ilesa. The turnout on the streets of Ilesa was simply terrific. Right from the city entrance at Omi-Aladiye down to the city-centre at Ereja Square, the crowd was tumultuous. The big roundabout in front of Aafin Adimula, where the cenotaph of Owa Ajibogun stands tall became a stadium where spectators had converged to play audience to one of the series of matches in the then ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament. Simply put, the crowd was rousing! At the palace of the monarch, the paramount ruler of Ijesaland, Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, the crowd was amazing. Right inside the palace square, all available spaces, the runway and car parks inclusive, played host to hordes of people who had converged to bid welcome to
the governor of the state. It would not be an overstatement to call it a triumphant entry. Candidly, it relived the experience of a similar entry made into Jerusalem over two-thousand years ago by Jesus Christ. The degree of similarity was increased with the presence of brooms – an extraction from fronds of the Palm Tree. So, we would be right if the day is tagged a Palm Tuesday. As is his usual practice, Governor Aregbesola was on a traditional homage-paying visit to the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran. In addition, the purpose of the visit was to officially intimate the monarch and a galaxy of others in attendance with his second term bid, the raison d’être for the day’s rally and to receive blessings from the monarchs before proceeding to the venue. The monarch was on hand to receive the governor. In attendance at his palace were other Obas in Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Owain-Council, Lojas, village heads and all royalties. On the side of the governor, membership of his team was impressive. Governor Aregbesola was accompanied by his counterpart from Ogun State, who had come to solidarize with him, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. Others are selected members of the Executive Council of the State of Osun, selected honourable members of the State House of Assembly, some members of the hierarchy of the State Executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other eminent personalities. In his introductory speech at the event, Governor Aregbesola appreciated the auspicious roles played by the traditional fathers in ensuring that peace reigned in their domains. He expressed the high value he placed on their support, guidance and contributions to his administration all this while. He enumerated the achievements of his administration in the area; placing it all on the enabling environment they contributed to provide. The governor then promised that all that had been seen during his first tenure would be miniature, compared with greater laudable programmes and projects which he still had in stock if given the mandate to serve for another term in office. He concluded by soliciting the assistance of the royal fathers in maintaining peaceful conduct, enforcement of law and order before, during and after the Gubernatorial Election that was fast approaching. In his response on behalf of all other royal fathers, the Owa Obokun applauded the giant strides of the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola, who according to him gad not betrayed the trust and mandate of the people. He congratulated the governor on the successful delivery of his pact and wished him success in his bid to return to office. He promised the worthy son that he would be supporting him in prayers while the struggle lasts and prayed that the end will bring joy and satisfaction to all. Prayers were rendered before the campaign train departed the palace for the venue of the big meet. It was a big and eventful task for the governor’s campaign train to move from the palace to the Irojo venue of the campaign. All through the way, various thick and shades of crowd that had lined the streets cheered and applauded the governor and his train in various forms. Some sang while many more praised him in many other forms. A majority of them held brooms in their hands which they brandished to cheer him. The governor, in response either waved or outstretched his hand with the “V” sign of victory in acknowledgement of praises from the crowd. It was his usual ride on the mini-luxury bus all the way. People of various ages, cutting across various age groups and classes trooped out to catch a glimpse of him and register their welcome greetings to him. It was an impressive turnout. The roads earlier brought under reference were filled with humans. Vehicular movements were held in gridlock. People were sighted on balconies and battlements of houses. Uncompleted buildings were not spared. Motorists and commercial motorcycle operators; popularly referred to as okada riders were thrown into ecstatic mood as they all caught the mood of the occasion. Disabilities were thrown to the winds as the blind sought to be led; while the crippled begged to be carried to witness the big event. ALL the way to the spacious and expansive venue of the occasion, Governor Aregbesola rode atop the bus with his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. The duo thrilled the waiting audience with admiration as they approached the entrance of the venue. There at the venue, another crowd had awaited their arrival. The events had already kicked off. Speaker after speaker had taken turns to address the surging crowd. All speakers dwelt on the long list of achievements of Ogbeni, with which they convinced the people to poll massively for him in the forthcoming election. On hand to enliven the occasion were D.J. Bazzman and the Fuji music maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (K1). Some of the speakers who mounted the podium prior to the arrival of the governor include the state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Lekan Salami, ably represented by Comrade Adebisi Adebowale, a representative each of the Hausa and Ibo
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Ilesa Mega Rally: Its Beauties, Wonders Contiuned from page 11 communities resident in Ilesa and its environs. In their various speeches which they spoke in their respective indigenous dialects, they took turns to rally support for the governor and his re-election, just as they brought out the all-important benefit of having Aregbesola back in office. In addition, Comrade Adebowale counseled the people not to fear the huge presence of security apparatus on the Election Day. According to him, the presence of soldiers, police and dogs at the election venue was to prevent the breakdown of law and order. Next was enlightenment cum entertainment session by the ace actor and television entertainer, Ojo Arowosafe, a.k.a. Fadeyi Oloro. Fadeyi Oloro cautioned the people against selling their voters’ cards. He however implored them to vote with them and do so overwhelmingly for Aregbesola, who he saw as the saviour and Messiah of the people. The proceedings were intermittently interrupted with musical interludes by King Wasiu Ayinde K1. The programme of events took another positive turn with the arrival in quick succession of Wife the of the Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Abidemi Aregbesola, who arrived the scene at 3:15 p.m. and the husband, the governor, who stormed the venue with his train at around 3:21 p.m. These arrivals set the occasion aglow. As has earlier been alluded to, the governor arrived in company of Governor Amosun of Ogun State. After acknowledgement of cheers from the waiting crowd of party members, supporters, party faithful, admirers and sympathizers, the governor and his guest alighted from the bus and immediately proceeded to exchange pleasantries with dignitaries at the occasion, all of whom had been on ground to welcome him. Immediately thereafter, the events-proper kicked off. At exactly 3:37 p.m., the National Anthem and the State of Osun Anthems were sung back-to-back. This was followed with the introduction of guests and dignitaries at the event. Immediately upon his introduction, the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun took to the stage to address the crowd. Amosun charged the atmosphere with songs like “E di’bo fun Aregbesola”, “Se e nri’se wa?” and “Dagunro o se e je”. He admired the density and quality of the crowd and sued for people’s massive support by trooping out on the d-day to perform their civic obligations – that of voting for Aregbesola. He expressed his wish for the governor’s overwhelming victory at the polls. He assured the people that their votes would count as the votes cannot be stolen, buttressing it with the Yoruba adage that “Omi t’o ba mo n’iwon la a re ila si”. He cautioned the people to beware of and resist politicians of “stomachstructure”. He pointed it out as a disgraceful trend for our race for governance to be reduced to distribution of rice and beans. He urged the people to shun and discountenance “amala politics”, which he pointed out as disgrace to our forebears. He acknowledged the fact that Governor Aregbesola is in the front-burner of upholding the philosophies of good governance laid down by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Governor Amosun pointed out that all the achievements recorded by the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola since his coming on board are indices of development which are worth the pursuits for a race to move forward. Specifically, he cited schools, roads, quality education and health, care of the old, hospital infrastructure and all the rest as indices of development and good governance. He renewed Aregbesola’s commitment to make his laudable achievements a tip of the iceberg, compared to what he has in stock for his second term in office and with this; he solicited the people to poll massively for him to ensure the reality of his renewed mandate. He cited the development recorded in the Yorubaland of the illustrious past and recommended that we should keep the furnace of that tradition burning. He rounded off his speech with giving references to the old number of late Hubert Ogunde, titled “Yoruba Ro’nu”. After this eloquent presentation, the Chairman of the Aregbesola Second Term Campaign Committee for the federal constituency, who doubles as leader of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Timothy Owoeye mounted the podium to deliver his welcome address. In his speech, Owoeye commended Governor Aregbesola, who he remarked that had performed valiantly, and who did not let the Ijesas down in government. He thanked the people too for keeping faith with the administration and promised them higher grounds in the next dispensation – the more reason why they should re-elect Aregbesola for the second term. He appreciated the waiting crowd for the huge turnout and the patience exercised. He then rounded off his speech with the song: “O ti mu wa gbagbe, Ibanuje igba kan…”. Next to speak was the Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the State of Osun, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi. Adebiyi entered the stage on the note of song of appreciation, as he sang: “Olorun ku ise o e…” a Christian chorus in Ijesa dialect. He then announced that the State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had concluded plans that the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for the newly registered voters would be ready for collection on the 26th and 27th of July, and that the distribution would be done on ward basis. He re-emphasized the need for
prospective voters to keep their voters’ cards and not sell of release the Personal Identification Number (PIN) on them to unscrupulous politicians so as to be able to vote with them. Elder Adebiyi then cautioned the people not to fear security personnel on the Election Day. According to him, their huge presence and the dogs they would bring are measures to secure votes and enforce law and order. He conveyed messages from the leadership of the Christian body and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that they had not endorsed sentiments in voting; but that voters should exercise caution to vote for credible and God-fearing leaders, not killers, desperate politicians or self-seeking ones. He then presented the candidate of impeccable character and pedigree Governor Aregbesola, who the people had already tested and trusted. There and then, the chairman announced the presence of former stalwarts of the opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who were in attendance at the rally to officially and publicly renounce their membership of the fold party and join the train of progress being championed by the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defectors are the former state Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Yinka Adeojo, former Chairman of Osogbo Local Government, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye and former Personal Assistant to the erstwhile Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Rasaq Oyelami a.k.a. K.K. Others are the ex-PDP chairman for Odo-Otin Local Government Council Area of the state, Honourable Moyinoluwa Ogunwole and Mrs. Kemi Adejare. All these came to the rally to join the membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Alhaji Rasaq Oyelami rubbished the old political party he and his colleagues discarded as brain behind all evil that Nigeria currently experiences. He attributed the dwindling monthly revenue allocation accruing to the state to their craft. He remarked that the PDP comprises a bunch of disgruntled, grandiloquent and dare-devil politicians, who equate themselves to God; and who at best should be kept at an arm’s length. In his analysis, Oyelami cautioned all remaining members in the forceful party called PDP to jettison the party and join hands with the progressives. He cited the good examples of positive leadership provided by Governor Aregbesola and Chief Adebisi Akande, who had impacted positively on the lives of the citizenry. He reasoned that the good works so far witnessed should automatically qualify Aregbesola for second term. Finally, he classified their old party as not peoplefriendly and totally disintegrated and collapsed. The speech was rounded off with the formal presentation of flag of the APC to the new entrants as symbol of their official welcome into the party. This was performed by the Leader of the party in the state, the governor, Ogbeni Aregbesola, who raised the Christian Hymn: “Ha Egbe Mi, E w’asia..” and the chorus: “E ji gbogbo okan t’o sun lo…” which the crowd sang enthusiastically. In the speech, former governor of the state Senator Isiaka Adeleke commended the governor and noted that since the governor had remarked at the palace of the monarch that all that he had done was the foundation of greater things to come, them the people had nothing to fear as the next dispensation would bring more dividends of democracy than the current one. According to him, the governor had raised the edifice of governance to the lintel level; all that remains is for the people to do the roofing with their votes on the 9th of August. He then cautioned the people against election fraud. The need for vigilance was hammered, as he charged them to protect their votes. At exactly 4:21 p.m., Governor Aregbesola mounted the rostrum. He entered with two choruses: “Ope l’o ye O” and “Ogo Yi, Oluwa, Ye Ogo Yi”. The governor prescribed as usual the duties of electorate on the Election Day. He enunciated his achievements so far and implored the people to cast their votes en masse for him so that the good work could continue. He then stressed the need for peaceful and orderly conduct on the Election Day. AT this juncture, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine shall draw excerpts from the pact given to the people of the state upon rolling out of the Oranmiyan campaign team of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola eight years ago; for the purposes of reference and setting the records straight: My mission and ambition are to restore to the people, a state of peace, opportunity, for progress and room for the pursuit of prosperity in our time under a people friendly government. I give you Six-Point Integral Action Plan, to the intent that they constitute my actions of faith concerning which I want to be held accountable at any time during my stewardship. SIX POINT INTEGRAL ACTION PLAN · Banish Poverty · Banish Hunger · Banish Unemployment (Create Work/Wealth) · Restore Healthy Living · Promote Functional Education · Enhance Communal Peace and Progress BANISH POVERTY
•First civilian governor, State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (top left), addressing the crowd, during Aregbesola’s re-election campaign mega rally in Ijesa-South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun, recently.
COMMERCE Vision: To make Osogbo the second hub in international trade in goods and commodities in the Southwest. Osun people’s natural affinity for commerce has been dampened over the years by unfriendly and unfocused economic policies of government thereby popularizing poverty among a people, who are naturally hardworking, industrious and adventurous. Our purposeful government of ACN shall revitalize commerce and restore wealth back to the land through: · Market friendly policies that will revive the customary commercial activities in Osogbo and other towns in Osun. · Promotion and support of activities focused on wealth promotion for our people. · Transformation of Osogbo into an International market where goods will be procured at prices comparable to any other part of West Africa. FINANCE& ECONOMIC PLANNING I shall increase the internally generated revenue of the state and also improve in mileage on every kobo accruing to the state by: · Ensuring real time online access to actual position of the state finances to prevent misuse and other forms of abuse by receiving agencies. · Reducing leakages in the tax collection and administration process. · Running a transparent and accountable government. · Ensuring prudent management of the state’s resources. · Ensuring that the funds of the state are used for developmental purposes. · Create viable Public/Private sector partnerships to jump start the economy. · Our overall goal is to reduce dependence on federal allocation as a means of funding the government. BANISH HUNGER FOOD& AGRICULTURE Vision: Our government shall banish hunger in Osun and enhance wealth through massive increase in food production and agriculture. Every farmer shall sell his products and be prosperous. The labour of the farmer shall no longer be in vain because we shall provide assistance and support to farmers in finding and exploiting profitable market for their goods. We do not presently grow enough food in Osun to feed us round the year and this should concern a government that cares for its people. Our government shall support farmers to attain increase in food production, better storage and delivery. We shall provide assistance to farmers in exploiting profitable markets and market opportunities for their products. To maximize the benefit of resultant massive increase in food production, we shall improve: · Access roads and general transportation to even the most remote areas of the state. · Storage process and capacity. · Processing of agricultural produce. · Rural electricity and water supply. CASH CROPS · Encourage production of cash crops which can enhance farmer’s income and provide basis for an effective agro-industrial society in the state of Osun. · Specified to vigorously develop extensive farming in palm trees to create a fully integrated oil palm processing industry. · To target and capture minimum of 10% of the multibillion naira- per day food market of the neighbouring states. · Support cooperative efforts by farmers · Be a catalyst to the development and promotion of micro, small and medium enterprises that will exploit available raw materials. · Set up price support scheme for farmers through commodity exchange board. BANISH UNEMPLOYMENT (CREATE WORK& WEALTH) No job loss, more jobs. Osun people are peaceful, dignified and hardworking people who desire and deserve gainful employment for their children and themselves. Rather than policies that will create employment and wealth for the people, the policies of the PDP government in place serve to enrich few at the expense of majority of our people. As part of our GOVERNMENT UNUSUAL programme, I Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola make a pact with you good people of the State of Osun, in the presence and by the grace of God Almighty that our government shall create immediate employment for 20,000 people within our 100 days in office. 5,000 of these places shall be reserved for those who were retrenched and are still willing and able to work. As a people-friendly government, our policies shall help to: · Create economic environment that ensures availability of jobs for all Osun indigenes. · Establish one LIFE ACADEMY in each of the three Senatorial constituencies for the building of life- long skills in out of schools, youngsters as well as adults seeking alternative competencies. · Promote labour exchange centres to facilitate employment of graduates from our Life Academies. CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS There is the need for a civil service reform that will not lead to any loss of jobs as I Rauf Aregbesola do not believe in laying people off in the name of reforms. Our reform will make the work environment more conductive, stimulating and development oriented. Bonuses, incentives and regular awards shall be instituted to promote a culture of excellence in the civil service along with the prompt payment of salaries, allowances, leave bonuses and year-end performance bonuses. Promotions and comprehensive salary reviews and increases shall be regular. Internal and external training, work exchange programmes and overseas training shall be actively reinstituted for comprehensive human development in the civil service. New Tutor General/Permanent Secretary Cadre shall be created for Teachers in new education districts for better school administration. We shall institute Home Ownership Scheme for public servants and also support and encourage their backyard food production business ventures. We shall do a comprehensive review of civil service names and conventions as part of our efforts to create a people- friendly civil service. Appropriate nomenclature will enhance accountability and promote public access to the services of the ministry. A citizen with a complaint of blockage of drainage will find a Ministry of Roads and Drainages easier to identify with than Ministry of Works, a Ministry
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Ilesa Mega Rally: Its Beauties, Wonders PHYSICAL WELL-BEING Our Government will promote physical exercises as a deliberate policy which will form a crucial aspect of our healthyliving programme. This is in keeping with the adage that a sound mind only resides in a sound body. PROMOTE FUNCTIONAL EDUCATION Vision: Eradicate the frustration of youths caused by education that does not lead to employment. To achieve this, the government of AC under Rauf Aregbesola shall: ·Provide free education at all levels in Osun State. Focus on functional education. Education that makes one useful to himself and society. ·Improve incentives to teachers and work with the NUT to restore the dignity of the teaching profession. ·Restructure administration of school management and create Tutors-General (Permanent Secretary Cadre) from among Head Teachers in three Educational Districts which we will establish.\ ·Fix all collapsed educational infrastructures in all the schools. ·Support with modern teaching aids and well-stocked libraries. ·Ensure cooperation with parents and teachers to improve discipline and morality. ·Introduce non-partisan community-based governing boards for all schools. ·Reduce number of students per classroom immediately. ·Introduce home development plans for teachers who wish to build houses in their home towns, through access to special mortgage packages. ·Promote mass adult literacy and numeracy programmes. ·Promote and support Special programmes that give special attention to education of girls and women. ·Establish institutions that impart life-long skills for all, in and out of formal schooling.
•Aregbesola (on top of a bus), acknowledging cheers from public school pupils in Ilesa on his way to the rally. ·Develop skilled personnel through our Life Academies, Universities and colleges to service specialized industrial and Continued from page 12 manufacturing needs.
ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY ·I am committed to ensuring that an Osun State University takes off on a sound footing and becomes a first-class institution with linkages to renowned universities in the developed world.
of Human Resources and Development will more appropriately communicate its services than a Ministry of Establishment. TOURISM Vision: Tourist’s cradle in Africa The State of Osun is the cradle of Yoruba people and our rich culture. The opportunities for wealth creation in Osun state through tourism have been underexploited. We shall: ·Develop State of Osun tourism potentials to its fullest to promote employment and wealth among people of the State of Osun. ·Encourage development of Yoruba museum and world heritage centre at Ile-Ife. ·Encourage programmes that nurture and promote arts and talent. ·Enhance the image of traditional rulers and institutions. ·Mobilize our traditional rulers to showcase the state’s tourism potentials to Yorubas in the diaspora (e.g. Brazil, Cuba and West Indies). ROADS Vision: Roads to and in all towns and villages in Osun. Road construction and maintenance shall be used to generate employment for the indigenes of the State of Osun.
·I will make every tertiary institution in Osun State an independent degree-awarding one. RESTORE HEALTHY LIVING Vision: To work to save our people from all avoidable deaths due to accidents, emergencies, poverty and inadequate health facilities.
·Development and regular maintenance of urban and rural roads to get top priority. ·Access roads to evacuate agricultural produce shall be constantly improved and expanded.
ENHANCE COMMUNAL PEACE AND PROGRESS Vision: To restore the bond of trust between the Governor and the governed.
To achieve this for all and particularly our children and senior citizens, we shall: ·Provide effective and available healthcare for all.
Over time, people have disconnected from government because those in authority have not shown enough concern about their welfare or actively engaged them in formulating policies that affect them.
·Provide efficient accident and emergency ambulance service.
Our Government shall restore partnership between government and people through:
·Provide primary health clinics within 10 kilometre radius of every Osun town, with special attention to the needs of children, women and the elderly. ·Provide functional General hospitals within 20 kilometre radius of human habitation. ·Provide referral hospitals within 30 kilometre radius of human settlement.
SAGES COUNCILS (EGBE AGBA) Our state is blessed with a large pool of elderly folks who are invariably well educated, have enjoyed successful careers, travelled widely in the world, but are currently reduced to irrelevance in the society. Our Government will support the formation of non partisan community based sages councils, capable of providing guidance in management, moral and ethical development in our society.
·Establish free blood pressure checks in conjunction with private organizations at every local government office. Our Government will seek elderly guidance and advice as inputs to our policy formation and implementation. ·Undertake special programmes for the upgrading, retraining and working comforts of all health personnel. ·Encourage and nurture alternative medical therapy.
·Community based road maintenance units will be established to ensure timely repairs and deduce overall maintenance costs.
·Encourage use of services of retired, but not tired dons and administrators, from reputable institutions.
Government will support the senior citizens and help in their management of socio-economic problems peculiar to the group (pension, health and education). YOUTHS COUNCIL (EGBE ODO)
·Free treatment for malaria to children below age 18 and senior citizens (60+). ENVIRONMENT
People age 30 and below constitute the majority of our population but unfortunately are often frustrated and unfulfilled as a consequence of intolerable social and economic policies.
Vision: To embrace current scientific methods in controlling the generation of waste and the conversion of waste to wealth.
Our ACN Government shall support the creation of non partisan community based youth councils to provide a platform for them to articulate and work out solutions to various problems confronting them.
The state of the environment, especially waste generation, management and the embarrassing filth in our communities demand special attention. The CAN government shall:
Our Government will encourage cross fertilization of ideas between the Sages and Youth Councils through which public policies would be influenced.
·Create partnerships with the private sector on road development and provision of infrastructure. TRANSPORTATION We shall produce a transport master plan to provide direction for development of the sector. The safety of the lives of the indigenes of the State of Osun is of great concern to us. We shall: ·Reduce to the barest minimum, road traffic accident within 6 months on all roads starting with Federal roads. ·Create a motorized division of the Osun troopers to patrol roads to prevent accidents on the highways and organize rescue and recovery operations.
·Encourage all houses in the State of Osun to have a modern and affordable toilet facility through a special scheme. ·Provide private sector driven waste management and beautification schemes to rid our communities of filth which threaten public health.
Government will promote sporting activities and creation of physical facilities for sporting and related activities. We shall reinstate the abandoned ‘boys’ and girls’ clubs’ and name them Omoluabi Boys’ and Girls’ club to perform the roles similar to boys’ and girls’ scouts, boys brigade and more.
·Beautification of town centres as a starting point of general urban renewal.
JUSTICE SECTOR REFORMS
·Work with the private sector to establish appropriate waste-to-wealth projects under a composite waste management policy.
An attribute of good governance is to promote justice, equity and fair play amongst citizens of the state. Government of ACN will e3nsure speedy access ti justice try all individuals in Osun State, by reforming the courts system and procedural rules, introducing alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms and fee legal services.
INNOVATION Europe, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and now China have made life for their people permanently comfortable through innovation, research and development, thrift and hardwork. We Africans especially the people of the State of Osun are thrifty (a ki se oni nakuna) and hardworking (ati agbe at onise owo lo ka imele si aida nile Yoruba) but we have been backward in looking forward. We have not been innovative enough, we have not invested enough in research and we have not developed the fruits of innovation and research. In other words we remain backward, poor, unscientific and losers (eni igbehin) among the family of nations.
WATER
To complement these, ACN government shall improve welfare packages of Judicial Officers and upgrade courts with modern IT and communications facilities.
Vision: Water for all in the state of the living spring. COMMUNICATION It is a painful regret that most cities in Osun do not have potable water running at any time and Osun is the state of the living spring!!!
Our Government will restructure OSBC to:
Our Government will do everything possible to bring potable water to all parts of the State of Osun and correct this anomaly.
Ensure its professional are motivated and continuously trained for competency Provide digital equipment and infrastructure upgrade to conform to international best practices in broadcasting.
All abandoned water schemes shall be reactivated and speedily completed. It is a matter of concern that our leaders do not car or worry enough about these issues.
Exploit its tourism promotional capacity and capability.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING I care and I’m deeply concerned. As your Governor I will do everything possible to:
CONSUMER PROTECTION
Our ACN Government shall: ·Create awareness and dissatisfaction among all in the State of Osun about our position among the world’s people and the need to move up the ladder of human ascent and development away from permanent and persistent poverty.
·Help Osun indigenes realize their dreams of house ownership or rehabilitation of failing structures through deliberate programmes that improve their income earning capacity.
·Ensure that ideas with original creativity are tapped for the enrichment of all. ·Support mortgage schemes that make house ownership pocket friendly. ·Give real importance to education with skills development so that we can make what we need and become more competitive in the world as a people by creating more skills development centres in the State of Osun. ·In these centres we shall teach Men and Women to think with their hands, sharpen our already proven entrepreneurial skills and stop Nigeria from importing:
·Actively support research and development on the use of local materials to force down building costs.
Consumers deserve to have the best goods and services at the best price and not have to pay more for goods and servi9ces than their counterparts in other parts of the world. Our government shall support the establishment of a consumer watch agency and also cooperate with organizations that have similar objective of protecting our people from unfair business practices. In all the above and above all these I intend to run a people-friendly government – a Government of the people, by the people, FOR THE PEOPLE. A GOVERNMENT UNUSUAL in this land.
ELECTRICITY Infrastructures and facilities for reaching, advising, guiding, warning me will be given constant nurture. Electricity for all shall be the creed of ACN Government in Osun. We shall: Outside these I have no rigging machinery and will strongly appeal to you all Osun voters to fight and defend your votes.
TOOTH PICK (IGI OPARUN FUN ITAYIN) FROM CHINA, ORANGE JUICE (OROMBO) FROM KOREA, SHOES (BATA) FROM SPAIN/ ITALY, FAN BELT/ CAR TYRES (RUBBER) FROM JAPAN AND FRANCE.
·Ensure that electric energy is available in the state for domestic, commercial and industrial activities. Do not sell your vote and our future to a moneybag or vote people who do not care enough about our future as I passionately do. ·We shall endeavour to provide electricity to all villages, hamlets and farm settlements in the state.
When I know that these can be easily manufactured here. ·Private sector-led power agencies shall be encouraged to set up energy stations in the state.
I am entering into a pact with each and all of you as you read this that I and my colleagues shall work in all honesty, tirelessly to bring marked improvements to your life.
I shall turn the State of Osun into a creative agro-industrial zone God willing. SECURITY INDUSTRIALISATION
Apart of this pact you will be able to see that your children are better educated and have jobs; farmers, artisan, traders are more prosperous, general quality of health has improved and you are no longer afraid to go to the hospital.
Security of lives and properties are of paramount importance to us. Our Government shall: Key to banishing unemployment permanently anywhere is promoting conducive atmosphere for manufacturing and production. Our Government shall: · Develop integrated industrial estates for mini, micro and large manufacturing enterprises in the three senatorial zones of the State of Osun. ·Provide the estates with infrastructural facilities that reduce the cost of setting up industries (roads, electricity, water and telecommunications). ·Provide incentives targeted at attracting manufacturers/ investors.
Osun will again be producing food enough for its people. ·Have special programmes for the police and neighbourhood security outfits. Through my Government Unusual, I shall work with and for you to create wealth through our toil as our fathers and mothers did to make us prosperous until 1962. ·Provide special allowance to all security agents deployed to Osun State and enhance their operational facilities for efficiency. ·Respond to the operational needs of security agents through provision of mobility, communication gadgets, protective gears and conducive working environment. FIRE SERVICES We shall improve capacity of fire services to respond to emergencies.
Concluded.
FEATURE
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 29, 2014
14
OLUSESI ISAAC, just returned from a duty visit to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Wadatta House, Abuja, writes that the misdeeds of the party’s governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore, in the State of Osun are a characterization of the party longitudinally in terms.
From PDP National Secretariat With Anger HESE are times which call for increased vigilance and studied watch, and the times try the soul of the State of Osun. Reason? The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate in the State, Iyiola Omisore’s re-invigorated multiple missteps that have received unprecedented public bashing with the mood of Osun people as that of bewilderment, should be put at the door step of the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.
(Osun Defender, Tuesday, 14 August, 2007) Isaac Olusesi writes:”The controversial verdict of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the April 12, 2007 governorship election, in concert with the PDP created confusion all over the state. The INEC declaration of falsified result pitched the PDP against the rival parties, particularly the Action Congress (AC) on one hand, and against the electorate state-wide on the other hand. Bloody riots spontaneously broke out in Ilesa and the riots spread very fast, and very vast.
T
Criminality, in expressive form has taken up permanent residence in the secretariat, just as criminality has become so sacred: appeased rather than chided, palliated instead of being excoriated, and reduced to the naked application of illegalities and absolutism.The PDP staggers from the commission of one criminality to another, and unable to mediate the oft-conflicting interests of the factions and fractions that constitute the party. Charity has ended at home a long time ago. Foreign diplomats and accredited journalists including the writer, at the Wadatta House, the PDP secretariat had to keep a safe distance from the rankles and decay that stirred us in the face. We were not flabbergasted, but we felt exasperated, and angered. Apart from the crass opportunism, arrogance and unbridled hustling, scrambling, shoving, pushing and scampering for superfluous show of power at the party secretariat over the PDP’s federal government’s movement of fifteen billion naira (N15billion) to prosecute the Osun August 9 gubernatorial election; the picture that struck one’s eyes was depressing indeed. The victimization of the weak by the strong. The appalling lack of a sense of responsibility. The lack of room for ideals.No consideration for morality. No place for human compassion.No love. No trust. No altruism. And no self-denial. Everything was sacrificed to a squalid aggressive egotism. Almost every PDP big wig in sight at both the Waddata House, and Legacy House, the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Headquarters, Abuja, is a tax dodger, with shady past who had made away with staggering sums of public money, or had cut a widow’s throat and snatched away her handbag. Yet, the bigwigs are the ones who call the shots in government circles. Such were the bad mannered, gullible, fetid and mercurial characters in the PDP that seek political power at all levels of governance in Nigeria by the militarization of the polity to cow the electorate into vegetative submission to vote for them or their own particular candidates in elections. It is a combination of the weird, the bizarre and the incongruous when Omisore, the party’s governorship candidate evoked horrendous image of personified terror in the garb of masked hitmen with ripping muscles and streaks of ruthlessness and in the battle gear ostensibly always in a hurry for a sinister job,to engage in fisticuff in the least; and are on the prowl, bent on killing in the most, to do the biddings of Omisore, the source of their blood money. Watched at close range at Ikirun Thursday Market where Omisore had gone on a minicampaign for elections, each of his henchmen was issued a gun and bullet proof vest, hovered around him.They were not going to war, neither were they on the trail of fleeing armed robbers. Omisore was just on his rounds to canvass for the votes of the people to be governor of Osun. He had no reason to be armed to the teeth other than to pre-militarialise the state, punctuate the serenity of Osun and input fears into the electorate, playing out the rhythms of his party national secretariat to vote for him, and no one else. Osun is still simmering as it erupted in rupturous frenzy with all attention still riveted on Omisore. And Osun people are largely inured by the Bonnie and Clyde larceny in Omisore. Criminologists and readers of detective stories may still remember Bonnie and Clyde, the treacherous, murderous couple that once ruled the American underworld. They robbed notable banks, and killed notable opponents. The Omisore masked hoodlums are as good as the PDP, the party that breeds the barbarians, the armed bandits. Call in the barbarians and the barbarians have come in the garb of masked guards as a prelude to a bloody onslaught against the electorate. And Osun dispirited by fear has become a metaphor of horror at this time of governorship election. No thanks to Omisore who has included the ridiculous among the sublime, put a stamp of legitimacy on the illegitimate, and thumbed up illegalities in the
“Ever since the INEC announcement of the falsified election results, Ilesa, the headquarters of Ijesaland and hot bed of Osun politics became a time bomb, ticking away. Like a scene from the Gulf War, staccato of gun shots engulfed Ilesa. Over five hundred armed policemen and soldiers lay tormenting siege to the city and opened fire on anything, anybody in sight. Ilesa became a theatre of war, and guns of varying sophistication were used indiscriminately on the residents.
•ADAMU MUAZU: PDP National Chair
•GANIYU OLAOLUWA: Osun PDP Chair
state.
Concerned always with sending a message of criminality, Omisore remains primitively dominated by primitive greed, primitive hatred, primitive bitterness, primitive resentment, and primitive crime. His political campaigns for the state’s driver seat have degenerated into all out confrontations in Ile-Ife, Iwo, Ilesha and other cities, and towns including Ifewara, Dagbaga and Ibokun in the run up to the election. The PDP 2007 carnage in Osun that shook the State to its very foundation would pale into insignificance with the PDP 2014 mayhem in the kitty of Omisore, as his PDP Waddata House and Legacy House have promised him politically motivated harassments, hounds and assassinations to run Osun aground, mar the governorship poll grandiose and win the state for Omisore, come August 9, 2014.Abraham Lincoln must have been baffled at the irrationalities of PDP, and rattled by what could have impelled the PDP to always want to spill the blood of the electorate to come to power, as he gave his evocative definition of democracy in his Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, at the Gettysburg battle field, Pennsylvania, United States in the midst of the stench, blood and carnage associated with Civil War, Battle of Gettysburg. His definition of democracy as “government of the people by the people and for the people” was not given at a state dinner or at an inauguration marked by pomp and grandeur.
Juxtaposing the logic of force with the force of logic, Omisore now throws money in high denominations at the people and distribute rice, salt and kerosene. It is no charity. He is far from being generous, but he is only assuaging his conscience that sometimes, somewhere he had blatantly stolen from the public treasury money that belonged to the people.But Osun can no longer be cast in feminine garbs. Osun is no longer a defiled woman; the woman as a defiled state. Osun is not crying to be raped by the Omisores, like the cry of Dioki in Camera Laye’s. The Radiance of the King after she had been raped by the snakes she kept as pets and protectors. Osun has passed the age when men would want to rape her. Osun, now perceptive and truculent has devised a foolproof litmus test of vision, mission and ambition. From the motley crowd of twenty-three (23) governorship candidates this time around,the Osun voters will cast votes for only one of them who has a vision, the essential quality. But Omisore, the only candidate who arms himself to the teeth has no vision of utilitarian value. The horizon of his vision is merely the distance between his nose and his upper lip. And he should be put away in the slammer, more as his vision gets stuck in the mud of incompetence and in the colony of credibility crisis. It is public knowledge. Omisore can not put a wedge to the re-election of Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, the incumbent governor of Osun and gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose political artistry and recorded incredible achievements with governance, have mesmerized Omisore and his PDP. Aregbesola, the first super brat of the contemporary Osun politics, has bundle of talents, vision and mission; and he is Omisore’s nemesis and nightmare. And as the nemesis goes on vengeance, the meeting between nemesis and nightmare is nightmarish for Omisore that tosses him about the way gentle breeze can toss weightless objects such as pieces of paper. If Aregbesola at his re-election mega rallies is terribly ‘mad’ about his multiple unprecedented achievements in Osun, it is because, according to Aristotle, “no great genius has ever been without some madness.” And his performances as Osun governor are a statement that where the PDP failed in near eight years, the APC has excelled in near four years. Let Omisore be governor for just six months, every of Aregbesola’s laudable achievements will be touched and turned into dust and ashes and crumble in Omisore’s hands! And God forbids. Admittedly, without bashfulness, the touch will be the touch of Satan: the touch of Hell, as Satan aptly puts it in Paradise Lost: “which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell.”
“In a twinkle of an eye, several innocent citizens were mowed down by the bullets from the rampaging soldiers and policemen, and the streets of Ilesa became littered with corpses, oozing out hideous, nose-wrenching odours days after. Members and supporters of the opposition parties particularly Action Congress (AC) were blown up by bullets, scores of people suffered injuries; and several buildings and vehicles were not spared. They were sprayed with petrol and set ablaze. Still, several opposition members were said to have been abducted to God knows where. “The fall-out of the Ilesa mayhem is that the entire Ijesaland has been polarized along the PDP-AC lines, with AC having its shoulders high and above PDP. Aside from the physical assaults and human assets losses recorded, the mayhem left in its wake mental trauma and created a permanent suspicion and phobia among the residents. Everywhere in Ilesa, the mayhem and its destruction readily evoked near-scenes of the Nigerian Civil War. What was amiss in my last report on the mayhem was that some prison inmates of the Ilesa Prison had tried to capitalize on the political situation to break jail, but for the eagle eyes of the vigilant prison officials, in contrast to the highly Fakaied police in the state. “For the survivors, anxiety underlined their existence. Anxiety about the whereabouts and safety of the abducted political soul mates and relatives. At the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, they queued up for a chance to find the corpses of relatives who might have been kept in the mortuary. The soldiers, manning the hospital gate would bark: everybody clear from here! If they no clear, clear them, and a very elderly man who desperately was looking for the corpse of his wife, was truly roughened up. “The lull in protests and consequently lift of the curfew, paradoxically paves way for silent killing or what a resident would describe as a genocide in many locations in Ilesa and entire Ijesaland.The reports of genocide could not be confirmed, but what is clear is that some, in Ilesa identified as “very powerful local PDP chieftains” have embarked on underground fierce campaigns to have the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, His Imperial Majesty Dr.AdekunleAromolaran molested by the government as a prelude to his eventual dethronement”
Omisore’s political rabble-rousing has gained him public attention. But, mark you! When ambition is patently weird, wild and unguided, it often digs the grave for its own burial. “All men that are ruined,” reasoned Edmund Burke “are ruined on the side of their natural propensities.” It is true, and more true that not all ambitions have redeeming features. Omisore may be arranging a rendezvous with disaster as he marches against the changing tides of growth Let not Omisore kill himself on the heels of and development of Osun as are presently being the announcement of the August 9, 2014 witnessed and applauded by all. gubernatorial election in Osun as he’s bound to lose out. A word for him. The road of life is To Omisore, schools are a haven of dissent, pockmarked with pumps, pitfalls and a myriad violence and rebellion.All of that, a preserve of of unseen hazards. He may still be driving his the idiots were what Omisore learnt in schools. luxury cars, using his escorts, masked guards Afterall, “in the first place, God created idiots. and sirens. He may keep himself frolicsome, in This was for practice” in the words of Mark pampered leisure and provide self with Twain, the great 19th century American writer in newspapers, coffee boy, cognac and cigars; his book, “Following the Equator”. The obsessing self with free women in town and national secretariat of the ruling PDP at the untamed appetite for clothes and golden center, acting out its scripts in Osun has disgraced necklaces, wristwatches and finger rings. the nation. Politics, supposedly the tool with Otherwise, life for him after his failed which man orders the society has always been governorship ambition in August may be a siren used by the PDP to reactivate contradictions; of silence: dull, drab and dreary. and the crippling contradictions engendered by the poverty of vision of the PDP cannot be resolved in favor of forcing the Osun electorate to vote for the party. It can only be resolved in •OLUSESI is Assistant Director, Directorate favour of permitting a free, fair and transparent election as germane to the growth and of Publicity, Research and Strategy, All Progressives Congress, State of Osun. development of democracy in Nigeria. In his “Post-Ilesa Crisis in Retrospect”
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 29, 2014
15
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TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2014 By ABIODUN KOMOLAFE
“A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.” - Proverbs 12: 3
not a politician but a I am ‘political animal’. I am also not a card-carrying member of All Progressives Party (APC) but a Rauf Aregbesola’s sympathiser; and an unrepentant one at that! If I am therefore tagged a politician because of my belief in the progressive credentials of Aregbesola, so be it! In the same vein, if I am labelled an ‘Aregbe wrapper’ as a result of my love for this great man of honour, I owe nobody any apology!
Why Aregbesola Deserves Another Term
At a time like this, I cannot but remember my days at Ijebu-Jesa Grammar School (IJGS), Ijebu-Jesa when it was all fun traveling to towns and villages especially, within the-then Obokun Local Government Council Area of the old Oyo State for sports and related social activities. I can confirm that those were relatively good old days, when towns were towns and schools were schools. At a time like this as well, one cannot but begin to wonder what became of our government that, for close to three decades, residents of my council area were at the mercy of the state government. No thanks to the bad roads and absence of other social amenities that were naturally taken for granted in saner climes. Specifically, between 1985, when I left IJGS and 2010, when Aregbesola was sworn-in as Osun State governor, schools in the state had become something else and hitherto passable roads had become such death traps that residents completely got cut-off from the rest of the world. People groaned in the rough of aches and moaned in the tumble of pains. Hunger begat hunger, poverty took the place of affluence and it was as if the gods were angry! Entered the Rauf Aregbesola-led administration on November 27, 2010 and the state was again on the path to greatness. Within the first three years in office, Aregbesola saw to the training and empowerment of over 5,000 youths in Information Technology through the Osun Youth Empowerment Technology Scheme (OYESTECH); some thousands of the stand-alone, multimedia, e-learning Opon Imo Tablets were distributed to students, while others are expected to benefit from the scheme through local production by a company already sited in the state. Within the same period, no fewer than 750,000 pupils and students were given free school uniforms, with
rehabilitated its nine hospitals and 12 Comprehensive Health Centres, thereby aiding the provision of sustained free health services to all, irrespective of age, gender, political affiliations or religious inclinations. Through its free medical and surgical missions programme, government was able to provide free treatment and surgeries to thousands of citizens; and, through its Osun State Ambulance Service Authority, not less than 400 youths have been trained as paramedics. 123 kilometres of waterways (streams, arteries and canals) were dredged to keep the state flood-free for three years and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) increased from N300 million to N1.6 billion without any increase in tax payable by citizens. In my personal opinion, the education sector seems to have been the most blessed. Apart from those educationrelated dividends, which I have enumerated above, Government of the State of Osun, under Aregbesola, also embarked on the building of no fewer than 40 Elementary, Model and High Schools to cater for its ever-increasing population of pupils and students. Some have been completed and already put to use, while some will be commissioned within the next two weeks. This is in addition to the 20 new sites,, which will also be opened within the same period. During the period under review, 7,000 additional teachers were employed; with all outstanding allowances paid and all entitlements settled.
•AREGBESOLA
over 3000 tailors trained and empowered to sew school uniforms. Primary School Funding Grants also increased from 7.4 million to N424 million a year, while Secondary School Basic Funding Grants rose from N171 million to N427 million a year.
billion reserve has so far been injected. Also worthy of mention is Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), which has succeeded in taking off the streets and engagement of 40,000 unemployed youths. Efforts to enrol more youths into the programme is also in top gear. Stateof-the-art Police Stations were built and patrol vehicles, Armoured Personnel Carriers and related security equipment were also donated to security agencies towards the enhancement of security of lives and property. What about those ‘Stop! Ma P’ara e!’ Aregbesola-constructed roads that adorn the nooks and crannies of the state, in addition to O’CLEAN’s bi-monthly state-wide environmental exercise and Agricultural Farm Settlements Project through which 1,765 hectares of land were cleared and prepared for farmers?
The governor also graciously approved the creation of four Permanent Secretary positions (that is, Tutors-General) for the teaching cadre. And, on July 18, over 30 brand new buses were distributed to all council areas across the state to convey students to their respective schools. Aregbesola,within so short a period of time in office, has transformed Osun into an attractive city, a state of aquatic splendour and a centre of tourist attraction offering superb views. A man of poise and panache, this small-instature-but-mighty-in-spirit Ilesa-born politician has changed the face of Osun into a state looking ahead to the future. No doubt about it: Aregbesola is witty, disciplined, teachable, responsible and passionate about leaving not only Osun but also the world better than he met it. Little wonder he was described in Wikipedia as “the Best Governor Osun State has ever produced since the creation of the state.” Of course, that’s why we all want him at Bola Ige House for another term of four years!
During the period under review, tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions got reduced by close to 30 per cent, even as 254,000 elementary students were fed daily with nutritious meals through government’s O’MEALS scheme, a project that also led to the employment, training and empowerment as cooks of 3000 people. Since the foodstuffs were sourced and prepared locally, the scheme brought about the annual injection of N4 billion into the economy of the state. Aregbesola’s era also witnessed the inauguration of Omoluabi •Komolafe writes from IjebuThe state was able to build 74 Garments Factory, as well as Omoluabi Jesa, State of Osun. Primary Health Centres and Conservation Fund into which N4.2
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the Managing Editor, KOLA OLABISI, Telephone: 08033927286 (kolaolabisi@yahoo.com); Editor, KAYODE AGBAJE, Telephone: 0803-388-0205, E-mail:
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