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TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2014
Going by the frenetic pace of project delivery across the state, a casual observer would naturally wonder how a state that was only a few years ago
Front Page Comment
Omisore And Osun's Imaginary Debts consigned to the
f investors and develbackwaters of opment partners alike. The story of how a development has become the toast o state which the
VOL. 9. NO.057
hurriedly departing PDP administration left prostrate and bankrupt has within three years not only received the kiss of life, Continue on pg4
Who Killed Chief Bola Ige, formerAttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice?
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IGE
Osun Is Reaping Massive Dividends Of Democracy – CBN Chief - See Story On Page 2
•(L-R) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr Segun Aina; Special Adviser to State of Osun Governor on Budget, Mr Adesina Bade and Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Macdoff Efetabore Okoro, at the commissioning of South-Western Zonal office of the CIBN in Osogbo last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI
City Bus Drivers Endorses Aregbesola
- See Story On Page 3
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014
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Osun Is Reaping Massive Dividends Of Democracy – CBN Chief T By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
HE ongoing transformations in the various sectors of the economy of the State of Osun have been described as indices that have shored up the economy of the state in no small measure. Assistant Director, Central Bank of Nigeria, Osogbo Branch, Mr. Macduff Efetabore Okoro, noted that the current administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is affecting lives in manners never witnessed before in the state. The apex bank chief stated this at the commissioning of the South-West Zonal Office of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. While proposing a toast to the State of Osun, Okoro said the state is currently reaping some enduring dividends of democracy in the past three and a half years. Highlighting the areas of development, the CBN boss identified quality and affordable education, youth empowerment, roads and other infrastructural developments, as some of the areas, where massive impacts have been recorded. He said: “It is pleasing to note that in the State of Osun today, there is Osun Rural Enterprises and Agricultural Programme (O’REAP) which has engaged tens of thousands in food crop cultivation, fisheries, beef production and even cocoyam cultivation. “Also, there is the private
partnership participation arrangement with Tuns Farm as the”Scheme Manager” to manage the state’s broiler production scheme and about 200,000 birds are produced on monthly basis. “In the area of Youth Empowerment, the state is excelling through Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES), which has engaged over Twenty Thousand (20,000) youths and won several commendations from institutions like the World Bank and O’YESTECH through which over five thousand (5,000) youths had been successfully trained for selfempowerment,” he said. According to him, with the various job schemes, there is hardly any home or family in the state that has not felt the impact of government. He added that the introduction of the Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) into the education sector in the state has impacted positively on the standard of education, ranking the state among the best in the country. Okoro continued: “The education system had also been impacted upon such that the standard could be said to
be among the best in the country. “The major highlight in this area is the Opon Imo Technology Enhanced Learning System (O’TELS) initiative, where computer tablets were distributed to senior secondary pupils in public schools in the state. It is on record that Opon Imo has won numerous awards in Nigeria and abroad. He identified other areas where the government has earned the praises of the citizenry as investment in road infrastructure, where hundreds of kilometres of urban and rural roads had been repaired and some constructed and investment in security, which has made the State of Osun to be reputed as one of the safest states in Nigeria. While speaking, Aregbesola said his administration has shown the path to be taken nationally, if the problem of unemployment would be solved. He noted that through the careful execution of his policy on banishment of unemployment, Osun has engaged 40,000 youths in decent ventures through the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES). The governor also added that the state is working towards making a huge commercial success of his agricultural programmes, ranking high in the promotion of investment in agroprocessing.
According to him: “Our initiatives in the education sector of the state drive empowerment and increase economic activities. The Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O’MEALS) ensures that about 300,000 children are fed daily. “The farm produce used to maintain this programme, which is sustained with N3 billion annually, are sourced from farmers in the state. About 3,000 women are employed and empowered to prepare and serve the food. The governor said the CIBN and his administration have certain goals in common, listing the vision to diversify the economy and establishment of the state as a hub of enterprise, trade and commerce in SouthWest Nigeria, as part of the goals. “As for the institute, it is positioning the state as a centre of professional banking education in the region,” the governor told the gathering.
He then assured that his administration is committed to ensuring the security of lives and property in the state, adding that in the last three and a half years, it has improved the security condition in the state. Aregbesola averred that it is not accidental that Osun today is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria. He said: “We will continue to consolidate this and see to it that, at all times, banks and other business areas in our state are formidably secured. “Armed bandits and robbers, who dare to test our steely security presence will never live to tell the tales of their misadventure,” the governor assured the audience. Responding, the President/ Chairman of Council of the CIBN, Dr. Segun Aina, described the opening of the zonal office as another landmark achievement in the history of the institute. Aina expressed optimism that the opening of the office
Osun Gov Election: IPAC Inaugurates Osun Chapter Executive
By ISMAEEL UTHMAN The Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) has established its branch in the State of Osun with a sevenman executive committee to run the affairs of the organization. IPAC election and inauguration of elected state executives took place at the Osun Secretariat of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) located opposite the State of House of Assembly Complex, Abere on Thursday. The election was conducted by the national executive members of the political group, led by their Chairman, Alhaji Yinusa Tanko and Head of Department, Election and Party Monitoring, INEC, State of Osun, Mr Niyi Opadiran, who represented the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ambassador Rufus Akeju. Tanko, who is the National Chairman, National Conscience Party (NCP), •Entrance of the newly-constructed L.A Elementary School at Obada Area, Ede, State Of Osun under the administra- had in his opening remarks stated that IPAC consisted tion of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, as captured by our cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, recently. of all the political parties in Nigeria with a mission to promoting democracy in the country. electorate in Osun. According to Tanko, the The Speaker then tasked all ideology of the group was citizens of the state to be to ensure that all political vigilant and protect the parties come together and during the forthcoming By KAZEEM MOHAMMED prevailing peace reigning in the governorship election. ensure that there is credible, PEAKER, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable “They even said they have state, asserting that the Boko free and fair election across Haram menace started with the Najeem Salaam, has tasked all security agencies in the backing of the presidency the 36 states of the the state to dig deep into the purpose of the car loaded on the plot, and now that a ambition of some politicians in with voters’ cards and cache of arms found with a Peoples local PDP chairman has been Borno State to take over power federation. Tanko stressed that IPAC Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in the state recently. fingered in a seized vehicle, by hook or crook, only to was not an opposition snowball into a national and Operatives of the Nigeria with a view to finding out heavily loaded with guns in international terrorist network group but an organization Police Force had last week in where such other arms are being Ikirun, the need to investigate later. formed to monitor and work other local chapters of the PDP Ikirun, headquarters of kept. “There is peace is Osun in Ifelodun Local Government “The purpose of the cache by the security agencies has the last three years, the with INEC on political and Council Area of the state, of arms and voters’ cards become imperative,” he enabling environment has election matters. The chairman stated that reportedly seized a car loaded loaded in a vehicle by the stressed. Salaam also urged the brought investment from far the establishment of the with voters’ cards and cache of suspect, who is a political and near, the state is getting State of Osun IPAC chapter arms. player in Osun, must not only Independent National Electoral mentioned on the In a statement signed by his be unveiled, the suspects must Commission (INEC) to move developmental index, new was to formally present to Press Secretary, Goke be drilled to reveal other areas swiftly into action to know roads and schools are springing INEC a data base of the Butikakuro, the Speaker noted where guns and dangerous how its official property up, cities and towns are existing political parties in cards) was that the seizure has further ammunitions had been kept for (voters’ beautified, and security of lives the state. reinforced the fear of the people use in the forthcoming compromised by some and properties are guaranteed. He said IPAC works with about the plot of the governorship election in the political players, who went to “These are indices of life INEC to have adequate the extent of loading them in a opposition to destabilize the state. abundance that must be information on political and state. “We have learnt about some vehicle in thousands. He added that the significant protected by all and sundry, election matters; to carry out According to him, the political players, who were and must not be mortgaged on purpose of the arms and voters’ boasting around the state that response of the electoral the altar of “do or die” o n e - m a n - o n e - v o t e umpire would go a long way to mandate, and to have cards loaded in a vehicle by the they would turn the State of politics,” he further stressed. election devoid of rigging, suspect must be investigated, Osun into the theatre of war reassure the confidence of the
Osun Speaker Tasks Security Agencies On Seized Weapons, Voters’ Cards
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would trigger huge economic activities and commercial benefits in the state. “I have no doubt in my mind that the opening of the CIBN South-West Zonal Office in Osogbo will bring enormous economic and social benefits to the people of Osun and surrounding states,” Aina said. In his remark on behalf of all traditional rulers present on the occasion, the Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba AbdulRauf Olayiwola Adedeji, said the establishment of the institute’s coordinating zonal office of the South-West in Osogbo is a great honour to the state. Akinrun, who is also a patron of the institute, said the idea of establishing the zonal office is to enhance professionalism in the practice of banking in Nigeria. “It is a singular honour to us in the State of Osun that the activities of the institute and its branches in six states will be coordinated henceforth from here in Osogbo. This is a great honour done to us in the State of Osun,” the monarch said
manipulations and violence. In his remarks, the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, who was represented by the Head of Department, Election and Party Monitoring of INEC, Niyi Opadiran, assured the political parties of credible elections. Opadiran maintained that INEC was ready to deliver credible, free and fair election in the forthcoming August 9, 2014 governorship election in the State of Osun. The INEC official said the commission was ready to give the IPAC good cooperation and necessary information needed for the promotion of election and credible election in the country. The election brought in Prince Adesoji Masilo of the United Democratic Party (UDP) as the IPAC Chairman; Alhaji Adetunji Oyolola of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) as Deputy Chairman, Mr Idowu Omidiji of the United Progressive Party (UPP) as the Secretary and Comrade Bello Adebayo of the Independent Democrat (ID) as Deputy Secretary. Also, Chief Gabriel Fasorepo of the NCP as the Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Rafiu Anifowose of the Citizen Popular Party(CPP) as the Financial Secretary and Alhaji Ajao Adelakin of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as Treasurer. Seventeen of the registered 26 political parties in Nigeria participated in the election, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party, while the chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other remaining parties were absent at the event. Masilo won with 17 votes, Oyolola won with 15 votes, Omidiji won with 16 votes, Adebayo won with 15 votes, Fasorepo won with 16 votes, Anifowose won with 15 votes while Adelakin won with 16 votes.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Group Demands Prosecution Of Voters’ Cards Syndicates Suspects By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
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pro-democracy organisation, Democracy Vanguard, has called on the State of Osun Police Commissioner, Mr Ibrahim Maishanu, to thoroughly investigate the alleged illegal possession of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PCV) by some politicians in the state. The groups said if such Osun on the alleged purchase trend is not checkmated by the and mass collection of voters’ security agencies, it is capable cards by politicians from of undermining free and fear unsuspecting members of the public. election in the state. “The most recent of this A statement by the Osun State Coordinator of the criminal action was reported in organisation, Comrade Olowu Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Emmanuel, said such action is Government Council Area, not only criminal, but a where a politician was said to coordinated attempt by anti- have been arrested by the democratic forces to subvert the police for being in possession will of the people in exercising of over 100 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PCV) in his car. their franchise freely. “It has also been widely According to him: “Democracy Vanguard wishes reported in the media that some to alert the security agencies politicians have commenced and electorate in the State of purchase of voters’ cards ahead
of the August 9 gubernatorial election in the state.’ “Democracy Vanguard is therefore, calling on the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Maishanu, to thoroughly investigate the alleged stocking of voters’ cards and ensure that the cards are recovered, while the suspects, their sponsors are not only exposed and arrested, but equally prosecuted in accordance with the 2010 Electoral Act.” Olowu said such action is not only criminal, but a coordinated attempt by antidemocratic forces to subvert the will of the people in exercising their franchise freely, which requires serious attention of the security agencies in the state and vigilance of the people. He stressed that voter’s card
is critical as the licence for participation in any election, saying “any individual, groups, or political party with the intent of compromising free, fair and credible elections through such act must face the wrath of the law.” The group also urged the
Police, State Security Service, Nigeria Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies to also be on 24-hour surveillance to halt such action. The group’s coordinator however, cautioned members of the public to resist
temptation, persuasion or monetary inducement in selling their voters’ cards, saying the 2010 Electoral Act presumes the buyers and sellers as criminals with stiffer punishment of being in jail for six months.
City Bus Drivers Endorse Aregbesola •As Governor Promises More Dividends Of Democracy Association have decided to By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
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N a bid to further boost the economy of the state, Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has promised to provide forty mini-buses to members of the Osun United City Bus and Taxi Association otherwise known as “Korope drivers”. He said the mini-buses, 9 governorship election. The governor stated this in which will be distributed next week, would be followed by Osogbo at a continuity rally in another forty before the August support of the his second term ambition organised by the Osun United City Bus and Taxi Association in conjunction with “De Raufs” held at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park. Ogbeni Aregbesola, who expressed happiness that the people of the state recognised the efforts of the his administration in moving the state forward, promised that his government will endeavour to further develop the state if voted back into office in the August 9 election. He then expressed his gratitude to the organisers of the rally, while promising that all the developmental efforts of his government will continue. Speaking on behalf of the City Bus and Taxi Association, the Chairman of the association, Comrade Saidu Raji, who described Ogbeni Aregbesola as God-sent, stated that they now •The State of Osun United City Bus And Taxi Association in a group photograph at a rally in support of Governor visit motor mechanics less Rauf Aregbesola’s second term in office at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Old Garage Area, Osogbo, last frequently as a result of the efforts of the governor in terms Saturday. of road construction and rehabilitation. He then pledged the support of the members of the association to the governor in attendance. A prominent member of the the coming elections. In his welcome address, the committee, Pastor Olutayo Kehinde, was also in attendance. Director General of “De Ruaf” By BOLANLE BABALOLA cautioning that such The chairman of the a volunteer group, Comrade development is inimical to committee told the members of Amitolu Shitu, stated that the HE Re-election Campaign Committee of Governor Rauf genuine democracy. the party to be on look-out for achievement of the present Aregbesola in Ife Federal Constituency of the State of He however, promised to the names of members of sub- administration is unprecedented Osun under the chairmanship of Honourable give the PDP’s threat to the in the history of the state. Bamisayemi-Oladoyin Folorunsho, representing Ife South supporters of the APC in Ife committees of the actual He stressed that members of State Constituency in the state House of Assembly has hit villages the statutory attention committee to be announced “De Raufs” and the City Bus soonest. the ground running. it deserves. The committee which held its me however sound this note of The State Commissioner for expanded stakeholders’ meeting warning that no party will leave Arts and Culture, Honourable of chieftains of All Progressives the constituency for another Sikiru Ayedun, enjoined all the Congress (APC) in the party. Our party members youths in the party to brace up Ipetumodu residence of the should be law-abiding in the on the Aregbesola re-election interim state Vice-Chairman of zone during the campaign and assignment, pleading that any O fewer than Twenty Five Thousand, Two Hundred the party, Alhaji Muraina Iyiola, election but should vehemently identified past anomalies against and Eighty Three (25,283) students of the Osun origin last Thursday charged all the resist any ploy by anybody to the youths by both elected and have benefited from bursary awards with a sum of stakeholders of the party in the rig the election. appointed chieftains of the N521 million. zone to work assiduously “I am happy to inform you The state government said the payment of bursary to the towards the return of Governor that there is nothing like Ife party in the constituency would be corrected soonest. the effort is in furtherance of students is in compliance with Aregbesola. Agenda as it is being propagated There were goodwill its determination to ensure that The committee chairman by members and chieftains of one of the six-point integral who said it was a joint the Peoples Democratic Party messages from some of the education is available to all action plan that focuses on the responsibility of all and sundry (PDP) in Ile-Ife. If there is any leaders of the party in the indigenes irrespective of their provision of functional to forget about bickering in agenda at all, it is to return constituency like Chief financial conditions. education. The Permanent Secretary, whatever form reminded them Ogbeni Aregbesola in the August Adegboye Onigbinde from “We should not forget that that it is only when Aregbesola’s 9 governorship election. Modakeke Area Office; Prince Ministry of Education, Mr. N2,000 used to be paid as election is perfected that Aregbesola has improved the Felix Awofisayo from Ife-East; Lawrence Oyeniran, at the bursary to final year students anybody can think of becoming fortune of Ifeland by making it Alhaji Iyiola from Ife North; weekend, explained that a sum in colleges of education, Chief Ologbenla from Ife-South; of N275.7 million was paid to anything in the party and a construction site for roads. N3,000 to all undergraduates government, calling for “We, members of the Honourable Biyi Odunlade from final year students of the state and N10,000 to law students Ife-Central; Honourable Bisi origin across Nigerian tertiary unalloyed joint effort to ensure Aregbesola Re-election and their counterparts in the return of the governor. Committee in the constituency, Odewumi from Ife-North; Mr institutions for the 2012/2013 colleges of medicine. Bamisayemi-Oladoyin said visited our father, the Ooni of Kola Olabisi from Modakeke academic session. “With the coming of He added that a special grant Aregbesola, bursary award to the effort to return the governor Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, in Area Office; Barrister Kunle became easier because of his his palace yesterday and the Oyatomi from Ife-North and to the tune of N17.3 million student in tertiary institutions superlative performances which topmost monarch agreed that Alhaja Mulikat Bello from has also been paid to Law is now N10,000 flat, are ubiquitous across the state. our governor has deservedly Modakeke Area Office among School students of Osun origin irrespective of the student’s in six campuses of the Nigerian course of study, while He however, cautioned the worked for his re-election. In other dignitaries. Honourable Ipoola Binuyo, Law School for the 2012/ 2013. N20,000 is being paid to final opposition to stop beating its essence, we have received a Oyeniran stressed that the year students of law and drum of war in the constituency royal blessing from our father. representing Ife-North State and learn how to play politics The Ife Agenda is to return Constituency in the House of sum of N208.6 million was medicine and a generous review according to the rules, saying it Aregbesola in which you all Assembly and Honourable paid to 20,215 final year of the N10,000 to students of would not be business as usual have prominent roles to play.” Adeyeni Olusegun Busola students from 74 institutions Nigerian law schools to for those who think they have The chairman cautioned the representing Ife- East Federal and N18.5 billion to 185 law N100,000". The director noted. monopoly of violence to rig leadership of the PDP in the Constituency in the State House school students in five The Bureau of elections in the constituency. zone to stop circulating leaflets of Assembly and all the campuses last year. Communications and Strategy According to him: “What in the Office of the Governor, His words: “We are fully in villages with a threat message Executive secretaries manning prepared for the governorship to banish any supporters of the local government councils in the Rauf Aregbesola-led while restating the election in our constituency. Let APC from their farms, the constituency were also in administration has done with administration’s commitment
Aregbesola Re-election Committee In Ifeland Hits The Ground Running
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show their support for the governor to serve as encouragement and motivation for him to continue to move the state to greater heights. Also, another volunteer group, “I Believe Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola” (IBORA), gathered in their thousands at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park to show their support for the continuity of the governor in office. President General of the group, Mr Olusola Okiki, stated that the main reason for the establishment of the group was to show support and ensure that the good governance which the Ogbeni Aregbesola administration is giving to the people of Osun continues. He noted that the only way the people of the state can support and appreciate the governor is to vote him back into office in the forthcoming governorship election. Also speaking on the occasion, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salam, described the governor as a God-sent comforter to the people of the state. He explained that Ogbeni Aregbesola is a father to the elementary school pupils through the “O Meal programme, a son to the aged through the “Agba Osun” programme and also a husband to the widow through the assistance given to widows in the state. It was a day that members of the popular “Korope” drivers abandoned their job to show solidarity for the governor. Present at the occasion were the First Lady in the state, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, top politicians in the state, members of the state executive council, market women association among others.
25,283 Osun Students In 73 Institutions Enjoy Bursary Award
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to the restoration of functional education, said that all the education initiatives of the administration that are being commended from far and near are aimed at producing students who are wellprepared and who can compete with any student in any part of the world. “It is less than four years that this revolution started. The results are already showing. The surest way to change the society is to change the way people are educated. This, this government has challenged itself to achieve,” the Bureau’s Director, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon said. He added that the many recognitions received by the state’s education policies are enough testimonials that Osun has the template for solving many of the disturbing national questions. “For instance, the Federal Government has now realised the need to introduce the school meal programme. This is one programme that has increased school enrolments in Osun. It alleviates poverty and creates jobs for local food vendors and farmers. The ripple effects are just simply tremendous,” Okanlawon added.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Omisore And Osun's Imaginary Debts Continued from pg1
but has become a pacesetter across the board as transformation has obviously remained a compelling one. Clearly, the resounding verdict across the federation is that the State of Osun currently ranks tall among the states where things are happening. From the towns and cities now adorning new looks courtesy of the Aregbesola's urban renewal initiatives, to the physical transformation due to the massive road construction going on across the state; from the overhaul of the
education sector to the emerging industrial landscape; the tourism sector currently being given a new lease, the integration of information technology into the learning and governance process and the on-going revolution in agriculture, the state has since emerged as a clear leader among its peers in the federation. However, if the people are basking in the exultation that finally the people's money is working wonders for their benefit, or that a focused administration truly committed to their welfare is finally making government money to deliver full value for every naira
spent, the crowd of revisionists from the PDP - are apparently far from impressed. Not that we expect them to be - anyway. Not with the pace of development leaving the PDP breathless and confused. However, to cook up some phantom figures on what is supposed to be the extent of the state's indebtedness obviously comes to us as a new low in the party's desperate search for relevance. What to make of the utterly laughable and false claim by the PDP gubernatorial wannabe, Iyiola Omisore that the state owes N630 billion?
Even if we excuse the PDP candidate's wellknown penchant to elevate lying to an art, the revelation that a man who seeks to take over the running of the state of Osun not only knows next to nothing about public finance ought to provide the citizens of our dear state with something to chew upon. Good citizens of the state only need to recall the Omisore's egregious claims about awarding contracts for some state roads while serving as a senator when he was not the minister of works to appreciate his infinite capacity to trade in untruths!
Omisore’s Ranting On Osun REC
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T was Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler ’s propagandist-in-chief who made the infamous statement that “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it”. It is this same infamous path that Senator Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP) in the August 9, 2014 election, has been threading, with his repeated call for the removal of Ambassador Rufus Akeju, the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner. He has been making this call since 2012 and has heightened it since he emerged the flag bearer of his party. The allegation is actually a two-inone. The first is that Ambassador Akeju is biased because, according to Omisore, he had a relationship with APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The second is that a court had ordered the removal of Akeju, which INEC refused to carry out, thus retaining him in flagrant disregard for the court. The unsaid implication of this allegation is that Ambassador Akeju is an APC mole in Osun ready to do the
bidding of APC with INEC’s tacit approval. Omisore in his characteristic recklessness threatened solemnly at his party secretariat in Osogbo that he would never allow Akeju to conduct the coming governorship election. How he would stop the election is still not known. He might as well have it in mind to violently disrupt the election and I hope
the security agencies have taken note of this threat to the election and should call him for questioning. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. He could also have meant that he would crash Abuja’s power on INEC to have Akeju thrown away from Osogbo. Whatever is in the dark recesses of his mind, he did not mean well. However, the truth of the matter is that there is no
subsisting court order on Ambassador Akeju. PDP had gone to court and obtained an injunction against INEC for the conduct of the 2011 elections. Strangely, the same PDP went back to court to ask for ‘stay of execution’. The judge, Babs Keuwumi, was alarmed, and told them pointedly that normally, it is the defendant whom judgement was awarded against, that seeks ‘stay of
execution’ and not the plaintiff, who won the relief he sought from the court. He then granted PDP the ‘stay of execution’. It is therefore, the height of mendacity for Omisore to turn around to allege that INEC is disobeying court order. I ask again, which order? When the PDP at the meeting of political parties with INEC Chairman in Osogbo asked for the removal of Akeju, Professor Attahiru Jega told
them that they should bring ‘credible evidence’ of Akeju’s bias or any allegation they might have against him. They have not done this; instead, they have continued on this Goebbelian path of repeating a lie so often with the false hope that people will believe it. Interestingly, the defeated Osun PDP candidates in the 2011 elections did not challenge their defeats. Even Senator Omisore, who was roundly thrashed and humiliated by his opponent, Senator Babajide Omoworare, even in his ward, did not challenge the result at the tribunal or the regular courts. Only Honourable Wole Oke went to the tribunal and the appeal court and came back empty-handed. Osun PDP did not boycott the elections conducted by Akeju and no election conducted by him has been upturned by any election petition tribunal, Appeal Court or the Supreme Court. What then is the basis of the vilification of this man by Omisore and his gang? Is he looking for the fall guy for his inexorable defeat in the coming election, as always? •FEMI IGBAYILOLA, Osogbo, State of Osun.
Lest we forget, the other well-known pathology suffered by the PDP candidate is hallucination. It refers to a condition of assuming what is not there. The truth of course is there is no N630 billion debt anywhere. If it exists at all, it must be in his fecund imagination. Or could the PDP be referring to the N30 billion bond issued in two phases to finance critical infrastructure which are already being paid back by the state government?
The trouble with Omisore and his PDP is clearly their poor understanding of what governance is all about. Not for them the years of painstaking preparation, or the labour of love that public service entails; or more still, the appreciation of the financial re-engineering needed to turn things around; not for his ilk, the iron discipline that has brought the state thus far. As it is, citizens of Osun obviously have far better things to engage in than dwell on Omisore's fables.
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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the above mail address. ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com
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Finance OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014
2014 Budget Of Growth, Enhancement And Development
High Expectations; Rekindled Hope •Build-Up To Approaching Polls The budget for the last calendar year in the first tenure of the Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola’s administration was recently passed by the State of Osun House of Assembly. This democratic procedure is sequel to the official presentation of the proposed appropriation bill to the House on the last day of Year 2013. Based on available facts, NIYI OLASINDE beams searchlight on the various aspects of the budget; especially those which are of great coherence with the anticipation, expectations, yearnings and aspirations of the people and which hold high promise for their improved standards of living and life abundant.
•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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High Expectations; Rekindled Hope
•Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, during the budget presentation. Contiuned from page 5
year 2013 ended quite on a THEglad and promising note for the progress-loving people of the State of Osun in the South-West geopolitical zone of the Nigerian federation. Prior to the end of that year, apprehension had been high in certain quarters where pessimism prevailed over the ability of the administration of the day to come out, as statutorily required, with the proposed appropriation bill for the incoming year, 2014. As the case is always with members and patronizers of the leading opposition party in the state, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); the view of these pessimists, majority of whom are in the camp of the party is that of never seeing anything good in the efforts of the Government Unusual at turning around the fortunes of the state, its economy and its teeming people around. The proposed budget for year 2014 would mark the fourth in the life span of the administration; even though it is truly the third which could be regarded as fully being formulated according to its ideology, policies, principles and philosophies. The first in the series, the 2011 annual budget was a creation of the ousted administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Readers are here reminded that since that administration was shown the way out of office in late November 2010; thereby signaling the beginning of a new era for the state, the documents of the 2011 annual budget had already been prepared by that administration and were just about to be ratified by the State House of Assembly of the time when the courageous judges of the Federal Appellate Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State sounded the knell for it. The options left to the incoming administration; which it grabbed with the two ample hands was to effect a review / upgrade of the budget to make it suitable for and amenable with the policies, plans, programmes and agenda of the party in government; then,
the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); which has today metamorphosed into the All Progressive Congress (APC). In promoting good understanding of the good intents of the administration of the day and justifying the peopleoriented thrust of the administration so far in the entire three years of its governance of our state, we surely shall have to turn to the policy statement of the administration as contained in the pact entered into with the people of the state by Ogbeni Aregbesola at the wake of his election campaign way back 2005. Most striking part of the pact is the portion referred to as the Six-Point Integral Action Plan of the administration, which has remained the guiding star for it in all its exertions and activities. No doubt, the 2014 Appropriation Bill and the ensuing Act shall nit present any deviation from the pact and the Six-Point Integral Action Plan. Hence, according a place o prominence to the pact early enough in this series shall not constitute overbeating the pact and its contents; as they are the formidable basis upon which adequate understanding of the workings of the Rauf Revolution in the State of Osun could be adequately and consummately understood. Now OSUN DEFENDER Magazine turns to the pact and al its contents: “MY PACT WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OSUN “In September 1886, at a camp between Okemesi and Igbajo the armistice ending the twenty year civil war in (KIRIJI), our Obas, generals and leaders pledged themselves to the pursuit of PEACE PROGRESS and PROSPERITY among the children of Oduduwa. This grace we enjoyed till about 1962 when the Western House of Assembly was sacked and the Federalism which gave the Yoruba room to pursue the promise of KIRIJI was terminated in all but name. The end result is that today as we approach the 2007 general elections Peace, Progress
•ADEGBOYE,
and Prosperity can no longer be taken for granted amongst us. There is imminent fear of 1) Political disenfranchisement 2) Economic stagnation 3) Socio-psychological insecurity The above are the reasons I decided to run for the office of Governor in the heartland state of Osun –ipinle Omoluabi. What I offer you therefore can be termed Government Unusual-A Government totally committed to unlocking the latent potentials in our people, a phenomenon unknown in southwest Nigeria since the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. What obtains today is a ruling class tainted with greed, avarice, ineptitude and barefaced terrorism while our people continue to languish in hunger, insecurity, disease and squalor. My mission and ambition are to restore to the people, a state of peace, opportunity, for progress and room for the pursuit of prosperity in our time under a people friendly government. I give you Six-Point Integral Action plan, to the intent that they constitute my actions of faith concerning which I want to be held accountable at any time during my stewardship. “SIX-POINT INTEGRAL ACTION PLAN •Banish Poverty •Banish Hunger •Banish Unemployment (Create Work/Wealth) •Restore Healthy Living •Promote Functional Education •Enhance Communal Peace and Progress “BANISH POVERTY COMMERCE Vision: To make Osogbo the second hub in international trade in goods and commodities in the Southwest. Osun people’s natural affinity for commerce has been dampened over the years by unfriendly and unfocused
economic policies of government thereby popularizing poverty among a people, who are naturally hardworking, industrious and adventurous. Our purposeful government of ACN shall revitalize commerce and restore wealth back to the land through: •Market friendly policies that will revive the customary commercial activities in Osogbo and other towns in Osun. •Promotion and support of activities focused on wealth promotion for our people. •Transformation of Osogbo into an International market where goods will be procured at prices comparable to any other part of West Africa. FINANCE& ECONOMIC PLANNING I shall increase the internally generated revenue of the state and also improve in mileage on every kobo accruing to the state by: •Ensuring real time online access to actual position of the state finances to prevent misuse and other forms of abuse by receiving agencies. •Reducing leakages in the tax collection and administration process. •Running a transparent and accountable government. •Ensuring prudent management of the state’s resources. •Ensuring that the funds of the state are used for developmental purposes. •Create viable Public/Private sector partnerships to jump start the economy. •Our overall goal is to reduce dependence on federal allocation as a means of funding the government. “BANISH HUNGER
Contiuned on page 11
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014
PHOTOTALK
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The State Of Osun United City Bus And Taxi Association In Conjunction With DeRaufs Volunteer Group Held A Continuity Rally In Support Of the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Old Garage, Osogbo, Last Saturday.
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (centre), acknowledging cheers from his admirers during the rally. With him is the bearded Comrade Amitolu Shittu (2nd right).
•A cross section of Governor Aregbesola’s supporters at the rally.
•Another cross section of Aregbesola’s supporters at the rally.
OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014
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Old Garage At Oju-Irin In Osogbo Before Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s Renovation And Reconstruction Of The Park. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI
•One of the sides at Old Garage, Osogbo, before renovation and reconstruction.
•Another dirty side of the Old Garage.
•Bad road and dilapidated buildings at Old Garage.
•Part of the Old Garage.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014
And Now Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Under The Administration Of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, As Captured By Our Cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI.
•Front view of new Nelson Mandela Freedom Park.
•Side view of Mandela Park.
•New road at Mandela Park.
•Another side view at the park.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014
The State Of Osun United City Bus And Taxi Association In Conjunction With DeRaufs Volunteer Group Held A Continuity Rally In Support Of the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Old Garage, Osogbo, Last Saturday.
•The Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Honourable Najim Salaam (1st left) with Governor Rauf Aregbesola during the rally.
••A cross section of Governor Aregbesola’s admirers at the rally.
•A cross section the city buses popularly known as Korope parked at the rally.
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High Expectations; Rekindled Hope Contiuned from page 6
FOOD& AGRICULTURE Vision: Our government shall banish hunger in Osun and enhance wealth through massive increase in food production and agriculture. Every farmer shall sell his products and be prosperous. The labour of the farmer shall no longer be in vain because we shall provide assistance and support to farmers in finding and exploiting profitable market for their goods. We do not presently grow enough food in Osun to feed us round the year and this should concern a government that cares for its people. Our government shall support farmers to attain increase in food production, better storage and delivery. We shall provide assistance to farmers in exploiting profitable markets and market opportunities for their products. To maximize the benefit of resultant massive increase in food production, we shall improve: •Access roads and general transportation to even the most remote areas of the state. •Storage process and capacity. •Processing of agricultural produce. •Rural electricity and water supply. CASH CROPS •Encourage production of cash crops which can enhance farmer’s income and provide basis for an effective agroindustrial society in the state of Osun. •Specified to vigorously develop extensive farming in palm trees to create a fully integrated oil palm processing industry. •To target and capture minimum of 10% of the multibillion naira- per day food market of the neighbouring states. •Support cooperative efforts by farmers •Be a catalyst to the development and promotion of micro, small and medium
•AREGBESOLA
enterprises that will exploit available raw materials. •Set up price support scheme for farmers through commodity exchange board. “BANISH UNEMPLOYMENT (CREATE WORK& WEALTH) No job loss, more jobs. Osun people are peaceful, dignified and hardworking people who desire and deserve gainful employment for their children and themselves. Rather than policies that will create employment and wealth for the people, the policies of the PDP government in place serve to enrich few at the expense of majority of our people. As part of our GOVERNMENT UNUSUAL programme, I Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola make a pact with you good people of the State of Osun, in the presence and by the grace of God Almighty that our government shall create immediate employment for 20,000 people within our 100 days in office. 5,000 of these places shall be reserved for those who were retrenched and are still willing and able to work. As a people-friendly government, our policies shall help to: •Create economic environment that ensures availability of jobs for all Osun indigenes. •Establish one LIFE ACADEMY in each of the three Senatorial constituencies for the building of life-long skills in out of schools, youngsters as well as adults seeking alternative competencies. •Promote labour exchange centres to facilitate employment of graduates from our Life Academies.
any loss of jobs as I Rauf Aregbesola do not believe in laying people off in the name of reforms. Our reform will make the work environment more conductive, stimulating and development oriented. Bonuses, incentives and regular awards shall be instituted to promote a culture of excellence in the civil service along with the prompt payment of salaries, allowances, leave bonuses and year end performance bonuses. Promotions and comprehensive salary reviews and increases shall be regular. Internal and external training, work exchange programmes and overseas training shall be actively reinstituted for comprehensive human development in the civil service. New Tutor General/Permanent Secretary Cadre shall be created for Teachers in new education districts for better school administration. We shall institute Home Ownership Scheme for public servants and also support and encourage their backyard food production business ventures. We shall do a comprehensive review of civil service names and conventions as part of our efforts to create a peoplefriendly civil service. Appropriate nomenclature will enhance accountability and promote public access to the services of the ministry. A citizen with a complaint of blockage of drainage will find a Ministry of Roads and Drainages easier to identify with than Ministry of Works, a Ministry of Human Resources and Development will more appropriately communicate its services than a Ministry of Establishment.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS There is the need for a civil service reform that will not lead to
TOURISM Vision: Tourist’s cradle in Africa
The State of Osun is the cradle of Yoruba people and our rich culture. The opportunities for wealth creation in Osun state through tourism have been underexploited. We shall: •Develop State of Osun tourism potentials to its fullest to promote employment and wealth among people of the State of Osun. •Encourage development of Yoruba museum and world heritage centre at Ile-Ife. •Encourage programmes that nurture and promote arts and talent. •Enhance the image of traditional rulers and institutions. •Mobilize our traditional rulers to showcase the state’s tourism potentials to Yorubas in the diaspora (e.g. Brazil, Cuba and West Indies). ROADS Vision: Roads to and in all towns and villages in Osun. Road construction and maintenance shall be used to generate employment for the indigenes of the State of Osun. •Community based road maintenance units will be established to ensure timely repairs and deduce overall maintenance costs. •Development and regular maintenance of urban and rural roads to get top priority. •Access roads to evacuate agricultural produce shall be constantly improved and expanded. •Create partnerships with the private sector on road development and provision of infrastructure. TRANSPORTATION We shall produce a transport master plan to provide direction for development of the sector. The safety of the lives of the indigenes of the State of Osun is of Contiuned on page 12
•LAOYE-TOMORI
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High Expectations; Rekindled Hope
•A cross section of members of the State House of Assembly during the budget presentation. Continued from page 11
great concern to us. We shall: •Reduce to the barest minimum, road traffic accident within 6 months on all roads starting with Federal roads. •Create a motorized division of the Osun troopers to patrol roads to prevent accidents on the highways and organize rescue and recovery operations. INNOVATION Europe, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and now China have made life for their people permanently comfortable through innovation, research and development, thrift and hardwork. We Africans especially the people of the State of Osun are thrifty (a ki se oni nakuna) and hardworking (ati agbe at onise owo lo ka imele si aida nile Yoruba) but we have been backward in looking forward. We have not been innovative enough, we have not invested enough in research and we have not developed the fruits of innovation and research. In other words we remain backward, poor, unscientific and losers (eni igbehin) among the family of nations. It is a matter of concern that our leaders do not car or worry enough about these issues. I care and I’m deeply concerned. As your Governor I will do everything possible to: •Create awareness and dissatisfaction among all in the State of Osun about our position among the world’s people and the need to move up the ladder of human ascent and development away from permanent and persistent poverty. •Ensure that ideas with original creativity are tapped for the enrichment of all. •Give real importance to education with skills development so that we can make what we need and become more competitive in the world as a people by creating more skills development centres in the State of Osun.
•In these centres we shall teach Men and Women to think with their hands, sharpen our already proven entrepreneurial skills and stop Nigeria from importing: TOOTH PICK (IGI OPARUN FUN ITAYIN) FROM CHINA, ORANGE JUICE (OROMBO) FROM KOREA, SHOES (BATA) FROM SPAIN/ ITALY, FAN BELT/ CAR TYRES (RUBBER) FROM JAPAN AND FRANCE. When I know that these can be easily manufactured here. I shall turn the State of Osun into a creative agro-industrial zone God willing. INDUSTRIALISATION Key to banishing unemployment permanently anywhere is promoting conducive atmosphere for manufacturing and production. Our Government shall: •Develop integrated industrial estates for mini, micro and large manufacturing enterprises in the three senatorial zones of the State of Osun. •Provide the estates with infrastructural facilities that reduce the cost of setting up industries (roads, electricity, water and telecommunications). •Provide incentives targeted at attracting manufacturers/ investors. •Develop skilled personnel through our Life Academies, Universities and colleges to service specialized industrial and manufacturing needs. “RESTORE HEALTHY LIVING Vision: To work to save our people from all avoidable deaths due to accidents, emergencies, poverty and inadequate health facilities. To achieve this for all and particularly our children and senior citizens, we shall: •Provide effective and available healthcare for all. •Provide efficient accident and
emergency ambulance service. •Provide primary health clinics within 10 kilometre radius of every Osun town, with special attention to the needs of children, women and the elderly. •Provide functional General hospitals within 20 kilometre radius of human habitation. •Provide referral hospitals within 30 kilometre radius of human settlement. •Establish free blood pressure checks in conjunction with private organizations at every local government office. •Undertake special programmes for the upgrading, retraining and working comforts of all health personnel. •Encourage and nurture alternative medical therapy. •Free treatment for malaria to children below age 18 and senior citizens (60+). ENVIRONMENT Vision: To embrace current scientific methods in controlling the generation of waste and the conversion of waste to wealth. The state of the environment, especially waste generation, management and the embarrassing filth in our communities demand special attention. The CAN government shall: •Encourage all houses in the State of Osun to have a modern and affordable toilet facility through a special scheme. •Provide private sector driven waste management and beautification schemes to rid our communities of filth which threaten public health. •Beautification of town centres as a starting point of general urban renewal. •Work with the private sector to establish appropriate waste-to-wealth projects under a composite waste management policy. WATER Vision: Water for all in the state of the living spring. It is a painful regret that most cities in Osun do not have potable water running at any time and Osun is the state of the living spring!!!
Our Government will do everything possible to bring potable water to all parts of the State of Osun and correct this anomaly. All abandoned water schemes shall be reactivated and speedily completed. AFFORDABLE HOUSING Our ACN Government shall: •Help Osun indigenes realize their dreams of house ownership or rehabilitation of failing structures through deliberate programmes that improve their income earning capacity. •Support mortgage schemes that make house ownership pocket friendly. •Actively support research and development on the use of local materials to force down building costs. ELECTRICITY Electricity for all shall be the creed of ACN Government in Osun. We shall: •Ensure that electric energy is available in the state for domestic, commercial and industrial activities. •We shall endeavour to provide electricity to all villages, hamlets and farm settlements in the state. •Private sector-led power agencies shall be encouraged to set up energy stations in the state. SECURITY Security of lives and properties are of paramount importance to us. Our Government shall: •Have special programmes for the police and neighbourhood security outfits. •Provide special allowance to all security agents deployed to Osun State and enhance their operational facilities for efficiency. Respond to the operational needs of security agents through provision of mobility, communication gadgets, protective gears and conducive working environment.
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OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014
High Expectations; Rekindled Hope
•(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. schools. Our state is blessed with a large pool of Continued from page 12 An attribute of good governance is to elderly folks who are invariably well promote justice, equity and fair play FIRE SERVICES · Reduce number of students per educated, have enjoyed successful careers, amongst citizens of the state. travelled widely in the world, but are We shall improve capacity of fire services classroom immediately. currently reduced to irrelevance in the Government of CAN will e3nsure to respond to emergencies. · Introduce home development society. speedy access ti justice try all individuals plans for teachers who wish to build houses PHYSICAL WELL-BEING in Osun State, by reforming the courts in their home towns, through access to Our Government will support the system and procedural rules, introducing formation of non partisan community based alternative dispute resolution (ADR) Our Government will promote physical special mortgage packages. sages councils, capable of providing mechanisms and fee legal services. exercises as a deliberate policy which will · Promote mass adult literacy and guidance in management, moral and ethical form a crucial aspect of our healthy-living development in our society. programme. This is in keeping with the numeracy programmes. To complement these, CAN adage that a sound mind only resides in a government shall improve welfare · Promote and support Special Our Government will seek elderly packages of Judicial Officers and upgrade sound body. programmes that give special attention to guidance and advice as inputs to our policy courts with modern IT and education of girls and women. formation and implementation. communications facilities.
“PROMOTE EDUCATION
FUNCTIONAL
Vision: Eradicate the frustration of youths caused by education that does not lead to employment. To achieve this, the government of AC under Rauf Aregbesola shall: · Provide free education at all levels in Osun State. Focus on functional education. Education that makes one useful to himself and society. · Improve incentives to teachers and work with the NUT to restore the dignity of the teaching profession. · Restructure administration of school management and create TutorsGeneral (Permanent Secretary Cadre) from among Head Teachers in three Educational Districts which we will establish.\ · Fix all collapsed educational infrastructures in all the schools. · Support with modern teaching aids and well-stocked libraries. · Ensure cooperation with parents and teachers to improve discipline and morality. · Introduce non-partisan community-based governing boards for all
· Establish institutions that impart life-long skills for all, in and out of formal schooling. ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY
Government will support the senior citizens and help in their management of socio-economic problems peculiar to the group (pension, health and education). YOUTHS COUNCIL (EGBE ODO)
· I am committed to ensuring that an Osun State University takes off on a sound footing and becomes a first-class institution with linkages to renowned universities in the developed world.
People age 30 and below constitute the majority of our population but unfortunately are often frustrated and unfulfilled as a consequence of intolerable social and economic policies.
· I will make every tertiary institution in Osun State an independent degreeawarding one.
Our CAN Government shall support the creation of non partisan community based youth councils to provide a platform for them to articulate and work out solutions to various problems confronting them.
· Encourage use of services of retired, but not tired dons and administrators, from reputable institutions. “ENHANCE COMMUNALPEACEAND PROGRESS Vision: To restore the bond of trust between the Governor and the governed. Over time, people have disconnected from government because those in authority have not shown enough concern about their welfare or actively engaged them in formulating policies that affect them. Our Government shall restore partnership between government and people through: SAGES COUNCILS (EGBE AGBA)
Our Government will encourage cross fertilization of ideas between the Sages and Youth Councils through which public policies would be influenced.\ Government will promote sporting activities and creation iof physical facilities forb sporting and related activities. We shall reinstate the abandoned ‘boys’ and girls’ clubs’ and name them Omoluabi Boys’ and Girls’ club to perform the roles similar to boys’ and girls’ scouts, boys brigade and more.
JUSTICE SECTOR REFORMS
COMMUNICATION Our Government will restructure OSBC to: Ensure its professional are motivated and continuously trained for competency Provide digital equipment and infrastructure upgrade to conform to international best practices in broadcasting. Exploit its tourism promotional capacity and capability. CONSUMER PROTECTION Consumers deserve to have the best goods and services at the best price and not have to pay more for goods and servi9ces than their counterparts in other parts of the world. Our government shall support the establishment of a consumer watch agency and also cooperate with organizations that have similar objective of protecting our people from unfair business practices. In all the above and above all these I intend to run a people-friendly government – a Government of the people, by the people, FOR THE PEOPLE. A
GOVERNMENT UNUSUAL in Continued on page 14
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High Expectations; Rekindled Hope
•Some of the State House of Assembly Commission members at the programme. Continued from page 13
this land. Infrastructures and facilities for reaching, advising, guiding, warning me will be given constant nurture. Outside these I have no rigging machinery and will strongly appeal to you all Osun voters to fight and defend your votes. Do not sell your vote and our future to a moneybag or vote people who do not care enough about our future as I passionately do. I am entering into a pact with each and all of you as you read this that I and my colleagues shall work in all honesty, tirelessly to bring marked improvements to your life. Apart of this pact you will be able to see that your children are better educated and have jobs; farmers, artisan, traders are more prosperous, general quality of health has improved and you are no longer afraid to go to the hospital. Osun will again be producing food enough for its people. Through my Government Unusual, I shall work with and for you to create wealth through our toil as our fathers and mothers did to make us prosperous until 1962. Only you and I can bring change but through new ideas and work. Oluwa Olorun a ti wa l’ehin. Oodua a fun wa se E je k’a le ise wo’gbo K’a le osi sonu K’aye dara fun wa t’omo t’omo. This is my pledge; my PACT with you
people of Osun State.” The New Year 2014 is symbolic in many respects. First is the fact that the year is the last in the four-year term packaged into the first tenure of the Rauf Aregbesola administration in the State of Osun. The earlier three years of the administration has witnessed the massive rolling out of programmes, projects and policies; mostly in infrastructure; which OSUN DEFENDER Magazine has committed lengthy volumes of essay to chronicle. Another significant angle from which the New Year 2014 could be viewed is that it promises to be a year of reckoning, during which most of the projects already kick-started would be carried to their 100 per cent implementation, delivered to the Government of the State as their sponsor, as well as officially commissioned to the Glory of God and for the ultimate use of the people of the state. There is no doubt about it that during the just-started year, many more projects, programmes and policies would be initiated by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. So this fact constitutes another symbolism of the New Year. Another in the list of the significance of the year 2014 is the fact that it is a year that would witness the creation of more new local administrations. Known either as local council development administrations (LCDAs) or local governments, these creations are there to bring government closer to the people and make development spread to the grassroots in some astronomical scale. In addition, they increase the depth of participation in governance and make known in greater details the impact of good governance; the kind that the Rauf Revolution is out to dispense to people at the grassroots. Above all, the year 2014 is a year when some series of elections would be conducted at the two tiers of government on ground in the state. Though OSUN DEFENDER Magazine may not be the
appropriate and competent authorities to release the election timetable for these elections; we know for sure that sometime between the end of the first quarter and the end of the first month in the second quarter, the state should be approaching the polls for the local government ballots. In similar vein, sometimes in July same year, the state should be heading for the polls for the conduct of another round of Gubernatorial Elections. For all we know, we in the State of Osun at this juncture are not in need to vote for some vacant position. What we are all set out to accomplish is to fulfill all righteousness in consolidating an already established administration and getting same firmly enthroned with our power of the thumb to be able to complete dispensing the goodies of its mandate to the people of the state. We should not therefore forget the deprivation and neglect of the past seven-and-a—half years of the holocaust and desist from acts which are most capable of returning the state to the wilderness. It’s high time we took our destinies in our own hands. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine wishes the state and its people another season of free, fair and credible elections; devoid of rancor and violence. From the2014 Appropriation Bill of the State of Osun therefore, much provision are expected to reflect on the items of significance here mentioned and many more. Specific mention shall be made of provisions in subsequent editions as we continue the consideration of the bill. Still for a start, we need to emphasize that as in earlier years, the draft 2014 Budget which is tagged “Budget of Growth, Enhancement and Development” is anchored on the following policy thrusts: (i) a complete turnaround of agriculture such that it will be revolutionised, made attractive and profitable with a view to improving the welfare of the people and the economy
of the State; (ii) provision of necessary and durable infrastructure like roads, electrification, ICT etc that will ensure development of the economy of the State; (iii) creation of job-friendly economic environment to ensure empowerment of youths, Women, cooperative movements, Artisans etc; (iv) development of public service that is result-oriented, efficient, effective and responsible with a view to making it one of the best in the federation; (v) provision of effective health care delivery for all with special attention to the needs of children and women; (vi) provision of effective waste management and beautification schemes to rid our communities of filth; (vii) development of diverse economic potentials of the state and reactivation of commercial activities; (viii) reactivation and speedy completion of abandoned water schemes; (ix) transformation of the education sector with a view to providing functional and qualitative education; (x) reforming the court system, upgrading of courts and introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism with a view to ensuring speedy access to justice by all individuals in the State.”
To be continued.
•This piece, first published in Tuesday January 21, 2014 edition, is repeated due to popular demand. - Editor
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Egbe Omo Yoruba In North America Paid A Courtesy Visit To The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, In His Office At Abere, Last Weekend.
•(R-L) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; ex-President, Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America, Mr Adeola Odusanya; member, Mr Ajibola Osunnubi and other dignitaries, during the group’s courtesy visit to the governor in his office, Abere, State of Osun, at the weekend.
•Aregbesola (centre); Odusanya (3rd left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovations, Mr Kunle Ajayi (2nd right); Osunnubi (left); Mrs Abiola Popoola (2nd right); Mr Folarin Dasilva (left); Mr Solomon Adio and others in a group photograph during the group’s courtesy visit to the governor in his office at Abere, State of Osun, at the weekend.
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TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2014 liberal democracy, I N where no constituent unit is allowed to suffer in the overall interest of the whole, systemic collapse is considered grave; it is seen as a misnomer that should be grossly repudiated. This is at variance with what we have at the moment in Nigeria under President Goodluck Jonathan, where the party at the centre seems poised to see that all states being governed by opposition continue in economic quagmire, as if they are not part of Nigeria, to create wrong signals that unless people in those states change their minds to vote-in PDP’s candidates, they cannot perceive the aroma of democratic dividends.
By ADE OLUGBOTEMI
Why Jonathan, PDP Must Go (2)
The President recently confirmed peoples’ impression of him as being insensitive to aggregate of opinions, when he cancelled the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting, for his cabinet members to commiserate with Vice-President Namadi Sambo over the loss of his junior brother in a motor accident. Nobody would have raised any eyebrow if similar concern was exhibited when scores of innocent lives were exterminated in recent Nyanya bomb blast. Another blast in the same area in the night of May Day was responded to with mere verbal condemnation, and the assurance to those billed to attend an international conference in Abuja that there was no cause for alarm. Recent appointments in which two ministerial nominees from the South West states were given the portfolios of the ministries of Police affairs and Defence as Minister and Minister of State respectively have further accentuated people’s consternation that the President is resolute in his attempt to recapture the states that were lost to opposition in the fast-approaching elections. The two recently-confirmed ministers have also not helped matters because the way they have reacted to issues in their respective states of Osun and Lagos left much to be desired. Jelili Adesiyan recently allegedly maltreated a former governor of the State of Osun in a hotel in Osogbo, using his police orderlies; while Musiliu Obanikoro’s first official assignment was to stop those working in a State’s Housing Estate in Lagos with soldiers on the prowl. The President should be happy that some governors somewhere, though in opposition, are working in tandem with his well-taunted transformation agenda. He ought to have developed a very large heart to make the states that are working some sort of reference models to those in his party (PDP) with the culture of cake-sharing that has labelled us “Profligates who are not poor”, (as the
•JONATHAN
President has emphasized severally) but cannot provide for the basic needs (as opposed to wants in Economics) of the populace. This is to tell us that the muchorchestrated Transformation Agenda is a fluke after all. Recently, the Minister of Finance; and the coordinating Minister of the economy came up to tell the whole nation that the recovered money from Late Head of State, General Sani Abacha has been spent to develop the rural areas. Nigerians are yet to know what exactly the money was used for in the rural areas that depict development. As a rural dweller, I am yet to feel any federal impact that may justify the position of our ‘Superpowerful Minister’. The minister owes Nigerians explanations as to the modality applied to pick selected areas, and in which states of the federation the areas are located. This is part of corruption per excellence that has
we need to ask ourselves is: what democratic values have we really imbibed? Not even the ruling Peoples Democratic Party can boast of valuable democratic tenets. The ruling PDP still believes in rigging as a ‘legitimate’ means of winning elections. They do not believe in the rule of law, and to them, the principle of separation of powers remains a sham; yet, we say there is democracy in place. Recently, a PDP stalwart was arrested with voters’ cards that must have been collected either from the owners for money, or our electoral umpire with financial inducement. Members of PDP in the State of Osun have ubiquitously become boastful that their flag bearer will defeat the incumbent governor in the August 9 poll. It is now crystal clear that the confidence they have is in rigging mastery that will be aided by that unscrupulous source that made it possible for voters’ cards meant for many voters to get to a politician, to be used against opponents illegally. Many Nigerians will not be too surprised if the culprit is let off the hook and the case is unheard of till eternity comes.
There is no way a country can develop if the leadership is corrupt. Our own corruption has reached the crescendo of epidemic, and unless the present crop of leaders in the ruling PDP are eased out of power, Nigeria may never have a modicum of progress and peace which can only be availed by genuine and functional democratic culture. It is only in big-for-nothing Nigeria that a non-performing central government will be audacious to boast that they will defeat a performing state governor, since the power to hire and electoral umpire is vested in an become permanent stain on our fire autocratic President. chequered status in the comity of nations. Given the current security challenges, which ruling PDP has failed to tackle The recently-concluded World in thethe past years, the failed Economic Forum has been said to have promises onthree power, transportation, injected into our economy billions of employment generation, and economic dollars, the manifestation of such meltdown that has brought benefits may never be felt by ordinary devastation, there isexcruciating no more Nigerians because we only hear with justification for President Goodluck our ears, and the more we look, the Jonathan and PDP to either remain in less we see. We are now in an era when power beyond 2015, or aspire to take money is chameleonic and occasionally over any of the states currently being grows wings to fly to unknown governed by opposition. People have destinations. The World Bank expertise been bombarded with numerous in our supervising minister has only promises since 1999 and all the availed us illogical explanation about promises have failed. There is nothing issues that appear comical on missing wrong in trying another political party, billions of foreign currencies that ought so that Nigerians will be able to also to have given our economy survival assess the alternatives that are available impetus. in all the tiers of government, so as to We may appear boastful about our know whether we have respite democracy that has been in place for somewhere or we should send all almost fifteen years now; the question political gladiators packing.
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.