Osun Defender - October 16th 2014, Edition

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www.osundefender.org THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 Weeks before the August 9th gubernatorial elections which was won by the pragmatic Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the APC, it was obvious we were up against forces other than the people of Osun state which naturally should be the determinant of

how the elections will swing. The All progressives Congress (APC) still smarting from its shocking defeat in the previous Ekiti elections had literarily sworn it will lose Osun over its dead body. The murderous villain fielded by the Peoples Democratic

PEOPLE FIRST

VOL. 9. NO.124

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maybe June 12, 1993 Front Page Comment imperial President though utterly clueless, Presidential elections presumed to have being desperate to add The War Called The Osun but Osun to his conquest in won by my President, M.K.O Abiola could be of his stillElections-By Segun Tomori furtherance born second term bid. So an exception. It wasn’t because I had Party (PDP), outrightly unpopular with barely a few dozens of people trailing him at campaigns however worethe confidence of a Governor-In-waiting. He they

didn’t care a hoot about the people’s wish, all that matters was the full compliment of the paraphernalia of State activated by an

lo and behold, the die was cast!I have not been emotionally attached to any elections in Nigeria as I was with the Osun elections,

affinity with anyone in Ogbeni’s government or because I enjoyed any form of patronage but because Continue on pg5

Osun Election, An Eye Opener - Buhari Challenging PDP’s Falsehood - Pg 10

- See Story On Page 2

Osun Assembly Accuses PDP Of Creating - Pg 3 Confusion Over Court Ruling Osun ‘ll - Pg 4 Continue To Sustain O’ Meals – Commissioner

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2rd right); Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso (2rd left); former State of Osun governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (right); member of the senate representing Kano-South, Sen. Kabiru Gaya (left) during the courtesy visit to the State of Osun governor at the Government House, Osogbo, last Sunday.

How Asari-Dokubo Took Part In $9.3m Arms Scandal – APC

- See Story On Page 3


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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

Osun Election, An Eye Opener - Buhari By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI Aregbesola in his not scare them away from Timipre Silva and former Thursday, October 9. He paid a glowing ORMER Head of State and presidential response, thanked the exercising their Minister of Information, Chief Tony Momoh tribute to Fasanmi’s aspirant of the All Progressives Congress APC leader for his visit franchise. sterling leadership (APC), Major-General Mohammad Buhari and urged Nigerians to be In the team of Major- among others. Meanwhile, Buhari qualities and consistency (rtd), on Monday said the just-concluded vigilant in 2015. General Buhari (rtd) governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun should “Nigerians should be were, former Speaker, also paid a condolence as a senator of the be an eye opener for Nigerians as 2015 general vigilant in 2015, just like House of visit to Senator Ayo Federal Republic of elections approach. they did in Osun during the Representatives, Alhaji Fasanmi, an Afenifere Nigeria and Afenifere The retired Army people have done, as August 9, 2014 election, Aminu Bello Masari, chieftain, over the recent leader, while consoling the General made this that’s the only way out,” when 73,000 security men former Governor of loss of his wife, Felicia, octogenarian over the deployed to the state could Bayelsa State, Mr. who passed away on demise of his wife. disclosure during a Buhari stated. courtesy visit to the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital. The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) noted that his visit to the state was to specially invite the governor to his formal declaration to contest for presidency during the 2015 elections. Buhari described the re-election of Governor Aregbesola as the triumph of people’s will and a victory for democracy, “Your Excellency, part of why we are here is to congratulate you for your credible re-election and personal leadership qualities. “Ekiti and Osun gave us the latest interpretation of what is ahead of us in 2015 and all Nigerians •The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); the deputy governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi-Laoye Tomori (2rd left); 1st Vice must be totally aware that President of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV), Mr Ajayi Patunola (1st right); Secretary to the State Government of Osun, it is not going to be very Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (1st left); during a courtesy visit and investiture of Ogbeni Aregbesola as patron of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors easy in the next five & Valuers, (NIESV) at the Government House, Osogbo, last Saturday. months. “For the next five months, we are on the road again and we are The Permanent responsible persons in the S pupils resumed for the 2014/2015 academic pupils of the School for the here to ask for your session, parents have been urged to take good Handicapped, Osogbo into Secretary, who was society. understanding and by the care of their children without discrimination, the new academic session, represented He therefore advised the support, Nigerians want particularly the physically-challenged among them. as well as enlightening Director, Osun Mass parents to be determined change and they have to The Permanent Lawrence Oyeniran, made their parents on their E d u c a t i o n and go the extra mile in prepare and be ready to Secretary, State of Osun the call during a meeting expected responsibilities Agency(OSMEA), Mr taking care of them, with Festus Oyebayo, held that the hope that the end-result do exactly what Osun Ministry of Education, Mr organised to welcome the and roles. the target of the School for

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Parents Advised On Physically-challenged Children

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Akere Charges Veteran Journalists On Nation Building By SHINA ABUBAKAR

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ETERAN journalists have been charged to always be concerned about events happening in their environments, with a view to enlightening the masses on accuracy of such events. This charge was given concerned with the image by the State of Osun of Nigeria due to their Commissioner for inordinate ambition, while Information and Strategy, advising the veterans to Mr Sunday Akere, while rise to the occasion of addressing members of educating the people, as the association, who paid well as guiding the young him a courtesy visit at his ones in the profession. office last Friday. He said the association According to the must see the need to commissioner, the begin to contribute veterans’ wealth of towards educating the experience is needed people about the even after their possibilities of the impact retirement from active of the 2015 general service in contributing to elections on the nation the growth of Osun and and its inhabitants. the nation in general. Speaking earlier on the Akere disclosed that purpose of their visit, the some politicians are not Acting Chairman of the

group, Mr Kayode Adedire, commended the laudable achievements of the ministry in promoting activities of government, as well as keeping people aware of government activities throughout the state. He said members of the association are still active despite having retired from service, adding that they are ready to further contribute to the capacity building of the state and the country whenever called upon. Adedire, however, prevailed on the government of the state to recognise the association in its activities, saying they are always ready despite having put the best part of their lives to serving the

state. Some of the veteran journalists at the gathering included Mr Adetoyese Shittu Alamu, Mr Sanya Fadipe, Mr Sunday Odedele, Prince Adeyeye Oyedokun among others.

•AKERE

the Handicapped is to guarantee a better future for the physicallychallenged children through qualitative education. He then pointed out that it has become the habit of some parents to abandon their physically-challenged children in school without necessary provisions, thereby leaving such a child to feel dejected. Oyeniran maintained that though it is the responsibility of the teachers in the school to take good care of all students while in school, it is not an excuse for parents to abandon their children in school without visiting them at least once in a month to check after their welfare and complement government efforts. He stressed that the physically-challenged pupils require love and care for them to perform optimally and become

would be success. In her contribution, the Principal of the school, Mrs Omolola Sangolana, sought for the cooperation of the parents in shaping the future of the pupils for good, noting that the students of the school are doing well academically. Mrs Sangolana cited the Year 2014 WAEC result, where all the 29 students registered for the examination passed with the least having 5 credit passes. She therefore advised the parents to endeavour to visit the school at every last Saturday of every month, while disclosing that the use of mobile phones is no longer allowed among the pupils. Highlight of the meeting was a career talk to motivate both the students and their parents handled by a physically-challenged officer in the Special Unit of the State Ministry of Education, Mrs Faminu Opeyemi.

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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

How Asari-Dokubo Took Part In $9.3m Arms Scandal – APC

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that ex-militant, Alhaji Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo, was involved in the $9.3m arms deal, which led to the arrest of two Nigerians and an Israeli in South Africa. found and The party, therefore, was asked President Goodluck confiscated by the South Jonathan to explain to African authorities. The party stated this in Nigerians what AsariDokubo was doing on the a statement issued and plane, where the money signed by its National

Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday. According to the APC, the Federal Government had a lot of questions to answer on the deal, including whether Dokubo-Asari was the contractor or the end user, who he was

procuring arms for and for what purpose. The APC stressed that the questions became pertinent as the National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), who issued the enduser agreement for the purchase, does not and cannot purchase arms for

any of the armed services. The statement reads in part: “Under our Constitution, the NSA is an adviser and has no executive powers to deploy troops from any of the services or purchase arms for them. That the arms purported to be

• The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left); 1st Vice President of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV), Mr Ajayi Patunola (right) and State Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers,(NIESV) Dr Seyi Adegoke (middle), during the courtesy visit and investiture of Ogbeni Aregbesola as Patron of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors, Valuers, (NIESV) at the Government House, Osogbo, on Saturday

Osun Assembly Accuses PDP Of Creating Confusion Over Court Ruling By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

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HE State of Osun House of Assembly has described as false, mischievous and manipulative, the rumours that the state’s federal and state lawmakers have been sacked by the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The state parliament said affect the lawmakers, the the rumour, “being matter has not been as the sponsored by the Peoples concluded, Democratic Party” was substantive suit was still aimed at creating confusion pending before the court. Cautioning media houses and plunge the state into to always investigate before crisis. The Court of Appeal writing on sensitive issues, sitting in Akure had on rather than relying on an Friday struck out an information given by a party, interlocutory appeal filed by he said, the intention of the the Independent National sponsor was to cause chaos electoral Commission in the state. In his own submission, (INEC) against the decision the Deputy Speaker, of Federal High Court, Osogbo, which restrained Honourable Akintunde the Osun Resident Electoral Adegboye, accused the Commissioner, Mr Rufus PDP of misleading the Akeju, from supervising the public by spreading false 2011 state and national information “through a assemblies’ elections in the radio station owned by Senator Iyiola Omisore of state. Raising the issue under the PDP.” He suggested that the matters of urgent public management of the radio importance at the plenary on Monday, the Chief Whip of station should be invited by the parliament, Honourable the state legislature to Ipoola Binuyo, said the explain the rationale behind ruling of the court was an the spreading of such interlocutory ruling and has misleading information, nothing to do with either the which, he said, could state or national lawmakers truncate the current peace of the state. from the state. Also, Honourable Wasiu He argued that apart from Adebayo, representing the fact that the case did not

Olorunda State Constituency, said the suit had been pending before the conduct of the 2011 elections, saying, whatever could have been the outcome of the case could not affect the election. Describing the rumours as the usual ways of the PDP to confuse the people, he urged the people of the state not to fall for the deceit of the opposition. Other lawmakers, in their separate submissions, described the rumours as deliberate wickedness of the opposition, maintaining that it was just a ploy to keep members of the party together. They therefore called on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to call the radio station to order, with a view to stemming such misleading information. While speaking, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, said the scenario has suggested that the opposition PDP is doing everything possible to force itself on the people of the state. “If people say they don’t want you, must you force

yourself on them? They should rather wait for their time, if it will ever come. “Spreading such falsehood is not only ungodly, it is against common sense, because such prayer was not before the court. “The ruling is not

affecting us; the order was just restraining the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Rufus Akeju, from supervising the 2011 elections”, he added. Salaam then insisted that the Assembly would do everything possible to ensure that the state is not plunged into crisis.

purchased from South Africa were ordered from the office of the NSA is nothing but a mere fabrication and raises serious questions about the motive for the purchase. “Nigerians will therefore like to know on whose behalf AsariDokubo was purchasing arms. This is very crucial because Asari-Dokubo has been threatening that Nigeria will not know peace if his benefactor, President Jonathan, is not re-elected. “Therefore, Nigerians will like to know whether he has started stock-piling arms to make his threat a reality, since elections are due in a few months’ time. “If these arms are meant to fight insurgency, as the government has claimed, what is AsariDokubo’s business purchasing arms for the Nigerian military, if indeed they were for the military? Does it not occur to the Nigerian government that this man, who once took arms against the state may not have jettisoned his sinister plan against the same state?” The party chieftain further stressed that President Jonathan should also come clean on the $5.7 million that was also seized by South Africa on Monday. He said Jonathan would do so well by revealing the identities of the Nigerians that were arrested in South Africa. Asari-Dokubo has however, distanced himself from the $9.3 million botched arms deal while speaking with jounalists in a telephone interview from Saudi Arabia, where he is presently performing the 2014 Hajj, maintaining that the last time he visited South Africa was in 2002.

Osun APC Congress: Speaker Urges Party Members To BethePeaceful control, so that our By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

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HE Speaker of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, has charged members of All Progressives Congress (APC) to demonstrate the traits of progressiveness in the course of the party’s congress in the state. The ward congress of Omoluabis and we must the party started on allow this trait to come to Monday, while the local play in the course of our government and state congresses at the wards, congresses were held on local governments and Wednesday and Friday state levels. “The way we handle our respectively. At the plenary on matters is different from Monday, the Speaker said how others handle theirs the party is known for and due to this, we must peace, urging that this trait behave like virtuous must be allowed to come people. “We should allow to play. He said: “Our party is whoever that emerge known as a party of from the congresses be in

party can continue to move forward. “I want to appeal to our people that being in office is not a do-or-die affair, as people from some other parties will believe. Ours is a gentleman approach to everything and we should do it that way,” he emphasised. He then urged party leaders and congress committees to be fair in the conduct of the elections. The Speaker also urged anyone who is not satisfied with the outcome of the congresses to approach the appropriate body in the party for redress and amicable resolution.


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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

Osun To Host 2014 BJAN Conference On Tourism By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI

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HE 2014 edition of the annual conference of the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) will be held in the State of Osun. The State association recently, said Commissioner for the state, under Ogbeni Information and Strategy, Rauf Aregbesola, is Honourable Sunday always willing to identify Akere, who received the with individuals and representatives of the organisations that could

aid its developmental drive for the state. BJAN leadership, led by its National Chairman, Goddie Ofose, during a courtesy visit to the commissioner to intimate him on the decision by his association to settle for the State of Osun as venue of this year ’s conference, as a result of

the giant strides the state has recorded in the area of tourism. The theme of the conference, which will hold between November 20 and 23 is: “Tourism marketing as catalyst for economic development”. The 2013 edition was held in Ogun State. Ofose said: “BJAN

members have taken pain to follow up the activities of the State of Osun in the area of tourism, particularly the way the annual Osun Osogbo cultural festival has suddenly turned into an international festival.” “We do not only consider it necessary to reel out the economic

Osun ‘ll Continue To Sustain O’ Meals – Commissioner •Calls On Other States To Join Scheme

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HE Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in the State of Osun, Mr. Wale Adedoyin, has stated that for the Strategic Grains Research (SGR) to work perfectly, more states of the federation need to be encouraged to join Osun in the school feeding programme. He also stated that the linkage of the SGR to the O’Meals programme of the State of Osun will only be beneficial if the handlers of the scheme are serious about it. The commissioner stated this in Osogbo during an interactive section he had with the members of the Partnership for Child Development (PCD) and O’ Meals team, who were in his office. Adedoyin, who highlighted the various efforts of the Ogbeni Aregbesola administration to boost grain production

such as rice and maize in the state ,as part of efforts to continue to assist the school feeding programme, pointed out that the efforts of the state government would be redoubled, as the state also has the potentials to produce more grain crops. He explained that the use of cocoyam as part of the school feeding scheme started in January 2013 and efforts are in top gear to ensure that the state continues to produce more quantities of cocoyam because research has shown that cocoyam is very nutritious.

While commending the efforts of the research team, the commissioner noted that the state government is committed to all avenues that will improve the school feeding programme of the state, stressing that the current

administration will continue to support farmers in the state in a bid to boost food production. The Senior Research Manager at the PCD, Mrs. Elisabetta Aurino, stated that the aim of visiting the state was to look for

•ADEDOYIN

means of how the Strategic Grain Research at the federal level could be linked to the school feeding programme of Osun, in order to make it cost effective, while also commending the efforts of the government on the O’Meal scheme. Also speaking, the Programme Manager, PCD Nigeria, Mrs. Adesanmi Abimbola, expressed gratitude to the state government on the support received on the establishment of the Young Farmers Club in schools across the state. Others at the programme included the Special Assistant to the Governor on QIIP, Engineer Ladipo Dauda, the Coordinating Director Agric, Dr. Bukola Aluko and other directors in the ministry.

Osun Legislature Dispels Rumour On Sealing Off Of Assembly Complex By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

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HE State of Osun House of Assembly has taken exception to the rumour that the State Assembly Complex has been sealed off by security operatives over the purported sack of the lawmakers by the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure. There was a rumour milling the round on Monday morning that the State House of Assembly was sealed off over the court ruling, a situation that created tension across the state. Reacting to the rumour, the state parliament asked the people of the state to ignore the rumour, as it was false, mischievous and misleading. A statement by the Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr Goke Butika, said it was a calculated attempt by some unscrupulous people, whose partisan interest was to service the diabolical plot of the opposition, to truncate the democratic experiment in the state. The state parliament stressed that credible intelligence at its disposal has shown that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after losing the last governorship election, has drawn contingent plans that could fetch the mandate freely given to Governor Rauf Aregbesola

to it through the backdoor. It further noted that it has unveiled a plot by some chieftains of the PDP to cause unprecedented mayhem in the history of the state, with a view to truncating the swearing-in of Aregbesola next month. The state legislature further noted that the rumours and lies being spread by the PDP were part of the plot. “The credible intelligence at our disposal showed that the PDP, after losing the last governorship election, has drawn contingent plans that could fetch the mandate freely given to Aregbesola to it through the backdoor. “Precedence has shown that security agencies may be compromised, just as it obtained in Edo, Ekiti and Rivers states respectively. “The purpose of approaching election tribunal, sexing-up lies about foiled ballots at INEC, twisting of the

ruling of the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State and spreading of falsehood that the state and national assembly members had been removed by the radio station owned by the defeated PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Iyiola Omisore, were parts of the plot.

“As a result, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) should live up to expectation by checking the trend of lies in the said radio station designed to run a parallel government against the constituted authorities in the state. “Particularly, the parliament is taking exception to lies told on Monday morning that the

State Assembly Complex had been sealed, when in actual fact, workers and lawmakers were at their desks working,” it said. The state parliament then admonished the people not to let down their guard, for the enemies of progress are still on the prowl, while further urging the people to be vigilant.

benefits of tourism, we want to add our voices to how it can be better marketed. We want other states to learn from Osun and we want the Federal Government to invest more in the industry,” Ofose said. Responding, Akere described Governor Aregbesola-led administration as mediafriendly and would continue to contribute its quota to every step taken to add values to journalism practice in the country. He said: “As a government that appreciates the place of effective communication in government, the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has always regarded the media as a major partner in the journey to touch lives and bring rapid development into the State of Osun.” While assuring the association that he would table the proposal before Governor Aregbesola, the commissioner called on the media practitioners not to derail in their responsibility as watchdogs and agenda setters in the society. He said Nigeria’s democracy needs effective media to blossom. Speakers expected at the conference include; President Nigeria Guild of Editors, Femi Adesina; MD, Chain Reaction, Israel Jaiye Opayemi; 141 Worldwide, Bunmi Oke. Meanwhile, Akere has been pencilled down to open the conference, while it would be chaired by the Registrar, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Garba Bello-Kankarofi.

Reason For Quranic Competition - Falade By ABOSEDE AKINPELU

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HE aim of the Dhikrulai Oyekanmi Aremu Falade Quranic recitation competition is to encourage the students of Islamic religion to have passion for the study of the Holy Quran and also for the exposure of the participants.

This was revealed by the sponsor of the event, Alhaji Taofeek Falade, at the 6 th edition of the competition, which was held at Ikoyi on Saturday. The facilitator of the competition also disclosed that a passion for the study of the Holy Quran, exposure of the participants and showcasing of in-depth knowledge of the Islamic religion from students of

different formal and informal Islamic schools in the South-West zone to come together and showcase how well they have studied the Quran was part of their target. In his words: “He was proud of the achievement of the programme for the exposure that it had recorded.” Falade cited an example of one of the last year’s participants, whose

name is Abdul-Rosheed Solit, who participated in the Ju’zu Tabaraka group. He explained that the participants were divided into two groups. The first one consists of the JUZU AMMA, where those in the group were meant to memorize 1/30 of the Holy Quran and while those in the other group, TABARAKA, were to memorise the last two Juzu in the Quran. They were later tested on Tajweed (rules of pronunciation) and the Arabic sound of the words. “Requirements for the competition was that all the

participants come in two months before the start of activities for further training and practices before they are screened in each category, while only the very best five would participate in the finals. “The programme has been able to bring to reality the dreams of some of the participating children. An example was one of the participants who represented Ibadan, Abdul-Rosheed Solit, a 14-year old boy, who came 4th at the National Quranic Competion that took place in Lagos.


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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

The War Called The Osun Elections-By Segun Tomori Continued frompg1 I just couldn’t imagine my home State go back to the disastrous

“years of the locust”. I had participated actively n the campaigns, interacted with the people, felt their pulse and the story was the same – Osun has never had it so good, the people vowed to defend their votes by all means possible! From that moment I had made up my mind to give my all and put myself at harm’s way if need be to ensure we form a bulwark of resistance against the machinery of State to be deployed to thwart the people’s wish. When I was about to proceed on my journey to Osogbo, the Osun State Capital on Monday preceding the elections I prepared for the worst. Few associates privy to my trip advised strongly that I removed any APC sourvenir from my luggage,any ID card that can associate me with the party amongst other security tips. They were right to be apprehensive, soldiers, officials of the Department of State Security(DSS) including the hooded ones,lorry loads of mobile policemen had since being deployed across the nook and cranny of Osun State. Bearing in mind the desperation of their paymasters, we knew they could stop and search vehicles and abduct anything synonymous with APC, so I took all the precautions. I took off on the journey which in itself was dramatic. As we got close to Oshogbo, a discussion ensued in the bus and I found out I was not alone in the Save-Osun initiative. Most of the passengers shared the same sentiments with me and were also natives of the State. They spoke emotionally and fiercely about their determination to ensure Aregbesola’s victory. Speaker after speaker reeled out programmes and interventions of the Governor that has brought smiles to the faces of the people. They concluded he was the best thing to happen to the State since its creation. The menacing apparatus of State then suffocating the enviroment will not deter them, they thundered! “Ko si ohun ti soja o se, a ma duro gboin gboin lati dibo Aregbe” they said in yoruba dialect meaning “there is nothing Soldiers can do, we will stand firmly to vote for Aregbe”. I thought to myself, we are about to witness mass resistance unequally in our national history if anything go against the people’s will. Hopefully, the soldiers we met on the various checkpoints didn’t stop and search, they just peeped through the bus windows and passed us on. I heaved a sigh of relief when I arrived Osogbo safely late in the evening. I have attended rallies, mega-rallies , name it, but what I saw on Tuesday at the grand-finale of the campaign was frightening. A stadium whose capacity can’t be more than

60,000 almost caved in due to pressure from an unprecedented mammoth crowd. Every space on the covered stands were over-filled, the main bowl of the Stadium was virtually unpassable. My associates and I had to hold ourselves to navigate our way through the crowd, it took us about an hour from the entrance of the stadium to find somewhere to perch! Yet thousands more extend to adjoining roads outside the stadium. It was the APC mega-rally and to say it was awesomely mega is an understatement! We even heard that the Lord of Aso-rock caught an instant migraine seeing the magnitude of the rally! The effect of that was seen in the sealing off of the freedom park that was supposed to host workers rally the next day by “hooded soldiers” They got the now familiar, albeit emergency “orders from above” to forcefully if need be halt the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliates endorsement rally for the Ogbeni. Co-incidentally, Wednesday, 6th August was my birthday but I was in no mood for celebrations of any kind. I told my wellwishers, family and friends that you don’t clink glasses in a battle-front! Interestingly, one of my compatriots who was also a major ‘battle-axe” and good friend’s birthday was 8th August so I told him we’ll do a birthday plus victory party on the 10th, a day after the elections,when we triumph at the polls. We know we had the people behind us, we never gave defeat a thought! By Thursday, preparations had reached feverish pitch, the towns, hamlets and villages was now massively flowing with uniformed men of all hues and shades. Some DSS operatives came to the restaurant we were having dinner, Thursday evening, apparently on surveillance mission. We got the message and we left in a jiffy! On our way to our location, we noticed a car trailing us, so we had to take a decoy to a bar. As we turned to the bar, the car also turned in another direction. Their mission still remains a mystery. Thank God for little mercies! When we arrived our abode, we swung into action to put finishing touches to our master-plan which was to run a coordinated and effective live broadcast of the elections on social and online media in collaboration with the APC situation room which was to start from Friday evening till the announcement of the results on Sunday. This was necessary because leaking the plans of our devious opponents was key to frustrate their rigging machinery; announcing results online as we get it directly from our agents was also crucial to frustrate any manipulation at the collation level. By Friday afternoon, I had to tactically separate from my friends who then proceeded to a high security location. The curfew was going to start around 56pm. By 4pm, I arrived at my own secure location and quickly moved to set up. I surveyed the enviroment to assess the possible threat level. I saw that it was negligible so I settled

down for the task ahead. By Friday evening we got intelligence report that notorius election rigger, Chris Uba was in town with a unit of 50 soldiers attached to him. We sent that out and made sure it went viral. Later that night, information about the arrest of our leaders ranging from APC Publicity Secretary, lai Mohammed, the Attorney-general Of Osun State, barr. Wale Afolabi, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on media, Mr Sunday are, Commissioner for Agric among others were swiftly publicised with dispatch. The far-reaching effect of the noise we made contributed in no small measure to the release of most of those picked up by Saturday morning. We discovered by Saturday morning that fake soldiers and policemen had surfaced in many locations. Their logo was a red ankara tied to their left hand. Quickly we activated our instant alert to our people,through all means possible. That again thwarted efforts to manipulate the elections from the beginning. The elections started peacefully however in most locations with accreditation going on smoothly. The only snag was the continued harassment of APC leaders across the State. The case of the 1st Civilian Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke was quite instructive. After failing to assasinate him over-night due to resistance by his security aides, he was trailed from the polling unit to his mother’s residence where he went after accreditation. He escaped the siege by the whisker after he was discreetly notified. He couldn’t come back to exercise his franchise. The results started trickling in by afternoon and the PDP demolition squad sensing their rejection quickly switched to a plan B to disrupt the collation process. We instantly alerted the public about their norturnal meeting and evil plot. What really helped the APC apart from the determination of the people was our access to classified information. We were always a step ahead of them and that frustrated the election riggers. I got an anonymous call from a patroitic police officer around 8pm who claimed he was at a location at modakeke and that results being collated was about to be altered. You could detect the fear in his voice as he asked me to ensure his cover. He was an igbo officer deployed from other states, he wasn’t familiar with the terrain but what was gratifying that there could still be few men of integrity in the corruption-ridden Nigeria Police Force. In order to confirm the authenticity of his Statement, I asked the Apapa Local Government Chairman who was with me to speak to him. He sounded credible, he concluded. So I made some calls to the authorities and sent text message to our men to act immediately.

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hold any leadership position in the country, you must be focused and determined. Things had got to a stage that pessimists were asserting that good governance was impossible in this country. Despite the fact that the state is currently

receiving the least on the federal allocation table, Aregbesola’s administration has deemed it fit to continue on its developmental strides in the state. Various programmes and policies have also been put in place to attract foreign and indigenous investors to

establish their businesses in the state and boost its economy beyond the imaginations of the opposition. Favourably today, we have Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola as governor, whose agenda for the state has rapidly and radically unfolded to

showcase a new Osun of the dream of its founding fathers. I have nothing much to say here but to appreciate and commend the governor and his team for the good and purposeful governance they are proving. I also want to commend the peaceloving people of the state

If we thought the threats have been subdued, we were in for a shocker! The returning officer whose task it is to announce the final result was under pressure to collect a whooping N1b and announce Omisore winner! They were ready to damn the consequences and ask us to go to court. So we had to practically go on our knees! I salute the indefatigable people of Osun State, they were resolute, they stood like a rock, stayed on the streets all through and formed a human shield around the collation centre. Then the returning officer came in around 1.35pm. The results of all the local governments were announced before 5am. Then we now witnessed dilly-dallying of the highest order. It got to a point around 7am, anxious journalists and people started singing asking for the results. Lo and Behold, at about 7.10am, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was finally pronounced the winner! There was instant jubilation across the nook and cranny of Oshogbo. Never in the history of elections have I seen such spontaneous excitement pervade the landscape because of results announcement. Within the twinkle of an eye, the whole town went agog with people clutching their brooms- symbol of the Governor’s party, congratulating themselves, okada riders driving menacingly in such euphoric ecstasy and finally we could say hurray! We won! We didn’t win an election, we won a WAR with a stone like the biblical david. Goliath came to battle with the best arsenal at his disposal but we came with the will of a determined people that vowed that never again shall they go the road of perdition they once trodded. Who says the voice of the people is not the voice of God? Because ultimately the hand of the Almighty saved the day and gave us victory. Osun ti dara ooooooo. Segun Tomori

Before 11pm, we already had all the results and we had won, though unofficially. What sealed the deal for us and put paid to any manipulation the PDP had in stock was the unexpected congratulation of Aregbesola as the winner of the election around

Osun Massive Road Projects: Foundation For Economic Growth am glad to write this letter with a strong belief that it would be given positive attention by your credible medium, to air my views on the ongoing infrastructural development in the State of Osun. I have kept observing for some time now, the ongoing revolution in road infrastructure being currently witnessed in the state, which has resulted into positive effect on the economic development of the state. I am so glad that all these are happening during Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s tenure, when we, the upcoming generation, had lost hope that nothing good can come out of the current leadership of the nation. He has proven to us that to be a progressive leader and aspiring to

9.40pm by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade. Omisore according to our sources had already informed Aso-rock that there was fighting in his home-town of Ile-Ife because according to him, the results we were circulating were fake and he was actually leading in the “original” results. The Ooni swiftly debunked that, not only congratulated the Governorelect, but also stated that nobody was fighting in Ife! That took the sail out of the wind of Omisore and his treacherous gang.

for their support in the past years and understanding that have enabled the governor go this far in his infrastructural development drive. As his first term is moving to a close, I want to implore the good people of the State of Osun to support the governor the more. In the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election, we did what was expected of us; to uphold, maintain and sustain the prevailing trend of progress that have been taken place in the state. It is also important for the people of the state to contribute to the development in their own way by maintaining the roads to ensure their long lasting. • K A Z E E M OLAWALE, Osogbo, State of Osun.

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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the above mail address. ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com


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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

Nigeria: Prosperous Yet Leprous! IT is not novel and unheard-of in

human life stories and testaments that at some point in any nation’s sojourn, there abound times and seasons of struggles and troubles. There is nothing obnoxious or abominable about struggles; they are part of how men and nations learn, grow and become great. Today’s great nations, the world over, had to go through their own challenges and struggles too before they became beneficiaries of peace and prosperity. When nations, however, continue to struggle with no foreseeable end to the nagging and badgering pain, our hearts leap in perturb and disquiet. When nations are enmeshed in tryingtimes, their elders come together and identify the puzzles that brought about the struggles, and fix them. The elders are able to firmly fix the puzzles by learning from other nations around the world that have gone through similar trenches of turbulence in history. From 1960 till date in our nation, our elders have succeeded in finding the puzzles that brought about our struggles. Whether it is the struggle with electricity supply, eradication of poverty, debile educational system, unwholesome health sector, and many other challenges, our elders are very good and accurately articulate at finding what the pestering puzzles are. We are blessed with elders who are versed in finding puzzles, because many of them are learned intellectuals with unquestionable cerebral acuity. When they write books about our puzzles, talk about them on Television, Radio and in town-hall meetings, we applaud them and stand in awe of their astuteness. In Nigeria, we frequently find the puzzles alright, but we have compounded and made them worse with self-centeredness, selfishness, heartlessness against the poor and the deprived, greed, graft, and a life full of gluttony and vainglorious materialism. Finding puzzles is just one hop in the race, fixing them is the complementing portion of the exercise that has become a rare swing in Nigeria. My own definition of good governance is the ability of an elected official to find and fix pestering puzzles, and not compound them. Except for a few state governors in today’s Nigeria, whose strides are those of a giant, our elders have not been able to fix the puzzles that are threatening to decapitate us. With an estimated population of about 165 million human beings, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the 9th most populous in the world. Some statisticians conclude that one in every 5 persons on the continent of Africa is a Nigerian. The rate of the growth of our economy is in keen competition with the speed of light; we are the 6th largest producer of petroleum in the world, and the 8th

•JONATHAN By FOLA OJO

largest exporter and the 10th largest in proven reserves. A recent World Bank economic report on Nigeria showed that Nigeria has one of the highest economic growth rate of about 7.4%. Between 2009 and 2011, a total of N22.165 trillion ($143.5 billion) was earned as revenue from the oil and gas sector alone. In the first seven months of 2013, Nigeria recorded earnings over 20 billion dollars from sale of crude oil. We live in a prosperous nation. Nigeria is not just a rich nation; stupendously; monstrous wealth is swaddled up in the hands of a few of us. For example, 11,162 people own private jets registered in the United States of America. On the long list of this privileged number of jet-owners are Nigerian politicians, pastors, businessmen and prominent people some of whom we know by names. It is projected that in 2015, at least 20 first-time jet owners from Nigeria will make the list. I will not lampoon jetownership secured through legitimate,

transparent means; affluent men and women engaged in unsullied businessendeavors are free to do whatever they wish with proceeds from their years of labors. The jet stream is just one indication of Nigeria’s growing economy over the last 5 years. Not too long ago, the governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola came up with some startling statistics of how money was spent in Lagos on individual festivities and parties. The study, according to the report revealed that in 12 nights, 1555 parties were held in some local government council areas, and more than N36 billion was spent within the period. This is a clear corroborating indication that there are hidden riches in the land. Why then is a nation this prosperous has a high record of leprously-poor people? With Nigeria’s poverty rate pegged at 33.1%, the World Bank now classifies Nigeria as one of the 5 extremely poor nations of the world. Those who comb through the turbine of statistical research say that about 61%; almost 100 million people live

on less than $1 a day, and 92% on less than two dollars a day. Almost 62% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor, while life expectancy remains low and is estimated to have decreased from 47 years in 1990 to 40 years in 2010. Infant and under-5 mortality rate is sky-high, and health, health care and general living conditions in Nigeria are poor, especially for children and women, and the basic daily needs of the people are still not met. Juxtaposing Nigeria’s wealth with the prevalent poverty stratosphere we live, I can submit that on our hands we do have a noisome paradox and a fetid contradiction. We should not be this prosperous and be leprously poor. In the hands of our elders, Nigeria has ostensibly become both a waif and a gamin in search of deliverer foster-parents. I opined at the outset of this piece that it is not novel and unheard-of that nations go through struggles. Struggles grow nations, but in our case, they mow us. Have we not been endowed with much both in human and natural resources? Yes, we have. It is one of the reasons I write to challenge those who are scampering to lead something, somewhere in 2015. They are the ones I refer to as elders. They should think of the poor and the hungry, and strive to meet the needs of the needy with government resources in their control. This is why they are called elders of a nation. Who said Nigerians cannot solve Nigeria’s problems? Anyone who said this is only cooking up some cockamamie hypothesis lavishly and liberally immersed in the superfluity of ignorance and cluelessness. If we killed Ebola that wanted to kill us without much of an outside help, then we can solve our problems. If we are pinning Boko Haram against the walls to some extent today without much of outside foot-soldiers, then we can solve our problems. If our economy can grow up to this rate today from a dismal figure of the last ten years, then poverty can also be eradicated over time. As we approach 2015, this monograph is a straight-shot challenge to those men and women, who will be jostling for elective positions and political offices in Nigeria. It is more especially to those who are kitting themselves up to grab the plum job of the President of the Republic. I hope that in the politicians’ bones and marrows, something will shake and shift and will thus make all of us come to an agreement that Nigeria, as prosperous as she is, should not have among its citizenry so many leprouslypoor people. •Ojo, a pastor lives in the United States of America.


OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

PHOTOTALK

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Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) Paid A Courtesy Visit To The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola At Government House, Osogbo, Last Monday.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) and former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), during a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Osogbo, last Monday.

•Ogbeni Aregbesola (3rd left); Major General Buhari (rtd) (right); deputy governor State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (1st right); former Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Timipre Sliva (2nd left) and former Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Aminu Masari, during the courtesy visit to Governor Aregbesola at Government House, Osogbo, on Monday.


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PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Aspirant, General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) Paid A Condolence Visit To Pa Ayo Fasanmi's Residence In Osogbo, State Of Osun, Last Monday Over The Death Of His Wife.

•All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential aspirant, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), signing a condolence register, during the visit to Commiserate with an Afenifere Chieftain, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, on the demise of his wife, Felicia, in Osogbo, last Monday.

•General Buhari (left) and State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), commiserating with an Afenifere chieftain, Senator Ayo Fasanmi (middle) on the demise of his wife, Felicia in Osogbo, State of Osun, last Monday.


OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

PHOTOTALK

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Some Of The Completed Schools In The State Of Osun Under The Administration Of Governor Rauf Aregbesola As Captured By Our Cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, Last Thursday.

•Anglican Middle School, Ikirun.

•St. Andrews Middle School, Ikirun.


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FOR THE RECORDS

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

Challenging PDP’s Falsehood observed with great WE havesense of concern the consistent hallucination which has been plaguing the leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the State of Osun by which they have become permanently married to spreading falsehood about developments in the state. The most appalling aspect of it is the overt support being given by a section of the press in spreading misinformation daily dished out by the PDP without any form of journalistic verification, clarification or examination of the contents. It would be recalled that about a year ago, Mr. Iyiola Omisore claimed that the court had nullified the 2011 elections conducted by INEC to fill the seats belonging to the State of Osun into the National Assembly and the State House of Assembly. The banal falsehood was gleefully published by a section of the media without sighting a copy of the purported order relied upon by Omisore. We challenged Omisore to produce a certified copy of the court order by which INEC was restrained from conducting the election and nullified the said election. We also told him to publish same in any newspaper of his choice and that we would pay for the publication. Since then, he went mute on that issue and nobody asked him questions on the need to prove his falsehood. Just yesterday the 11th day of October, 2014, the People’s Democratic Party in the State of Osun went to the press with another piece of falsehood wherein it claimed that the Court of Appeal had nullified the 2011 elections of the APC members of the National Assembly and the State House of Assembly. The report further claimed that pursuant to the 2011 election, the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure ordered the inauguration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola due to be held on the 27th of November, 2014 to be put on hold.

•GANI OLAOLUWA: Osun PDP Chair By KUNLE ADEGOKE

Yet, the press published this disoriented piece of manipulation without any form of verification. It is unfortunate that the more the PDP lied, the greater the ardency of the press to publish its falsehoods. We challenge the PDP, Omisore and their handlers to produce a certified true copy of the ruling of the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure where the 2011 elections were nullified. We challenge the PDP, Omisore and their handlers to show the whole world any part of the ruling

of the Court of Appeal delivered on Friday, 10 October, 2014 in which the court ordered that Aregbesola’s inauguration should be put on hold. For God’s sake, the ruling of the Court of Appeal only struck out INEC’s Notice of Appeal which challenged the interlocutory ruling of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, which restrained ambassador Akeju from supervising the 2011 elections in the State of Osun. It has nothing to do with whether the election was properly or legally conducted by INEC. In fact, the interlocutory appeal itself has not been heard by the Court and same is

still pending. Furthermore, the ruling striking out the Notice of Appeal of INEC has not determined anything as the appeal itself is only to be heard on the 31st day of October, 2014. How can the PDP now go to the press, announcing that the 2011 elections had been nullified and, more stupidly, that the 2014 inauguration of Aregbesola to be held on 27 November, 2014 has been put on hold? Aregbesola was not elected for the second term in 2011, for heaven’s sake! The August 9, 2014 governorship election in which Aregbesola was elected for the second term has nothing to do with the case at the Court of Appeal, Akure. The scheduled inauguration of Aregbesola has nothing to do with the 2011 National Assembly and House of Assembly elections. How on earth can any reasonable and responsible person vilified truth by publishing such blatant falsehood peddled by the PDP which penchant for irresponsible publication is unparalleled? While we have no more advice for the PDP as its case is irredeemable, we are compelled to counsel gentlemen of the press to kindly desist from assisting PDP in causing disaffection among the populace by spreading sheer falsehood. The modern practice of journalism demands that news items must be verified before being published. It is becoming clearer that the rot that has beleaguered several aspects of our society has started infecting a cross section of the Press, which is supposed to be the watchdog of the society and the conscience of the nation. The only solution is a thorough sanitation of journalistic practice by which cacophonous and malicious songs of falsehood composed by enemies of the people can be restrained from polluting public consciousness. •Adegoke is a lawyer.

At 6th Edition Of Dhikrulahi Oyekanmi Aremu Falade Quranic Recitation Competition Held At Ikoyi, State Of Osun, On Saturday. Photo SEGUN ADEJUMO

•Alhaji Taofeek Falade (middle); Sukurat Abdul-Raqzaq (1st right); Ibraheem Abdul- Akeem (2nd right); Taofeek Ibraheem (3rd right); the winners from Juzu A’man Group. (From left) Mutiulah Abdul-Reheuf (1st left); Aisat Imran (2nd left) and Ruoyat Balogun (3rd left), winners from Juz’u Tabaraka group after the competition on Saturday.


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FOR THE RECORDS

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

Job Vacancies In Nigeria Latest Jobs in Abuja in an International British Curriculum School An International British Curriculum School in Abuja has the following positions below:

Bank Teller Jobs in Lagos The JobMag is recruiting to fill the below position: Job Title: Bank Teller Location: Lagos Responsibilities: Receive and count working cash at beginning of shift Perform services for customers such as preparing cashier’s checks , personal money orders, issuing traveler’s checks and exchanging foreign currency Other responsibilities will be assigned by management from time to time. Identify customers, validate and cash checks Accept cash and checks for deposit and check accuracy of deposit slip Process cash withdrawals Requirements: HND is required Must be 25 years and below Must have a good command of English. How to Apply Interested candidates should come with their CV and passport photograph to the JobMag Centre. 254, Herbert Macaulay Way, Alagomeji Bus/Stop, Yaba. 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Assist in monitoring and benchmarking performance across and within teams, effectively isolating good and under performers. Participate actively in the administration of customer satisfaction surveys and employee satisfaction survey. Calibrate calls within the Online Assistance Centre to ensure compliance to CR quality management metrics. Conduct Call evaluation within the Online Assistance Centre adhering to agreed standards. Conduct periodic audit for the division ensuring service standards are adhered to. Conduct quality gap analysis. Conduct mystery shopping for the customer touch points. Deliver quality assurance (QCG) training for customer care representatives. Identify and communicate audit gaps to all stakeholders, follow-up to ensure audit recommendations are implemented. Analyze customers’ information needs, business problems and business opportunities to determine efficient and effective systems/programming solutions Ensure Key Customer Data is adequately captured and prompt documentation of transactions and collect data and information on customer care needs/issues. Monitor Accounts as assigned by partners. Prepare standard and ad hoc reports on sales for management review and carry out statistical / data compilation/reconciliation, as directed, to ameliorate service. Establish and maintain professional business relationship with customers to enhance MTNN’s business, image and services. Assist line managers in the development of team and individual quality and performance standards. Create detailed functional design documents for conversions, interfaces, and reports Work with user departments to define roles and access rights to be created for all users in line with business requirements Ensure proper documentation of all user systems and provide user guides for new and/or modified systems Serve as a resource to super-users for education on technical system functionality. Engage with vendor service support groups to bring resolution to system performance or other processing issues Provide customer service in terms of problem tracking, troubleshooting and systems fault resolution Collaborate with business users to define processes that meet business needs Ensure processes are scalable and flexible to meet future business need Work with business unit and IS team to define and design user systems architecture. Ensure the availability of all required systems Develop and define IT requirements to support process and system changes Plan and manage the development and maintenance of required user systems Participate in events relating to system upgrades and testing. Prepare and execute testing plans to ensure high quality results. Job Condition Normal MTNN working conditions May be required to work extended hours Experience: 4 years relevant work experience in the service industry 1-2 years’ work experience in a call center (Prepaid/Postpaid) environment Training: Basic GSM MTN Products & Services Call center policies, processes and procedures Call Center applications, technology and systems training Telephone/ physical interaction etiquettes Relationship Management Relevant systems training CCBS Minimum Qualification: BSc How to Apply Interested candidate should: https://careers.mtnonline.com/VacancyDetails.aspx?VacancyID=97

Head Teacher Deputy Head Teacher School Administrator/Registrar Qualified Teachers Teaching Assistants School Nurse Sanitation Officers Nannies Cleaners Location: Abuja Requirement Interested candidates should possess relevant qualification. How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV’s and a cover letter to: recruitsrc@gmail.com with the subject title: DVS Job. Application Deadline 17th October, 2014. ————————————————————————————————Medical Jobs in Abuja at Alliance Hospital and Service Alliance Hospital and Service, Abuja, due to the recent expansion in the facilities and scope of services, we are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Paediatric Nurse Location: Abuja Qualification RN/RM plus a certificate in Paediatric Nursing. Special Care Baby Unit experience will be an added advantage Experience One (1) years experience. Job Title: Medical Laboratory Scientist Location: Abuja Qualification B.Sc or Certificate in Medical Laboratory Science (Chemical Pathology) Experience Minimum of two (2) years post qualification experience. Job Title: Medical Officer Location: Abuja Qualifications MBBS or its equivalent. Experience Minimum of two (2) years post NYSC congnate experience. Job Title: Consultant Paediatrician Location: Abuja Qualifications MBBS or its equivalent Fellowship of WACP or NPMCN Experience Minimum of five (5) years work experience Job Title: Consultant Physician Location: Abuja Qualifications MBBS or its equivalent Fellowship of WACP or NPMCN Experience Minimum of five (5) years work experience How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CV’s to: alliancehospitalandservices@gmail.com Or submitted in person to the hospital secretary at: Alliance Hospital, 5, Malumfashi close, Off Emeka Anyaoku street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja. Application Deadline 22nd October, 2014 ——————————————————————————————————————— Account Officer Job Vacancy in Lagos A reputable and vibrant Leasing company is looking to recruit an Accounting Officer to join its team. Job Title: Account Officer Location: Lagos Job Description: Finance Raising and posting of Journal Entries Raising and posting of cheque vouchers & rental receipts Documentation and filing of posted vouchers Ensure all payment vouchers are properly posted Ensure all transactions are accurately posted on auto-book Ensure costs are properly classified and coded on auto-book Liaise with Credit/Marketing Department to ensure harmonization of postings in Lease Manager Reconciliation of monthly bank statement Monthly payroll processing Float management Preparation of monthly account Provision of administrative support services Credit Control Circulation of Cheques lodgments Circulation of return cheques. Credit recovery of Bad loans and advances Regular posting and reversal of cheques and teller using the Lease Manager and IBS Investigation of cheques, using the software and physical cheques. Achieve recovery of Bad and Doubtful facilities as stipulated for the quarter in the annual budget Monthly Bank reconciliations Proper updates of customers’ statement on the Lease Manager and IBS Ensure accurate customer statement balances on all transactions and timely investigation and reconciliation of cheques with the information on the Software Regular updates of cheques to be represented by accounting officers. Regular updates of Appendix 1. Preparation of Management reports. Ensure prompt payments of outstanding in defaulting Risk Assets percentage repayment as relating to recovery of current outstanding Performance reports analysis on transactions Requirements Required Qualification is a B.Sc./HND in a Accounting/Economic/Banking & Operation or any other finance related course with relevant experience in accounting and credit control. Professional qualification will be an added advantage. Method of Application All applications should please be sent to: recruitment@stiplc.com using “ACCOUNT OFFICER” as the subject matter for the mail. Application Deadline: Thursday, October 16, 2014

Application Deadline 22nd October, 2014 —————————————————————————————————————-

You can subscribe to Job Vacancies in Nigeria, Jobs in Nigeria via your e-mail: www.recentnigerianjobs.com


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FOREIGN NEWS

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

Protesters Demand Philippine Custody Of US Marine D

OZENS of activists burned a mock U.S. flag as they protested at the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Tuesday, demanding that Washington hand over to the Philippines a U.S. Marine suspected in the killing of a transgender Filipino that the demonstrators labeled a hate crime. Jeffrey Laude, 26, was checked in late Saturday, found dead, apparently allegedly with a Marine. strangled and drowned, beside Police said they have a toilet bowl in a motel room identified the Marine suspect in Olongapo city, northwest of with the help of a key witness. Manila, shortly after he Authorities will file a murder

complaint against him with prosecutors on Wednesday, national police spokesman Wilben Mayor said. U.S. Marine spokesman Col. Brad Bartelt said a Marine was being held on board the USS Peleliu in the Subic Bay free port, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Manila, in connection with a joint U.S. Navy and Philippine police

Doctor Gives Blood For EbolaInfected Dallas Nurse

A

Dallas nurse who caught Ebola while treating a Liberian patient who died of the disease has received a plasma transfusion donated by a doctor who beat the virus. Ebola has killed more than “He’s a doctor. That’s what 4,000 people in an outbreak the he’s there to do. That’s his World Health Organization has heart,” Blume said. called “the most severe, acute Brantly said in a recent health emergency seen in speech that he also offered his modern times.” Federal health blood for Duncan, but that their officials say they are ramping blood types didn’t match. up training for medical workers Khoi said Pham’s mother who deal with the infected. assured him the nurse was Nurse Nina Pham was among comfortable and “doing well,” about 70 staff members at Texas and that the two women had Health Presbyterian Hospital been able to talk via Skype. who cared for Thomas Eric Pham had been monitoring Duncan, according to medical her own temperature and went records. They drew his blood, to the hospital Friday night with put tubes down his throat and a low fever. She was in isolation wiped up his diarrhea. They and in stable condition, health analyzed his urine and wiped officials said. saliva from his lips, even after Since she tested positive for he had lost consciousness. the disease, public-health The 26-year-old nurse was authorities have intensified their in his room often, from the day monitoring of other hospital he was placed in intensive care workers who cared for Duncan. until the day before he died. Centers for Disease Control Pham and other health care and Prevention Director Tom workers wore protective gear, Frieden said he would not be including gowns, gloves, masks surprised if more fall ill because and face shields — and Ebola patients become more sometimes full-body suits — contagious as the disease when caring for Duncan, but progresses. Pham became the first person Pham’s name appears to contract the disease within frequently throughout the the United States. Duncan died hundreds of pages of medical on Wednesday. records provided to The On Monday night, members Associated Press by Duncan’s of the church that Pham’s family family. They show she was in attends held a special Mass for his room Oct. 7, the day before her in Fort Worth. Rev. Jim he died. Khoi, of the Our Lady of Fatima Her notes describe nurses Church, said Pham’s mother going in and out of Duncan’s told him the nurse had received room wearing protective gear to a transfusion that could save her treat him and to mop the floor life. with bleach. “Her mom says that she got She also notes how she and the blood from the gentleman, a other nurses ensured Duncan’s very good guy. I don’t know his “privacy and comfort,” and name but he’s very devoted and provided “emotional support.” a very good guy from Frieden has said a breach of somewhere,” Khoi said. protocol led to the nurse’s Jeremy Blume, a spokesman infection, but officials are not for the nonprofit medical sure what went wrong. Pham mission group Samaritan’s has not been able to point to Purse, confirmed that the any specific breach. plasma donation came from The CDC is monitoring all Kent Brantly, the first American hospital workers who treated to return to the U.S. from Duncan and planned to “double Liberia to be treated for Ebola. down” on training and outreach Brantly received an on how to safely treat Ebola experimental treatment and patients, Frieden said. He could fought off the virus, and has not provide a number of health donated blood for transfusions care workers under surveillance. for three others, including Health officials have relied on Pham. a “self-monitoring” system

when it comes to U.S. health care workers who care for isolated Ebola patients. They expect workers to report any potential exposures to the virus and watch themselves for symptoms. Besides the workers, health officials continue to track 48 people who were in contact with Duncan before he was admitted to the hospital and placed in isolation. They are monitoring one person the nurse was in contact with while she was in an infectious state.

investigation into Laude’s death. About 3,000 U.S. Marines and Navy sailors concluded two weeks of military exercises with Filipino counterparts last Friday and were to leave the Philippines this week. U.S. Pacific commander Adm. Samuel Locklear, who was in Manila for annual security talks with Philippine defense officials, initially ordered the Peleliu and other Navy ships to stay in the Philippines pending an investigation into the killing. All the ships except the Peleliu were later cleared to leave the country as the investigation progressed, according to Philippine officials. The thorny issue emerged amid a blossoming of security ties between the United States and the Philippines, which have both been vocal critics of China’s expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea. The longtime military allies signed a new accord in April

that allows greater U.S. military access to Philippine military camps across the country. Military chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said the incident destroyed the positive image of the just-concluded military exercise, in which the suspect in the killing took part, but added that “this will not affect our relationship with the United States.” “We’re alarmed and hurt because the victim was a fellow Filipino,” Catapang told a news conference. “We have to give justice for his untimely death.” Police said Laude’s attacker may have been angered when he discovered in the motel room that Laude was a transgender individual or because of an argument sparked by other reasons. On Tuesday, about 40 young activists waved red flags and yelled “U.S. troops out now” in a protest that ended with the burning of a mock American flag at the heavily secured U.S. Embassy. Riot police stopped

•World Health Organisation providing treatment to the affected Ebola victims in Liberia.

WHO: Ebola Death Rate Increases To 70 Per Cent

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World Health Organization official says the death rate in the current Ebola outbreak has increased to 70 per cent.

WHO assistant directorgeneral Dr. Bruce Aylward gave the figure during a news conference Tuesday. Aylward said that the 70 percent death rate was “a high mortality disease” in any circumstance and that the U.N. health agency was still focused on trying to get sick people isolated and

provide treatment as early as possible. A World Health Organization official says there could be up to 10,000 new cases of Ebola per week within two months. WHO assistant directorgeneral Dr. Bruce Aylward says if the response to the Ebola crisis isn’t stepped up

within 60 days, “a lot more people will die” and there will be a huge need on the ground to deal with the spiraling numbers of cases. He said WHO estimated there could up to 10,000 cases per week in two months. Aylward said for the last four weeks, there have been about 1,000 new cases per week, though that figure includes suspected, confirmed and probable

Iran Expects Progress, If No Breakthrough, In Nuclear Talks With EU, US

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RAN does not expect a breakthrough in nuclear talks with the United States and the European Union this week but hopes they will help pave the way for a final deal, its foreign minister said on Tuesday. Mohammad Javad Zarif, six powers - the United quoted by Iran’s Fars news States, France, Germany, agency, was speaking upon China, Russia and Britain arrival in Vienna, where he are due to conclude by a was due to meet European self-imposed Nov. 24 Union foreign policy chief deadline with, diplomats Catherine Ashton. U.S. hope, a deal to end a nuclear Secretary of State John standoff that has lasted Kerry will join them on more than a decade. With only some six weeks Wednesday. Zarif’s cautious optimism to go, Western officials say came a day after President there are still significant Hassan Rouhani told differences, especially over Iranian television that a the future scope of Iran’s enrichment nuclear deal was “certain” uranium and that only “fine details” program. One of Iran’s chief remained to be negotiated. Talks between Iran and negotiators, deputy Foreign

them from getting close to the seaside compound. Two protest leaders tearfully demanded that the U.S. military hand over the Marine to the Philippine government, saying he should be detained in a local jail. “This is just so abominable. It’s one of the worst hate crimes I’ve seen,” said Corky Hope Maranan, a leader of a group of transgender and lesbian Filipinos. “If he remains in U.S. custody, certainly he can escape from our justice system again. We don’t want another Daniel Smith,” Maranan said. Smith was a Marine who was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison on charges of raping a Filipino woman after a night of drinking in 2005, also at the Subic free port. A Philippine appeals court overturned Smith’s conviction in 2009, allowing him to leave the country.

Minister Abbas Araqchi, last week raised the possibility that the talks could be extended. But a U.S. State Department official said Washington believed there was still time to reach a comprehensive solution by the target date. “Although we do not expect a breakthrough in the trilateral negotiations (between Zarif, Ashton and Kerry) ... still this round could pave the way for a final agreement,” Fars quoted Zarif as saying on Tuesday. “On the agenda is the volume of uranium enrichment and the timetable for lifting the sanctions,” he said.

Iran rejects allegations from Western powers that it is seeking a nuclear weapons capability. It has refused to halt uranium enrichment, and has been hit with U.S., EU and U.N. Security Council sanctions as a result. Israel has threatened to use military force against Iranian atomic sites if diplomacy fails to ensure Iran is deprived of the means of developing nuclear weapons. Tehran says Israel’s presumed atomic arsenal is the main threat to peace. Iran and the six powers last November reached an interim deal under which

Tehran suspended its most sensitive nuclear activity in exchange for some easing of the sanctions. A former Obama administration official said it would make sense to extend the temporary accord if there was no long-term deal by late next month. “The continuation of an interim agreement would provide the breathing space needed for all sides to take an extended break from negotiations over a permanent deal,” Jofi Joseph, a former director for non-proliferation on the White House National Security Council staff, wrote this week.

cases. He said WHO is aiming to have 70 percent of cases isolated within two months to reverse the outbreak. WHO increased its Ebola death toll tally to 4,447, nearly all of them in West Africa, and the group said the number of probable and suspected cases was 8,914. Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia have been hardest hit. Aylward said WHO was very concerned about the continued spread of Ebola in the three countries’ capital cities —Freetown, Conakry and Monrovia. He noted that while certain areas were seeing cases decline, “that doesn’t mean they will get to zero.” He said the agency was still focused on trying to treat Ebola patients, despite the huge demands on the broken health systems in West Africa. “It would be horrifically unethical to say that we’re just going to isolate people,” he said, noting that new strategies like handing out protective equipment to families and setting up very basic clinics — without much treatment — was a priority.


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NEWS

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s Inauguration The People’s Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, would be inaugurated on Thursday November 27, 2014 for his second term. There is no denying the fact that Ogbeni Aregbesola has warmed himself into the hearts of the people of the State of Osun with his massive developmental projects. His impact has been felt in all the nooks and crannies in the state while he has touched every aspect of our lives in the State of the Virtuous. What else could we do as individuals or corporate bodies on this auspicious occasion if not to identify with him by congratulating him. Your popular soar away grassroots tabloid, OSUN DEFENDER Newspaper, is doing a supplement to congratulate the workaholic governor of our time in commemoration of the inauguration. Individuals, corporate bodies, institutions, and well-wishers can avail themselves with our low advert rate below: ADVERT RATE Full Page Colour Full Page Black & White Half Page Colour Half Page Black & White Quarter Page Colour Quarter Page Black & White

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N150,000 N120,000 N80,000 N70,000 N50,000 N40,000

Any of these phone lines can be contacted: 08033927286, 08033880205, 08061197897 and 08023191891.

- Management

Voting Jonathan, PDP In 2015 ‘ll Be Suicidal - House Of Reps Aspirant By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

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OTING for President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for another four-year term has been described as a suicide mission for Nigerians who want development for the country. A Federal House of Representatives aspirant for Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency, in the State of Osun, Mr Adelani Baderinwa, stated this in an interview with our reporter in Osogbo, on Tuesday. Baderinwa, a media aide to the first Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said: “It is not possible for Nigerians to take the suicide option of voting PDP again, because returning the PDP will further spell doom for the country.” According to Baderinwa, the 16 years of PDP’s rule at the federal level would forever remain a black spot, like the military regime, in the history of the country. The former Sketch reporter stated further: “There won’t be any justification for hatred, or if you like, resentment if PDP-led democratic government of 16 years has done what is right. In fact, nobody will have the gut to talk negatively about them. “But because they have failed Nigerians in such a glaringly painful manner and that they do not feel any qualms about, it is enough to tell Nigerians the truth, the way things are. Nigerians live in poverty, want and lack. They do not have access to basic infrastructures with which to live comfortably.” Baderinwa lashed out at Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and other organisations campaigning for the re-election of President Jonathan, describing them as projectors of falsehood and bad governance. He lamented what he described as lackadaisical attitude of the President to national issues, particularly on security and economy. “The legislature, which is supposed to regulate things dispassionately and provides the checks and balances, seems to be more interested in the protection of fast sinking PD, using the PDP fraudulently-acquired majority. “The impunity in the country, courtesy of PDP’s antics, has taken greater dimension with the current ethnically biased president. “The political sphere is now dominated by class of those who have sufficient brawn to beat

up high court judges and cause disruption of court proceedings in the supposedly hallowed and sacred court chambers. Do you think anybody is taking Nigeria seriously again? “The culture of impunity and brigandage of the PDP have brought what an average Nigerian will describe as executive lawlessness. The PDP has institutionalised corruption, favouritism and nepotism in the country. These and many other things make the people to demand for change of government at the centre. “They want people that are disciplined; they want a party that will stabilise the economy of the country and redeem her lost glory. I want to be part of the change and that is why I am aspiring for the membership of the Federal House of Representatives, to enhance good governance.” “Aside this treachery, the President had rather concentrated on getting a second term mandate than working out good governance. He has succeeded in achieving far below expectations and it is certain Nigerians are not going to forgive him for that. President Jonathan’s inability to address the current insecurity in Nigeria will deny him not a few votes. For about six months now, the president and his men are yet to retrieve over 200 girls taken away from Chibok. “Rather, the President’s people like Doyin Okupe are mocking the struggle for the return of the Chibok girl by erecting #BringBackJonathan billboard in Abuja, a mockery symbol for #BringBackOurGirls.” Baderinwa, a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, expressed his optimism that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would win the 2015 presidential election, and set up a purposeful and people-centred Federal Government. “It is clear that PDP will fall like a pack of cards in the 2015 elections and be shown the way out like its predecessors, who took Nigerians for granted. It is clear that Jonathan will lose the presidential election and PDP will be thrown out of Aso Rock, in God’s name and with the determination of Nigerians. “It is certain the main opposition party, my party, APC, will win the 2015 elections Whosoever that APC picked as the presidential candidate on December 2 is the next President of Nigeria. Be rest assured that thereafter, Nigeria will find its rhythm and move on the path of growth and development. Nigerians are tired of PDP,” he said.

August 9, 2014 Governorship Election Victims If you were harassed, arrested, detained, assaulted by any suspected agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whether in uniform or mufti, during the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the State of Osun, visit our office, opposite Guarantee Trust Bank, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, or call either of these phone numbers – 08033927286 and 08033880205. We are interested in your plight by recording it for history. - Management


OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, October 16, 2014

PHOTOTALK

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An Ongoing Road Construction Project In Osogbo Under The Administration Of The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, As Captured By Our Cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, Recently.

•A completed road project along Osogbo/Ila-Odo road at Ota-Efun area of Osogbo.

•An ongoing road construction at Osogbo/Ila-Odo road in Dagbolu.

•An ongoing bypass along Testing-Ground area of Osogbo.

•An ongoing road at Dagbolu in Olorunda Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun.


www.osundefender.org

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 WE must appreciate God for our uniqueness that distinguishes us from the whole lot. The white man came and found us so; that is why they marginalized us and gave undue preference to the Northern and Eastern parts of the country, so that all political alliances that have ever been, got consummated between the duo. The West was always made to go it alone, so that the conspiracy-engendered marginalization would be easily hatched to make inefficiency-laced administration subsist. Incidentally, the West has always constituted the stabilizing factor because there are certain internal mechanisms that restore normalcy. Nobody is thus left in the dark that whatever would become of an entity called Nigeria is predicated on what the Western part of Nigeria is able to fashion. Leaders from other parts of the country have always instigated internal wranglings by trying to put our political leaders on collision course. People generally get confused at times, but when it appears as if we are approaching the breaking point, solutions that are beyond human knowledge will suddenly unfold, and we quickly put the ugly situation behind us. We can imagine the number of times we have been pestered to get frustrated, but without success because of our resilience. This has always been the saving grace; and this is what others draw from to also muster strength for their survival. That is why people always draw the conclusion that the West holds the key to the continued survival of the country. Another miracle took place the penultimate Saturday, when an election, that was earlier speculated to bring with it serious upheaval, suddenly went peacefully: another hand of God at work! The consternation was understandable, as no other election in the history of Nigeria’s nationhood had attracted so many security Personnel to a State prior to any elections. That is why we feel the historians need to toil on their area of specialization and find out whether it has ever happened in any nation of the world, so that ours will form part of the contents in the Guinness Book of Records. The siege was surely unprecedented; so much that people felt heaven was going to fall on the State of Osun, as it is known today. Residents were inundated with calls prior to, during, and after the election that sent jitters down the spines of most people in the state. The only people that were spared the trouble of the unusual heavy presence of security personnel were the party faithful of the Peoples Democratic

By ADE OLUGBOTEMI

When God Is For Us …

•AREGBESOLA

Party’s (PDP) extraction, who peradventure had the premonition of what has generally been considered alien in our political evolution. While the majority were treading with caution, PDP members were visibly unperturbed because the masterminds of that ugly scenario were Jelili Adesiyan, the Minister of Police Affairs and Musiliu Obanikoro, the Minister of State for Defence, who earlier threatened to reclaim Osun by all means. One thing I have noticed over the years is that our kinsmen have always been instruments in the hands of our adversaries. They used some of us when they wanted to demystify the late Obafemi Awolowo, even to the end that he only became the best president Nigeria never had. They used some of us against the late M.K.O. Abiola, and Nigeria has never remained the same again after he was denied the privilege of using the mandate that was overwhelmingly

given at the polls. They are now also making use of some of us to disrupt the peace that has become entrenched in the State of Osun, so that the visionary leadership at work, and all plans and programmes aimed at changing the face of our environment for the better will be circumvented. What is sacrosanct however is that betrayal and rebellion are doorways to the peril of their hatchers. For a long time now, successive rulers have always paid lip-service to development. This is the first time in the last thirty years that concrete steps would be taken to massively attend to infrastructural problem that has hampered developmental prospect of the whole nation. This is currently happening in all the South-West states of Nigeria, and I think what every right-thinking Nigerian must be interested in is to rally support for all those who are adding value to governance across the South-West geo-political zone. That is the reason

behind the overwhelming support that people are according the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, irrespective of what happened in the recentlyconcluded Ekiti gubernatorial election. Osun gubernatorial election has come and gone; and it has been generally adjudged to be free, fair, and credible. Whatever is left of its imperfection should be excused on the altar of human infallibility. I am not sure some people can be satisfied should it be God that came down from His heavenly abode to conduct our election for us. Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Iyiola Omisore, preferred to take to Ahithophel’s counsel to go to Election Tribunal to challenge the Election; the highest level of exhibiting desperation, one would say. I know the will and wishes of the majority will prevail. Omisore should however learn to accept what betides, so as not to fight the Creator that has given him the grace of recognition to have emerged a candidate. Osun people have now known that Omisore is after something other than the mandate the people could give. The fact that it was jubilation galore all over the place would have prompted a reflex action by which he would manage to muster a congratulatory message to the victor. Probably, the man forgot that it will take some time for the Federal Government to recover from the excess spending spree that gave him so many quanta of Osun’s votes. Omisore ought to have convinced his principal in Abuja to release half the amount spent to bribe voters, so that voters would get convinced through executed projects of the need for more of federal presence through Jonathan’s PDP. The entire State of Osun was reduced to fearsome military zone; just because PDP wanted to reclaim Osun by force. Our people must be praised for the uncommon courage they exhibited while the occupation lasted. They showed the courage of true patriots, who are resolute to see a new society evolving. The intimidations of security agents notwithstanding, they defended their votes and ensured that the umpires released the results emanating from the various polling units. This is a great lesson for us all not to get deterred by any intimidations that may come as ploy to disenfranchise people. Without any intention to rig, people can now rest assured that when God is behind us, no power, no principality can thrive. When God is for us, who can be against us? •This piece, first published on Tuesday August 26, 2014 edition, is repeated due to popular demand. -Editor

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.


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