Osun Defender - May 1st, 2014 Edition

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www.osundefender.org THURSDAY MAY 1, 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 consigned to the backwaters of development has become the toast of investors and development partners alike.

PEOPLE FIRST

VOL. 9. NO.052

that the State of Who Killed Front Page Comment Osun currently tall among the Chief Bola Ige, Omisore And Osun's ranks states where things are happening. former AttorneyImaginary Debts From the towns and become a pace-setter The story of how a cities now adorning General and state which the hurriedly across the board as new looks courtesy departing PDP adminis- transformation has obviof the Aregbesola's Minister of tration left prostrate and ously remained a comurban renewal initiapelling one.

Clearly, the bankrupt has within three tives, Justice? years not only received resounding verdict Continue on pg5 the kiss of life, but has

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across the federation is

Osogbo Stands Still •As Aregbesola Commissions 21 Road Projects •Blames Omisore For 2011 Pre-election Murder - See Story On Page 2

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed), acknowledging cheers from his admirers during the inspection of the roads at Oluode, Osogbo, last Tuesday.

INSET: One of the completed 21 roads by the governor, at Oroki Estate, Osogbo, during the commissioning.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Osun Economy Will Be The Largest In Nigeria By 2020 - Aregbesola

- See Story On Page 3

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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

Osogbo Stands Still •As Aregbesola Commissions 21 Road Projects •Blames Omisore For 2011 Pre-election Murder

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By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI

grace, they would fail,” the governor said.

Aregbesola stated that he was not perturbed by the huge amount of money committed into the road projects, because they would have unquantifiable benefits on people.

He added that at the inception of his administration, he had a vision of progress for Osun, of which road infrastructural development was a vital component.

The governor stressed that because of the paramount importance of road transportation for the movement of people and goods in Nigeria, including Osun, government accorded it a priority attention in its development schemes.

Aregbesola pointed out that his administration did not allow it to be discouraged by the little details of short-term inconveniences but focused on the big picture and the long-term value of the sacrifices it’s making today.

He said: “When we started these roads, our traducers scoffed and mocked the projects, claiming that we would never have the funds or the presence of mind to see them through. But to the glory of God and their eternal shame, we have delivered on our promise.

“We are not resting on our oars; our greater vision is to tar every road in the state, since we cannot conceive of a beautiful environment without good roads.

“We will therefore

T was jubilation galore on Monday as the Adelowo Adebiyi led the in choosing the governor residents of the state capital, Osogbo, celebrated leaders of the party, of your choice. Their the new face of the city with Governor Rauf including the interim candidate, Omisore, who Aregbesola, who commissioned 21 township roads Secretary, Prince Gboyega was unable to vote for in the state capital.

Famodun, interim State himself in 2003 and in The event also recorded Deputy Chairman, Alhaji 2011, his electoral doctored Early in the morning, when the news filtered the highest turnout of the Muraina Iyiola, interim figure was nullified by the round that the governor traditional rulers in the State Women Leader, Alhaja court.

“He was in prison when would tour the new roads state, led by the Ataoja of Kudirat Fakokunde, with a view to Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Assistant State PRO, he emerged as a senator. He commissioning them, Olanipekun; the Akinrun of Apostle Samson Oyebode, was unable to vote for residents in their hundreds Ikinrun, Oba Abdu-Rafiu Osun Central Senatorial himself not to talk of had lined up along major Adedeji; the Olu of Inisa, leader, Alhaji G. O. Lawal, campaigning. INEC and streets, anxiously waiting Oba Joseph Olarinde; the former Chief of Staff, Elder power that be in Abuja Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Peter Babalola, Alhaji Wale doctored figures for him to for the governor. become a senator.

“This is a day we have Adekeye Oyebamiji; the Lasisi and other leaders.

“Also in 2007, when he been waiting for,”said an Elerin of Erin-Osun, Oba It was all commendations octogenarian, Pa Adenihun Yusuf Omoloye; the from the professional contested with Jide Bolarinwa, a community Oloogi of Ogi, Oba James bodies, royal fathers and the Omoworare, the court leader at Tinunmola Estate, Adeleke; the Olona of Ada, community leaders, who nullified his election on who described Aregbesola Oba Abimibola Abioye; the could not hide their joy for account of irregularities, Olu of Sekona, Oba the completion of the road but when we clearly as a blessing to the state. understood that their People were so excited Adebola Waheed and the projects. that traders abandoned Olufi of Gbongan, Oba Dr When the stage was set intention was to kill our their shops, just as public Adetoyese among others. for the governor to address supporters, we boycotted Various political groups the crowd, his mood that election. He then and private schools children were not exempted, as they including, Adaba Projects, suggested readiness to reply contested against himself. all stood waving at the De Young Mandate, Osun opposition’s criticisms on The 2011 election was not Positive Force, the performance of his also different, as they killed governor.

Touch administration in the last five people at Isale-Agbara The residents around Old Progressive area of Ile-Ife before the Governor’s Office, Bearers, De Raufs, De three years.

Itesiwaju, FOMWAN School and Integrity, The governor lambasted election and despite that, he Heritage, in their large Dynamic Group, Women the Peoples Democratic lost his ward. “ Our victory is not by numbers, stopped the in Action, Oranmiyan Party (PDP), saying the Asiwaju commissioning convoy of the governor to Democrats, was human power, but by appreciate his good works. Grassroots Movement organised to put them to God’s grace. God has Aregbesola linked the among others equally shame and show the whole given us victory since 2007 new roads through stormed the venue in their world the result of” and handed over the victory Fagbewesa, inside an hundreds. ingenuity and purposeful to us in November 26, 2010. God removed a Other professional leadership.” open-roof SUV, clad in his a attire, waving back at the bodies in attendance were: He said Senator Iyiola retired army general, who massive crowd and in less Motor Dealers Association Omisore, the PDP fought war in Somalia, not than five minutes, Ebenezer of Nigeria, Nigerian governorship candidate, is to talk of a prisoner, who Street to Station Road Automobile Technicians the least competent to does not deserve to be a became rowdy with traffic Association of Nigeria contest any election adding councillor.

“You must not fear (NATA), Road Transport he “lacks all the political gridlock.

The shout of “Aregbe” Employees Association of credentials to contest for them. God is by our side and for those who sent rented the air, as the Nigeria (RTEAN) and public offices.”

Women governor’s convoy moved Market Aregbesola said: ”I them on vendetta mission through Boorepo to Elelede Associations. assure the people of the in Osun from Abuja, State Interim Chairman state of your protection of Kaduna or anywhere, they Junction; Elelede to Gbemu Road; Gbodofon to Gbemu of the All Progressives lives and properties. You have invested on a failed Junction Road; and Ilobu Congress (APC), Elder must not fear the charlatans project and by God’s Road to GRA Road among other roads listed for commissioning.

The wife of the governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, the Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, State Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye and other members of the State Executive Council moved with the governor.

The situation was not different at Oroki Estate, the commissioning venue, as the place was filled to capacity with top government functionaries, members of the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, Chairman, House Committee on Works, Honourable Abiodun Awolola, National Assembly members, •The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), commissioning the completed 21 roads in Osogbo.

Honourables Ayo Omidiran With him; his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left); Secretary to the State Government of Osun, and Lasun Yusuf graced the Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (left) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) RATCON Construction Company, Mr Elias Zaad occasion.

(2nd right), during the occasion when the governor commissioned the completed roads in Osogbo last Tuesday.

continue to convert our visionary road map for Osun into a concrete and enduring legacy of asphaltic surfaces for the engendering of socioeconomic development, progress and prosperity for our people.”

He averred that, as the state capital, Osogbo township road development project stands out as a product of a visionary road map, intentionally aimed at making Osogbo, the truly modern state capital it deserves.

The governor stressed that the roads were designed to ease transportation within the city, as well as in and out of it, adding that the total number of roads being commissioned in Osogbo was 21 with a stretch of 26.31 kilometres.

The commissioned roads included: Station Road to Ebenezer Hotel Road; Boorepo to Elelede Junction Road; Elelede to Gbemu Road; Gbodofon to Gbemu Junction Road; and Ilobu Road to GRA Road, Oja Oba Road to Plantaintion Area; Balogun Biiro to Oke Baale Road; Alafia Street to Church Street, Awolowo Way; Coca-Cola to Capital Hotel Road; Oke Onitea Road to Anaye Market Junction; Okefia to Ita Olokan Road; the Road from Opposite Capital Hotel to Oroki Road; Oroki Estate to Ilobu Road; Odetoyinbo to Heritage Hotel Road with Spur; and Kola Balogun Road Junction to Fiwasaye Olohunosebi Junction.

Others are Osunbukola to Ede Road; John Mackay Road to Oke Baale; the road from Tanisi to Keji Adigun Street; Adams Street to Mercy Land and Road Spur; Steel Rolling Camp to Kabelo Filling Station; and Rehabilitated Ifeloju Omo-West Road.

In a goodwill message, National Chairman, Radio and Television Workers Union (RATAWU), Yemisi Bamigbose, said the governor had demonstrated u n p r e c e d e n t e d commitment to the development of the state.

Bamigbose said out of the 36 states he had visited, no state has recorded such rapid development within a short period of time, especially on roads and infrastructural development.

The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, said the quality of the work done by the contractor was a manifestation of Aregbesola’s creativity and competence, adding that the governor’s good works have already campaigned for his re-election.

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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

Osun Gov Election: PDP’s Plot To Kit Thugs With Police Uniform Exposed

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

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LLEGED fresh plot by the State of Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, to kit political thugs with police uniform with the intention of eliminating prominent leaders of the ruling - All Progressives Party (APC) and implicating them have been exposed.

Exposing the plot at a press conference addressed by political office holders under APC from Ifeland on Monday, the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Babajide Omoworare, alleged that the plan is to use thugs who are in the Omisore Youths Support Forum (OYSF) to carry out the heinous act.

Flanked by other political office holders from the area, Omoworare said part of the plans was to execute the kidnapping and disappearance of notable APC leaders.

He further alleged that the thugs have also been instructed to plant guns in the homes, vehicles and properties of some APC leaders, who will subsequently be arrested and detained.

Expressing worry over Omisore’s efforts to unleash mayhem on Ile-Ife and some other parts of the state and blame APC leaders for it, he stressed that the PDP candidate and his party have disregarded the concerted efforts of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, to broker peace among political stakeholders in the ancient town.

“We owe the government and people of Nigeria, as well as the electorate and law enforcement agencies that we make it clear to the public, words reaching us from the grapevine on the strategic establishment of Omisore Youths Support Forum (OYSF) and the coincidental emergence of Mr Jelili Adesiyan as Police Affairs Minister.

“Their plans are to kit the OYSF across the state with police uniform, police/presidency official number plates, arms and ammunitions during the campaign and upcoming August 9 gubernatorial election in the state.

“The gang will execute the kidnapping and disappearance of notable APC leaders; and guns will

Change Of Name I, formerly known and addressed as MISS KAREEM OMOWUMI DAMILOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS A D E S U Y I O M O W U M I DAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

be planted in the homes, vehicles and properties of APC leaders, who will be arrested and detained,” he added.

Recalling the melee that ensued in Ile-Ife during the

recently-concluded voters’ registration exercise, when members of APC resisted an attempt to manipulate the exercise, the Federal lawmaker alleged that in the process, one Alhaji Amuda Lawal, father of the Executive Secretary of Ife-East Local Government, Tajudeen Lawal, was attacked.

He identified those who perpetrated the act as Ayo Doherty (Waska), Funminiyi Eluyera

(Artillery), Rasheed from Gbodo Compound, Bisi Kalejaye (Elelede), Bashiru Egbeze also from Gbodo Compound, Segun Omololu (Experience), Marcus Fadehan, Fatai Faworaja and several others.

Omoworare also alleged that there was an attempt to implicate the same Tajudeen Lawal and some APC members by linking them with the murder of one Mr Taiwo Ogundele, who was shot on February

12, adding that heaping the blame on them was diversionary and intended to shield the actual perpetrators of the crime.

Stressing that they were not out to send panicky signal on the forthcoming election to the people, he said, that the group was justified by the recent statement credited to Vice President Namadi Sambo, who said the election in Osun and Ekiti states would be a ‘war front’.

Calling on the well-

meaning Nigerians and security operatives to call the alleged characters to order, he cautioned that the maturity of APC leaders and members should not be mistaken for cowardice, lethargy and timidity.

Omoworare also encouraged indigenes and residents of Ife and Osun in general to remain steadfast, watchful and unintimidated by exercising their civic responsibility of voting without any fear.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), presenting Smart I.D Card to State of Osun Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye; with them are: Sir Demola Aladekomo (2nd right) and Arowoogun (left) at the event during the launch of the State Of Osun Civil Servant Smart I.D Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI Card and Biometric Automation of I AM ALIVE by the governor last Thursday.

Osun Economy ‘ll Be The Largest In Nigeria By 2020 - Aregbesola

By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI

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OVERNOR of the State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had stated on Tuesday that his vision is to banish poverty, hunger and unemployment through economic and social transformation. the impact of He added that it is not the of destiny of the people of the infrastructure in economic state to remain in poverty, development, which has while pledging that his been a pointer for location administration will continue of any physical project.

According to the to improve infrastructure, security and create enabling governor, over three environment for investment. hundred kilometres of roads constructed The governor gave the were assurance while delivering strategically based on their his keynote address during economic importance with an Economic Summit on higher concentration on Crux of Economic rural areas to increase food Development Master plan production.

The governor said the powered by the Peoples international Welfare League (PWL), a airport, socio-political organisation. markets, abattoirs being Aregbesola said his constructed are to create administration is conscious wealth and make the state

economically-independent.

He said: “We have signed an agreement with Nigeria Air Force to maintain their aircrafts in this state. We don’t have a single Aircraft Hanger in the whole SubSahara Africa, and in Osun, by the grace of God, we are building one for helicopter and another one for Aircraft.

With this, Osun will be great.

That is our vision.”

“That is why I’m surprised that some people, out of ignorance, want the state to remain in penury.

They are so mischievous about our borrowed funds that we are using to construct the roads. If they are not senseless, are they expecting us to leave Gbongan to Osogbo road as death trap?”

“If we are not

constructing alternative road to Lagos, through Orile-Owu and AraromiOwu, if we are not constructing the road from Gbongan to Osogbo, who will come here? No one will come here to invest. This is the connection between economy, wealth and i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l development”.

There is no nation that can develop without infrastructure. That is why we prioritised the infrastructure.

For avoidance of doubt, we are not borrowing to overburden the state, but to minimise resources in providing timely social services that will make life better for our people.”

The governor added that through ingenuity and

Labour Party Leadership Crisis: Court Adjourns Hearing

By SHINAABUBAKAR

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USTICE Jide Falola of an Osun State High Court sitting in Ikirun has adjourned the three-in-one Labour Party (LP) suit before him till Thursday for continuation of hearing.

It would be recalled that means of settling their several factions of the party differences amicably and went to court to vent their allow the party be part of anger over leadership tussle the forthcoming electoral that has engulfed the party process in the state.

Speaking on the day’s since last year.

The presiding judge proceedings, the counsel to however counselled the the parties disclosed that warring factions to sheath the judge was trying to their swords and thread the ensure that the suit was path of peace in the interest dealt with in time and dispassionately, of the future of the party.

He advised the aggrieved commending his stance on parties to find an alternative resolving the crisis.

Mr Biriomoni disclosed that it is a general belief that justice delayed is justice denied, hence, the decision of the court to ensure speedy dispensation of the suit before it.

He added that the process of electioneering is close and there is a need for the party to conduct its primaries after deciding the propriety of its leadership issue, saying it was paramount for the party to have a governorship candidate.

According to another counsel, the judge’s stance on peace was commendable, hence, it was believed that

party members would heed the court’s counsel to thread the path of peace and resolve the crisis internally.

He maintained that the court’s wisdom was to ensure that the party did not further disintegrate before the election, hence, its advice to embrace peace.

The LP had since last year been in a mess of leadership crisis, leading to the dissolution of the party’s primaries held early this year, invalidating the emergence of its purported governorship candidate, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade.

consciousness of the state’s financial limitation, his administration has borrowed with highest sense of responsibility with the cheapest interest rate and longest period of repayment.

A former Speaker of the state’s parliament, Professor Mojeed Alabi, in his own address, said the struggle for power is a struggle for economic control and urged the people to ensure the reelection of Governor Aregbesola on August 9 to sustain the current economic development.

Coordinator of the Peoples Welfare League, Comrade Abiodun Agboola, said the summit was among others, aimed at providing an organised platform for the stakeholders in the economy to brainstorm on how to make the state viable economically.

He said no economy can grow without taking cognisance of the components units in which Osun is one saying: “When the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) rated Osun as a best-governed state and seventh largest economy in the country, we feel we should lay our hands on the reality checks by bringing all stakeholders in the economic sector together and asses the true situation.”

He added that the workshop evaluated other investment indices that guarantee stakeholders’ interest and the political will on the side of government.

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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

‘N3.7bn Township Roads ‘Ill Boost Socio-economic Growth’

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO HE Special Adviser to the Governor of the State of Osun on Works, Engineer Sabitu Oladepo Amuda, has said that the newly-commissioned 15 township roads in Ilesa, at an estimated N3.7 billion, would go a long way in promoting social and economic development in the town and other adjoining communities.

He noted that the life, which would enhance commitment of Ogbeni Rauf steady growth in all A r e g b e s o l a ’ s ramifications.

Amudah, who stated this administration in Osun was the official aimed at putting in place during infrastructural facilities, commissioning of the roads, capable of giving all contended that “precisely communities new lease of three and a half years back,

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when our administration came on board, the state of our roads were deplorable.

The intra and intercity roads were in a state of disrepair, such that the economy of Osun was at the lowest ebb; fell to a level that investors were not attracted due to bad roads.

In addition, farmers found it difficult to transport agricultural produce to the urban centres”.

The newlycommissioned township

roads included Tosho Obembe-General Hospital Ilaje, Kayanfanda Street, Lejoka Fadahunsi Avenue/ Old Ife Junction, Oke-Opo community/GRAIyemogun/Ilesa East local government secretariat; Irojo (Sabo Junction)Agboworin CrescentBoluwaduro, Ilerin/ Leventis-Obokun Avenue, Old Omieran Road, Ibala (Community Primary School)-Oke OmiruOtekunrin-Osogbo

junction.

According to him:”Several roads are in various stages of construction across the state. Of particular interest is the construction of N17.5km dual-carriageway named Oba Adesoji Aderemi bypass, which has a completion period of 12 months at the cost of N14.5 billion.

“It includes one overhead bridge and underpass across the railway at Ofatedo; two bridges over River Osun and an interchange at the Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo. The road is of very high standard in modern road construction and has attained 25 per cent completion.”

Jungle Justice: Mob Burnt Three Persons To Death

By SHINAABUBAKAR

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WO persons last week fell victims of jungle justice by a mob in different parts of Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, after they were suspected to be

•(L-R) Chief of Staff to State of Osun Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola; Representative of Chief Executive Officer of First Bank, Mr Timothew Arowoogun and Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, during the launch of the State Of Osun Civil Servant Smart I.D Card and Biometric Automation of I AM ALIVE by the governor, last Thursday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

kidnappers.

The unfortunate incident started on Friday afternoon, when a middle-aged man was beaten to a point of coma by a mob at Olaiya junction on the allegation that he was attempting to kidnap a child and was also alleged to have confessed that there were other ten persons in the state capital commissioned for the same job.

It took the intervention of police to rescue the man from being killed on the spot, but it was gathered that he later died at an undisclosed hospital as a result of the beating by the mob.

Later in the night at about

Omisore, PDP Lure Electorate With Empowerment Funds withdrawing on the ground that the programme was

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN that the PDP agents are originally designed to HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its monitoring their movements mobilise the unsuspecting governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and day to day activities. people for the PDP. have begun fresh moves to lure unsuspected They alleged that the PDP The aggrieved members of the public into the party. beneficiaries, who spoke agents were requesting for OSUN DEFENDER people that put in for the with the medium on their voters’ cards with the investigation revealed that programme have been Tuesday in Osogbo, claimed aim of using them to Omisore has initiated a new empowerment fund targeted at eligible voters; those who new strategy is allegedly under way by the Peoples them on phone, purportedly have voters’ cards, either Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the June 21 and August from INEC office, to confirm permanent or temporary.

9 gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states their voters’ card pin number.

The empowerment “They are PDP fraudsters,” programme, which started respectively. the party’s Director of the party warned.

According to the All some months ago, is being Finally, the APC requested Congress (APC) Publicity, Barrister Kunle run through the Omisore Progressives that for INEC to effectively nip in the State of Osun, Oyatomi.

Youths Support Forum.

The APC therefore alerted this latest PDP rigging plan in information at the disposal of Those who want to the party revealed that the the INEC of the latest in the the bud, the commission benefit from the programme PDP has concluded plans to series of dastardly plots by the should use its Card Readers in were asked to register in a hack into the Independent PDP to rig elections in both the conduct of the election process in the two states. That Electoral Ekiti and Osun states. book with the OYSF and National Commission’s data-base, with The party likewise alerted is the only full-proof method later given a form to fill. a view to penetrating and and cautioned citizens of Osun to stop the fraud.

Inside the form, the corrupting the voters’ register to disregard any person calling The APC recalled that only potential beneficiaries will and disenfranchise thousands enter the Voters of voters, by eliminating their Identification Number of names from the register.

To effect this plan, the APC their various voters’ cards, voting unit, ward and local further alleged, the PDP in

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN government council area, as Osun is already deceiving unsuspecting voters to collect HE state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party well as their phone numbers the PIN numbers of their (PDP) in the State of Osun has been closed for and addresses. voters’ cards. unknown reasons.

Some of the people, who “They (PDP) chieftains are OSUN DEFENDER gate. had filled the forms, have reported to have accessed the been registered for various telephone numbers of the observed that the entrance gate Some sections of the vocational trainings like voters and are pretending to be of the PDP secretariat located residents however claimed that tailoring, carpentry, hair calling from INEC’s office in on the ever-busy Gbongan/ the secretariat had been Osogbo that prospective Ibadan Road, Osogbo remained deserted by the PDP members dressing among others.

According to the voters should confirm their closed both during the day and prior to the reconstruction of participants, Omisore had voters’ cards’ PIN numbers for at night. the entrance gate. earlier promised to buy security purposes.

It was learnt that the PDP When OSUN DEFENDER “But the actual reason is to them their working tools eliminate the voters’ data from members had deserted the visited the secretariat on immediately after they INEC’s data-base after it must party’s secretariat since last Tuesday morning, it was under complete their training. have been hacked into and week Wednesday precisely. lock and keys, as nobody was Omisore had also corrupted,” the APC alleged.

According to some of the seeing around it. promised to give them These information were residents of the area, who A state executive member of substantial amount of contained in a press statement prayed not to be named, the the party told the medium that money a week to the from the Directorate of closure of the PDP secretariat they deserted the secretariat governorship election, said Publicity, Research and was followed by the since there was no serious Strategy made available to the the participant.

However, some of the media in Osogbo and signed by repositioning of its entrance activity to do there.

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manipulate the forthcoming governorship election.

Basically, the participants said the empowerment programme was to lure the electorate to the PDP for them to vote for its governorship candidate.

PDP Develops New Electronic Rigging Method - APC Cries Out

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recently, it alerted the public that the PDP was buying up voters’ cards to manipulate the process.

“Now that they have seen the futility of buying up voters cards, they have come with a master plan to hack into INEC’s data-base and corrupt the register.

“INEC must not allow its efforts to be frustrated by common criminals,” the APC stressed.

9:30pm, another man was alleged of attempting to kidnap a child and was beaten to pulp before he was burnt alive by irate youths around Igbonna Market in the state capital.

Before anyone could recover from the shock of the incident, another woman was also alleged of attempting to kidnap and pretending insanity along Pepsi-Cola Area and before anyone could come to her rescue, she was set on fire by some commercial motorcyclists.

According to the perpetrators of the act, the woman was unable to disclose her details to them after she had been beaten and stripped naked before eventually setting her on fire.

She was caught and beaten beside a filling station, which is about 50 metre from a police outpost, located beside Obelawo Factory, yet, policemen did not arrive the scene until the body was burnt totally and the first set that arrived in two vans turned back without raising an eyebrow.

It took the intervention of men of the Department of Security Service, anti-riot policemen to disperse the crowd arrested mainly innocent people, who were not even at the scene of the terrible act.

Investigations, however, revealed that the burnt woman was not a kidnapper, but a mentally-derailed person, who often regain sanity and hawk drugs whenever she felt good.

Osun PDP Closes State Secretariat

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The secretariat was formerly meant for President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign office before it was converted to Osun PDP state secretariat.

The renaming of the secretariat followed the fallout of the intra-political crisis that engulfed the party after the resignation of its former State Chairman, the late Alhaji Ademola Rasaq and the last state congress of the party.

A faction of the PDP led by Senator Iyiola Omisore abandoned the former party secretariat located at Dada Estate, Osogbo and converted the President Jonathan’s campaign office to the new state secretariat.

The closure of the PDP secretariat is another indication that the party is in disarray and not formidable enough to give Governor Rauf Aregbesola a serious run for the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election.

Barely three months to the election, the secretariat was expected to always have heavy presence of enthusiastic party members, particularly the big wigs of the party, who should be busy on the electioneering processes.

The conclusion was based on the fact that in an election year, party secretariats are abodes for politicians, who do meet regularly to discuss and strategise for the coming election.

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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2017

Omisore And Osun's Imaginary Debts Continued from pg1

to the physical transformationdue 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 ministerof works to appreciate his infinite capacity to trade in untruths!

Ekiti, Osun 2014: The War Sambo Would Want

V

ICE-President of Nigeria, Architect Namadi Sambo, was quoted as saying:”We are going to war front and (to) bring back our stolen mandate; everybody knows that Ekiti belongs to PDP; they used all instruments to take it away from us…. Osun is PDP. Osun was stolen from us.

The end of stealing has come.”

Although Vice- President Sambo went further to restate the federal g o v e r n m e n t ’s commitment to free and fair election, his earlier war threat had taken away the wind from the sail of his seemingly patriotic but reluctant words which could only sound, at best, as an after-thought or mere window-dressing.

What was loud and clear in his speech, as PDP’s campaign committee

chairman, was a declaration of Ekiti and Osun states as war-fronts rather than a theatre for free and fair election; and his listeners /readers from the two states should, by now, perhaps, count themselves lucky not to have been caught unawares.

In response, the APC candidate in Ekiti State, Dr John Kayode Fayemi, has described his declaration of war as “unbecoming of a Vice-President” but he should have added: “even as a campaign committee chairman “because preparing the voters’ minds for war in Ekiti and

Osun was not only outrageous but inciting and counter-productive to the spirit and intents of democracy.

Moreover, by claiming that Osun and Ekiti states had always been PDP states, Sambo was only unsuccessfully trying to twist the facts while he

succeeded largely in reminding the people of the two states of the sheer nauseating brigandage which had seen the past PDP governors into office in the traditionally progressive South-west.

Snatching of ballot boxes with the aid of shameless armed

policemen, stuffing of such ballot boxes with thumb-printed ballot papers right in the confines of the police stations only for the obvious result to be announced to astounded, robbed voters; such were the methods of electoral conquests then and such was what the judiciary eventually reversed with its judgments in Ekiti and Osun states.

Could it be the same kind of war that Sambo had intended to wage again in Osun and Ekiti states this year, going by his words which had been spoken from the abundance of his heart? If so, would INEC, the Ekitis and Osuns be expected to simply fold their arms and allow the PDP to come and rough-ride again, using the police?

•JIDE OGUNTOYE, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

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.

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

As it is, citizens of Osun obviously have far better things to engage in than dwell on Omisore's fables.

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FEATURE

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

Mr. Man, Who Is This Ogbeni?

“Ogbeni”, a word popularized by Rauf Aregbesola, Executive Governor of the State of Osun, simply means “Mister” in Yoruba. But why does Rauf prefer to be called “Ogbeni” rather than “Your Excellency”?

RANKLY, the word “Ogbeni” gives us a window into the soul of a man, who sees his role as governor as one amongst the governed. As simple as it is plain, “Ogbeni” reflects the governor’s character, his nobility, his humility, his accommodating nature and his unpretentiousness. Unlike previous administrations, intoxicated by the trappings, pomp and circumstance of power, he is more concerned with government making meaningful change in the lives and fortunes of ordinary people in the State of Osun.

That said, beneath his unassuming simplicity lies a steely resolve and unshakeable belief that it is not unnatural for the wealthy to be few. However, it is natural that prosperity is for all.

Obviously, Ogbeni understands that you can’t solve all problems for all people all of the time, but governance means creating and sustaining conditions where all can prosper and poverty can be alleviated. This is indeed the hallmark of Ogbeni’s administration.

As many Osun indigenes will verify and acknowledge, our state is very different today. It is a more peaceful, prosperous and better place to live, learn, earn, rest and play in, than it was under the previous administration. That is not to say Ogbeni has won over all detractors and critics. To some, Ogbeni’s sterling qualities and progressive views are grotesque, defective and deficient. Some have accused him of always playing to the gallery. Some detractors would have people believe that the man is an enigma with a stigma. They distort and misrepresent his steadfastness for stubbornness, his tenacity for dogmatism, his vision for delusion, and his policies for extravagance. But above all Osun has risen; the beautiful ones are here in Osun, apologies to the popular Ghanaian author, Professor Ayi Kwei Armah. Indeed, Osun ti n dara!

His first major decision was to set up the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES) employing 20,000 youths, in his first 100 days in office, to provide some essential services to the people of the state. Today, the first set of 20,000 O’YES graduates are now gainfully employed.

The result is that Osun now has the lowest unemployment rate in the country as well as the second lowest poverty rate in Nigeria (Source; National Bureau of Statistics). But that’s not all, the Federal Government in conjunction with the World Bank launched a programme largely based on the O’YES template and invited Ogbeni to speak at the occasion. INFACT, he was the only Governor invited to speak. As O’YES, effectively goes national 740,000 direct jobs will be CREATED; 3.7 million indirect jobs will be GENERATED; these will INJECT N7.4 billion into the economy monthly. A clear proof that there is dignity in hard work.

In creating a new state identity, new logo, state anthem and slogan, he has set a trend that is being followed by other Governors. Interestingly, the PDP Governor of Bayelsa, the President’s State of Origin, was one of those who have followed the trend set by Aregbesola in creating new identity for his people. This policy largely criticized but eventually copied!

In creating the Sukuk (Islamic) Bond in the state, he introduced a new affordable and manageable means of raising finance for capital projects. It was so successful F

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By ABDULLAHI BINUYO that the Bond has been oversubscribed.

The British Government recently decided to introduce Sukuk bonds. Need we say more about the islamisation intent? To add spice to it, the Sukuk Bond recently won an award in far away Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At the award night of world acclaimed Islamic Financial News magazine, Osun Sukuk won the ‘Deal of the Year’ award.

By making the day of Hijrah in the Islamic calendar and “Isese Day” state holidays, Ogbeni has preserved the celebration of core traditions and the rich and diverse culture in Osun, the cradle of civilization for one in four Nigerians and over one hundred million people of this descent in the Diaspora. It is no surprise that Osun is only one of two states in Nigeria that can boast of a United Nations World Heritage site.

The introduction of “Opon Imo” (tablets of knowledge) to students in senior secondary schools in the state has propelled Osun into one of the leading states in ICT-driven education. Hundreds of millions of naira that would have been spent in buying textbooks for the students have been saved. Meanwhile, the state government has received accolades at home and abroad for introducing Opon Imo. This same elearning educational delivery device won the United Nations World Summit Award as the best in 2013 in e-content and creativity. Need we say more about this endless list of proven achievements?

On transportation infrastructure, today, the reconstruction and dualization of the 47-kilometre highway to the border of Kwara State is ongoing; the dualization of 27 kilometre Akoda-Gbongan Road with a flyover is visibly ongoing; about 61 township roads covering 128 kilometres have been upgraded while 20 inter-city roads covering 294 kilometres are undergoing massive upgrading.

Under this, the Governor recently commissioned 15 township roads in Ilesha covering 29.71 kilometres; in Osogbo, 21 township roads are being rehabilitated and constructed; in Ede, 13 township roads have been repaired; 79 kilometres of intra-city roads under construction in the state; while there are 20 other roads covering 294.27 kilometres are at advanced stages of completion.

Still under road construction, the Aregbesola administration is constructing six selected roads in the six geo-political zones in the state covering 74.1 kilometres; the eight road rehabilitation projects inherited from the Oyinlola administration covering 44.29 kilometres are all almost being completed; works is going on seriously on the Gbongan-Orile Owu-Ijebu Igbo Road while the Ogbeni administration has begun construction of the Osogbo East Bye-pass road covering 17.5 kilometres which when completed will not only have a railway underpass at Ofatedo, but will also have an interchange at Ataoja, with two bridges across Osun River.

The forward-looking educational policy is the latest initiative. The quality of education is a function of the facilities and inputs that go into teaching our kids.

Hungry children do not learn as well. New school buildings are being built by government, pupils in public primary schools enjoy free nutritious lunch, students are given new and free school uniforms, the government has increased funding of education in the state while the government has been paying WAEC fees of students. The process of teaching and learning has taken a whole new dimension.

The school reforms programme of the Aregbesola administration has among others: raised primary education funding from N7.4 million a year to N424 million annually; secondary school funding has been increased from N117 million to N427 million annually; Opon Imo (tablets of

knowledge) are being distributed to students of senior secondary schools in the state; public school students are being kitted with 750,000 free school uniforms; the government is building model elementary, middle and high schools respectively throughout the state; over 180,000 elementary school kids are fed daily with nutritious lunch which menu include fish and egg. Aside the improvement of the nutritional and health status of kids, this effort has stimulated a geometric increase in school enrolment and development of small and medium scale enterprises for those who directly provide these services.

Within three years of Ogbeni’s monumental revolution in the education sector, 1,724 classrooms have been built in 39 schools across the length and breadth of the state. The government has started commissioning the state of the art school buildings across the state. 100 of such buildings are meant for the Elementary Section, 50 buildings will be built for the Middle Section while 20 have been earmarked for the Senior School Section, all making a total of 170 modern school buildings to be built for students in the state. The modern school buildings will each accommodate 1,000 pupils at the Elementary and Middle levels while that of the senior cadre will accommodate 3,000 pupils each. In addition, each building has 28 classrooms, hall, sickbay, staff room, grassed courtyard, recreational toys, basketball court with an area fitted with children play swings, and other toys.

This year alone, 15 middle schools, 13 elementary schools and 10 high schools will be delivered by the Aregbesola administration. Worthy to note that through the school reform programme, 3,000 caterers have been empowered to provide meals for elementary school pupils in the free meal programme while the free school uniform programme has led to the empowerment of over 3,000 tailors. The recognition of Ogbeni’s educational reforms by UNESCO and other international agencies has further energised him to do more in this very important sector.

Critics have leveled allegations against his policies and initiatives. His signature, Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES) programme was labeled as giving stipends and handouts to graduates for performing “menial” and ‘undignified’ jobs. When Ogbeni changed the identity of the state, created a new logo, state anthem and slogan, he was accused of sedition and fomenting secession. When he introduced the Sukuk Bond and declared the day of Hijrah in the Islamic calendar as a State holiday, he was accused of Islamizing the state. When he declared the “Isese Day”(the traditional new-year) as a state holiday, he was accused of idolatry. When he introduced the ‘Opon Imo’ (Tablets of Knowledge) to digitize the classroom for students, he was accused of creating a white elephant project. When he merged schools to improve service delivery, he was accused of destabilizing the education system in the state.

Perhaps his detractors in the opposition have most to lose. For them his ability to persevere and prevail time and again against their party’s formidable juggernauts in Osun- in the face of immense rigging, institutional opposition, intimidation, assassination of his closest supporters and attempts to assassinate him, incarceration and protracted litigation - is enigmatic.

In the final analysis, he survived all efforts to silence him and prevent him Continied on page 11

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

PHOTOTALK

Commissioning Of 21 Roads In Osogbo By The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Last Tuesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•A newly-commissioned road at Oroki Housing Estate, Osogbo.

•Another commissioned road at LAMECO Area, Osogbo.

•Another commissioned road at Oroki Housing Estate, Osogbo.

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PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

Commissioning Of 21 Roads In Osogbo By The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Photo: GBENGAADENIYI. Rauf Aregbesola, Last Tuesday.

•Some of Governor Aregbesola’s admirers during the inspection of the roads.

•Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from his supporters.

•Some of the pupils at Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Osogbo, greeting Governor Aregbesola.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

PHOTOTALK

9

Commissioning Of 21 Roads In Osogbo By The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI. Rauf Aregbesola, Last Tuesday.

•(L-R) Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam; Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chief Executive Officer (CEO), RATCON Construction Company, Elias Zaad and Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the event.

•Another cross section of pupils of St. Benedict Catholic School, Isale-Aro, welcoming Aregbesola.

•A cross section of market women at Oluode Market, Osogbo, showing their appreciation to Aregbesola.

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

Commissioning Of 21 Roads In Osogbo By The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Last Tuesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•Governor Aregbesola (3rd left); his wife, Sherifat (2nd right); Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori (left); the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun (3rd right); Special Adviser to State of Osun Governor on Works and Transport, Engineer Sabitu Amudah (right) and Zaad (2nd left).

•Governor Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from his admirers during the commissioning.

•One of the Commissioned roads at Oke-Onitii Area of Osogbo.

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FEATURE

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

X-Raying APC’S Manifesto And Code Of Ethics R

ECENTLY, the All Progressives Con gress (APC) reaffirmed its principal objective to provide Nigerians with an alternative political choice, as the party unveiled its manifesto and Code of Ethics.

The content of the document underlines the commitment of the party towards the creation of a new Nigeria. The party noted that the Code of Ethics is a declaration of what the members believe in, which highlights the guiding principles and ideology that brings the membership together and underpins its ideology and actions. The Code of Ethics was also announced as a Roadmap to a New Nigeria, symbolizing the party’s contract with the entire nation.

The Roadmap details the party’s priorities in fixing the failings of successive governments since the dawn of civil rule in 1999, in order to bring hope and succour to the long-suffering people of Nigeria. The unveiling of the roadmap, which the party said, was a product of an empirical and painstaking process is a departure from the old practice of packaging such documents on a whim. It attracted thousands of party delegates from across the nation, including all its national leaders as well as governors and National Assembly members.

Kicking off the event with a welcome address, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, noted that the unveiling of the party’s commitment to Nigerians which promises good governance, security and job creation is a novel affair that had never been seen in the annals of Nigeria’s political history. The governor observed that divisive politics does not angur well for national peace and urged Nigerians to embrace the APC which, as a party, has chosen sustainable peace, prosperity and job creation as its core mandate. While emphasizing the importance of the Code of Ethics, the governor noted that when the party’s pathways become hard to navigate, the set of principles being unveiled must remain a guide and that the set of principles differentiate the party from the others.

The party’s mission states that it is a party that is committed to a Nigeria that achieves its full potential and promises to work towards building a nation that is economically and socially vibrant, peaceful,

By PROF. A.S ASAJU just and secure. Listed alongside the party’s mission are ten principal commitments by the party to the Nigerian people these include the party’s commitment to preserve the Nigerian people which it believes to be the nation’s greatest asset and pledges to do everything possible to protect and preserve human life and dignity. The party commits to upholding a Nigeria bound by the principle of freedom, justice, peace, unity and the rule of law and promises to pursue its objective of increasing economic opportunity for all citizens, social welfare and progress through a government- led and private sector driven economy and restates its respect for every individuals choice of faith under - God. The party’s roadmap to a new Nigeria also contain its commitment to uphold and respect the interest of one person, one vote grounded in free and fair election at all levels as well as to uphold and respect the interest of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups and to recognize the country’s strategic role on the African continent with a commitment to the pursuit of a foreign policy that promotes peace, security and national interest Furthermore, the APC restates its commitment to a strong system of government at the federal, state and local levels as the most effective vehicle for harnessing Nigeria’s diversity and preserving its unity, noting that as a viable political alternative to Nigerians, it has no tolerance for corruption and promises to manage Nigerian resources responsibility with a commitment to accountability and the pursuit of the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The roadmap also states that the party rests on the foundation of democracy, fairness and pursuit of opportunity for all citizens predicated on economic activity, fair competition and the bridging of inequalities. Leaders of the three legacy parties which merged to become the APC were present at the occasion.

On specifics, the first item on the APC manifesto is job creation. The party observed that roughly one in four Nigerians and half of young job seekers are unable to find work, adding that the number of people

whose jobs do not cover the cost of food and housing is even greater. To this end, APC promises to create 20,000 jobs in each state of the federation immediately for those with a minimum qualification of Secondary School Leaving Certificate and who participate in technology and vocational training.

The party plans to encourage state governments to focus on employment creation by marching every one job created by the state government with two jobs created by the Federal Government.

APC promises to provide direct conditional monthly cash transfers of five thousand naira to the twenty-five million poorest and most vulnerable citizens upon demonstration of children’s enrolment in school and immunization, in order to help promote job empowerment. APC also said it will establish technology industrial estates which will be fully equipped with ICT, power and other support across the country to attract and encourage small scale technology business and other entrepreneurs. Allowances are also to be provided to discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members for 12 months while they seek jobs or acquire training and skills for job placement or entrepreneurship. Other job creation strategies by the APC includes the establishment of plants for the assembly and ultimately the manufacture of phones, tablets, computers and other devices. It also said it will pay a guaranteed indexed-link price to farmers to ensure that there is always a ready made market for their produce. The party also said it will provide one meal a day for all primary school students which will create jobs in agriculture, including poultry, catering and delivery services.

The second item on the manifesto is the fight against corruption. APC promises to show zero tolerance for official and/ or private sector corruption. APC promises free, relevant quality education based on free and comprehensive primary and secondary education. It pledges the provision of free tertiary education to students pursuing science and technology engineering and mathematics.

Other major items on the APC manifesto include the review and restoration of the country’s agricultural sector as well as the construction of one million low cost houses

within the first four years as part of its agriculture and housing policies. Free quality comprehensive health care based on national health insurance scheme is promised.

The party also pledges to stop all foreign travels at government expense for the purpose of medical treatment.

Having agreed on the basic principles outlined earlier, it behoves the APC to take the next step, namely, to agree as to common methods in the application of those principles. This is a very important step, because even though people may agree as to principles, if they don’t agree as to methods of application, it could not be possible for them to work together. In order to evolve these common methods, some members of the party should be commissioned to prepare papers not only on government departmental subjects but also on the organizational problems of the APC. It is gratifying that the APC believes that free enterprises should be encouraged and fostered within such limits as will be laid down by law.

This writer commends the APC for coming out with its Manifesto and Code of ethics. All other parties should follow suit. Let all political parties go forth and present their programmes to a waiting nation and march forward without looking back. They should argue hard, if necessary, for words break no bones. Let all parties go out and win the hearts of men and women to their cause, persuade but not coerce. Parties should pursue national interests, and shun selfseeking. Let all parties put behind the past and march positively into a dynamic new Nigeria, a new society characterized by peace, unity and progress.

In order that she may attain her natural birthright and destiny, Nigeria must be made and re-created. Every aspect of her existence must be revolutionized- her agriculture, industry, trade, and other tertiary services, the attitude of her sons and daughters to life as well as their education and upbringing- all must be revolutionized. This is the task which all relevant political parties must be determined to accomplish.

•Prof. Asaju wrote in from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

FEATURE

Mr. Man, Who Is This Ogbeni?

Continued from page 6

from taking up the victorious mandate the People of the State of Osun gave him in 2007. Victory in the Court of Appeal vindicated victory at the polls, albeit three and half years late. Stigmata rather than stigma come to mind as a more appropriate and arguably the more deserved metaphor! His detractors will have another chance to have their say at the polls in August 2014.

But before talk of elections, let us review Ogbeni’s progressive and admittedly aggressive policies for which he has been criticized, in some cases vilified, and assess these against his performance and the acceptance or rejection of his initiatives.

2014 and Beyond; Tired of the politics of bitterness and terror, Osun indigenes have, under Ogbeni, grown accustomed to proven results and do not want a return to the murder, mayhem, insecurity and underdevelopment of the dark pre-Ogbeni days.

One does not need to be a sycophant or a sugar-coated praise singer to applaud the strides made in these few years. That Ogbeni’s initiatives in Osun are being replicated and celebrated at home and abroad is a positive proof that progressive policy and disciplined implementation is common sense, not politics. Simply put, it is plain good governance. If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then the PDP flatters this administration- the so called opposition, by adopting its programmes - the O’YES replication at the federal level, a vivid typical example.

As the All Progressives Congress

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(APC) alliance forges ahead, Osun, under Ogbeni’s leadership, has led the way by its example. The state is not only the spiritual, ancestral and geographic fountain of one in four Nigerians, but has, under Ogbeni, become the heartland, pioneer and incubator for national progressive politics and inclusive socioeconomic developments. The state has

not witnessed the spate of varied, integrated and inclusive development since its creation twenty-years ago as it did in the last three years under Ogbeni’s leadership. Osun remains a forwardlooking state, proudly steeped in its culture and history, comfortable with itself and hungry for more development. It will under Ogbeni’s leadership continue to be a worthy model for the rest of the country.

With the recent APC primaries and the unanimous choice of Ogbeni’s continued leadership, the “Ogbeni Express” has gone far but there is still plenty left to do.

It has one more electoral stop to make in August 2014. All are invited aboard. This is never the time to turn the clock backwards and allow the juggernaut, that offers little else but “blood, death and tears” - their “consistent trademark”apology to Fela Anikulapo Kuti- to derail the hard won progress.

Further to the above, I found it expedient to undertake a personal study to situate the “Ogbeni Phenomenon” within some established foundations (academic, theoretical or ideological whichever) but I have come to a conclusion that Ogbeni himself represent an ideology that requires critical study.

Beyond that most of my quests still needed to be presented within the accessible confines of immediate practicality for the average spectator.

These were therefore satisfied with several submissions mostly on federalism which were not limited to those of Professors Isawa Elaigwu, I.E. Sagay (SAN) and others including Hugo Black.

With further review of political arrangements, systems of government and

the contradictions that becloud issues of pluralism (of socio-cultural and/or ethnoreligious nature), I reckon the State of Osun under Ogbeni has evidently explored federalism to accord individuals and groups their due recognition.

Exhibiting a near-perfect understanding of the fact that every majority is a minority somewhere and every minority is a majority elsewhere, Ogbeni has created a sustainable platform for due representation of “all” as a tact to contain the subversion that the existence of “others” may give rise to, ultimately in the collective interest of the people of Osun irrespective of political or religious leaning. This is the hallmark of Ogbeni’s political dexterity, magnanimity and his impeccable understanding of the simple depth of federalism.

Paraphrasing the words of an Irish labour leader Jim Larkin- “Those we see today as giants may not necessarily be one, the difference between them and us is; while we walk on our knees, they walk on their feet”. Ogbeni surely walks on his feet!!!. Let’s all rise and join him in a bid to finish the job he started just over three and half years ago. And, with God’s help, the will of the people of Osun will prevail and this simple, pious and dedicated man will be returned to the State House for four more years.

•Binuyo, Senior Special Assistant (MDGs) to the Governor of the State of Osun, writes in from Osogbo.

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FOR THE RECORDS

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

Speech Delivered By The Governor Of The State Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At The Official Commissioning Of The Osogbo Metropolitan Road Projects, Held At Oroki Estate, On Monday April 28, 2014.

A Visionary Road Map Protocols to start today’s commissioning I want ceremony on a note of congratulation to the people and State Government of Osun. This stems neither from a sense of vanity nor an attempt to celebrate frivolity. Rather, it arises from a feeling of concrete achievement at transforming our vision into reality.

As an administration, we have operated on the notion that governance is inescapably about vision – a clear conception of where you want to go from where you are. But the vision would amount to nothing without actually moving from where you are in the direction of your conceived destination. This means that vision must be translated into concrete achievements on the ground.

In effect, at the inception of our administration, we had a vision of progress for Osun, of which road infrastructure development is a vital component. Because of the paramount importance of road transportation for the movement of people and goods in Nigeria, including Osun, we also accorded it a priority attention in our development scheme.

Consequently, we came up with a map for the comprehensive development of our road network.

These encompass rural and local roads, intra-city and inter-city roads, as well as inter-state roads. This road plan cuts across the length and breadth of Osun.

But we conceived our road infrastructure development plan in the full consciousness that people do not commute on road maps; they travel on actually marked-out asphalted surfaces. Consequently, we embarked on giving concrete effect to what we have conceived in our mind and mapped out on paper.

All over the state we commenced in earnest the construction of new roads, the reconstruction of some others, and the repair and rehabilitation of old and dilapidated ones. In the Six Geopolitical Zones of Osun, we selected six roads extending for over 74.1 kilometres.

Likewise, in the state’s Federal Constituencies, we chose for construction and rehabilitation intracity roads which cover 79 kilometres.

In the road map being executed, there are also 20 inter-city roads that extend over a distance of 294.27 kilometres.

Included in the road plan under implementation are 10 kilometres of road construction in each of the state’s local council areas including the Area Office. These are in addition to the eight road rehabilitation projects that we inherited from the immediatepast administration, with a total coverage of 144.29 kilometres.

There are of course the big ones, the massive road projects that connect various parts of Osun to other states with which we share borders. These include the 36.85-kilometre dual carriageway road we are constructing from Osogbo to Ila-Odo on the state’s border with Kwara State, and the Gbongan-Orileowu-Ijebu Igbo Road, which is also a dual carriageway.

Then, there is the Omoluabi Motorway, being reconstructed into a

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dual carriageway, from Akoda to Gbongan Junction, where it will have a Trumpet Interchange named after our elder statesman and former governor, Chief Bisi Akande.

The township roads component of the plan includes different towns and cities in the state in their coverage.

They have been completed in Ede, in Ilesa, and now in Osogbo. As the state capital, the Osogbo township road development project stands out as a product of a visionary road map. They are intentionally aimed at making Osogbo the truly modern state capital it deserves to be In view of this, the roads are designed to ease transportation within the city, as well as in and out of it.

Together the roads stretch for 26.31 kilometres. They are a total of 21 roads that we are commissioning today. They include: Station Road to Ebenezer Hotel Road; Boorepo to Elelede Junction Road; Elelede to Gbemu Road; Gbodofon to Gbemu Junction Road; and Ilobu Road to GRA Road.

Others include: Oja Oba Road to Plantain Area; Balogun Biiro to Oke Baale Road; Alafia Street to Church Street, Awolowo Way; Coca-Cola to Capital Hotel Road; Oke Onitea Road to Anaye Market Junction; Okefia to Ita Olokan Road; the Road from Opposite Capital Hotel to Oroki Road; Oroki Estate to Ilobu Road;

Odetoyinbo to Heritage Hotel Road with Spur; and Kola Balogun Road Junction to Fiwasaye Olohunosebi Junction.

There are also the Osunbukola to Ede Road; John Mackay Road to Oke Baale; the road from Tanisi to Keji Adigun Street; Adams Street to Mercy Land and Road Spur; Steel Rolling Camp to Kabelo Filling Station; and Rehabilitated Ifeloju Omo-West Road.

A closer look at these roads would reveal a deliberate pattern of an Inner Ring network of roads within Osogbo which connect and complement the existing Outer Ring Road around the city.

The Inner Ring Road takes off from a point directly opposite First Bank along Osogbo-Gbongan Road, from where it winds through Gbodofon to Jaleyemi and Gbemu Junction Road, and up to Isale Aro. This stretch covers 1.79 kilometres. It then cuts across the Oja-Oba Road to connect Gbemu Junction to Oluode Market through Elelede Junction and Abaku Road, and on to Boorepo, covering a distance of 1.47 kilometres.

From there, it links up with the ongoing dual carriage Osogbo-IkirunIlaodo Highway. From across the Highway, another stretch of the road runs from Church Street to Bisi Bankole/Anaye Market Street, through Alaafia Street to Oke Onitea

Road and up to Anaye Market Junction, to connect with the existing West Bypass Road. Here it covers 2.08 kilometres and loops into a semicircle inside Osogbo.

Another 1.35-kilometre section of the Inner Ring continues from GRA Road to Adesina Crescent and up to Osogbo-Ilobu Road around Lameco Junction. From here it branches off into the dual carriageway Oroki Lane.

Up this lane, an L-arm of the road turns right to connect with West Bypass at Jerry Paul Filling Station.

The other arm goes up through Oroki Estate onto Tinumola/ Wonderful Road to intersect with the Iwo Road to Okefia, at a point directly opposite Capital Hotel. Another span of the road goes in from beside Capital Hotel to Alekunwodo right through Coca-Cola.

This 2.33-kilometre section bursts out onto Osogbo-Gbongan Road, but this time beside First Bank, from across the point where it took off, to complete the Inner Ring Road formation in the Osogbo Road Master Plan.

These roads are constructed to last between 15 and 20 years. They feature drainages that are fortified with iron and concrete thickness of between 60mm and 70mm. The accompanying drainage channels will further enhance the life span of the roads by draining flood water away from the roads and thereby preventing their being washed away by erosion.

To improve the engineering integrity of the roads, they have been constructed with various layers consisting of laterite, stone base and asphaltic overlay of 50mm. Their asphaltic thickness is of the same quality because they will be plied by all grades of vehicles.

All these roads put together have cost us tens of billions of naira. But we are not perturbed by the huge amount of money we have committed into the road projects, we have our minds on the unquantifiable benefits they will have on the lives of our people and the overall socio-economic development of Osun.

In what we do, we do not allow ourselves to be detained by the little details of short-term inconveniences; that is for small minds to get in a stew over. Instead, we focus our minds stoutly on the big picture and the longterm value of the sacrifices we are making today.

When we started these roads, our traducers scoffed and mocked the project, claiming that we would never have the funds or the presence of mind to see them through. But to the glory of God and their eternal shame, we have delivered on our promise. We are not resting on our oars; our greater vision is to tar every road in the state since we cannot conceive of a beautiful environment without good roads.

We will therefore continue to convert our visionary road map for Osun into concrete and enduring legacy of asphaltic surfaces for the engendering of socio-economic development, progress and prosperity for our people.

I thank you for being attentive.

Osun a dara!

13

FOR THE RECORDS

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

Before It Is Too Late Being the text of a Press Conference addressed on Monday April 28, 2014 by Ile-Ife Political Office Holders on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), on the recent politically motivated violent onslaught of Senator Iyiola Omisore and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

W

E, the political office holders of both, elected and appointed status on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ife land on behalf of ourselves, the APC and the peaceful Ife indigenes and residents wish to bring to the attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Government of the State of Osun, Ife Traditional Council, Security agencies, general public end most importantly Ile-Ife and its neighbouring towns, the untoward political developments in Ile-Ife and its environs at the instance of Otunba Iyiola Omisore and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

We are constrained by the current political development in Ile-Ife in particular and State of Osun in general; and the unrepentant posture of Iyiola Omisore and to some extent the opposition party PDP, who disregarded concerted efforts of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, the Ooni of Ife and his Traditional Council to broker peace among political stakeholders in Ile-Ife. Realising that efforts of Kabiyesi and elders have not been appreciated by Iyiola Omisore and the PDP, we are left with no option but to call on all well-meaning Ife Indigenes to call him to order and unsuspecting general public to be aware of this condemnable politics of acrimony from the PDP and Iyiola Omisore.

It is important to let Nigerians know that a melee ensued in Ile-Ife during the recently completed voter-s registration exercise. This emanated from our position of forthrightness. During the process, our members rejected and stoutly resisted the. PD~’s attempt to manipulate the voters register, collect voters cards by proxy, register children and register non-residents of Ile-Ife. While we believe in ensuring a huge voter base for Ife land, we remain steadfast with our advocacy of transparent, violent free, credible and one man-one vote elections. We have it on record that disagreements during the exercise received the intervention of the Police, the State of Osun Commissioner for Tourism and Culture and the Ife East Local Government Council Executive Secretary.

We also have it on record that a condemnable attack was unleashed on Alhaji Amuda Lawal (popularly known as Ike-Owo), the 89 year old father of Hon. Tajudeen Lawai, the Executive Secretary of Ife East LGA. Those who perpetrated the violence include but not limited to the following: Ayo Doherty a.k.a. Waska, Funminiyi Eluyera .c.k.o. Artillery, Rasheed from Gbodo Compound in Ile-Ife, Bisi Kalejaye a.k.a. Elelede, Bashir Egbeze also from Gbodo Compound; Segun Omololu a.k.a. Experience, Marcus Fadehan, Akin Akinsolugba, Fatai Faworaja, and other notorious thugs called Kako, Dudu, Oloka and several others. Please note that this was reported at the Division “C” Police station along Ogudu road, Aganhun in Ife East LGA. As we speak, all the perpetrators still walk the land of Ife like they have committed no crime and boasting that the new Minister for Police Affairs Jelili Adesiyan a.k.a. Jalo is available to cover their tracks. We hereby request that higher Police formations take keener interest in this case.

It is also of disturbing concern that there is a desperate attempt to implicate Hon. Tajudeen Lawal and some of our party members by linking them with the murder of Mr. Taiwo Ogundele who was shot, on 12th February 2014. While sincerely extending our condolence to the families and friends of the dead and pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss, we are calling on the Nigerian Police and other law enforcement agents to expedite actions on their investigation and not to let this go the way of several other unresolved murder cases. This should also not be used to hound the leadership and members of our party in Ife East LGA. We emphasize that neither Hon. Tajudeen Lawai nor any of our party member is connected with the murder. Heaping the blame on them is, absolutely diversionary and intended at shielding the actual perpetrators of the crime. The Nigerian Police is therefore implored to look beyond the spurious claims of PDP to arrive at a justifiable conclusion.

entourage of the Police Minister. Upon enquiry at the State Police Command, the Commissioner of Police informed him (Senator Adeleke) that the policemen were not from the State of Osun. May we ask rhetorically - are these the Omisore Solidarity Youth Forum [OSYF] thugs kitted with police uniforms carrying arms and ammunitions? We demand to know how many Policemen are assigned to a Minister. Otherwise, we are at liberty to assume that those men are OSYF thugs armed and dressed in police uniforms.

Similarly, we have noted the emergence of Ayo Fayose as the gubernatorial candidate of PDP in Ekiti State and the mayhem he is already perpetrating in that state. We also recognise the brigandage of the Junior Minister of Defence Musiliu Obanikoro with the recent disturbance of construction work with soldiers in Ilubirin in Lagos State and the disruption of the House of Representatives by-election in Ondo State. The emerging PDP strategy seems to be to cause fracas and pandemonium in Southwest, hither-to the most peaceful geo-political region in Nigeria. We have it on good authority that State of Osun PDP has perfected schemes to perpetrate breakdown of law and order in our State with thugs imported from outside the state. Our position is corroborated lately by the Vice President His Excellency Arc. Namadi Sambo, who said the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State and the State of Osun will be “war front”. Therefore, we call on well meaning Nigerians to call all the aforementioned characters to order and remind them of our indelible history that since the 19th century, the Yorubas have strongly abhorred, resolutely resisted and staunchly repelled efforts to perpetrate injustice, rig elections, usurp power and enthrone unpopular governments within our geo-political zone.

Finally, we are informed of the inflaming statements and infuriating actions of a few traditional chiefs with PDP inclination crediting misleading political. instructions to the person and stool of our esteemed and revered Ooni at different strata of “ipade omo-ile” in-r-ecent times. For the avoidance of doubt, we are committed to protect the sacred stool of His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni. Several times Kabiyesi, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade has affirmed and proven his fatherhood to all and we have an undiluted trust and unfettered confidence in the political neutrality of the Oonirisa. The PDP must search for an alternate in-road to securing votes in Ife land other than intimidation of the farm tenants and residents of Ile-If e and adjourning towns especially on Ife South LGA form lands.

The maturity of the members and leadership of our party APC should not be mistaken for cowardice, lethargy or timidity. We equally want to assure all Ife people that we cherish and will not relent in our effort and composure to sustain the current inestimable peace, political tranquility, infrastructural and unprecedented economic development which is returning Ife land to its place of pride and prosperity. We equally encourage indigenes and residents of Ife land alike to remain steadfast, watchful and unintimidated and we implore them to exercise their political right, their constitutional obligation and civic responsibility by coming out enmasse to vote, knowing that the eventual volume of votes count a lot in infrastructural, policy and decision making.

Our appreciation goes to the Governor Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola and the Government of the State of Osun for the numerous unprecedented developmental strides in Ifeland with the attendant maintenance of peace, security of lives and properties. Note-worthy is the commencement of work on the notorious Omi-Okun road, which was a conduit pipe for fraud and corruption when PDP held reign of governance. We reaffirm our commitment and that of Ife people to reciprocate this gesture appropriately when the time comes.

Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria!

In addition, we stress the grand design of Senator Iyiola Omisore to unleash mayhem on Ile-Ife and the State of Osun, create an atmosphere of fear in certain circumstances; all designed to implicate us. He has even said that there is an attempt to murder him. This we see as an alibi for a motive still unknown to us. We therefore appeal to all, even friends, families, followers and political associates of Iyiola Omisore regardless of party affiliation to bear this in mind and remain watchful, as eternal vigilance is the price of liberty at this period. We should and would not be held responsible for the fate of anyone that is a victim of Omisore’s Machiavellian orchestration. These set of politicians are not ready to resign their fate to reality that they have been completely rejected as political leaders in the State of Osun. They have strong faith in violence and their track records attest to this fact. To them, no blood is too sacred to shed in their quest for power.

We owe it to the government and people of Nigeria as well as electoral and law enforcement agencies that we make it clear to the public words reaching us from the grapevine on the strategic establishment of Omisore Solidarity Youth Forum [OSYF] and the coincidental emergence of Mr. Jelili Adesiyan as Police Affairs Minister. Their plan is that: · The OSYF will across the State of Osun be kitted with police uniforms, police/ presidency official plate numbers, arms and ammunitions during the campaign and upcoming gubernatorial election of August 9, 2014; · The gangs will execute the kidnapping and disappearance of notable APC leaders; and Guns will be planted in the homes, vehicles and properties of APC leaders who will be arrested and detained.

We do not intend to send panicky Signals on the forthcoming election to our supporters and people but our experience in the last elections is sufficient to justify whatever alarm we may raise now. We are constantly reminded and we will not forget the antecedents and the culture of violence and several unresolved election period killings like that of Samson Olarewaju in Isale Agbara/Ojoyin of Ife Central LGA in 2007. On the eve of 2011 senatorial election, five innocent church worshippers were murdered in the same Isale Agbara, while residences at Lambua Estates on Ibadan Road and those of Hon. Biyi Odunlade and Prince Felix Awofisayo in Parakin Obalufe were riddled with bullets.While that election was going on in Ife South LGA, Mr. Hammed Afolabi, our chairman in Kere ward was mysteriously killed.

Our alarm about the violent tendencies of Omisore and his sorts was recently confirmed by the former Governor of the State of Osun and PDP gubernatorial aspirant Senator Isiaka Adeleke who was quoted in the Tribune of Thursday April 3, 2014 as follows: “On entering the hall, I saw (Senator Iyiola) Omisore, (Police Affairs Minister) Jelili Adesiyan, So go Agboola sitting together. I went to Adesiyan to complain that police officers and DSS operatives were holding party men outside. But, instead of listening to me, he (Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan) jumped over a table before him and hit me with a blow on the chest. Sogo Agboola also attacked me. Before I knew what was happening, Omlsore hit me with a blow on the back. About seven guns, corked were pointed at me”.

Senator Isiaka Adeleke also said that on the said day, about 45 (forty five) policemen were in the

Osun a dara o!

Ife a gbewa o!

14

FOR THE RECORDS

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

A memorable quote from Senator Isiaka Adeleke on the PDP candidate in the State of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan and another PDP chieftain in the state, Sogo Agboola.

Omisore, Police Minister Beat Me Up - Adeleke “On entering the hall, I saw Omisore, Adesiyan, Sogo Agboola sitting together. I went to Adesiyan to complain that police officers and DSS operatives were holding party men outside. But, instead of listening to me, he jumped over a table before him and hit me with a blow on the chest. Sogo Agboola also attacked me. Before I knew what was happening, Omisore hit me with a blow from the back. About seven guns corked were pointed at me,” Adeleke asserted.

•Culled from Nigerian Tribune, Thursday April 3, 2014

•OMISORE

•ADELEKE

•ADESIYAN

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 1, 2014

PHOTOTALK

15

Two-Day Osun Economic Summit Tagged: Orisun Aje 2014 At Osogbo Holiday Inn, Osogbo, State Of Osun, Last Tuesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•(L-R) Professor Alani Fawole; Comrade Hassan Sunmonun; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Coordinator, Peoples Welfare League (PWL), Comrade Abiodun Agboola.

•(L-R) Professor Fawole; Comrade Sunmonun and Governor Aregbesola.

•A cross section of participants at the programme.

•(L-R) Comrade Waheed Lawal; Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Dokun Abolarin and Special Adviser to State of Osun Governor on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade.

www.osundefender.org

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THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014 A new strategy is allegedly under way by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the June 21 and August 9 gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states respectively.

According to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, information at their disposal revealed that the PDP plans to hack into the Independent National Electoral Commission’s database in order to penetrate and corrupt the voters register and disenfranchise thousands of voters by eliminating their names from the register.

And to effect this plan, the APC further alleged, the PDP in Osun is already deceiving unsuspecting voters to collect the PIN numbers of their voters’ card.

They (PDP) are reported to have accessed the telephone numbers of the voters and are pretending to be calling from INEC’s office in Osogbo that prospective voters should confirm their voters’ cards’ PIN numbers for security purposes.

“PDP DEVELOPS NEW ELECTRONIC RIGGING METHOD”- APC CRIES OUT

But the actual reason is to eliminate the voters’ data from INEC’s data-base after it must have been hacked into and corrupted, the APC alleged.

These information were contained in a press statement from the Directorate of Publicity, Research and Strategy made available to the media in Osogbo yesterday, and signed by the party’s Director of Publicity, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi.

The APC therefore alerted the INEC of the latest in the series of dastardly plots by the PDP to rig elections in both Ekiti and Osun state.

The party likewise alerted and cautioned citizens of Osun to disregard any person calling them on phone, purportedly from INEC office, to confirm their voters’ card pin number.

“They are PDP fraudsters,” the party warned.

Finally, the APC requested that for INEC to effectively nip this latest PDP rigging plan in the bud, the commission should use its Card Readers in the conduct of the election process in the two states. That is the only full-proof method to stop the fraud.

The APC recalled that only recently it alerted that the public that the PDP was buying up voters cards to manipulate the process. Now that they have seen the futility of buying up voters cards, they have come with a master plan to hack into INEC’s data-base and corrupt the register.

“INEC must not allow its efforts to be frustrated by common criminals” the APC said.

Omisore

Aregbesola Launches smart identity, credit card ."for civil servant

" The State of Osun recorded another first in the deployment of technology for administrative efficiency with the launch of State of Osun civil servant smart identity card and biometric automation tagged 'I am Alive.'

The smart card launch, which is another first of its kind in the country, carries the data base of all civil servants in the state and will also serve as credit card, debit card and also serves as staff identification, carrying their profiles.

During the launch, the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in his speech titled: 'Identifying the Living', said the civil servant smart card is to further intensify the state's use of information technology for administrative efficiency.

Aregbesola said the introduction of the smart card will be highly beneficial to both government and the workers in the state. According to the governor, the smart ID card is electronically personalised with biometric features to each of its users.

This, the governor stated that It will add immense values to the activities of workers and will equally improve the capacity and cost of administration by government.

He said: "To be sure, it was through the application ICT to our tax administration and revenue collection that enabled us to increase our internally generated revenue by 100 per cent within the first few months of our administration.

"We have since intensified our effort to make ICT an inherent part of our public administrative system.

The introduction of this new smart electronic identity card is another component of that overall effort. "It will expectedly bring about many benefits to all of us; the individual civil servants and the government. It will be given to all workers across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including Local Government Council workers.

"The smart ID card is electronically personalised, with biometric features, to each of its users. It will add immense values to the workaday functioning of workers and will equally improve the capacity and cost of administration by government."

Identifying the numerous benefits of the smart card, Aregbesola revealed that the card will help eliminate many sources of financial waste and leakage employed to deprive government of needed funds as well as helps create an accurate and reliable database for payroll administration and salaries’ payment.

Besides, he averred that possibility of defrauding any workers of the payments due to them is now difficult with the introduction of the card. Again, through this smart card system, the workers can get their monies paid directly to their accounts instead of through any intermediary points.

Aregbesola continued: "Leave bonuses for example are now tied to each worker’s birthday and paid to their accounts automatically on that day.

"With this smart ID cards, there cannot be mistaking identity in the payment of monies due to the workers. In this system, identity is completelyindividualised and electronically personalised.

"For the pensioners, it removes the stress of going through multiple verification to get their payment and also blocks the means for cheating them out of their money.

"By clearly identifying the living from the dead, this system ensures that ghost will no longer mingle with our workers or have access to our payroll in Osun. It keeps them where they belong – in the grave. It stops the dead from coming to steal money from the living. It makes certain that only retirees who are ‘ALIVE’ receive payment. This affirms the sense in the project’s title, ‘I AM ALIVE One very interesting feature of this card is that it is linked to a credit or debit card and gives the owner access to his or her salary account, which he use to withdraw up to 20 per cent of the salary with or without money in their account.

The smart card is a tripartite arrangement among the Osun Government, Charms Plc and the First Bank Plc.

The governor also promised that by June this year, all school pupils from age 1 - 6 years will have personalised card that contains all their bio data .

In his reaction, the Director of ICT, State of Osun, Mr. Bambo Bashorun, said the smart card came at a time of security challenges and dwindling resources in the country.

He said that the issuance of the card will guarantee proper accountability and plug holes through which resources are wasted.

"Creating a data base of all civil servants in the state is so important especially at this time of our challenging national life from increased level of insecurity to dwindling resources.

"With the data base created, the ID card issued and I AM ALIVE process automated, the state had ensured that no single kobo is wrongly allocated to undeserved person in the state," Bashorun said.

In his own remark, the Group Managing Director of Charms, Mr. Ademola Aladekomo, said the state of Osun has broken another ground in the ICT word in Nigeria.

Aladekomo said the smart card will be given to all civil servants in the state.

According to him, the smart card can be used not only in Osun but also within and outside Nigeria and anywhere in the world.

He noted that the card also carries the fingerprint of card holder with which he can identify him or herself.

For the representative of the Managing Director of First Bank, Mr.M utairu Akinfolarin, said the idea of the card could only be a product of hard thinking.

He commended the governor for successful pioneering of the card, saying First Bank is very proud to be part of Osun technological success.

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.