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TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014
The PDP in the State of Osun has been described as confused, disorganised and disoriented band of politicians who should not be trusted with the huge responsibility of governing
VOL. 9. NO.036
Front Page Comment OSUN PDP CONFUSED, SAYS APC Research and Stratthe. State This assessment of the opposition party came from the All Progressives Party in a statement by its Director of Publicity,
egy, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi, and made available to the press in Osogbo, on Sunday. The APC was referring to the apparent fiasco that in
has bedevilled the PDP's ag.attempt to pick its candidate from the governorship aspirants who are practically at each other's throat a desperate bid to fly Continue on pg4
Who Killed Chief Bola Ige, formerAttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice?
N50
IGE
Osun PDP Guber Election Crisis:
Omisore Dares Jonathan In Abuja •Leave Us To Sort Out Ourselves, Aspirant Tells President - See Story On Page 2
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed) addressing members of Local Government Education Authority during their endorsement of the governor for second term at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun, last Saturday.
Osun To Build 5 Ultra-modern Mechanic Villages
- See Story On Page 3
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 25, 2014
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Osun PDP Guber Election Crisis: Omisore Dares Jonathan In Abuja •Leave Us To Sort Out Ourselves, Aspirant Tells President
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N its bid to find a lasting solution to lingering crisis bedevilling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun over who emerges as its flag-bearer in the fast-approaching August gubernatorial election in the state, a meeting called at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan with an aspirant on the party’s platform, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has ended on a negative note. Information at the dis- step down in favour of anposal of the medium re- other aspirant that may vealed that in view of the likely enjoy popular accepnegative reports received tance among the people. over Omisore’s possible Impeccable source candidature, the President within the party hierarchy decided to wade in, with a in the state stated that the view to persuading him to meeting, which was held
at the nation’s seat of power in Abuja, Aso Rock, had some notable members of the party in attendance, with President Jonathan presiding. With all formalities and protocol duly observed, the President was reported to have wasted no time in informing all in attendance, the purpose of the meeting. According to him, Omisore, inspite of the enormous financial re-
sources at his disposal, would not be able to have a meaningful impact on a formidable candidate of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s political stature, in view of his antecedents, should he be fielded by the party. In the President’s reasoning at the meeting, Aregbesola, based on his chain of achievements since his assumption of office, has surpassed the benchmark in terms of
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th left); Sheikh Abdul-Afeez (3rd left); State of Osun Commissioner for Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Mr Sikiru Ayedun (2nd left); Chief of Staff to State of Osun Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (4th right); Senator Bayo Salami (2nd right) after a courtesy visit by Muslim Ummah in the South West Governor Aregbesola at the Government House last Fridat.
Aregbesola Bags Golden Award On Public Administration By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
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has highest public school enrolment, with the highest human development in Nigeria and second in poverty reduction.” OAU Vice Chancellor, Professor Bamidele Omole represented by the Deputy VC (Academics), Professor Oyebami Salami, said the the governor has received two awards in the university within nine months, which is a confirmation of the good work of the governor. He said no individual in Nigeria has met that record
OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Friday urged the people of Nigeria to reject the People Democratic Party, (PDP) during the 2014 and 2015 general elections. Aregbesola said the All transforming Osun through Progressives Congress administrative excellence. (APC) government will Within 400 days of our provide better alternative administration, we have that will make life more depopulated the abundant for the people of unemployed population Nigeria. with the employment of Governor Aregbesola 20,000 youths. Osun has the berated the PDP 14 years least poverty rate in Nigeria stay in power without any with 3 percent rate. reasonable direct impact in “Osun as at this moment the living standard of an ordinary Nigerian, while receiving Golden Award on Public Administration at By KAZEEM MOHAMMED Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. UBLIC office holders from the diaspora in the The award was presented South-West have thrown their weight behind to the governor by the the second term bid of Governor Rauf Nigerian Universities Public Aregbesola of Osun and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti Administration Students states. during the first National At a meeting presided Diaspora, Mr Femi Summit of the association. over by a lawmaker Adefolaju, for the adoption Aregbesola said: “As a result of lack of coordinated representing Obokun State of Fayemi and seconded administration at the federal Constituency in the State by Jerry Adetona from level, Nigerians appear of Osun House of Osun, while the motion for luckless and that is more Assembly, Honourable the adoption of Aregbesola reason we must give them Olufemi Fafiyebi in was moved by the Osun farewell before they kill this Osogbo on Saturday, the lawmaker representing country.” diasporans said that the Ayedaade State He commended the two governors have Constituency, Honourable association for recognising changed the fortune of the Yemi Taiwo and seconded his prudent management of two states for the better. by Honourable Segun resources despite the The endorsement Erinle from Ekiti. financial crisis in the followed a motion by the Speaking at the meeting, country. Senior Special Adviser to Fafiyebi stated that the Aregbesola said: “We are
in the last 25 years President of the association, Leye Oderemi, said the award was in recognition of Governor A r e g b e s o l a ’ s transformation programmes and efficient public administration. Dignitaries at the event included the State Head of Service, Mr Sunday Olayinka Owoeye, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Sikiru Ayedun, his counterpart in the Local Government and Cheiftancy Affairs, Mr Kolapo Alimi, Senator Bayo Salami among others.
By OUR REPORTER
good governance in the state, which would make him a formidable candidate that would be difficult to defeat. The Ile-Ife-born senator was therefore, advised to step down for another aspirant, with a better image among the party members and the electorate. Omisore, who had patiently maintained his cool while the President’s speech lasted, reportedly stood up and looked at President Jonathan in the eyes and told him to steer clear of Osun politics at the moment, as he still remains the aspirant to beat, in view of his supposed popularity among party members. He also, in a point-blank manner, said Jonathan was ignorant of happenings in the state, therefore, should leave the aspirants to sort themselves out. The source further stated that the embattled governorship aspirant reportedly told the gathering including the President to allow all the aspirants to
go for primaries to test their political strength and popularity among party members. He then drummed it into the ears of all at the meeting about his resolve never to step down for any aspirant, no matter such aspirant’s connection with the presidency. The medium gathered that it was on this note that the meeting came to an end with the presidency deciding to opt for another aspiranton any other party’s platform aside the PDP. However, recent developments have shown another entrant into the party’s governorship race in the person of former governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who many believe, may likely be the presidency’s anointed aspirant. Adeleke had last week gone to the party secretariat in the heart of Osogbo, the state capital, to obtain his intention form for the princely sum of N5 million.
Oduoye: Death Shocking, Sad - Aregbesola
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OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described the death of Senator Simeon Oduoye, as sad and shocking. Odunoye reportedly to the rank of Assistant passed on in the early Inspector General of Police. He also gave good hours of Saturday. of himself as an In a statement by the account administrator, serving in Director, Bureau of Niger, Edo and Ebonyi Communications and States as Military Strategy, Office of the Administrator. Governor, Mr. Semiu “His demise will Okanlawon, Aregbesola certainly leave a gap in the said Oduoye’s death has politics of the state and the cast shadow on the state nation at large. “On behalf of myself, the and Nigeria’s political state, its entire populace, firmament. we commiserate with the “Senator Oduoye was entire family of the late an illustrious son of the senator. State of Osun. He did not “I pray that God will only distinguish himself as grant him eternal rest,” a police officer, who rose Aregbesola said.
South-West Diasporans Endorse Aregbesola, Fayemi For Second Term
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Ekiti State Governor on
performance of the two
governors in revamping the education system, massive road constructions, social security schemes for the elderly citizens in the two states, O’MEAL, OYES, distribution of Opon Imo and laptops for students among others have shown the commitment of the two governors to the development of their states. “The two governors have done so well and gave the people the confidence that there are better days ahead. “Inspite the meagre resources that are available to these two states, the governors have shown
that we still have leaders that are ready for the transformation of our states and they have been carrying it out to the letter,” Fafiyebi stressed. Also, Honourable Segun Erinle, representing Ilejemeje State constituency in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, added that none of the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can match the competence and pedigree of the two governors. “We know how Osun and Ekiti looked like before these two governors came and we can all see the transformation taking place there now.
“Our people have been exposed to new lease of lives and for these strides to continue in the two states, people are ready to re-elect the two governors,” he added. He however noted that the group has started mobilisation for the governors, with a view to ensuring the realisation of their second term bids. Also, Chief John Filani and Barrister Muyiwa Olanrewaju called for the support of the people for the two governors in the coming elections, with a view to giving them the opportunity to do more, interms of development.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Osun To Build 5 Ultra-modern Mechanic Villages By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
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S part of efforts aimed at industrialising the state, Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has stated that arrangements have been concluded to build five ultra-modern mechanic villages worth N5 billion each in the state. The governor added that the mechanic villages, which will be built in collaboration with Rebel Group, a company from the Neitherlands and the National Automobile Council are five out of the eleven, which have been approved for the entire country He made the disclosure during the inauguration of the new Executives of National Automobile and Technician Association of Nigeria (NATAN), Osogbo and Olorunda Chapter and declaration of support for the second term ambition of the governor. According to him, the five auto-cities will begin operations this year and would be located in Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ikirun, Ilesa and Iwo. Aregbesola also disclosed that a ‘mechanitonic village’ would soon be built at the premises of the Osun State College of Technology, EsaOke for the training of NATA members on modern ways of automobile repairs. He stated that the village, which will cost the state government N1 billion will
be manned by a team of 30 engineers, who are already undergoing training on modern day automobile repairs in Germany. While describing NATA as a strong pillar behind the economic growth of the state and a body which
always cooperates with government to move the state forward, the governor appreciated NATA endorsement, saying it will spurr the administration to continue moving the state forward. He described the endorsement as a huge sign that members of NATA and the state at large appreciate the good governance, which the state is presently enjoying. Chairman of the occasion and chairman, Oranmiyan
Worldwide, Prince Felix Awofisayo appreciated the NATA group for standing by the administration through thick and thin, while pledging the continued support of the administration towards the group. Also speaking, the VicePresident of NATA in the South-West, Comrade Dele Odewale, commended the giant strides of the present administration in the State of Osun, stressing that the performance of Aregbesola-
led administration is being felt even in neighbouring states. He added that Aregbesola is a God-sent governor, who is ruling the state according to the way he has been sent by the almighty God, which is why he is getting it right. Speaking on behalf of the members of NATA, the State Chairman of NATA, Comrade Fatai Balogun, said the automobile mechanics gathered to throw their weight behind the second term ambition of
the governor in recognition of his brilliant performance. He stated that the Aregbesola administration has impacted their lives and profession positively. Dignitaries on the occasion included the state deputy governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titilayo LaoyeTomori, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and other members of the state executive council.
Electorate Must Be Mobilized To Elect Own Leaders - NA Member
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HE impressive turn-out of the people of the State of Osun, Nigeria, for the voters’ registration exercise has further confirmed that the current public administration and governance in the state have uprooted apathy and indifference, and rekindled interest of Osun people in the electoral process. A traditional ruler in the Nigeria. He stressed that political state, HRH Oba Abdulraham Babatunde Mohammed, education would guarantee Olosunjela of Osunjela-Ijesa an enlightened, politicalin Atakunmosa West Local conscious and vigilant Government Council Area of electorate. Oba Mohammed stated the state made the observation when a team of that an effective, reliable, sitting parliamentarians paid free and fair electoral a courtesy call in his palace, process is vital to the after they had visited some success of democracy, that the voters’ registration centres explaining widespread ignorance of the in the state. The monarch recalled masses clearly contributed that the massive rigging in to the collapse of the past had clearly ruined democracy in the past. The lawmakers of the All the nation’s previous efforts at building a virile Progressives Congress and democratic polity in (APC) extraction, led by
Osun PDP Confused, Says APC T
Honourable Isreal Ajibola Famurewa had earlier noted that a voter’s card empowered the voter to elect leaders of clear vision and strong commitment to democracy and progress. Speaking for the visiting legislators, Famurewa of the National Assembly, Abuja, representing Ijesa South Federal Constituency
remarked: “The electorate must be enlightened, mobilized and empowered to use their electoral power wisely and decisively to elect leaders and representatives of requisite integrity.” The federal lawmaker decried the politics of nonissues, and urged the voters in the state to vote for
politics of ideas, policies and good programmes in the forthcoming governorship election in the state. He said: “The sterling performances of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the state have regenerated enthusiasm of Osun people in politics and elections”.
Akere Blames FG Over Workers’ Salary Delay, Applauds Workers’ Understanding meet its other statutory By SHINA ABUBAKAR
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IVIL servants and pensioners in the State of Osun have been commended for their support and understanding in the face of the financial hiccups created by the Federal Government’s reduction of funds accruable to states from the federation account, based on the spurious allegation of drop in sales of crude oil. Speaking with monthly dropped to about journalists in Osogbo over 2.7 billion per month since the weekend, the State July 2013, leading to a Commissioner for slight delay in the payment Information and Strategy, of salaries and wages. He disclosed that the Honourable Sunday Akere, ability of the Aregbesola reminded civil servants of the pledge and administration to still pay commitment of Governor salaries, wages and Rauf Aregbesola’s pension, even after some administration towards weeks’ delay, deserved payment of their salaries commendation, saying: “if latest by 25th of every not for the prudent style month; a commitment he of managing the affairs of religiously honoured until the state that has led to the the down-turn in the creation of reserves revenue allocations to the savings, the current N2.7 billion from the federal state since July 2013. Speaking further, the allocation is not sufficient commissioner said the to meet the monthly wage average allocation from the bill of about N3.6 billion; federation account, which not to talk of the hovers around N4.6 billion government being able to
HE State of Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic politicians, who are Party (PDP) has been described as a confused, desperate for power in the disorganised and disoriented band of who should not state. be trusted with the huge responsibility of governing the The main opposition state. party was also reminded by This assessment of the candidate. the APC spokesman to “A party like the PDP, always remember that opposition party came from the state wing of All notorious for lies, fraud, ‘virtuous people can never and give their gold to the pigs, Progressives Party (APC) in incompetence a statement issued and kleptomania will never again because the pigs will smear signed by its Director of be voted into power, it in the mud’.The APC Publicity, Research and anywhere in Yorubaland, further stressed: “With Strategy, Barrister Kunle moreso in Osun, the courage and persistence in Oyatomi, and made available heartland of Yoruba nation. defending the progress “That is so because of Aregbesola has made since to journalists in Osogbo, the Osun people’s horrible November 2010, we shall state capital on Sunday. The APC was referring to experience with that party overcome the violence, the the apparent fiasco that has between 2003 and 2010,” desperation and bedevilled the PDP’s the APC declared. wickedness that the PDP is The party therefore unleashing on the peaceful attempt to pick its candidate from the governorship urged the citizenry of Osun State of Osun in the run-up aspirants who are to stand firm and disregard to August 9 election,” the practically at each other’s the shenanigans of PDP APC declared throat, in a desperate bid to fly the opposition party’s flag. According to the APC, ‘the lies, allegations and mudslinging among the aspirants have turned into ‘roforofo’ fight, in which fake security report and lies about their president’s endorsement of one or the other have only shown how mean and irresponsible some of the PDP aspirants can get. The APC maintained that there’s no viable challenge from the PDP as yet to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. ‘The situation is now getting worse because desperate aspirants within the opposition are originating fake and spurious security report to the president on the pages of newspapers, attempting to stupidly suggest that the APC is responsible for the •(R-L) Members of the Public Office Holders from Diaspora in the South West: Hon Yemi Taiwo; Femi Fafiyebi, Chief disarray in which Osun PDP John Filani, Hon. Segun Erinle, Mr Femi Adefolaju and Mr Jerry Adetona during the endorsement of Governors found itself over who Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti states for second term in Osogbo at the weekend. should be the party’s
financial commitments and funding of the numerous ongoing projects. “The establishment of the Omoluabi Savings Scheme, which mandatorily made the government to save 15 per cent of the accruable monthly revenue before the downturn, assisted government in a long way in meeting up with its financial obligations.” Several states of the federation and even, including the Federal Government are owing salaries, wages and pensions running into several months without any hope of quick settlement, while Osun has been successfully paying the salaries, wages and pensions with only few days’ delay. He reiterated that as the electioneering campaign draws near, the opposition in its deceitful conduct will not hesitate to go round, spreading falsehood, by claiming that the little delay is the making of the Aregbesola administration, ignoring the fact that it was truly the making of the PDP-led Federal Government. Akere noted that the desperate politicians that are out to spread falsehood and outright lies should be asked what the situation is with workers in the employ of the Federal Government, instead of them being allowed to instigate crisis in the otherwise seaceful state of the Virtuous. On payment of salaries and wages for February 2014, Akere stated that Governor Aregbesola has ordered payment since last week.
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the opposition flag. According to the APC, 'the lies, allegations and mudslinging among the aspirants have turned into 'roforofo' fight in which fake security report and lies abot their president's endorsement of one or the other have only showed how
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 25, 2014
OSUN PDP CONFUSED, SAYS APC the president on desperate for
mean and irresponsible some of the PDP aspirants can get'. The APC maintained that there's no viable challenge from the PDP as yet to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. 'The situation is now getting worse because desperate aspirants within the opposition are originating fake and spurious security report to
the pages of newspapers, attempting to stupidly suggest that the APC is responsible for the disarray in which Osun PDP found itself over who should be the party's candidate. A party like the PDP, notorious for lies, fraud, incompetence '.and kleptomania will never again be voted into power,
anywhere in Yorubaland, moreso in Osun, the heartland of Yoruba nation. That is so because of Osun people's horrible experience with that party between 2003 and 2010', the APC declared. The party therefore urged the citizenry of Osun to stand firm and disregard the shenanigans of PDP politicians who are
Recurrent Electioneering Problem In Nigeria
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CIENCE teaches that Man is a higher animal, because of its ability to think. The fact that Man has being growing at a geometrical progression in all its areas; politically, economically, scientifically and even spiritually. Man has ever being proving to be different from animals and trees. We have not been static; we have been moving; growing from one grade of civilization to another; from the art of war, to communication, writing and to transportation. Civilization is not only a major sign that man grows and that Man is not static, but unfortunately Nigeria seems to be static in the areas of electioneering. Should we possibly say that this is not our form of government culturally or should we admit that after decades of independence, we are still slaves to other governments by practicing their forms of government? As old as Nigeria is, are we to say that ‘the Old Man is the Young Man’s son? Definitely no! Nigeria has got un-used potentials.
The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has been doing different things to get different result. But it seems the man’s different ideas are not making any difference. We could plead his retirement like many politicians are doing, but will this solve the problem Nigeria has got in the area
of electioneering? Man can think; everyone believes in this simple theory. Should we possibly now believe in the absurdity that Africans or Nigerians are foolish? Definitely No! But it is quite saddening that Nigeria has been a political entity for a while now, yet, she couldn’t fit in to the grade of its contemporaries even in the West-African sub-region.
Anambra State’s gubernatorial election was recorded on gross faults. Collection of Permanent of Voters’ cards in the State of Osun was also recorded to have been a major way towards rigging the August 9 election, in the state. INEC should buckle up. Who can predict what a child will be on earth, if not for the one who could see into the deep, but the issues
on ground needs no seer to be seen. Despite all Jega’s ideas, INEC still seems to inefficient again. Isn’t it high time we got our heads together to solve the problem of this country once and for all, especially in the areas that concern the chosen representative government in the country. If truly we want to practice representative democratic government, I
think it is high time we did it like other nations, that have succeeded in it or we do it better than they do, but never below what they have done. Without mincing words, I guise we need to call on every unscrupulous and greedy politician to desist from every act of evil, which might not only affect this generation, but the coming generations. They should pave way for INEC to perform it duties as it desires. They should let INEC be the Independent National Electoral Commission it is and not dependent on any politician. Also INEC should be sincere, think well and prove to the public whom they serve that they are not zombies, neither are they a tool for any politician. The on-going voters’ registration is poor in all sincerity; INEC should get things fixed up properly for the sake of its reputation. • A B R A H A M JESUDOYIN, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, State of Osun
' November power in the 2010, we shall state. overcome They should the violence, always remember that virtuous the desperation and wickedness people can never give their that the PDP is gold to the pigs, unleashing on because the pigs the peaceful will smear it in state of Osun in the run-up to the mud'. The APC further August 9 election', the APC stressed, 'with declared courage and persistence in defending the progress Aregbesola has made since
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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the above mail address. ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com
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Education OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Revamping Public Education In The State Of Osun
Benefits Of Opon Imo Education Intervention Initiative In spite of the volume and quality of time and lengthy writings devoted to the Opon Imo intervention initiative introduced by the incumbent administration; the fact still remains that it stands as one of the most controversial measures among all revolutionary instruments in the Education Sub-sector of the state in modern time. NIYI OLASINDE revisits the numerous benefits of the Tablet of Knowledge, as a prelude to the kick-off of the first set of school certificate examinations to be sat by certificate year students in the State of Osun since its introduction last year. The bold pace-setting step of pioneering this wonderful device for use in our public schools, which had for several years running, been relegated and reduced to bases for disseminating ignorance, poverty and intellectual cum moral decay is through this piece applauded. With the outset of the first round of Senior Secondary Schools’ Certificate in Education (SSCE) external examinations this year, this edition is dedicated to the huge ground-breaking achievements expected, concomitant to the introduction of the intervention initiative. This is coupled with the fact that the Aregbesola administration, as part of its free education drive, enrolled the public schools’ candidates in the State of Osun free of charge for the West African Examinations’ Council (WAEC) segment of the examinations.
•(L-R) Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC) , Chief Bisi Akande; the Deputy Governor/Commissioner for Education, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori; the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat; the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal and the National Leader, All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the official launch of Opon Imo: Tablet of Knowledge at Zenababs Hotel, Ilesa, the State of Osun, sometime ago.
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MAGAZINE
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Benefits Of Opon Imo Education Intervention Initiative
•(L-R) Representative of Kano State Governor, Kano State Commissioner for Education, Barrister Farouk Iyasambo; Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal; Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, during the launching of Opon Imo tablet for students of the State of Osun in public Secondary Schools at Zinabab Hotel in Ilesa sometime ago. Contiuned from page 5
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HE terrains of public education in the years preceding the advent of the Rauf Aregbesola administration was far from being attractive or alluring. This is true as all indications pointed to a situation of rot, decay, abandonment and devastation in the sub-sector; so much so that parents and guardians were repelled with fear and disgust from committing their wards to the care and tutelage that that category of schools dispensed. Needless to say, the only category of parents and guardians who were left to the mercy of those schools were those who due to certain limitations imposed by economy or other factors, had no alternative than sending their wards there as a last resort. In other words the segment of the populace who gave patronage to those schools in those dark days comprised those who looked up to God and prayed ceaselessly for deliverance and rescue to come their way some day. In our series last year and in years before, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine has devoted lengthy writing to the spate of rot and decay which the sub-sector witnessed during the period under reference. We therefore would not have to subject our numerous readers to the boredom, drudgery and monotony of having to recast the ugly events of those years. We also have, time and time again given details of the poor score sheets of candidates of the state who were produced through the ugly system in public examinations. In honest terms, the performances were not only persistently poor but also abysmally woeful and disheartening. In terms of enrolment figures, the statistics had dwindled drastically. In terms of schools’ physical structures, materials, equipment and textbooks, the scoring was simply nothing to write home about. The quantity and quality of teaching and non-teaching personnel in those schools had been another point of concern. In most cases, the teachers were not just there. Where they were present in some numbers, it was not usually in the right quality. Recruitment and selection exercises for teachers in those
days were fraught with fraud and irregularities, hence, the teachers (so called) were mostly engaged in an attempt to pacify political hangers-on, cronies and boot-lickers. Since the coming on board of the Rauf Aregbesola administration however, a wave of change, unprecedented and unimaginable – confounding to distracters has rippled the public education sub-sector of the state. In all ramifications, the sub-sector has been virtually overhauled. Apart from the free, functional and qualitative education package wielded by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in the State of the Virtuous, other components of good service delivery, which could make learning much easier, attractive, effective and efficient have been put in place. Among the multiple “O” programmes initiated by the Government Unusual, the education industry has taken a substantial number. We can easily talk of the O’ Uniform programme under the auspices of which the administration distributed school uniforms and badges free of charge to all students in public schools in accordance with their levels; whether elementary, middle or high school. Not only this, the O’ Meal programme ensures free feeding of pupils in primary school classes one to four on daily basis with nutritious and highly enriched food varieties so as to enhance their intellectual development and prepare them adequately for future challenges. The O’ Calisthenics is a programme in physical cum affective and psychomotor domains. Through it, the government of the day has exposed the students, drawn mostly from the middle school rung of the educational ladder to more productive engagements of their time, talents and latent potentials. The O’ SCHOOLS intervention initiative is an area that is almost of exceeding importance of all. This is so as no meaningful and impactful teaching-learning process can take place in poor physical environment. The State of Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Committee, known for short as O’ SCHOOLS is out to effect the demolition of all existing
dangerously dilapidating structures in all our public schools and replacing such with modern, befitting and more durable ones that can favourably compare with the demands of the Twenty-First Century. We have discussed issues relating to this to detail in some of our editions in the just-concluded year. We only need to add in passing that “infrastructure” in the context of O’ SCHOOLS mean a wide variety of components which include: a) School buildings as designed and approved; b) External works as designed and approved; c) Landscaping as designed and approved; d) Furniture for students and staff; e) Library, laboratory and workshop equipments; f) Sporting facilities; and g) Any other facility, structure and equipment that may be considered necessary for effective teaching and learning in the schools. Also, by the plan of the O’ SCHOOLS Committee, we realize that the government intended at the initial stage to build and deliver: · 100 elementary schools (2,100 classrooms); · 50 (62?) middle schools; and · 20 high schools In view of limitations imposed by the economic realities on ground, the first phase of the programme could however accommodate the minimum delivery of: · 50 elementary schools; · 33 middle schools; and · Between 10 and 20 high schools As at the end of last year, the statistics of these schools which were almost ready for official commissioning and use was put at about fifteen (15) elementary schools; thirteen (13) middle schools; and ten (10) high schools. The figures are still counting, as the programme is continuous through the life of the administration. Latter part of last year Contiuned on page 11
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 25, 2014
PHOTOTALK
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Local Government Education Authority Staff In The State Of Osun Endorsed Governor Rauf Aregbesola For Second Term In Office At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, Last Saturday.
•Governor Aregbesola (left) acknowledging cheers from his supporters.
•A cross section of the LGEA staffers during the programme.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 25, 2014
PHOTOTALK
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Local Government Education Authority Staff In The State Of Osun Endorsed Governor Rauf Aregbesola For Second Term In Office At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, Last Saturday.
•Governor Aregbesola (left) in a handshake with President of ANTP in Nigeria, Mr Jide Kosoko on the occasion.
•A cross section of ecstatic Aregbesola’s admirers at the event.
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PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Local Government Education Authority Staff In The State Of Osun Endorsed Governor Rauf Aregbesola For Second Term In Office At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, Last Saturday.
•The LGEA members raising up Governor Aregbesola’s hand to support him for second term in Osogbo.
Nigeria Automobile Technician Association, State Of Osun Chapter, Endorsed State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, For Second Term In Office At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, Last Thursday.
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye Tomori with the Executives of Nigeria Automobile Technician Association (NATA), Osun Chapter, during the governor’s endorsement for second term in office and inauguration of state executives at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, last Thursday.
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PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Local Government Education Authority Staff In The State Of Osun Endorsed Governor Rauf Aregbesola For Second Term In Office At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, Last Saturday.
•Governor Aregbesola (right) addressing his admirers during the programme.
•A cross section of O’Meal vendors during the programme.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 25, 2014
MAGAZINE
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Benefits Of Opon Imo Education Intervention Initiative
•AREGBESOLA Contiuned from page 6
and early this year marked the official commissioning of the first fruits of the O’ SCHOOLS project and their delivery to their respective intended end-users. First in this regard was the official commissioning of the Salvation Army Middle School, located at the Oke Fia / Alekuwodo area of Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun. That was done in September 2013. Second was the commissioning in February of 2014 of Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, IleIfe. Most recently during the month of March, another ultra-modern school building project in the category of elementary school, the A.U.D. Government Elementary School, IsaleAgbara, Isale-Osun, Osogbo was officially commissioned. The list is still counting! This rate of completion has put wagging tongues into silence. We have observed through the lifetime of the incumbent administration how our public schools have flourished prolifically with massive employment of trained, qualified, competent and highly experienced teaching personnel. We have also witnessed how the administration has made the teachers in public schools highly motivated by attending promptly to all their needs, not only in terms of salaries and fringe benefits, but also other needs bordering on entry and terminal points as well as elevation of high echelon personnel in the teaching profession to the exalted status of Permanent Secretary. Hence we now have three Tutors-General; one for each Senatorial District of the state. Central to the free education programme of the administration of the day is the free book distribution exercise embarked upon. By this, the sufferings of the masses have been alleviated a great deal through free distribution of exercise. The climax of this is the introduction of the Tablet of Knowledge, known as Opon Imo. This device is one of the most laudable efforts of the Aregbesola administration in the Education Sub-sector. The Schools Reclassification Programme and Schools Discipline Initiative are other effort made to revive the sector from the horrible state it was in at the take-over time of the administration.
•LAOYE-TOMORI
We shall now swing forward to give concise consideration to Opon Imo and all that it entails. When the newly-inaugurated administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came out with the idea of holding the first-ever State of Osun Education Summit in February 2011, detractors wagged their tongues in outright condemnation of the programme which they considered as sheer waste of time and resources. Today, the summit has justified itself; as it has translated to meaningful life-impacting transformation in the Education Sub-sector of the state; most especially the public schools, to which the government remains proprietor and financier. We know for sure that quite a number of interesting packages has begun to be rolled out as aftermath of the summit, which was chaired by none less a personality like the academic giant and famous Nobel Laurel, Professor Wole Soyinka. Notable among such educational rebranding efforts of the administration which are wielding potent reforms in the education industry of the state owing to their purposeful and faithful implementation are the O’ Uniform, O’ SCHOOLS, O’ Meal and O’ Calisthenics; and such others as we have discussed above. The particular ground-shaking and epoch-making entrant into the scene is the Tablet of Knowledge, known popularly as Opon Imo. THE Opon Imo initiative has come, like its earlier-introduced counterparts to demystify school learning and make public school learning more attractive; thereby restoring its old-lost glory, honour, sanctity and rectitude. By virtue of the line-up of these intervention efforts, it is no longer a dreadful event to send a child to public schools. On top of these attractive packages; education in our public schools is free, qualitative and functional. What this latter point implies is that a good proportion of parents who had been made victims of coughing out enormous hard-earned resources in order to get their wards educated in private schools; or rather who could scarcely afford that costly facility for their wards are now afforded the rare privilege of good education free of charge, courtesy of the quintessential leader of our time, Ogbeni Aregbesola.
Through the introduction of Opon Imo, the burden of spending enormously on textbooks either by parents or government has been relieved. We remember with nostalgia the old good eras of free education as introduced and successfully operated in the defunct Western Region by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the premier of the Region. The same feat was replicated during the Second Republic with late Chief Bola Ige at the helm of affairs as Governor of the old Oyo State. We also remember the good efforts of Chief Bisi Akande in his days as Governor of the presentday State of Osun. During the entire period under reference, tuition, textbooks and notebooks were entirely free! The free education scheme afforded many school children especially those from humble socio-economic background the opportunity of access to quality, functional education. By the standards of those periods, school children were provided with textbooks and notebooks free of charge. But the standards of the current time place the demand on government to find another device which can present volumes of books of different sizes in a very light, easyto-access gadget, which an average learner can carry about with much ease and which can provide learning anywhere and anytime without the burden of carrying bulky bags around. Another advantage of the Opon Imo is that it saves the government the perennial burden of procuring sets of books. According to Governor Aregbesola while responding to critics that his administration is deemphasizing the use of books, he enumerated the economic benefits of providing easier4 alternative as consisting in saving enormous costs for the state which can be expended on other viable life- changing programmes and projects. The governor said that over a period of ten years, the devise would save government a whooping sum of about N50.25 billion; were the state to engage in the physical purchase of hard copies of textbooks for the 17 subjects taught in our public schools, hard copies of 51 audio tutorials, hard copies of JAMB and WAEC past questions and answers and the rest. Aside these, the Opon Imo device can be Contiuned on page 12
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 25, 2014
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Benefits Of Opon Imo Education Intervention Initiative
•A cross section of pupils in the State of Osun displaying the Opon-Imo tablets, during the official launch at Zenababs Hotel, Ilesa, State of Osun. Contiuned from page 11
solar-powered. It also has the capacity to record audio lessons, thus saving students the trouble of copying notes. It also spares them more time to learn. Another benefit confirmed for the device is that it facilitates the incumbent administration’s free education programme through its costsaving nature. We would all agree that a truly qualitative and functional free education programme is usually a crowd-puller. The populist nature of such programme therefore would require its provider to find means of making learning easier, fast and all-reaching within a limited space of time. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine is of the assurance that the Aregbesola administration has done this sufficiently well. The governor has continuously emphasized the bold resolve and determination of his administration to focus thrust on the making of the total student – so the preparation of conducive learning environment, which consists in the construction of befitting classrooms and equipping such with good furniture, shall win the priority attention of his government. He has never reneged on his promise that his administration will not waver or get derailed from the pursuance of these lofty courses of action. Further on the issue if textbooks, Aregbesola reasoned that since textbooks are made from wood which is obtained from forests cultivated on wide expanses of land; the introduction of a devise like Opon Imo, which reduces the dependence on books, will help in the conservation of our forest resources, hence reducing risks associated with environmental degradation. It has been a reasonable argument from the point of view of Ogbeni Aregbesola that since a student must have been exposed to textbooks from kindergarten, offering him something different at his high school age would do him much benefit. In other words, he should be offered with the kind of learning that brings him in conformity with his colleagues and
counterparts in the present world order through exposure to digital-based instruction that makes him ICT-compliant. In Governor Aregbesola’s definition, the Opon Imo devise is a first of its kind standalone learning tablet in the world for self-paced study. It provides three major content categories visà-vis e-library virtual classroom, and an integrated test zone. The virtual classroom category contains 63 e-books, covering 17 academic subjects for examinations conducted by WAEC, NECO and JAMB as well as nonacademic life-enriching subjects such as History of the Yoruba, Sexuality Education, Civic Education, Ifa on Ethics and Morals, Enterprise Education, hints and tips on passing SSCE and How to Live a Healthy and Happy Life. It was further revealed by the Governor that this section also contains an average of 16 chapters per subject and 823 chapters in all, with about 900 minutes or 15 hours of audio voiceovers. In the integrated net zone of the devise, there are more than 40,000 JAMB and WAEC practice questions and answers dating back to about 20 years. It also contains mock tests in more than 51 subject areas, which approximates to 1,220 chapters, with roughly 29,000 questions, referencing about 825 images. The tablet, as it has turned out, is in design, use and purpose more than a learning devise. It is a revolution that individualizes learning and brings the school to the child. No wonder that Governor Aregbesola said that in the old order, the pupils went to school to study, but that with Opon Imo, they henceforth learn! Opon Imo has also been defined as entailing democratization of learning. This is so, because Opon Imo provides equal access to every child, irrespective of his or her background. Pupils in the remotest village now have access to the same body of knowledge as their counterparts from the most cosmopolitan city. No wonder that OSUN DEFENDER Magazine drew reference to the coincidence of the Opon Imo launch with the June 12 celebration, vis-à-vis the mention above of the
democratization aspect of the device. We pause to reflect that the annulment of the results of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Elections which was widely, convincingly and overwhelmingly won by the late business mogul, captain of commerce and symbol of the collective cause for democracy, late Bashorun Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola poised monumental set-back to the nation and the development of its segments and institutions. Had the democratic experience of that time been allowed to thrive and materialize, the nation would have advanced well today. This is more so if it is viewed against the back drop that the achievers of today – Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babatunde Raji Fasola and our own Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola – were parts and parcel of the struggle in the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). If our return to democratic governance had started from that time; honestly, we would have gone very far by now. Opon Imo, by containing all subjects, is a veritable tool in the making of the rounded student. It was revealed that a science student has access to textbooks on arts and social sciences and vice-versa. We also learnt that there is a business side to the tablet. According to Governor Aregbesola, a factory for the assemblage of computer tablets is already in the pipeline in the State of Osun. The factory will provide jobs for our youths and provide revenue to the government. He said that by that singular move, the foundation is being laid for the making of Osun as the IT hub of the nation. The governor expressed the hope of his administration that Opon Imo would spread to other parts of the nation from the State of Osun. In rounding up his speech at the launch of the devise in June 2013, Ogbeni Aregbesola viewed the addition of Opon Imo to our education as another turning point in the public school system in the State of Osun. He expressed his strong belief that the history was in the making on that day with the official launch of the Continued on page 13
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Benefits Of Opon Imo Education Intervention Initiative
•(L-R) Tambuwal; Tinubu and former Vice-President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on the occasion. Continued from page 12
devise; and that the real significance of the day in the history of education in Osun will be appreciated in the fullness of time. History was made in June 2013 through the events culminating in the official unveiling of the iPod-like computer devise; customized to demystify learning for students at the senior secondary level of our public school system in the State of Osun. Branded simply as Opon Imo, which translates into Tablet of Knowledge, the devise, a brainchild of the Aregbesola administration had earlier come under severe criticisms from the camp of detractors on many grounds; the last of which was that the programme had been clandestinely launched in Lagos. Earlier, detractors had tongue-lashed the project as sheer attempt at wasting the financial fortunes of the state; attempting to deify the oracles by the introduction of what they chose to call Opon Ifa; and an overall attempt at making the youths of the state tow the path of fetishism. As time advanced, further accusations came that the Opon Imo project sought to deemphasize the use of textbooks; and most recently, critics of the project cried foul that it had been launched in Lagos, rather than the State of Osun for which it was designed and meant. At the end of it all, the administration of the day, under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has proven itself to be well above all situations aimed at distracting it as the Opon Imo initiative has eventually seen the light of day.
In his state-wide broadcast heralding in the New Year 2014, the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola elucidated on the numerous achievements of his administration in the past years. In his speech titled “Reflections on Our Policies and Programmes”, the Governor detailed the achievements, which bordered chiefly on the giant strides recorded in the education industry. While commenting on the whole essence of his aspiration to become the helmsman of the state in the first place, the governor had this to say:
“As we begin this great year, I reflect on the last year and even the last three years since the Almighty God, by His grace and mercy, brought me to this seat as your Governor. Permit me to say that the only reason why I aspired to be governor was to get an opportunity to improve the lot of the masses of our people.
people. “It has been scientifically confirmed in many countries that provide lunch for their children in school that it significantly improves the academic performance and health of the pupils. We are finding this to be the case in our state.
“Additionally, the programme has increased “I know how dehumanizing poverty and lack elementary school enrolment in Osun from of opportunities can be. I know how illiteracy can 150,000 to 380,000 children. We now have the truncate the destiny of a person and a society. largest elementary school enrolment in the “This is why every day our focus as an country.” administration has been (and is) on how to improve the lives of the majority of our people. Of particular note is the reference we intend to draw “My firm belief is that government exists to to the last quoted paragraph above. On the overall, it protect life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, is the aggregate of the comprehensive and integrative provide an environment for commerce to thrive, package of initiatives in the education sector of the for the young and economically deprived to be state that contributed to the upsurge in enrolment educated, for the sick who cannot afford medistatistics of public schools in the state, to the effect care to be taken care of, for the provision of that there was a swelling of more than double only security for all, and for the enforcement of the within the space of three years. rule of law and maintenance of law and order. Commenting on the Opon Imo initiative, the “All of these must be premised on the truth that Governor traced the purpose of its introduction and all men, regardless of means, religion or ethnicity, the impact it had made so far, when he said: are created equal by God and must be enabled where they are unable to access the means for “Our provision of ‘OPON IMO’ (THE TABLET decent and humane existence. OF KNOWLEDGE) which contains all the “The question I ask myself about any policy we textbooks and teaching aids required in high propose to make is simple: ‘How will this benefit school is because we know that most parents in the state simply cannot afford the cost of the poorest in the State of Osun’?” textbooks. On the justification behind the introduction of the O’ Meal programme, the Governor made the following comments:
“Again we believe that all of our children, regardless of the financial means of their parents, must have equal access to books and other materials for effective learning. The introduction of this electronic tablet is to bring our children, no matter how remote their location may be from the centres of digital advancement, to familiarity and currency with cutting-edge technology.”
“It is this philosophy that has guided and inspired all of our policies as your government. We put in place the O’Meals programme for feeding all elementary school children daily because we know that a large number of our people find it difficult to feed themselves and their The Governor appraised the overall education children. We know that undernourishment and calorie deficiency is a major cause of physical and policies and programmes of his administration mental underdevelopment of children and young Continued on page 14
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Benefits Of Opon Imo Education Intervention Initiative
•Salvation Army Middle School, Alekuwodo, Osogbo. Continued from page 13
in lucid terms in the following words:
“The same is true of our educational reform policy. You will recall that when I was sworn in as Governor in November 2010, the schools were in a shambles. Hardly any school in the state had facilities of any kind. We then called for an education summit, attended by great educationists and intellectuals of all persuasions. “Professor Wole Soyinka, our own Nobel Laureate, made time out to personally attend. The summit recommended a complete overhaul of our education system.”
He particularly appraised the outcome and effectiveness of the first-ever State of Osun Education Summit as follows:
“The most important conclusion of the summit was the restructuring of the system into three basic categories, Elementary, Middle and High schools. Grades 1–4 are the elementary school, Grades 5– 9 are the middle school, while grades 10–12 are the high school.”
Concerning the State of Osun Schools’ Infrastructure Development Committee (O’ SCHOOLS), the Governor affirmed our claims when he said:
“In the high school, we focus on preparing the children for both internal and external examinations. Our plan is to build 20 new high schools, 50 middle schools and 100 elementary schools. Each of these schools will be equipped to state-of–the-art standards, especially with digital learning aids, electronic boards, functional and contemporary laboratory equipment, sports facilities, clean water and large power generators etc.”
Making justification for the merger of schools, the Governor made the following clarifications:
“The only way to provide these facilities at affordable costs is to merge small poorly equipped schools into larger schools where all the facilities can be provided to large numbers of students using economy of scale to maximum advantage. This is what we have done. “Sometimes, this policy has been misunderstood and some have tried to mischaracterize the reforms as having a religious undertone. This is most unfortunate, wicked and untrue. “The philosophy of our education policy has been the development of a new man intellectually, socially and morally. This new man is placed in the centre of society and views his own development as part of and for the development of society. “This is a non-parasitic and non-oppressive man, who views his existence in the context of the growth of others; he views whatever he acquires to be subsumed in the overall interest of others. He is a man in himself and a man for society.”
Governor Aregbesola refuted claims by a segment of people that he is bent towards favouring one religion against the other. He also told the story behind the education reforms initiated by his administration: “There are some who may genuinely feel that the education reforms might affect their missions. This is an unfounded fear. Only an irresponsible person will attempt to rubbish or remove the legacy of missionaries in education in Osun and even in Nigeria. I attended mission primary and secondary schools here in Western Nigeria and I proudly display that on my resume. “But let me take us back into a bit of our fairly recent history. Everyone knows that mission schools were taken over by the government of the Western State almost 38 years ago. This means that since 1975, all mission schools were owned, funded and run by government. But the successive state governments ensured that the names of the schools were not changed, in order to maintain the legacies of the founding missionaries.
“Therefore, as we rebuild the schools and expand their facilities, we also have not and will not tamper with their names. We believe that the missions and missionaries, who founded the schools, must be immortalised by retaining the names of the schools. For example, one of the completed middle schools in Osogbo is the Salvation Army Middle School at Alekuwodo.”
On the prospects of returning mission schools to their initial owners, the Governor said:
“I am also aware of the agitation of some missions to have schools returned to them. Although, as I have said before, the schools have been owned by governments since 1975, our administration is not foreclosing the prospect of returning some of the schools upon the completion of our new schools. “I wish to emphasize that this process can only begin upon completion of the schools we are currently and aggressively building all over the state. The process of return of schools must be well planned and executed because of the various implications, especially the fact that their ownership had changed almost four decades ago.”
On the newly introduced Omoluabi Corps and Instilling discipline in school children of the state the Governor said:
“Osun is a state which will be a model of peace and tolerance. I would like to say that religious, political and ethnic tolerance is the basic foundation of our Omoluabi heritage. We must promote this culture of tolerance and civilized conflict resolution with all our might. “This is why we have decided to establish an Omoluabi Peace and Conflict Management Commission. This is to be a standing commission where communal, religious, ethnic or other social disputes can be resolved by a body of respected elders from across Yorubaland and even other groups.”
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 25, 2014
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wonder why it is I still impossible for every Nigerian to have a say in matters of survival that binds us together within our national territory. It is very certain that the western world would not have adopted the kind of way people are handpicked predominantly by a single personality, who has always posed as a unique breed with monopoly of wisdom. I will however forfeit any right I may claim to have if and only if those who are holding forth (some of who are of impeccable characters) will come out with something that is acceptable to the majority. Ethnicism, in my own view has being the bane of our togetherness over the years. The usual practice is for a major ethnic group to lord it over other ethnic nationalities, so that others may become subservient in all matters that come up for discussion, or which come up as pivotal in arriving at major decisions that are meant to be of national importance. I came across a man some years back who pretended to me to be of Hausa extraction. I became so inquisitive when a friend of mine revealed that his real name was not Mr. Alhazzan Idris that he claimed to bear. The man, in a quest to make ends meet, had only pitched his tent in the Northern part of the country. Frustration prompted him to pack his bag and baggage and come down to his place of origin. Luckily for him, he got a lecturing job in one of the tertiary institutions in the State of Osun. He is still there today, earning a living. The man hails from Ikeji Arakeji in Oriade Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun. It was when it became obvious that unless he feigned identity, he would not get a job that he decided to drop his Yoruba name. The best his caricature could earn him while in the North was the head of department in a secondary school. Hidden qualifications kept him in the dark for quite a long time, so that he didn’t know that he was actually playing second fiddle to those he was far their senior.
By ADE OLUGBOTEMI
My Honest Contribution To The Ongoing Confab “The equity that is the basis of my message must ensure that equitable distribution of resources is guaranteed so that it will no longer be possible for anybody or group to enjoy stupendous riches and affluence, whereas others cannot derive the maximum benefits of hard work and peculiar ingenuity. Able-bodied men and women must be able to make ends meet, whether they secure job opportunities or not. It should be made consciously unfashionable to create class of second fiddle by reason of economic empowerment that is not accessed. The people in the National Conference must recommend that stupendous amassing of wealth carries stiff penalties, including forfeiture of substantial part of the ill-gotten wealth. The culprit should be subjected to public shame and ridicule, so as to serve as deterrents to those who may wish to get into position for the sake of self-assertiveness and aggrandisement. Method must be put in place to even render those found culpable incommunicado.” school, where he was teaching and his deputy were actually holders of National Certificates of Education. He attempted to query the rationale behind the placements, whereby a first degree holder from one of the best universities in the country (precisely University of Ife which is now known as Obafemi Awolowo University) would be serving under graduates from Colleges of Education. He ran for his dear life when it became obvious that his life was in danger.
Scenarios of this nature abounds all over the country, where it turns out to be like a camel trying to pass through a needle’s eye in attempt to get job placements. In a country, Mr Owolabi eventually where we claim to be equal, discovered that the principal of the everybody must be able to secure means of livelihood and settle
down irrespective of places of origin, but this is far from being so. I know that those who have derived benefits over the years by reducing fellow Nigerians to play second fiddle will not want to lose that undue privilege. Participants in the ongoing National Conference should be able to demystify a section that seems to derive maximum joy in oppressing fellow folks. They should be made to understand that all Nigerians are destined to derive unlimited fulfillment in our togetherness. Whether Igbo, Hausa, Tiv, Efik or Yoruba, we must all be made to see reasons behind our common identity that Nigerian nationhood has offered.
Apart from the apathy due to individuals of different ethnic groups, the marginalisation within the people of the same ethnic group must be checkmated. Ascendancy must be factored around individuals’ acumen, as against the current practice of rotating members of the same clan in positions of authority. The conference must ensure that the child of a peasant farmer in the remotest town of Olugbode in Ife South Local Government Council Area is able to prove his mettle to the highest post in the land, whether or not anybody from his/her lineage has enjoyed the privilege of occupying any position of authority before. The equity that is the basis of my message must ensure that equitable distribution of resources is guaranteed so that it will no longer be possible for anybody or group to enjoy stupendous riches and affluence, whereas others cannot derive the maximum benefits of hard work and peculiar ingenuity. Able-bodied men and women must be able to make ends meet, whether they secure job opportunities or not. It should be made consciously unfashionable to create class of second fiddle by reason of economic empowerment that is not accessed. The people in the National Conference must recommend that stupendous amassing of wealth carries stiff penalties, including forfeiture of substantial part of the ill-gotten wealth. The culprit should be subjected to public shame and ridicule, so as to serve as deterrents to those who may wish to get into position for the sake of self-assertiveness and aggrandisement. Method must be put in place to even render those found culpable incommunicado. As I wish participants fruitful deliberation for the sake of that fabulous amount that individuals will pocket home, they must realise that all Nigerians are waiting with high expectations of making possible what ordinarily should constitute an impossibility; they must realise that history beckons once again so that the wrongs of the past and present may once and for all take to flight from our own country, and never to come again until the end of ages.
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