www.osundefender.org TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
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VOL. 9. NO.033
between Who Killed Front Page Comment difference the Maurice IwuJega: When courage is key led INEC and Chief Bola Ige, Jega’s. Unlike the there is no question that the integrity of the commission formerAttorneyformer which will again be sorely tested; so also will its technical and claimed it could do General and no wrong, the latter managerial competence be tasked to its utmost has been known to Minister of limits.We appreciate – and admit to mistakes the point continues to be when made. Justice? made – that there is a contnue from pg5
If courage is about standing up to one’s convictions, surely, Jega-led Independent botched Delta senatoNational Electoral rial by-election of October 2, and Commission, (INEC), would need plenty of it Anambra gubernatorial in the coming months. It election of November is the least the commis- 16, last year. With the sion can do to salvage . r,gubernatorial elections of Ekiti and Osun states its battered integrity in slated for the year the aftermath of the
world of
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How FERMA Boss Disrupted Osun Voters’ Registration - See Story On Page 2
•The Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Aminu Tambuwal (2nd right); Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Mr Murtala Aliyu (centre); Member, House of Representatives, Honourable Kamil Ajibola (left); President, Africa Association of Quantity Surveyors, Michael Frimpong (right) and other dignitaries, during a two-day International Workshop of the Institute at Leisure Spring Hotels, Osogbo, State of Osun, last Saturday.
Omisore May Lose PDP Gov Ticket As Adeleke Obtains Form
- See Story On Page 3
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
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How FERMA Boss Disrupted Osun Voters’ Registration By ISMAEEL UTHMAN
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HE Federal Road Maintenance Agency, a Federal Government-owned outfit, has been accused of violently disrupting the voters’ registration exercise in the State of Osun. According to reports proceeded to destroy from Ila-Orangun, the plastic chairs being used chairman of the agency, Dr by INEC officials in the Jide Adeniji, was allegedly characteristic of PDP seen, storming Isedo Ward violent operations. 05 at Saint Mathew It would be recalled that Primary School with a since when the voters’ team of anti-riot registration exercise policemen and soldiers (all started on March 12, in uniform), firing shots several violent incidents into the air. involving maiming and After scaring killing of civilians, prospective voters away, including destruction of the FERMA team property have been
recorded. The APC had complained to the security agencies about these violent incidents, which it alleged were instigated by the PDP. It also accused the party of acting with
audacious impunity and appearing to get away with it. A case in point, according to the party, was the disgraceful show of recklessness in IlaOrangun last Sunday, where the FERMA’s
chairman, was seen with a newly-appointed minister from Lagos, intimidating citizens by driving menacingly through the streets of the ancient town. The APC therefore, called the attention of all
Nigerians and the world to what it described as ‘very ominous signs of chaos and mayhem,’ which it alleges the PDP plans to unleash before, during and after the August election, if the security agencies allowed them.
Correct All Irregularities – Osun APC Tells INEC
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HE All Progressives Congress in the State of Osun has protested to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over irregularities observed in the voter’s registration exercise, which it observed could discredit the whole process. The party therefore, faking numbers through called on INEC to effect unidentifiable voters’ cards. The party therefore changes in those areas, which the party is called on INEC to rectify the situation quickly and save complaining about. According to the APC, its integrity, which is being •(L-R) Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Chairman, State of Osun Chapter, Dr Anthony Onipede; Osun Movement hundreds of voters in Ile-Ife, tested to the limits by those for Peace Coordinator, Comrade Temidayo Bankole and Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoyethe base of one of PDP’s who want to use INEC Tomori, during the one-day stakeholders’ symposium, titled: ‘Osun Education Policy in Perspective: Issues, Challenges and Imperatives’, organized by Osun Movement for Peace in Osogbo recently. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI. governorship aspirants facilities to rig. have their faces deliberately blurred in the voter’s cards, especially at Moore, Ojaja to Opa in Ife-Central Local decried a statement father was, not afford to escape from the wrath of Government council area. By ISMAEEL UTHMAN credited to a chieftain of cater for my education.” In a statement by the God that is awaiting them. HE Commissioner for Lands and Physical the Peoples Democratic He said the killers of his party’s Director of Publicity, Ige lamented that the Planning and Urban Development in the State Party (PDP) Mr Diran late father would not free movement of the Research and Strategy, of Osun, Mr Muyiwa Ige, has stated that the Odeyemi, who said that know peace till they join killers of his father was a Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, killers of his father, the former Attorney-General Senator Iyiola Omisore the Cicero in the grave, trauma and a frustration on made available to the press, the APC expressed shock of the Federal and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola sponsored the education of stressing that the ghost of the family members, even the commissioner abroad. the late sage would as he said that the family that the INEC could issue Ige, would never escape God’s punishment. According to Ige, continue to haunt and hurt has left the killers to God According to Ige, the interview on Wednesday such a card that made it Odeyemi and Omisore are all those who knew about for divine judgment. impossible for the registered killers of his late father in Osogbo, the state voters to be facially could not escape from the capital, Ige said the killing pathological liars, who his assassination. He recalled that his late The commissioner father was assaulted in Ileidentified or identifiable for wrath of God, saying that of the great politician need to check their God will deal with them at would forever be fresh in consciences, saying: “I maintained that though, Ife few days to his killing any purpose whatsoever. the memory of the family never knew Omisore killers of Ige still move at the Palace of Ooni of This, according to the the appropriate time. before. How would a round the streets up till Ife, where he presented Speaking with OSUN members. APC, is an open avenue to Ige stated this just as he former governor, that my date, but they would never Staff of Office to the manipulate the votes, by DEFENDER in an monarch some 20 years before his assassination. The commissioner said: “Bola Ige did not kill will secure the confidence He commended the himself. Ige did not electoral process, as we By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI don’t want the Anambra of Nigerians ahead of the governor for peaceful organise the ceremony chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) situation to repeat itself in 2015 general elections. coexistence, provision of Adekilekun, who functional education and where he was assaulted in in the State of Osun, Pharmacist Musiliudeen Osun, where a by himself. He did Adekilekun, has called on the Independent gubernatorial candidate’s counselled the party massive infrastructural Ile-Ife not assault himself in IleNational Electoral Commission (INEC) to correct name, his father and other leaders and members at development in the state. Ife, but some people did the numerous irregularities noticed in the voters’ members of the family are the meeting, stressed the that to him.” Stakeholders at the register in the state. missing on the list. This need for vigilance and meeting included the APC Lamenting the gruesome He also discouraged must not be repeated in mobilising support for the chairmen, He stated that the APC Women manner at which his father state governor, Ogbeni and the people of the state APC members from Osun.” Leaders, Youth Leaders in was killed, Muyiwa stated He noted that should Rauf Aregbesola, to the four local government that Ige’s killing would will not accept porous electoral violence that continue the giant strides voters’ register that may could derail the peace of INEC succeed in Osun and steady development in council areas in the federal never go off the memory not guarantee credible, free the state and ignore any and Ekiti gubernatorial the state. of those who knew him. constituency. and fear election in the form of provocation from elections, the commission opposition parties in the state. Adekilekun also urged state. According to him: “ Our the people of the state to use the opportunity of the party has noticed some production of cocoa. all ramifications, while By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO ongoing continuous irregularities in the voters’ Adedoyin then called for promising that all hands voters’ registration to registration list circulated HE State of Osun Commissioner for absolute commitment would be on deck for a confirm their registration to political parties before Agriculture and Food Security, Honourable from the stakeholders in successful enumeration distribution of status and advise those that the Wale Adedoyin, has commended Governor the production of cocoa exercise. are now 18 years to Permanent Voters’ Cards Rauf Aregbesola on his various agricultural and give necessary support Present at the meeting register and participate in (PVC). We have a situation programmes, aimed at providing abundant food in to the enumeration were the Permanent August 9 governorship where some names were the state. exercise, so as to achieve Secretary, state. Ministry of missed out, while some election in the state. the goal. The commissioner He gave the Agriculture and Food The APC chieftain appeared more than four commendation in Osogbo stated that the enumeration Responding on behalf of Security, Mr.Sunday These are tasked INEC in Ede on times. during a stakeholders exercise of cocoa trees the stakeholders, the Odediran, AFAN Thursday during a irregularities that are very meeting with the became necessary, so as to Patron of All Farmers Secretary, Honourable difficult to ignore. sensitisation meeting with the old Association of Nigeria Ibrahim on enumeration replace Oyewale, “INEC must rise up to committee the party stakeholders unproductive trees with (AFAN), Osun Chapter, Directors in the ministry of cocoa trees, which was the task and produce a from Ede/Ejigbo/Egbedore expected to commence on new ones, with a view to Chief Bola Otunla, thanked Federal Constituency held credible voters’ list. This the 18th March, across the maintaining the massive the state government for and other important is very important in any at his residence in Ede. supporting agriculture in dignitaries.
My Father’s Killers Will Never Know Peace - Muyiwa Ige
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‘Osun APC Won’t Allow Porous Voters’ Register’
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Osun To Begin Enumeration Of Cocoa Trees Soon
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Omisore May Lose PDP Gov Ticket As Adeleke Obtains Form •PDP Elders Back Adeleke
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ESPITE his dominance and attempt to crush his opponents so far in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun, embattled Senator Iyiola Omisore might likely lose the governorship ticket of the party to Senator Isiaka Adeleke, according to reports. Adeleke, the first Executive Governor of the state, had on Wednesday shown his intention was the least expected person in contesting the August 9, 2014 to pick the governorship ticket governorship election under the form, because he had distanced PDP, as he obtained the himself from the party’s contest governorship ticket form at the and the crises that gripped the party secretariat. PDP in the state. Until last Wednesday, Adeleke
By ISMAEEL UTHMAN OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Adeleke’s sudden interest on the PDP governorship ticket was stimulated by majority of the elders of the PDP, who preferred Adeleke’s candidacy to that of Omisore for political reasons. According to feelers in the PDP, the elders held a meeting on Tuesday at Adeleke’s country home in Ede, where they discussed extensively on the
prospect of the party before and after the governorship election. At the meeting, the sources stated that the elders frantically opposed Omisore’s candidature on the ground that he could not pull a spirited poll in the governorship election, considering the popularity of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. The sources disclosed that the PDP elders complained bitterly about what they described as
‘battered integrity and credibility’ of Omisore, whose ambition and actions have frustrated some leaders of PDP out of the party. It was learnt that the elders concluded at the meeting that anybody who will contest the election under the PDP must be a Muslim from Osun West Senatorial District, with a view to breaking the Muslim votes for Aregbesola. The medium gathered that the PDP elders considered that Omisore should he become the governor, he would be too arrogant to control by the party
leaders and that he would only empower his faction of the party to the detriment of other members. However, the party elders resolved to choose Adeleke and support him to contest the governorship election because, among other PDP chieftains, he enjoins a little credibility and that he has goodwill among the people of the state. Adeleke’s interest has been heating up the polity within the PDP, as Omisore’s faction has suddenly become jittery with the latest development.
Osun: INEC Sues For Peace As Election Approaches By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO
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•Some members of the State of Osun House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on tour at Ife-Central Local Government Council Area, State of Osun, recently.
HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on stakeholders in the State of Osun political scene to shun violence during the forthcoming gubernatorial election, as it commences distribution of voters’ cards. He then advised politicians The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr to educate their supporters on Rufus Akeju, made the call how to vote in order to reduce recently in Osogbo, the state the number of void votes, even capital, while fielding as he warned against all forms questions on the issuance of of electoral misconduct. Akeju reiterated that voters’ cards. Akeju stated that the democratic government is commission has zero-tolerance normally through the ballot for violence, and therefore box, allowing the electorate to called on politicians and party choose whoever they wanted to supporters to make peace their lead them. watchword before, during and On voters’ cards, Akeju after the election. urged the people to follow In his words: “Where there procedure, stressing that those is violence, there is no who lost their cards could still democracy, and this is why come with a nationally peace must be allowed to reign recognised identity card for for the election to be free and identification. fair.”
Osun Holds High School Marathon Court Remands Man G By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
OVERNMENT of the State of Osun, has said that it would do everything possible to identify talents in sporting activities among the Elementary, Middle and High Schools pupils in the state and groom them. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade stated this on Friday at a press conference, intimating the public of the state government preparation for the maiden Osun High School Mini-Marathon 2014 in partnership with Jades Communications. He stated that apart from discovering talents among the high school students, the competition is also aimed at showcasing some of the road networks constructed by Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration. He said: “It has often been stated that this administration would do everything possible for the development of sports and in turn bring about increase in productivity. The essence of the competition is to discover talents in the high schools within the state and catch them young for grooming. “Since marathons are always competed on welltarred road networks, the Osun high school marathon that would be viewed live to both local and international audience via satelite television, promises to showcase the execellent road infrastructure put in place by Aregbesola’s administration,” he said. Odunlade however hinted that so far 700 students from 300 high schools have indicated willingness to participate in the competition. Noting that the marathon would be tentatively held in April, he disclosed that the competition would start from the State Secretariat, Abere and terminate at the Technical College, along Iwo road, Osogbo. Winners of the competition, according to him, would go home with a total of N1million cash, ranging fron 1st prize, N300,000; 2nd prize,
N200,000; 3rd prize, N100,000; 1st Female Marathoner, N100,000; while the 4th to 15th position will go home with N25,000 each. He noted that the government is partnering with a number of key players in the organised private sector within
and outside Osun for the competition, saying that Evans Publishing, GMT Hotels, BASCON Engineering, EcoBank Plc, Lafarge Plc Sterling Bank among others have identified with the project and indicated interest to pick up sponsorship of the competition in different categories. The governor’s aide also hinted that sponsorship is opened in platinum category for N7.5million, gold category for N5million, silver category
for N2.5 million and nominal category for N1 million. Beyond the private sector, Odunlade however solicited the support of indigenes and residents of the state for the successful hosting of the competition. While speaking, the representative of Jades Communications, Mr Bolade Adesokan, commended the governor for his commitment to sports, especially among the school children, in an effort to bring out the best in them.
In Prison Over Rape
By SHINA ABUBAKAR 49-year-old man, Adedoja Lateef, has been ordered to be remanded in prison custody by an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping of an 11year-old girl in Ifetedo, headquarters of Ife-South Local Gov-
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NASS Members Condemn Violence, Corruption In Nigeria By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
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downstream sector and it was discovered that the corporation operates different accounts, which made it very difficult to actually determine the revenue of the corporation. “We have made several recommendations on how to sanitise the sector, but it has not been implemented as expected, but we hope it will not affect this year’s budget. They have presented a reliable revenue base for the budget and we hope it will work as projected, but the situation is discouraging,” Husein said. He however commended the giant strides of the State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in sustaining free education, free meals in public schools, OYES programme and
ENATOR Mudashir Husein, representing Osun West in the Senate, has condemned persistent violence in the Northern part of Nigeria, describing it as crime against humanity. Husein said violence, He said Nigeria is not being maining and killing have no root administered in a transparent in Islam and wondered why manner by the executive arm some people are hiding under of the government, which has religion to perpetrate violence derailed development in all in the northern part of the ramifications. country and killing hundreds of On the reduction of federal innocent people. allocations to the states since The federal lawmaker ex- last year, Husein said it was pressed concern while speak- regrettable that the government ing at the 30th Anniversary of cannot ascertain the actual revCentre for Islamic and Arabic enue being generated by the Studies, Konda, Ilobu, Nigeria National Petroleum Irepodun Local Government Corporation (NNPC). Council Area in the State of He said: “In the National Osun. Assembly, we have conducted According to him: “Islam several investigations on the represents peace, progress and development and for true Muslims, it is very sad that some people are justifying their crime with propagation of Islam. This is not correct and it should be condemned in totality. NFORMATION reaching the All Progressive Congress in “Terrorism is a crime the state of Osun has it that the Peoples Democratic against Muslims, Christians Party, had again created a situation of mayhem at several and against Nigerian populace, registration centres in Ikire in Irewole Local Government therefore, as Muslims, we must Council Area of the state. be good examples in the sociThe PDP thugs were reported orchestrating in order to ety and continue to pray to to have invaded several centres manipulate the voting process God to halt the Boko Haram Sunday morning with guns and by making as many as APC insurgence in the North.” charms, creating such bedlam supporters as possible unable to Also, Honourable Lasun such that prospective voters’ register to vote. Yusuf, representing Osogbo/ The APC in a statement by Olorunda/Irepodun/ Orolu in registrants fled the registration the party’s spokesperson, Barr. the Federal House of Repre- centres. For the upteenth time, the Kunle Oyatomi, in Osogbo, said sentative, who was also APC has drawn the attention of that the purpose the PDP was honoured during the anniverdoing this was to reduce as far as sary, expressed concern on the security forces and general public they could, the overwhelming high level of corruption in the to the situation of chaos and violence which the PDP is majority of supports which the nation’s political system.
massive infrastructural development, despite the financial challenges, as a result of the decline in the monthly federal allocation. Husein therefore, urged the people of the state to justify the performance of the governor through the ballot by reelecting him in the August 9 governorship election. Earlier, the founder and proprietor of the Institution Sheikh Hasim Igbayilola, who was represented by Alhaji Wahaab Ademola Falowo, welcomed dignitaries to the occasion and admonished the selected awardees to emulate the good deeds of the late Alhaji Yussuf Sanni, who was the brain behind the establishment of the institution.
PDP Thugs Invade Registration Centres In Ikire
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APC commands in the state as a result of marvelous work of Governor Rauf Aregbesola which has changed not only the lives of the people, but it is transforming the environment of Osun as it has never been known before. However, it is heartening to note that in the Ikire incidents, the police intervened and arrested some of the thugs who were brought to Osogbo, the state capital. The APC therefore, called on its supporters and the security forces not to allow the PDP to create mayhem in the state because that is their purpose in the days, weeks and months preceding the election and after.
ernment Council Area of the State of Osun. The police prosecutor, Inspector Wilson Mereti informed the court that the accused committed the offence on February 21, 2014 at about 4:30pm, at Ologini Village, Ifetedo. Mereti said the accused person, who lived in the same neighbourhood with the victim, lured her into his room under the guise of sending her an errand. After luring her into his room, the accused unlawfully had sexual intercourse with the victim. The cat was however let out of the bag after the girl cried home and reported the incident to her mother. The offence, according to the prosecutor, was contrary to and punishable under Section 31(1)(2) of the Child’s Right Law of Osun 2007. The accused, Adedoja Lateef, however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of having unlawful canal knowledge of a minor slammed against him. Presiding magistrate, Chief Magistrate Adebayo Lasisi then ordered that the accused be remanded in Ilesa Prison custody, while he directed the defence counsel, Barrister Bose Dada to file a formal bail application on behalf of her client. The case was therefore adjourned till April 2, 2014 for mention.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Continued from pg1
Last week for instance, INEC chairman Prof Attahiru Jega would again admit to the mistakes in the Anambra election while receiving the
visiting Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, John C.M Groffen in his Abuja office last week. According to Jega, “What happened in Anambra State was unfortunate and it will not in any way represent what will happen in 2015. We learnt additional lessons from it and we are
Jega: When courage is key factoring it in our preparations for 2015. We will have two governorship elections this year and we are doing all possible to ensure they are conducted smoothly, freely and fairly. We have mapped out detailed plans from previous elections”. The reassurances should offer some comfort. Although, the difficult times are such that admit to no complacency, Nigerians would certainly do right to give the commission the benefit of the doubt. But then, the issue really is the preparedness of the commission to
conduct credible polls this year and in 2015 Based on the weight of evidence from the Delta and Anambra polls, the least that could be said is that a lot more needs to be done by the commission to attain a measure of credibility that could truly inspire Nigerians. In Delta senatorial byelection, we saw a commission typically hamstrung by the weight of logistical challenges to the point of rendering the process a farce. As for the chicanery described as Anambra gubernatorial poll, the exercise stands apart in elec-
toral gerrymandering. Everything – from the display of voters register, to the actual conduct of the election turned out to be everything that a credible exercise should not be – a case of artful manipulation of process to deliver a predetermined outcome. The revelation of criminal collusion between powerful officials of state and fifth columnists within the commission should naturally give the commission something to chew upon.
On Proposed Osun Area Councils I intend to lend my voice to the proposed creation of local government councils in the State of Osun. You will agree with me that this issue is one of the burning issues of our time; and as such, should not be handled with levity. Researches have revealed that as at 1991, when the present-day State of Osun was carved out of the old Oyo State, the parent state was having forty-two local government council areas. Out of those forty-two council areas, the emerging Osun took twentytwo local councils, while the remaining twenty went to Oyo. Within the space of six years, i.e. 1991 and 1996, the number of local government council areas in Osun had increased from twenty-two to thirty. At the return to democratic governance in 1999, exigencies which are well known to us all compelled an area office to be created in Modakeke, thus bringing the number of council areas in the state to thirty one. This structure operates till date. Permit me to dwell a little
longer on the path of history by reminiscing that there are some of these council areas in the present-day State of Osun, which are yet to shed off the touch and outlook left behind by the colonial administrators. The attendant result is that these council areas have become so big that governing them leaves little or no benefit in real terms to their residents. The
solution to this cumbersomeness in administration, therefore, is further breakdown into smaller administrative units, with a view to bringing government closer to the people. We heard a lot of noise on similar issue in nearby Lagos State during the years of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in office. At the end of it all, the state triumphed, partly
because it thrred the path of due legislative process to see through the creation of the area councils. I commend the intellectual effort that went into it, knowing full well that the State of Osun today is towing much the same path. As at the time of making this letter, it is no longer news that the State of Osun Local Government Area Council Creation Bill 2013 is pending
passage into an Act before the state parliament. It is also trusted that the author, the governor and his cabinet members, must have done excellent work that would stand the state and its people a good stead in the proposal. I also have no doubt that the people’s legislature would consummate the work by passing the laws that would be operational in the best interest
of our state; both for today and the future. I find it most unnecessary for me to dabble into predicting the number of such councils as would be necessary to create; or where to locate them. I only wish that the administration would put in place proper orientation prior the announcement of the councils to sensitize our people into accepting the creations as they are. After all, local councils cannot be created for every town and village. People should therefore begin to see the creations not as especial favour for the communities where the headquarters are sited. It is only in that way that we would be helping in building the State of Osun that would align with the dreams of our founding fathers. We should all eschew every tendency that could lead to chaos and violence. Growth, development and progress thrive only where there is peaceful cooperation. May God bless our state. •ABAYOMI OLUSEGUN, Iwo, State of Osun.
Now to the elections in Ekiti and Osun, agreed, both elections, in the wake of earlier failures, offer the best chance for the commission to redeem itself, considering also that both would be pointers to the possibilities in 2015. However, contrary to what some have bandied, the two elections cannot be an exercise to test run the preparedness of the commission for the general elections anymore than the voters in the two states can be reduced to experimental guineapigs.
INEC just have to be determined to get it right – this time. The time to begin work is therefore now. As it is, the commission has just about enough time to update and clean up the voters’ register. As for the logistical challenges, we see nothing that careful planning and attention to details cannot surmount. Of course, we expect the parties to cooperate with the commission in the coming months in the area of voter education. However, in the final count, the buck of the process stops at the commission’s desk hence the challenge for INEC to always stand up to what is right as the situation is bound to be testy in the months ahead.
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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Finance OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
2014 Budget Of Growth, Enhancement And Development
High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (VI) •Build-up To Approaching Polls This edition is the final in the series that had for some time now been giving consideration to the year 2014 Appropriation Bill, which currently undergoes "surgical operation" snowballing into its assent by the State of Osun House of Assembly. Starting with the earlier mixed-up part in the Education sub-sector of the state, NIYI OLASINDE uncovers expectations from the people in the remaining sub-sectors of the economy of the State of Osun.
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, commissioning Ansar-U-Deen Elementary School, while with him, his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori (3rd left); Deputy Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye (right); State Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs Adetoun Adegboyega (2nd left) during the official commissioning of the school at Isale Osun, Osogbo, State of Osun, last Thursday.
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MAGAZINE
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (VI)
•Aerial view of AUD Elementary School, Isale-Osun, Osogbo, State of Osun, commissioned by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, last Thursday. Contiuned from page 5
· Continued from Tuesday, March 4, 2014. · Education, Science And Technology THIS aspect of the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola deserves much of critical focus, since it proved all along that Education sub-sector is one of the principal specialties of the administration. To this end, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine has devoted much space and time to its detailed spotlight in series of our editions in the past years. It is not as if we are giving up of this effort; but we intend not to overbeat it. So, we shall make mention of some of the giant strides recorded in the sub-sector before expressing desires and expectations for the year 2014. As a sub-sector of the Social Services Sector of our economy, the importance of education to the socio-economic and industrial development of any nation cannot be overemphasized. It is against this background that the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola has remained resolute on the promotion of functional education in the state. The governor continually recounted how a timely discovery was made by his team that the educational infrastructures in our schools were in worrisome state upon their assumption of office in late 2010. In order to rightly and accurately assess the level of decay in our educational system, the Government of the State quickly held a twoday education summit with the theme: “Resolving the Education Crisis in Osun State: Bridging Analysis and Implementation Gaps” at the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) in February 2011. The summit was to become one of the most prominent and decisive giant strides taken by the Aregbesola administration. To put the record straight, it came as the first ever in the annals of education summits in the state! By that singular intervention, the incumbent administration demonstrated its unwavering resolve to tackle head-on the spate of neglect and rot that had bedeviled the education industry in the state. Also by it, the Government Unusual took the bull by the horns to restructure and reconstruct amenities and infrastructure in the education sector of the state; in order to restore quality and promote functional education at all levels in the state. Apart from the Free Education Programme at the Primary and Secondary levels, the Aregbesola administration in the state has made remarkable achievements in the educational sub-sector. An instance of this is the rebranding, repackaging and transformation brought to bear on the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme; an old programme of the Yar’Adua / Oyinlola years; which has been resuscitated and rechristened Osun Elementary School Free Feeding Programme (O’ Meal). With the reorganization and resuscitation of the programme, all the pupils in primaries one to four in public schools in the State of Osun are now covered under the free feeding programme which offers them wide assortments of highly nutritious meals during the school hours. Even meals that are not served in routine menu in conventional practice, like quality chocolate, milk, eggs and chicken are on the list of regular menu of the
feeding programme. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine wishes to pause here and reflect briefly in passing the extent of international acceptance and recognition which the State of Osun; through the O’ Meal programme has garnered unto itself. On January 22, 2014, the Governor of the state and grand designer cum prime mover behind all the innovation packages currently ongoing in the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was in the European nation of the United Kingdom on the invitation of the higher legislative chambers of that Queen’s country, the House of Lords, to enlighten, brief and teach the parliamentarians on the nitty-gritty and workings of the O’ Meal programme, which has turned it into a bundle of wonders in the state. It is no longer news the vibrant and ground-shaking standing ovation the governor was accorded at the event. Through that feat, Ogbeni Aregbesola has done us proud as a people as the first-ever governor in Nigeria; even in Black Africa to be so esteemed and honoured to be summoned to lend knowledge to the White World, usually looked upon for originating innovations in virtually all areas of human endeavour, education inclusive. This feat came to the shame, confounding and stupefaction of detractors who see nothing good in virtually all the good gestures of the Aregbesola administration, especially in the Education subsector. More wonders are still expected to unfold during the current year. In addition, the poor condition of infrastructure in public schools in the state is already being radically reversed. Towards this end, the first phase of the construction of New Model 100 Elementary Schools, 50 Middle and 20 High Schools is in top gear. The fiscal year 2012 witnessed massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of the dilapidated school buildings inherited by the administration of the day from the inept administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. This, the governor noted, is in consonance with the team’s determination to raise the standard of education in our dear state. It is in a bid to arrest the spate of perennial acute shortage of teachers in our schools and concomitantly ensuring effective teaching and learning activities in schools that the incumbent administration has embarked on massive recruitment and selection processes for qualified, quality, competent and experienced teachers for engagement at our Primary and Secondary levels. This step, apart from being a necessity to compensate for the ravaging neglect of the past; became necessary to take adequate and abundant care of the exploding enrolment figures in schools, following the introduction of a true, functional and qualitative education at those levels. Specifically, various selection exercises have so far been conducted by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the State Post-Primary Teaching Service Establishment and Pensions Commission (TESEPC), involving various numbers of candidates successfully absorbed into the teaching service of the state. Following the large number of retirees in the state’s teaching
service at the end of the 2012 fiscal year; arrangements were put in place in year 2013 to get a huge number of teachers employed in replacement for the retired ones. This plan saw the light of day as the year witnessed massive recruitment and selection of teachers at those levels of education. With proper inauguration of appropriate boards in particular, provision of required number and quality of teaching personnel has begun to receive greater attention in the past year. In this direction, greater attention is anticipated to come this year. In addition to these numbers of teachers engaged, selection has also been made for competent and qualified teachers among the volunteer cadets of the popular Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and those hitherto employed by the Parents-Teachers’ Association (PTA). According to plan, the process of recruitment of teachers, which had been on, and was billed for completion within the first quarter of 2012, is intended to be a continuous process. What this implies is that even during the New Year, another batch of massive recruitment and selection of teachers is expected to be carried out for existing and continuously-opening vacancies in the elementary and secondary rungs of the education ladder. Also in the area of education, the governor noted that it was in his administration’s bid to ameliorating the suffering of parents, guardians and students that reduction was effected in the exorbitant fees being charged by the authorities of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN). A similar gesture was extended to all other tertiary institutions owned by the state. These include the Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree; the Osun State College of Technology (OSCOTECH), Esa-Oke; the Osun State College of Education (OSCOED), Ilesa; and the Osun State College of Education (OSCOED) , Ila-Orangun. The Government of the State, the governor declared, had abrogated all forms of charges in our public schools. To achieve effectiveness in teaching and learning, the examination and running grants being released quarterly by the government to the public secondary schools in the state have been increased by over 300 per cent. It was promised that the Aregbesola administration shall continue to give the deserved attention to the welfare of teachers in 2012. This promise was redeemed all through the year, during the year 2013 as well and this shall surely continue through the New Year, 2014, judging by the level of recognition being currently accorded to teachers and the teaching profession. It is placed on record how in the year 2012 teachers in the high echelon in the state were elevated to the exalted status of Permanent Secretary, with the designation of Tutors General. Facts on ground have also revealed that within the short period of the incumbent administration of Rauf Aregbesola in office, the State Library Board had received the full Contiuned on page 11
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
PHOTOTALK
8
Nigerian Association Of Patent And Proprietary Medicine Dealers, Osun Chapter, Endorsed Governor Rauf Aregbesola For Second Term In Office At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State Of Osun, Last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
•(R-L) Chief of Staff to State of Osun Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and Engineer Sola Oladepo on the occasion.
•State of Osun Commissioner for Health, Dr (Mrs) Temitope Ilori (right); her counterpart from Commerce,Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr Jayeoba Alagbada (middle) and other dignitaries at the programme..
•A cross section of NAPPMD members on the occasion.
•Traditional rulers and chiefs at the event.
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PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
One-Day Stakeholders’ Symposium With The Theme: ‘Osun Education Policy In Perspective: Issues, Challenges And Imperatives’, Organized By Osun Movement For Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI. Peace In Osogbo Recently.
•(L-R) Veteran journalist, Pastor Segun Babatope; Lead Speaker, Professor Ayo Olukotun; Special Adviser to State of Osun Governor on Lands, Dr Ayoade Owoade and O’ School Chairman in the State of Osun, Otunba Lai Oyeduntan on the occasion.
•A cross section of journalists at the programme.
•Some of the dignitaries at the event.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (VI) Contiuned from page 6
attention of government, particularly in the provision of conducive working environment; a situation which has positively impacted on its services to the reading public. The governor constantly promises that the State Library Board would continue to receive quality support from the State Government of Osun in 2012 and years ahead. Ogbeni Aregbesola also promises his administration’s resolve to revive the State Scholarship Board. This promise has been redeemed in years 2012, 2013; and shall be consolidated in years ahead. Under the auspices of the scholarship board, assistance is given to deserving, outstanding but indigent (financially challenged) students of the state’s origin to obtain higher education at home and abroad. Since the governor has already rolled out the State of Osun Schools’ Calisthenics Programme, alongside the inauguration of Ewa Ipinle Osun, it is certain that he shall soon be forthcoming in the fulfillment of his promise to give revival to the old boys’ and girls’ associations and voluntary clubs in all primary and secondary schools for leadership training and team spirit building. As a matter of fact, the inaugurated Omoluabi Boys and Girls’ Club in our public schools in the State of Osun; viz-a-vis the enthronement of the Omoluabi concept in al spheres of life of the state shall soon attract the focus of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine. Last year, it was in full realization of the vibrant role and the auspicious place of Education sub-sector of the Social Services Sector to the socio-economic life and political emancipation of the State of Osun and the liberation of the people that the incumbent administration accorded to it a total allocation of N13.7 Billion or 18.8 per cent of its total capital budget; though that initial budgetary provision later on got reviewed upwardly, following the consideration of the State of Osun House of Assembly. · Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism ANOTHR vital sub-sector where the incumbent administration in the state is making remarkable waves, Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism is expected to contribute significantly to the growth and development of the state in the current year 2014; most especially in the area of boosting the Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) base. In the area of Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, it is placed on record that the incumbent administration has accomplished a lot. In fairness to the ousted administration of Prince Oyinlola, the popular and internationally revered Osun Grove got listed as an international tourist centre by the UNESCO. In addition, the same UNESCO approved the siting of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding at Osogbo. But the level of development being witnessed in this sub-sector under the incumbent administration outstrips these. The pilgrimages of Christians and Muslims to the Holy Lands of Jerusalem and Mecca in Israel and Saudi Arabia respectively for about four consecutive years running now have recorded huge successes. All hiccups and bottlenecks usually encountered in the course of these pilgrimages in the past have been remedied. Also, to ease pilgrimage operations, aid smooth lifting and return and reduce the chances of corruption to the barest minimum, membership of Christian Pilgrims’ Welfare Board and
•AREGBESOLA
Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board is no longer on permanent basis. The pilgrims now have smooth sail to and fro the Holy Lands annually. To the pride of all, no pilgrim has brought tarnishment to the image of the state during this period. Concerning the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, the incumbent administration is providing a far better brand of administration for the centre; in accordance to the specifications spelt out in the Act of Parliament establishing the centre. Unlike the sit-tight live chairmanship toga hitherto worn by Prince Oyinlola, the stipulations of the law spelt it out clearly that the chairman of the centre’s board shall be the sitting governor or any other such person he so appoints to do the job! Today, the chairman of the Board of the centre is no less a personality than the highly-reputed academic icon and world renowned Nobel Laureate in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka. Readers are reminded the demeaning utterances publicly uttered by Oyinlola against this culture giant at the time of the approval of the centre. The State of Osun is rich in cultural and traditional festivals. Some major ones annually celebrated are the international Osun Festival in Osogbo; the Olojo Festival in Ile Ife; the Iwude Ijesa Cultura Festival in Ilesa; the Odun Sango and Ipedi in Ede; and so on and so forth. Also the state is so replete with cultural sites and tourist centres that the state has come to be referred to as “Haven of Culture and Tourism”. Our numerous cultural cum tourist centres in the state have been receiving radical face-lift in the hand of the present administration. Going by what happened so far with the Osun Grove in Osogbo, the Grove has been widened to accommodate more and more of the teeming crowd that converge on it on a yearly pilgrimage; with provisions made for pavilions and car parks. The same hand of assistance has been stretched out to the site of Erin Ijesa Waterfalls; likewise all other locations in the state. With this development, the State of Osun is fast finding its foothold as rallying-point in the area of culture in Nigeria and yonder. The consecutive visits of contingents from the State of Osun to Cuba in the West Indies are a worthwhile effort that deserves our commendation. During the course of the outgone year 2013, contingents of the state embarked on rounds of tour to the Caribbean country to fully appreciate and get acclimatized to the culture and traditions of our parts of the African traditions as it is being practiced there. With these rounds of visits, it is expected that our delegates will come to the realization that people from other parts of the globe appreciate our culture more than we do, as indigenous owners. Also, the visits are expected to be avenues for cultural integration and development in our culture and tourism industry. As the first quarter of the New Year 2014 is fast moving to its grinding halt, the expectation is high in informed quarters that the first batch of this year’s contingents would soon take off to this great Caribbean country where cultural values and relics are highly upheld. The Aregbesola administration has also scored another first in the recognition it has so far accorded African traditional religion practitioners in the state. Before this time, the situation on ground was that of according
•LAOYE-TOMORI
recognition only to the Christian and Muslim bodies; while the believers of traditional doctrines were placed at a place of obscurity. Today, however, due to the large-heartedness of Ogbeni Aregbesola, the traditional worshippers have been allowed free practice of their religious doctrines, observance of their festivals and formation of their own body; just like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Islamic counterpart. · Information and Strategy INFORMATION is life! We now move forward to give consideration to the numerous achievements of the administration and its many strengths over the previous administration in the state in the remaining sectors; starting with the Information and Strategy Sub-Sector. In the years preceding the advent of the incumbent administration to the reins of power, little or nothing significant took place in this vital public relations sub-sector. The overhaul of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) Radio and Television, Ile Awiye, Oke Baale, Osogbo; that of New Dawn Television (NDTV), Ibokun; and that of the OSBC, Orisun FM, Ile Ife; claimed to have been brought up to obtainable standards globally by the ousted administration ended up in a farce, as nothing on ground – not even their programme broadcast, commercials, news and other activities justified the huge monetary and capital outlay claimed to have been invested into them. The Reality Television Service (RTS), Iwo was worst-hit by the sharp practices of that administration. Let it be emphasized in passing that most of the equipment procured into practically all the stateowned media houses in that dark era was either obsolete or substandard; while some were never delivered before ouster came the way of that administration. In all, most contracts awarded for procurement of equipment and materials in those days were awarded to incompetent hands on the bases of their patronage of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); being bootlickers and cronies to the powers-thatbe; and desire to make some segment of the society inordinately rich. As mentioned in the last paragraph, the case of the Reality Television Service (RTS) in those days made it worst hit. The media station located in Iwo is a legacy of the helmsmanship of late Chief Bola Ige as governor of the old Oyo State. Bola Ige started the project as a satellite station to the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS); but he could not complete it due to sudden change in government which put paid to his administration in October 1983. Consequent to this, the project was abandoned for more than twenty years before its revamping came during the Oyinlola administration. In fairness to that administration, it was it that revisited the project. Unfortunately, it did not carry it to a logical conclusion or completion; even though it had all the resources required so to do at its disposal. The same ugly fate which befell all other phantom projects and programmes in that era befell the RTS project. In what looks as a deliberate attempt at covering tracks, fire gutted the structure sometime toward the tail end of that administration. Instead of facing rehabilitation efforts head-on, the administration started a vehement propaganda campaign; trading blames for the Contiuned on page 11
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High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (VI)
Continued from page 7 •The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed), acknowledging cheers from his admirers on his arrival to commission the completed Ansar-U-Deen (AUD) Elementary School at Isale-Osun, Osogbo, State of Osun, last Thursday. Continued from page 7 fire incident and pointing accusing fingers at the opposition for it! We are not out to bore readers with details of those ugly spectacles of those days. But instances must always be cited, if only for the purpose of reference-making. If those contracts at the Reality Television Service had been faithfully executed; probably the fire incident could have been averted; and probably too, whatever legacies the Oyinlola administration had there would have been preserved for the incoming administration to build on. Candidly speaking, the Aregbesola administration met the Information and Strategy Sub-Sector of the State of Osun bare and void. The monthly audience-participation programme of the Oyinlola administration, tagged Gbagede Oro (People’s Forum) was simply a propaganda project, aimed not only to overbloat, embellish and exaggerate the scarce achievements of the administration; but also to crack jokes in clown-like manner and to derogate the opposition. Aside this, the entire communication and publicity package of the Oyinlola years was propaganda-channelled. The rumour mongering apparatus of those days appears to subsist till date. The countless number of damaging rumours peddled round town regarding the incumbent governor, his administration and their programme package speak volumes that testifies to this indication. Little wonder why that administration could not accomplish much for the state. A government that busied its time with rumours and propaganda could hardly be in the right frame and shape to generate ideas and policies that could propel development for a state like ours, Today, in the State of Osun, the story has changed. The audience-participation programme of the incumbent administration is devoid of the teleguided and stagemanaged form its similar counterpart assumed in the days of the immediate past administration. Ogbeni Till Daybreak, the brainchild of the incumbent administration is better packaged and has tolerances for a pool of diverse opinions. Lucidly put, the incumbent administration in the state is far more receptive to criticisms and insults in the true spirit of Omoluabi. The likes of questions being featured at the quarterly Ogbeni Till Daybreak testify to this. With unruffled calm, the governor responds to all manners of questions. The manner of disposition with which the administration managed the situations involving some libelous reports carried by some national daily newspapers in the land is a proof of this. During the time of some administration, the reporters of that kind of anti-government reports could have been blacklisted, witch-hunted or even sent to their early graves. The amicable resolution of these differences shows the government of the day as one with human face, listening ear and large heart. To cap it all, the audience-participation programme of the incumbent administration, branded Ogbeni Till Daybreak is held far between, depicting an administration that is serious-minded and busier with more serious tasks than holding town/city gossips. In the past, Gbagede Oro was held as often as once in a month. At its inception, the incumbent administration held its own live audience participation programme only on occasions; with the first-ever of its series held on the occasion of its 100th day in office. It was much later when the towns and cities had become replete with daunting achievements that it became more frequently
held. Even then, the programme is held on quarterly basis. The wastefulness of holding such programmes at frequent intervals, especially by a government led by a conservative party of the stock of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is killing enough to snuff life out of a state. The quarterly-held Ministerial Press Briefing held at the instance of the State of Osun Ministry of Information and Strategy is another effective tool wielded to bridge likely communication gap that could arise between the government and the governed. The last edition of the press conference, which featured the commissioners of all ministries, some general managers of parastatals and senior special assistants to the governor has done well to demystify the activities of government and guided right the perception and mindset of the generality of the people. Apart from this, the State Executive meetings are no longer as far-between as they used to be during the Oyinlola years. The total number of State Executive meetings held during the entire Oyinlola years is put between fifty and seventy; whereas the administration of the day makes it a point of duty to meet weekly in order to discuss and pool ideas together to move the wheel of development and progress of the state forward in an accelerated fashion. On occasions when those meetings are not held, there must be some other important businesses of government preoccupying the governor and his cabinet. For example, sometime during the outgone year, the governor and his cabinet took time off during the period slated for the normal State Executive meeting to pay an unscheduled visit to the sites of some completed/ongoing projects in the state, especially, within Osogbo, the state capital. There is no time when the State Commissioner for Information, Honourable Sunday Akere would not brief the people on the outcome of the deliberations of the State Executive Meeting. Never in the prodigal fashion of profligates did a development come up last year (2013); when the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola rolled out another public-interaction programme, rotated round the nine federal constituencies in the state on periodical fashion. The programme, christened Gbangba D’Ekun has so far featured about seven editions. It is another brainchild of the State of Osun Ministry of Information and Strategy. First and foremost, the forum is grassroots-oriented. What this implies is that it is meant to catch the fancy of the people of various localities at their respective bases without having to undergo the rigors and trauma of having to be moved to a central and often too rowdy location. The importance of this factor cannot be wholly underscored in a piece of write-up. Psychologists and sociologists have tested it and results have proved it beyond doubts that people perform and operate better within the confines of their natural habitats. People therefore feel free to unfold their minds within the confines of their natural habitats. The frequency at which the programmes are held is also one of its strengths. In the space of less than one calendar year into its introduction, the programme has recorded nothing less than seven outings. The outings, as they have proven are not bad at all. What we discovered from the frequency is that problem, challenges and difficulties are brought to the attention of policy makers before they loom larger of become an albatross which would be damn too difficult to surmount. Time and again, new problems arise as the society moves ahead. Being a dynamic structure,
the only permanent feature of the human society is change. Fora of the nature of Gbangba D‘ekun get the government and the governed better prepared to cope with changes as they arise and even before they arise. One other great strength of the Gbangba D’ekun programme is its rotational value. The seven episodes that we have witnessed were held in seven different federal constituencies in the state. The programme which kick-started sometime in mid-2013 at Iwo / Ayedire / Ola Oluwa have successfully moved through such constituencies as Ife; Ilesa / Atakunmosa; Ila / Ifedayo / Boluwaduro; Boripe / Ifelodun / Odo Otin; Ede / Egbedore / Ejigbo; and most recently, Ayedaade / Irewole / Isokan. The mobile nature of the programme makes the people feel cherished and valued; and that it is not only when their thumb-prints are needed that politicians rove round to enlist their support. The Aregbesola administration has proven it beyond reasonable doubts that politicians could still be looked up to with trust and confidence. The tradition of looking at politicians with fear, doubt and uncertainty has been reversed. Also through its rotational nature, the programme has afforded our men and women at the helm of affairs the opportunity of having first-hand inspection of situation and assessment of pace of work in each respective area under coverage. Lots could be read in papers and reports; but nothing is as real and close to real life as what we see and feel. Most lasting in the experiences is the fact that the governor and his entourage are also involved in the trip. They pass the same road, breath the air and so are a part-and-parcel of what the residents of those areas experience. This is good for good responsible and responsive governance. Though we have said it already in covert terms, the people are bound to believe more what they hear “from the horse’s mouth” as the saying goes. That is why they are offered through the auspices of Gbangba D’ekun the opportunity of clarifying facts and debunking unfounded tales and rumors through their rapport live and direct with the governor and his team. This New Year again, as the first quarter unwinds to its full length, people look forward with rapt expectations to the unveiling of the first in the series of the programme for the year; especially to serve the effectual purpose of clearing the dust over certain crucial state issues over which rumors have gathered since the last episode. Concerning the state-owned media houses, there has been huge investment by the State Government of Osun to the media houses to boost their effectiveness, sufficiency and productivity in terms of education, public enlightenment and information dissemination concerning happenings globally and the various activities of government. The Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) Radio and Television, Oke Baale, Osogbo has witnessed massive overhaul and rehabilitation which has brought about lots of improvement on their scope of operation, news contents and telecast. The New Dawn Television (NDTV), Ibokun has also been improved in similar vein. The same is true of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Orisun FM, Ile Ife. These media houses have been lifted up to the level of standards obtainable elsewhere in the world. We intend to add in passing that the incumbent administration has the plan in the pipeline to commence another media station; a radio station named Omoluabi FM. According to the State commissioner of Information Continued on page 12
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High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (VI)
•(L-R) State of Osun Commissioners; Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Kolapo Alimi; Finance, Dr Wale Bolorunduro and Specia Duties, Barrister Ajibola Bashiru, during the budget presentation. Continued from page 11
and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere, the station, which shall be totally committed to transmitting in the Yoruba language and its various dialects shall soon commence transmission, undoubtedly, in the New Year 2014.The actualization of this is forming part and parcel of the people’s expectations for the year. The first transformation witnessed by the Reality Television Service (RTS), Iwo was that of change in nomenclature and broadening in ifs scope of operation. Immediately on assumption of office, the Aregbesola administration changed the name of this outfit to Reality Radiovision, Iwo. The implication of this is that the station’s activities are no longer to be confined to television telecast, but there is going to be a sort of broadening to include radio broadcast. In pursuance of this, the station has been reinvigorated tor the two purposes with huge capital outlay. The reconstruction of parts of the station which were devastated by the inferno of the Oyinlola years earlier mentioned above has been carried out. Also, gadgets and equipment that were missing have been replaced. Other materials and equipment which procurement contract works had been awarded but which were abandoned have been supplied. Other materials and equipment which had not been awarded or provided for have been supplied; while shipment of a great deal of materials and equipment for the smooth operation of the station is being currently awaited. During the course of the year 2013,, the test-broadcast of the Reality Radiovision, Iwo’s Radio segment, branded Odidere FM 96.3 Frequency commenced. This hint was first dropped no less person than the State of Osun Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere. Expectations are high that the current year shall launch the new station – Odidere FM – forward to make it not only effectively transmitting but also transform it into a household favourite. Before drawing the curtains on the activities of this sector and its performances in the past thirty months vis-a-vis the rot of the previous seven-and-a-half years, we need to mention the plan in the offing to make some of the stations specialized stations. These stations include the New Dawn Television, Ibokun; which is intended to telecast issues purely in the field of Education; while the OSBC Orisun FM, Ile Ife is intended to broadcast issues relating purely to Culture and Agriculture. These giant strides present the summary of events and activities in the Information and Strategy segment of life of the state in the last thirty-six months or thereabouts. · Social Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs IN the area of Social Integration and Intergovernmental affairs, lots have been achieved in the State of Osun in the space of the last thirty-six months. Prior to the advent of the incumbent administration, nothing remarkable was known of the state in terms of its relations with other states in the South-West geopolitical zone and the Nigerian state as a whole. Upon the assumption of office of the Aregbesola administration in November 2010, the administration spared no time to rebrand the state, which had hitherto been known as the State of the Living Spring into the State of the Virtuous, that is, Ipinle Omoluabi where the age-long virtues of hardwork, industry, enterprise, discipline, honesty
and integrity are being upheld through a process of cultural reorientation. These virtues, which are the sterling qualities for which our forebears were renowned, had become gradually eroded in our culture, in our body politics and in practically all spheres of life. The virtues are now being revived through the concerted efforts of the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Apart from change of slogan, there are other components
1.
Ise Wa Fun ’le Wa Fun Ile Ibi Wa K’a gbe E Ga; K’a Gbe E Ga K’a Gbe E Ga F’aye Ri 3.
Isokan A T’ominira Ni K’e Je Ka a Ma a Le”pa Tesiwaju; F’opo Ire At’ohun T’o Dara
Last in the aspect of rebranding is the name of the state. Hitherto, the State had been referred to simply as Osun State of Nigeria. A new bill to the effect of modifying the name of the state was forwarded by the governor to the State House of Assembly for passing into law. Thus, the Bill for the change in name of the state from Osun State into the State of Osun was passed into law about mid-2012. From that date, Osun State metamorphosed into “The State of Osun, Federal Republic of Nigeria”. Apart from these, the State of Osun Building in Abuja had been almost abandoned before the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came on board in November 2010. As revealed by the governor while responding to questions fielded by a cross-section of journalists at the last episode of his live audience-participation programme, the State of Osun Building Complex in Abuja was as at that date close to its completion. Also in the area of integration, Ogbeni Aregbesola has since his inauguration been committed to the issue of sociocultural and economic integration within the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The issue of regional integration is one of the basis on which critics and detractors have been at daggers drawn against Governor Aregbesola. Our view on OSUN DEFENDER Magazine crew is that those who go against regional integration of the South-West are enemies of progress. Better put, they comprise those who had misused their chances in public positions and offices; and who detest the sight of others outstripping them in performances and achievements. In the line of regional integration therefore, Governor Aregbesola has been the vanguard. We wish him astonishing success in his bid to attain socio-economic emancipation for our region through regional integration. Beyond the borders of the state and those of the SouthWest Region, the governor is in collaboration with his counterparts in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to identify and condole with people of other states of the federation, especially those befallen with griefs and
of the rebranding efforts of the incumbent administration in the State of Osun. These include the introduction of an anthem tor the state, a brand-new logo/crest; a brand-new flag; and brand-new colours. The New Osun Anthems is here cited preferably in t Yoruba indigenous language:
2.
Igbagbo Wa Ni Pe B’a Ti B’eru L’a B’omo K’a a S’ise; K’a S’ise K’a S’ise K’a Jo La 4. Omo Oodua Dide Bo Si Ipo Eto Re Iwo Ni; Imole Gbogbo Adulawo
disasters. This gesture was demonstrated when Ogbeni Aregbesola joined others to visit the crisis-ravaged Borno State with material and monetary donations. This gesture exemplifies the doctrine of the Scriptures of being one’s brother’s keeper. The gesture of the administration of Ogbeni in the evacuation of the indigenes of the state from the war-torn Cote d’Ivoire gladdened the heart. The gesture did not stop with mere evacuation, the administration also went further to settle the evacuated people and provided them with abundant supply of food items and other essential materials. This shows that the Government Unusual is extraordinarily caring. Similarly, following the post-election crisis that trailed the 2011 Presidential Polls in certain parts of the country,, the Government of the State of Osun under the control of Ogbeni facilitated the evacuation of the state's indigenes resident in Bauchi State for the purpose of safety. The unfortunate killing of two members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were indigenes of the state drew great concern, grief and sympathy from government. The way the government identified with the bereaved families and the Gbongan community on account of the loss demonstrated an administration with great human feelings. On the whole, the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been a unifying force in the present socioeconomic and political terrain of the country. Judging by the number of markets currently under construction in the state capital, the coast is radically becoming clear for restoring the state and its capital in particular to its old lost status as the commercial hub of the South-West. It is hoped that by the time the administration is through with all its laudable projects, the State of Osun shall have been completely transformed into a land of unity, plenty, prosperity, peace and prosperity. These laudable goals are attainable. Continued on page 13
MAGAZINE
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (VI) Continued from page 12 •Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development IN the Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development is our next point of call. This sibsector witnessed utter debasement and degradation during the period of the fiery siege unleashed on the state by the erstwhile administration in the state. First and foremost, we have, in earlier parts of this series of this edition, seen how countless number of illegal deductions was indiscriminately made from the monthly statutory allocation of the thirty local government councils and the Ife East Area Office during that inglorious reign. We also mentioned how local government councils were relegated to a position of mere existence since they could not function in the true context within the statutory provisions laid out for them as the third tier of government in Nigeria. During the days of Oyinlola and his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), it became forbidden for local government councils in the state to tar roads or to execute other tangible projects that are vital and that we all know cold impact the lives of people at the grassroots meaningfully. By this sad trend, the monthly statutory allocation accruing to government at the third tier in the state from the Federation Accounts became target for randy politicians in the name of executing a number of projects centrally at the state level. At the end of the day, no particular project which the administration claimed to have committed the monies so deducted to was carried to a logical conclusion. We shall now take a look at some few of such phantom projects and programmes. It was the practice during the Oyinlola years for dependants, cronies, sycophants, bootlickers and party faithful of the People’s Democratic Party to adorn the premises of local government council secretariats all over the state at month-ends; especially on pay-days to collect salaries for services not rendered. These unearned salaries caused the payroll of council areas in the state to overbloat; thus leaving the councils practically unable to execute meaningful capital projects for the ultimate benefit of the generality of the people in their domains. So the local government councils merely existed as money machines to satisfy the lustful desires of the categories of people highlighted above. At the inception of the multi-campus Osun State University (UNIOSUN) in 2005/2006, it was too glaring even to the Oyinlola administration that his administration could scarcely afford the means to finance and sustain a citadel of that grandeur; more so, simultaneously with the burden of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, which it had to co-fund with its partner Oyo State. Oyinlola’s next available option was to turn to local government for compulsory imposition of levies which were deductible from source upon the arrival of the monthly statutory allocation from the Federation Accounts at the centre. At the beginning, the fraction deducted was 10 per cent. Later it was reduced to 5 per cent monthly. Such were local government councils in the state plundered, in defiance of voices of dissent raised by patriots and diplomats against the unconventional practice. The ruling
party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) itself could not intervene; obviously because the practice had become stock-in-trade for it anywhere it held sway. Clearly, the practice was seen as the easiest way of making cheap money to dole out to its numerous cronies and hangers-on. Another area where local government councils in the state became victims of compulsory deductions from their monthly statutory allocation from the Federation Accounts was the compulsory N1 Million deduction from the monthly statutory allocation coming to each o the thirty local government councils and the Ife East Area Office in connection with the Songhai Programme. These deductions were made for a period of rime more than a year. The implication, as OSUN DEFENDER Magazine pointed out continuously in those days is that in every month, the administration made from this particular heading of deductions alone a cool sum of N31 Million! Readers are left to sum the deductions up for a year and a half in order to actually determine the huge plunder made out of the local government accounts in the state during the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led Oyinlola administration. One measure employed by Oyinlola in order to get through with his heinous agenda with the local government councils in his days as governor was that he do manipulated his party’s (People’s Democratic Party-PDP) that he succeeded in getting a bunch of scarcely educated nominees to clinch tickets into the councils as chairmen and councilors. He ensured this to ascertain that whoever emerges would not be able to hold his own or raise questions concerning any order or directive issued out to him while in office. That explains why the local government political functionaries in Oyinlola’s days were all prefects and mostly puppets. Here we are. In today’s State of Osun, the local government councils are functioning with full capacity; even so, more than at any point of time since their establishment. The first thing Aregbesola did upon his assumption of office was to abolish all forms of deductions from their monthly statutory allocation accruing from the Federation Accounts. This was done to enable the government at the grassroots dispense good democratic governance to the people at that level; and to do so to full capacity. Evidences to this abounds all around us today; and they subsist in forms of good motorable roads, potable water provision, environmental sanitation, agriculture, employment generation and youth empowerment, good medical/health delivery services, distribution of free insecticide treated mosquito nets, to mention just a few. So far in the State of Osun, elections could not be held into local government councils. This is no fault of the government of the day; but attributable to continuous suits filed by the opposition against government. First, it was against the composition of Caretaker Committees at that level. We are all living witnesses to the way that case ended. Today, the case filed by the opposition to challenge the constitution of the State of Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) has been botched. We now have a fully constituted OSSIEC in place. There are high prospects to holding free, fair and credible local government polls anytime during the next year. What we intend to bring out is that these continuous litigations have caused elections
•Some of the pupils of AUD Elementary School in one of their classrooms.
not to be held in the state. Upon the assumption of office of Ogbeni Aregbesola, he embraced the illegitimate chairmen and local councils he met on ground; in spite of their illegitimacy! This was even against the backdrop that the Oyinlola had earlier defied a court injunction ordering those council chairmen and members to quit office. Aregbesola stayed in with those illegal office holders till their ouster came most naturally. Aregbesola assumed office on Saturday, November 27, 2010; the illegitimate council “prefects” of Oyinlola years were ousted, like their grand contriver, on Friday, December 17, 2010, via the justice dispensed through the judgment delivered by the apex court of the land, the Supreme Court of Nigeria. It has become as clear as the dawning day today that fundamentally, peace and tranquility came to have foothold in the State of Osun as soon as the Aregbesola administration came on board. Prior to the emergence of the administration, tension was high. The state was hot. Insecurity and uncertainty filled the air. Like the Biblical House which divides against itself that will not stand; the ruling party of the day was the cause of the whole tension. The contention for governorship ticket within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the proposed 2011 Gubernatorial Elections was enough to snuff life out of the state and bring its entire people into extinction. Thank goodness, that election never saw the light of day. It became most unnecessary as the earlier-held one (2007 Polls) got upheld for the right candidate in a sudden twist of miracle. Those developments marked the genesis of the trend of progress which we enjoy; relish and savour; and celebrate today. Lastly, there had been all likelihood to suggest that before the horizons lighten for the next year 2014, there shall have been created for the State of Osun not less than additional twenty-seven (27) local government council areas; thereby hastening the pace of progress and development and bringing the government closer to the people. It therefore remains the greatest expectation for the year that the Government of the state shall soon, through the instrumentality of the State House of Assembly roll out the names of the newly-created local council development authorities (LCDAs). More than that, we, the people expect that with the inauguration of the State of Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC); the administration at the helm of affairs would go the long way to conduct local government elections so as to liberalize governance the more and democratize government at all levels of governance. We are fearless that the batches of elections this year would serve as true test of our effectiveness and impact in governance. We serve as mouthpiece to the government of the day to state that on the bases of these numerous achievements here underscored and such others in progress, we do not fear the ballot. In view of this, the year ahead shall translate to continuity in good governance for our dear state.
•Concluded.
FOR THE RECORDS
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
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Text Of A Keynote Address Delivered By The Deputy Governor/Commissioner For Education State Of Osun, Iyaafin Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, At The State Media Summit Held At ‘Ideal-Nest’ Hotel, Osogbo, On March 12, 2014.
Osun Education Policy Will Breed World-class Leaders PROTOCOL: MEDIA SUMMIT INTRODUCTION
I
T gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this unique event of an organised Media Summit, wherein content analysis of government activities i.e. programmes, policy statements, goals and objectives, etc, are presented to the public for their appraisal and objective scrutiny. This is in tandem with Aregbesola’s administration open-door policy, built on the tenets of democracy, good governance and accountability. Chief Obafemi Awolowo pioneered free primary education in Nigeria in the Western Region, and this policy gave the people from the Southwestern part of Nigeria a headstart in life above their counterparts from other parts of the country. Nor is this all. Several thousands Nigerians would not have gone to school but for the free education policy of the Awolowo era. Through this same policy, the middle class social stratum was created, which bred the elite class of the then Western Region. At the cultural level, the mass majority of the people in the Western Region became more refined, and receptive to other socio-cultural elements of other climes. However, it is pertinent to note that embedded in this education policy is the underpining philosophy of the development of the total man. For instance, while addressing the Nigerian Union of Teachers in 1947, Chief Obafemi Awolowo described education as “the process of physical and mental culture, whereby a man’s personality is developed to the fullest.” In 1993, as if to elucidate further the need for the development of our human resource, the Director-General of UNESCO, Dr. Frederico Major, while addressing the International Commission on Education for the 21st Century in 1993, pointed out that “Education is not only instilling knowledge, but awakening the enormous creative potential that lies within each one of us, enabling us to develop to our fullest potential and better contribute to the societies in which we live.” In the same vein, the education policy of the Aregbesola-led administration in the state of Osun, is to produce students who can compete effectively and perform excellently like their counterparts in advanced countries of the world. Osun education policy seeks to empower the youths to be roundly relevant in meeting the challenges of their immediate environment and the society at large. This is the thrust of the education policy of Osun. As the Commissioner of Education in the state of Osun, it is within the purview of my official responsibility to present the Aregbesola-led administration’s Education Policy, and explain, where necessary, some of the definitive interventions of government in the education sector. For the records, we inherited a moribund Education Sector from the immediate past government. Public school buildings were dilapidated, instructional materials and teaching consumables such as chalk, boarddusters, other teaching materials and resources that could aid learning such as lesson notes were non-existent. Teachers’ morale was at its lowest ebb as they neither were motivated nor assured of a better tomorrow in their chosen career. Students were not only disoriented, they were disinterested. The statistics tell it all; showing poor and abysmal performance of students of the State of Osun in both internal and external examinations. Indeed, only 3%, (representing a miniscule percentage) of products of our public schools system used to move on to the next phase of their anticipated education plan. However, I am happy to inform you that within three years of our administration, records show that 43% of our students now qualifies to matriculate in any university. Notwithstanding, the state packaged intervention still goes on, indeed, a total overhaul. The underpinning philosophy of the
•LAOYE-TOMORI Osun Education Policy is to produce complete and totally rounded persons who will not only excel academically, but morally too. In addition, they would possess relevant skills that could compete favourably, at the international fora and among the comity of nations. However, the aforementioned could only be made possible if certain infrastructural facilities are in place. Hence, one of the first initiatives of the Aregbesola-led administration upon assumption of office was the convening of the Osun Education Summit within the first 100 days. The Summit was an eye opener as the deliberations and findings, including the preliminary work carried out by the organizing committee revealed the sorry state in which we have been plunged into and the enormity of the rescue work to be done. The communique issued at the end of the Summit has since become the road map for the education sector in the state of Osun. And the following are the specific policy initiatives aimed at redressing the anomally in the education sector. O’Meals OSUN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FEEDING AND HEALTH PROGRAMME (O’MEALS) As part of the effort of the Aregbesola Administration to promote functional education in the State of Osun, it embraced the school feeding programme in line with the recommendation of the UN. Thus the government makes the students the centre stage in this respect, particularly, their wellbeing and fitness for learning. A well-fed pupil is likely to more attentive in class than his/her counterpart on an empty stomach. Consequently, Aregbesola-led administration in the State of Osun reviewed the old school feeding programme known
as Home Grown inherited from the previous administration. The government came up with a re-branded, re-invigorated, and value added content programme, which we christened as O’Meals (Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme) This newly repackaged programme was re-launched in the State on 30th April 2012 with pupils in primaries 1-3 of the 1378 public primary schools resulting in the feeding of 155,318 pupils with one meal a day. Interestingly, we witnessed a geometric leap in school enrolment and unprecedented improvement in attendance and retention records of the pupils within 3 weeks of the introduction of the O’Meals. Enrolment figure short to 194,253. Encouraged by the astronomical increase in enrolment, the government extended the programme to primary 4 pupils in the Public Elementary Schools in the State, bringing the figure of pupils being fed daily to 252,793 by December 2012. As at the beginning of this academic session the figure has since risen to over 300,000 pupils being fed daily. It is important to note that as free education attracted people to school in the days of Awolowo, so also has the free school feeding programme attracted kids to school. It is instructive to note that 38,935 pupils who later enroled, may never see the walls of public schools, but for the free meals. According to the data presented by the Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics, as updated in December, 2013, the State of Osun has the highest increase in the figure of public primary school pupils’ enrolment in the country to date. The success of O’Meal programme has received superlative accolades from both within and outside the country. O’School
Our intervention at revamping the infrastructure in the Education sub-sector of the economy is glaring. The state-of-the art schools are being completed and commissioned. We have successfully moved the pupils/students away from dilapidated buildings to a more conducive enviroment for teaching and learning. These state of the art schools have modern facilities such as adequate toilets, exam hall, large classrooms etc. For instance, each elementary school is designed to accommodate about 1000 pupils, unlike the previous population of less than 200 students. It has twenty five well-ventilated, spacious, learning conducive classrooms, equipped with requisite furniture and fittings. The implication is that children will never be over-crowded in any one classroom. The school has one large Examination Hall, which makes central monitoring of examinations possible. Other facilities include 16 modern toilets, two wellequipped laboratories, one Audio-visual room, staff room, Headmaster’s room, Assistant Headmaster’s room, one Dining room, recreational facilities and football field, which make Physical Education possible and stress free. There is uninterrupted supply of pipe borne water; with a back-up supply from a bore hole sunk within the school premises. For effective maintenance of the structure, a well-trained Facility Manager is attached to these schools. This is to ensure that the building is well maintained and that the Headmasters and Teachers concentrate on teaching and moulding the characters of the pupils under their care and protection. The school is well fenced for effective security and access control. This reduces the burden of teachers on security issues. These buildings will rival any of such school buildings in any advanced economies of the world. Presently, the government has committed a whooping sum of N14.41billion to the o’school project. To date, we have built 13 Elementary schools, 14 Middle schools, and 12 High schools, which translates to 1724 classrooms. In addition, a sum of N1.6billion is being expended on renovations of schools that we will not rebuilt outright. In the same vein, we have spent a sum total of N2.5 billion for the purchase of 150,000 beffiting furniture for 300,000 pupils/ students in the puplic schools. The implication is that pupils and students will not be crowded into a small room without adequate sitting arrangement, which is necessary for conducive learning environment. THE NEW SCHOOL UNIFORM – O’UNIFORM The central rule in group dynamics is identical similarity. A Student who for one reason or another could not be provided with school uniforms like his peers is likely to be easily distracted, and thus put the goal of functional education in jeopardy. Thus, the introduction of unified school uniforms is part of efforts by the State Government of Osun to create a unique identity for our students and promote our culture. This innovation is also expected to ensure uniformity and engender deep sense of belonging in public primary and secondary school pupils/students. For clarity, I wish to reiterate that no aspect of the new school uniform is designed or intended to be offensive in any way because the sensibilities of all religious faiths in our state and our culture have been duly considered in its conception and design. For the production of the new uniforms, a garment factory known as Omoluabi Garment Factory has been established in Osogbo for the supply of complete set of uniforms for all categories of students. The factory has produced Uniforms for 750,000 (seven hundred and fifty thousand) students in the Public schools, which were distributed free to all students. However,
Continued on page 15
FOR THE RECORDS
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 18, 2014
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Osun Education Policy Will Breed World-class Leaders Fees The Osun State University is the first state university in Nigeria where students are not discriminated against on the basis of school fees. For the government of Aregbesola, the indigene and non-indigene divide does not exist. All students are the same in the eyes of the Aregbesola Administration. The same principle applie to Awolowo free primary education policy.
Continued from page 14 parents and guardians are to provide uniforms for their wards subsequently. To date, we have spent N900million on the School Uniform project. Meanwhile, one of the possitive fallouts of Standardised school uniforms is the creation of jobs for the hitherto jobless ones amongst us. At the Omoluabi Garments Factory, the biggest of its type in the whole of West Africa, designers, tailors and allied artisans, now have gainful employment. In addition, the fabric traders, who formed themselves into cooperatives now supply the school uniforms to interested parents of guardians of the pupils/students in the public schools at sales point established in all local governments in the state. EDUCATION INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: To promote functional teaching and learning in schools, the Aregbesola Administration has committed a whopping sum of five hundred and three million naira (N503million) for the provision of instructional materials, Home Economics equipment, science equipment and teaching kits for public primary and secondary schools in the state. Unlike what obtains in the past, we have moved from the use of blackboards and chalks to white synthetic boards with pen in our state of the arts school buildings. This has modernity written all over it. RUNNING/EXAMINATION GRANTS Today, I am happy to say that if we take a cursory look at our education sector in the state of Osun, it is crystal clear that something akin to a silent revolution has taken place within the system. Our approach has been holistic as we began with the overhaul of the day-to-day running and administration of the public schools. Governor Aregbesola removed the financial burden of public school administration from the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), while retaining the association to function in advisory and collaborative capacities. We pay a sum total of N131,630,966.60 per term for the primary school, while the secondary schools receives N142,483,000.00 per term as Running/Exam grants. Per annum for the Elementary schools is N394,892,899.80, while Per annum for the Middle and High School is N427,449,000 respectively. In effect, we spend a sum total of N84,000=00 on each elementary school pupil (because He/She is fed daily with nutritious meal through O’Meals programme. Also, we spend N30,000=00 on each of our students in the Middle and High school per term. As things stands now, children are no longer asked to bring chalk, brooms, excercise books etc from home. WAEC Fees This government pays WAEC fee and charges for every final year student in the public school in Osun. During the 2012-2013 session, we payN324745,150=00 as WAEC fees. For this year alone, we have paid a sum total of N400million (four hundred million naira) as WAEC fees and charges for the final year students in the State of Osun. This is to further democratise education in the state of Osun, and make it accessible to all and sundry. Students are now confident that they would write their exams since all expensex are paid by the government, unlike what happens before, when selected few staudents benefited from government. The financial burden is further removed from parents. SPONSORSHIP OF OSUN STATE UNIVERSITY (UNIOSUN) MEDICAL STUDENTS TO UKRAINE It is no longer news that some medical students from 300 to 500 levels of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) got stagnated in their academic activities as they could not proceed to the clinical classes. This was due to the fact that there was no Teaching Hospital with adequate facilities to cater for their needs. In the wisdom of Mr. Governor and in order not to abort the vision and dreams of the affected students, the state government sponsored the transfer of the affected 98 students to Karazin University in Kharkiv, Ukraine to continue and complete their
RECRUITMENT, PROMOTION, TRAININGS, PROMPT PAYMENT OF SALARY AND PENSION. Invariable, government was concerned about the competence profile and professional delivery capacity of our teachers; therefore, Aregbesola initiated competence-driven policy, culminating in the compulsory training and re-training of teachers of all cadres in the state employ. To shore-up the commitment and moral fibre base of the ranks and files of teachers in the state, Mr Governor approved the promotion, training and recruitment of new teachers for innovative teaching/learning in public schools. To this end, over two thousand teachers of public secondary schools were trained by Osun State University (UNIOSUN) in year 2012. Series of training programmes has been scheduled for public school teachers in the year 2013. As we speak, our administration has employed 10,407 teachers in all categories of schools. We now have a total number of 12,715 teachers in Elementary schools and 7,848 teachers in the Middle and High schools. This is 54.8 per cent more than the number of teachers we inherited in November 2010.
•LAOYE-TOMORI academic programme. The cost of training and maintaining the students in Ukraine in the first year, excluding other miscellaneous expenses is one hundred and fifty-five million, nine hundred and forty-two thousand, and six hundred naira (N155, 942,600.00). All the 98 students are now fully settled in the institution. OPON-IMO The need to develop an efficient ‘knowledge based economy’ and the importance of a knowledge-based society are increasingly being mentioned in global discourse. Indeed, it is the preferred choice among myriads of state development policy options. In consonance with global best practice, this administration has taken concrete steps towards ensuring that our students become ICT compliant, both for learning and self development. Towards this end, the Aregbesola-led administration has concluded arrangement to distribute Computer tablets (Opon-Imo) to students in all the High Schools (SSS) in the State. The tablet is preloaded with lesson notes on seventeen (17) subjects offered by students in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) and NECO SSCE. Besides, seven extra-curricular subjects such as Sexuality Education, Civic Education, Yoruba History, Ifa Traditional Religion, Computer Education and Entrepreneurship Education, and Twelve Thousand Yoruba Proverbs are also included. Opon-imo is an indigenous Computer Programmed Instruction (CPI) with locally produced content and designed for the Nigerian secondary education system. Embedded in the Computer Tablet are over 40,000 past examination questions spanning a period of ten years, for (private) practice, 63 e-textbooks; covering 17 subjects’ areas that students do register for in external examinations. In addition, it has 51 audio tutorials installed as study aid.
Without doubt, this initiative is a silverbullet means of democratising access to learning materials, ever undertaken by any government in Nigeria. This is another landmark achievement by the Aregbesolaled administration which is novel and unprecedented in the annals of Education not only in Nigeria but in the World at large. This initiative will definitely aid teaching and learning and would improve the general performance of the students in the State of Osun. The tablet makes teaching and learning exciting to teachers and the learners. The 63 books in the e-library section of the tablet removes the burden of prohibitive cost of conventional textbooks and afford the students unfettered access to knowledge necessary to learn and prepare adequately for internal and external examinations including the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME). The Opon-Imo initiative has proven to be cost effective. Whereas the purchase of physical textbooks for the students would have cost about N9.6billion, the option of Opon-Imo has saved the state gobvernment an estimated sum of N8.4billion as it has only cost government a sum of N1.2billion to procure 150,000 tablets of Opon-Imo for the high school students. DOWNWARD REVIEW OF SCHOOL FEES IN STATE-OWNED TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS Government has reduced fees payable in the state-owned tertiary institutions acrossboard. Government slashed Colleges of Education fees from N28,000 to N20,000. Polythecnics got theirs cut from N42,000 to N25,000. Also, Osun State University cut their fees for law and medical students from N195,000 to N100,000. For those in Sciences, their fees came down from N155,000 to N75,000 while Others had theirs cut from N130,000 to N75,000. Non-Discriminatory Regime of School
Prompt Payment of Salary and Pension We pay monthly salary and pension of our Elementary school teachers to the tune of N1, 402,520,773 =00 (N1.4billion). While teachers in the Middle and High schools receives N945million per month as salary and pension. The cost implication per annum is N44.9billion. we pay this huge amount of money and still recruits more teachers because we know the importance and relevance of teachers. We met a horde of poorly motivated teachers when we came into the saddle of government. Today we are happy the story has changed. Our teachers are happy, and the students are excited. OUR PROJECTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS We are aware that many of our programmes are in their gestation period. However, it is expected that in another five years, the kids that are current beneficiaries and or, participants in the pioneer programmes of the nascent education policy initiative of Aregbesola would be the leading lights in the country academically. Whereas, Awolowo’s free education policy brought higher literacy level, and a people with moderately liberal world veiw, which helped in no small measure in ensuring religious tolerance, accommodation of opposing views and diseenting voice(s) within the society. Aregbesola’s education policy will produce intellectual giants that would galvanise the critical mass of the people for development. Pa Awolowo did not have the privilege of Computer Tablet, yet he didi what he had to do, and the result is glaring for any one to see. Now, Aregbesola has introduced ICT, and the education sector is now being driven by cut edge technology. The future implication can only be glorious. In another ten years, an Osun young man who bgenefited from our education policy will stand shoulder high anywhere in the world. Just like in the days of the sage, Awolowo, the free education policy had specific impact, which gave the southwest people a headstart above the other regions in Nigeria, the same way, the Aregbesola education policy will give Osun youth a headstart above thier peers in the country, in the next five years on. And like it happened in the days of the sage, I will not be supprise when parents bring their ward from other states to attend schools in Osun. I thank you for your audience. Osun a dara
www.osundefender.org
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TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014 WE
are hardly known with enigmatic values that names symbolize in western arenas. It is also uncommon to have identification similitude with inanimate objects like stone or wood, and if we must go animate, such animals with which we bear identity must have some attributes that epitomize bravery or piety as of tiger, eagle, or better still peacock. Names are given to us in this part of the world particularly for identification, and the christening process is not without strict adherence to certain value system that depicts origin and lineage. That is probably the only way we can say we are better than those white men who consider black people as fundamentally inferior in colour and creed. Name or title, to us carries a significance, which cannot be underestimated. That is the wisdom behind the adage: “the affinal attributes and peculiarities of the home front determine what name a child is given”. Those that go for one sobriquet or the other also consider societal values for the fear of castigation and ostracism. Nobody will identify with anything that may engender denigration; it is absolutely antithetical to our nature and evolutionary attributes. Countries of the world have also had the reason at one time or the other to opt for new identity, possibly upon realising that something fundamentally is wrong with the former. The State of Osun, or Osun State may appear the same to many, but there is inherent difference that is known only to discerning minds. That may look ambiguous, but definitely not so with the state of the living spring and the state of the virtuous. The state of the living spring is a sobriquet fashioned from the name of the state or some places within the state, where water emerges from the ground. Those who coined the state of the living spring for Osun knew best, but if it was because of river Osun, it was a wrong coinage, because River Osun does not originate from this state; and if it was because of some places where water emerges from the ground, it was a misnomer because none of the said springs was face-lifted to the enviable standard in terms of utility value. We now have Osun as a State of the Virtuous; courtesy of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. The Webster dictionary simply defines being virtuous as full of virtue, having excellent moral character; with synonyms as good, righteous. Virtue on the other hand is defined as a particular manifestation of moral excellence in a person; an admirable quality, in accordance with moral principles; conformity of
By ADE OLUGBOTEMI
are able to do unbiased selfexamination that we may know what actually went wrong and whether we have learnt any lesson(s) in the evolutionary rejuvenation
The Virtuous And Their Virtues “Virtues are tools of progress and development for those who value them. People may know virtues, but the knowledge of virtues may turn dysfunctional, if their essence is not translated into concrete benefits. This is where we must begin to ask ourselves questions about where our orchestrated virtues have taken us. Fortunately, the regime that invented the new slogan for the state is still in power. This is therefore the right time for a meaningful assessment of what many people have found difficult to come to terms with. We must be able to engage in the process of self-examination and see how far we have gone in the process of being virtuecompliant.” behaviour or thought with the structure of morality. This definition simply places a burden of target on the government and the governed. There are goals to set and to achieve. This keeps everybody on his or her toes for corporate aims and objectives to be run for and be achieved. Government must run its business in a transparent manner, so as to convince the people that the sacrifices they are making worth the while. The governed on the other hand must be law abiding and strive to fulfill their obligations so as to have moral justification to challenge government when performing below expectation. All parties must be seen to be up and doing, showing keen interest and making sure that systemic dynamics are properly positioned for remarkable progress to be made. Creed of progress must be well guided to ensure that set goals are not only achieved but also that they are
As government and the governed, what virtues can we say we are exhibiting now different from what used to be our experience in the state? Honest answer to this question will enable us do selfassessment in line with the dictum that charity begins at home. Investigation shows that those who are not at home with the recent changes in the State of Osun are a few elites, who are dissatisfied with the paradigm shift in the mode of running government business. They are of the opinion that the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola introduced some policies that reduce the amount of money at their disposal. It is not that their disposable income has reduced; their grouse is just that the volume of money to play around with has dwindled. Project monitoring and evaluation, and the accompanying quality control by government agencies, in line with government policies, have reduced their influence on project handlers, who before now were always at their mercy as project supervisors.
We need to appreciate those who quickly adjusted into new mind sets in line with Aregbesola’s mission statement, which has driven decorum and moderation that current paucity of funds demands. Government may intend to execute programmes, but it is full cooperation from all stake holders that will make this vision to come to fruition. Virtues have brought endurance instinct to all segments of our society. That is key in our quest to move to the next level; it then behoves government to reciprocate by building surpassed in standard and composition; on the confidence people now have with as we are all aware that the task of more projects that are need-compliant. nation building is never lopsidedly Our virtues must be matured to the accomplished. level whereby we are firmly persistent, and unable to be swayed. Our constancy and stability must enable us Virtues are tools of progress and to be rational in assessing situations, development for those who value them. and differentiate between what brings People may know virtues, but the temporary relief and long-term pains knowledge of virtues may turn and agony on one hand, and what dysfunctional, if their essence is not brings temporary discomfort and long translated into concrete benefits. This term dehumanization and frustration on is where we must begin to ask ourselves the other. We may choose to live an questions about where our orchestrated illusory life, which only ensures fake and virtues have taken us. Fortunately, the temporary emotional satisfaction; on the regime that invented the new slogan for long run, nobody will tell us of the agony the state is still in power. This is therefore we suffer because we shall thoroughly its adversity. We must therefore the right time for a meaningful feel endure the pang of the inevitable assessment of what many people have transition, so that all of us may share found difficult to come to terms with. the glory of really belonging to the State We must be able to engage in the of the Virtuous. Those who are process of self-examination and see throwing baits at us now will only laugh how far we have gone in the process of to our scorn after they have plundered being virtue-compliant. It is when we their booties to their own satisfaction.
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.