Osun Defender - March 22nd, 2014 Edition

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SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 There is a clear synergy between the construction of road networks and overall economic development.

This is a truism, in an underdeveloped or developing economy, it is even more poignant. It has for long been accepted that any investment in infrastructure is a very vital economic stimulus.

Invariably, it creates new jobs, even if sometimes it is of a temporary,

Front Page Comment

Osun’s Road Network As Economic Development project tied nature. By creating employment an investment in infrastructure thereby increases the tax baseof the government since the newly employed will now be contributing

to payroll taxes. This has a wider significance. For the aim of any democracy must be for it to be based on a community of tax-payers.

Furthermore in a state such as the state of osun

VOL. 9. NO.032 which is still significantly based on a rural economy road networks are vital. We all know that in order to re-invigorate the rural economy policies must be put in play to increase farm production. However, without a concomitant increase in sales to consumers there will be a collapse of morale.

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Who Killed Chief Bola Ige, formerAttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice?

N50

IGE

No Religion Is Against Schools Re-classification In Osun •As Committee Reveals Causes Of Crisis - See Story On Page 3

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); state Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Kolapo Alimi (2nd left); the Alademore of Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro (2nd right); the Owamiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran (4th left); the Olomu of Ijaregbe,Oba Edward Adetimo (3rd left); the Olotan of Otan-Ile, Oba Sunday Olatokun (right) and other eminent monarchs, during a courtesy visit by the Ijesa-North Traditional Council of obas to the governor at the Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun, last Thursday.

No Governor Has Empowered Osun Citizens Like Aregbesola - APC

- See Story On Page 4

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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014

No Religion Is Against Schools Re-classification In Osun •As Committee Reveals Causes Of Crisis

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HE fact-finding committee constituted by the governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to investigate the remote causes of the crisis at the Baptist High School, Iwo on Monday, stated that there is no religion in the state that is against schools’ reclassification.

The committee observed government.

The committee headed that what is playing out is the long religious rivalry, by a former Commissioner which was extended to the for Justice and Attorney schools’ reclassification General in the state, policy of the state Barrister Gbadegesin

Adedeji, while submitting its report, noted that the committee was able to find out that it was the old rivalry between the two prominent religions that was responsible for the animosity witnessed in the school in Iwo. Adedeji commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for being proactive in

tackling the opportunistic differences that some people were trying to play on with the re-classification of schools in the state.

Towards achieving a completely restructured education system for improved result, utilizing its meagre resources, the state government had embarked on a reclassification

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, receiving the report on Religious Disturbance at Baptist High School, Iwo from Chairman of the committee, Chief Gbadegesin Adedeji (right), during the committee’s submission of its report at the Office of the Governor, Abere, last Monday. With them is the Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori.

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN exercise, which led to the bring out the best from emergence of bigger pupils and pupils, hence the schools, where instructional decision of the state facilities are concentrated government to nip in the bud, the sectarian unrest at for effective learning.

According to the Baptist High School, Gbadegesin: “The crisis in Iwo. He then thanked God for Baptist High School in Iwo was an issue that should not not allowing the state to be be treated with kids’ gloves. engulfed in crises with what I want to use this happened in the school, opportunity to applaud the saying the basis for state government for animosity as noted by the committee was about ego. setting up this committee.

The governor said with “If the case of Iwo Baptist High School had been the similarities that exist allowed to fester, it could between the two recent have spread all over the faiths, the rancour being state.

During our witnessed in Nigeria was assignment, people came unnecessary.

In his words: “No matter out in their hundreds and we had frank exchange of what we profess, Yoruba what could be the problem. will never fight on religion, “On the basis of what because it is strange to them, they told us, we were able because they have lived to get to a conclusion that together on different beliefs.

“If love is critical and no single religion is against crucial to all faiths, where do the re-classification policy.

All we noticed was that it we find the hatred and was the ego among the three animosity that now characterise our dominant religions in the relationships as men of state that has been played faith? Salvation is an up,” Gbadegesin said. individual thing with God. He therefore, thanked the “It is good to hear that the governor for the committee was able to opportunity given to the discover that it was not the committee members to serve re-classification of schools Iwo community and the in the state that fuelled the state at large. attitude of some misguided The governor, while pupils in the school in Iwo, receiving the report, held but the rivalry between the that Yoruba race had lived two faiths was the cause of for several millennia with what happened in the strong distinction on how to school,” the governor approach the divine without noted.

Aregbesola however, any problem. assured that the state Aregbesola stressed that the policy was designed to government would look into the report of the committee carefully and come out with a White Paper that would show how to manage such occurrence. government.

The state government It would be recalled that had set up the committee two illegal schools were four weeks ago at the wake sealed-off by the ministry of the unrest to investigate during a similar monitoring and recommend solutions exercise it conducted early to the disturbances at the this month.

Baptist High School, Iwo.

Osun Closes Four More Illegal Schools

By SHINA ABUBAKAR

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classes up to primary five without evidence to show for registration or approval with the Ministry of Education.

He then urged the pupils to stay at home with their parents, pending the

N its bid to ensure sanity in the education sector, Government of the State of Osun has sealed off another four illegal private schools in the state.

This occurred during establish a school with another round of schools pupils from kindergarten monitoring embarked upon by a team of the State Ministry of Education led by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran to checkmate the rising number of mushroom and HE State of Osun House of Assembly has said illegal private schools in the that the loss of lives that characterised the state.

Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) nationwide The schools were: Arikose Anobi Nursery and recruitment exercise on Saturday has again shown Primary School, Peace the incompetence of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Nursery & Primary School, administration.

Bisam Gold Private School The state parliament NIS, while scores of others and Confidence Nursery made the assertion on were injured. and Primary School all in Wednesday at its plenary The Speaker, Honourable Oke Ijetu area in Osogbo session in Osogbo under Najeem Salaam said the Local Government Council “Matters of urgent public death of the job seekers Area of the state. was sad, painful and call for Meanwhile, the proprietor importance”, demanding serious concern. the resignation of the of Winners Model College, He wondered why the Tinumola Area, Osogbo was President for a leader who ordered to report at the is committed to the NIS would conduct the recruitment test in such a Ministry of Education for welfare of the people.

This was just as ‘dehumanising manner’. illegal relocation of his Revealing that the state school from the approved members of the state site in Ofatedo to an legislature observed a legislature would also write unapproved location in one-minute silence for the National Assembly to Osogbo, the state capital. those who lost their lives express its view on the sad Addressing teachers of during the recruitment incident, the Speaker said; the illegal schools, the exercise. “it seems that the lives of Director Osun Mass It would be recalled that our people are not important Education Agency in the no fewer than 16 to the government at the Ministry of Education, who applicants died in a centre as presently represented the Permanent stampede that constituted.”

Secretary, Mr. Ebenezer characterised “What happened on the Olugbenga Dairo, noted Saturday was sad and nationwide recruitment that it is not proper to exercise organised by the pathetic and it is not good

clearance of the schools by the ministry, while promising that State Ministry of Education will not rest on its oars, until all schools are registered and standardised by the state

NIS Recruitment Saga: Osun Assembly Calls For Jonathan’s Resignation

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By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

for the image of this country.

“Why would NIS ask over 700,000 job seekers to part with N1,000 each for just less than 5,000 vacancies, which they were not even sure of getting?

“It is sad that we have a President that doesn’t listen or care about the lives of our people. It is a pity that we found ourselves in this type of mess.

“The exercise has against shown the rate of unemployment in this country, which is the root cause of the violence we are witnessing in many parts of the country today,” he lamented.

Salaam then called on the Federal Government to declare a state-ofemergency in the area of unemployment in the country.

In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye said the death would have been averted, had it been that the NIS did the right thing.

He noted that the test should have been conducted either online or in batches at a very conducive environment.

The Deputy Speaker noted that the stampede at the various recruitment centres across the country showed the sorry state of the nation’s economy, especially in the area of unemployment.

“That Saturday will remain a black day in the country. What NIS did was fraudulent and the issue must not be swept under the carpet”.

While raising the issue, the Chief Whip of the House, Honourable Ipoola Binuyo, said that the ‘ugly

incident’ calls for a serious concern.

Rather than continuing to waste lives of innocent Nigerians, he noted that the President should resign.

In their separate submissions, Honourables Afolabi Atolagbe (Ifedayo), Olalekan Afolabi (Ifelodun), Kamardeen Akanbi (Ede North), Wasiu Adebayo (Olorunda) said that present administration at the centre is not a serious one.

They noted that in a sane society, by now, those incharge of the exercise, from minister to the Comptroller General would have been sacked, adding that the failure of the President to act has shown his incompetence.

The lawmakers then called for proper investigation into the incidence, with a view to bringing the culprits to book.

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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014

Missing NNPC $48.9bn Should Be Traced To PDP Accounts - APC

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

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HE All Progressives Congress in the State of Osun has alerted the anti-graft and security agencies in Nigeria that the missing $48.9 billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) should be traced to the accounts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the APC, tankers of kerosene were the whopping sum was brought to Osogbo few diverted to fund weeks ago by the PDP governorship and South-West Mobilisation presidential elections for Committee led by Buruji the Peoples Democratic Kasamu.

The kerosene was sold Party (PDP) candidates .

The APC added that part at subsidised rate to PDP of the money has been members, who were used to buy kerosene at asked to submit two different deports in the p a s s p o r t - s i z e d country by the PDP photographs before they chieftains, with the plan of could get the kerosene.

The State of Osun distributing it freely to the people of Nigeria, chapter of APC in a press particularly the South- statement issued by its Director of Publicity, West states.

It would be recalled that Research and Strategy in five 33,000-litre capacity the state, Mr Kunle

Oyatomi, on Thursday, alleged that the PDP bought the kerosene with the missing $48.9billion from the NNPC account.

According to Oyatomi, the PDP has also concluded plans to transport unknown number of kerosene tankers to Ekiti State with the view of selling it at subsidised rate to the people.

Oyatomi said the real

aim of the PDP with the kerosene is to buy the people’s votes in the coming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

He slammed the leadership of the PDP for what he described as wickedness and insensitivity that have stalled the development of the country since the party came to power in 1999, saying that the PDP was

responsible for the series of challenges facing the country.

The APC spokesperson argued that giving free kerosene to the people of the South-West states could not blindfold them from the fact that the PDP is a curse to Yoruba nation and does not deserve the Yoruba votes in any way.

Oyatiomi said: “From 1999-2010, the PDP destroyed everything our

great leader, Obafemi Awolowo, did for us in the South-West, and to top it all, they maginalised the race, made it looked like it did not matter in Nigeria.

“Whatever they may do in the West between Ekiti and Osun, the PDP cannot win, because they are not popular, due to the monumental destruction they brought to Yoruba people and the Yoruba nation.”

Osun To Begin Enumeration Of Cocoa Trees Soon

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

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HE State of Osun Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Honourable Wale Adedoyin, has commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola on his various agricultural programmes, aimed at providing food for the people in the state.

He gave the as to achieve the goal. commendation in Osogbo Responding on behalf of during a stakeholders the stakeholders, the Patron meeting with the committee of All Farmers Association on enumeration of cocoa of Nigeria (AFAN), Osun trees, which was expected Chapter, Chief Bola Otunla, to commence on the 18th thanked the state March, across the state. government for supporting The commissioner stated agriculture in all that the enumeration ramifications, while exercise of cocoa trees promising that all hands became necessary, so as to would be on deck for a replace the old successful enumeration unproductive trees with exercise. new ones, with a view to Present at the meeting maintaining the massive were the Permanent production of cocoa for Secretary, Ministry of which the state is known.

Agriculture and Food Adedoyin then called for Security, Mr.Sunday absolute commitment from Odediran, AFAN Secretary, the stakeholders in the Honourable Ibrahim production of cocoa and Oyewale, Directors in the give necessary support to ministry and other important the enumeration exercise, so dignitaries.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left), decorating his Aide-De-Camp, Ajasa Hakeem (middle) a Superintendent of Police (SP), assisted by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Maishanu, at the Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun, recently.

Osun Assembly Jacks Up 2014 Budget Estimate To N234bn

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

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HE State of Osun House of Assembly has jacked up the 2014 budget estimate to N234.4 billion from its original N216.7 billion.

The House Committee Presenting the report of on Finance and the budget defence at the Appropriation made the House’ plenary session on adjustment to the estimate, Wednesday, the Chairman sequel to the defence of of the committee, the budget estimate by Honourable Kamil ministries, departments Oyedele, said that the and agencies of recurrent expenditure now government before the stands at state parliament.

N99,755,598,430 (42.55

Osun Election: Celestial Church Spiritual Head Showers Blessings On Aregbesola

By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI

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HE Spiritual Leader of the Celestial Church of God Worldwide, Reverend Paul Matorikan, on Wednesday, showered spiritual blessings on the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of August 9, 2014 governorship election.

Matorikan, during a visit the state and continue to to the governor at pray for the victory of the Government House, governor.

Osogbo, the state capital, Matorikan also urged commended the state the governor not to relent government’s giant strides in his efforts to transform on education, the state. infrastructural The church head and development and steady other spiritual leaders were peace in the state. later presented state He prayed for emblem by the governor.

Aregbesola easy ride to the In his remark on the Government House for the occasion, the Special second term and declared Adviser to the Governor that the church will on Environment and organise revivals across Sanitation, Honourable the state to pray against Bola Ilori, appreciated the violence and bloodshed in church leader for the visit,

prayer and recognition of bold steps taking so far by the governor.

Ilori said: “For the spiritual head of Celestial Church of Christ to visit and pray for the governor, surely it is an inspiration from God, which is a strong attestation that God has endorsed the second term ambition of Governor Aregbesola.”

He stated that religious tolerance is the culture of the current administration in the state, adding that only a tiny population in the state are trying to stigmatise the state with religious controversy.

Ilori added: “Aregbesola has never encouraged religious disharmony. In the state executive arm, Christians dominated the

cabinet, while in the House of Assembly of 26 members, 16 are Christians. We employed 40,000 youths, while religion was not indicated in the form. We employed 12,000 teachers, while religion was not part of the processes.”

“Religion must not be allowed to derail our progress. We are building Baptist, Methodist and AUD model schools that can compete with any school in the world.

Aregbesola will not take it home after completing his eight years as governor.”

He therefore urged the religious leaders to extend the gospel of love, peace, honesty and progress in the state, with a view to sustaining the current pace of development.

per cent) and capital expenditure stands at N134,664,820,830 (57.45 per cent).

Also, the recurrent revenue stands at N101,594,968,500 (43.34 per cent), while the capital receipt stands at N132,825,450,760 (56.66 per cent).

The new figure is subject to the approval of the state legislature at the committee of whole.

Oyedele revealed that in the course of the budget defence, part of the observations of the committee was that the government has realised the need to reduce overdependence on oil money from the federation account and improve on its Internally Generated Revenue.

He added that the state government also intends to fund the array of its developmental projects incorporated in the 2014 budget by leveraging on opportunities offered by Internal and External Funds/Credits to bridge the observed gap.

Part of the reasons for the jacking up of the budget estimate, according to him, was that there were no effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism at the three Educational District Offices in the

state.

He further noted that the outstanding performance of some agencies of government in the implementation of their programmes during the last fiscal year requires that they should be funded the more to meet the yearnings of the people.

In his recommendations from the report, Oyedele opined that the State Internal Revenue Service should be repositioned and strengthened in line with the enabling law, in order to achieve the IGR target.

“The budget should be revenue-driven, hence, any expenditure that could lead to revenue generation should be encouraged and approved accordingly.

“That the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology should be advised to effect the standardisation of technology used in the rural areas and also embark on training and retraining of middle and top-level government functionaries on computer knowledge and appreciation.

“That the high-powered task force should be constituted by the Ministry of Health to monitor the activities of personnel at the various hospitals and other health institutions across the state for effective service delivery,” Oyedele added.

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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014

2013 Hajj Report: Saudi Authority Commends Aregbesola On E-learning

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

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HE authority of Saudi Arabia has commended governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on his contribution to ‘e-learning’ through the introduction of ‘Opon-Imo’, the Tablet of Knowledge, which has become a world-acclaimed breakthrough in educational development.

Ogbeni Aregbesola, who received the report of 2013 Hajj operation at the Executive Council Chamber in his office, commended State Commissioner of Home Affairs, Tourism and

Culture, Alhaji Sikiru Adetona Ayedun, SSA to Governor on Religion, Alhaji Dihkrullahi Hassan and other members of the board for the hitch-free hajj operation.

The governor, who was

happy with the report, said Hajj exercise is tough and requires strength of the pilgrims, where over two million people will be performing spiritual assignment at the same time.

He maintained that Hajj exercise is not the same as Umurah, as Hajj is more rigorous, while Umurah is with ease.

Ogbeni Aregbesola therefore warned the board to take into consideration the age limit

set aside by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, while insisting on the physical fitness of the intending pilgrims to be able to perform all important aspects of hajj.

Earlier in his report presentation, Ayedun thanked the governor for giving the board all the supports needed to have successful hajj operation.

The commissioner placed it on record that the state was the first to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia in

By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI

Nigeria and first to return to Nigeria.

He said all these were as a result of brilliant and welfare of pilgrims’ package the state has put in place since the inception of Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration in the state.

Alhaji Ayedun said the recognition accorded the state officials by the custodian of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah at a dinner in honour of State of Osun contribution to ‘elearning through the introduction of ‘Opon Imo’ attested to the fact that Osun has recorded landmark achievements since the inception of Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration.

Also speaking, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Aregbesola on Religion, Alhaji Dikhrullahi Hassan, said the board has

put in place medical screening for all intending pilgrims, so as to ensure their physical fitness.

He then thanked the governor for given all necessary supports to achieve a successful hajj Operation.

Highlight of the presentation was visual presentation of activities of 2013 hajj operation.

Present at the presentation were Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye, members of State Executive,Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Mrs Olajumoke Bello and staff of Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.

OPC Members Docked For Unlawful Possession Of Guns

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

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•(L-R) Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; Lord Watson of Richmond and Director-General, Office of Economic Development and Partnerships, State of Osun, Dr. Charles Akinola, during the presentation of 2014 AD King Prize for Achievement in Public Service to the Governor of State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, during Commonwealth Observance Day in London recently.

No Governor Has Empowered Osun Citizens Like Aregbesola - APC

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun has told citizens and residents of the state to shun and disregard PDP agents and co-looters that are allegedly going about in cities and towns across the state accusing Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of not empowering people since he became governor.

“What they actually occupies prime position as mean”, the APC said,” is that a pace setter in Nigeria, Aregbesola did not allow the whose programmes and fraudulent access to public policies are designed to funds for their private use, empower citizens, which are as the PDP did for over now being replicated seven years between 2003 throughout the country. and 2010.”

“Aregbesola took the In a statement from the initiative within 100 days of party’s Director of Publicity, coming to power to Research and Strategy, empower 20,000 youths with Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, the employment. Today, that APC claimed that since the number has risen to 40,000, state was created, no and over N400 million is governor has done as much being injected into Osun’s as Aregbesola to empower economy monthly. That citizens legitimately. comes to N4.8 billion yearly.

According to the APC, “Feeding Primaries 1-4 people in their thousands children in Osun schools are now engaging in gulps N3.6 billion naira business profitably like they yearly. This involves never did since 2003. various buying of This, the party said, has agricultural products, which resulted in increased has made hundreds, if not banking activities, which thousands of businessmen was acknowledged recently and women so much the by the Manager of the richer in the State of Osun Central Bank of Nigeria in today. In fact, some Osun the state. farmers have had to source The party noted that products from neighbouring whenever the question of states to meet demands. empowerment is raised in “Again the sum of N1.6 Nigeria today, Aregbesola billion is paid directly to

vulnerable senior citizens every month. One thousand six hundred elderly citizens are involved in this scheme.

“Those who are affected by all these empowerment programmes are Osun citizens,” the party reiterated.

The state APC therefore wondered how anyone would accuse Aregbesola of not empowering citizens of the state, which the party stressed, is a wicked statement which only fraudulent people can make.

“We do not have the space in this short release to mention all the empowerment programmes which Aregbesola has brought to Osun. Suffice it to state that there is no single project, which the governor has undertaken, since he came to power that did not directly or indirectly empowers Osun citizens and residents.

“Let it be said clearly to all residents of the state that Aregbesola will not be in government, if the ultimate purpose is not to change lives and grow the economy of Osun. There is no empowerment greater than an enabling environment for self-actualization.

“That is what Aregbesola is providing for Osun and the great effort continues.”

The APC therefore urged all citizens to prepare themselves for the decisive statement, which they will be called upon to make in August, so that Aregbesola may finish the wonderful work he started in November 2010.

“Aregbesola is working; there is no family in Osun today that has not been affected, and if anybody says this is not empowering Osun citizens, it is a pity and a shame.

Only wicked people will say such things,” the APC said.

WO members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) have been dragged before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court over unlawful possession of guns and other dangerous weapons.

A charge sheet made conspiracy and unlawful available to OSUN possession of guns.

DEFENDER on Thursday Defence counsel, Mr stated that the OPC Adedayo Adekunle, members, Ibrahim Ajibade applied for the bail of the (30) and Ishiaka Adedeji accused persons, arguing (40) were caught with one that the charges against pump action and double- them were not capital barrel guns and axes on offences and thus bailable.

March 13, 2014.

Adekunle pleaded with Ajibade and Adedeji the court to be liberal on were arrested during a the bail terms, promising routine security check at that the accused persons Akinrere area, along Ikire/ would not jump, as reliable Ibadan Expressway, Ikire, sureties would stand for the headquarters of them.

Irewole Local Government Police prosecutor, Council Area of the State Inspector Abbas Aruna did of Osun. not oppose the bail The offence, according application. to the charge sheet, was Ruling on the matter, contrary to and punishable Chief Magistrate Olusola under Sections 516 of the Aluko granted bail to the Criminal Code, Cap 38, suspects in the sum of and Section 22 of the N100,000 and two sureties Firearms Act F 28, Law of each, who must be the Federal Republic of residents within the Nigeria. court’s jurisdiction.

The accused persons He thereafter adjourned however entered a not the case till May 5, 2014 guilty plea to the six-count for mention. charges centred on

NDA Holds Selection Exams May 17

By SHINA ABUBAKAR HE Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) selection examination into the 66th Regular Course of the institution will hold on Saturday May 17, 2014 at designated centres nationwide at 7.30am. for the A statement from the centres office of the Secretary to examination within the the State Government of South Western States are: Command Day Osun explained that only candidates who made the Secondary School, Ikeja national JAMB cut-off Cantonment, Lagos, as mark will be eligible to sit well as Navy Secondary for the examination, which School, Ojo Town, Lagos.

Also, the examination is is similar to post-UTME examination in scheduled to hold at Army conventional universities. Day Secondary School, According to the Akure and Command Day School, statement, the designated Secondary

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Odogbo in Ibadan, Oyo State.

It further instructed candidates to come along with their writing materials, including HB pencils and eraser, warning that any candidate caught with a mobile phone will be automatically disqualified.

The statement also advised the candidates to return to the NDA portals and log-in with the e-mail address and password to download their examination admission cards.

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014

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Osun’s Road Network As Economic Development Continued rom pg1

If this happens it will be back to square one. And that will be disastrous undoing all the previous efforts and expenses. This is why roads are vital as a mechanism to revitalize the rural economy and increase overall well – being as well as the elevation of living standards.

Road linkages will result in far less post-harvest losses. Produce will be evacuated quicker and freighted to urban markets. This will lead to an increase sales leading to increased farm earnings.

It will also open up the rural economy for new goods and services as well as the practical implanting of modern farming methods as well as an increase in the provision of extension services.

For the rural economy increases in the road network will also lead to the inducement of food processing industries- cottage, small, medium scale and large. A good road network will also inevitably lead to an increase in the amount of raw materials available for the processing industries.

Frankly no sane investor will build a food processing plant without the necessary guarantee of raw materials. Food processing industries are vital in order to revive the ailing rural economy.

This is why the multiplier effect of the state of osun government’s investment in road building and infrastructure is so important.

The investments already undertaken and the projected future investments are not just simulative, they are also cost effective. The beneficial results are already manifesting itself. And it is not only in the rural economy. Urban osun state is also seeing a face lift as well as a new lease of life. This is making urban transportation much safer. It is also upgrading investment prospects. For a potential investor puts a good, durable road network at the top of his priorities. It makes economic commonsense to do so.

Otherwise the cost of production without the availability of good roads will be too high. This means that the end of the process the product will be uncompetitive in the market place. So what’s the point of the investment?

Aregbesola’s investments in the road network infrastructure are

very sensible. And it will stand the test of time. A politician we are aware looks at the next election.

A statesman looks at generations yet unborn. In his infrastructure thrust Aregbesola is very patriotically looking at the longterm and its already producing some immediate beneficial results.

The Ogbeni governor has shown himself to be a superb financial engineer.

He has merged his prowess as an engineer with the practical disposition of an applied economist. And with this merger of skills, he is laying the foundation for a renaissance and a rebirth in the state of Osun.

There is a clear synergy between the construction of road networks and overall economic development. This is a truism, in an underdeveloped or developing economy, it is even more poignant.

It has for long been accepted that any investment in infrastructure is a very vital economic stimulus.

Invariably, it creates new jobs, even if sometimes it is of a temporary, project tied nature. By creating employment an investment in infrastructure thereby increases the tax base of the government since the newly employed will now be contributing to payroll taxes. This has a wider significance. For the

aim of any democracy must be for it to be based on a community of taxpayers.

Furthermore in a state such as the state of osun which is still significantly based on a rural economy road networks are vital.

We all know that in order to re-invigorate the rural economy policies must be put in play to increase farm production. However, without a concomitant increase in sales to consumers there will be a collapse of morale.

If this happens it will be back to square one.

And that will be disastrous undoing all the previous efforts and expenses.

This is why roads are vital as a mechanism to revitalize the rural economy and increase overall well –being as well as the elevation of living standards.

Road linkages will result in far less post-harvest losses. Produce will be evacuated quicker and freighted to urban markets. This will lead to an increase sales leading to increased farm earnings.

It will also open up the rural economy for new goods and services as well as the practical implanting of modern farming methods as well as an increase in the provision of extension services.

For the rural economy increases in the road network will also lead to the inducement of food processing industries- cottage, small, medium scale and large. A good road network will also inevitably lead to an increase in the amount of raw materials available for the processing industries.

Frankly no sane investor will build a food processing plant without the necessary guarantee of raw materials. Food processing industries are vital in order to revive the ailing rural economy. This is why the multiplier effect of the state of osun government’s investment in road building and infrastructure is so important.

Otherwise the cost of production without the availability of good roads will be too high.

This means that the end of the process the product will be uncompetitive in the market place. So what’s the point of the investment?

Aregbesola’s investments in the road network infrastructure are very sensible. And it will stand the test of time.

The Ogbeni governor has shown himself to be a A politician we are aware looks at the next election. A statesman looks at generations yet unborn. In his infrastructure thrust Aregbesola is very patriotically looking at the long-term and its already producing some immediate beneficial results.superb financial engineer. He has merged his prowess as an engineer with the practical disposition of an applied economist.

And with this merger of skills, he is laying the foundation for a renaissance and a rebirth in the state of Osun.

The investments already undertaken and the projected future investments are not just simulative, they are also cost effective. The beneficial results are already manifesting itself.

And it is not only in the rural economy. Urban osun state is also seeing a face lift as well as a new lease of life.

This is making urban transportation much safer.

It is also upgrading investment prospects. For a potential investor puts a good, durable road network at the top of his priorities. It makes economic commonsense to do so.

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6

INTERVIEW

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22 , 2014

We’ll Not Rest Until Every Osun School Is Transformed – Oyeduntan Otunba Lai Oyeduntan is the Chairman of the two years old Osun Schools’ Infrastructure Development Committee.

In this interview with DAILY INDEPENDENT he spoke at length on the levels of school upgrades and how the needs assessment and implementation had transformed the school landscape in all corners of the state.

What is the mandate of your committee?

Osun State Infrastructure Development Committee is a committee responsible for the development and upgrade of school infrastructure in the state of Osun. The committee came after the need has been identified of certain policy options to reform school and education sector in the state. It is so because by the time Governor Rauf Aregbesola assumed office, the situation on ground was unacceptable and long before the governor assumed office, he has been associated with the sector. He has had personal experiences that were not particularly encouraging.

Can you give details of the scenario before the intervention?

The percentage of qualified students graduating from Osun secondary schools is so low that in public schools it averages between six and five per cent. That is certainly unacceptable. Performances in both external and internal exams are the only yardstick for measuring efficiency in the school system. For a state like Osun as one of the states where education is very expensive is unacceptable. It will be the irresponsible of the government to ignore it especially having reviewed the sector through the education summit the steps taken in previous years by successive governments to ameliorate the situation.

It was obvious to us after the summit that the intervention in the sector will have to be drastic and comprehensive. There are three factors that are germane to an effective education sector. The pupils must be the main reason for schooling. The pupils therefore must be motivated to want to learn, the teacher that will teach must also be sufficiently encouraged to teach and deliver effectively. All of these must come together in an environment that is conducive for the good mix of teaching and learning.

By 2010, none of those ingredients were in place any more. The pupils are not particularly keen on learning as truancy was the order of the day. The teachers were not well motivated to carry out their assignments. The environment in which all of these were supposed to be taking place was certainly poor and all these are not acceptable at all. Having identified all these imperatives the government set out to tackle them.

Firstly, attempts were made to motivate the students’ through the O’Meal and the phenomena of that alone can be seen in the jump in enrolment in elementary school.

The situation analysis at the beginning of the exercise informed the approach being taken in the re-classification of schools.

While looking at what will be the ideal, we discovered several schools with less than 100 pupils with three or four teachers and headmaster or mistress who does not teach.

There was no consistency in the whole arrangement between either rural or urban centres. In the urban centres where you have the population, you have schools I, II III which is not in conformity with both teaching and administrative functions. All we have done therefore was to research into best practice all over the world and come with the need to have schools that are of optimum sizes and have maximum facilities that will make teaching and learning more interesting.

In the old primary school, primary I to III are fed. When the food vendors bring the food to the schools the pupils in primary IV, V and VI will not be able to concentrate anymore because their brothers in lower classes are eating and they are going hungry. We discovered that the trend all over

•OYEDUNTAN the world is to apply science and psychology to the management of the needs of the pupils. The psychological requirements of dealing with a six year old are different with dealing with a 10 year old pupil.

Through this we come to the conclusion that it is better to group the children according to their age group. So six years old to nine year old in grades 1 to 4 are now put in elementary school. Primary 5 and 6 are grouped together with junior secondary school age and high school pupils who are in their late teens are now separated from those in the junior secondary schools.

There is nothing extra ordinary about this.

Many children in private schools are enrolled in secondary by the time they are nine or ten from primary five. It is just like moving the students who will be in a particular address to the other address where they ordinarily would go in another year.

This led to the re-classification of schools and focusing of what the needs are at that level in terms of amenities and facilities appropriate for a given age group.

Having identified the needs driven reclassification exercise, what was the estimation of the infrastructural needs of the system and to what extent has your committee delivered on this?

We recognized the need for a total departure from the routine that is in practice within the system because it was obvious it had failed. The previous government perhaps recognized the need for this same intervention but the enormous amount of money required usually frightens successive governments in the state. We have however come to the conclusion that we cannot run away in tackling the challenges.

The governor has demonstrated sufficient political will to address the issues. Even if we have all the monies in this world to address and build all those schools at the same time, the journey of 1000 miles has thus begun with one step by bringing the schools up to what is the trend in modern world.

Education as important as it is should not be treated with levity. We went through a comprehensive data collection and application and came to a conclusion that there is a difference between school in urban centre and in rural areas. Some schools in rural areas may have to remain there even though the population is low but in urban centres, it calls for the optimum size. Elementary school must remain neighourhood schools.

That is, the average elementary school pupils should not do more than two kilome-

ters from home in order to get to school.

But again it is not difficult for us to achieve.

We have not created new schools; we have not moved a school from its location to another. We have only moved the pupils around within the same number of schools, same number of classrooms and for the same purpose.

When you move primary five and six into another school, vacancy is created into which to move primary 1 to four from other schools and vii-a-vis move primaries 1 to four again and that has been the matter of re-allocation of the pupils within the same number of schools there are already in existence. It is not as if the schools were closed down or construction of new schools somewhere else. All the schools we are building are on existing schools.

On estimation until the last school is built and transformed into a functional esthetically purpose built school our job is not done.

When we started we recognized the enormity of task in terms of funding. Having demonstrated the political will we have received substantial supports from outside of the normal government purse. The national assembly caucuses have put their

Continued on page 7

INTERIVEW

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014

7

We’ll Not Rest Until Every Osun School Is Transformed – Oyeduntan Continued from page 6 entire constituency projects together and the fund is being diverted to fund education. Through that 12 schools will be affected this year and another 12 next year.

All our MDG projects are now focused on education. This is simply because the governor has demonstrated that passion for the restructuring and intervention in forms of reforms that is taking place. They have bought into the project and any donor agency that is coming into the state is encouraged to support us along this thinking more than anywhere else.

In terms of physical appropriation, how much has your committee expended on this mission to rebuild. I am aware of the Baptist school commissioned recently.

That is the first and would not be the last. What I meant by first is that all others are coming about the same time. We started less than two years ago having the desk work of designing approval and securing funding for the project. The first of the elementary school was delivered at Salvation Army School, Alekuwodo, Osogbo. It used to be middle school and you have that type of upgrade when you talk of middle schools.

When you talk of numbers we started as funding is available for our contractors to move to site. Therefore the completion date will be staggered. In the next few weeks we should be able to accommodate at least 10,000 elementary school pupils in brand new schools. In the next few weeks we should be able to accommodate middle school pupil about 14,000 in new schools.

For this year our attention is now shifting to comprehensive renovations instead of building new schools. Comprehensive renovations suggest that roof ceilings, floor, windows and doors will be replaced to the standard of a brand new school. Some structures will have to be removed to bring back sanity that used to pervade such schools where the standard distribution of structures conforms to layout plans unlike what we have in the past, where blocks of three classrooms are constructed on playgrounds without regard to the esthetics of the schools. This is in recognition of the fact that education for us is not about learning to read and write alone but the need to have a complete man come out of the system.

And that complete man must see himself as a major stakeholder in our society. He must appreciate the esthetic decency of the environment that is well beyond the basic functionalities. That is why all our facilities are designed with decency and functionality in mind. The high school is a much bigger school with capacity for 3.000 in the same premises with governance imperative that goes with that number of population.

It is meant to encourage the finishing school for the basic education. By the time an average Osun student leaves our high school he or she should not be intimated by any campus or college anywhere because we would have introduced such population and governance that goes with such size of school and functionality esthetics of the environment.

One, when we talk about numbers, you will observed that I didn’t talk about 10 or that number, I went straight to identify the beneficiaries of what we are doing because you track every kobo being spent by the State of Osun to the eventual beneficiaries.

All the sites we have executed we insisted that local vendors and artisans must be patronized first unless such expertise cannot be sourced locally then we look elsewhere. We have deployed about three technologies in the construction models of the schools. We have used light steel model fabrication system where three elementary have been and three high schools will also be built using the system. We have deployed the conventional sand Crete system that is common and we have also used the composite bricks as used by the MDG. All of these were brought in to enhance the accessibility of the state to different methods in construction.

Talking about crowding in school, what are the arrangements put in place to address this problem that is common place in public schools?

We are aware of the so called ratio of 25 to a teacher standard. But if you are coming from a background of having about 80 in a classroom then getting 50 in a classroom would be a record. The target is to achieve 25 and rebuild every classroom in Osun but

•OYEDUNTAN the reality is that yes we have a school year with 25 full classrooms with each classroom measuring 50 square metres that is the capacity for 50. Before now the same size of classroom is where pupils are crowded.

Crowding is not uniform. In rural communities you can have less than 20 in a class.

But In urban centres the pressure is on accommodation and that is where our intervention comes in. It is the analysis of the number of pupils to a classroom ratio that informed the need to have a well spaced out purposely designed schools. What used to happen is that because of the pressure of enrolment population, a block of three classrooms are built at any available space thus leading to destruction of playground and even construction of classrooms close to highways.

We have a purpose designed the average capacity of a school is 1,000 from what we have before and we still have some of them with 300, 500 and 60 pupils in primary one to six. That is the kind of range and disparity that we have seen that informed the need to have a controlled approach to the distribution and location of the schools.

What is the distribution of the schools?

We do have an even spread and politically it is even smart to concentrate. You must have political spread because there are constituencies. Every constituency will demand for its share any way. But let us be pragmatic because those schools are there to address a problem and to serve the people.

Rural areas may not be able to accommodate the standard size of schools we are building. If am building five schools and I want to accommodate 5,000 pupils, I will go to where the population is thick. Like you have rightly observed that overcrowding usually occurs in urban centres so if this others states if you go back to how they did their own planning they must be trying to reach a large number of pupils within the limited resources available to them.

We have here our own statistical background to the planning for the distribution of the schools, the distribution of enrolment, the clusters of population density and where the needs are more pressing. I have a rural school with only 60 pupils from primary one to six all I need to do is to clean it

up for them because it does not attract the kind of resources and allocation a school in town with about 1,000 students of 50 in each class. This is pragmatism. But politically speaking even by law you must have spread. When you talk of distribution we are reaching all sections of the state. Presently we are building 14 for elementary and 15 for middle schools.

Talking about meeting the infrastructural deficit in Osun schools, what is the benchmark for construction to ensure that quality work is done?

We spoke of classification for elementary school pupils from age 6 to 9, middle school pupils from ages 9 to 15 and high school pupils from 15 to 18. We got architects and our brief was quite clear. We have structures that are designed to suit the needs of the respective age groups. Our schools are designed with functionality and esthetics in mind. Functionality is the size of the classrooms, and the spatial arrangement of the buildings that comes with security. Talking about access, control nobody gets into the new schools without being screened and once you are inside you cannot regress from the premises without being attended to and screened. So the average child that comes into school is bound to stay unless authorized to go out. The schools are fenced with controlled entry and exit points. The designs were purpose driven and directed.

The middle school is a story building in U shape and fenced. You cannot drive into the learning arena because there is a parking lot. All visitors and staff of the school access and exists the school through the same points. The elementary schools are neighborhood schools; the middle is a bit further not more than what they used to do in going to grammar schools. The high school on the other hand is for adults at the age 15 or 16 who able to do a few things by themselves. The high school addresses heavy population centres. In the whole of Ilesa there will be two and in Osogbo there will be three at Olorunda and Ejigbo to absorb the identified high population of high school students. But the issue is by the time am done with this sets of high schools; we will be able to accommodate close to

40,000 students translating to about one third of the high school population. If the cost of the facilities, the concentration, amenities that will be provided and the governance in place we can them to perform better, we would have increased the fortune of this number of young adults. Rather than trying to please 100 people and getting nowhere why don’t I concentrate on 30 and deliver and end up with 25 per cent performance. Whereas using the mega resources o face 100 was getting 5 per cent.

We realize that we must concentrate our efforts on building these building blocks for the future of our society and education.

In totality what are the gains of infrastructural rebirth in Osun schools?

The governor came prepared to focus on education because of the importance of the sector that underpins every aspiration of man and society. A situation where our people start off life with a disadvantage is certainly unacceptable and no responsible government should ignore whatever it takes to effect a change.

The totality of the reform in the education is that the infrastructural enhancement is just but one of the intervention mechanisms. Teachers have been motivated, more teachers have been recruited; arrears of leave bonuses and entitlements have been paid. Teaching in the state has been professionalized. Teachers in the state can now rise to the rank of permanent secretary. The issue is not all about tangibles.

The intangibles are even more important than the tangibles. The tangible is the mind and what determines the man himself. His self esteem, his own estimation of self worth, if he sees himself as a significant member of the community of the society he lives in he will strive to make the community better. He would strive to be a good citizen. We have had a lot of rots out that must not continue.

So if we have been able to arrest the rot, we can now think and clam for the growth period. Right now, we are at the point of arresting the rot while waiting for the growth to come naturally because the ground has already been prepared. The objective is to bring Osun back to that competitive edge it has as a supplier of critical manpower, quality of human capital within the committee of states and nations. A people that have grown to realize that they potentials and attain that within an enabled environment though we ranked so low in terms of revenue but rank high in the distribution of wealth.

Are the schools with hostel accommodation and safety?

The high school will come with hostel facilities to be run by private developers and individual but superintendent and controlled in terms of quality and standard by the state. People will be encouraged to build hostels for the schools based on set standards so that students coming to high school can stay within the hostel. We have seen the need for hostel because many parents did not know what their children do after 2 in the afternoon when schools have closed until the parents return in the evening. Hostel environment helps to manage and mould these young adults.

The kind of social re-engineering we are doing will reduce extremism to a minimum because hopelessness breeds the kind of extremism that is threatening the unity of the country and our lives. All of these have been taken into account. The size of the courtyard has something to do with safety.

In case of emergency there must be sufficient space as muster point.

The size of the school will obviously make it impossible for the school head to manage in terms of emergencies, what we have done is to engage a school manager for each of the school. His responsibility is to ensure the safety of the students’ and facilities. Ensure the school is neatly kept ensure the functionality of facilities available in the school. This responsibility leaves the teachers to concentrate with academics. By the time the schools are in place it our responsibility to let people have the drills in order to be able to recognize danger and at least knock off the alarm in times of emergency. There will be fire drills because what is important under such situation is the reaction time for people to recognize the need to escape to safety in an emergency.

•Culled from DAILY INDEPENDENT

8

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014

State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Received 2013 Hajj Operation Report In His Office In Osogbo, Last Wednesday.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left), receiving the report on the 2013 Hajj Operation from the State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Honourable Sikiru Ayedun, at the Office of the Governor, Abere, State of Osun, last Wednesday.

•Aregbesola (centre); Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (2nd left); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (right); Ayedun (2nd right); Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Religious Matters, Alhaji Dhikirullah Hassan (left) and other dignitaries, during the submission of report on 2013 Hajj Operation to the Governor in his Office, Abere, State of Osun, last Wednesday.

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014

PHOTOTALK

9

Courtesy Visit Of Head Of Celestial Church Worldwide To The State Governor Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At The Government House, Osogbo, Last Wednesday.

•(L-R) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Spiritual Head, Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Worldwide, Prophet Paul Maforikan and Matron, Osun CCC, Mother Celestial Sola Maforikan, during the visit last Wednesday.

• Aregbesola (centre); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (3rd right); Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Mr Bola Ilori (2nd right); Prophet Paul Maforikan (3rd left); Head, Osun Arch-Diocese CCC, Evangelist Samson Adelani (left); Mother Celestial Sola Maforikan (2ndleft); Chairman, Osun 2014 Revival Planning Committee, Evangelist Abiodun Awodeji (right) and other dignitaries, in a group photograph during the courtesy the visit last Wednesday.

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014 PHOTOTALK 10 Completed Fast-linked Road Around Heritage Hotel, Dupe-Aina Area, Osogbo, Under The Government Of Governor Rauf Aregbesola In State Of Osun. Photo: JESUDOYIN ABRAHAM

•A newly-completed road around Okonfo area, Osogbo.

•Another just-concluded road along Afolabi Abikoye close, Osogbo.

•An ongoing road construction around Heritage Hotel, also in Osogbo.

11

FEATURE

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014

The Referendum In The Crimea And The Great Betrayal (I)

O

N Sunday 16th March, 2014, a referendum will be held in the Crimea to determine whether the people of that country will stay in the Ukraine or opt to be part of the Russian Federation. This is a positive development and I have little doubt that they will vote to be part of Russia and thereby attempt to right the wrongs of 1954.

This was the year that they were handed over, rather like cattle, to the Ukraine by an over-generous and rather exciteable Russian Soviet President, Nikita Kruschev who could not possibly have conceived what the future would hold 60 years later and who could not possibly have envisaged what a threat this single act of kindness and generosity would eventually constitute to the fortunes, welfare and security of the Russian state.

One of the things that needs to be clearly understood right from the outset about the unfolding crisis in the Ukraine is that as far as the majority of the people in the Crimea are concerned and as far as President Vladimer Putin and the government of the Russian Federation is concerned, the new regime in the Ukraine came to power by unconstitutional means and is therefore illegitimate and illegal.

Rightly or wrongly, these are their views and their concerns.

They also have grave fears for the safety, security and welfare of the Russian-speaking population, who actually live in the Crimea and who constitute the majority of people that are resident there. Given the history of the area and the nature of those that now hold the reigns of power in Kiev, these concerns cannot be easily dismissed or wished away, even by the most cynical of commentators.

I believe that those concerns are very real and that they are perfectly legitimate.

In any case, the Russians are not the only ones that harbour these fears. Just a few days ago, American Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, a man whose views are highly respected and who is noted for his ability to speak nothing but the bitter truth, told Fox News host Bill O’Reilly some interesting things.

Permit me to share the contents of their discussion here as it was reported in Intellihub.com, an American website magazine. They wrote: ‘’Tuesday evening while speaking to Fox News host Bill O’Reilly, Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, dropped information on the situation in the Ukraine that is rarely heard in the mainstream media. In the interview, Kucinich revealed that the United States government was guilty of funding some of the violent rebel groups who have overrun the Ukraine.

When asked how he would handle the crisis if he were President, Kucinich replied by saying that: “What I’d do is not have USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy working with U.S. taxpayers’ money to knock off an elected government in Ukraine, which is what they did. I wouldn’t try to force the people of Ukraine into a deal with NATO against their interest or into a deal with the European Union, which is against their economic interest.”

O’Reilly replied by saying, ‘’so, it’s the USA’s fault that Putin rolled in? We made them do it?” to which Kucinich responded by saying, ‘’Bill O’Reilly, if you don’t believe in cause and effect, I don’t know what I can do for you.” INTELLIHUB.COM In my view Kucinich is absolutely right. He has spoken nothing but the truth and such subterranean manouverings and covert operations by the United States government and their agents right on the doorstep of a nervous Russia was bound to result in drastic and extreeme retaliatory measures from Vladimer Putin.

This is all the more so given the fact that history, the law and logic is clearly on Putin’s side.

•FANI-KAYODE

By FEMI FANI-KAYODE

I say this because claiming that the Crimea is not Russian is simply absurd and it betrays nothing but ignorance. It is rather like saying that the people of the city of Ilorin and it’s environs in Kwara State and the people of Kabba, YagbaWest, Yagba-East, Mopa-Amuro, Ijumu and Kabba-Bunu Local Government Council Areas in Kogi State respectively are not Yoruba and that those areas are not part and parcel of Yorubaland simply because they are in the Northern part of Nigeria.

Historically, the Crimea has always been part of Russia and no less than 65 per cent of it’s population are not only ethnic Russians, but they also speak nothing but the Russian language. There are also massive and substantial pockets of Russian populations in Eastern Ukraine.

It is absolutely absurd for anyone to assume that the Russian Federation would sit by silently and allow the lives, the future, the fortunes and the destiny of their kinsmen from those parts to be in any way threatened.

Some have compared the situation in the Ukraine and the Crimea to the situation that exists between China and Taiwan.

This is an inappropiate and erroneous comparison and those that equate the two are not sufficiently aware of the relevant facts.

The difference is that the people of Taiwan, though they are ethnic Chinese, do not want to be part of China, but the people of the Crimea, who are ethnic Russians, want to be part of Russia desperately. That is the difference between the two.

It is simply a matter of the right to selfdetermination. They have that right and it is guaranteed by international law.

Remember the Falklands matter between Great Britain and Argentina, which led to war? That is a better comparison to this case than that of Taiwan and China. Great Britain did exactly what Russia is doing today in the Falklands in 1982.

They secured the rights of the people in the geographical space that was in dispute and they effected their wishes and will as was reflected in a free and fair referendum. In order to achieve this, they went to war. I would have expected no

less from Margaret Thatcher and the British.

Quite apart from the principle of selfdetermination, there is also the principle of the right to safety, the right to freedom from persecution and, most important of all, the right to life. The truth is that the people of the Crimea have as much of a right to life as anyone else and as long as they remain in a Ukraine that is in the power and under the control of the prowestern, ultra-nationalist and essentially fascist forces, that right to life cannot be guaranteed.

The fact of the matter is that those that are presently in power in the Ukraine simply hate the Russians of the Crimea and we can be be rest assured that they will utterly destroy them, strip away their rights, humiliate them and subject them to the most vicious and insidious form of persecution if given half a chance.

President Krushchev of the old Soviet Union made a grave error when he handed the Crimea and it’s almost total Russian population over to the Ukraine in 1954.

He did so only because he never envisioned a situation whereby the old Soviet Union would break up and that the people of the Ukraine would fall under the sphere of influence of America and Western Europe and end up being so hostile to ethnic Russians and to the Russian Federation. That situation is what Putin is faced with today and he has to rise up to the occasion and clean up the mess that was created in 1954.

He has to rectify that mistake by taking the Crimea back and protecting the lives and property of the ethnic Russians that live there. He must allay their fears and protect their interests because they are his kinsmen and they have no other nation to protect them apart from Russia. That is his right and duty and I am glad to see that he appears to be doing it.

This is all the more so given the fact that, by treaty and by international law, the Crimea is host to no less than 45,000 Russian soldiers and a massive Russian naval base. This naval base provides the only access that the Russian fleet has to a warm sea port anywhere in the world.

Perhaps this is what informed the comments of Mr. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, when he told a British audience in London on 14th March

2014 that ’” the Crimea is more important to Russia than the Falklands is to Great Britain”.

Given this, anyone that seriously believes that the Russians would sit back and allow all that to be taken away from them by a hostile government in Kiev, which is under the beautiful spell of the Americans has not understood the situation very well.

Whether anyone likes it or not, the Crimea, and indeed much of Southern and Eastern Ukraine, is an area that touches and concerns the vital and strategic national and security interests of the Russian Federation. What goes on in that area and who controls it is of great interest to the Russians and this must be so for very obvious reasons. Excuse my crude language, but you cannot piss on a giant’s doorstep and expect him to be pleased with you.

This brings me to the issue of the question of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsular in Nigeria and the way in which the Camerounians pissed on our doorstep and eventually managed to take it from us. This was after a ruling at the International Court of Justice in 2002 when President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power. We lost that ruling and after that Bakasi was physically and formally handed over to the Camerounians by the Yar’adua administration in August 2008.

Our humiliating surrender and capitulation to Camerounian aggression took place after many decades of provocation and military incursions into the area by the Camerounian military and after many of our people were humiliated and slaughtered in the most brutal manner by them.

Yet, this was not always so. Under the military government of General Sani Abacha, things were very different and one of the few good things that he ever did as Head of State was to call the bluff of the French and the Camerounians over the Bakassi Peninsular.

He not only dared them, but he also sent our troops, under the command of Brigadier-General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, to secure our Eastern boarders and to protect our territory from their reckless and open aggression. Force was poised to meet force and the Nigerian nation was mobilised for a full-scale territorial war.

Lt. Colonel Isa Mohammed, as he then was, and the courageous officers under his command, did most of the fighting by actually throwing the Camerounian soldiers out of Bakassi and, in so doing, he did Nigeria proud. If ever a man deserved to be on the honours list of our nation, it was Lt. Col. Isa Mohammed because his exploits during the Bakassi conflict, when General Abacha was in power, were extraordinary and simply legendary.

I am one of those that vehemently opposed General Abacha throughout his five years in power, but I was happy to commend him for his noble and courageous stand on the Bakassi matter and the vigorous and aggressive action that he took at the time to protect our people and secure our boarders.

I did so in a celebrated essay that I wrote for the Guardian Newspaper all the way from Ghana in 1997, which was titled ‘’Masters Of Our Fate, Captains Of Our Souls’’.

Many of my colleagues and friends in the opposition and NADECO, like the irrepressable Bashorun of Okemesi, Chief Akin Osuntokun, who is not only my friend and brother but also something of an intellectual soulmate, were shocked that I could have commended Abacha for anything given the fact that virtually every other single essay that I wrote for my weekly column and my numerous interventions in those turbulent years were vehemently opposed to him and his military government.

To be continued

12

INTERVIEW

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014

Women And Children Are Aregbesola’s Priorities - Adegboyega Mrs. Mofolake Adetoun Adegboyega is the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, State of Osun. In this interview with Moses Boba, she bares her mind on the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration for catering for women, children and the vulbackground properly, so that they do not take nerable in the society. Excerpts: our children for diabolical purposes. We do OSDF: Can we meet you Madam?

ADEGBOYEGA: My name is Mrs. Mofolake Adetoun Adegboyega, the Honourable Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, State of Osun.

OSDF: As a woman commissioner, how would you describe women in the State of Osun?

ADEGBOYEGA: We women in the State of Osun are hospitable, beautiful, women of virtue, hardworking and of course, we are quite vocal. We know that God has put us here for a purpose, and we are also ready to do what is expected of us. We are pillars of support for our men, particularly for any leader, whether religious, secular or any administration for the people. We are women that cannot be ignored. The woman in the State of Osun is very enterprising and do contribute to the success of her family and of course, the society at large. That is what we are.

OSDF: The government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola gets maximum support from women in the state, can you highlight on this?

ADEGBOYEGA: You will find out that whenever you do things that pleases one or when someone is sure about a person, especially if the person is considerate, then, you will give the person your maximum support. That is the case of Mr. Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. His administration, through the six-point integral action plan; to banish poverty, banish hunger, banish unemployment (create work and wealth), restore healthy living, promote functional education, enhance communal peace and progress has change people’s perception of governance. All these centered on women, and are issues that concerns women very much.

Our children for instance, as a woman in the State of Osun, if I have a child and feel that he or she needs to go to school, the Ogbeni ‘s administration has provided good schools; about two weeks ago, we launched another elementary school. The schools are childfriendly environment; they provided good teachers that are undergoing training and retraining. That child will be fed in school, given uniform, and at that crucial age, the child needs to develop well. You will agree with me that Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration requires maximum support from women, and as a woman, I will give my support to this government. The same government pays the tuition of students that will sit for West Africa School Certificate Examinations (WASCE).

The pupils from SS1 to SS3 were given freeof-charge computer tablets known as OponImo (tablets of knowledge) instead of buying and carrying cumbersome textbooks. These facts are not far-fetched from the reality of the unprecedented insightful projects and programmes of the Aregbesola’s administration. Apart from that, do you know that in the State of Osun, children and women healthcare services are free? As a mother, no matter how protective you are of your child, because we live in a malaria endemic area, the child could still have malaria once in a while.

Although, mosquito nets were distributed for our homes, but not in schools, and you cannot curtail children from playing in a particular environment, they sometimes play on the field and are bitten by mosquitoes, because we live in a mosquito-prone environment. Once in a year or two, the child may have malaria, he or she can access free healthcare services provided by Mr Governor. We have good markets, clean environments, and portable water. Even the wife of the governor of the State of Osun, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, is an ambassador for the Community Total-led Sanitation. That is because we have a government that is concerned about women.

There is a law on domestic violence. As a woman, I know there is an agency that will listen to my story if violated. So I will not be wronged by someone and still suffer in silence.

•ADEGBOYEGA No more! Even if we do not want to go court, there is a place we can go; Citizen Mediation Centre because in Yoruba land, it is often said that when we go to court, we are not expected to be friends afterwards. At this Centre, we can settle our differences, family disputes, and still be friends. Do we talk about road building? For instance 60-70% of women reside in rural areas. It is easier, comfortable to travel to the village, because the roads are better and you pay less on transportation.

Before this administration, the few motorists would charge you an arm and leg for a rough road trip to the village, but now the roads are better. The present government under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is opening up rural areas. There is constant electricity power supply in the State of Osun.

Let me tell you, I went to Lagos, and I did not enjoy electricity power supply there, I had to run my plant to generate electricity in my house. Electricity power is provided by the Federal government, but they will not come down to maintain it for us. We have cordial relationship with every arm of the government. Yes, back to where we were. The physically-challenged females are not left out; they are considered. Now you do not hide children in the closet. You see, women were forgotten in the past. It was this administration that discovered us. Women were organised into cooperatives by this administration, giving them start-up grants for skill acquisition. So, tell me why these women will not support Aregbesola?

OSDF: How would you reach out to vulnerable children?

ADEGBOYEGA: You know, we have been discussing Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s unusual administration. Everyone matters. This ministry, we care for the vulnerable. In fact, one of the reasons that we gave students

uniform was because we knew that there will be vulnerable ones among them. There is this state conditional cash transfer going on in the state that will soon be launched. The MDGs conditional cash flow for health of households.

It is for women, some are widows and some have husbands, but the husbands are like living dead because they do nothing. It is the woman that does everything. We also have categories of vulnerable children. I want to believe that all children are vulnerable because really, they cannot stand up for themselves. We are in a culture where children are to be seeing and not heard, but I want to inform you that this administration has broken the ice. Children have a right. That is why we have children parliament, which started early February, when they had their parliamentary session. they have a voice, they stand for the rights of children and amongst them are the physicallychallenged, that speaks for the vulnerable but apart from that, one of the assignments of this ministry is to care for the vulnerable children.

We also have special vulnerable children.

These are orphans with parents that have HIV or AIDS. There are vulnerable children with disability that are abandoned and living with us. We care for them because we have no choice. Some of them are in orphanages. For these reasons, we ensure that the orphanages are checked, we visit them on a routine basis, and we give out subvention. Recently, the wife of the governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola gave out milk to every child in our metro schools and also gave us a thousand and five hundred cartons that were distributed to orphanages. For instance, we have religious bodies that run orphanages. Jaleyemi Hospital also played roles in helping us with children with disabilities. Some of these children are adopted by people, and we make sure that we thoroughly check the adoptee’s

not want our children to be abused. Yearly, we do intervention programme like providing school uniforms, clothing, foods, and exercise books. We also encourage our people to adopt a vulnerable child today. They may not necessarily have to take them away from the orphanages. Some of the adoptees pay monthly as upkeep for these children at the orphanages.

OSDF: The children welfare services; can it be accessed by all?

ADEGBOYEGA: For instance, a situation when a child is abused and the ministry is alerted, the police take the child from such a home and hands him or her over to us for proper attention and caring, until the situation is sorted out. When children are picked up, they are brought to our homes. We have a home at Testing Ground Area of the state capital, where we care for children with one challenge or the other. The definition for children is 18 years and below. In the ministry, we have the Department of Social Welfare, Department for Children, Department for child Development, department for Women, and we have a F & A (Finance and Admin).

Anyone that wants to reach us can come to Abeere. We are here to render services to the public and we are accessible. Part of our welfare is Agba-Osun and it is done interministerial. The programme is for the elderly in conjunction with the ministry of Youths, Sports and Special Needs. This administration created a ministry for those in special needs.

It is a well-organised system. A survey was carried out by consultants for indigenous widows last year. It was not meant for anyhow widows, because it was not a government largesse or national cake. We are very careful. So, any intervention we do, we are very careful not to allow it fall into the wrong hands, so that they do not take it as their right. It is for those in need and we are not partisan or selfish, neither was it meant for the commissioner’s family members. No! We do not want to be accused of these. So, whatever we do, we make sure that it goes to the right people.

OSDF: The governorship election is around the corner come 9th August, 2014.

What is your advice for the women in the State of Osun?

ADEGBOYEGA: Women have a voice. We are the ones that feel the impact of bad governance most. We are also the ones that enjoy the good governance most. As you can see, we are at the receiving ends. Therefore, we are very sensitive and important in our homes and communities. We can no longer be neglected. The Ogbeni administration recognizes these qualities us, and we shall reciprocate that positive gesture. The women in the State of Osun are empowered by this government in different endeavours. Even our youths are not left out; they are now gainfully employed by the present administration, and some of them are engaged in one vocational skill or the other. The records are there for everyone to see. Therefore, I want our women, the good women in the State of Osun to go out en mass, at least, they can compare and observe the difference, now. I want them to exercise their civic right, jealously guard their votes, and they should not sell their votes. It is their right to secure a brighter future. Every woman of age should stand for what is right. That is what women are known for. I want our women to vie for elective positions and not just casting votes only, but to come out for councillorship, House of Representatives and so on. At the State House of Assembly, there are no women there. That is why I want our women to come out with full force to compete with their male counterparts. Globally, women are celebrated, especially in the month of March every year, as International Women’s Day, and we are saying: “Equity for woman is a progress for all”. We need women that are good examples for the society. Women arise!!!

13

IN RETROSPECT

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014

A Memorable Quote From A PDP Aspirant In The State Of Osun

“Recently, Chief Bola Ige came on radio here (Osogbo the state capital), to insult me and my family. THAT IS THE LAST TIME HE WOULD INSULT ME. He was beaten yesterday. The people of Ile-Ife beat him up and he was crying like a baby, as they removed his cap and glasses. If it had been at a political gathering, he will be dead by now..... In fact, what the people wanted to do was more than removing his glasses and cap....”

-IYIOLA OMISORE. •Culled from Vanguard Newspaper.

14

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014

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15

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, March 22, 2014

www.osundefender.org

THE 6TH MOST-VISITED NEWSPAPER WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2014

G

UBERNATORIAL elections will take place in Ekiti (June) and State of Osun (August) in the South-West geo-political zone this year.

Political parties in the two states are gearing up for their primaries to choose their flag bearers.

Recently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) helmsman accused political parties of commencing political campaigns, when the go-ahead has not been given in compliance with the amended Electoral Act. While the insinuation may be targeted at the gladiators of next year’s election, it is important to state that given the presidential system we operate, there is no way candidates would not flood the public space with their posters.

As a professor of political science, the INEC boss knows very well that the presidential system in operation allows any aspirant to throw himself up.

The aspirant can only be known by members of the public, who may be delegates to know who the aspirants are and what they hold in stock for the people. The system may so to speak, be classified as an all-comer affairs, because the system does not require any past experience or any pedigree.

Whereas the parliamentary system ensures that for any candidate to emerge, he must not only be a party member of long standing, his contributions must be worth what the party would put up.

Our current practice can be hijacked by any moneyed man to his own advantage, to which the party or majority of the people may be helpless.

There are certain developments in the country, especially in the South-West that can only be ignored at our own peril. It is important to restate the fact that it has been clearly asserted that people refuse to learn from history.

The genesis of the end of the first republic started in the then Western Region. The crisis in the then ruling party, the Action Group (AG) led by the late avatar, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which started in Jos, NorthCentral Zone in 1962, became the precursor for the military take-over in 1966.

According to the facts that emerged from the crisis, rather than the Federal Government taking steps to nip the problem in the bud, the Abubakar Tarfawa Balewa-led Federal Government took side with a leader that was unpopular in the region. Sources have said that even when the leader of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), who was also the Northern Premier, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello was asked to

AUDACIOUS EXPLOIT with MURTALA AGBOOLA TEL: 0806-119-7897 E-mail: murtalamuag@yahoo.com

Jonathan Should Learn From History

•JONATHAN

intervene, he refused claiming that it was a “brotherly affair.”

The last straw was the Western Region election of 1965 conducted by the then Premier, Aare Samuel Ladoke Akintola. The election was everything but free and fair. The cataclysm that erupted led to the christening of the area as Wild Wild West, which led to the first coup d’e tat of the five majors, led by Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu.

As a result of the coup, some political and military leaders were killed.

Amongst the political leaders that lost their lives were the Prime Minister of the federation, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the Northern Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello the Western Premier, Chief Akintola, Finance Minister, Festus Okotie-Eboh among others.

In the military circle, Col Shodeinde, Brigadier Maimalari among others, became the victims of the coup. The first coup, according to historical fact,

also culminated in the second coup, which was considered retaliatory or counter coup.

Critical observers have argued that if the powers that be at the federal level then had hearken to the wisdom of the elders and acted fast in the west, maybe, all that we are going through now would have been avoided.

In the current dispensation, some political analysts have observed that two ministers of Yoruba extraction are strategically positioned to do some unsavoury jobs for the federal powers.

AlhajiAdebisi JeliliAdesiyan andAlhaji Musliu Obanikoro of the State of Osun and Lagos State respectively for ministries of PoliceAffairs and Minister of the state for Defence respectively.

If history is not to be forgotten soon, the high-handedness and the desperation of the federal might was visited in the Western Region and in a similar vein, some people have alleged

that the newly-inaugurated ministers are being schemed to do a dirty job.

Though this allegation has been denied

by Adesiyan, some critical observers are still not comfortable.

This is so considering the desperation with which the Federal Government is planning to railroad the South-West back into the so-called “mainstream”, whatever that mean.

There are certain peculiarities of the Yoruba that cannot be discountenanced.

They are highly-educated and sophisticated. Yoruba are highlyurbanised and very analytical and critical of issues, hence it is difficult to push them about. It is in view of this that one is admonishing that the upshot of the forthcoming election should be made to reflect the wishes of the electorate in the region.

If any manipulation occurs, it is not the region alone that may go on fire but the entire country. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been in power at the federal level since 1999, while the party has also tasted power in the region at one time or the other, except Lagos and Ondo. Their performance should be the yardstick, with which the electorate can assess each political party.

The President Goodluck Jonathanled administration must do everything humanly possible to ensure that peaceful and credible election is conducted in Ekiti and Osun States. There is still enough time for INEC to right any wrong, which could negatively affect a free and fair election.

Political thugs should be put in check and voters should be free to go for election on the Election Day devoid of any fear. The Federal Government should allow the will of the people prevail, otherwise the problem that may crop-up may not be contained. As a country, we have had enough problems, so we need not create more for ourselves. A word to the wise, people say, is enough.

In a democracy we profess to practice, the choice of the people is paramount. With the Anambra State gubernatorial election at the back of our mind, we should be tempted to do the right thing.

We should not create an impression that we cannot do the right thing. This country can boast of human resources that can perform any feat. The forthcoming election would be a litmus test, which the country cannot afford to fail. The electoral body, the security agencies and above-all, the Federal Governments should play their roles very well. We should be more concerned about history, rather than our personal gains.

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.