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TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014 Afenifere, the Yoruba group that makes itself out as the promoter and defender of Yoruba interests in conjunction with its allies in the Yoruba Unity Forum and sundry “self-determination” groups predicated their opposition to the APC and its allies in part to their
VOL. 9. NO.075
Front Page Comment
Is Jonathan a Fulani Hegemon? of complete Muslim assumption that the domination of the party and
Party is an agent of Fulani hegemony encapsulatedin the “born to rule” slogan and also in part because of their rejection
by implication, of Nigeria itself. These groups went about their mission by decrying what they termed the possibility of a
“Muslim/Muslim” Presidential ticket even when the APC has not even begun the process of choosing its candidate. Based on this supposed opposition to Fulani hegemony, these groups end up rallying behind
Who Killed Chief Bola Ige, formerAttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice?
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IGE
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Ekiti Gov Election Result Turns Bloody In Ile-Ife •APC Members Attacked, In Critical Condition At OAUTHC - See Story On Page 2
•(R-L) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Women Leader, All Progressives Congress, (APC), Mrs. Alhaja Ramotu Tijani; National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, (APC), Chief John Odgwe Oyegun; Mrs. Omolola Oyinlola; former governor, State of Osun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and former governor, Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during a visit to former Governor Oyinlola in his Okuku residence, State of Osun, on Sunday.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, June 24, 2014
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Ekiti Gov Election Result Turns Bloody In Ile-Ife •APC Members Attacked, In Critical Condition At OAUTHC weapons. APC members. Osun and that the Federal also tolerate attacks on
By OUR REPORTER S a fallout of the gubernatorial election held in Ekiti State last Saturday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and thugs suspected to be loyal to its governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, have taken it upon themselves to unleash terror on members of the ruling-All Progressives Congress (APC) at Ogbingbin, Oke-Ijan and Garage-Isale areas of Iremo Ward in Ile-Ife, headquarters of Ife-Central Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun.
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As a result of the violent attack on the APC members by the PDP thugs who were celebrating the perceived victory of their party in Ekiti, Ibiyode Kunle (driver) and Suleiman Ayeye (tailor), who were both violently attacked in front of their house on Saturday, were rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex,
Ile-Ife with various degrees of injuries. The Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of the State of Osun chapter of the APC, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, disclosed that he got the report that some members of the party, who were seated in front of their house at Ogbingbin area at around 8:00pm, were suddenly and violently attacked with dangerous
On getting to the OAUTHC, the incident was confirmed by the victims and also corroborated by Abigail Ibiyode, the wife of one of the victims. In his own reaction, the member representing IfeSouth State Constituency in the State House of Assembly and Chairman of Campaign Committee for the second term re-election campaign of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Ife Federal Constituency,, Honourable Folorunsho Bamisayemi, stated that the event, which was a ripple effect of the election in Ekiti, was indeed detestable. He maintained that there was no reason why the PDP in Ife should unleash mayhem and violence on
In his words: “From the reports I have, the attacks occurred at Ogbingbin, OkeIjan on Saturday night and the victims are now receiving treatment at OAUTHC, Ile-Ife. Right now, another has just occurred at Garage Isale. “Such violent attacks should be exposed to the whole world to see. “Is this the plan of the PDP in the run-off to the August 9 gubernatorial election? “Is violence the best way to campaign? “It seems to them that violence, intimidation and maiming of innocent people is the best form of campaign.” Bamisayemi stressed that the occurrence was alien to
Government should call the PDP and their thugs to order. “The matter has been reported to the police in IleIfe and a petition would be forwarded to the State Director of State Security Service (SSS) and state Commissioner of Police for prompt action.” He added that series of provocation would have been perpetrated by the PDP thugs since Saturday night when the first incident was reported. He revealed that the APC members had been asked to shun violence and reiterated the stand of the APC that they would not retaliate. “We would not resort to self-help and would not
party members. That is why we want the police to intervene,” he added. In their separate statements, Messers Isaac Adebowale, Iremo Ward 5 APC Chairman and Sunday Oladipupo, APC Senatorial Youth Leader, revealed that it was the Ekiti election result that made the PDP to violently attack the APC members in Ife Central Local Government Council Area. Oladipupo said he, along with some party members, were attacked on their way back from Ilesa at Ilode on Saturday night and at home around 3:00am on Sunday. As at press time, another round of violent attacks on APC members was reportedly being perpetrated in Ilesa.
Protect Your Children Against Abuse, Commissioner Tasks Parents By SHINA ABUBAKAR ARENTS have been charged to ensure that they do not compromise their children’s rights to quality education and social protection. This was disclosed by wards at all times. She also enjoined parents the State of Osun Commissioner for Women and guardians to re-dedicate and Children Affairs, Mrs. themselves to this task as a Mofolake Adegboyega, way of complementing the during a courtesy visit to efforts of the governor of God’s Own Choice the State of Osun, Ogbeni Academy located at Oluode Rauf Aregbesola, in area of the state capital to strengthening his six-point inspect the pupils of the integral action plan for the state. school. The commissioner, According to her, the roles of parents are to give represented by the Director, and right to life, good Finance Mrs. education, social Administration, protection, healthy living Folasade Akinola, explained •(R-L) Mr. Ibiyode Kunle and Suleiman Ayeye, victims of violence attack by PDP thugs on APC members in Ile-Ife last among others to their to the children that the Saturday. achievements recorded by the ministry in the implementation of Child’s Rights Law and other While speaking at the bid. sensitise their subjects not benefits in favour of the By KAZEEM MOHAMMED various palaces, the Hussain, who described to sell their voters’ cards or children in the state were RADITIONAL rulers in Ejigbo Local Government Chairman of the Campaign traditional rulers as a pillar votes, advising that doing at the instance of the Council Area of the State of Osun have cautioned Committee and the Speaker, so would amount to selling governor’s support to the “desperate politicians” against using the August 9 State of Osun House of of support for the state, said their future and the future ministry. it was necessary for the governorship election to cause violence in the state. Assembly of Osun, party to seek for the of their children. Mrs. Akinola Subsequently, the admonished the children They said political parties within the last three and half Honourable Najeem Salaam, maximum support to achieve monarchs and other that they have right to life, and their candidates should years, he said that people of said that the major focus of its aims. run issue-based campaign the state are still expecting the main opposition party is Calling for a free and fair traditional rulers at their right to good education, and leave the people to more from him during his to cause violence in the election, devoid of violence palaces also prayed for the right to healthy living, social name of the election. judge through their votes. second term in office. and killing, the senator success of the party at the protection, right of He stressed that the charged the monarchs to poll. The Ogiyan of Ejigbo, He then cautioned those freedom from violence and Oba Omowunuola that are thinking of using support and royal blessings abuse at home, school or Oyesosin; Olusongbe of violence and rigging, to of the traditional rulers the society, as she enjoined before and during the Songbe, Oba Kamilu Ajadi shelve the idea and allow them to be obedient and be and the Olola of Ola stated peoples’ wish to prevail for election was vital for good children to their success of the party at the this during visits to the the sake of peaceful coOVERNOR of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has parents, teachers and elders poll and a way of ensuring palaces of the monarchs by existence in the state. said that the beauty of democracy is that the will of in the society. the All Progressives Olusongbe, in his palace, violence-free election. the people must prevail at all times. Similarly, the Deputy While noting that the Congress (APC) Campaign stated that Aregbesola has Director, Child Aregbesola in his Aregbesola, in a support of the royal fathers Committee in Ede/ done what would earn him Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal second term in office, noting would assist the party to response to the outcome of statement by his Director, Development of the Constituency on that the development he has continue its developmental the governorship poll in Bureau of Communication Ministry, Mr. A. Rufai, in on Saturday said if the and Strategy, Semiu his paper on Child’s Right Wednesday. brought to the state can projects in the state after Ekiti result of the Ekiti election Okanlawon, however, Law, geared the children winning the election, Salaam Oba Oyesosin stated that never be over-emphasised. which declared the cautioned that while while Governor Rauf “People of Ejigbo and said Aregbesola’s re- candidate of the Peoples recognising the will of the towards the functions of election was important for Aregbesola was known to Osun in general are not Democratic Party, Ayo people in the attempt to the parents to them, which have passion for the blind and they can all see the continued progress of Fayose, the winner is the institute real democracy in they are entitled to and also true reflection of the Nigeria, all institutions of relayed the benefits and development of the state, what Aregbesola had done. the state. Also speaking at the people’s decision and state must be deployed in importance of Child Right other candidates also know This will play a very why they are vying for the significant role during the palace of Olusongbe of desires, his party would manners that promote and Law to the children. Songbe, Senator Mudashiru have no option but to abide edify democratic tenets. governorship seat, adding election. Highlight of the visit was the outcome. Reassuring the people of that the electorate should be “The appeal we have to Hussain, representing Osun by He the presentation of the Child said, a true democrat Osun of the confidence of allowed to use that basis to make as traditional rulers is West at the National must be ready to embrace his party to win the August Rights Law manual and make their choices. that we don’t want violence Assembly, said the support defeat just as he will be 9 poll in Osun, Aregbesola Red Card Against Child Commending Aregbesola and politicians must ensure of the monarch was quick to embrace victory in said the support base for his Abuse in the State of Osun, for the development he has violence-free election,” he important for the success of all genuine democratic party and government to the head teacher of the Aregbesola’s re-election contests. remained unflinching. brought to bear in the state stressed. school.
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Osun 2014: Monarchs Caution Politicians Against Violence
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The Beauty Of Democracy Is That The Will Of The People Prevails - Aregbesola
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Osun Begins Implementation Of Urban Renewal Programme By SHINA ABUBAKAR
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OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, has disclosed that the state is ready to implement its urban renewal scheme, in its selected nine cities without further delay. He disclosed this while fund with the United receiving report of the Nations. state’s Structure Plan for the Represented by his Urban Renewal Programme deputy, Otunba (Mrs.) of the state government, put Grace Titilayo Laoyetogether by officers of the Tomori, Governor state Ministry of Lands, Aregbesola said his Housing and Urban administration is poised at Development, in creating healthy conjunction with their UN- environment, worthy of HABITAT counterpart. human habitation across The governor disclosed the state, with a view to that Osun has fulfilled its making the state, a force to obligation of payment of reckon with across the N100 million counterpart- globe, in terms of clean,
healthy and hygienic environment. According to the governor, government of the State of Osun is the first state government in the world to embark upon developing nine cities at once under the urban renewal programme, saying the present administration in the state will stop at nothing to preserve the long-standing heritage of the state, as a state with the highest number of cities of over 800 years in age. Governor Aregbesola said one major step taken by his administration upon assumption of office was to
prepare the state for the implementation of its urban renewal programme, by ridding the state of debris through dredging of waterways and river channels across the state. Speaking on strategy to be adopted for the implementation of the structure plan, the governor said the urban renewal programme will cover one kilometre radius from King’s Palace representing centre of town in each of the selected cities while it will cover two kilometres in Osogbo being the state capital. Governor Aregbesola
•A newly-rehabilitated road at Ilahun in Obokun Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun, under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, as captured by our cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, last Thursday.
thereafter appreciated the UN-HABITAT team for assisting the state with technical support valued at over N400 million, and called for continued support of the world body in the implementation of the report, saying the assistance will go a long way in helping the state government tremendously in its quest to achieving its target of creating a healthy and clean environment for the people of the state. In her address, Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple, represented by a Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr. A. D. Olakunde, described cities and urban centres as engines for economic development and growth, national economy drivers, contributors to gross domestic product, investment attractors, wealth creators, social development enhancers together with human resources and technical advancement providers which are repositories to knowledge and development in a well administered state like the State of Osun. Commending efforts made so far by the state government in her quest to reverse ugly trend pervading the economic sector of the state, Ms. Amal Pepple appealed to Governor Aregbesola to ensure that all recommendations made in the report are carried to the letter. Presenting the report to Governor Aregbesola, Head
Osun Governor’s Wife Charges Pupils To Seek Knowledge By JESUDOYIN ABRAHAM
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IFE of the governor, State of Osun and the President, Sheri Care Foundation (SCARF), Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, has charged pupils to embrace the culture of seeking knowledge, as a major prerequisite to attain greater height. She gave the charge on Thursday at a state reception to welcome the winner of the 2013/2014 Spelling Bee Competition, a 12 year-old Miss Zainab Olawale, who was sponsored to the United States of America by SCARF after winning the competition. The Spelling Bee Competition was organised by the SCARF, the foundation set up by the wife of the governor, as part of its education programmes. Zainab is a student of Unity Middle School, a public school in Osogbo, the state capital. Welcoming the winner, Mrs Aregbesola said the programme was organised to complement the efforts of the state government to broaden the knowledge of students, especially in public schools. Charging students to embrace subsequent opportunity to seek knowledge, she noted that this would go a long way in expanding their knowledge. Mrs Aregbesola then formally declared September
2014 for the commencement of the 2014/2015 Spelling Bee Competition in the state. While also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, State Universal Basic Education, Alhaji Fatai Kolawole, stated that nothing
wonderful as the spelling bee competition has ever occured in the state, since its creation. Commending the SCARF President for the great things that have been introduced to broaden the knowledge of students, he described the initiative as a good change and improvement in the state educational sector. While congratulating Zainab for his emergence, the Principal of her school, Mrs Titilayo Akano,
described Mrs Aregbesola as a good leader, who has made impact and whose impact cannot be forgotten in the state. In her testimony, Zainab described her stay outside the country as very interesting and full of fun, noting that the trip enabled her to acquire more knowledge. “When we were inside the Aeroplane, I was afraid because that was my first time. “When I was in Ghana, I
was lodged in the biggest school there, where rich people in Nigeria send their children. “Also, in America, I made friends with some of the white people. They were very friendly to me and the place is very beautiful,” she said. Zainab’s father, Mr Olawale, while appreciating the wife of the governor for the gesture, said they had never thought of benefitting from such wonderful gesture.
Aregbesola To Build Another International Market At Owena By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
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OVERNMENT of the State of Osun has nearly completed the processes for the construction of an International Modern Market in Owena, a border town with Ondo State, saying the project would be constructed during his second term in office. The Chairman, All that Ikeji-Ile to Ikeji-Arakeji Progressives Congress (APC) road project has been awarded, Governorship Campaign added that the ongoing power Committee in Ijesa North project in Ikeji-Ile would be Federal Constituency, Dr. Wale completed during the second Bolorunduro, stated this at term of the administration. Owena on Thursday, while Identifying building of new addressing the mammoth schools, construction of roads crowd of Governor Rauf among others, as part of the Aregbesola’s supporters at a developments that have been campaign rally. brought to the federal He also stated that a water constituency, he urged the project has been started in the people to re-elect Aregbesola to area and would be completed allow him complete all the during the second term of ongoing projects. In his own address at the Aregbesola’s administration. Bolorunduro, who also said rally, the federal lawmaker
representing Ijesa North Federal Constituency, Honourable Nathaniel Agunbiade, debunked the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders that they are the ones constructing the ongoing water project in the ancient town. He stressed that the project was part of the programmes being executed by APC-led government, saying that when the projects are completed, the people of the area and its environs would no longer have challenges of portable water. Also speaking, the Secretary of the Campaign Committee, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye said the support that Aregbesola has received in his outings have shown that he is loved by the people of the
state. According to him, the passion and vision for the development of the state has always been the driving force, saying that his second term in office would enable him to compliment on the development he had brought into the state. He then charged on the electorate to vote massively for Aregbesola and defend their votes, with a view to preventing rigging that has are being planned by the opposition party. Oyintiloye also alerted the electorate about the lies being spread by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) about Aregbesola and his candidate, saying, the lies are meant to confuse the people of the state.
of UN-HABITAT in Nigeria, Ambassador Kabir Yari, described the report as a necessary tool for environmental development and the state government’s right step in the right direction to reposition the economic potential of the state with a view to planning for the future of the people of the State. Ambassador Yari said, people and community leaders in all the selected nine cities were met through town hall meetings organized by the committee in their domains to intimate them of what informed the state government’s decision to embark on the urban renewal programme in the state adding that the people openly embraced the programme which made committee’s work easier, an indication that the people are fully involved in the state government’s plan for their future. In his own submission, the UN-HABITAT Senior Human Settlements Officer, Mr. Doudou Mbye, applauded the drive behind the state government’s decision to embark on renewing the state through the urban renewal programme. He said, the structure plan has provided the state implementation committee with a legal framework, to implement the programme advised the state government to create a data base to keep matters of this nature for future reference and appreciated people of the state for their cooperation and assistance throughout the period the project lasted. Chairman of the Committee, Professor J. B. Falade, said the structure plan was aimed at redesigning the state and make the nine cities to be among the best across the globe. Urging leadership of the State of Osun House of Assembly to pass into law, without any further delay, the State Urban Renewal Bill to ease the implementation process of the structure plan, Professor Falade called on the state government to create proper plans for the implementation process backed with right political will, budgetary provision and right mechanism adding that the role of the private sector should be put into consideration. Earlier in his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Architect Olumuyiwa Ige, said a Memorandum of Understanding for the programme was signed in July 2012 adding that the plan was designed to run from 2013 to 2032, a period of twenty years. The nine selected cities covered under the programme are Ede, Ejigbo, Ikire, Ikirun, Ila-Orangun, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Iwo and Osogbo.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Is Jonathan a Fulani Hegemon? Continued fromg pg1 “southerner” in the person of Goodluck Jonathan, the current president of Nigeria. For them, being a foot soldier to a Goodluck Jonathan is preferable to promoting what they perceive as Fulani hegemony. Goodluck Jonathan’s foot soldiers have not failed to regale us with the notion that the North, more specifically, the Fulani are the enemies of Yorubaland who must be politically neutralized not only for the health of the homeland but also of Nigeria in general. Events in the last few weeks have shown how completely wrong they are, in spite of being told over and over again that it is strategically wrong and tactless to make a Manichean division between the “North” and the “South”, especially when it is obvious that each and every Nationality in Nigeria is working for the expression of its own political space. In the last few weeks, Yorubaland has experienced the attack on an elected Governor by a policeman who claimed he would not recognize the Governor because he is answerable to some other “higher power” in Nigeria; we have witnessed a serving Commissioner of Ekiti State being charged with “terrorism” by the same police authority that refused to recognize the Constitutionally elected Governor of the State; we have witnessed the president, Goodluck Jonathan confiscating private property for his own political purpose; we are witnessing Goodluck Jonathan lock down Ekiti State and threaten residents simply because of his fear of his party losing the Governorship election in the State; we have witnessed Goodluck Jonathan harass and intimidate APC leaders going about their lawful and legitimate political duties; we have witnessed Goodluck Jonathan violate the right of free speech and
movement all in an attempt at silencing the opposition, both as members of the APC and as Yoruba leaders. Goodluck Jonathan has, again and again, shown his utmost contempt for the Yoruba Nation, from creating this network of political criminals in the land found in his own faction of the PDP, Afenifere, Labor Party and sundry organizations to actually declaring war on the land in the form of current militarization of electoral contest we are witnessing all in a bid to have total control of the land; he has shown that the Yoruba Nation is just a pawn in his own game of survival. The last time we checked, Goodluck Jonathan is Ijaw-Igbo, and obviously NOT Fulani and what he has done and is doing is not healthy for the Homeland. This is the person Afenifere and its allies are promoting as being defender of “southern” interest against the Fulani. With friends like Goodluck Jonathan, who needs enemies? It is a matter of historical record that the Yoruba had been Muslims long before the arrival of the Dan Fodio Jihadists, which is why Yorubaland has no issues with Islam or Muslims in their midst. When these groups now raise unnecessary alarms about Muslims, they are not only telling us that we, as a people, are incapable of mediating our religious preferences, which would be a-historical but actually telling us that they alone have a superior appreciation of religious matters more than even the society they claim to represent. Besides, the main anchors of Goodluck Jonathan’s attempt at subjugating the Homeland are Yoruba Muslims. Musiliu Obanikoro, the Minister of State for Defense and Jelili Adesiyan, the Police Affairs Minister, are Muslims. They are already waging a war of terror on Yorubaland by virtue of the offices they occupy and yet these groups will turn around and decry a “Muslim/ Muslim” ticket? What this shows is that they are comfortable with Muslims who will do their bidding to subjugate the Homeland. Otherwise
how would a Musiliu Obanikoro, a supposed Minister, who was unable to stand up to an insulting command from a Ministry he was supposedly supervising when he was pointedly told to shut up and sit down now turn around and run riot with “his” soldiers? He could not muster enough courage embedded in his office to stand down his junior but would deploy all arsenal in his possession to harass and harangue unarmed citizens? And these Afenifere groupies would see no evil, hear no evil while all of these are going on? By acquiescing to these forms of intimidation, Afenifere and its allied groups have lost any credibility as promoters and defenders of Yoruba interest and from now on, they should be treated as traitors to the Homeland and consigned to the garbage heap of history. Jonathan is using these elements as props for his tottering regime. Tottering because his presidential ambition would have to be thrown overboard because his expected source of support in the International community has dried up. There will be no soft landing for him as was pointedly shown him by the rejection of his petroleum minister as OPEC’s SecretaryGeneral nominee. It was obvious that with Shell’s influence in international oil politics as well as within the Nigerian government itself, such a nomination would have been a shoo-in if all is well with the Jonathan camp. His attempt to precipitate a military putsch of his own making has also hit the rocks, again largely due to lack of support from the international community whose opinion of the military is nothing to write home about; and that is putting it mildly. The only option left for him is to prepare a soft landing for himself by ensuring the neutralization of the progressive forces in the country, which is why he appears to be “stumbling” from one crisis to another and only in States controlled by the APC. It is also becoming increasingly likely that the North would not favor a progressive Northern
On Osun Indigenes And 'Lagos' Crowd
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HE governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the August 9 election in the State of Osun repeated the blackmail mantra of the opposition by accusing Governor Rauf Aregbesola of awarding contracts to Lagos people at the expense of the indigenes of the state. He promised to flush out these ‘Lagosians’ if elected into office. There are many fallacies with this notion. First, the wrong impression is being given that the people who have helped the governor in one capacity or the other to run the government are aliens. But these are mostly indigenes of Osun, born and bred in the state, had their primary, secondary and tertiary education in the state and had to move outside due to limited opportunities. Indeed, before Osun was created out of the old Oyo State in 1991, the closest formal job anyone could get was the civil service in Ibadan. Even since Osun State was created, besides staff of banks posted to the state and can be posted
anywhere else, only the secretariat in Osogbo offers limited opportunity for employment. How, indeed can a graduate of petroleum engineering be employed in Osun? Perhaps, these people would want them to work as petrol attendants. Maybe those who read marine engineering and oceanography should be employed at the Osun River tending to the gods so that they
can be really occupied by their state. These critics never mentioned the fact that the ‘aliens’ have built houses in their hometowns, repatriate money home and regularly support members of their extended families trapped in the gripping poverty in the state. Many of them have set up cottage industries for their families and friends and it is
these ‘aliens’ that are called upon to donate for the cause of development in their communities and the state in general. It is rather to the credit of Governor Aregbesola that these human resources are being brought back to contribute to the development of the state. Secondly, Yoruba people are one and we are all related. Apart from our common origin
of Oduduwa in Ile-Ife, the Yoruba civil wars of the 18th and 19 th centuries have displaced and intermingled the people such that we do not have pure forms again. At any rate, there are hundreds of thousands of Osun people who have held and still hold prominent positions in Lagos. There are also very large settlements like Ijesatedo and Ejigbo domiciled for Osun
people. How can anybody alienate these people? Let us even look at those casting the first stone. More than 60 per cent of the last PDP administration cabinet members were not resident in the state before their appointment, including the governor and his deputy. Even Senator Iyiola Omisore before his emergence as deputy governor in 1999 and later as Senator was operating a mechanic garage in Ibadan. Would he then qualify himself as an alien? Even if these people are not Osun indigenes or Yoruba, it would still have been unconstitutional for them to be discriminated against. How do we forge national unity and promote inclusion if we foster insularity and engage in the exclusion of other people? It is incestuous and retrogressive. The most developed places are where there is accommodation and openness. That this jaundices view is being canvassed by a former Senator of the federal Republic is shameful and tragic. •BAMIDELE ALONGE, Jubril Martins Street, Surulere, Lagos
candidate as its Presidential choice and Jonathan being out of the way, with Yorubaland politically emasculated, the coast will be clear for the North, especially its conservative wing, to take control of the political processes of the two major parties and what these Yoruba enablers of Jonathan would have us believe they are fighting against would have become a fait accompli, with Jonathan’s active connivance, whose ultimate aim is now to placate the same North he and his foot soldiers are railing against with the end result of producing an extremely conservative political atmosphere, while Yorubaland would have been made prostrate for easy picking by the same conservative forces . Thus, Afenifere and its groupies are actually working for the enthronement of conservative elements in power in Nigeria, protestations to “restructuring” notwithstanding—even at that, they would go into Jonathan’s National Conference only on the basis of “trusting Jonathan to restructure” which is now turning out to be a hoax as evidenced by the various decisions being made. But we do not have to fall into this pit, which is why, “ooduapathfinder” once again, calls for the Homeland to ensure a complete and overwhelming defeat of these agents of reaction and conservatism going about in Afenifere/PDP/LP colors on Saturday, June 21 2014. They have come with their guns and we have our votes and our land to defend. As they came with their guns, so shall they go.
OSUN DEFENDER Publisher
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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the above mail address. ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com
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Politics OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Aregbesola On The March Again
Rousing Ovation Greets Re-Election Bid @ Ila-Orangun The mega rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, third in the series, was held in Ila-Orangun recently. At the well-attended rally, a line-up of spectacular events caught the attention of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine. The crew met an expectant, large, bustling crowd of enthusiastic party members, admirers, supporters and sympathizers on ground. Similar to reports made on the two earlier rallies, constituents of Ila Federal Constituency, comprising three local government council areas of Ila, Ifedayo and Boluwaduro made the day with Governor Aregbesola, wielding their brooms as they gave a Victor’s Palm to the Wonderful Achiever. The unanimous resolution at the rally is, as NIYI OLASINDE reports, something that thrills the heart, as the continuity in office of the helmsman who has impacted positively on the lives of the constituents and the people in general during his first term in office was endorsed. Full details of the big meet are here presented.
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed on top of a bus), acknowledging cheers from the mammoth crowd, during his re-election mega rally in Ila/ Ifedayo/Boluwaduro Federal Constituency at Ila Township Stadium, Ila-Orangun recently.
MAGAZINE
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Rousing Ovation Greets Re-Election Bid @ Ila-Orangun
•(L-R) Senator Sola Adeyeye, representing Osun Central Senatorial District; State of Osun Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Senator Isiaka Adeleke; All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat, during the 2014 governorship campaign in Ila-Orangun recently. Contiuned from page 5
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HE third in the series of mega rallies put together by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun was held on Tuesday, June 10, 2014. All roads led to IlaOrangun, the seat of Ila / Ifedayo / Boluwaduro Federal Constituency of the State of Osun on that red-letter day on which an unprecedented crowd comprising party members, loyalists, faithful, supporters, sympathizers and residents, converged on the ancient town of to grace the mega rally under reference. This election season, it has been the practice of the party to convene mega rallies across the nine federal constituencies in the state. Two weeks earlier, two federal constituencies in the state had taken turns to host the incumbent governor and his campaign train to their territories. These are the Ife Federal Constituency, where the series of mega rallies intended to usher in the re-election of the governor for the second term kick-started; and the Irewole /Ayedaade / Isokan Federal Constituency, which turn it was a week later. It was the exigencies imposed by this successive timetable that drew people to converge on the headquarters of Ila / Ifedayo / Boluwaduro Federal Constituency where a large crowd, the largest so far, gathered to accord the governor deserved recognition and approval; as well as give their solidarity to him for his second term bid. This was at the instance of the Ila Federal Constituency Campaign Committee chaired by the State of Osun Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere. On the day of the event, the ancient town of Ila-Orangun was stretched to full capacity as all nooks and crannies of the town shook under the weight of the mammoth crowd that gathered to bid Aregbesola a rallying welcome. As early as eight o’clock in the morning, the hustle-bustle that woke the streets of the town from the long slumber of the previous night was enough harbingers to the great tumult that was to come later in the day. As at ten o’clock, the streets were already set for apparently the biggest carnival ever held in the ancient settlement. In his description of the experience of the rally later in the day, former governor of the state and erstwhile National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), an indigene of Ila-Orangun, Chief Adebisi Akande could not hide his marvel at the density of the crowd. According to the septuagenarian politician, he had never witnessed such a large convergence on the town, his pace of birth. One unique and salient feature of the rallies held so far, that of Ila-Orangun inclusive, is the atmosphere of peace, tranquility, tolerance and serenity that prevailed before, during and after the crowd-pulling event. The length and breadth of the matter is that the mega rallies so far held were devoid of rancor; they were hitch-free; and they were rich in all qualities of endearment and persuasion. The implication of this is that the ruling party in the State of Osun has mastery in the skill of conversion. As a matter of fact, members of the leading opposition subsist in those constituencies where the rallies have been held; not to talk of members of other parties. In the particular towns which played host to the rallies, it is a matter of stating the obvious, that dwellers and residents are not absolutely consisting of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). What then contributed to the huge success recorded at those rallies? What factors won the unprecedented crowd recorded to the side of the governor, Ogbeni Aregbesola? The first and central in the list of most probable factors is the fact that the hallmark of the progressive All Progressives Congress (APC) as a broad-based political party is love, good brotherliness and peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians; irrespective of considerations to ethnicity, religion, socio-economic statuses, background or state-in-life. In other words, the focus of the founding fathers of the party is not that of “capturing” areas of governance “by all means”; but through loving entreaties and more importantly, through imprints of quality selfless service
consisting in life-touching programmes and projects. In the last four years in the State of Osun, this pace has been set clearly. Aregbesola has demonstrated that the best way to govern is to add value to the lives of those you lead without any taint of discrimination. It is sure and certain that the prevailing climate of political contests in the State of Osun has today changed for better. Since the period of election campaigns preceding the 2011 General Elections, the state had begun to turn a new leaf, as “do-or-die” money-bag politicians who would spare nothing to lord it over the electorate began to lose grip over the political terrains. I bet that the best form of voter education is leadership by example. When people are offered the best quality of service; when they are provided with the abundant doses of what they need; and when the provided services have populist consideration, then trust is built and people hold their leaders in confidence. The climate of distrust, fear, tension, suspicion and pent-up anger which dominated the attitude of the led toward their leaders in the past was brought about through careless neglect on the part of leaders during those dark eras. Give it to him; Aregbesola has opened a new chapter in the socio-political terrains of our state. Today, it is no longer business as usual. All fraudulent, violenceprone and self-seeking politicians would fare better, should they have a rethink or else, let them find other engagements. At Ila-Orangun, reflections expressed by the teeming crowd showed that of a people whose hearts were filled with profound gratitude to their liberator. In the case of the jubilant crowd, it comprised people whose wholesome demonstration of gratitude could not be suppressed. They came all-out from all strata and divides to give support, approval and endorsement to the man they fully trust: Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, the flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC). By midday, the Ila-Orangun Central Stadium venue of the event, directly overlooking the palatial residence of the political arrowhead of the area, Chief Adebisi Akande had become carnival ground as it rocked with over-swelling crowd. People scrambled for space because no one wanted to be left out of the fun, euphoria and ecstasy of the event. Programme of events at the rally had kicked off in earnest. Stage performances were presented by various groups of artistes in order to keep the surging crowd occupied, entertained and meaningfully refreshed. Thus, the audience at the rally were treated to enriched package of music presentations and playlets, all pointing to the achievements of Ogbeni Aregbesola since he assumed the reins of power about four years ago. Among the musicians who performed at the occasion the n were Otunba Saheed Osupa, Sir Shina Peters, Tony Tetuila, D.J. Bazzman and the popular Baluu music maestro from Ilorin, Kwara State, Madam Aduke, alias Iya L’Aduke. Limitations imposed by space and time would not cause serious besetting to mentioning that young, talented, vibrant and enterprising teenager, a secondary school student of Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo, who performed with the touch of proficiency and professionalism wielded by adults. He is Olatunji Kazeem (a.k.a. Kazzy Roll). Kazzy Roll’s hit track at the event has since become a chorus in the mouths of many residents; not to talk of its widespread use on electronic media as an intro to jingles and as interludes. Also on stage performance at the event-laden occasion was the famous and highly reputed Yoruba culture legend, poet and cosmogony singer, Pa Ajobiewe. With his deep baritone voice, Ajobiewe made enthralled the crowd to the point of producing goose pimples from the skin of members of the audience. Some who are deeply emotional could not but shed tears of emotion as he eulogized the trend of progress recorded so far in the State of Osun under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. The climax of his stage performance at the event came as he was
invited to usher in the appearance on stage of the governor. The praises of Ogbeni and the citation of his ancestral cosmogony tore open people’s adrenalin glands, as the effect produced by his praise-singing was so electrifying that the governor himself was moved to high spirits. Among the Nollywood entertainment stars who either performed or showed presence at the occasion are Saheed Balogun, Toyin Adegbola, Yemi Sodimu, Kola Olaiya, Ojo Arowosafe (a.k.a. Fadeyi Oloro), Baba Ijesa, Ogunjinmi (Ajagajigi Oogun) and a horde of others. The playlets rendered centred mainly on the achievements of the Aregbesola administration in the state and the many firsts it recorded so far in all spectra of life. When the programme proper was about to start, there were sessions of opening prayers held according to the Christian, Islamic and Traditional orders of rite. Pa Oye Oke led the Christian prayers while prayers in the Islamic doctrines were led by Alhaji Rasheed Adeniyi, the Youth Leader for the All Progressives Congress in the constituency. Prayers in the traditional way were led by Otunba Sule Alao. With these prayers observed, all was set for an eventful, hitch-free occasion; as the events moved on with action and enthusiasm, pending the arrival of the Number One Citizen of the State of the Virtuous, Ogbeni Aregbesola. When finally the arrival of Ogbeni was announced to the jubilant crowd at exactly 2:39 p.m.; the occasion reached the zenith of its glory. Swarms of brooms were wielded while all sorts of banners were lifted to show recognition with the aspiration of the seasoned administrator. Dressed in his characteristic white traditional attire, Aregbesola was wielding his broom vehemently in acknowledgement of the crowd of admirers who had stayed put since morning to see, cheer and hear from him. On arrival, Aregbesola did the necessary exchange of pleasantries with dignitaries before settling down to the task on hand. By then the time was around 2:45 p.m. Governor Aregbesola, who rode unto the venue of the occasion in his characteristic mini luxury van, could not conceal his delight at meeting a huge crowd at the open-field arena directly overlooking the Ila-Orangun country home of Chief Akande. This was mindless of the fact that his trip to the venue had all along been slowed down by another crowd that accompanied him from the palace of the paramount monarch of Igbominaland, His Royal Highness, Oba Abdul-Wahab Oyedotun Bibire I through the town toward Ora-Igbomina / Kwara State Boundary road. The governor and his entourage had earlier been at the palace of the monarch to seek his royal blessings. All along the streets of Ila-Orangun, the experience was that of an unimaginable crowd trooping out. The atmosphere is currently generating into a contest; with each particular area struggling to outdo the other in giving the muchdeserved honour to the governor. Or how else could we describe the apparently jocular remarks of the first executive governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, who in his consummate acknowledgement of the crowd, promised that Ede Federal Constituency, his indigenous constituency would do better when the lot shall roll to it to host the campaign train? The coveting is good and pleasant. Following the singing of the National Anthem and the State of Osun Anthem back to back, the introduction of guests present at the occasion was done. This was followed by a welcome address delivered by the Chairman of the Aregbesola Second Term Campaign Committee of the constituency, who doubles as the State of Osun Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere. In his address, Akere led the constituents to welcome the governor and other guests to the rally. He enjoined the massive attendees at the rally to be calm and orderly. He highlighted the achievements of the administration
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, June 24, 2014
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Rousing Ovation Greets Re-Election Bid @ Ila-Orangun
•State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (on top of a mini-bus), acknowledging cheers from the crowd during the 2014 Governorship Campaign in Ila-Orangun recently. Contiuned from page 6 within its three-and-a-half years in office and promised that the governor had much more in stock for the state and its people if given the mandate to carry on. He cautioned the people against the nefarious activities of some desperate money-bag politicians who, according to him, would not stop at anything to have access to fraudulent victory. He then counseled them not to sell their voters’ cards as it remains their power to exercise their franchise and freedom of selecting who they prefer to lead them. He then announced that the voters’ cards for those who registered in other states and parts of the country but are now resident in the state, and who had earlier notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in the state were as at date available for collection at the state headquarters of the commission. He then concluded by stating the resolve of members of the constituency to vote for continuity, that is the continued stay in office of Ogbeni Aregbesola beyond August, 2014. Next to speak was the honourable member representing the Ila Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Honourable Julius Olufemi Fakeye. In his own speech, Fakeye pointed out the serenity, peace and tranquility reigning in the state since the coming on board of Ogbeni Aregbesola. He dwelt extensively on the landmark achievements of Ogbeni in the state and called on his constituents to usher him in through their massive votes for fresh four-year tenure of office; so that the good work could continue. After him, the senator representing the Osun Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Professor Senator Sola Adeyeye rose to speak. Ila Federal Constituency is a sub-set of the Osun Central Senatorial District. Adeyeye cited the specific achievements of the All-Progressives Congress (APC)-led Aregbesola administration, to include the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) which in two installments had provided gainful employment for a cumulative figure of 40,000 vibrant youths, thus mopping up the rate of joblessness, despondency and crimes in the state. In addition, the university don gave the minimum figure of employed teachers to reinvigorate the hitherto ailing education sub-sector as 5,000, and that the recruitment of teachers into the elementary and secondary rungs of the education ladder is a continuous process. Not only that, he enunciated the road infrastructure project of the Aregbesola administration which is fast transforming the state into a model state among the comity of states in the federation. According to him, since the glorious era of the old Western Region under the leadership of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Osogbo / Ikirun / Ila-Orangun Road had been divided into three phases. While he lauded the efforts of late Chief Bola Ige in the old Oyo State and much recently those of Chief Bisi Akande in fixing the road, he stated the commitment of the Aregbesola to fully dualize the road during the next dispensation. He then called for three solid “gbosa” for the incumbent administration. In the words of the State of Osun Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, he made a checklist of the achievements of the administration, which he cross-checked for confirmation with the people of the constituency. Unanimously, the people confirmed the correctness of the highlighted projects. He then went ahead to vote for continuity of goodies, called dividends of democracy. He rallied their support by enjoining them to troop out and cast their votes massively for Ogbeni on August 9, so that all the ingredients that make for life more abundant could be at their reach in non-distant future.
The State of Osun Interim Secretary of the party, also an indigene of the constituency, Prince Adegboyega Famodun dwelt on the achievements of the administration in road infrastructure. He drew attention to intra- and inter-township roads constructed by the administration of Ogbeni, as well as the valiant effort at opening the rural areas up to development. He thanked the royal fathers in the constituency and enjoined the people not to bow out for their support for the Aregbesola administration. At this juncture, Kazzy Roll was invited to perform on stage. His thought-provoking, scintillating and charging track became the echo of all. He sang: “Aregbesola you are the champion; Aregbesola you are the winner; Aregbesola you are the winner; Oun l’o le see, e yaa di’bo fun un…” The crowd became electrified with frenzy and since, the track has become a household number for progress-loving people all over the state. Next to speak was the Executive Secretary for Boluwaduro Local Government Council Area, Honourable Stephen Dosumu, who spoke on behalf of the two other executive chairmen of local government council areas in the constituency. Dosumu pledged the unflinching support of his colleagues in the constituency in particular and the state as a whole to see to the overall success of programmes and projects embarked upon by the administration of Ogbeni. He then prayed for the success of the party and its candidate in the forthcoming election. He called on the people to throw their support behind Ogbeni in the forthcoming Gubernatorial Polls. The Deputy Governor of the state, who doubles as the Commissioner for Education, Otunba (Mrs.) Grace Titilayo Laoye Tomori was also on hand to lend her voice to the clarion call made at the occasion. She heaped praises on her boss, the governor, who she christened as “Aji ro daradara fun Osun”, meaning the one whose innate thought and plans for Osun are intently good. She congratulated the people on the approach of the election which she prophesied would reopen another chapter in the new phase so beautifully begun for the state. She made countdown to the election and announced that what separates the people and the ballot was only eight weeks. She announced the intention of the leading opposition to disband all the beautiful programmes put in place by the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola; citing instances of the State of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES); the Osun Elementary Schools’ Feeding and Health Programme (O’ MEALS); and the payment of monthly stipends of N10, 000 each to widows and the old. She asked for confirmation if the audience wanted the laudable programmes to stop; to which they roared a resounding response of “God forbid”. She then enjoined the people to troop out massively to vote and uphold these programmes and numerous others already in existence or in the pipeline. Otunba Tomori enumerated the intrinsic quality and manifest values of each of the programmes already rolled out by the administration. The O’ MEALS programme; aside feeding the public school pupils with highly nutritious meals; thereby improving their mental capabilities; had also provided gainful employment for 3,000 women, who were engaged either as cooks or vendors. In addition, she noted how the programme had assisted crop and livestock farmers in absorbing their produces for payment without sweat, tears or losses. Similarly, the OYES had provided youths with gainful employment, thereby setting them, their parents and the society free from shackles of vices attendant to joblessness.
She pointed out that another rumor making the rounds was that the administration had the intent of retrenching teachers upon its assumption of office for second term. She reasoned that an administration that had been battling with acute shortage of teachers, especially following the massive retirement witnessed in 2012 cannot be planning to retrench teachers. In addition, she cited the assiduous effort of the administration to recruit more teachers since its inception in office in 2010. The political head of the Education Ministry put the figure of teachers employed so far at about 10,000; just as she promised that more number of teachers is still to be recruited soon, not to talk of other cadres of personnel to be so recruited; even before the end of the first term of the administration in office. She urged the people not to listen to the leading opposition and their antics of lies and deceit. In her words, peddling of lies and deceit has become a vocation for members in that camp, to the extent that they had carried their lies to the threshold of Otunba Isiaka Adeleke. On a final note, she urged the people to vote massively for Aregbesola, come August 9 and stand solidly to defend their votes. When it was the turn of Chief Adebisi Akande to address the rally, song of “Bisi Akade, Baba Omo keekeekee” rented the air. Chief Akande confessed that the kind of administration that Aregbesola is running is a complete rarity, concerning the massive projects and programmes being jump-started to completion. According to him, whenever Aregbesola came to him to inform him of the next project or programme, his first question was how to fund the initiative. He further revealed that on each such occasion, the governor’s response was that God would provide the empowerment and that he should assist with fatherly blessings. He marveled at the wonders of Opon Imo, the school feeding initiative, the massive reconstruction of dilapidated school structures through the State of Osun Schools’ Infrastructure Development Project (O’ SCHOOLS) and then went ahead to marvel at the volume of crowd that converged at the event. Further in his speech at the event, Chief Akande cited the soaring popularity, acceptance and endorsement of the progressive APC in the nation’s core north; an area hitherto known to be the foothold of conservatives. He attributed this recent trend to the manifest hand of God, charging the people of the State of Osun, not to renege on their support for the party. Before leaving the podium, Akande confirmed the acknowledgement of the people on all provided dividends of democracy. He quizzed the people over each item, one after the other – Opon Imo, road, etcetera, to which the soaring crowd responded in the affirmative. Next to mount the podium was the Chairperson of kolanut sellers in Ila-Orangun, who represented the market women and appreciated Governor Aregbesola over his kind deeds, especially in the area of market construction, commerce and industry. She declared her group’s continued support for the administration and enjoined the people not to lose their votes. According to her, the only way of forestalling losing their votes was to give it to Aregbesola in the next election. When it was the turn of former governor, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke to speak, there was a thundering applause, as everyone was eager to hear from the much-loved politician who had just defected into the midst of progressives. Adeleke gave his nod for the overwhelming size of the crowd and promised that Ede axis would do better. He went ahead to debunk the claims made by one of his kinsmen, who according to him was once his beneficiary. That is in person of the former Speaker of the state parliament, Honourable Abdul-Rauf Adejare Bello. Bello, according to him
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Re-election Campaign Of Governor Rauf Aregbesola Of The State Of Osun In IjesaNorth Federal Constituency, Last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
•A mammoth crowd during the campaign.
•(L-R) Member, Federal House of Representatives, Honourable Nathaniel Agunbiade and Member State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable MBO Ibraheem.
•(L-R) Chairman, Aregbesola Campaign Committee in Ijesa North Federal Constituency, Mr Wale Bolorunduro; Secretary of the Committee, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye and State of Osun All Progressive Congress (APC) Women leader, Mrs Kudirat Fakokunde.
•Some of the public school pupils at Ikeji-Arakeji campaigning for Governor Aregbesola.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Welcome Banquet In Honour Of The Winner, State Of Osun 2013/2014 Spelling Bee Competition, Organised By Sheri Care Foundation (SCARF) In Osogbo, Last Thursday. Photo:ABRAHAM JESUDOYIN
•Wife of the Governor, State of Osun and President, Sheri Care Foundation (SCARF), Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola (middle); wife of the Chief of Staff, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola and the Permanent Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Fatai Kolawole, at the event.
•A cross section of pupils of Unity Middle School at the event.
•Mrs Aregbesola (2nd right), parents of Miss Zainab Olawale, Mr and Mrs Olawale (left and right) and Zainab (2nd left).
•(Front row) President, Sheri Care Foundation (SCARF), Mrs Aregbesola (middle); Zainab (2nd left) in a group photograph with pupils of Unity Middle School, Osogbo.
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Rousing Ovation Greets Re-Election Bid @ Ila-Orangun Contiuned from page 7 claimed in a recent interview with a national newspaper that he, Adeleke was paid By the All Progressives Congress (APC) to disrupt the primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), his old political party. On that note, Adeleke took a copy of the Holy Quran and swore to it that he never collected any dime from any political party. He then announced that for that and other frivolous claims by the opposition; time would tell. Finally, he enjoined the people to disgrace the opposition with their massive votes for the progressives on August 9. He then challenged Adejare Bello to also come out in the open to swear has he had done, if truly he is a Muslim. Finally, it was the turn of the one, who the people had long awaited, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola to speak. At that point in time, the raconteur and organizers chose that the legendary Ajobiewe should usher him to the stage with his deep-rooted versed of rich Yoruba cosmogony. Ajobiewe rose to the occasion as he did his bit pretty well. Following this, Iya Aladuke also sang the praises of Aregbesola while on stage, prior to the commencement of his speech. The time was 4:20 p.m. on the dot. After his long list of greetings, Aregbesola went ahead to make a list of his achievements for the people of the federal constituency over the last forty months or thereabouts, since he mounted the saddle of governance in the state. In a situation that conforms to the proverbial hearing from the horse’s mouth, Aregbesola highlighted his achievements in the area to include the building of three ultra-modern schools under the State of Osun Schools’ Infrastructure Development Project (O’ SCHOOLS); feeding of not less than 14,439 pupils on daily basis under the Osun Elementary Schools’ Feeding and Health Programme (O’ MEALS); and the employment of 242 women for the same scheme. Others are free distribution of school uniform for all public school pupils / students; distribution of 2,000 units of Opon Imo; payment of N10,000 yearly bursary to each student in institutions of higher learning, against the paltry sum of N3,000 paid by the immediate past administration and lots more. In the area of health service delivery, apart from the broadbased free, qualitative health programme of the administration, Aregbesola confirmed from the people if they noted the ongoing refurbishment work on the Ila-Orangun General Hospital. To that question of confirmation, the response was in the affirmative. He then listed similar other hospital projects ongoing as those in Ayetoro, Igbajo, Oke-Ola in Ila, and Ora-Igbomina; with the promise that many more were still to come. He added that aside these gigantic hospital projects, the administration is equipping them with state-of-the-art equipment, stocking them with quality drugs and consumables as well as providing good potable water alongside. In Ila Constituency alone, two installments of volunteer cadets in the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) had been recruited, with the cumulative figure of 6,000. Similarly, the governor enumerated the administration’s care of the old programme, under which welfare package is being delivered to them on monthly basis to the tune of N10, 000 per head. In totality, the administration was said to be expending a sum not less than N18 million monthly on the old and widows in Ila Federal Constituency alone. Still on health matters, Aregbesola drew attention to his administration’s initiative at rolling out the Osun Ambulance Scheme, known for such as O’ AMBULANCE. The quick emergency response of trained personnel under this scheme has salvaged many lives that would have been sent to their untimely graves, had the programme not been put in place. On the Ila water project, Aregbesola promised that the real water scheme which would dispense good, potable water to the people would come in earnest; reminding them that he never
promised what he would not redeem. He, like Professor Senator Adeyeye dwelt much on road projects. Governor Aregbesola confirmed that as good motorable roads are all over the state, other road projects would be provided in earnest. He also classified Ikirun / Ila Road to phases, up to Ekan-Meje in Kwara State and promised the people to expect big, wide and smooth road in the category of his “Ona Baba Ona”, that is, road that surpasses road! In the area of education, the governor enumerated that apart from the tuition-free education programme and free distribution of textbooks and notebooks in vogue in all public schools across the state; his administration had been able to kit pupils / students with uniform, as well as feeding the elementary pupils up to class four; and that through the programme, a vast number of women had been given productive engagement and stable means of livelihood. Lastly, Governor Aregbesola analyzed how peace and security had reigned supreme against the atmosphere of violence and turbulence which had pervaded the state in years preceding his administration’s assumption of office. Earlier in his words of assurance at the event, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola charged voters and entire residents of the State of Osun to shun threats and intimidation ploy of the opposition, which had been the clear motive of the mishap recorded in neighbouring Ekiti State earlier in the week. That unfortunate occurrence was viewed a sad dimension to the build-up to the forthcoming Gubernatorial Polls in the state. The governor dropped his final entreaty as he addressed an unprecedented jubilant crowd that people should troop out massively on the Election Day, come August 9, to cast their votes, which they should stand by to protect till counting and record-taking stage at the respective polling booths. He did not allow the opportunity provided by the occasion to slip by without reminding them to be calm, peaceful, yet watchful and vigilant. It was an enthusiastic broom-brandishing convergence that gave the governor their best wishes for a victorious election experience. On the entourage of the governor were the Deputy Governor, who doubles as the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in the State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs.) Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Wife of the Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Abidemi Aregbesola, Speaker, the State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Folasayo Salaam and the First Executive Governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. Others are the Senator representing Osun East (Ife / Ijesa) Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Babajide Omoworare, the Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Professor Olusola Adeyeye, who doubles as the Chairman of the Governor’ Central Campaign Committee, member representing Ila-Orangun / Boluwaduro / Ifedayo Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Fakeye and the lawmakers representing the three local governments comprising the federal constituency in the State House of Assembly, Honourables Ajiboye Ademola Adebiyi (Ila); Atolagbe Afolabi (Ifedayo); and Dejo Osuolale Bello (Boluwaduro). Other dignitaries present at the mega rally include the former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), former Governor of the state and father of the day Chief Adebisi Akande, commissioners in the State of Osun, party chieftains and party hierarchy in the state, including the state Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, state Interim Secretary, Prince Adegboyega Famodun, party executives in Ila Federal Constituency and the three local governments as well as from all the thirty local government council areas of the state as well as the Ife East Area Office, who came to identify with their comrades. The occasion also showcased the defection
of some scores of politicians from the leading opposition; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the fold of progressives. Among other eminent personalities at the occasion are State of Osun House of Assembly members and executive secretaries of the three local governments in the area, Honourable Victor Segun Awotunde (Ila); Honourable Stephen Dosumu (Boluwaduro); and Honourable Kunle Ayantoye (Ifedayo). Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Honourable Stephen Dosumu promised the support of all his colleagues for the programmes and causes of the administration while charging voters to vote massively for Aregbesola and protect votes such cast. Also, executive secretaries of the remaining twenty-seven (27) local governments and that of Ife East Area Office were in attendance to solidarize with their colleagues. 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 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.
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•(L-R) The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Oyedotun; The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin when the governor paid homage to the monarchs on his way to the venue of the campaign recently in IlaOrangun.
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Rousing Ovation Greets Re-Election Bid @ Ila-Orangun Contiuned from page 10 · 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 yearend 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 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. · Community based road maintenance units will be established to ensure timely repairs and deduce overall maintenance costs. · 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. · 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. 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. It is a matter of concern that our leaders do not car or worry enough about these issues. I care and I’m deeply concerned. As your Governor I will do everything possible to: · 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. · Ensure that ideas with original creativity are tapped for the enrichment of all. · 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: 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. When I know that these can be easily manufactured here. I shall turn the State of Osun into a creative agroindustrial zone God willing. INDUSTRIALISATION 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. · Develop skilled personnel through our Life Academies, Universities and colleges to service specialized industrial and manufacturing needs. RESTORE HEALTHY LIVING Vision: To work to save our people from all avoidable deaths due to accidents, emergencies, poverty and inadequate health facilities. To achieve this for all and particularly our children and senior citizens, we shall: · Provide effective and available healthcare for all. · Provide efficient accident and emergency ambulance service. · 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. · Establish free blood pressure checks in conjunction with private organizations at every local government office.
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•(L-R) First civilian governor of Osun, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke and Governor Aregbesola, addressing the crowd, during his re-election campaign in Ila/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro Federal Constituency in Ila Orangun recently.
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Rousing Ovation Greets Re-Election Bid @ Ila-Orangun
•A cross section of APC supporters at the rally. Continued from page 11 · Undertake special programmes for the upgrading, retraining and working comforts of all health personnel. · Encourage and nurture alternative medical therapy. · Free treatment for malaria to children below age 18 and senior citizens (60+). ENVIRONMENT Vision: To embrace current scientific methods in controlling the generation of waste and the conversion of waste to wealth. The state of the environment, especially waste generation, management and the embarrassing filth in our communities demand special attention. The CAN government shall: · 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. · Beautification of town centres as a starting point of general urban renewal. · Work with the private sector to establish appropriate waste-to-wealth projects under a composite waste management policy. WATER Vision: Water for all in the state of the living spring. 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 do everything possible to bring potable water to all parts of the State of Osun and correct this anomaly. All abandoned water schemes shall be reactivated and speedily completed. AFFORDABLE HOUSING Our ACN Government shall: · Help Osun indigenes realize their dreams of house ownership or rehabilitation of failing structures through deliberate programmes that improve their income earning capacity. · Support mortgage schemes that make house ownership pocket friendly. · Actively support research and development on the use of local materials to force down building costs. ELECTRICITY Electricity for all shall be the creed of ACN Government in Osun. We shall: · Ensure that electric energy is available in the state for domestic, commercial and industrial activities. · We shall endeavour to provide electricity to all villages, hamlets and farm settlements in the state. · Private sector-led power agencies shall be encouraged to set up energy stations in the state. SECURITY Security of lives and properties are of paramount importance to us. Our Government shall: · Have special programmes for the police and neighbourhood security outfits. · 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.
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. 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. · I will make every tertiary institution in Osun State an independent degree-awarding one. · Encourage use of services of retired, but not tired dons and administrators, from reputable institutions. ENHANCE COMMUNAL PEACE AND PROGRESS Vision: To restore the bond of trust between the Governor and the governed. 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. Our Government shall restore partnership between government and people through: 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. Our Government will seek elderly guidance and advice as inputs to our policy formation and implementation. 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) 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. 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. Our Government will encourage cross fertilization of ideas between the Sages and Youth Councils through which public policies would be influenced. 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. JUSTICE SECTOR REFORMS 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. To complement these, ACN government shall improve welfare packages of Judicial Officers and upgrade courts with modern IT and communications facilities. COMMUNICATION Our Government will restructure OSBC to: Ensure its professional are motivated and continuously trained for competency Provide digital equipment and infrastructure upgrade to conform to international best practices in broadcasting. Exploit its tourism promotional capacity and capability. CONSUMER PROTECTION 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. Infrastructures and facilities for reaching, advising, guiding, warning me will be given constant nurture. Outside these I have no rigging machinery and will strongly appeal to you all Osun voters to fight and defend your votes. 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. 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. 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. Osun will again be producing food enough for its people. 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. Concluded.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Aregbesola: Consolidating APC Strength In Ifelodun Federal Constituency The train of Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally in the nine federal constituencies ahead of August 9 governorship election will this week move to Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency. KEHINDE AYANTUNJI examines the issues that will strengthen the popularity of Federal Constituency inclusive. Aregbesola Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the federal constituency. employed fresh personnel into Government Comprehensive Health Centres and ensure regular provision of drugs and other consumables to the hospitals in Ikirun, Iree, Inisa, Okuku, Iragbiji and Oyan. Government also renovated the Comprehensive Health Centre in Inisa and built new primary health centre at Egbeda in Boripe, Eko-Ende in Ifelodun and constructed fences round the ones in Iragbiji, while major renovation is ongoing in Ikirun General Hospital. These have enhanced the confidence of the people in public health facilities and increased public patronage from 19,000 in 2011 to 77,000 in 2012 for out-patients. Birth deliveries increased from 110 in 2011 to 252 in 2012 and surgeries performed in the public hospital in the federal constituency increased from 22 to over 300 successful surgeries. In the education sector, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has raised the bar for others in the country to follow through his innovative policies aimed at improving the quality of education for children, with a view to securing their future. The merger and reclassification of schools into Elementary, Middle and High schools have been described by many educationists as the most vibrant option at revamping the sector.
•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed); his wife, Sherifat; the deputy governor, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori; Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salam and other dignitaries, during Aregbesola’s Re-election Campaign at Iwo Federal Constituency, Iwo, State of Osun, recently. N preparation for the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the State of Osun, the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, has embarked the mega rallies across the nine federal constituencies in the state. The rally kicked-off in Ile-Ife before Ikire and Iwo federal constituencies.
projects that will aid the governor’s victory.
No doubt, the presence of huge crowds at all the mega rallies held so far was a pointer to anticipated landslide victory for Governor Aregbesola by the APC supporters. It is also a clear evidence of his popularity and exceptional advantage over other leading gubernatorial candidates.
Aregbesola was rigged-out in the three local government council areas, making up the constituency in 2007, but the result of Boripe and Odo-Odo Otin Local Government Council Areas were challenged by the governor at the election petition tribunal. In Boripe, there was no voters’ register for the council area and 14,497 votes were recorded for the PDP. The voters’ register was among the INEC documents inside the burnt INEC office in Iragbiji as a result of the fall-out of Federal House of Representatives byelection in early 2007 between Honourable Bello Osunolale of the defunct ANPP and late Honourable Kayode Idowu.
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Twenty-five political parties presented candidates for the election, but the major contenders are Aregbesola and Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who has also commenced his campaign rallies in the various local government council areas of the state. Issues dominating Aregbesola’s campaign so far are developmental projects in the various federal constituencies and other areas, where he intends to consolidate, if elected for a second term. Aregbesola always emphasised on the need to vote massively for APC, while urging the electorate to jealously protect their votes. All he consistently requested is one-man-one-vote, insisting that if people’s votes count, APC would win conveniently. From all indications, Aregbesola’s performance in the last three and half years has already shaped his victory in August. At every rally, he counts democratic gains of his administration in towns and villages in the state, ranging from physical, social, infrastructural to the state economy. It depends on the peculiarities of the towns and villages, but substantially, Aregbesola has impacted positively in all the nine federal constituencies. In Ile -Ife, where Aregbesola’s major contender hails from, the governor was able to justify the necessity of his re-election by mentioning various road projects; construction of model schools, provision of Tablets of Knowledge (Opon Imo), dredging of major flooding rivers, OYES, O’ MEALS beneficiaries among others. In Ikire Federal Constituency, Orile- Owu road to Ijebu Igbo was a project that is very important to the people of the area. These are key developmental
On Tuesday, June 24, 2014, Governor Aregbesola’s campaign train will move to Ifelodun/ Boripe/ Odo-Otin Federal Constituency, which is one of the major areas, where Aregbesola enjoys massive support since 2007 governorship election.
In Odo-Otin, the local government council area of the former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, 43,606 was recorded for the PDP, against 5,098 recorded for the defunct Action Congress (AC), but at the tribunal, it was established that the votes recorded exceeded the number of registered voters. The court therefore nullified the two local government council areas’ results and upheld that of Ifelodun, which formed parts of the results that led to the declaration of Aregbesola as the governor in November 26, 2010. The popularity of the governor, which was rigged, was later proved beyond reasonable doubt in court, which confirmed his overwhelming popularity in the federal constituency. In 2011, Aregbesola’s popularity was equally put to test, as the defunct ACN defeated PDP in the three State House of Assembly seats and Federal House of Representatives. Honourable Yinka Ajayi polled 36,894, against PDP’s candidate, Tunde Kajogbola, who scored 19,720. ACN won the three council areas during the presidential and senatorial elections. These are testimonies of the popularity of APC and Governor Aregbesola in the federal constituency. In May 2014, when INEC lifted ban on political campaigns, the committee appointed by the leadership of APC to lead the campaign of the governor wasted no time in consolidating on the strengths of the party in the area with the
constitution of another nine standing subcommittees and visitation to the palaces of major traditional rulers in the federal constituency. They have equally organised mass campaign rallies in Oyan and Eko-Ende in Ifelodun, Odo-Otin Local Government Council Areas. The committee was chaired by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, with Comrade Poju Odusola from Odo-Otin as the Secretary. Others are Prince Bayo Adeleke, Honourable Raheed Olalekan, Alhaji Moshood Oluawo, and Honourable Wale Afolabi, the Attorney General and State Commissioner for Justice. Since the committee started its campaign, one major factor that has eased its work is the unprecedented performance of the governor in the area. The committee has been rolling out governor’s achievements as justification for his reelection. Aregbsola’s achievements in the area are unprecedented, as he has provided new lease of life to the people in the federal constituency Parts of the strength of the governor in the area is the massive road construction, which has increased the governor’s support in the federal constituency. Aregbesola’s administration, through direct labour projects, has completed the rehabilitation of Alamisi-Idi-Esu road in Ikirun, while it has also embarked on the rehabilitation of Ikirun township roads at a sum of over N1 billion. Also under its direct labour projects, Monday market/Idi-Esu/Iragbiji/Aagba is under rehabilitation, while Idi-Esu/Ikirun/Iree/Otan/Ila to Kwara State boundary road is being rehabilitated. The administration is rehabilitating the inherited Oore-Agbeye road among others. To ensure sound health, which is part of the six-point integral action plans of the governor, Aregbesola’s administration has dredged six major rivers and streams in the federal constituency to prevent flooding. The rivers and streams, which totaled at 21.37km in length are; Osere stream, Adekunle and Odo-Fun, Odo-Oko, Ikirun, Alagbagun and Osun Streams in Iragbiji, Otapete and tributaries in Iragbiji, Pansaga Stream, Inisa, Iyeku and Oyan. Inspite of its proactive steps at avoiding disease outbreak often caused by flooding, the state government did not relent in its effort aimed at providing credible and reliable health-care delivery system to the teeming populace of the state, Ikirun
To sustain this vision, Aregbesola’s administration is building a Middle School in each of the local government council areas in the federal constituency and a High School in Ikirun, while renovating other selected schools in the federal constituency. An outstanding innovation of Governor Aregbesola, which is to ensure greater improvement in teaching and learning, is the introduction of a computer device, Tablet of Knowledge, (Opon-Imo), as 8,114 secondary school students in Ikirun Federal Constituency have gotten the tablet of knowledge. The tablet is a major tool used by the governor in revolutionizing education in the state. The government elementary school feeding programme has provided free quality lunch for 14,459 elementary school pupils in the federal constituency; the National Bureau of Statistics has ranked the state first in public primary school enrolment. Also through this programme, 354 food vendors are also benefiting from the scheme, including the provision of free school uniforms in the federal constituency. In rural development, the administration connected a number of communities to the national grid power project. These communities include; Igbotele/Alapata, Koko, Oyan community, Iyalode community, Itake-Iba, and Asaba. It also provided transformers to Baptist High School area, Iree, Akirun palace and also in Iragbiji. It constructed a modern palace and health centres at Eko-Ajala and Seke in Ifelodun Local Government Council Area, constructed and equipped modern town halls at Asi and Elesin funfun in Odo-Otin. The administration also provided farm inputs to farmers and constructed 12 hand-pump boreholes at Dagbolu, Orisa-Elejin, Odo-Amu, Ita-Odan, Opete, Ikupelete and Elesin funfun among others The governor, through the Ministry of Rural Development, also constructed and equipped libraries at Agbeye and Ijabe, Civic Centres at Ekosin and Oyan, as well as 20 open market stalls at Okuku, Asaba and Ijabe. It also constructed boreholes in various communities in the federal constituency, including Ilayo, Iyeku, Kabba, Imuleke, Ijabe, Elesin funfun, Eko-Ajala, Ilayo, Okua among others. The federal constituency also benefited immensely from the governor’s welfare scheme for the aged and enjoys relative peace in the area. One of the Amour Personnel Carriers (APC) by the governor was equally stationed permanently in Ikirun. These are transformation programmes that will aid his victory in the constituency. They are unprecedented in the history of the federal constituency and would no doubt assist the governor’s easy ride to the Government House for the second term.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, June 24, 2014
FEATURE
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•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed), acknowledging cheers from the mammoth crowd during his re-election mega rally at Iwo Federal Constituency, Iwo, State of Osun recently.
For Osun, Let’s Arise The State of Osun today has become a state of flourishing dreams because the masses of the people see Rauf Aregbesola as the rarest of the rare. They see him as a governor governing them with the wisdom of saints, as a leader leading them beyond the Red Sea. They are headed to the promised haven of advancement and justice. Rauf Aregbesola naturally comes to you as a Sheikh, but truly Aregbesola is a man of style. He has this confidence that always tells you that this man knows where he is going. Aregbesola belongs in the circle of great men of courage and endurance; men that make impacts and create possibilities. He carries on like a sportsman that has his eyes on the gold medal. He works like a businessman that has been given a target. He recognised that the mandate given him is sacred and he must deliver. Today, the State of Osun is one of the best run and economically managed in terms of human and economic resources development in Nigeria, as tourism, agriculture, education and human development capacity have been his major targets in moving the state forward. Osun has never witnessed such a supersonic growth. The future and survival of Osun’s economy can never be fully realized without the eight years of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration. It is a process that has to be fully completed. The people of Osun no doubt have come to trust this indefatigable leader, entrusting the future of their children into his hands, as the educational status of Osun has leaped forward tremendously ten years ahead of what any other government could have achieved. In just four years of Aregbesola’s government, he fast-racked the rather slow economic development pace of the State of Osun, putting it on the footpaths of great developed regions. Ogbeni has given Osun a soft-landing into the orbit of great states in Nigeria. Like an artist, he has advanced the State of Osun with the upward stroke of his painting brush.
By TAIWOAND KEHINDE OLUWAFUNSO Their war threats and agenda seem not able to stop him and undeterred, he pursues his glorious agenda of developing Osun to enviable heights. These funny politicians’ poisonous lies emanating from their poisonous gas chamber called party headquarters were never enough to stop him. He set the people of the State of Osun free, breaking the yoke of slavery the people have been subjected to in the past. Before the arrival of Aregbesola, the nights have been so long for the State of Osun and it was like dredging out the heart of the Atlantic Ocean into a waiting vessel already sinking on the high seas. The feet of good development for too long dragged like a crawling kwashiorkor baby. Today, the endurance of the people of Osun have paid off after long nights of rituals and sacrifices of innocent blood and sweat, when these mercenaries and saboteurs became blind and drunk with rum and spirit consumption becoming totally incapacitated to run the state according to the will and wishes of the people. The truth must be told, reality is what Nigerians need, not empty promises, we need to votein the right people this time around again, because Aregbesola has brought governance closer to the ordinary people. He has no doubt, surpassed previous regimes in the area of infrastructure development, as he works tirelessly for his people because their heartbeats mean a lot to him. His words can be trusted. He is approachable and reasonable. He’s dogged and came on board only to implement unprecedented transformational agendas like O’Tour, O’Yes, O’Meals, Opon imo etc. Osun has now become a state of peace with dividends of democracy flowing into her coffers.
Another joker of Ogbeni is the undiluted spirit of Omoluabi; cherished traditions and lifestyle, fresh and newly-injected back into the system and day-to-day life of the people, as blocked steel tubes and rustic water injectors in the arts of He has fought and won many battles to governance and public administration are shame mercenaries and saboteurs, who witnessing a total overhaul and recalled themselves politicians in the state. engineering, creating a new and widely•Some of the public school pupils at Ikeji-Arakeji campaigning for Governor Aregbesola.
accepted concept of Ipinle Omoluabi, kickstarting a new dawn of fresh ideas that rule a modern and civilized society in the State of Osun today. As tourism and cultural experts, tourism has become serious business in the state, as this sector is fast becoming a major revenue earner for the state. The tourism sector under the watchful eyes of Ogbeni has been boosted with the private sector greatly motivated, resulting in great changes in the hospitality and entertainment industry of the State of Osun. For instance, new hotels are springing up with the existing ones
expanding, thereby creating job opportunities for youths, who are tour guides and promoters of the arts. Ogbeni knew that any state that neglects tourism would not attract global attention, hence, the choice of the State of Osun as the venue of so many national and international events in recent times. With these great strides of Ogbeni, the State of Osun will soon become an attraction to great international investors. Haba! the State of Osun has never had it so good and detractors in the state need nobody to tell them that it is a new dawn in the state. Even the blind could see the paragon of beauty the State of Osun has become lately. To cut the long story short, “Half a word is enough for the wise”. The elders of our land would say, the continuity of this administration is what the people of Osun are clamouring for. V ictoria Asata.
•Taiwo and Kehinde O l u w a f u n s o , P a n a f e s t Representatives, Nigeria, live in Lagos.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, June 24, 2014
PHOTOTALK
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Inauguration Of Cote D’voire Chapter Of Oranmiyan Worldwide And Installation Of Prince Felix Awofisayo As Baba Oba Of Abidjan Recently.
•The President, Oranmiyan Group Worldwide, Prince Felix Awofisayo (middle); Oba Yoruba of Abidjan, Alhaji Rasak Babalola (left) and the Oranmiyan President in Abidjan, Mrs Sadiat Aremu, shortly after Awofisayo was decorated as Baba Oba of Abidjan, Cote D’Voire.
•Prince Awofisayo (first right), presenting the Oranmiyan flag to Mrs Sadiat Aremu (3rd left) who is flanked by other leaders of the group during the inauguration of the Cote D’Voire chapter of the group recently.
•Prince Awofisayo (middle) and dignitaries from Nigeria and Cote d’Voire in a group photograph shortly after his decoration as Baba Oba of Abidjan.
•Some members of Oranmiyan group in Cote D’Voire during the inauguration of the chapter.
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TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014 of the major encumbrances that have pinned us down to a spot for ages is the power of cajoling that those ruling us often apply when it is time to canvass for votes. They come up with bundle of lies of what they intend to do that may forever be impossible to accomplish in history. People easily get carried away with rhetoric that appeals to their senses of humour; but when the subconscious ids are alert as not to be manipulated, and it becomes obvious that it is up for games of deception, the canvassers resort to obstinacy that heralds violence, to make people get scary, so as to pop-up the corridors of power through indecorous means. O
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We usually forget that time is too precious to toy with, that is why we find it too convenient to let go whenever the traditional artful dodgers subtly manipulate the electoral process in their own favour. Tensions are then teased off with the introduction of soothing statements such as ‘four years are around the corner’, ‘we don’t have to worry ourselves over electoral malpractice because the judiciary is a toy for executive arm’s manipulation’, ‘we should not wait for the murderers to kill us’ and ‘God will judge, so we should let the sleeping dog lie and leave everything in His hands’. We forget most times that Heavens helps those who help themselves. Our endurance instinct also plays its role in assuaging our nerves, such that we trivialize problems that should seriously be tackled headlong, and they soon become burdens that inflict excruciating psychological pain. We thus become despondent with our potency terribly decimated. Nigerian voters are now ascribed values that equate us with dogs that can only bark but with no predilection to bite. Our elected representatives that are supposed to be answerable to us are dreaded with nostalgia because of the stupendous wealth that makes the chicken-hearted to panic, which can be flaunted around; whereas the poverty level is exacerbated because what would have gone into public utilities in public domains are made to get solace in private estates for selfaggrandizement. My very concern bothers on the sentiments being wielded to convince, or confuse the electorate, who hold the ace in determining the outcomes of the fast-approaching gubernatorial election in the State of Osun and the one recently concluded in Ekiti State. The two elections will bring to the fore for the umpteenth time the gullibility levels of the voters, who may either hold their integrity on sound objectivity or crumble under the sentimental inclination of
By ADE OLUGBOTEMI
The Intrigues Of Forced Capitulation “Entrenchment of real democratic values must now be paramount in our hearts, because we can no longer afford to lag behind democratically in the comity of nations. Those who do not believe in the tenets of the rule of law cannot claim to be custodians of democratic principles. We know that it is a punishable offence to blow siren in the State of Osun today except by those authorized in the constitution; but some people believe that they are above the law, as they flagrantly disregard this with impunity. No law enforcement agents can challenge them because of executive fiat that has made such people untouchable.” desperate politicians to turn the table. Each of the choices has its implications on the respective states both in the short and the long run. People must refuse Deviants’ deception and reject Desperados’
and because the nation’s resources are predominantly controlled by the ruling party, many have cast their votes sentimentally. After all, it is wise and normal to tilt towards the side that is solvent; although this is not always the case in Nigeria’s political evolution. Personalities, rather than affiliation with the party at the center have so far determined the gains accrue to individual States in the Federation. The turnaround in the South-West states, where none of the governors belong to the ruling party is a pointer to this standpoint. We have suddenly discovered that the much-taunted federal might is nothing better than a sham. No state under the ruling-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can boast of the massive infrastructure that the opposition parties across the country are providing. That is why it has become absolutely impossible to use the rhetorical main stream politicking to influence people’s voting pattern any longer. People only need to be conscious of the fact that no ruling party all over the world will be willing to lose power to opposition party; especially in Nigeria, where members of the ruling party are grandstanding over imaginary overwhelming support of Nigerian people. Entrenchment of real democratic values must now be paramount in our hearts, because we can no longer afford to lag behind democratically in the comity of nations. Those who do not believe in the tenets of the rule of law cannot claim to be custodians of democratic principles. We know that it is a punishable offence to blow siren in the State of Osun today except by those authorized in the constitution; but some people believe that they are above the law, as they flagrantly disregard this with impunity. No law enforcement agents can challenge them because of executive fiat that has made such people untouchable.
Rigging has become a popular tool in the hands of the ruling cabals to deny Nigerians of popular choice; and no one The usual practice is to impress it on is left in doubt anymore that if allowed, the people that they stand to gain a lot if they will apply it over and over again. they identify with the party at the centre; People may need to be extra-vigilant if more damages will not come the way of our electoral values. We do not have unless those engaging in rigging misadventure put uniform handan end to it. We must do all humanly possible to over date for governors put an end to this menace in Nigeria is to enjoy a n y m o r e : smooth democratic process as they have it in other courtesy of parts of the world. PDP’s rigging mastery. We must There is bound to be skewed advantages in prevent another scenario, when staggered elections, especially as expressed by November 27 will voters in the build-up towards last weekend’s Ekiti no longer be the election. The honourable members at the National date for swearingin. people’s votes Conference must therefore do everything possible must be made to to insist and ensure that if fake results are cancelled count, so that our and wrong declarations nullified, it will still be elected leaders possible for elections to come up when they are can be made accountable to held in other states of the federation. There will be Nigerians on relative free elections, if the exercise is ubiquitous. whose behalf My suggestion in this regard is for an interim franchise is held in lien. government to be in place after the restored manoeuvrability.
Just Before The Ongoing National Conference Winds UP
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UR democracy is arguably already in jeopardy, and many people are sternly clamouring for the break-up of this country; but I have a contrary opinion. We have so many advantages to derive from our present size, and if there are problems, they are such as common to every human society, and they are not insurmountable. One problem that may get more complicated is the obstinacy of government in power that has refused to let votes count. This has resulted in lack of uniformity in the gubernatorial elections. Competent court did well by rescuing some states where rigging took place from the party at the centre. That is why elections will be taking place differently in Ekiti and Osun States this year. Similar occurrence has been recorded in Edo and Kogi States, and many more may yet be added
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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