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TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 Out of Engineer Rauf Aregbesola’s State of Osun there is always something trailblazing. In setting the agenda through a list of initiatives, the symbol of good governance in the State of Osun never stops preparing the people for a better tomorrow.Out of Engineer Rauf
VOL. 9. NO.030
Front Page Comment Osun Technology Village Aregbesola’s State of Osun there is always something trailblazing. In setting the agenda through a list of initiatives, the symbol of good governance in the State of Osun never
Independent titles described him as stops preparing the people such, they knew what they were for a better tomorrow. saying. The alternaTomorrow is key in the tive perspective is thinking of the symbol of an about making a alternative perspective. people competitive; When Independent News- it is about preparpapers Limited ing them for (INL),publishers of the Continue on pg4
Who Killed Chief Bola Ige, formerAttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice?
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IGE
Akande Blasts INEC Over Irregularities In Permanent Voter’s Card Collection - See Story On Page 2
•(L-R) The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori; wife of the governor, Sherifat; the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Chairman, Resident Electoral Commission, Ambassador Rufus Akeju and other dignitaries, during the collection of their Permanent Voter cards at Ward 8, Ilesa-East Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun, Ilesa, last Friday.
PDP Members Cause Ikirun Crisis
- See Story On Page 3
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 11, 2014
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Akande Blasts INEC Over Irregularities In Permanent Voter’s Card Collection
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HE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has chided the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he described as inefficiency and electoral manipulation. Akande, who bore his journalists on Sunday after mind on the three-day collecting his permanent Permanent Voter ’s Card voter’s card in his country collection in the State of home, Ila-Orangun. He said: “My assessment Osun, condemned the exercise, saying that his on the collection of assessment was Permanent voters’ Cards is uncomfortable. I came for uncomfortable. According to Akande, the validation of my voter’s the collection of the cards card where I registered and was marred with voted in 2011 today. I was irregularities and fraud, able to collect my card but which underscored INEC’s some of the people that inefficiency and came after me could not find their names on the list. incompetence. “Some names which Akande spoke to
appeared once on the voters’ register in 2011 appeared twice. Some names that appeared in 2011 are not appearing again on the list for the collection of the cards, which makes me to become worried and I began to ask questions. Even in some units, where INEC registered 100 people, the register never covered 60 per cent success in such areas. “This makes me to doubt INEC, which smuggled 100, 000 names into the voters’ register in Ondo State and used it to rig election. If we don’t act now and let the world know that INEC is
inefficient and fradulent and that INEC has started manipulation in Osun State election with this exercise, we will be doing a bad thing to Nigeria.” Akande registered and collected his card at Unit 12, Obalumo Compound, Atewogbade Street, Isedo 1 in Ward 4, Ila-Orangun, headquarters of Ila Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun. The APC chairman said he has reported the situation to the national office of his party; saying; “we have just concluded the registration of our party members and we have met
•(L-R) Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Barrister Adekunle Amos; Executive Director of Transmission, TCN, Mr Shahid Mohamad; the Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Executive Director of Operations, TCN, Dipak Sarma; Principal Manager of Transmission, TCN, Engineer Ade Odukale; Assistant General Manager of Transmission, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engineer Niyi Oladele and others, during the governor’s assessment of the fire outbreak at the TCN Osogbo Sub-Region 330/132/33kv Substation in Osogbo, State of Osun last Friday.
Voters’ Card: Massive Turn Out in Osogbo, Iwo, Ila, As Voters Protest Missed Names By ISMAEEL UTHMAN
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HE ongoing distribution of permanent voters’ cards by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the State of Osun recorded a massive turnout of electorate in Osogbo, Iwo, Ila-Orangun, Ile-Ife and Ikirun. Though, there were cases exercise. of missed voters’ names, as When OSUN DEFENDER some members of the visited Unit 2 at Ward 10 of electorate could not find Osogbo Local Government their names on the voters’ Council Area, some of the register, but the people people were seeing trooped out to collect the lamenting the missing of cards, right from the first day, their names on the voters’ Friday till Sunday. list, questioning why their Of the places visited by names were missed out on our reporter, only Osogbo, the lists. Iwo, Ilesa, Ile-Ife and Ila Some of those whose maintained the pace of the names were missing on the massive out for the three- voters registration lists for day exercise, while other the collection of the cards towns and villages recorded at the polling unit were: low turnout of electorate on Alhaji Aresa Jimoh with VIN the second day of the n u m b e r programme. 90F5B03881295108839 and The communities that Mr A. Akeem with VIN recorded the low turnout on n u m b e r the second day included 90F5B03881295432832. Aagba, Iragbiji, Inisa, OSUN DEFENDER Okuku, Eripa, Ada, Iree, reporter also visited Units 8 Ilobu among others. and 14, Ward 5 in Osogbo At the aforementioned Local Government and the places, the percentage of the same problem was recorded. permanent voters’ cards At Unit 7, Ward 4 in Ilobu, that were yet to be collected headquarters of Irepodun was more than the collected Local Government Council ones, thereby sending Area of the state, majority signal to INEC for the of the would-be voters that extension of the time for the registered at the polling unit
could not find their names on the register, a development that generated hues and cries at the unit. The same complaint was also recorded at unit 004, Police Post, Ward 07 in Eripa, where some of the people were seeing lamenting the missing of their names on the list, even as they were holding the temporary voters’ cards issued in 2011. Some of those, whose names were missing on the list at the polling unit were: Adedeji Dupe Olufunmilayo, Ogunleye Boladale, Olaegbe Mopelola, Ogundele Kehinde, Ayorinde Lydia and Ogundele Rolayo Sifawu. Besides, there was hot argument on Friday between members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), National Conscience Party (NCP) United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at some polling units in Eripa on the eligibility of the NCP and UDP agents to monitor the exercise. The PDP members said the NCP and UDP were not eligible to monitor the
voters’ cards collection exercise, arguing that the two parties had formed alliance with the APC, a statement faulted by the APC, the NCP and the UDP members. The matter was later laid to rest, when police intervened and persuaded the parties to allow peace to reign, just as the NCP and UDP agents were not allowed to observe the exercise for that day, according to sources. However, NCP and UDP agents were allowed to monitor on Saturday following the intervention of the Deputy National Chairman of the NCP, Comrade Waheed Lawal, who visited the community and other places, where such incident happened. Also, the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engineer Ezekiel Olajide and Senator Simeon Oduwoye and their entourage were at Eripa on Sunday for unknown reasons. Olajide and Oduwoye were seen driving round the community during the collection of the voters’ cards and also visited a PDP leader in the community, known as Baba Alabi.
the biometric control for the registration of party membership. “INEC deceived us in 2011 that it was going to register us with biometric control, it took our 10 fingers; but in 2011 elections, there was no control. I am not certain if there is going to be a control for this card too. “This card has no control at all and the INEC that cannot give you a biometric control like they do in Ghana, cannot claim to be able to give you a free, fair and credible election. “Funny enough, I heard INEC saying it wants to conduct biometric election, but what Nigerians want is for the voters’ register to be valid and credible. But this register can never be credible at the rate they are doing it. It is what I saw. “People are coming and they find out that their names appeared twice, while some could not find their names. It means something is wrong with INEC. They are manipulating the register or receiving bribe from those that are stealing our money in Abuja.” Aknade said the party was going to give the exercise a test to determine if they can use the voters’ register for election or advise INEC to conduct a fresh registration, if they don’t have a credible register. He said: “With what I saw today, INEC has no credible register. They have a
manipulated register. They have a fraudulent register. If the margin of error is two per cent, we say oh! How does this happen?” Speaking on the alleged attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party to collect some cards by proxy in Ikirun on Saturday, Akande said: “PDP has been doing it before; they have been buying other people’s cards; INEC has been supplying them cards. That is why they came to Ikirun this time to collect voters’ cards by proxy. A credible effort should not be done by proxy. “I travelled down to this place to collect my own card. I did not send any of my children or political boys. I came to collect it by myself because I know it is not lawful to collect it by proxy. “But because the PDP knows that they can do it and they are doing it in the open, that is why it is the only one we see. They can go to INEC office in Abuja to collect cards by fraudulent ways. “We have known INEC to be inefficient. If the voters’ register is not credible, the election that will follow will never be credible.” Akande said the 2011 register does not appear to be credible anymore, saying that he was worried about the basic register, which is not credible. He said with what he saw, INEC has been making an attempt to disenfranchise some people right from their office.
OSHA Charges Contractor To Hasten Ede Water Works Rehabilitation By KAZEEM MOHAMMED HE State of Osun House of Assembly has charged the contractor handling the total rehabilitation of Ede Water Works to speed up work on the project, with a view to ensuring adequate pipe-borne water supply in the state. This was just as it urged with a view to taking steps the management of the State that would ensure that the Water Corporation to people in the rural areas also provide alternative means get adequate water supply. Briefing the committee of providing water to the people to minimize their members, the General suffering on pipe-borne Manager of the State Water Corporation, Mr Gbenga water. The Vice Chairman, Owojuyigbe, assured that House Committee on the rehabilitation work Environmental Sanitation would be completed within and Water, Honourable the next four months. He stated that by the time Kamardeen Akanbi made the charge on Friday during the rehabilitation project is the committee’s inspection completed, the state of the newly-purchased government would have equipment for the Water spent N2.6 billion on it. According to him, the Works. Akanbi said the government had earlier committee was impressed spent N424 million during with the level of the first phase of the rehabilitation work done so emergency rehabilitation of far on the project, even the water works. The total rehabilitation of though there had been complaints of lack of water the water works, he added, from people in the state, due was to ensure adequate to the ongoing supply of water in the state. Owojuyigbe noted that at rehabilitation works. The lawmaker however the end of the rehabilitation 12 local urged the corporation to, if exercise, possible, use water tankers government council areas in distributing water to the under the catchment area of people, pending the period the water works would be the rehabilitation work adequately supplied with water. would be over. “The essence of this He also directed the Water Corporation to rehabilitation work is to furnish the Assembly with bring the water works back full capacity,” details on the Mini Water to Schemes across the state, Owojuyigbe said.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Ijesa Group 4 NURTW Endorses Aregbesola For Second Term T By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
HE National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ijesa Group 4, on Saturday endorsed the second term ambition of the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbsola. The transporters, who gathered in their thousands at administration through the the playing ground of Ilesa various efforts aimed at putting Grammar School, Ilesa, said all the roads in the state in good Aregbesola remains the best condition, thereby helping their governor in the history of the vehicles to be in good condition state, who has given for a long time, noting that their prominence to every sphere in vehicles can now stand the test of time. his administration. Folorunsho stressed further Speaking on behalf of the members of the Ijesa Group 4, that for any government to earn Chairman of the group, a passmark from road transport Comrade Olalekan workers, it means such Folorunsho, said the government really deserves it, transporters gathered to throw reiterating that Aregbesola their weight behind the second deserves a second term in office term ambition of the governor to continue the ongoing in recognition of his “brilliant infrastructural development in the state. performance”. He therefore assured the He added that the transporters have benefited governor of the continued immensely from the present support of the group before and
after the 2014 governorship election. Also speaking, the state Chairman of the NURTW, Alhaji Isiaka Afolabi, appreciated the Aregbesola administration for its bold steps aimed at ensuring steady peace, while pledging the support of the union to the governor to ensure that the state continues to enjoy peace and development. In a goodwill message, the pioneer chairman of the NURTW in the state, Alhaji Nasiru Komolafe, described Aregbesola’s achievement as
unprecedented, while calling on members of the opposition to relax and take tutelage from Aregbesola for the next four years. He noted that a government that has done so much to transform the lives of its citizens deserves the absolute support of the people of the state, so as to be able to continue the positive transformation agenda of the administration. In his response, Governor Rauf Aregbesola reiterated the commitment of his administration to the provision
of a comfortable life to the greater number of the people of the state through the provision of basic amenities. He described the various steps taken so far to improve the lives of the people of the state as a pact, which he and his team made with God, saying the administration is bound to continue to work in moving the state forward. Aregbesola then used the opportunity to call on those who registered for the 2011 elections to go and verify and collect their permanent voters’ cards, while urging those who
have misplaced their temporary voters’ cards to also go to their registration point with a passport size photograph to fill a form and get a new permanent voter’s card. He said for those who could not find their names on the voters’ register, they will have the opportunity to do a fresh registration as from on the 12th of March, when they will be given their own voter’s cards. In attendance were members of the state executive council, market women association, as well as excited members of the general public.
JMK Celebrates 65th By ABRAHAM JESUDOYIN
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TUNBA Olajumoke Ogunkeyede popularly called JMK by political associates and friends has been described as a patriotic and honest politician. This forms part of the over- of the governor during the time all assessment of his person by for the struggle to reclaim his various individuals, who spoke mandate, compared to other asduring his well-attended 65th pirants. He added that JMK is a man birthday celebration. The birthday bash, which of good works and good report took place at the Leisure Spring both within and outside the Hotel in Osogbo, State of Osun country. “When I was outside the capital, was massively attended by dignitaries and friends from country, I heard a lot about him, all works of Life, including the which did not negate the good centenarian mother of the cel- things we already know him for,” he said. ebrant last Saturday. He further noted that since While commenting on the celebrant, the deputy governor Otunba Ogunkeyede started of the State of Osun, Otunba leading an Obokun Group, peace (Mrs), Grace Laoye-Tomori, has ever being reigning. According to the Owa described Otunba Ogunkeyede of Ijesaland, Oba as a man of great virtue and value. Obokun Aromolaran, who She stated that the outstand- Adekunle on the occasion, the next ing work of the celebrant at the spoke American President will be an Odua conglomerate is notable. Ijesa man, based on the out“He is an outstanding politi- standing good name the celcian and a pillar of the All ebrant has won for the town. Progressives Congress (APC) in Also, the Akinrun of Ikirun, the South-West. Oba Rauf Adedeji, described “He has ever been support- JMK as a patriotic man, who ing the Ogbeni Aregbesola’s loves his people dearly. government, despite been a coThe Chief of Staff to the aspirant with the governor be- Governor in the State of Osun, fore the governor emerged in Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, de2006 party primaries,” she said. scribed the celebrant as a man The interim Chairman of of reputable character. APC in the State of Osun, ElPresenting gifts to the celder Adebiyi Adelowo described ebrant on the occasion were the the celebrant as a humble man 1968 students of Ilesa Gramof great virtue. mar School, State of Osun Unity He said the celebrant contrib- Women in Politics and many uted immensely to the success others.
•The deputy governor, State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, receiving her Permanent Voters Card (PVC) at ward 6, unit 2, Owode area, Olorunda local government, State of Osun, last Friday.
Only Credible Election Can Produce Responsible Leaders - Aregbesola •As He Collects Permanent Voter’s Card By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
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OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Friday joined other citizens of the state to participate in the voters’ verification exercise and the collection of permanent voters’ cards in preparation of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in August 9, 2014. Aregbesola arrived Ifofin Ilesa pleting his verification and colWard 8, Unit 1 polling centre in lecting his permanent voter’s company of his wife, Serifat, at card, Governor Aregbesola deexactly 12:25pm into the wait- scribed the power, which the ing arms of the state deputy people have to freely and congovernor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace fidently select or elect their leadTitilayo Laoye-Tomori, the ers, as the greatest power in the state Resident Electoral Com- modern day society. He noted that democracy is missioner, Dr Oloruntoye Akeju and supporters of All about the people and it is the best form government in ensurProgressives Congress (APC). Speaking shortly after com- ing popular participation in the
election of representatives, stressing that the right that democracy gives, equally calls for a reciprocal discharge of responsibility from the citizens. He said: “It is not just enough to have the right to elect representatives, but discharge responsibilities that will support the process, which will ensure that representatives perform the duties of the state.” “The responsibility of the citizens is not only demonstrated through the payment of taxes alone, the citizens also need to participate in the process of electing a responsible leader and also be vigilant to the security of their environment,
We‘re Safe In Ukraine, UNIOSUN Students Assure Govt, Parents
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ESPITE the heightening tension and political unrest in some parts of Ukraine, the medical students of Osun State University studying in Ukraine have assured government, parents and well wishers that they are safe and not in any way affected by the crises. The students under the aegis information. of H.N. Karazin Kharvis ”With all confidence, I National University State of assure that we are doing fine Osun Medical Students, in a and not affected in any way by letter signed by its President, the political rancour in the Mr. Samuel Owoeye and sent country, as this does not even to the state government, noted extend to where we are living that the political rancour did and schooling. Everything is not extend to where they are going well just like a normal day studying. and we did not even physically The students held that they witness any of the chaotic are fully secured, going about situations, except those that we their studies and not witnessing watch online and hear about. any of the chaotic situations, ”We have been fully secured stressing that they only watch and having nice time. I confirm online, just like every other to all that State of Osun medical citizen of the world is doing. students in Ukraine are in According to Owoeye: “ For peace and harmony,” the Osun a while now, news have been medical students in Ukraine going around about the political emphasised. instability in Ukraine, and that The students, while praying has created worries and for the restoration of peace in agitations in people concerned, the political system of the especially from government country of their host quarters, some parents and university, averred that news folks with half-baked about Ukraine political
instability will soon be history. They expressed gratitude to the Governor Rauf Aregbesolaled government in Osun for the investment on them, stressing that they shall at all times be grateful and be good ambassadors of the state and
By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI Nigeria in Ukraine. Osun government had sponsored 98 Clinical Students of the College of Medicine of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), to complete their
medical studies in the Karazin University in Ukraine. The programme, expected to last for two years cost the government not less than N146 million for the training.
‘PDP Members Cause Ikirun Crisis’
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ONTRARY to report carried by some national dailies about the cause of the clash between members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), facts emerging from the local government council area indicated that the crisis was caused because of an attempt by members of the PDP to collect Permanent Voters Card through proxies. It would be recalled that last cards started, eligible voters in year, some members of the the ward were already on the PDP were arrested in the said look out for likely cases of Eweta Ward 07, when they impersonation as a result of the were mopping up temporary experience of illegal mopping voters cards for cash, an action up reported last year. On Saturday, when some that led to similar clash between members of both parties members of the PDP appeared leading to the detention and at the registration unit with prosecution of those arrested more than a temporary card and insisting on collecting for their with the purchased cards. When the verification and supposed far-away family collection of permanent voters’ members, the APC members at
the scene had to reject their (PDP) move, insisting that nobody would be allowed to collect on behalf of others. The stance of the APC did not go down well with the PDP members, who went back to mobilise their party members and went on rampage disrupting the peace of the community. As a result of the fracas, police authorities swung into action and arrested seven people, four members of the APC and three from the PDP and transferred them to state CID Osogbo, where the seven are currently being detained.
the transparency of officials of the state and how policies that affect them are being implemented.” He therefore called on the people of the state to troop out enmass to verify and collect their voters’ cards, and urged them to jealously keep the cards, not only for the August 9 governorship election in the state, but for subsequent elections. He urged those who have misplaced their temporary voters’ cards to also go to their registration units with individual passport size photograph to fill a form and get a new permanent voter’s card. He said for those who could not find their names on the voters’ register, they will have the opportunity to do a fresh registration as from on the 12th of March, when they will be given their own voters’ cards. Aregbesola also explained to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that their party registration cards alone will not qualify them to vote during the elections, but only makes them to be recognised just as party members, saying that it is only the permanent voter’s card that they can use to exercise their franchise. Also speaking on the occasion, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Oloruntoye Akeju, stated that INEC is fully ready to make the ongoing verification exercise and the coming elections in the state a huge success, stressing that the commission has been getting all necessary support from its headquarters in Abuja. He then called on the citizens of the state to take full advantage of the verification period, so as not to lose their voting right. Other polling units visited included Ward 5 at Oke-Omiru, where people were seen queuing eagerly in anticipation to verify their names and collect their permanent voters’ cards.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Osun Technology Village Continued from pg1
tomorrow’s vastly different world.Initiatives such as the Opo Imo, the knowledge tablet attest to this. Key also is the coming into being of the state’s technology village. The reason for developing the village fits in into Aregbesola’s overall strategy. The symbol believes very much in jobs creating development. This is in contradiction to the prevailing growth without development; for example the garment factory earlier set up in the state testifies to this policy thrust. Now fully operational, the factory supplies uniforms to the public schools system. The same process will soon see durable and affordable telephone handsets churned
out of the technology village. Partnership between the state government and a Chinese firm has already produced 23,100 Opo Imo computer tablets. Not just jobs are being created here but there is also a process facilitating transfer of skills as well as technology. For the state, it is a winwin situation. Jobs are being created, there is also a sense of heightened economic development and crucially the tax-base is being widened. There is of course bound to be a multiplier effect arising out of all of this. This is because auxiliary industries and commercial processes will be brought into effect. More of course will have to be done to sustain the pace. Some of which is not within the preview of the state govern-
ment. These include a tariff regime to protect infant industries against unfair, often subsidised foreign competition. ‘Dumping’ is the correct trade term here. Another area to look at is of course the supply of power. This is key as it will help to bring down the cost of production. The state government of course has its own commercial power initiative and should be encouraged to see it through. The technology village also offers an historical possibility for a forward thrust based on linkages producing a synergy. The synergy possibility here is to link the unfolding developments in the public schools sector with the technology village. By linking the schools with the technology village, a skills-
Matters Arising From Baba Onikerosene Rally In Osogbo
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ETS quickly review together the recent declaration rally in Osogbo by Senator Iyiola Omisore. Build up to the rally; people were deceived to visit the PDP secretariat for free kerosene brought in by merchants like Kashamu, but alas! it was N50 per litre in a customised kegs. Even if it were for free, is this what the people of Osun lack? These people have not told us what and what they will do differently from the approach to governance under Aregbesola. Secondly, It is not out of the way to let those within the PDP know that it could be self-deceitful, when you find it difficult to raise your dreamed crowd within your voting areas and you now have go to neighbouring states to rent crowd. For the Omisore rally, we had visitors from Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos and Kwara to give support.
Though, this could not be out of place, but what the PDP had allowed was placing a candidate, out of the three or four, on a pedestal of brigandage, with notable thugs and men of shady characters, mounting the rostrum to sell
a deficient article of political trade. The lesson here for the people is; since the election in Osun is a singular one for that day, they should expect an influx of thugs and critical elements to influence the atmosphere for the poll. Thirdly, Omisore, in his address, declared why he is on his ‘rescue mission’. These are: 1. He will increase
O’YES monthly stipend form N8,000 (though currently at N10,000) to N75,000 and employ 300,000 people into the scheme. Desperation? Or what will he pay as salary to officer on GL01? 2. The AIT anchor man asked him what his academic qualifications are several times, but he was evasive. He however
claimed to be holding a PhD from a school in France? 3. He said Governor Aregbesola has stolen billions of Osun money, but we remember he is fond of fake assertions like his threats to stop Aregbesola’s convoy last time which he retracted. A slight notice to sue him now will find him say ‘I didnt say it. 4. Omisore also said a
kilometer of road costs N1 billion in Osun. Will this mean that local government councils in the State are able to spend N10 billion on their 10-kilometer roads or they have also gone to borrow? What is their allocation from Abuja that would have collaterised the borrowings? 5. When we watch Omisore live on AIT, a billboard showing the state of Mandela Freedom Park before Aregbesola’s intervention and how it now looks was shown. What a confused Omisore we all saw later? We however believe that Osun people would have learnt their lessons in the hands of those who had sought power in the past for reference and those who now use power to transform their lives positively. We therefore want to congratulate Mr Omisore a.k.a BABA ONIKEROSENE!
•BUKOLA OJO, Osogbo, State of Osun.
based educational system can be brought into play. This will help to nurture the pupils to acquire the technological skills to compete in the future. For in today’s world paper qualifications are not enough. Today’s world is skill driven. It is therefore the skills acquired and not paper qualifications alone that will determine who is fit to get tomorrow’s jobs. We must therefore, acknowledge the import of the technology village. The government of the State of Osun is once again on the right lines here. What is needed for the future is being addressed. The seed that is been sown here will bear great fruit in the future. Here the great initiator of an alternative perspective through his initiatives, the State of Osun is getting the people ready to face the future.
OSUN DEFENDER Publisher
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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 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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Education OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 11, 2014
O'SCHOOLS INNOVATION IN THE STATE OF OSUN
Reviving Our Fond Legacies In Public Education This edition is revisited in appreciation of the invaluable efforts of the State of Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Project Committee (O'SCHOOLS); an intervention mechanism initiated by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola to revive the ailing education subsector in the State of Osun. NIYI OLASINDE devotes this edition to the consummation of the bold, valiant steps of the project management office; even as schools prepare to open for a fresh academic session.
•DDTC Middle School under construction at Ijebu-Ijesa in Oriade Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun, by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Reviving Our Fond Legacies In Public Education
•Governor Aregbesola (middle); Chairman, O’Schools in the State, Hon. Lai Oyeduntan (3rd right in glasses); Special Adviser to the Governor on Federal Matters, Mrs Yidiat Babalola; Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlawon (2nd left) and others, during the inspection of pre-fabricated School Building at Saint Stephen’s Elementary Model School, Ode-Omu, State Of Osun, sometime ago. Contiuned from page 5 and debilitating as did the education and scholarship. As at that time,
to the emergence of P RIOR Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola and his team on the saddle of leadership, governance and service in the State of Osun, the entire sectors of life in the state were riddled with innumerable crises of seemingly insurmountable magnitude. As a matter of fact, the terrain of the time was replete with abounding evidences that the education subsector of the Social Services Sector of the economy of our state stood as the most terribly bedeviled; being adversely devastated and most critically ill. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine casts a retrospective glance at its numerous revealing editions of the time, which were totally committed to unraveling the depth, extent, gravity and intensity of devastation, rot, abandonment and negligence which befell the allimportant sub-sector as the period of fiery siege mounted by the captors of the time; the bandits of the conservative People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rolled by. We need to sound a reminder note that while that fiery siege of the Oyinlola years lasted; our medium never compromised its avowed stand of confronting and criticizing the oppressive policies of the time which nearly snuffed life out of all sectors of life in the state. Measured by all known standards, it became confirmed beyond all reasonable doubts that there was hardly any other single sector or sub-sector in the state which suffered blows as terrible, palpable
industry. As at the time of coming on board of the Rauf Aregbesola administration over the reins of power, governance and service in the State of Osun, it appeared that the public sector of the state’s education industry was heading for the rocks. It had nosed-dived and degenerated so much that government could no longer find its foot to stand the competition poised by the huge and ample presence of private investors at all rungs of the ladder within the industry. Readers are here reminded of the ugly rot of that time as showcased in our series of editions. It is for this selfsame purpose of sounding a reminder that this edition shall, at the appropriate segment; bring back to sight the sorry, sordid, gory and horrible sights which called for urgent emergency and intervention which the purposeful, focused and foresighted administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola came to provide. Barely 100 days into the administration of the progressive Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the very first decisive steps in the right direction for turning the tide around in favour of revamping the dwindling fortunes of education in the state, were made. Long before that solution hour, the desiring hearts of progress-loving indigenes and residents had panted continuously for positive changes that would set the state back on course of its old glory of excellence in academics
records and visible evidences had begun to prove that it had become a case of clear impossibility for the state to have above 2 per cent five credit passes for its candidates presented annually for public external examinations, i.e. the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSSCE) as organized by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC); and the Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE) as conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO). The foregoing, by implication, stands to reason that it was fastbecoming difficult for the state to assert itself among the comity of states in the federation of Nigeria in filing up its admission quotas in federal institutions of higher learning. This, by extension, implies that it was becoming what could be likened to the Biblical case of a camel passing through the eye of the needle for the state’s school leavers to scuttle through the rigors of the “almighty” Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). As if to add salt to injury, the government-sponsored free enrolment policy for school certificate students of public secondary institutions which the defunct Oyinlola administration paraded as the prime of its acclaimed free education programme ended up in a farce! This was as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)
withheld the results of the state’s public schools candidates for the 2009/2010 outing of the examinations. The reason for this step was not remote to discern: The Oyinlola administration defaulted in its financial obligation to pay up for the entry of its students for the examinations! As a matter of fact, one of the first numerous shockers which the new administration had to muster and grapple with upon assumption of office was having to pay up for an examination it did not enter students for; more so, when the results of students in the examination were consistently poor, constituting disappointment and embarrassment thereby. All through the entire Oyinlola years, which at best could be described as years of the holocaust, education in the State of Osun suffered a terrible set-back; not only in terms of poor quality of results and feedback, but also in terms of what went into it i.e. funding, staffing, materials and aids, infrastructure and the learning environment. It was perhaps the urgency imposed by these sordid and despicable conditions into which this vital industry had been plunged in the state that the new administration took the bull by the horns to explore and exploit means and ways of arresting the decay being witnessed by the sub-sector. Following the declaration of a state of emergency in the education industry in the state, the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola swung swiftly Contiuned on page 10
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 11, 2014
PHOTOTALK
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National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ijesa Group 4, Endorsed State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, For Second Term At Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa, State Of Osun, Last Saturday.
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) test-driving a campaign van presented to him by Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ijesa Group 4, Comrade Lekan Folorunso (left), during his endorsement for second term in office by the group, at Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa, State of Osun, last Saturday.
•Aregbesola (2nd right); Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Osun chapter, Alhaji Isiaka Afolabi (left); Chairman, NURTW at Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa, State of Osun, last Saturday.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 11, 2014
PHOTOTALK
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Otunba Olajumoke Ogunkeyede (JMK) Celebrated His 65th Birthday At Leisure Photo: JESUDOYIN ABRAHAM Spring Hotels, Last Saturday In Osogbo, State Of Osun.
• The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (right); the celebrant (3rd right); members of his family and well-wishers during the cutting of birthday cake.
•(L-R) The celebrant; the deputy governor and the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, on the occasion.
•Mother of the celebrant, Mrs Ogunkeyede and the Chief of Staff to the State of Osun Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, at the event.
•Members of 1968 Old Students’ Association of Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa, State of Osun, presenting a gift to the celebrant.
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PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Registered Voters Receiving Their Permanent Voters’ Cards From Different Pooling Booths, In Preparation For The Forthcoming Governorship Election In The State Of Osun.Photo: FASOYIRO TOLULOPE
•Some registered voters receiving their permanent voters’ cards at Ataoja 01 Ward 4 of Osogbo last Friday.
•Registered voters checking their names at Ataoja D, Fagbesa Street, Osogbo.
•An NYSC member attending to a registered voter at Ataoja 07 ward 4 of Osogbo.
•An NYSC member giving a voter’s card to the a registered voter at Ataoja D (1a), Ekotedo Street, Osogbo.
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Reviving Our Fond Legacies In Public Education
•One of the newly-constructed Elementary Schools at Ode-Omu under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Continued from page 6
into action when in February 2011, the first-ever Education Summit was put together for the State of Osun. The agenda and thrust of the summit was to actively engage a rich pool of ideas, skills, experiences and expertise of participants; drawn from diverse and related disciplines from Nigeria, Africa and the Diaspora in order to fashion out lasting panacea to the multifaceted hydra-headed challenges that had hitherto plagued the sector. As part of the findings and recommendations of the summit, which was chaired by no less a personality than the academic icon and internationally reputed Nobel Laureate in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka, the teachinglearning environment was identified to be of high preponderating and contributory influence on impact of delivery, efficacy and good outcome. It would not be a mismatch, therefore, to attribute the emergence and/evolution of the State of Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Project, known for short as O’SCHOOLS to the numerous landmark breakthrough achievements of the inaugural Education Summit for the State of Osun held in February 2011.
inaugurated barely a year ago, precisely on February 1, 2012. At inception, the O’SCHOOLS Committee was designed to be an eleven-man panel of experts, on the list of which were the following personalities: 1. Otunba Lai Oyeduntan – Chairman 2. Professor Mojeed Alabi 3. Honourable Kunle Raif Adeniji 4. Comrade Poju Olusola 5. Mrs. Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo 6. Mr. Lasisi Mohammed 7. Architect Rotimi Fafowora 8. Mrs. O. O. Kolawole 9. Architect J. A. Akande 10. Mr. Akin Olatunji 11. Town Planner E. A. Oladejo
The committee, domiciled in the Office of the Governor, has as its major function the task of superintending the construction and rehabilitation of teaching and learning infrastructure in Osun. At its inception, O’SCHOOLS as the Project Management Office (PMO) of the Government of the State of Osun was set out for the purpose of the development of infrastructure in Osun schools. In the beginning of its assignment, the primary mandate was to take all necessary steps to build and deliver within 24 months: •100 elementary schools (2,100 classrooms); •50 (62?) middle schools; and HE State of Osun Schools T •20 high schools I n f r a s t r u c t u r e Development Project Though the committee has not in Committee, also known as any way wavered from its O’SCHOOLS is an intervention commitment to deliver its initial mechanism for revamping education in the State of Osun. The mandate to the people of the State O’SCHOOLS committee was of Osun, exigencies of the present time, governed by limitations
imposed by available funds and time has caused it to streamline its efforts to immediately affordable units of structures. According to Otunba Lai Oyeduntan, the O’SCHOOLS Chairman, in a chat with OSUN DEFENDER Magazine crew earlier in the outgoing year, the immediate mandate of the O’SCHOOLS Committee is a minimum delivery of at least: · 50 elementary schools; · 33 middle schools; and · Between 10 and 20 high schools All within the next 15 months! The Chairman also revealed that out of these figures of school structures, work had started and was already progressing on 24 units; with high hope that some completed units shall be delivered latest before the winding of the 2012/2913 academic session. EARLIER editions of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine had been devoted to conducting an expository chronicle of the exertions, activities and events undertaken by the committee set up by the Rauf Aregbesola administration to revive the ailing education sub-sector in the State of Osun i.e. the State of Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Project Committee, known for short as O’SCHOOLS. As part of the said editions, our teeming readers were taken down the memory lane, as we went through the spate of rot, decay and abandonment which our public educational institutions were made to witness in the past decade or thereabouts; particularly, during the time of the fiery siege unleashed by the immediate past
administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. We availed the ample medium offered by that edition to explore the multiple ugly side-effects of the careless neglect of the time and the extent and depth of dungeon into which the state had been plunged. We further went through the details of devastation; the extent and intensity of damage and the resultant effects of the declined quality on the state, its people and the products of the rotten system directly. Part of this was the abysmally poor academic performances of the state’s candidates in annual external examinations, to the extent that it was becoming increasingly difficult for the state’s candidates to fill their allotted spaces for admission in federal tertiary institutions, due to dwindling performances. Also, admission into state-owned institutions became difficult due to much the same reasons. As a result, rate of dropout became very high. This presented a sharp deviation from long-known traditions whereby our state was one of the leading light in the area of Western Education in the nation. Fortunately, the coming on board of the Aregbesola was a timely development; which brought with it timely relief to all and sundry in the state. Rather than moaning and groaning under the yoke of the colossal loss suffered by the state and its people over the years, the progressive and dynamic administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola knew what to do and when exactly to act. This, according to Otunba Lai on page Oyeduntan, Continued the Chairman of11
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 11, 2014
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Reviving Our Fond Legacies In Public Education O’SCOOLS, in an interview with our crew was due to long time of planning and deep-seated interest which the Symbol of the struggle for the revival of Osun, Ogbeni Aregbesola has in the education of youths in the state and bringing back quality to it. Talking on the factors which provided impetus for the first ever State of Osun Education Summit; and which added credence to the O’SCHOOLS project, Oyeduntan attributed the decisive steps taken so far and the huge success recorded to early recognition of requisite elements for effective learning, accurate diagnosis of the affliction which had bedeviled the sub-sector and recognition and proper application of efficacious therapy. Excerpts: “Well, I’m sorry to say that I’m not aware that anybody has criticized that summit. I have not seen any fellow doing that! The summit was widely attended. It was widely graced from all over the world by people who are knowledgeable in education, policies, and even in intellectual aspect of it. I am going to answer that question simply because I was involved, both in planning and implementation; and the aftereffects. How did we come about the summit? Long before Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came into office, right from the moment he indicated interest and was given the ticket to contest, he had shown a lot of interest in education. As far back as 2004, he sponsored a remedial programme for Osun boys and girls preparing for external examinations. That time, 2,000 candidates were involved. Extra-mural classes were organized in Osogbo, in Iwo, in Ilesa - about
•AREGBESOLA
2,500 candidates I think. And Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola picked the bill to fund the classes, paid for their school certificate entry fee and paid them (the candidates) allowances. When the results came, it was disappointing! It was obvious that there was a lot more wrong with the education sector than trying all these cosmetic approaches for a solution. So between 2005 and 2011, there were so many committees he instituted focusing on education! That is why it was possible that within the first 100 days of his being sworn in, an education committee a summit chaired by no less a personality than Professor Wole Soyinka took place; inviting resource people from all over the world; many of them, our own people, who had made marks in the United States, in Europe, in the Americas and other parts of the country and Africa. Okay, the summary of the findings at that summit identified that it takes more than the teacher, it takes more than the pupil, it takes more than all of these to have all the impact that it requires to increase the fortunes of the education sector. One of these is that the teacher who will teach must be made more efficient. The students must be well prepared, and of course, the environment must be made more friendly and befitting - more enabling! So, the environment must be properly taken care of and that led to the uniform concept introduced by the Government of the state to encourage and of course to motivate the pupils. Teachers are being recruited and being retrained via programmes of training, retraining and promotion courses. Now, we are talking of the environment - we have the O’MEAL programme, we have
O’UNIFORM, even O’TEACHERS, so to say, all came as a result of achievements of the inaugural Education experts identifying and pointing out Summit for the State of Osun held in the crucial steps to take, to set the February 2011. sector back on track.” These points having been asserted As a matter of fact, the impact of the and established, we shall now draw our incumbent administration on the focus back to the exact point of focus education terrain of the state has been for this edition. That point is an attempt fat and colossal. Today we see the hand at tracing the purpose of establishment, of a government that works in all mandate and strides of the State of sectors. With our focus on education, Osun Schools Infrastructure never in the annals of the State of Osun Development Project (O’SCHOOLS) has the education sector fared better and other issues relating to it. than it is doing now! ACCORDING to information at the Following the declaration of a state disposal of OSUN DEFENDER of emergency in the education industry Magazine, to achieve the mandate set in the state, the administration of Ogbeni for it, the O’SCHOOLS committee Rauf Aregbesola swung swiftly into assumed the ordinary meaning of action when in February 2011, the first- infrastructure in this context to be, but ever Education Summit was put not limited to: together for the State of Osun. The a) School buildings as designed agenda and thrust of the summit was to and approved; actively engage a rich pool of ideas, b) External works as designed skills, experiences and expertise of and approved; participants; drawn from diverse and c) Landscaping as designed and related disciplines from Nigeria, Africa approved; and the Diaspora in order to fashion out d) Furniture for students and staff; lasting panacea to the multifaceted e) Library, laboratory and hydra headed challenges that had workshop equipments; hitherto plagued the sector. f) Sporting facilities; and As part of the findings and g) Any other facility, structure and recommendations of the summit, which equipment that may be considered was chaired by no less a personality necessary for effective teaching and than the academic icon and learning in the schools. internationally reputed Nobel Laureate It was further revealed that the mega in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka, schools are intended to be large enough the teaching-learning environment was to attract necessary amenities and identified to be of high preponderating facilities to make learning and teaching and contributory influence on impact of environments more conducive and at delivery, efficacy and good outcome. It par with modern-day schools. would not be a mismatch, therefore, to As it was pointed out in earlier attribute the emergence and evolution editions, the O’SCHOOLS project of the State of Osun Schools committee is domiciled in the Office of Infrastructure Development Project, the Governor. Little known for short as O’SCHOOLS to Contiuned on page 12 the numerous landmark breakthrough
•LAOYE-TOMORI
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Reviving Our Fond Legacies In Public Education
• One of the Middle Schools at Alekuwodo area of Osogbo built by State of Osun Government under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Contiuned from page 11
wonder then that the Governor is found prominently on top of its administrative chart, in the following order: The Governor O’SCHOOLS Committee Chairman Internal Auditors Head, Administration and Supply Head, Technical Department (Planning, Works and Supervision) Others listed on the chart, whose essential services, according to Oyeduntan are crucial to building and construction work anywhere; more so to the construction and rehabilitation work on hand in the State of Osun are architects, quantity surveyors, surveyors, structural engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers, technical assistants and other support staff. It is the active involvement of this myriad of competent staff that guarantee quality service delivery for the committee on all its projects. Other supportive staff includes secretary, sub-committee and Head, Finance and Accounts. The organizational imperatives set aside for the team are: •Organizational Flexibility •Technical Capacity •Administrative Capacity •Logistic Supply •Finance The capacity requirements for the O’SCHOOLS project are predicated on the need to accomplish the set mandate efficiently and timeously. In view of the foregoing, the committee needs, at all time to: i. select for governor ’s approval the sites for the new schools; ii. select for governor ’s
economy of Osun, the O’SCHOOLS project committee seeks to: •Patronize as much as possible local contractors, labour, material vendors and service providers without compromising quality and standards •Make the project n impetus for capacity building enhancement and expansion as well as development of some strategic industrial and commercial enterprises with enduring beneficiaries Beyond the project, the following are the intentions of the To maximize the residual committee: benefits of the huge investment in •Visual documentation of the schools infrastructure to the
approval and after complying with all due process requirements the contractors for the schools; iii. supervise the construction works; iv. certify works done and claimed by all third parties; v. approve and recommend payments for work done and services received by the committee pursuant to its operations; vi. hand over the schools on completion.
status quo ante of all schools in the state •Proper and complete documentation for all proposed schools •Breakdown of each project sites to its components such that different contractors/service providers e.t.c. can work on different aspects of the whole site •Registration of local suppliers, service providers and contractors •Standardization of materials, services and construction methodology Continued on page 13
•Another dilapidated blocks of classroom at Salvation Army Pimary School, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, during former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration.
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Reviving Our Fond Legacies In Public Education
•OYEDUNTAN Continued from page 12
of each site and are recognized in the Bill •Effective dissemination of standards of Quantities. and specifications among prospective •The implementation strategy is vendors and contractors predicated on a well structured committee •Regular interactive sessions with with adequate administrative and technical contractors, vendors and services capacity. providers, agents and stakeholders to share experiences and harmonize practices In the review and identification of The prime objective of the schools for the implementation of the new O’SCHOOLS project is to ensure that school structure, there were listed initially each site is built to conform to the 650 elementary schools, 100 middle approved designs using approved quality, schools and 50 high schools. In the quantity and standard specifications of review and identification of schools for reconstruction and rehabilitation, we have materials and process. 127 elementary schools, 62 middle Concerning its layers of control, the schools and 21 high schools. Also of note O’SCHOOLS special presentation is the emphasis given to: contains the following: •Review and appraisal of designs and •O’SCHOOLS Committee: overall day- prototype to-day project management •Photo documentation of existing •O’SCHOOLS key men: members schools supervising projects in federal constituencies
•AKERE
•Preliminary technical work •Acquisition of survey plans for high schools •As-Built survey sketch (high school sites) •Topographical survey (high school sites) •Preliminary site work •Demolition and removal of structures on affected sites.
In conclusion, the activities of the State of Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Project (O’SCHOOLS) Committee have been that trailed with astonishing impact and landmark monumental imprints. It is indisputable that with its activities and operations still in top gear, our state is clearly heading for the golden heights dreamt and
designed for it by its founding fathers. This view becomes established in one of the responses of Otunba Oyeduntan to our numerous questions. Asked if the figures released for the units of school buildings to be constructed were the maximum, the Chairman responded: “There is no maximum figure, and governance is a continuum. That means until all schools are brought up to par with the set standards, government should not relent in this direction. So we designed and redesigned our schools and they have not changed within the funding capacity of the government. Since funding is limited, we can now only go for what the government can afford and that is why we are limiting our projections to the stated figures. Well, I have this to say that no school project is being left untouched, why? It is because the concept of dilapidation and reconstruction is precise. Every school taken into consideration will not be abandoned.”
•Domestic Technical Staff: Comprising that in-house technical team of: Architects Engineers Quantity Surveyors and Builders e.t.c.
•Has the responsibility for planning dayto-day supervision and quality assurance of works. •Technical Site Supervisor/Clerk of Works: is responsible for the day-to-day quality assurance of works on his site. •Community (CDA) buy in: We plan to explore the possibility of annexing the inherent, loyalty, commitment and goodwill of the community and the party leadership to ensure proper community relations •Each level of supervisory service providers will be remunerated within the range of fees and acceptable –practices in the construction industry. These fees •One of the dilapidated blocks of classrooms at Salvation Army Pimary School, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, during former Governor Olagunsoye and incidental costs are part of the cost Oyinlola’s administration.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 11, 2014
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INTERVIEW
Osun Education Policy Misinterpreted - Bankole does your organisation stand for in terms of the political equations in Osun? W
HAT
Our organisation is Osun Movement for Peace. We stand for the peace, wellbeing and progress of Osun in all ramifications. We are a non-partisan, non-governmental, socio-political group made up of bonafide indigenes of the State of Osun. Our membership profile cuts across all socio-economic strata present in modern day Osun and our leadership cadre has representations from the academia and other professions. We started out immediately after the governorship elections of 2007 as a moderating voice, advocating the sanctity of peace, tolerance and good neighbourliness during the days of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s fierce battle to claim his mandate through the courts. Our position has always been to preach and promote the unity, peace and progress of the State of Osun in all circumstances and regardless of whatever political considerations that may be in place. We, as an association, do not belong to any political party. But whatever is in the best interest of the state- that will best uplift Osun and make us proud to say we are from Osun- we will support and promote. What informs the idea of a symposium on education policy that your organisation is planning, given that you are not an agency of the government? We have observed, in silence for some time, the hullabaloo surrounding the issue of the Osun education policy. We, however, felt there was the need for us, as a group with vested interest in the affairs of the State of Osun, to understand the policy, the thinking behind it, the objectives, as well as its impact on the people of the state; whether it is salutary or not. So, we, on our own, commissioned a team to go round the state to study the implementation of the policy and see the content, the fairness of implementation strategy as well as the benefits or impacts of the whole thing on our state. The study was done in all the local government council areas. The result showed that there is fairness, thoroughness and people-oriented approach in the implementation. We also discovered that Osun people, across political and socio-economic divides, applaud the transformational impact of the policy. Don’t forget that over 80 percent of school children in Osun attend public schools and nearly 90 percent of these children come from poor homes, where sustenance is a big deal. It therefore pains us when we see an attempt by some politically-advantaged elites to wage a media war aimed at bastardising a project that ordinary Osun people are describing as the best intervention in the state’s education system since the era of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education policy. It is a parochial stance of the fat cats, who have access to the media to try and create a mountain out of a molehill in order to score political points. But to us, this is not fair on Osun children, who are direct beneficiaries of the policy and they will not forgive us, if they learn in future that nobody stands up to fight on their behalf to retain a policy as good as this one. What is your assessment of the
Osun education policy, especially in the area of implementation? Let me say I as a person and the Osun Movement for Peace, as an entity, do not necessarily agree with all the ideas of the incumbent governor of our state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. We see some of his ideas as too ambitious for a poor state like Osun. We also believe that the man is racing far ahead with evident confidence and sure-footedness bothering on arrogance, if you like. We know some opportunists will always try to latch on to this character trait of him to cause a disconnect between him and the people of Osun, who have come to see him as the enigma, who nevertheless have passion and empathy for the people. Be that as it may, it is the collective responsibility of all well-meaning indigenes and friends of Osun to separate the wheat from the chaff; to focus on the man and not the hood. Let us call a spade by its name. With regard to the State of Osun education policy, Aregbesola has scored a bull’s eye; both in the conceptualization and implementation of the policy. I speak on what I and all other residents of the state have seen in the last two years of this policy. The O’Meal and Opon Imo components of the policy remain something residents of Osun keep praising. Same for the O’Uniform. However, the current acclaim bothers on the immediate impact of the policy. What about the establishment of the garment factory and the cell phone manufacturing factory, among others; as a direct fall-out of the need to sustain the components of the policy? If all these are sustained, one can easily see these children leaving schools and getting ready employment opportunities in the state, say in the next five to ten years from now. So, I see great foresight, masterful vision and enlightened strategy behind the conceptualization and implementation of the policy as a master plan for the socio-economic transformation of Osun. There is the argument that the education policy is causing trouble in Osun State. How do you see this view? Again, this view is part of the irresponsible attempt to label Osun as a disorganized state that does not know what is good for it. And it is really unfortunate. To be honest, there is a grand plan by some people, who obviously do not mean well for our state to tacitly foment trouble by distorting the reality on ground in the state. Osun is peaceful and on the verge of some exciting transformation. The public school system has come back to life. Public school students have fresh confidence; the teachers have fresh impetus for self-motivation; the economic life is being reflated through a masterful backward integration scheme using the education and transportation systems as strong pivots. A state that was regarded as agrarian and backward has suddenly become a front runner in creating a new future of technological deployment, radical resource distribution and harnessing, classless thinking as well as self dependence among youths. Definitely, those who intend keeping the state as their personal fiefdom or
•Comrade TEMIDAYO BANKOLE, Co-ordinator, Osun Movement for Peace.
cash cow will never like this new wave. But, Osun indigenes know what they want and who is on their side. If at any time, any of Governor Aregbesola’s policies bring hardship to the people, we at Osun Movement for Peace will speak out; even if nobody else does. This education policy has continued to receive great acclaim from the people; regardless of what rabble-rousers would wish the world to believe. What is your symposium meant to achieve? The one-day symposium on education policy themed: “ Osun Education Policy in Perspective: Issues, Challenges and Imperatives” is our own little contribution towards garnering a robust support base for the policy, which we have come to see as a sure strategy for the socio-economic development of our dear state. The symposium, which is to hold in Osogbo on Wednesday March 12, will seek to evaluate the various components of the much-maligned Osun policy on public school management, with a view to enhancing public understanding and appreciation of its desirability. The symposium will also serve as a platform for constructive engagement of critical stakeholders to ensure the nonderailment of the noble vision behind the policy formulation. We hope it will be able to dissect the on-going rejuvenation of the public school sector in Osun as a strong rebranding project and see how the project has begun to impact positively on the state’s overall education management profile, as well as the state’s economy in key areas like job creation, empowerment and agricultural
development. Where there is need to help the government in the area of finetuning the policy, the symposium will definitely serve as a veritable platform. What is your motivation? We are worried about the current spate of misrepresentations and tension being created around the Osun public school policy by a tiny but very vocal segment of the political elite, who seem to have mastered the art of infiltrating and recruiting allies in the media to perpetrate mischief. And, it is unfortunate that a unique and rich policy that could have translated into a national strategy for bail-out of the shambolic public school sector, has suddenly assumed religious and political colourations, fuelled largely by mischief and partisanship, as one could note from current trend of discussion relating to the Osun school system in circles expected to churn out informed opinions. We see politically-motivated efforts to play down the holistic beneficial impact of the various components of the policy, such as the OUniform, OMeal and Opon Imo, which have been adjudged as revolutionary concepts in public school management approach in the country. We see attempts to get the media to focus solely on the reclassification of schools- even this is clearly misrepresented- and an attempt to rubbish the wider public spirit and mission of the policy. We therefore see it as a duty to ensure that ideas and projects, which address fundamental problems militating against the development of our state are not scuttled by political or sectional interests.
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FOR THE RECORDS
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Text Of The Broadcast By The Governor Of The State Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, To The People Of The State, Urging Participation In The Verification Of Voters Register And Commencement Of Lent On Thursday March 6, 2014 their own leader. They will want to shortcircuit the process and pre-determine the end result from the beginning by keeping as many people as possible away from the voters’ register. We want to warn such people that the law enforcement agencies will be alive to their responsibility and take all necessary actions to make the exercise hitch-free and a resounding success.
My good people of Osun, Good day to you. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in its duty of conducting a free, fair, transparent and credible election, has reeled out the timetable and is kick-starting the process with the verification of voters’ register and distribution of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC). This will take place between Friday March 7 and Sunday March 9.
You must therefore be resolute in your stand for democracy, to register for election, to vote and to make your vote count. Do not be intimidated. Do not be scared; and do not be despondent.
PVC is a smart card based Voters Identification Card that looks like an ATM card. It is an electronic card that contains vital information about the holder: his or her photograph, biodata and thumbprint. It will be given to only those that registered to vote at the 2011 elections and possess a Temporary Voters Card (TVC). Even if you have lost your Temporary Voters Card, you will still be able to collect the new permanent card.
I am also calling on all the political parties to ensure that they are adequately represented at the venues to guide their members through the process and how to conduct themselves appropriately. To enable you have ample time for the exercise, I have declared Friday March 7 a work-free day. I enjoin you all to verify your name on the register, collect your card and put yourselves in a good position to vote on August 9 and afterwards.
This card is very important. Please get your own; without it you will not be able to vote in the August 9 governorship election and next year’s general elections. This card is not transferable, meaning you cannot impersonate someone else; it cannot be counterfeited; you cannot have more than one copy; and you cannot manipulate it in any form. This is a warning to anyone designing any plan to manipulate the card, impersonate someone else or use it illegally in any form, that he or she will be caught and risks going to jail. From 8.00am on Friday, you will peacefully proceed to your polling unit in your ward and present yourselves to INEC officials for verification after which you will collect your Permanent Voters Card. If your name is not on the register, remain calm, do not panic. There is no cause for alarm. Adequate provisions have been made to address your case and to ensure you collect your own card. Be vigilant but conduct yourselves peacefully and in an orderly manner, like an
•AREGBESOLA Omoluabi, which you are, in the three days that the exercise will last. Do not give room for the use of force and coercion by law enforcement agents. My good people, we have provided jobs, built schools, constructed good roads and other infrastructure towards your material empowerment and we will continue to do more. But the right to vote and choose your leader is the highest level of empowerment any government can ever provide for its people. As John Locke put it, no man has the right to govern another without his consent. Political empowerment therefore is a God-given right that must not be taken lightly or toyed with. Historically, governance has taken
different forms, from monarchical absolutism to fascism, military autocracy and despotism, but now this trust is expressed in a one-man-one-vote multiparty democracy. Registering to vote is a sacred responsibility for the people. You must therefore take it seriously by ensuring total participation in all the processes. This is why this exercise is very important. However, because elections empower the people, there will be resistance from those who want to keep the people in slavery and bondage. They are agents of destabilisation and confusion who would rather wish that elections do not take place or at best are manipulated and the people prevented from exercising their God-given right to choose
I am also identifying with our Christian faithfuls who have commenced the Lenten Season, a period of fasting for 40 days. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, penance, repentance from sins, almsgiving, atonement and self-denial. It is a period, more than ever, to get closer to God. Since it precedes Easter, it is a period for believers to come to greater awareness of the purpose
of the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ and the redemption he purchased. The essence of this is love – towards God and fellow man – and to make us better persons in our daily conduct. I wish you a fruitful and successful Lent and may your prayers and worship be acceptable unto God. Osun a dara!
State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, obtained His Permanent Voters’ Card At Ward 8, Ilesa-East Local Government, Ilesa, State Of Osun, Last Friday.
•(L-R) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat; Chairman, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ambassador Rufus Akeju and other dignitaries, during the collection of their Permanent Voter’s cards at Ward 8, Ilesa-East Local Government Council Area, Ilesa, State of Osun last Friday.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014
My concern is for our people who may become vulnerable. The craftiness of those throwing forward the baits is usually hidden to the victims. It is like in a business venture, where various strategies are applied to ensure that products are marketable for maximum returns on investment with no due regard for the utility value. The vigilance of the buyer will engender a haggling ability that may eventually neutralize the ploy of commodity owner to cajole the buyer. The buyer may get carried away however; and may eventually lose hard-earned income to seller’s bargaining power that is laced in pranks and decoys.
By ADE OLUGBOTEMI
Causing Our Ignorance And Suffering To Abate (2)
We are by every standard rational human beings, but it is obvious that our rationality has been decimated by the activities of those few individuals, who usually capitalize on our intrinsic propensity to endure all conditions that unfold. Rather than being reactionary, we have the tendency to absorb the pains of absurdity from the cheats, who have successfully quenched the innate force that occasionally resists the manifestation of evil concupiscence of the wicked. They then flagrantly exploit the innocent, who resigns to fate in apparent helplessness of apathy and fear. Those of us with modicum of audacity easily become subjects of vilification and vindictiveness in the hands of the few that regard such clout as disdainful temerity. Silence is a subtle killer; and whoever keeps silent when silence should be repudiated is the least in the empire of fools. The blows that silence has dealt us in the recent past have turned us halfblind and half-potent. That we are still seeing faintly and fathoming fairly is just by God’s benevolence. Those that claimed we voted them to power have suddenly become our masters. They have made us subservient to themselves because they have caused the benefits of our wealth to elude us through premeditated deprivation that then left us penurious. What they stole from us suddenly became a tool in their hands to humiliate us; and that seemed not to make them think that all things are transient. They are now fragments of history We may soon become the architects of our waterloo if we feign ignorance longer than we have done; and unless a concerted effort is made in a coordinated manner toward selfemancipation, our servitude may have just begun in the hands of those who regard themselves as super-humans. We need to put up stiff resistance to a calculated attempt at impoverishing us by the despotic few, who pretend to
•AREGBESOLA
be dwarfish at polls, only to turn invincible giants as mandate custodians afterward. Our Elders say that a rape victim is only vulnerable once; but in our own case, we have been vulnerable in countless times. What an irony! In the civilized world, it is only when the system is working that a ruling party and the candidates will ever be boastful of any possible electoral prospects. Nothing seems to be working under the party that has formed government at the centre for almost fifteen years; yet they are now bold to be going about boastfully that they will capture all the states of the country. This statement came at the heels of the one made earlier that the party would rule for the next sixty years. It is now crystal clear that Nigeria is the only country in the whole wide world where an underperforming political party will remain rest-assured that victory is sure long
Nigerians have become so worried about the etiquette behind PDP’s quest to take over the territory they have administered for a reasonable period of time (between four and eight years) without any remarkable positive impacts on the lives of ordinary Nigerians in those states that are now governed by opposition party (APC). I still don’t know how to come to terms with that crave for power, when actually there is no scintilla of ideas for what to do with the power to be so gotten. Presently, even with the realignments that recently took place, PDP is still controlling majority of the states of the federation and the Federal Government. Instead of dissipating energy on how to recover the lost territory from opposition, PDP would have simply looked inward, make the states and the centre under their control work better than what obtains in those states under opposition, so that the people there can see a good reason to part ways with the convictions that made them embrace those in opposition currently in the saddle.
The option proffered above may be a bitter pill to swallow for PDP because the truth of the matter is that the people there absolutely are bereft of ideas about the keys to unlock the hidden ingenuity that translate potentials to concrete values that gladden the hearts of hapless and helpless Nigerians. A pointer to this fact is what unfolded when Iyiola Omisore, the PDP governorship aspirant, who is widely conjectured as President Goodluck Jonathan’s anointed and preferred choice came up with abusive vituperations, when people in the State of Osun expected him to reel out issuebased agenda that would be seen to before electoral contest, though in surpass the exploits of Ogbeni Rauf apparent tempestuous flood of blips and Adesoji Aregbesola that are currently redefining governance mode for the woeful performance. virtuous. The upsurge in the activities of Boko Our senior citizens quite well Haram insurgents in the North East, understand this redefinition that is armed robberies in the South West and circumstantially inevitable. The civil other parts of the country, kidnappings servants, artisans, teachers (men and in the South East and Niger Delta women of noble profession), business areas, pipeline vandalism across the men and women, students, and the country; just to mention but a few are unemployed, who have not been lucky occurrences that are giving Nigerians to swim in the streams of Aregbesola’s sleepless nights because of many human lives and properties that have perished job opportunities are not oblivious of in turns. Sad enough, people at the helm the exigent value system that is of Nigeria’s affairs feel so complacent showered on this once beleaguered that they have seen no challenge that state. Any attempt to allow those needs urgent attention. The already grossly enmeshed and preoccupation is just to stick to power thoroughly given to profligacy to take at all cost at the centre, and possibly to over the reigns of governance in this take over power (as in coup de-tat) in state will drag us into a whole century the South West, where the opposition of retrogression. We must all endure the party (All Progressives Party) is pains associated with the ongoing redefining the process of governance. facelift. Eventually, we shall all rejoice for the paeans that will burst out.
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the Managing Editor, KOLA OLABISI, Telephone: 08033927286 (kolaolabisi@yahoo.com); Editor, KAYODE AGBAJE, Telephone: 0803-388-0205, E-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com, kayodeagbaje@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org.