Osun Defender March 4th 2014 Edition

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TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 A lot of plaudits continue to flow in the direction of the state of Osun’s helmsman, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. It has been well earned. Recent kudos includes the award of man-of-theyear- 2013 by the Independent

VOL. 9. NO.027

Front Page Comment

State of Osun 2014 Budget (1) Newspapers group.

Ogbeni have come as a This is significant. For Independent newspaper is precisely that. The group’s rigorous political independence has been well established for over a decade.Kudos to the

result of his focus on putting the Big D back into the development process. This is reflected or perhaps we should say emphasized in this year’s budget. A critical plank in Ogbeni’s developmental thrust has

been to use the annual budget as an instrument to cement the social contract between the governed and those they have freely chosen to administer their affairs.

Continue on pg4

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

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IGE

Osun, French Firm Sign 29m Euro Power Plant MoU - See Story On Page 2

•The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (right); State of Osun Commissioner for Health, Dr (Mrs) Temitope Ilori (left) and her counterpart from Women and Children Affairs, Mrs Adetoun Adegboyega (2nd left); Honourable Leke Ogunsola (4th left) and others during the 2014 National Immunization Day in Osogbo last Friday.

Sukuk: Osun Wins International Financial Award

- See Story On Page 3

News

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 4, 2014

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Osun, French Firm Sign 29m Euro Power Plant MoU

T

HE Government of the State of Osun has signed a 29 Million Euro Memorandum of Un derstanding (MoU) for the establishment of a 13-Megawatt Solar Power Plant in the state with an output of 16.5 Megawatt hour/ year.

The MoU between Osun Akinola signed the MoU on and Vergnet Group, a behalf of the State GovernFrench industrial com- ment of Osun, while Mr. pany, which specialises in Jérôme Douat, Chief Exsustainable and renewable ecutive Officer of the energy development, Vergnet Group signed on took place at the Interna- behalf of the French tional Conference Centre Group.

The ceremony was witin Abuja last Thursday.

The Director General, nessed by President Office of Economic Devel- Goodluck Jonathan of Niopment and Partnerships geria and the French Presi(OEDP), Office of the dent, Mr. François Governor, Dr. Charles Diji Hollande, the Minister of

Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Minister of Trade and Investments, Dr Segun Aganga, representatives of the State Government of Osun and the Vergnet Group and members of the diplomatic corps were also in attendance.

Speaking at the signing of the MoU, Dr. Akinola, who represented Governor Aregbesola, held that the ceremony was another demonstration of the resolve of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration to utilise partnership

initiatives to bring sustainable development to the state.

According to him: “The administration of Aregbesola in Osun is that of the people, that is why the people come first in everything the administration wants to do and will ensure such project will give life abundantly to the masses.

“This project, when completed, will increase the power supply to the people of Osun, boost economic activities in Osun and further attract foreign investments and inves-

tors.” Akinola noted.

He pointed out that the project, which is scheduled to commence this year, will be sited near Osogbo, while Vergnet Group will provide technical expertise, advisory services including the project design, project planning and financing plan.

Akinola also added that the French company will facilitate the financing of the project from the French Government.

He said: “On the other hand, the State Government of Osun will be responsible for identification and allocation of land for

the project, contractual clearing with administrative authorities and for developing the necessary infrastructure such as access roads, among other necessary requirements,” he emphasised.

The Director General (OEDP), on behalf of the state government, commended the Vergnet Group for considering the State of Osun for the project.

He assured them that the state will continue to partner with them and other reliable companies to realise other areas of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s Six-point Integral Action Plan for the development of the state.

Osun Govt Is Gendersensitive - Laoye-Tomori

By SOLA JACOBS

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HE administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola in the State of Osun is gender sensitive and women friendly, which has reflected in its various programmes and policies.

•(L-R) Chief Executive Officer of Vergnet Group, France, Mr. Jerome Douat; Minister of Trade, Mr. Olusegun Aganga and Director General, Economic Development and Partnership, State of Osun, Dr, Charles Akinola, at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on power generation with the Vergnet Group of France in Abuja, at the weekend.

Osun Students Express Concern Over Lecturers’ Strike

By OUR REPORTER

S

TUDENTS in all state-owned tertiary institutions in the State of Osun, recently expressed concern over the ongoing industrial action embarked on by their lecturers.

The students under the inclusive. auspices of the state Omowaiye said: “No chapter of National matter the huge amount of Association Of Nigeria money committed to preStudents/Joint Campus university education Committee (NANS/JCC) and without extending such to National Association of tertiary education is like a Osun State Students pregnant woman, who (NAOSS) at a press spends much on ante-natal, conference in Osogbo, the but refused to feed the baby state capital, lamented the after birth, believing such effect of the strike on their baby has come to live.” academic pursuits.

“We therefore urge the According to the government of Osun to find Coordinator, Awowole it necessary to equally Samuel and President of extend extraordinary NAOSS, Ojo Omowaye, funding to higher regretted that the state institutions through government and the infrastructural and academic lecturers could not resolve development.” the matter after experiencing The students also an eleven-week strike last observed that the issue of year. under-staffing in the four The students, who state-owned tertiary acknowledged the efforts of institutions has not been the government on given adequate attention elementary and basic and urged the government education, called on to painstakingly look at the government to extend the issue in the interest of the gesture to the tertiary students. institutions to complete the On the College of Health reform and make it all- Technology Ilesa, the

students observed that throughout the South-West, it is only Ilesa college that has not secured autonomy and therefore urged the government to urgently work out its autonomy.

Omowiaye also drew the attention of the members of the public to an organisation intended to be launched by some politicians called Osun State

Students Union (OSSU), saying it has no root in the student community and urged the public to disregard such association.

The two student associations however urged the government and the workers to resolve the matter amicably in the general interest of the students.

The deputy governor stated this while addressing mammoth crowd of women supporters of the rulingAll Progressives Congress (APC) at the party secretariat in Osogbo, the state capital, last Thursday.

The deputy governor of the state, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Laoye-Tomori commended the programmes and policies of Aregbesola’s administration, as it has empowered women and the less-privileged in the society.

She lauded the employment of 3,000 women into O’Meal programme of the state government, as well as empowering women in the economic sector to the tune of N60 million through giving of microcredit loans to various women cooperative groups in the state.

The deputy governor then counselled the women groups on the need to organise themselves into groups, so as to access micro-credit loans from the state government.

Otunba Laoye-Tomori also tasked the women on self-development and

nurturing of their children, as the state government has the interest of the vulnerables.

She also used the occasion to enlighten the women to cross-check their names and ensure the registration of their children, who are eighteen years and above at the commencement of the review of voters’ registration exercise, which will soon commence in the state.

She also urged them not to sell their voters’ cards to politicians, as it is their power to choose their leaders.

In her address on the occasion, the leader of the women group, Honourable Rasidat Owoseni, lauded the efforts of the state government in improving the lots of women in the state.

She also urged the state government to do more for women and children in the state.

Dignitaries on the occasion included the APC Acting Chairman in the state, Elder Biyi Adelowo, Dr (Mrs) Temitope Ilori, Mrs Adetoun Adegboyega, Barrister Funmi EshoWilliams and Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde.

Health Commissioner Receives Donated Books

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HE State of Osun Commissioner for Health , Dr (Mrs) Temitope Ilori has commended Professor Samson Omotosho, who was the first Nurse Tutor of the State School of Nursing over the four boxes of nursing and related text books donated to the school.

The commissioner gave She stressed further that the commendation recently the textbooks will serve as while receiving the donated resource materials for text books at the School of students and practising Nursing, Asubiaro in nurses in their pursuit of Osogbo, the state capital. additional knowledge in While expressing their studies. appreciation to the donor Speaking earlier, over his love for the nursing Pharmacist Ademola profession and the State of Kolade, the Director of Osun, she said the books MUNRO Company, spoke will be useful to nurses and on behalf of the donor, other health-care service Professor Samson providers in the state.

Omotosho and said the books donated were for the

•ILORI

advancement of nursing and medical education in the state..

Pharmacist Kolade also supported his friend by donating five cartons of MUNRO Custard, five cartons of MUNRO Glucose D and one carton of souvenirs.

At the presentation of the gifts, Alhaji Kamaruden Adesina , State Director of Nursing and Midwifery commended the state goverment for the bursary award given to the final year students, being the first of its kind in the state.

If you have a story or advert for us, contact 08033927286, 08033880205, 08061197897, 08023191891.

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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Polio: Osun Deputy Governor Kicks Off Immunisation Exercise

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

I

N order to rid the State of Osun and indeed Nigeria of the menace of polio, which is one of the six childhood killer diseases, it has been advocated that such children that fall below the ages of 0-59 months should be immunised against the deadly disease.

This is one of the steps that would be needed to kick polio out of the country.

Also, along the line of the battle waged by government against polio, the government of the State of Osun with the collaboration of its development partners, such as World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations International Chuildren Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) had flagged-off a 4-Day Oral Polio immunisation exercise, which commenced from Saturday, 1st of March, 2014.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, which was held at the Atelewo Health Centre, Old Panapapa, Olorunda Local Government Area, the deputy governor; Mrs.

Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori stated that state government, being a children-friendly administration, was not unaware that many children were affected by polio.

“The government of the State of Osun is always interested in the affairs of Osun people, especially the children.

As we kick-off this programme, the government is aware that many children are affected by polio and this is notwithstanding that many of them are brilliant and healthy children.”

In reiterating the promise of government to effectively cater for the health of its citizens, the deputy governor assured that the administration was doing all it could to ensure that children in the state were not affected by polio again.

While admitting that polio disease was a world wide phenomenon after its outbreak, she disclosed that the state was polio-free and this was due partly to the response and cooperation of parents to sensitization and immunisation programmes.

She explained that the immunisation exercise is divided into two phases.

The first being the

administration of oral droplets, where volunteers would be going from house to house and giving of injections, which would be carried out at the government health centres.

In the same vein, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Temitope Ilori, has supported the deputy governor that the 4-day oral polio immunisation exercise would be carried out in two

states.

She explained that the injection would be administered in the hospital.

The health commissioner therefore advised mothers to make their children available, both at home and at the government health centres, because though, the state was free from polio, but that immunisation for children under the age of five years cannot be

considered as too much and there was possibility of contraction of the disease due to interstate travels as the diseas was more prevalent in the Northern part of the country and also because it is highly contagious.

She disclosed that areas marked out for the exercise included schools, places of religious worship and house to house.

Osun To Involve Grassroots In Decision-making Ex-Commission Boss Charges LG On Transparency •The bus donated to the Nigeria Union of Journalists, State of Osun Council, by the State Government recently.

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

G

OVERNMENT of the State of Osun has expressed its readiness to make people at the grassroots level actively contribute to the decision-making and development projects through Community Information Board (CIB).

The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, who doubles as Vice Chairman, State Planning Commission (SPC) made the remark at a two-day training workshop on the use of Community Information Board organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Osun State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF, held in Osogbo.

Adeoti, who stressed the importance of collection of data for the benefit of the communities, stated that it is imperative to organise the workshop with a view to training the NOA officers, key community operators and local government officers on the implementation of CIB. He added that the information and data collected from the CIB would be used for community development.

According to him: “It is imperative to organise this workshop in order to train the NOA officers, key community operators and local government officers on the implementation of community information board. This will enable them to use information for community development and to enhance communication

for analytical reports and collection of data from identified data sources to the benefits of their communities.”

Adeoti added that the workshop would build the capacities of the participants for systematic m o n i t o r i n g , documentation and to make use of information to bring about social change at community level and to get what they need to improve their own lives through the use of community dialogue.

Earlier, the State Director of NOA, Mr Remi Omowon said the workshop was necessary and designed to afford all participants the opportunity to be trained on skills for information gathering in their localities and also acquire knowledge on how to make use of information for community for development to demand for their needs from policy makers.

Omowon added that the workshop would make the stakeholders to understand the need for the CIB as a tool for close monitoring of the wellbeing of children and women by communities and for them to know what action to take against negative trends and sustain positive ones.

By SHINA ABUBAKAR

F

INANCIAL managers at the third tier of government in the State of Osun have been urged to make transparency their watchword.

This admonition was made explained that the workshop by the former Chairman, Local was organised to equip Government Service accountants and auditors in the Commission in the State of local government service with Osun, Chief Tunji Abolade necessary skills that would while declaring open a three- make them prudent and day workshop titled: judicious financial managers.

“Financial Management He said transparency, Service” held at the Multi- accountability, probity and purpose Hall of the State Local zero-tolerance to corruption Government Service have been referred to as the Commission at Abere. hallmark of the success of any Chief Tunji Abolade organisation.

According to him, a responsible and responsive government must tackle the issue of finance management in a bid to channel the revenue generated towards the programmes that will be of benefit to the people.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Peter Babalola made it known that Chief Tunji Abolade was invited to declare the workshop open in view of his commitment and performance while he was the chairman of the commission.

He stated that Chief Abolade, during his tenure, built the Multi-Purpose Hall, which had just been renovated by the present board.

Also in his welcome address on the occasion, the Managing Partner, Fiderat Consult, Mr. Adebayo Adedokun, stated that the training programme will expose participants to the new orientation in auditing, particularly forensic and value for money auditing, as well as update their knowledge on the use of basic accounting concepts as a guide in management decision.

Sukuk: Osun Wins International Financial Award

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

S

TATE of Osun N11.4 billion Sukuk bond arrangement has won the 2013 International Financial Deal Award of the Year.

Sukuk, an Islamic-oriented infrastructure.

The globally-recognised bond system, was a viable alternative of fund-sourcing for RedMoney Group, publisher of the development of the state’s the renowned Islamic Finance comatose infrastructural facili- News (IFN), had in January, acties discovered by the state gov- cording to the statement, nomiernor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola nated the N11.4 billion Osun in 2013.

Sukuk as the Africa Deal of the It would be recalled that Year 2013.

Osun, under its N60 billion It added that Lotus Capital, bond issuance programme, ap- as well as Kola Awodein & Co, proved by the Securities and being the issuing house and the Exchange Commisison (SEC) in solicitor to the issue, are also 2012, went for the N11.4 bil- being recognised by the interlion Sukuk (14. 75 per cent) fixed national organisation for their return in November 2013. significant roles in the transacA statement by the State tion.

Commissioner for Finance, Dr. The award came on the heels Wale Bolorunduro, said the of the leading role Lotus CapiSukuk was issued in accordance tal played alongside forty two with the State Bonds, Notes and other issuing houses in Nigeria Other Securities Law 2012 and in the successful completion of a special purpose vehicle com- the Osun Sukuk. pany; Osun Sukuk Company The grand finale of the Plc, a duly-registered public li- award ceremony, according to ability company anchored the the statement, took place at the issue.

Ritz Carlton (DFIC) Dubai, It said: “In November 2013, United Arab Emirates on MonOsun set the record of being the day, February 24. first state in Nigeria to go for The statement added: “Since the Islamic bond (sukuk) for the successful issue of Osun part-funding the re-construc- Sukuk, state governments and tion of the state’s educational Federal Government of Nigeria

have been looking at the direction of Sukuk, as an alternative of funding their capital projects”.

It recalled that while authorising and approving the Sukuk offer at the company’s board meeting in November last year, Aregbesola said his government embraced capital market funding for most of its infrastructural development projects, given its associated benefits, such as lower cost, and stability of interest rate over the transaction tenor.

Such projects include building of new schools and renovation of some old ones, road construction, healthcare services and commercial infrastructure among others.

The statement quoted the governor as saying: “The Sukuk is a veritable avenue for us to access capital to develop our state and it will be used to finance building of schools across the state.

“The paucity of funds accruable and so available to the state can do little of the developmental agenda of the current administration, hence, the need for alternative source to fund the projects”.

The statement further recalled that Bolorunduro, while

corroborating the governor’s stance, maintained during the completion meeting on the issue (held last year November), that “raising fund under the current financial condition in the country was like drinking water from fire-hose.

Bolorunduro reiterated that “the over-subscription of Osun sukuk, inspite of the turbulence in the country’s financial domain, was a positive confirmation of the trust and confidence the market placed on Aregbesola’s administration, which has brought prudence, purpose and performance to government”.

The chairperson of Lotus Capital, Mrs. Hajara Adeola, also while reacting to the successful completion and oversubscription of the issue, noted that the Sukuk’s success represented a clear vote of confidence in Governor Aregbesola’s administration, the State of Osun and its people.

She observed that the governor had become unique for his penchant for exploring novel ways of doing things, adding that the Sukuk represented another instance of Aregbesola’s exploring new ways of seeking for the development of the state.

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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 4, 2014

State of Osun 2014 Budget (1) continued from pg1

A social contract is predicated on

the capacity of the government to make life better, raise living standards and lay the foundation for sustainable development as well as employment generating growth. Which is of course in marked contrast to today’s growth without development.

Ogbeni’s 2014 budget is quite revealing in its central thrust.

It is significant that it confines to affirm a radical and positive departure from the previous preceding maladministration. Instructively, 55 per cent is earmarked for capital expenditure while 45 per cent is left for recurrent expenditure. This continues a decisive break from an ignominious past.

We may recall that it was not that long ago, pre-Aregbesola that Osun state was in reality a ‘civil service’ state. The entire purpose of ‘governance’ radiated on allocations from the all-mighty centre. The state in this self-defeating delusion did not have to do anything. Just wait for allocations from the centre.

The very notion, which is key in a federal state, ‘internally generated revenue’, that is, was an inconvenient option for the interloper in that era’s Osun state.

Positively, today it is a new dawn in Aregbesola’s state of Osun. Today’s Budget of Growth, Enhancement and Development focuses on Aregbesola’s Six-Point Integral

Action Plan. This is fundamental.

Our readers will recall how often we have stated that preparation for office is a vital ingredient in successful administration. Time and time again we have been proved right.

For Aregbesola’s success in lifting the state of Osun is because he has prepared himself so well for office. Very much like the venerated Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Both men have shown that preparation is crucial.

With his well worked out SixPoint Integral Action Plan, Aregbesola came in with a roadmap to navigate the ship of the state of Osun. If we look around us we can already notice the results. Everywhere the state has a spring in its steps. This is as a

Need For Judicial Reform

I

commend the efforts of the c u r r e n t administration in the State of Osun on the giant strides it is taking in the various areas of governance since its inception in the state barely over three years ago. I wish the administration success.

Having said that, I wish to call the attention of the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Honourable Wale Afolabi on the need to reform the judiciary with a view to ensuring speedy dispensation of justice.

One would marvel at

the rate at which litigations are prolonged, as cases of ten years are still lingering in our courts across the state and most of these cases are petty in nature, yet, complainants or

accused persons, as the case may be, indefinitely await justice.

While these cases linger on, the complainants or accused persons suffer both physical and psychological

depression and are at the mercy of the courts, which wield all the powers concerning when and how to deal with their matters.

In order to achieve fast dispensation of justice, I am of the

should be given a facelift to reflect the dignity in their service, while all our courts should go digital, as the era of paper and file court is getting out of fashion.

In addition, I believe our courts should be connected to the internet and should interlink with appropriate agencies to enhance efficiency in the court’s proceedings and processes.

We cannot claim to uphold the rule of law, if we allow justice, especially for the masses to be delayed.

view that our criminal legal procedure needs to be reviewed, as well as our evidence act.

Members of the bar also need to be honest in their dealings with • A F O L A B I the bench.

JANET, Ayetoro, Besides, our Osogbo, State of magistrate courts Osun.

result of positive planning. As we shall see in the second part of our discourse the budget is now the engine room for implementing the agenda as well as transforming the state. In this way Aregbesola has gone back to the original meaning and concept of a budget.

A budget as correctly interpreted in the Aregbesola school is not an instrument for ‘come and chop’. It is a tool for positive transformation. It's about shifting the emphasis from consumption to production thereby ensuring long-term sustainable development. We shall focus more on this in theory as well as in practical application through the implementation of the 2014 budget in part 2.

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Finance OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 4, 2014

2014 Budget Of Growth, Enhancement And Development

High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (V) •Build-up To Approaching Polls This edition, a continuation of the ongoing series on the expectations from the year 2014 Appropriation Act currently undergoing consideration by the honourable members of the State of Osun House of Assembly, captures the remaining sectors of the economy of the state. Through this concluding phase, NIYI OLASINDE foresees a great year ahead, reaffirming the confidence of the people in the administration, thus the fact that their endorsement of the administration's continued stay in office is not misplaced.

•Representative of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Mr Bade Adesina (2nd left), answering questions from newsmen after the budget presentation. With him are, State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, (3rd right); Special Adviser to the Governor on Agric and Food Security, Mr Agunbiade Festus (left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism and Culture, Mr Oladipo Soyode (at the back 2nd left ) and other dignitaries.

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MAGAZINE

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 4, 2014

High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (V)

•Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, during the budget presentation.

Contiuned from page 5 Establishment and Pensions Commission •Continued from last week (TESEPC), involving various numbers of candidates successfully absorbed into the THE last edition closed with a teaching service of the state. Following consideration of the prospects of the large number of retirees in the state’s the education sub-sector of the Social teaching service at the end of the 2012 Services Sector of the state’s economy. fiscal year; arrangements were put in In this connection the achievements of place in year 2013 to get a huge number the incumbent administration in the sub- of teachers employed in replacement for sector during the year and in its entire the retired ones. This plan saw the light three year plus in the saddle of of day as the year witnessed massive governance were relayed. These were recruitment and selection of teachers at brought back to memory so as to actually those levels of education. With proper capture the mood of the people and to inauguration of appropriate boards in make out the expectations of the people particular, provision of required number from the final blueprints of the year 2014 and quality of teaching personnel has Appropriation Act. Prior to the begun to receive greater attention in the consideration of the Education sub- past year. In this direction, greater sector, we gave consideration to the attention is anticipated to come this year.

Agricultural sub-sector. Judging from the In addition to these numbers of line-up of achievements in the various teachers engaged, selection has also been spheres of life, it became a safe made for competent and qualified conclusion that the people expect nothing teachers among the volunteer cadets of short of greater giant strides in the various the popular Osun Youth Empowerment sectors of the state’s economy in the Scheme (OYES) and those hitherto current year. We are opening this edition employed by the Parents-Teachers’ with the same Education sub-sector. It Association (PTA). According to plan, is certain that the sub-sector forms one f the process of recruitment of teachers, the major focal points of the Rauf which had been on, and was billed for Aregbesola administration; and the impact completion within the first quarter of of the administration is most prominently 2012, is intended to be a continuous felt in the sub-sector. We shall thereafter process. What this implies is that even beam focus on other sensitive sectors / during the New Year, another batch of sub sectors of the socio-economic life massive recruitment and selection of of the state. Here we go: teachers is expected to be carried out for It is in a bid to arrest the spate of existing and continuously-opening perennial acute shortage of teachers in vacancies in the elementary and our schools and concomitantly ensuring secondary rungs of the education ladder. effective teaching and learning activities Also in the area of education, the in schools that the incumbent governor noted that it was in his administration has embarked on massive administration’s bid to ameliorating the recruitment and selection processes for suffering of parents, guardians and qualified, quality, competent and students that reduction was effected in experienced teachers for engagement at the exorbitant fees being charged by the our Primary and Secondary levels. This authorities of the Osun State University step, apart from being a necessity to (UNIOSUN). A similar gesture was compensate for the ravaging neglect of extended to all other tertiary institutions the past; became necessary to take owned by the state. These include the adequate and abundant care of the Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree; exploding enrolment figures in schools, the Osun State College of Technology following the introduction of a true, (OSCOTECH), Esa-Oke; the Osun State functional and qualitative education at College of Education (OSCOED), Ilesa; those levels. Specifically, various and the Osun State College of Education selection exercises have so far been (OSCOED) , Ila-Orangun. conducted by the State Universal Basic The Government of the State, the Education Board (SUBEB) and the State governor declared, had abrogated all Post-Primary Teaching Service forms of charges in our public schools.

•ADEGBOYE,

To achieve effectiveness in teaching and learning, the examination and running grants being released quarterly by the government to the public secondary schools in the state have been increased by over 300 per cent. It was promised that the Aregbesola administration shall continue to give the deserved attention to the welfare of teachers in 2012. This promise was redeemed all through the year, and this shall surely continue through the New Year, judging by the level of recognition being currently accorded to teachers and the teaching profession. It is placed on record how in the year 2012 teachers in the high echelon in the state were elevated to the exalted status of Permanent Secretary, with the designation of Tutors General.

Facts on ground have also revealed that within the short period of the incumbent administration of Rauf Aregbesola in office, the State Library Board had received the full attention of government, particularly in the provision of conducive working environment; a situation which has positively impacted on its services to the reading public. The governor constantly promises that the State Library Board would continue to receive quality support from the State Government of Osun in 2012 and years ahead.

Ogbeni Aregbesola also promises his administration’s resolve to revive the State Scholarship Board. This promise has been redeemed in the year 2012, and shall be consolidated in years ahead. Under the auspices of the scholarship board, assistance is given to deserving, outstanding but indigent (financially challenged) students of the state’s origin to obtain higher education at home and abroad. Since the governor has already rolled out the State of Osun Schools’ Calisthenics Programme, alongside the inauguration of Ewa Ipinle Osun, it is certain that he shall soon be forthcoming in the fulfillment of his promise to give revival to the old boys’ and girls’ associations and voluntary clubs in all primary and secondary schools for leadership training and team spirit building.

Last year, it was in full realization of the vibrant role and the auspicious place of Education sub-sector of the Social Services Sector to the socio-economic

life and political emancipation of the State of Osun and the liberation of the people that the incumbent administration accorded to it a total allocation of N13.7 Billion or 18.8 per cent of its total capital budget; though that initial budgetary provision later on got reviewed upwardly, following the consideration of the State of Osun House of Assembly.

During the last one year, there have been tremendous achievements recorded for the Education sub-sector in the state.

Apart from the State of Osun Schools Uniform Scheme (O’ Uniform) other strings of successes have followed.

Chiefest of them all; which is among the fundamental firsts which the administration has recorded so far is the introduction of the computer-like devise into the teaching-learning programme at the Senior Secondary level of education in the state. The programme called Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) has brought lots of improvements in to the learning processes at that stage as well eased the process of getting the state’s candidates for external examinations adequately prepared for success. Lots have already been written on the nitty-gritty of the Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) our earlier editions. The launch however eventually saw the light of day in the month of May this year.

Also during the month of May, precisely on Monday the 27th, the annual globally-held Children’s Day celebrations took a different turn in the State of Osun.

This was as at the instance of the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola the first-ever O’odua World Children’s Day Celebration was organized and held. The event, a unifying force for all offspring of legendary Oduduwa in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, turned out to be a convergence of all children, adult and traditional (royal) fathers of Yoruba extraction spread across the globe.

At the event of the day, representatives and contingents present included those from about ten states in the federation of Nigeria, those from the neighbouriing old Dahomey Kingdom (now Republic of Benin), and those from other parts of the universe, with the inclusion of the United States of America (USA), the Americas and the Caribbean. It was Contiuned on page 11

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High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (V) Contiuned from page 6

really a colourful and eventful programme. The states within the federation include the host state, the State of Osun.

Others are Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti States. We also had in attendance other states like Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta states. Apart from an impressive turnout from almost all royal fathers from the host state at the event, royal fathers from other places outside the State of Osun include the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III; the Aseyin of Iseyin; and the Eleruwa of Eruwa. Royal fathers from the Republic of Benin include the Olupopo of Popo; Onisabe of Sabe and Oniketu of Ketu among others.

Through the auspices presented by the programme, youths from those different states mentioned above and those from other parts were able to interact and cooperate with love and share commonalities. As it turned out, and as Governor Aregbesola himself pointed at the programme, the event of May 27, held at the main bowl of the Osogbo Township Stadium under construction marked the largest-ever held congregation of black nationalities anywhere in the world. The greatest achievement of the event was bringing together after a long period of conflict two prominent and frontline Yoruba royal fathers, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III; and the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II. During the month of July, same year, the third in the series of quiz competitions annually held in commemoration of the birthday of the internationally reputed literary icon and Nobel Laureate in Literature, Professor Oluwole Akinwande Soyinka was held, with the State Government of Osun taking the position of a leading light. Last year’s episode, marking the academic giant’s 79th birthday had the involvement of seventy-nine youths for the finals which were held in the Government House of the State of Osun in Osogbo, the state capital. The aim of the programme transcended merely celebrating the excellence radiated by Soyinka, but raising future stars among our youths; who would project our image in the future; even after we might have been long-gone!

Time and again during the outgone year, we brought to the fore the numerous achievements of the incumbent administration in the state in the aspect of

•AREGBESOLA

development of schools infrastructure in the state. This is talking in terms of the activities of the State of Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Project (O’ SCHOOLS). In September 2013, the first in the numerous ultra-modern schools building projects of the O’ SCHOOLS project was officially commissioned and delivered for use. The Salvation Army Middle School, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, the state capital is a 900-seater state-of-the-art complex, which put to rest the insinuations of detractors that all of the school building projects of the administration were destined to be abandoned in the midstream. The school is one out of the fourteen in its category that are being put in place by the Rauf Aregbesola administration in the State of Osun. The school building has since been put to use; while other school, building projects initiated by the administration are almost completed / at various stages of completion and almost ready for official commissioning / delivery.

The year 2014 have started pretty well indeed! From the start of the year, the hope had been high that more and more in the line-up of public schools being erected in the state shall be officially commissioned and delivered. This hope has no been betrayed during the first quarter of the year.

During the month of February, the first in the list of completed elementary schools in the state was officially commissioned and delivered for use. The Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, which official commissioning was held on Tuesday February 18 witnessed massive turnout of residents of Ile-Ife, members of the political class and the entire people of the State of Osun – all of who were full of joy and prayers for the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his team. The elementary school is one of the thirteen (13) units of its sort being put in place in the state.

The governor and other members of the State Executive Council present at the occasion of official commissioning appeared in the uniform of elementary schools in the state; another initiative of the administration.

In his address at the occasion, Governor Aregbesola said: “The ongoing monumental transformation of education in the State of Osun is unstoppable. Nobody can stop us.

“Even if we have to step on toes, we shall continue to build a solid future for generations yet unborn. The school is not

for Muslims, Christians or traditionalists but rather for the people of the State of Osun.

The education of our children must be taken seriously and we must not play pranks with it under any guise to secure the future of our state and society at large” In renewing his affirmation for the turnaround of the education sub-sector of the state, Aregbesola stated that the vision of his administration was to build an educational system that would produce great men and women in the society. In addition to the afore-mentioned data of thirteen (13) elementary school and fourteen (14) middle school building projects, there are still twelve units of high school building projects ongoing in the state. The governor however promised the delivery and official commissioning of al the projects before the end of his administration’s tenure of office.

In his graphical analysis conducted at the occasion, Governor Aregbesola made it known that his administration was spending on annual basis a whooping sum of N27.1 Billion on teachers’ salaries and pension, while the Opon Imo project had so far gulped N1.2 Billion. He put the capital expenditure so far on education at N31. 1 Billion.

In her earlier speech at the occasion, the Deputy Governor of the State of Osun, who doubles as the Commissioner for Education, Otunba (Mrs.) Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori revealed that the school has tent-five (25) classrooms, with capacity to accommodate one-thousand (1,000) pupils with other modern facilities like two (2) staff common rooms, one (1) office each for the headmaster and assistant headmaster, and a dining room. Others are modern sports field, and other features that make the school able to compete favourably with private schools anywhere in the contemporary Nigeria. She further had the following to say: “The school symbolizes possibilities and that change is inevitable. Despite the fact that some people are mischievous about the project, the government is right on top of the situation and we shall continue to work towards better future for our children” We have so far showcased the achievements of the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in the State of Osun so far within the short space of its stay in office; as well as expectations from the budget for the current year 2014 in the agricultural and Education sub-sectors of our economy. Hope springs eternal that the entire year shall be full of achievements

•LAOYE-TOMORI

that are laudable and remarkable in these two sub-sectors. We shall now focus on more sectors and sub-sectors of the state’s economy.

•Health Services A NOTHER vital sub-sector of the Social Services Sector in the life of our state; services in this sector are also rendered free by the incumbent administration. During the 2011 fiscal year, the government of the State of Osun recorded remarkable achievements in the health sub-sector, particularly, in the provision of infrastructure, procurement of drugs and medical consumables, capacity building of the medical and health workers, free screening of people with eye defects and provision of free eye glasses and drugs, free surgical operation to remove hernia, lumps in the breast and keloid, etcetera. The Free Qualitative Health Programme of the Aregbesola administration was pursued with all doggedness and determination in the year 2011. As a mark of the administration’s commitment to Free Qualitative Health Programme, a total sum of N191.7 Million was expended by the Government of the State during the year on purchase of drugs and medical consumables alone. This giant stride was carried on unabated in the year 2012.

According to Governor Aregbesola, in pursuance of the administration’s vision to save our people from all avoidable diseases and deaths; government would continue to increase accessibility to quality health care services in all the nooks and crannies of the state by ensuring the completion of all ongoing hospital projects down the lifespan of his administration; as well as the upgrading of the comprehensive health centres and general hospitals in selected towns in the state. The School of Health Technology, Ilesa and the schools of Nursing and Midwifery, Osogbo have also begun to receive adequate care. Particularly, they have started to receive adequate funding and supply of equipment in the 2012 fiscal year. It is hoped that this kind gesture would continue into year 2013.

The governor drew attention to the significant improvement that had been made in the reduction in neo-natal, infant and maternal mortality. Also, he drew attention to how increased immunization coverage and other relevant indicators of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) had taken Contiuned on page 11

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3rd Convocation Ceremony For The Conferment Of First Degrees And Award Of Prizes Of Fountain University, Osogbo, State Of Osun, Nigeria, Last Thursday.

•Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (left) and Vice Chancellor, Fountain University, Osogbo, Professor Bashir Raji (right).

•A cross section of graduands at the programme.

•Another cross section of graduands during the programme.

•Some of the dignitaries at the event.

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2014 National Immunization Day In Osogbo, State Of Osun, Last Friday.

• (R-L) State of Osun Commissioner for Health, Dr (Mrs) Temitope Ilori; Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori and Honourable Leke Ogunsola.

•Some of the participants at the programme.

• Another cross section of participants on the occasion.

•A cross section of nurses at the event.

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Minister Of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, Paid A courtesy Visit To The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, In His Office, Last Thursday.

•(R-L) Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, during a courtesy visit to the governor in his office at Abere, State of Osun, last Thursday.

•Aregbesola (3rd left); Ochekpe (2nd left); Oyetola (centre); State Head of Service, Mr Olayinka Owoeye (3rd right); Director, Dam Operations, Dr Emmanuel Adanu (left); Special Adviser for Rural and Community Development, Mr Kunle Ige (2nd right) and Ilesa Water Dam Contractor, Edan Koren (right), during the courtesy visit to the governor in his office at Abere, State of Osun, last Thursday.

Faces At The Sendforth For State Of Osun Director Of Security

•(R-L) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; the outgoing State Director, Security Service (SDS), Mr. Joshua Yakubu; Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam; incoming SDS, Mr. Andrew Iorkyar and state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Maishanu, during the sendforth ceremony for the outgoing SDS in Osogbo, State of Osun recently.

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Continued from page 7 •A cross section of members of the State House of Assembly during the budget presentation.

Continued from page 7 place. He commented that the fight against the scourge of Human ImmunoDeficiency Virus / Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV / AIDS) would continue to be pressed with renewed vigour in order to ensure that the prevalence rate is reduced to the barest minimum. He also made it known that the State Action Committee on the Control of AIDS (SACA) would metamorphose into a full-fledge agency in 2012. This promise has also seen the light of day. Also, rapid response teams in the Health sub-sector comprising surgeons and experts have been set up during the year to attend aptly to the health needs of the people.

Ogbeni Aregbesola made his words his bound in 2012, when he, in conjunction with his Oyo State counterpart devoted quality attention to the development of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECHTH),Osogbo. In order to truly restore healthy living to the people of the State of Osun, the incumbent administration allocated a total sum of N1.8 Billion in the draft 2012 Budget for the execution of its programmes in the sub-sector. As was pointed out by the governor, the government’s spending on health was not limited to the sectoral allocation alone.

Spending on environment, job creation and poverty alleviation and other programmes of government that promote the welfare and happiness of the people would definitely impact positively on health. On account of the newly-created Osun State Agency for the control of AIDS (OSACA) and the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH-TH), the budget size for the sub-sector was eventually reviewed upwardly in the last year’s Appropriation Act. •Finance, Industry, Commerce and Cooperatives N the area of Finance, Commerce, I Industry and Industrialization, the ongoing Rauf Revolution has so overwhelmingly impacted on the socioeconomic lives of the people of Osun that the state is currently being transformed into a land of full prosperity and bright full opportunity for all citizens. Before his assumption of office, the state had nearly been run into insolvency by the impostors who held her and her people captive. Aside the fact that there were no meaningful projects on ground to justify the presence of a government in the state during that dark era; the flimsy excuse on the tongue of the executive of the time is that there was shortage of funds to execute projects that would have

impacted positively on the lives of the people. As if to add salt to injury, Oyinlola always lamented that he was financing the salaries and allowances of civil/public servants in the state through bank loans and overdrafts. Not only that, Oyinlola rushed to obtain a loan from a commercial bank to the tune of N18.3 Billion (first installment of about N36 Billion) about three or four months to his ouster from office. He did this in utter defiance to and total disregard of the voice of reason by members of opposition and all other stakeholders who meant well for the state. At the end of it, nothing tangible could be found on ground as evidence to having sunk such enormous sum into the economy of the state.

Upon his assumption of office, one of the first most terribly threatening challenges the incoming administration met on ground; and which it must find urgently surmountable was huge repayment and servicing of huge debts of which the just afore-mentioned loan is a component. Upon all, the Oyinlola administration was always indebted to workers a backlog of salaries and allowances; while substantial amounts of pension and gratuity were owed to senior citizens (retirees). We once mentioned the high school fees regime that characterized the education sector in the state in those days. On top of it, authorities of stateowned institutions of higher learning were compelled to provide counterpart funding for the payment of salaries and allowances of their workers. Other arbitrary fees were charged on pupils/ students at all levels of public schools in the state just as it pleased the inordinate desires of those at the helm of affairs.

This is not to talk of illegal, indiscriminate deductions from local government monthly statutory allocation, just as it was deemed necessary! Upon all, tongues of all top functionaries of that government wagged for shortage of funds.

This sad trend was reversed by the Aregbesola administration. The loans and debts were immediately totted up and rescheduled; while all avenues through which substantial amounts in revenue that would have accrued into the coffers of the state were leaking out were blocked.

Ever since, all forms payments of revenue into the coffers of the state have been made through e-banking. Through this latter measure, the monthly revenues of the state have been raised by an upward of N20 Million! The spate of ghost worker has been successfully combated.

Also the school fees regime at the tertiary level was instantly reviewed backward, while education at primary and secondary

levels became free in all ramifications.

The practice of making illegal deductions from the local government statutory allocations ceased with immediate effect. All contractors who had hitherto defaulted/abandoned contract works assigned to them were mobilized back to site. The entire backlog of salaries, allowances and retirement benefits met on ground unpaid was settled. Also, an instant end came to the imprudent practice of having to approach commercial banks for loans and overdrafts over any expenses of the state.

In short, accountability, probity, prudence; transparency and integrity which had been debased as core values and virtues of the Yoruba race were restored. Today, we are all better for it.

More details have come to fore in subsequent editions of this series.

During the period of the fiery siege, which lasted for complete seven-and-ahalf years; Osogbo the state capital had completely lost its hard-won status as a commercial city. Earlier efforts by the Alliance for Democracy (AD)-led administration of Chief Bisi Akande to regain these lost grounds were not accorded continuity. The Orisunmbare Ultra Modern Market constructed by that administration was not put to use; instead, it became refuse dumping ground. In the event of time, it became overgrown with weeds and bushes, hence an abode for rodents and reptiles. That was under an administration which self-styled itself as Ore Ara Ilu i.e. People-Friendly Government.

Today, under a more capable government administered by Ogbeni Aregbesola, the Orisunmbare Ultra Modern Market has found its full use; likewise other shopping spaces privately developed at various legitimate locations within the state capital and all other locations throughout the entire state. If the non usage of the facilities all this while had been a result of people’s resistance to change, the massive development projects being embarked upon, involving demolition of illegal structure had made them to take recourse to normalcy and abide by rules of civility and decency.

Today, Osogbo metropolis is a better place to behold.

Apart from the Orisunmbare Ultramodern Market in Osogbo, other efforts at reconnecting Osogbo and the entire state to their rightful place in commerce are ongoing.

The reconstruction work at MDS and Station Road of the city shall soon be commenced. Already, the Railway Station and Old Garage area of the city are already a bee-hive of activities, even as

the railway services in the state are being resuscitated in collaboration with the hitherto moribund Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC); a feat that the Federal Government could not have recorded! It is also placed on record that the Aregbesola administration has since inception been providing free conveyance for indigenes of the state who intend to travel home during festivities like Id-elKabir, Id-el-Fitri, Christmas/New Year and Easter. According to the State of Osun Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Co-operatives, Alhaji Jayeoba Alagbada, at a Quarterly Press Briefing organized at the instance of the State Ministry of Information and Strategy during the outgone year, the free railway transport services facilitated by the Government of the State of Osun through his Ministry had by May 2013 transported up to 20,000 travellers during festivities to Osun.

Another major step being currently taken in the direction of commerce in the state is the world-class Ayegbaju International Market under construction at the site of Old Government Secretariat in Ogo-Oluwa Area of Osogbo, the state capital, The intention behind the creation of this market is to provide a spacious avenue for selling finished products carted in from Lagos via the railway; while agricultural produce are carted back through the same means. For this purpose, the Osogbo Railway Terminus has been given a facelift, including in spaces, pedestrian bridge, warehouses and other facilities to upgrade it to the new status. With the emergence of the New Ayegbaju Market, traders would be saved the risks, rigors, time and cost of going to Lagos for replenishing their stock. In effect, consumer too will be offered quality products at the same moderate prices obtainable in Lagos. This shall contribute in no small measure to the economic welfare of the people of the state. It is expected that the first phase of shops at the Ayegbaju International Market will be delivered for official commissioning any moment from now.

Similarly, another market has sprung up through the dynamic leadership of Ogbeni Aregbesola. That is the Aje International Market at the Ido Osun outskirts of Osogbo, the state capital. The site of this market is the Trade Fair Complex which the Oyinlola administration claimed falsefully to have developed to international standard.

Amply located close to the proposed Ido Osun International Airport, named as Moshood Abiola Continued on page 12

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•(L-R) State of Osun Commissioners; Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Kolapo Alimi; Finance, Dr Wale Bolorunduro and Specia Duties, Barrister Ajibola Bashiru, during the budget presentation. continuously characterized the adjoining Continued from page 11 Aregbesola administration has also communities to the State Hospital, streets, roads and communities are rid Airport, the market shall upon invested hugely in the electricity supply Asubiaro; where mortuary pollution of indiscriminate waste disposal; even as completion tower prominently to aid and situation of the state with the view of nearly made the people prone to attendant waste disposal baskets shall be distributed promote international trade as well as boosting the industrial and commercial dangers of epidemics. We remember how to all commercial bus / mini-bus boost the commerce of the State of Osun. drive of the state thereby. Today, carcasses of animals and even corpses operators so that passengers do not just Another in the list of markets being electricity supply has so improved that of lunatics simply littered the streets and drop waste papers, nylon and other constructed in the state is the Dagbolu Osun is ranked as one of the states in the were watched to complete processes of materials through window panes to the International Market, at Dagbolu Village, federation with the most constant and decomposition there without proper roads. This intervention effort, according Oba Junction, along Ikirun/Ofa Road of regular supply of electricity. The massive disposal or burial, thereby threatening the to OWMA sources shall soon be extended of government in health and good living of the people. The to other stakeholders so that the measures Osogbo, the state capital. This market is investment shall be broad-based and allclearly the largest of the three projects improvement of electricity supply list is long indeed! with full facilities to fit the status of an includes distribution of electricity Today, the Aregbesola administration encompassing. Readers shall bear with international market. Proximity of the transformers and planned installation of has made all these ugly sights and smells us that these mentioned activities are just railway system to the location of this three more feeders to connect the state a banished outcast that no one dare harbor a tip of the iceberg in the list of activities market is a big plus. The location of the to the main grid if the Power Holding of in our midst. Right from the inception of so far embarked upon by the three markets shall serve the purpose of Nigeria; as well as the planned integrative his administration, Aregbesola took the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola feeding other towns in the state based on efforts with other states of the South bull by the horns when he declared a 90- in reversing the ugly trend of dirty West to provide alternative source of day emergency on environmental environment in the State of the Virtuous. their nearness to specific axis.

This New Year promises higher Other efforts of the Aregbesola energy via the abundance of natural gas sanitation. He took the decisive step of administration in the area of commerce in oil-rich Ondo State. Internally, the introducing bi-monthly and weekly grounds to be reached in this sector; even include the construction and development recently launched O’Clean Plus is a waste environmental sanitation exercises as the as residents show promise of greater of the Ido Osun Aerodrome to the full management drive of making wealth from case may be to execute rapid cooperation and participation in activities status of an international airport named waste and producing alternative source transformation of our towns and cities bordering on the conservation and M.K/O. Abiola Airport; development of of household energy consumption into decent places of abode for healthy preservation of the environment. industrial estates in the State of Osun; through biogas. It is hoped that this individuals, and to sustain the culture of •Roads And Infrastructure and development of Ajagba Fair complex venture, when commercialized, shall cleanliness, which, according to sages, impact boost on the economy of the at Ilesa and Olufi Complex at Gbongan, is next to Godliness. Today, sanitation and OADS and infrastructure is our with similar ones in Osogbo, Ikirun, Ede, state. safe health practices have so much R next point of call. It would be Iwo, Ile Ife and Ila Orangun. Concerning become internalized in the lives of our recalled that by the end of the time •Environment, Sanitation And people that clean environment has the M.K.O. Abiola Airport,Ido Osun, it is of the immediate past administration in Hygiene an International Airport, the contract for become their creed. What this implies is office, the voice of OSUN DEFENDER which is to the tune of N4.6 Billion, to be NEXT point of consideration is that people now troop out en masse to Magazine was vehement over the state sanitation and observe sanitation willingly without being completed and delivered before the end environment, hygiene. This vital sub-sector is of high coerced or instigated. People now abide of disrepair in which virtually all roads in of the current year. the Osun State of the time were. We One memorable feat recorded in the essence if lasting health and well-being by simple laws of decent refuse disposal, remember vividly that most access within area of commerce is the participation of are desirable anywhere. This is because a feat hitherto considered unrealizable by the metropolis of Osogbo, the state capital the state at the Niger State Trade Fair a healthy mind resides in a healthy body, pessimists! had become erosion paths and courses held in Minna around July, 2012. It would which is in turn domiciled in a clean, To corroborate these gestures, the for drainage. The administration of the healthy environment.

In the past, Osun be remembered that the state had topmost Government Unusual has invested time, both at state level and local ranking at that trade fair. In addition, in was a victim of a grossly degraded massively in the sanitation drive of the government tiers were simply there doing further pursuance of the concept of environment; with incidents of pollution state through certain initiatives like the nothing. Their functionaries were busy Omoluabi, arrangement is in top gear by and indiscriminate refuse disposal being inauguration of the Osun Youth siphoning funds from public accounts; the Government of the State of Osun to very rampant. We cast our minds back Empowerment Scheme (OYES), the while the situation of our roads introduce standard measures and scales to the ugly sights of the past, the perennial O’CLEAN programme and recently, the worsened. Many of the roads were to the state to avoid cheating and flooding and erosion that threatened the O’CLEAN Plus. Also, there has been plunged into such state of disrepair that inordinate wealth-making; so as to attract residents of the state with extinction and massive investment in the purchase and they ceased to be motorable. Even as state and endear more of patronage to Osun the undulating terrains which our roads provision trucks and equipment for capital, all access roads linking Osogbo had been turned into. We remember in collection, disposal and processing of market. with other states were not dualized. The The industrial thrust of the Aregbesola particular the flood of July7, 2010; which wastes and their conversion into wealth. administration of the time excused itself administration does not end with the inflicted serious damages of incalculable With the State of Osun Waste on the premise that those inter-state roads foregoing. Aside the Osun Youth value on people in Osogbo and other parts Management Agency (OWMA) properly are federal roads; even as it was the ruling Empowerment Scheme (OYES); several of the state; and in which many lives and in place, the waste disposal efforts of the party at the federal level, the People’s empowerment programmes have been inestimable property perished. We incumbent administration is availing Democratic Party (PDP) that held sway organized, particularly, for women and remember similar incidents which much to arrest problems hitherto in Osun, the concessioning deal could not other classes of people in the state. Also occurred in earlier years during the time associated with environmental be sealed by governments at the two as an offshoot of the Osun Youth of the immediate past administration. We degradation and pollution. This is done levels. The only one so concessioned was Empowerment Scheme, several training remember those terrible stenches quite effectively with all hands on deck; the Akoda/Old Garage/Ikirun/Ila-Odo/ programmes have taken participants to occasioned by huge refuse heaps which even with the active collaboration of the Erin-Ile, Kwara State Boundary road; different parts of the world, like OYES- dotted our streets; even within the private sector. which was billed for reconstruction in Tech and the agricultural training which metropolis of Osogbo, the state capital.

Any moment from now, the first step two phases.

We remember the pollution that has taken participants to Germany. The shall be taken toward ensuring that our Continued on page 13

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High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (V)

•Some of the State House of Assembly Commission members at the programme.

Continued from page 12 Unfortunately, the administration spent its entire years in office on only the first phase of that road; the stretch from Akoda to Old Garage.

It is the Aregbesola administration which is of another party that is now carrying out the reconstruction of the other phase of the road.

Even the first phase constructed by the Oyinlola administration cannot be certified as fully constructed. It was haphazardly done! The road had begun to have trouble spots long before its purported completed completion. It is placed on record that the road project commenced by the immediate past administration in the state was brought up to standard and eventually completed by the Aregbesola administration.

If it is possible or rather expedient to accord an area of specialization to an administration; then it would not be exaggerative to pin-point road project as the major area of specialization of the incumbent administration in the state. In virtually all parts of the state, road projects measuring various lengths of kilometres have been initiated since the commencement of the administration’s tenure of office in November 2010. These toads have today reached various levels of completion, while many that have been completed are either awaiting delivery or commissioning. In addition to these, various local government road projects have been constructed by the thirty (30) local governments in the state and the Ife East Area Office. Few months ago, upon the fresh re inauguration of the executive secretaries of the local government councils for the last lap of their time in office, the governor charged them how important it is for them to take the construction of the 10-kilometre road project in their respective council areas serious; amidst other indices of good governance.

The State of Osun Urban Renewal Project of the incumbent administration, which entails the reconstruction of roads in and modernization of ten kilometer radius of city centres in nine major cities in the nine zones of the state, is already in progress. The cities are Osogbo, Ikirun, Ila Orangun, Iwo, Ede, Ejigbo,Ilesa, Ikire and Ile Ife .Osogbo, as he state capital shall have two city centres: Oja Oba/Palace area and Old Garage. The city centres shall be provided with good modern amenities like post offices, police stations, recreational centres, parks and gardens, eateries and the likes to give the places the desired facelift that shall make them conform to modern-day standard of cities.

Apart from these efforts, episodes of the several Federal Government road projects are currently ongoing in the present-day State of Osun. This has been made possible through the process of concessioning. The rumour making the rounds amidst a segment of the people in the society is that the roads are federal roads and so, none else could wield the magic wand of reconstructing such roads except the “Almighty” Federal Government; more so, when such roads

are being dualized. The source of this rumour is not hard to discern. The governor of the State of Osun during one in the list of episodes of live audience participation programme, a brainchild of the incumbent administration branded “Ogbeni Till Daybreak” did not mince words while responding to a pool of questions fielded, which were related to this kind of insinuation. His response was that if an administration which was led ad powered by the ruling party at the centre (referring to the People’s Democratic Party - PDP); and which stayed in office and held on to power for an upward of eight years could not reconstruct Federal Government roads within its area of jurisdiction; then it could not be true that an ousted administration or a Federal Government that had been hitherto co-plagued by inertia could now come back to do the reconstruction.

The fact of the matter is contained in this analogy, that if you refuse to take care of your own house, premises or vicinity; it will be vain wish to expect someone from the neighbourhood to come and take care of it for you. This analogy depicts the mindset which governed the resolve of the incumbent administration to seek the concessioning of all Federal Government roads in its vicinity and get them rapidly transformed into well-dualized and macadamized roads. In Aregbesola’s opinion and feeling, it is shameful to observe that all access roads leading to the State of Osun from adjoining states are narrow, single-track roads. Osogbo in particular as the state capital has been bereft of good roads; which cause frequent traffic congestion in the metropolis.

It is on record how OSUN DEFENDER Magazine had frequently bemoaned the sorry sight of poor access roads in the state.

Today, work is earnestly in upper swing in getting reconstructed the Osogbo/Ila-Odo/ErinIle, Kwara State Boundary road. It is expected that the completed road shall be delivered before the end of the current year, 2014. The contract for the reconstruction of Osogbo/Iwo/Ibadan Road; also a dualization project has been awarded and work has started on the road project. Not only these, work on the Gbongan/Orile-Owu/ Odeyinka/Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State Boundary road has reached an advanced stage – also a contract awarded by the incumbent administration.

Gbongan/Akoda end of the Gbongan/Osogbo Expressway is also not left out of the massive reconstruction in roads, currently ongoing in the State of Osun. Work is also going on, on the construction of Igbajo/Imesi/Ekiti State Boundary road. The Gbongan/Orile-Owu/Odeyinka/IjebuIgbo, Ogun State Boundary road is important as it provides a shortcut to cosmopolitan Lagos State without having to go through the unnecessary headache of traffic congestion which is the normal feature of Ibadan/Lagos axis. Already, the Ikirun/ Iree/Ila-Orangun road project has been completed.

There are other road projects currently going on in the State of Osun. Within the metropolis of Osogbo the state capital alone, practically all the inner access roads have been reconstructed. These

roads are damn too numerous to mention. Of recent, the East Bypass, stretching from Ido-Osun end, through Isale Osun/Ita Olookan bursting out at Ikirun road had its contract work awarded and work has commenced in earnest. This is not to talk of the work that is ongoing at the Old Garage Area of Osogbo, which, apart from being a work of beautification, is intended to make that heart of the city more spacious, healthy and more befitting. The West Bypass, popularly referred to as Ring Road, constructed by the Alliance for Democracy (AD)-led administration in the state is currently witnessing a facelift.

We have so far done justice to events and happenings in the Roads and Infrastructure subsector of our state. We were able to bring out the revolutionary transformation already recorded in that sub-sector up till the point of this eve of the termination of the administration’s first tenure in office. We now deem it most convenient to forge ahead at the exact point where we paused. Apart from the entire massive road projects mentioned as monumental achievements of the “Government Unusual” of Ogbeni Aregbesola, there are still left more road projects which constitute the full list of difference as at date, between his administration and that of his predecessors. Our exact stopping point was where we were considering the ongoing local government road projects in the State of Osun, measuring ten kilometers at a go. During the time of the ousted administration in office, little of nothing was found on ground with regards to the Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP).

This was even as the project is a collaborative effort between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank. In spite of the fact that that ousted administration was controlled and run by the same party that held sway at the centre, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); the State of Osun did not fully access this facility which was provided with the auspicious intent of opening up of our rural areas to urban centres for the purpose of accelerated industrial growth and allround development. Readers would agree that little or nothing could be achieved in the area of activating the industrial drive of any administration or even developing its agricultural policies without developing road infrastructure to the fullest. It is with pride that we place on record that the Rauf Aregbesola administration has since inception been pursuing all Rural Access Mobility Projects (RAMP) approved for the state faithfully and assiduously. This is to the extent that barely a year into the lifetime of the administration, over 500-kilmetre roads in the category of Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) had been constructed in the state, under the execution and supervision of the incumbent administration. This trend came, regardless of the fact that the administration of the state today is in the hand of a different party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). About mid2013, it was in the news that another batch of these RAMP roads was approved for selected states of the federation. The glad part of that news was the inclusion of the State of Osun as part of four or five benefitting states. With this trend of events, our state is certainly on its fast-

tracked surge to the top among comity of states, especially, in terms of access to farmlands as a way of boosting agricultural productivity, industrial development and overall good living of our people.

Since that first frantic step was taken at the inception of the administration, the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been impacting positively on the lives of the citizenry of the state in many diverse ways; most especially, in the area of provision of road infrastructure.

Till date, the Rauf Aregbesola administration has not relented in its efforts at bequeathing the legacy of good motorable roads to all nooks and crannies of the state. Apart from the many roads which have been completed and instantly put to use, many other road projects subsist at various stages of completion, and which await official commissioning at any date from hence. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine shall at this stage shift focus to the in-depth consideration of these numerous projects so as to serve as documentation and reminder for all, to attest to the fact that that the administration is working. We now turn to the apt consideration of these numerous road projects.

For the purpose of conservation of space and rime, we here take Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun as focal point. The administration has embarked on the construction of such road projects as: Igbonna / Ago Wande / Oke Onitea Road; Olu Alabi / Anaye Market Link; West Bypass modification; Bisi Bankole / Owoeye / Apostolic Faith / Pepsi Cola ; Oke Fia / Alekuwodo; and Orita Sabo / Orita Elelede / Oluode Road. Others include Orita Gbaemu / Isale Aro / Our Lady of St. Francis; Odi Olowo / Baptist High School /Gbodofon / Aregbe; Ola Iya Junction Opening; Oke Fia / Rasco / Old Garage Opening; Freedom Park; and Rasco / Railway / Old Sawmill / Olaiya Link. Others are MDS / Railway Station / Ola Iya Access Way, Rasco / Railway / Old Sawmill / Olaiya Link, MDS / Railway / Olaiya Access Way, Station Road, Ajegunle / LAUTECH / First Bank / Station Road Link, Old Garage / Orisunmbare / MDS, Olaiya / Odi Olowo / St. Francis / Asubiaro / Ita Olookan and Fagbewesa Road / Station Road. We also have Aregbe / Akindeko /Capital Hotel, Capital Hotel / Tinumola / Boorepo /Ring Road, New Gbongan Road, New Iwo / Ibadan Road, Ilesa Road, East Bypass, Old Garage / Ikirun-Ila Odo-Erin Ile-Kwara State Boundary Road, Testing Ground /Aderin / Orita Sabo / Onisekere Road, Gbongan / Akoda Road and Ife/Ibadan / Gbongan Junction Trumpet Road.

The list is apparently endless!

It is fervently hoped that even if no new rod projects are initiated in the current year, the already existing ones shall before the arrival of the last quarter of the year be brought to s stage of total completion; fully delivered and officially commissioned for use.

To be continued.

FEATURE

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 4, 2014

14

Aregbesola: Less Religion, More Performance FOR Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the uniform controversy at the Baptist High School, Iwo, was a sore point in recent time he would probably want to leave quickly behind. Ogbeni, as the easy going governor is called, shares a lot in common with my own State governor, Adams Oshiomhole – both great performers, progressive minded, courageous, dogged and not afraid to step on any one’s toes in the course of their many reforms. As a regular visitor to Osun since 2008, this commentator as an appreciative and concerned observer has seen enough on the ground and so thinks the governor does not deserve the furore generated by the uniform saga. Verifiable evidence abounds of the impressive work of transformation and modernization the governor has done all over the State.

affairs. These are not qualities of a religious zealot. The governor has been grossly misunderstood because of his faithful adherence to his avowed faith and his critics are making a capital of it in an election year. There is no doubt that he fervently loves and practices his Islam faith on account of which some commentators have called him an Imam. But he does not hate the other religions and would not stop anyone from practicing their own faith when he has not stopped his own close aides.

It is understandable that Christians of whom the writer is one especially the Baptist Convention do not want ancient landmarks removed from the Baptist High School. But beyond this posturing, many Christian leaders in Nigeria today can be likened to the Pharisees and Sadducees that Jesus Christ labeled as hypocrites in the Bible. They don’t see anything wrong in acts of injustice, maladministration, corruption, wasteful government spending as long as they are benefitting from them. They are hobnobbing with political leaders to enrich themselves. President Goodluck Jonathan has been junketing from Church to Church and not one of those pastors has been bold enough to tell him (amongst others) of his wasteful spending of Nigeria’s resources with the eleventh plane about to be added to his presidential fleet. These leaders have lost the right to be the moral conscience of the society.

It is unfortunate that the country has continued to allow itself held down by the dogmas of religion and ethnicity.

Being a Christian by faith – I would rather have an honest, dynamic, astute Muslim leader who knows his onions and serves his people well than a fellow Christian leader who is incompetent and playing the religious and ethnic card to hold on to his office. These sentiments will not put food on the table nor will it bring regular power supply – the country’s major albatross, it will not ensure good health-care for the teeming population, it will not bring good roads and effective transportation nor generally the good things of life that ensure high standard of living.

The country is getting increasingly divided along religious and ethnic lines with religious leaders and tribal •AREGBESOLA chieftains who are supposed to know better fanning members of divisiveness.

By PAUL OJENAGBON

But for the preponderance of thieving, divisive, selfish leaders, religion and ethnicity would not have too much relevance in the matters of governance.

The sing song all over the land is “it is our turn” (to steal from the public till)?

How unfortunate. The country requires leaders who are builders that can bring all the people together through good governance, dynamic selfless leadership, and transparency with accountability to the people. A true good leader would not need to play any mischievous religious or ethnic card because as a rallying point, everyone would see him or her as “our governor, our president”, before any other consideration.

In Osun State, political forces wearing the togas of religious bigots are working hard to undermine the impressive achievements of one of the best performing governors in the country.

It is not how a governor or president dresses that makes him a good or bad leader. Some public commentators in recent write-ups even detest even the governor’s mode of dressing and

labeled him as a Taliban. The governor’s humility and simplicity are ready qualities that announce his amiable personality and his mode of dressing is just one way to express it for the same reason, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State would always want to be identified of his pedigree as a labour leader and dress in the famous Khaki attire as a comrade. In any case, the writer would have performing governor dressed the way he is rather than in silk Italian suits or flowing Agbada and is not performing. Conversely, that a public officer wears cassock does not mean the public till safe with him.

The Aregbesola administration has been able to bring about pragmatic transformation in the various sectors of governance and compared with previous administrations in the state, there has been much impact and improvement.

The government has also been able to reduce youth unemployment in the state through the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYEMS).

Perhaps, the most endearing aspects of the Ogbeni reforms in the state are the

Aregbesola is certainly not a Saint as other mortals and political leaders. His greatest weak point is allowing his controversial nature speak louder than his true good intentions and acts and having been unable to assuage the fears of Christian leaders in the state, social orientation and the egalitarianism accommodate them and letting them thrust. The poor are well provided for know that he means well for them and and given a sense of belonging which is all Osun people. absent in most other governments The response of the government throughout the country. machinery to the barrage of Is Aregbesola really a zealot or orchestrated phantom attacks was fundamentalist? Is he out to Islamize (strangely) operationally inept and Osun State? A fundamentalist definitely strategically pedestrian. As the would not have no tolerance for other controversy brewed, the state religions and would not respect other government should have come out religious viewpoints or associate with decisively before now to stop the adherents of other faiths. Boko Haram practice though the governor in a recent address stated that the government did offers a good example. not approve the use of hijab in any The deputy governor and several School at any time. aides in his administration are also The governor as leader and father of Christians. Some time ago, he hosted the state should also try to carry the a PAN – Yoruba Conference aimed at Christian faithful along and continually forging Yoruba integration across the reassure them of government resolve to globe. He is also presently involved in protect their rights of worship. The state the building of 200,000 Christian government could also review the policy Ecumenical Centre in Ilesha which commenced in December 2010 long of reclassification and mergers of before the crisis snowballed. Recently, schools to allow harmony. As done he went on pilgrimage to Oke Maria to successfully in Lagos, Mission schools pray alongside some of his most vicious could be handed over to their owners to manage themselves, spend their own political opponents. money on them and dictate their terms.

To be surrounded by people of other faiths and to have taken part in various exercises of other religions shows that •Culled from Business Day he is tolerant in his personal religious

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, March 4, 2014

15

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TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

HERE is no sin in faltering and falling because of our inherent nature of fallibility that our Maker has strategically imputed. It is however a thing of disdain to the Creator, if we remain in that despondent state that will not show forth His glory. It is a known fact that most of us in this generation have gotten used to failure and moral decadence. We thus believe that nobody can make anything work for us again.

By ADE OLUGBOTEMI

T

Causing Our Ignorance And Suffering To Abate (1)

Indeed, we have for long not seen anything work for us; at least not in the last three decades. The master-plans of most of our cities and relatively big towns have suffered serious distortions in the hands of those given entirely to greed and avarice. Officers in the town planning sections of our local government councils are usually induced with financial gratifications, so as to look elsewhere when land frontiers are unduly extended. No wonder, the Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) are nothing to write home about, as the money that is supposed to go to government coffers is fractionalized into individual pockets.

Within the ethos and usages that are identifiable with us, it is unimaginable for any political office seeker to make any promise, and people will expect the promise to translate to concrete and tangible utilities that are capable of benefitting all and sundry. Political office seekers often sound rhetorical during rallies, because they only arouse people’s curiosity with fallacies that heavens will be brought down into the earth. It is only after the tenure has expired that the electorate usually realize that they have been fooled as usual.

•AREGBESOLA

The State of Osun is one of the two states in the Federation, where gubernatorial elections will hold in the Year 2014; and while the incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola is seeking re-election, other gladiators are also expressing intentions to confront him about his resolve to remain the legitimate occupier of Oke-Fia Government House. The ruling party at the centre is not allowing things to lie low; and its leaders have openly declared wars against the people of the State of Osun, majority of who have openly acknowledged the messianic status of the incumbent governor.

Something strange has now unfolded in our political arena; for the first time after a long sphere in our political evolution, we see some politicians make promises and renege not on the promises made. When it becomes apparent that funding the numerous projects is becoming difficult, they show to the world that it is only where there is no will that a way out of incidental quagmire will not be fathomed. That is what all friends and foes of one of this new breed, A lot of permutations and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola can clearly attest to in the State of calculations are ongoing among the political gladiators in the reOsun today. christened ‘State of the virtuous’.

Election and re-election bids are Worst hit is the Peoples gradually gathering momentum. Democratic Party (PDP), which

has lost some notable leaders to the fastest-growing All Progressives Congress (APC). It is however noteworthy that the self-branded; Biggest Party in Africa is still feigning utmost popularity and acceptability in the state. Three of their notable leaders, namely: Wole Oke (a former member of the House of Representatives from Obokun\Oriade Federal Constituency), Iyiola Omisore (former Senator from Ife\Ijesa Senatorial District), and Olasunkanmi Akinlabi (former Minister of Youths Development) are now slugging it out among themselves to outwit one another in the battle to be a standard-bearer.

The people of the state are patiently waiting to see the anointed one among the three contestants; because it is the Presidency that has the final say in

the matter. Pundits are however of the opinion that going by the recent development, none of the three is capable of posing a threat to the second term ambition of Governor Aregbesola. The best that has come from any of the contenders was the distribution of free kerosene to party faithful at the party secretariat along Gbongan Road in Osogbo, the state capital.

People have come to the conclusion that if PDP as a party is allowed to come back to power in the state, it is going to be business as usual; when for seven and a half years, only party members were seen to showcase the dividends of democracy. With all transformations that are ongoing, it is heart-rending that the best thing any would-be governor can be thinking of is how to cause ripples by cordoning off a lane of a dual carriageway, so that the populace can take notice of cakesharing model of governance that crippled the state for three quarters of a decade.

I listened to what former Senator Iyiola Omisore had to say on Channels Television station, and my conclusion was that the man has reduced the people of the state to be mere imbeciles, who can neither think nor fathom from rationally sound minds. He told the reporter who engaged him in fierce logical battle that the sitting governor in the State of the virtuous has done nothing at the helm of affairs for three and a half years.

The reporter told him point blank that he was in the state recently and saw a lot of projects going on, only to have Omisore erroneously interjected that they were all projects initiated and executed by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

I am very sure that former Senator Omisore must have forgotten that technology has reduced the whole world to a globally compacted entity, where it has become so easy to see and know what is going on in any part of it through satellite imagery. If anybody intends to tell lies, I think it must be about something that cannot be easily proved. It is too petty and foolhardy for someone to equate non-commissioning of projects to non-execution of projects, when in fact the people all over the state have for long been enjoying tangibly executed projects, irrespective of whether they have been commissioned or not.

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.