Osun Defender - September 16th 2014, Edition by OsunDefender

www.osundefender.org TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 how the elections will Weeks before the August 9th gubernato- swing. The All rial elections which was progressives Congress (APC) still smarting won by the pragmatic from its shocking Ogbeni Rauf defeat in the previous Aregbesola of the Ekiti elections had APC, it was obvious literarily sworn it will we were up against lose Osun over its dead forces other than the body. The murderous people of Osun state which naturally should villain fielded by the Peoples Democratic be the determinant of

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Front Page Comment The War Called The Osun Elections; By Segun Tomori 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

VOL. 9. NO.111 imperial President though utterly clueless, but desperate to add Osun to his conquest in furtherance of his stillborn second term bid. So 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,

N50

maybe June 12, 1993 Presidential elections presumed to have being won by my President, M.K.O Abiola could be an exception. It wasn’t because I had affinity with anyone in Ogbeni’s government or because I enjoyed any form of patronage but because Continue on pg4

Osun Guber Election:

How Jonathan’s Security Agents Attempted To Overrun Osun Govt House - See Story On Page 2

How Security Operatives Brutalised 84-yrold, Other APC Supporters On Eve Of Osun Poll

- Pgs 12 & 13

‘Why We Rejected - Pg 9 Omisore In Osun’ - Pg 14 Ebola: Suspected OAU Student Tested Negative •The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), acknowledging cheers from 2014 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, during a farewell ceremony for them at the Governor’s Office, Osogbo, last Thursday.

– Osun Health Commissioner

- Pg 3

PDP Election Petition Deemed To Fail - APC Counsel - See Story On Page 2

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

News

How Jonathan’s Security Agents Attempted To Overrun Osun Govt House By OUR REPORTER

F not for the strong will of the electorate and divine intervention, the machinery of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with active support by the Federal Government through the presidency, was to enact a chain of events that would have, in the worst scenario, warranted the declaration of a state of emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan in the State of Osun. OSUN DEFENDER resolved to have the sitting and All gathered from authoritative governor Congress sources within the PDP, how Progressives days before the August 9, candidate in the election, 2014 gubernatorial election, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the leadership of the party arrested along with his

deputy on the eve of the election. The meeting, which was held at the private residence of a chieftain of the party in Osogbo, had the current serving Minister for Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Adesiyan and the Minister of State for Defence, Mr Musiliu Obanikoro, as well as other prominent chieftains of the party in the South-West geo-political zone of the country in attendance.

Days before the election, several events unfolded to the teeming populace in the state over the PDP’s determination to win the election at whatever cost. One of such events was the attitude put up by the n e w l y - d e p l o y e d Commissioner of Police for the election purpose, who refused to work contrary to protocol, as he refused to pay any courtesy visit on the governor as expected of

him. According to the impeccable source, the official residence of the governor at Oke-Fia was to be invaded by some militants from the Niger Delta in DSS and Police uniforms to effect the governor and his deputy’s arrest on the eve of the election. The medium’s findings however revealed that on the night before the election, precisely at about 11.00pm, two trucks loaded with men in anti-riot mobile policemen uniform made frantic attempt to invade the Government House located at Oke-Fia Area of the state capital but were prevented from gaining entry by the governor ’s security men, who stood their ground to challenge the attempt to have a sitting governor and his deputy arrested despite their immunity. Reliable sources around the Government House revealed that the altercation

between the invading security operatives and the governor ’s security aides nearly led to a shoot-out between the two forces. On seeing that the governor ’s security apparatus was not ready to shift ground, the invading PDP-sponsored security agents shamefully retreated and left to embark on other assignments of getting some identified APC chieftains out of circulation before the morning of election. Not done with the arrest plan for the governor and his deputy, these same soldiers of invasion stopped the deputy governor ’s vehicle on election day, as she was going for her accreditation at her polling booth, along a popular street in the state capital and was promptly arrested but not detained, thereby making nonsense of the immunity clause in the nation’s constitution.

Ebola: Osun Trains Officials To Tackle Disease

•All Progressives Congress (APC) lawyer, Barrister Kunle Adegoke, answering questions from newsmen after the sitting at the 2014 governorship election tribunal at State High Court, Osogbo, last Thursday. Photo: SEGUN ADEJUMO.

PDP Election Petition Deemed To Fail - APC Counsel By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

He ruled that since the inspection of the materials was aimed at maintaining and sustaining the petition of the PDP, rejecting the application for inspection would be against the Electoral Act. After delivering the tribunal’s ruling, Justice Ambursa assured parties in the matter not to entertain any fear as far as dispensation of justice is concerned, saying he would not be partisan in the process.

OUNSEL to Governor Rauf Aregbesola and All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Kunle Adegoke, has averred that the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, before the state governorship election petition tribunal is deemed to fail. This, according to him, was Aggreeing that the application what the counsel to the PDP was of the PDP was not brought afraid of what made them to be outside the pre-trial conference wasting time on service of the as required by the Electoral Act, petition on Aregbesola. the tribunal chairman argued that He stated this on Friday after there are exceptional cases that the sitting of the tribunal, shortly could warrant granting such after the panel had granted an applications. application of counsel to PDP to paste a copy of the petition on the notice board of the tribunal to represent service on the governor. Adegoke stated that after the tribunal had initially directed that By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI the petition should be pasted at the Government House gate, the HE governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf state Attorney General (AG) Aregbesola, has joined well-meaning Nigerians in offered to collect the service of commiserating with the family of the Brigadierthe petition based on the governor’s order, but the PDP General Benjamin Adekunle (rtd), popularly known as counsel refused and insisted to ‘Black Scorpion,’ who passed on to glory on Saturday. return to court to report that The governor, in a “No doubt, he was a security operatives did not allow statement by his Director, soldier of soldiers and them to paste the petition. He stressed that if the offer Bureau of Communication commander of men. He of the AG had been taken, the and Strategy, Mr. Semiu distinguished himself in his days would have started Okanlawon, said the death chosen profession both at counting, saying, “they have of Benjamin Adekunle has home and abroad. only 180 days to prove their closed a long chapter in the “Adekunle led the Third petition and we don’t want to history of the nation, as it Marine Commando Division sit here and waste our time on a relates to the Nigerian civil during the civil war with petition that is deemed to fail. such great courage and “Why don’t they let us war. Aregbesola said determination. quickly bury it as early as “Up till today, his war possible. They are wasting time Adekunle played a crucial because they don’t want it to die role in the civil war that exploits in the command of quickly. almost liquidated the the Third Marine remain “We are ready to collect the Nigerian nationhood. subject of discussion across petition anywhere, even in the The governor noted that Nigeria and beyond. market if they are ready to serve irrespective of what some “The history of postit, so that we can go ahead,” he people might believe or not Independence Nigeria and said. Earlier, the tribunal had believe about the deceased, the crises that threatened young nation’s refused an application brought Adekunle played a vital role the by the APC seeking the reversal in making sure Nigeria existence will be incomplete of the order granted the PDP to remained a united country. without a chapter for this inspect the election materials “We receive with heavy courageous soldier. used for the August 9, 2014 heart, the death of one of “We, Government and governorship election on the Nigeria’s finest soldiers, people of Osun, convey our basis that precedence was not who fought for the unity of heartfelt condolences to the followed. his country.

He said: “We have all sworn to the Quran or Bible and nobody should think that we can be used for their wishes. That would not happen here”. While decrying the fracas that happened among counsel to both parties at the INEC secretariat on Wednesday during election materials’ inspection, Justice Ambrusa called on the lawyers to abide by their callings and desist from any acts that could jeopardise the process.

Benjamin Adekunle, A Courageous Soldier - Aregbesola

immediate and extended

families of Adekunle, and the government and people of Oyo State. “We pray that God repose his gentle soul in paradise,” Aregbesola said.

TATE Government of Osun has stated that it has concluded an arrangement for a special health training programme for no fewer than 3,865 teachers, with a view to tackling any outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in schools across the state ahead of schools’ resumption slated for September 22. The State Deputy tip of the iceberg when Governor and compared with what Commissioner for Governor Rauf Aregbesola Education, Otunba (Mrs.) has in stock for people of Grace Titilayo Laoye- the state in his second term Tomori, made this known in office. recently while speaking on In a related development, a radio programme in Ilesa. the timely intervention of Laoye-Tomori, who the State Deputy Governor affirmed that the State of had saved lives of two Osun has not recorded any people, who were knocked case of Ebola, emphasized down on a motorcycle the need for every parent popularly called Okada at and guardian to instil Oke-Omiru junction in Ilesa. cleanliness in their children Mrs Laoye-Tomori, who and wards’ basic hygienic was on her way to Osogbo practices through handwashing, with a view to after an offical function in keeping them safe from any Ilesa, stumbled on the scene of the accident and halted outbreak of EVD. The deputy governor her convoy to personally also spoke on a wide range supervise the rescue efffort. She promptly ordered the of issues concerning the state’s education sector and immediate transportation of appreciated people of the the injured commercial state for their support at the motorcycle rider and the poll and affirmed that the passenger to the nearest massive transformation hospital for prompt medical witnessed so far remains a attention.

Ifon Indigenes Charge Govt On Cultural Development

•Congratulate Aregbesola On Re-election By SHINA ABUBAKAR

NDIGENES of Ifon-Orolu in Orolu Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun in Lagos State have called on the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to intensify his effort towards tapping abundant natural resources in the state. This was contained in a According to the statement, congratulatory statement the festival is in issued after its general meeting commemoration of the Olufon, and signed by its Chairman and as the Aremo Obatala, who is General Secretary, Elder the custodian of the traditional Abolade Larinde and Prince white-beaded crown known as Jide Johnson respectively. the Ade Sesefun. The group disclosed that the The group felicitated with community is blessed with the governor on his re-election, many natural, traditional and describing it as a victory for cultural resources the state the masses and democracy and government can tap, as means further commended the of generating income, while electorate in the state for their urging the governor to support conduct before, during and and elevate the “Odun Ade after the poll. Orolu” festival to a state-wide It also called on the state event. traditional rulers’ council to

continue to play their advisory role in a bid to give citizens a level play field in the affairs of the state. “We advise Osun Council of Obas to intensify their efforts in advisory capacity to ensure that equity, justice, fairness, transparency and cordiality are maintained without bias between the governments and governed,” the statement reads. It also sought the support of the various progressiveminded groups and individuals in the state and outside to cooperate with the state government in its effort to develop the state in the interest of the general masses. The group then pledged the support of indigenes of IfonOrolu both at home and in the diaspora to the success of the administration in the state.

News

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Aregbesola Inaugurates Osun CSDP Board, Charges Members On Responsibility

HE Government of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rau Aregbesola, has inaugurated the Board of Directors for the State Agency for Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) headed by Alhaji Musa Abdulraman with four other members. Inaugurating the board emphasised as they go a at the Executive Council long way in assisting the Chamber of the growth of a state. He maintained that the Governor ’s Office, Aregbesola pointed out business of developing the that the impact of the society is an unending CSDP in development task for which everybody cannot be over- must participate, so as to

achieve accelerated development withing a short period, while describing the agency as an important one because it serves an important purpose. Aregbesola who noted that the CSDP board was inaugurated with a view to developing the state, stressed that nothing meaningful could be achieved if the government does not get support from the people.

While stressing that the CSDP would enhance and accelerate development, especially at the local level, the governor observed that the CSDP approach will give the people at the grassroots the unique feeling that they are a part of government, which will in-turn make them closer to the government. The state governor, who commended the the CSDP for the speed at which they carry out their job, however urged them to

Elebuibon Calls For Culture Preservation trend to emphasis given to By SHINA ABUBAKAR

HE Araba Awo of Osogbo, High Priest Ifayemi Elebuibon, has called on governments in Nigeria to make preservation of tradition and culture a priority for the development of the nation’s technology. He disclosed this while peculiarity. According to him, the speaking at the 2014 Ogbeyonu Annual Festival, Yoruba nation is blessed held inside the House of with rich cultural heritage, Culture in Osogbo during which if properly harnessed, will fast track the weekend. technological He said the ability of a its government to preserve its development, as well as cultural heritage for that of the country in generations is an general. He berated the way attestation of its ability to drive technological monarchs are losing development, saying no authorities in the scheme nation can develop if it fails of things in the country, to consider its cultural alluding the unfortunate

western system of government adopted in Nigeria, which, according to him, degraded the monarch authority. Elebuibon, however, urged the monarchs to adhere strictly to traditional roles if they are to retain their authority as guardians of culture and tradition, stressing that claiming to be civilised would further denigrate their God-given authority. He commended the governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for recognising traditional institutions, saying it is the right step towards reviving

the Yoruba nation’s glory to its peak. The event witnessed traditional dancers’ performance including the Footprints Dancers from Lagos State; ANTP, State of Osun; Bata performers from Osun, as well as Ijala and the invocation of blessing on the state and the country. Among prominent personalities at the event were the Olufon of IfonOrolu, Oba Abdul Maroof Magbegbeola, Olu of Kuta, the Osimawa of Sagamu, Oba Gbenga Sonuga and the Alaye of Ijesaland among others.

Kumuyi In Osun For Deeper Life International Crusade By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

organising a major crusade at a time the nation is confronting myriads of challenges. “The answer is power of God unto salvation to everyone that believe. Therefore, this power of God salvation must not be restricted at all times, no matter how high odds may appear. The State Overseer of the church said national challenges, which include insecurity and Ebola outbreak, is a global phenomenon, which has been existing from generation to generation

HE Deeper Life Bible Church will this Friday commence its International Supernatural Miracles Crusade in the State of Osun to be presided over by the General Overseer of the church, Pastor W. F. Kumuyi. The crusade, according programme will mark the to the State Overseer of turning point in the lives the church, Pastor John of participants by turning Adeniran, will commence them to God and forsake on Friday, September 19 their lives of sin with the to Sunday, September 21 gospel of the Lord Jesus. at the Deeper Life Camp He said: “Explosion of Ground, Agunbelewo Area supernatural miracles is of Osogbo, the state the theme of the crusade. capital. This aptly described our Addressing a press expectations and what we conference in Osogbo on desire for every Friday, Pastor Adeniran participant. We are said the crusade will be an “explosion of supernatural miracles from the Lord Jesus through Pastor Kumuyi. Adeniran added that the church is expecting OVERNMENT of the State of Osun has hundreds of thousands of categorically stated that the female student participants within and of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) who outside Nigeria for the was suspected to have the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) international crusade and and evacuated to an appropriate facility in Lagos assured that all necessary State, has tested negative to the virus. arrangements have been The State female student suspected concluded to make the programme a successful Commissioner for Health, to be a secondary contact Dr (Mrs.) Temitope Ilori, of Ebola, who was event. to an “This will be the third said the student had been evacuated time Pastor Kumuyi will be confirmed to be Ebola appropriate facility in Lagos, had been confirmed visiting Osun since the virus negative. Ilori stressed that there to be free of the virus. creation of the church in She noted that Governor 1991. He was in Osun in was no recorded case of 1994, 2006 and also Ebola in Osun, adding that Rauf Aregbesola had met coming this month,” Pasto all machinery have been with State Committee on put in place to ensure that, Ebola and a committee Adeniran stressed. specially set up from the The state leader of the the state is Ebola-free. According to the OAU to discuss on how to church added that by the grace of God, the commissioner, the OAU prevent the deadly disease

and urged people to hold on to Jesus Christ to conquer the challenges. He said: “Those calamities are the signals of end-time and we have nowhere to run to, than to run to God for protection in this challenging period. As far as you are with God, all your desires will come to pass. Regional Overseers present at the press conference held at the Deeper Life Church premise, Oke- fia branch, includes Pastor Moses Poopola, Irewole, Pastor Timothy Ajayi, IjebuIjesa, Pastor Gabriel, Ilesa among others

always complete ongoing projects before embarking on new ones. Highlighting the contributions of the present administration to the CSDP, the governor said the sum of N400 million has been contributed as counterpart fund by the state government, making it second only to Cross River State among the 26 states participating in the project. He stressed that Osun CSDP has so far sensitised about 1,076 communities and received 1,008 Expression of Interest (EOI) from different communities across the state, while a total of 345 micro-projects are being implemented across the state. Also speaking at the inauguration programme,

the Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural and Community Development Affairs, Mr Kunle Ige, stated that the success of the project has made the communities in the state to develop keen interest in the CSDP. He urged the newlyinaugurated board to see it as a huge task ahead and approach it with all sense of responsibility. In his inaugural speech, the Chairman of the Osun CSDP, Alhaji Musa Abdulraman, expressed gratitude to the governor for giving them the rare opportunity to serve the state, while promising that they will execute the task given to them with utmost sincerity and hardwork.

Three Suspects Arraigned For Stealing Motorbike By MARYAM AFOLABI

OLICE in the State of Osun have arraigned three suspects - Bola Aluko, Ibrahim Abiodun and Abiodun before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly conspiring to commit felony. The charge sheet Osun State 2003. However, the second disclosed that the accused persons conspired with accused person pleaded others believed to be at guilty to the twolarge to steal a Boxer count charges proffered motorcycle, property of by the Police against him. The defense counsel, one Jamiu Adebayo at Nnenna Ugwu, while about 1:00am at 1, announcing her Kolawale Street of appearance, apologized to Osogbo Magisterial the court for the District. absence of the first According to the accused, in court. charge sheet, the stolen However, the defence red-coloured Boxer counsel pleaded for the motorcycle, with bail of the accused registration number persons, while requesting OSUN LGB17XQ is for the case to be worth N147,000. adjourned. It disclosed further that The prosecutor, the offence is contrary Inspector Elisha and punishable under Olusegun, did not object section 390(9) criminal to the bail of the accused code cap Vol II law of persons.

Ebola: Suspected OAU Student Tested Negative – Osun Health Commissioner

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

from rearing its head in the state.

•ILORI

Ilori further stressed that the state government, in its quest to avert the

spread of the viral disease in the state, would continue to work with the management of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, as well as other stakeholders in the state, with a view to ensuring that Osun remains Ebolafree. It would be recalled that the OAU female student was said to have had primary contact with an EVD victim in Port Harcourt and fell sick when she arrived the university and was rushed to OAUTHC.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

The War Called The Osun Elections; By Segun Tomori a sigh of relief when I arrived Osogbo safely late in the evening.

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.

Continued frompg1 I just couldn’t imagine my home State go back to the disastrous “years of the locust”. I had participated actively in 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 check-points didn’t stop and search, they just peeped through the bus windows and passed us on. I heaved

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 well-wishers, 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 co-ordinated 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 5-6pm. By 4pm, I arrived at my own secure location and quickly

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.

was sober too. I had not read that chapter in a while because I know where it is and what it is about. That’s an error, now I know. But

reading it again with the boys that night just got me summarizing that this world is just like a vapour, and one day, like a thief in the night, the Master will return

here, and all of our lies, deception, brazen killing of man by man, crazy amassing of wealth and looting of other people’s precious treasure, will come

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 broomssymbol 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

It Will All End One Day Just recently, before we went to bed, my oldest son asked me: “Dad, are we coming to the end of the world?” I did not answer. I just brought out my Bible and read to the three of them from Mathew 24. The whole chapter that talks about those signs that will be the prelude to the coming of Christ. I then preached a bit. The boys, who usually go to bed with so much talktalk, became very quiet and sober. I

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 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 Governor-elect, but also stated that nobody was fighting in Ife! That took the sail out of the wind of Omisore and his treacherous gang.

heard, left $150 million behind when she passed on last week. Other people are jostling now to spend what the dead worked tirelessly for. That money cannot be transferred by wire or Western Union to where her new abode is. It’s over forever! The same will happen to every one of us someday. Life is a race that must end. How do you want to end yours?

to an end. Even if Jesus does not return now, anyone of us may leave any day and anytime with no forewarning or sign. •FOLA OJO, Joan Rivers, the United State of comedian, we just America.

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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

Giant Strides OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Aregbesola's Mid-Term Assessment Report:

Great Are Your Legacies! (II) This edition continues the series started last week. The entire package captures the comprehensive analysis of the strides of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration in the State of Osun in practically all spheres of life. NIYI OLASINDE takes the Mid-term Assessment to appraise the entire work done by the administration before it sets out to commence its second tenure in office.

•The newly-commissioned ultra-modern school building of St. Stephen’s ‘B’ Middle School, Modakeke, State of Osun.

MAGAZINE

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Great Are Your Legacies! (II)

•Entrance of the newly-constructed L.A. Elementary School at Obada Area, Ede, State Of Osun, under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Contiuned from page 5 · Continued from last week ITH the review of the budget of the State of Osun for the year 2011, conducted in our last edition of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine, it became clear that the balanced budget for the year was sized at OneHundred and Fourteen Billion , Four-Hundred and EightyNine Million, Seven-Hundred and Fifty Thousand, ThreeHundred and Twenty-Four Naira (N114,489, 750,324.00). It was an already-settled case that the budget, an obvious legacy from the ousted Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration, was of an initial size of Eighty-Eight Billion, One-Hundred and Forty-Three Million, One-Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand, Six-Hundred Naira (N88, 143,131,600.00). However, the eventual size of the 2011 fiscal year budget, as approved by the defunct State of Osun House of Assembly, which was assented to by the new Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was One-Hundred and Two Billion, Eight-Hundred and Sixty-Four Million, Six-Hundred and Thirty-Three Thousand, Three-Hundred and Sixty Naira (N102,864,633,360.00). As reported, this figure was arrived at, following various adjustments carried out on the original document by the defunct legislative house of the state, which was proposed by the governor of the state, Ogbeni Aregbesola, upon his assumption of office on Saturday, November26, 2010. That proposed budget was sized at Eighty-Eight Billion, One-Hundred and Forty-Three Million, One-hundred and Thirty-One Thousand, Six-Hundred Naira (N88,143,131,600.00), It had also been constantly affirmed that when these sizes of proposed and approved budgets with the 2010 Budget figure of the Oyinlola administration alone, especially, when the various programmers, projects and policies lined up with them by the incumbent administration are considered, it would come to full glare that the Biblical injunction that the little you have is enough, if not sufficient, to achieve what you intend, is golden. Much has been considered concerning the eventful, historic occasion of the presentation of the proposed Appropriation Bill for the 2012 fiscal year to the incumbent House of Assembly by the governor of the state early that year. In further portions of the presentation speech which we now find relevant and appropriate, more facts came to the fore on what transpired to produce the final document which was passed as the 2011 Appropriation Act. Also, the true and correct assessment of the performance of the economy of the state for year 2011 was conducted. In the review of the implementation of the 2011 Budget, it was placed on record how the governor recalled that the size of the 2011 Appropriation Bill passed by the House of Assembly was One-Hundred and Two Billion, EightHundred and Sixty-Four Million, Six-Hundred and ThirtyThree Thousand, Three-Hundred and Sixty Naira (N102,864,633,360.00). According to him, the initial Total Recurrent Budget was Forty-Nine Billion, Seven-Hundred and Eighty-Three Million, Five-Hundred and Sixty-Nine Thousand, One-Hundred and Ninety Naira (N49,783,569,190.00) or 48.40 per cent, while Capital Expenditure was Fifty-Three Billion, Eighty-One Million, Sixty-Four Thousand, One-Hundred and Seventy Naira (N53,081,064,170.00) or 51.60 per cent of the total budget.

But the 2011 Budget was reviewed during the year to accommodate the additional provisions required to implement the New Minimum Wage and the implementation of the new salary structure fur medical doctors, health workers and the staff of the state tertiary institutions. With the approval of the State House of Assembly of the time, it was revalued; a reallocation of the budgetary provisions on certain heads and sub-heads was carried out. In all, the realignment brought the total Recurrent Expenditure to Fifty-Three Billion, Two-Hundred Million, Three-Hundred and Forty Thousand, Seventy Naira (N53, 200,340,070.00) or 51.72 per cent, while the Capital Expenditure was FortyNine Billion, Six-Hundred and Sixty-Four Million, TwoHundred and Ninety-Three Thousand, Two-Hundred and Ninety Naira (N49, 664,293,290.00) or 48.28 per cent. It was however pointed out by the governor that the reviews notwithstanding, the size of the initial budget approved by the State House of Assembly did not change. It was also placed under observation by the Governor that the draft 2012 budget which he was presenting at the occasion was the very first annual budget to be conceptualized and formulated by his administration. While taking his audience down the memory lane, Aregbesola recalled that the processes for the preparation of the 2011 budget had been concluded by the immediate past administration before he assumed office on November 27, 2010 after the validation of his electoral victory by the courageous judges of the Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State the earlier day; on the note of which Aregbesola was full of praises to the Almighty God for giving him the privilege to present the budget and to serve the good people of the state. If the philosophy, principles and policy thrust of the government of the day and those of its umbrella party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) – now All Progressives Congress (APC) are anything to go by, then a note of reminder deserves being sounded at this juncture on the high premium placed by the Rauf Aregbesola administration on the resuscitation of the old values of hardwork, moral discipline and integrity for which the Yoruba nation was reputed in the illustrious past. On the basis of this focus, it is in line with the pursuance of its lofty goals and ideals that the Government of the State of Osun considers it fit to first of all, lay a solid moral foundation upon which further development would be based. This focus, according to Governor Aregbesola himself, informed the idea of complete rebranding of the state as the State of Osun; with new sobriquet as the State of the Virtuous i.e. Ipinle Omoluabi; added to which brand-new logo (crest), flag, anthem and colours were introduced for the state for the purpose of identity and socio-cultural rebirth. This feat was recorded in February, 2011. In his operational definition, Ogbeni Aregbesola defined a budget as an estimation of income and expenditure for a fiscal period. Time and time again, Aregbesola spared no available opportunity to implore the people of the State of Osun to continue to uphold the virtues and cherished values of honesty, integrity and dignity of labour. Also, the emphasis of his government and the exertions of his governance are focused on the fact that the philosophical

underpinnings of budgets are more important than figures. To Aregbesola and his team, their background and the trajectory of their coming to government; coupled with the roughening the people and the state went through in the hands of political buccaneers in the not-too-distant past; all have provided them with adequate preparation which has whetted their passion about service, redeeming lost grounds and ushering in progress, which, as it has proven so far are not misplaced priorities. All over again, readers need to be reminded of the bedrock principles which form the pillar-post of the incumbent administration in the State of Osun and all its efforts at good budget preparation and implementation. The emphasis of the governor had always been on the compliance and conformity of his budget presentation with the guidelines of the state’s Vision 20: 2020 First Implementation Medium Term Plan (2010-2013), which, according to him, had been comprehensively reviewed to accommodate and incorporate the Six-Point Integral Action Plan of his administration, as the main driver. The cardinals of the Six-Point Integral Action Plan, it would be recalled, include the following: (i) To Banish Poverty; (ii) To Banish Hunger; (iii) To Banish Unemployment (Create Work / Wealth); (iv) To Ensure Healthy Living; (v) To Promote Functional Education; and (vi) To Enhance Communal Peace and Progress. In the light of the foregoing, and in consonance with the tenets of these specifics, Governor Aregbesola confidently declared that the Budget 2012, his first full document in office, was his team’s own budget; as it epitomizes their dreams and vision. Also, he brought out to the fore how gratifying it was to note that it was in compliance with the Five-Year Fiscal Strategy Paper of the State of Osun that the budget was prepared. In addition, he reflected that the draft budget 2012 had been fashioned towards the accelerated achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. We need at this very juncture to comment briefly on how well the budgets of the state had fared at implementation since the coming on board of the Aregbesola administration in the State of Osun. In his comments on the quarterly review on the implementation of the 2011 Budget prepared by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Budget, it was brought to attention that the Total Revenue which accrued to government from all sources from January to September 2011 was Forty-Four Billion, Eight-Hundred and Forty-Nine Million, Five-Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand, Nine-Hundred and Sixty-Nine Naira, Eighty Kobo (N44, 849,525,969.80). The Total Expenditure of government, inclusive of all recurrent and capital expenditure for the corresponding period was Thirty-One Billion, Six-Hundred and Fifty Million, Three-Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Four-Hundred and Twenty-Nine Naira, Five Kobo (N31,650,319,429.05). Before we move to other segments of this edition, we Contiuned on page 7

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

MAGAZINE

Great Are Your Legacies! (II)

•AREGBESOLA Contiuned from page 6

need to emphasize how the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had been guided by the principles of prudence and proper accountability in the disbursement and appropriation of funds. According to the governor, the government had been very prudent, not only in the management of the state’s financial resources; but also with regard to human and material resources. He further remarked that from the performance of the 2011 Budget as highlighted, it became obvious that the finances of government had been kept afloat. In view of the foregoing, rather running into deficit, the State Government of Osun had been ending its years since 2011 on a credit note. HE nitty-gritty of the 2012 Budget of the State of Osun was indeed highly revealing and relieving. In the budget presentation was found the promise and reassurance of a year that was set out to witness massive achievements in terms of execution of projects. Apart from the physical achievements recorded, the attention of the incumbent administration during the 2011 fiscal year had been focused on laying a solid moral foundation upon which developmental programmes would be based. The governor himself acknowledged this when he pointed out that the necessary socio-economic planning frameworks required had been put in place to pave way for the socio-economic reconstruction of the State of Osun in the 2012 fiscal year. As it turned out, the people’s trust on the good promises of the Aregbesola administration had not been misplaced. The experience during the year 2012 under review, as has been traced in the first part last week has shown that year to be truly eventful and full of laudable accomplishments. That year showcased the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Aregbesola as one that really means business; one that is fully devoted to delivering dividends of democracy at the doorposts of the people of all socio-economic strata; one that is fully at work – and purposely too! It is not in doubt therefore that the following year 2013 wielded still greater promise of a year of highly monumental achievements which actually did outstrip those of the previous year in their sizes, enormity, reach and impact. In year 2012, Governor Aregbesola made it known categorically in his budget presentation that the budget had been carefully packaged for the effective utilization of his team’s vision as encapsulated in the Six-Point Integral Action Plan. The governor said it was necessary to note that skeptics had been confounded in that past one year by the strings of achievements recorded by his administration in the area of maintenance of law and order, agricultural revolution, empowerment programmes, changing the outlook of the state in terms of sound environmental planning and beautification, etcetera. He gave his promise and the promise was constant; giving full assurance to the good people of the state that with God on our side, the achievements of previous years were going to be a tip of the iceberg, given the higher targets set to be attained for the incoming years. It became certain then that year 2013 would not be an exemption in this regard. We shall devote the remaining segments of this edition

•LAOYE-TOMORI

to the various aspects of provisions in the 2013 Appropriation Act, how they were eventually fulfilled, and how we can effectively compare this to the achievements recorded in previous years; particularly, year 2012. Unveiling his budget for the year 2012, Governor Aregbesola declared his budget as being christened: “Budget of Service and Progress.” Spelling out the nittygritty which formed the specifics of the budget, Aregbesola laid down the following provisions as the cardinal objectives of the budget. It is from the viewpoint of these that OSUN DEFENDER Magazine finds it most convenient to approach the bedrock for the Budget 2013. They were laid down as follow: (i) Provision of enabling environment to ensure increase in food production and to encourage agro allied industries with substantial participation of the private sector; (ii) Reconstruction of social infrastructure, economic and the industrial base of the state; (iii) Creation of conducive economic environment that ensures job creation and empowerment of youths and women; (iv) Promotion of culture of excellence and conducive work environment in the state’s public service; (v) Development of opportunities for wealth creation through tourism and culture; (vi) Promotion of industrial peace and socio-political harmony that would lead to revitalization of commerce and restoration of wealth; (vii) Restoration of healthy living to the people of the State of Osun through the provision of affordable, effective and quality health care for all; (viii) Promotion of functional education by improving basic educational infrastructure and by enhancing capacity of teachers at all levels; (ix) Promotion of clean environment and healthy living; and (x) Reformation of commerce by restoring standardization of weight and measure. On the basis of the foregoing, the governor went ahead to declare that the size of the draft 2012 Budget; Budget of Service and Progress, was One-Hundred and Forty-Six Billion, Six-Hundred and Seventy-Four Million, TwoHundred and Eighty-Three Thousand, One-Hundred and Forty Naira (N146,674,283,140.00). As already adduced to in earlier parts of this edition, this size of the Budget 2012 had been upwardly reviewed for reasons stated to accommodate more spending for various ministries and agencies of government. Much of the rationale for the upgrade in the size of the initial size of the draft budget before it passed through the approval of the Parliament had been bared in the last edition. For now, the aspect that seizes our attention is the one bordering on the details of the budget and the extent of its implementation at the close of year. Tuesday, January 22 2013 is indeed a red-letter day for the Government and the governed in the State of Osun; a state which is conspicuously located in the nucleus part of

the South-Western geopolitical zone of the federation called Nigeria. On that very day, the Government of the day in the state under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola met up with the dictates of office placed upon its ample and auspicious shoulders by the promptings of statutory provisions and requirements laid down under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. On that day, Governor Aregbesola took the bull by its horns when he, fully accompanied by his cabinet members, political associates, supporters, admirers and critics alike, adorned the hallowed chambers of the State of Osun House of Assembly to lay bare before the legislators and all present, formally, the full details of the 2013 Draft of Estimated Revenue and Expenditure, which shall govern the policy thrust and direction of the administration as well as determine the collective fate and destiny of the people in one full fiscal year. The event of the day was a follow-up to the earlier event of December 21, 2012, which involved the Governor’s forwarding his draft 2013 Estimate of Appropriation Bill to the hallowed chambers of legislators for consideration. Since that time, the draft budget had been in the custody of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for its perusal and surgical operation. The governor in his opening remarks expressed his great delight over his presence at the hallowed chamber to present the 2013 Draft Budget to the people of the State of Osun through the distinguished House which comprised the representatives of the people. He noted that the 2013 Budget presentation under presentation was the second annual budget to be fully conceptualized and formulated by his administration within three years of its coming on board; as the 2011 Budget had already been concluded by the immediate past administration before his administration assumed office in November, 2010. Justifying the timing of public presentation of the draft budget at a time when the new financial/calendar year had started; Aregbesola quoted relevant portions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to prove that the timing was still in order. According to him, Section 121 (1) of the constitution states that: “The Governor shall cause to be prepared and lay before the House of Assembly at any time before the commencement of each financial year, estimates of the revenues and expenditures of the state for the next following financial year” On the basis of this provision, the governor expressed his deep-seated joy that his administration had complied without breach because long before the end of December 2012, the draft budget being publicly presented on date had been laid before the State of Osun House of Assembly. He then pointed out that the presence of the executive arm of government at the hallowed chambers of the House of Assembly on that date was in response to invitation of the Assembly to publicly present the budget, in line with the openness and transparency policy which marked the guiding principles of his administration. The helmsman of the State of Osun was full of Contiuned on page 10

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

PHOTOTALK

Farewell Ceremony For 2014 Intending Muslim Pilgrims To Saudi Arabia At Governor’s Office, Osogbo, State Of Osun, Last Thursday.

•(L-R) Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Sikiru Ayedun and Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye.

•

•Aregbesola (right), addressing the 2014 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

Courtesy Visit By Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) Team To The Governor, State Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, In His Office, Abere, State Of Osun, Last Wednesday.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); Managing Director, NAIC, Mr Bode Opadokun (2nd left); Zonal Manager, NAIC, Oyo State, Mr Rasheed Ogunbiyi (left) and Branch Manager, NAIC, Oyo State, Mrs Famodun Kemi.

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

2014 Governorship Election Tribunal Between The Governor Of The State Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola And PDP Governorship Candidate In The State, Senator Photo: SEGUN ADEJUMO Iyiola Omisore, At High Court, Osogbo, Last Thursday.

•APC Lawyer Kunle Adegoke (2nd left); State of Osun Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Wale Afolabi (3rd left) and other APC lawyers.

•Some of the political parties at the court premises.

•Another cross section of lawyers at the court premises after the sitting.

•State of Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) Acting Secretary, Prince Gboyega Famodun (let) and some lawyers at the court premises.

MAGAZINE

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Great Are Your Legacies! (II) Contiuned on page 7

appreciation to the Honourable Speaker, House leadership and the entire honourable members of the House for their support and cooperation since inauguration. According to the governor, it was with the continued cooperation of these sets of functionaries that the administration could meet the yearnings and aspiration of the people. The governor’s appreciation also went to the Judiciary: the Acting Chief Judge, the President of the Customary Court of Appeal and the honourable judges of the State Judiciary for their unalloyed cooperation and support for the administration of the day. He reflected that it was only through the collaborative efforts of the three arms of government in the state that the State of Osun is being developed in line with the dreams and aspiration of the founding fathers of the state. The governor devoted some quality time to highlighting the onerous and delicate nature of the sensitive task involved in the preparation of budgets and financial estimates. According to him, drafting the budget is the most important work of government. Defining budget, the governor opined that: “It is what in summary encapsulates the whole business of government for the whole year. The content of the budget will determine the outcome of the lives of millions of the citizens, enterprises, institutions and agencies. It is a solemn affair that must therefore be approached with every sense of responsibility. It is not a perfunctory act or a rite of passage. It is a very, very serious business and that is why we have taken our time to carefully consider all the ramifications in shaping the destiny of the government and our people for the next one year.” Casting a retrospective glance at the antecedents of the State of Osun before the advent of the administration, Governor Aregbesola recalled how his administration met the state in a state of near-collapse in 2010; owing to careless, negligent, unscrupulous and inadvertent leadership which held sway in the state for several years. He however gave thanks and appreciation to God Almighty for how his administration had been empowered, within the first half of its first four-year mandate-period, to vigorously and assiduously pursue the re-orientation of the people. He then reasoned that the 2013 Budget under presentation was to ensure the consolidation of the achievements which the administration had recorded in the various sector and sub-sectors of the economy of the state. This revelation confirmed the earlier predictions of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine in our serial editions where we solemnly resolved to counsel the incumbent administration to devote that year’s budget to consolidating its numerous achievements, completing on-going projects, as well as initiating new ones. Far from dwelling on figments of imagination, relevant excerpts of the governor’s speech which touched on these run as follow: “It is to be recalled that when we came on board in November 2010, we met the social as well as physical infrastructure almost in shambles, but to the glory of God, within the first half of our four-year mandate, we have been able to vigorously pursue the re-orientation of our people, give them assurance and hope. The 2013 Budget being presented today is to ensure the consolidation of the achievements we have recorded in the various sectors and sub-sectors of the economy in the last two years. The budget will also ensure the continuity of the well-tested

•Complexes and offices at the Ayegbaju Market.

and well-intended policies and programmes of our Administration. The budget is equally targeted towards ensuring the completion of on-going projects and the starting of new ones that will bring about continued improvement in the socio-economic well-being of the people of Osun. Our resolution in this regard is total and irreversible. Like the 2012 budget, the 2013 Budget is in line with the Six-Point Integral Action Plan of this administration. It is also in compliance with the FiveYear Fiscal Strategy Paper of the State. The 2013 Budget has also been packaged towards ensuring achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Osun by 2015. I want to assure Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Members of the State House of Assembly and the good people of the State that this administration will continue to ensure the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes, and projects that will guarantee freedom for all, life more abundant for our people.” We have always emphasized that the focus of the policythrust of the incumbent administration, as well as that of the ruling party in the State of Osun, is hinged on the SixPoint Integral Action Plan under reference in the abovequoted excerpts. For the benefit of doubts, the Six-Point Integral Action Plan which marks the hallmark of the incumbent administration is here again recaptured: (i) To Banish Poverty; (ii) To Banish Hunger; (iii) To Banish Unemployment (Create Work / Wealth); (iv) To Ensure Healthy Living; (v) To Promote Functional Education; and (vi) To Enhance Communal Peace and Progress. In addition, we kept on reiterating the meticulous effort of the administration of the day at ensuring that successive budgets of the State of Osun become acceptable through conformity with all known standards everywhere. Thus, apart from having the Six-Point Integral Action Plan of the administration as their guiding principle, it is always ensured, as attested to by the governor himself in the excerpts quoted above, that budgets of the state, with effect from the 2012 Budget are made to comply with the FiveYear Fiscal Strategy Paper of the state and strictly adhere to ensuring the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the target year of 2015. Our effort at pointing out these areas of congruence between our projections and analysis and the actual budget document we always have on ground is to bring it to the fore that our analysis on the crew of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine are borne of deep-seated, well-articulated researches. We have, at our own end conducted an assessment of the performances of the 2012 Appropriation Bill. Our assessment was lent credence to by the governor himself. In his own assessment, the governor conducted a review of the performance of the 2012 Budget. According to him, the Budget 2012, which was christened “Budget of Service and Progress” approved by the State of Osun House of Assembly was One-Hundred and Fifty Billion, OneHundred and Twenty-Four Million, Six-Hundred and Twenty-One Thousand, Eight-Hundred and Eighty Naira (N150,124,621,880.00). The initial Total Recurrent Budget was Seventy-One Billion, Seventy-Six Million, EightHundred and Forty-One Thousand, Three-Hundred and Sixty Naira (N71,076,841,360.00) or 47.35 per cent, while the

Capital Expenditure was Seventy-Nine Billion, Forty-Seven Million, Seven-Hundred and Eighty Thousand, FiveHundred and Twenty Naira (N79,047,780,520.00)or 52.65 per cent of the total budget. He reminded the honourable House and all in attendance that it was in order to enable the government get certain vital projects and programmes executed, which were not envisaged while the budget was being prepared that the initial 2012 Budget had to be reviewed to accommodate certain provisions required by various agencies of government. With the approval of the House of Assembly, a reallocation of the budget on certain Heads and Sub-Heads was carried out. The adjustments consequently brought the Total recurrent Expenditure to Seventy-Four Billion, Three Million, Five-Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Seven-Hundred and Eighty Naira (N74, 003,585,780.00) or 49.29 per cent; while Capital Expenditure was Seventy-Six Billion, One-Hundred and Twenty-One Million, Thirty-Six Thousand, One-Hundred Naira (N76,121,036,100) or 51.71 per cent. It was brought out, even as we did in our previous editions that in spite of the review, the original overall size of the 2012 Budget remained unchanged. On the performance of the implementation of the 2012 Budget and its contribution to the macro-economy of the State of Osun, the rating of the State House of Assembly, as given by the Honourable Speaker is that the performance was superlative. According to the rating, the people were rated as having won in the long last; judging by the volume and intensity of life-transforming programmes, projects and initiatives embarked upon by the Aregbesola administration; with more and more being rolled out dayin; day-out. In like manner, Governor Aregbesola also rated the performance of the 2012 Budget high when recounted how the Fourth Quarterly Report of the 2012 Budget prepared by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Budget revealed that the Total Revenue which accrued to the State Government from all sources was Seventy Billion, Two-Hundred and Seventy-Four Million, EightHundred and Forty-Four Thousand, Two-Hundred and Forty-Six Naira, Eighty-Four Kobo (N70,274,844,246.84); while the Total Expenditure for the year was Sixty-Five Billion, Ninety-Seven Million, Nineteen Thousand, EightHundred and Seventy-Nine Naira, Twenty-Nine Kobo (N65,097,019,879.29). The governor revealed that in spite of several economic adversities which characterized the year 2012, his administration was able to keep the financial situation of the state afloat. According to him, numerous challenges which the year 2012 witnessed included sharp drop in the revenue accruing to states as a result of reduction in crude oil benchmark price and aggressive build-up of excess crude oil accounts by the Federal Government of Nigeria. In spite of this tight financial position of Government due to dwindling revenue from the Federation Accounts, however, Aregbesola said that his administration had been able to execute various projects and programmes that are very beneficial to the people. According to him, the State Government under his leadership had tried to ensure prudent management of the state’s scarce financial resources in the overall interest of the citizenry. He further expressed the delight of his team in the discovery that they had done their best within the available resources in the Contiuned on page 11

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

MAGAZINE

Great Are Your Legacies! (II)

•A recently commisssioned road in Ilesa. Contiuned from page 10

provision of necessary infrastructure for the development of our dear state. Rounding off the aspect touching on the performance of the 2012 Budget, Aregbesola expressed profound thanks to the distinguished legislators and the entire good people of the state for their support in ensuring the high performance of government so far. On a final note, the governor promised the desire of his administration to ensure a higher level of performance in 2013. Unveiling the mask on the nitty-gritty of the 2013 Appropriation Bill, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had the following to say, concerning the policy thrust, direction and ultimate goal of the bill: “Our ultimate goal for the 2013 Budget is to ensure a great improvement in the welfare and standard of living of our people. Thus, the 2013 budget has been carefully packaged to ensure the effective realization of our vision as encapsulated in our Six-Point Integral Action Plan. It is important to intimate this August Assembly that the preparation of 2013 Budget has been very participatory. Relevant inputs were sourced and received from various stakeholders across the State in order to enhance the quality of the Budget.” After this, Governor Aregbesola disclosed the size of Year 2013 Budget, which he put at a precise figure of OneHundred and Eighty-Three Billion, One-Hundred and Five Million, Eight-Hundred and Seven Thousand, FourHundred and Sixty Naira (N183, 105,807,460.00). He then declared the christening of the budget as “Budget of Freedom”. His declaration and the principles on which the budget is being anchored are here presented verbatim: “At this juncture, I wish to present to this Honourable House of Assembly, the draft 2013 Budget, the size of which is N183,105,807,460.00 (One Hundred and Eighty-three Billion, One Hundred and Five Million, Eight Hundred and Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty Naira). The draft Budget which is tagged “Budget of Freedom” is anchored on the following policy thrusts: (i) a complete turnaround of agriculture such that it will be revolutionised, made attractive and profitable with a view to improving the welfare of the people and the economy of the State; (ii) provision of necessary and durable infrastructure like roads, electrification, ICT etc that will ensure development of the economy of the State; (iii) creation of job-friendly economic environment to ensure empowerment of youths, Women, cooperative movements, Artisans etc; (iv) development of public service that is resultoriented, efficient, effective and responsible with a view to making it one of the best in the federation; (v) provision of effective health care delivery for all with special attention to the needs of children and women; (vi) provision of effective waste management and beautification schemes to rid our communities of filth; (vii) development of diverse economic potentials of the state and reactivation of commercial activities; (viii) reactivation and speedy completion of abandoned water schemes;

(ix) transformation of the education sector with a view to providing functional and qualitative education; (x) reforming the court system, upgrading of courts and introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism with a view to ensuring speedy access to justice by all individuals in the State.” We have already placed on record how the year 2013 had started on a prophetic note; with the governor himself declaring prophesies of boom on the state. According to Governor Aregbesola, the year 2013 shall usher in an era of release, liberty and deliverance for the state; with the state and its people witnessing bumper harvest in virtually all sectors of its productive organs. The helmsman of the state prophesied of a state where abundance, plenty and selfsufficiency shall begin to be witnessed; and where the collective wealth of the citizens shall begin to be positively engaged for the collective overall benefit of all. This, we all must agree, promised to present positive deviation from known traditions where the commonwealth of all was used for the enrichment and maximization of the welfare of a privileged few. Perhaps the most accurate approach to analyzing the current year 2014 Budget, its contents, goodies and provisions is to recap our projections, predictions and comments, contained in OSUN DEFENDER Magazine edition for Tuesday, January 21, 2014, as follows: “The New Year 2014 is symbolic in many respects. First is the fact that the year is the last in the four-year term packaged into the first tenure of the Rauf Aregbesola administration in the State of Osun. The earlier three years of the administration has witnessed the massive rolling out of programmes, projects and policies; mostly in infrastructure; which OSUN DEFENDER Magazine has committed lengthy volumes of essay to chronicle. Another significant angle from which the New Year 2014 could be viewed is that it promises to be a year of reckoning, during which most of the projects already kick-started would be carried to their 100 per cent implementation, delivered to the Government of the State as their sponsor, as well as officially commissioned to the Glory of God and for the ultimate use of the people of the state. There is no doubt about it that during the just-started year, many more projects, programmes and policies would be initiated by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. So this fact constitutes another symbolism of the New Year. Another in the list of the significance of the year 2014 is the fact that it is a year that would witness the creation of more new local administrations. Known either as local council development administrations (LCDAs) or local governments, these creations are there to bring government closer to the people and make development spread to the grassroots in some astronomical scale. In addition, they increase the depth of participation in governance and make known in greater details the impact of good governance; the kind that the Rauf Revolution is out to dispense to people at the grassroots. “Above all, the year 2014 is a year when some series of elections would be conducted at the two tiers of government on ground in the state. Though OSUN DEFENDER Magazine may not be the appropriate and

competent authorities to release the election timetable for these elections; we know for sure that sometime between the end of the first quarter and the end of the first month in the second quarter, the state should be approaching the polls for the local government ballots. In similar vein, sometimes in July same year, the state should be heading for the polls for the conduct of another round of Gubernatorial Elections. For all we know, we in the State of Osun at this juncture are not in need to vote for some vacant position. What we are all set out to accomplish is to fulfill all righteousness in consolidating an already established administration and getting same firmly enthroned with our power of the thumb to be able to complete dispensing the goodies of its mandate to the people of the state. We should not therefore forget the deprivation and neglect of the past seven-and-a—half years of the holocaust and desist from acts which are most capable of returning the state to the wilderness. It’s high time we took our destinies in our own hands. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine wishes the state and its people another season of free, fair and credible elections; devoid of rancor and violence. “From the 2014 Appropriation Bill of the State of Osun therefore, much provision are expected to reflect on the items of significance here mentioned and many more. Specific mention shall be made of provisions in subsequent editions as we continue the consideration of the bill. Still for a start, we need to emphasize that as in earlier years, the draft 2014 Budget which is tagged “Budget of Growth, Enhancement and Development” is anchored on the following policy thrusts: (i) a complete turnaround of agriculture such that it will be revolutionised, made attractive and profitable with a view to improving the welfare of the people and the economy of the State; (ii) provision of necessary and durable infrastructure like roads, electrification, ICT etc that will ensure development of the economy of the State; (iii) creation of job-friendly economic environment to ensure empowerment of youths, Women, cooperative movements, Artisans etc; (iv) development of public service that is resultoriented, efficient, effective and responsible with a view to making it one of the best in the federation; (v) provision of effective health care delivery for all with special attention to the needs of children and women; (vi) provision of effective waste management and beautification schemes to rid our communities of filth; (vii) development of diverse economic potentials of the state and reactivation of commercial activities; (viii) reactivation and speedy completion of abandoned water schemes; (ix) transformation of the education sector with a view to providing functional and qualitative education; (x) reforming the court system, upgrading of courts and introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism with a view to ensuring speedy access to justice by all individuals in the State.” ·

To be continued.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

FEATURE

•Pa Fakayode’s sitting room.

How Security Operatives Brutalised 84-yr-old, Other APC Supporters On Eve Of Osun Poll

A Joseph Fakayode, an 84-year-old leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State could not have imagined what befell him on Friday August 8, 2014. That was the eve of the Osun State gubernatorial election. For one, the octogenarian was bereaved. He had just lost his 40-year-old daughter; so he was in deep mourning. So, naturally, what he deserved at the point was empathy and that was what a horde of family members, APC supporters and others, who gathered at his residence, No 5, Oduduwa Street, Oke-Ila, Osun State, came to offer him. But the security forces, who were deployed in the state on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan supposedly to enforce peace, thought otherwise. The octogenarian was visited with such savagery you could only expect in a typically vicious military regime. The case of the octogenarian was just one of many APC supporters who were brutalised as the security forces went on the rampage on the eve of that poll, which witnessed one of the worst militarisations in the history of elections in Nigeria. At every stage of this brutalisation process, the security forces would first send terror into people in the vicinity of their operation with ceaseless bursts of gun fire, then create mayhem by breaking into their targeted residence, and at gun-point, order residents to lie face down on the floor. As this terrorist operation was in progress, other security agents would be screaming orders that anybody who attempted to escape would be killed. Shortly before this terrorist attack on Pa Fakayode’s residence, Alhaja Abibat Oladapo aka Mama Nuru, an agent of the APC for Ifedayo Local Government Area of the state, had also come to condole with Pa Fakayode. So it was in her presence that the soldiers came calling. The Alhaja had no premonition that she would be a victim of the terror she experienced that night in the hands of the security operatives. As terror swept the entire building and people were screaming for help, an agitated Pa Fakayode came downstairs only to find out that soldiers and other security agents were everywhere pointing guns at the heads of people who had come to sympathise with him over the death of his daughter. Before he could say a word, the soldiers ordered him to put both hands on his head and sit on the open ground in the rain like the others. The 84-year-old man had no choice. In utter fright, he slowly went down and suffered the humiliation of his life in the hands of Nigerian security agents, who had ostensibly come to keep the peace in an election that the President’s party, the PDP, were obviously desperate to win at all costs. Alhaja Abibat Oladapo, who had prepared to perform her civic responsibility for his party in furtherance of democracy in the country on August 9 as an APC agent in the local government, was soon to have a very bitter

experience of what the Federal Government’s intentions actually were when they sent soldiers to “keep the peace” in Osun governorship election. She had heard Pa Fakayode screaming and as she rushed down to help, she was confronted by a civil defence operative, who cocked and pointed his gun at her. She was terrified. But as she pleaded for mercy, other security operatives rained slaps on her face and head, and in spite of this assault, she summoned the courage to ask: “What crime have we committed to deserve this cruel treatment?” “Shut up!”, the civil defence man growled and ordered the Alhaja to sit on the open ground like the others. As she found a place on the ground to sit, security operatives rushed upstairs to Pa Fakayode’s sitting room and vandalised the furniture, after they had forcibly opened the doors and broken into the old man’s flat. One of the DSS operatives in this assault gang was heard shouting in rage: “You stupid people. If you want to die, you will die now. All of you are sheepishly following Aregbesola because he promised you N500. We shall waste your lives here and nothing will happen.” To illustrate the political nature of the security operation in Osun before, during and after the election, sources said those who led soldiers and other security operatives to Pa Fakayode’s residence were PDP supporters allegedly led by one Hon. Funmi, a former female PDP member of the Osun State House of Assembly in company of one Segun, a staff of the State House of Assembly and one Bukola , a sanitation officer at the local government. There were five others, three of whom were on motor-bike. In all, 38 people were arrested that night from Pa Fakayode’s compound and over a dozen of them were APC polling agents. Others were sympathisers who had come to condole with the old man on the death of his daughter. There were several ladies and young women, including Alhaja Oladapo, and other women leaders of the APC. Between Oke-Ila and Osogbo, where they eventually ended up, some of these women were allegedly assaulted by some of the operatives. After this terrorist operation at Pa Fakayode’s residence, the 38 APC supporters were herded into a truck. This process did not end before a heart-breaking event occurred. The 84-year-old Pa Fakayode lost grip and fell helplessly to the ground twice as he attempted to climb into the truck. Alhaja Abibat Oladapo was beside herself with grief watching as Pa Fakayode was being humiliated by the security forces. As the convoy took off from the compound, another bizarre event occurred. Three PDP supporters, one Segun, Tosin and Oke, who had led the security squad to Pa Fakayode’s house, followed the convoy on their motor bikes. One of the soldiers, in a fit of rage, pointed his gun at the trio threatening to kill them if they did not stop following. It took a mobile policeman in the squad to dissuade the soldier from shooting, pointing out that

•Pa FAKAYODE

the three men were PDP agents who had earlier led the squad to the APC leader’s house to arrest the victims. Surprisingly, however, rather than the truck conveying the APC supporters heading for Osogbo at about midnight, it allegedly diverted and was moving in the wrong direction to Ora, a town 10 kilometers away from OkeIla. Alhaja Oladapo became apprehensive and secretly made a phone call to Hon. Abiodun Idowu, one of APC’s leaders in the area. For three hours between midnight and 3am, the whereabouts of these APC leaders and agents were unknown until they birthed at the military facility in Ede. In the process, another sad event was said to have occurred. Pa Fakayode, the 84-year-old man, who had allegedly been brutalised in his own compound and made to sit on the ground in the rain, now came under pressure to urinate. He was said to have pleaded with his captors to stop and allow him urinate with some decency and dignity. But the brutishness in such security reportedly ignored the old man’s plea. Now under extreme pressure, the octogenarian took his singlet from under the pyjamas that he wore when he was arrested, made it into the shape of a bowl and urinated into it while the truck was in motion. Contiuned on page 13

FEATURE

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

How Security Operatives Brutalised 84-yr-old, Other APC Supporters On Eve Of Osun Poll Continued from page 12 Again, at 11am on August 9 when the election had already started, these APC supporters, who were in varying degrees of fear, humiliation and torture, were conveyed from Ede military facility to Osogbo. On arrival at the DSS Headquarters in Osogbo, they were all allegedly ordered to lie face down on the open ground. Some of the young men and women quickly complied, but Pa Fakayode, who was frail from age and the torture of the events from Oke-Ila through Ede to Osogbo, was slow to comply with the order. A security operative went berserk and descended on Pa Fakayode with a horsewhip, which he furiously lashed several times on the head of the old man until a soldier with a human heart, who could not take it anymore, physically brought the assault of the operative to a halt. The soldier then turned to the officer, rebuking him for allegedly maltreating a very old man. But the officer was allegedly unrepentant. “What kind of old man is he?”, he queried the soldier. “Why is he still in politics and supporting Aregbesola? Let him call that Aregbesola to come and rescue him now”, the officer said. Many of the victims who watched this brutish display of inhumanity were said to have burst into tears. The women wailed and the men cursed.

•Master KOLAWOLE

•Alhaja ABIBAT

•SEUN

Before this humiliation of Pa Fakayode, there had been an orgy of alleged beating of men, women and children at the agency’s headquarters as they alighted from the truck that brought them from the military facility in Ede. A boy, identified as Seun, who had complained of cold the previous night in Ede, was slapped several times by a mobile policeman, who allegedly ordered him to remove his clothes and had cold water poured on his naked body; and after the treatment, he was subjected again to kicks with jack boots. It was this demonstration of alleged bias of the security forces that led one of the soldiers, who rescued Pa Fakayode from the security officer, to wonder aloud when he asked: “What kind of politics are we playing in this country that we subject even innocent old men to barbaric and wicked treatment?” “What was totally inscrutable was that many Osun citizens who were arrested and brutalised by the security forces between August 8 and 9 were either APC leaders or their agents and supporters,” sources said, adding: “The PDP people who were apprehended by vigilant citizens for committing serious electoral fraud and handed over to the Police and DSS officers were promptly released and safely returned to PDP leaders. The Police argued that their release was ordered ‘from above’. On August 8, especially, dozens of APC leaders were arrested throughout the state between 10pm on the eve of the election and 6am on August 9, the day of the governorship election proper. They were randomly picked up in some cases.” Citing a pathetic case, the source said a father and his 14-year-old son, Adebayo Kolawole, met at the DSS facility in Osogbo on August 9. The son was picked up at Pa Fakayode’s residence (father and son were tenants of Pa Fakayode), while the father was in another batch of those arrested in the same town. The re-union in detention was heart-rending because apart from being brutalised, both also had the misfortune of watching how another little boy was manhandled. “When those arrested were asked to lie face down on the ground, the boy after a while, raised his head to get some fresh air but in a flash, a Policeman descended

•Mrs Adebisi Adesina was beaten, forced to lie flat on the floor for several hours, after she was arrested at Pa Fakayode’s house.

on this little boy, beating him black and blue. There was an unwritten code in security detention that you don’t look at officers who are brutalising you. If you tried, you got the beating of your life. This little boy was suspected to be trying to identify the faces of his oppressors. He nearly lost his eyes in the process. “As you read this, not a single case has been brought against any of the APC officials and supporters, which in effect means they committed no crime for which they were ruthlessly manhandled, assaulted and brutally humiliated by the very same security forces President Goodluck Jonathan sent to Osun to keep the peace.” However, instances were cited in which some noble soldiers and a few exceptional policemen openly expressed disgust at the treatment being meted out to those arrested. One police officer at INEC’s office on seeing the number of old people arrested was said to have wondered aloud: “These old men couldn’t have been thugs. It is wrong to mistreat them simply because they belong to a political party.”

At the military facility in Ede, one soldier was so compassionate about the age of Pa Fakayode that he was claimed to have removed his cap and offered it to the octogenarian to cover his head in the cold, while the Alhaja, who was arrested with him, removed her head tie to keep the old man warm from the cold. And at the DSS office, another soldier even intervened to stop a DSS officer who repeatedly used horsewhip to lash at the head of the 84-year-old Pa Fakayode.

the young man had the Aregbesola campaign vest on, they allegedly opened fire on the poor boy. He was said to have died on the spot.

Another instance was cited of the level of the brutishness and impunity with which suspected PDP thugs and the security forces manhandled people in Osun over the August 9 election. It was the story of a young man allegedly cut down in his prime in Ilesha. The young man, identified simply as Tolu, had just concluded the naming ceremony of his child and was wheeling back the generator used to the owner when he met his cruel fate; a squad of uniformed people (nobody could determine whether they were PDP thugs or men of the security forces) were also driving past.

She said the APC spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was also arrested, was nabbed because he was moving about at the wee hours on the eve of the election. According to Oga, who spoke on a popular television station, the earlier gubernatorial elections in Ondo, Anambra and Ekiti were successfully conducted because security forces were also deployed to maintain peace in those places.

Immediately this armed squad observed that

“As terror swept the entire building and people were screaming for help, an agitated Pa Fakayode came downstairs only to find out that soldiers and other security agents were everywhere pointing guns at the heads of people who had come to sympathise with him over the of his daughter…”

Reacting to the gale of arrests on the eve of the Osun poll, however, the spokesperson of DSS, Marilyn Oga, said the agency’s operatives were in Osun to ensure peace, adding that they were only arresting suspected thugs and criminals who were allegedly violating the law and attempting to disrupt the election.

She defended the agency against the public outrage, which trailed the wearing of hoods by its operatives in the Osun election, saying it was the normal practice for the operatives to be masked during ‘special operations’ so that they would not be compromised. But the APC took the DSS spokesman to task, wondering if Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the former governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who was placed virtually on house arrest until he outwitted the security men and slipped away from the soldiers and other security operatives who had surrounded his residence, and other APC leaders and supporters, who were picked up in their homes on the eve of the election, were also criminals.

Culled from THE NATION

INTERVIEW

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

‘Why We Rejected Omisore In Osun’ Frontline industrialist and elder statesman, Chief Tunde Badmus, speaks with Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, on the last August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State and why the people of the state are comfortable with Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. He also shed more light on recent feeds to the farmers. The farms are inspected political happenings in the country. Excerpts daily by the scheme manager. When the birds are ready for calling, the scheme manager gathers them all for the ready markets.

would you assess the performance of INEC in the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election here in Osun State?

We have seen a situation where farmers made a profit of about N240 million. One farmer made about N15million profit since we started. That is to tell you the rate of the success of the project. The question I ask is if there has been any agricultural project that has been this successful since the creation of Osun? This is a project that has made TUNS the number two producer of broiler meat in Nigeria. And the government investment is being paid back. As we speak, the government has withdrawn about fifty percent of its investment into the project. So, in the next one or two years now, the government will not have a kobo in this scheme. The government protected its investment by employing a scheme manager. So, it is a hugely successful project that has created about 7,000 jobs both direct and indirect. We have about 300 farms involved in this project.

Well, as far as I am concerned, INEC did a good job with that crucial election. Before now, I used to think the 1993 June 12 election of Chief MKO Abiola is the best election we ever had; now I think the Osun election is better in many ways. I cannot find any aspect of the election where INEC failed. I went out that day and saw things for myself. The INEC officials were effective, the youth corps members were thorough and everybody followed instructions. So, it was a very commendable exercise. I wouldn’t know if there are any other hidden issues, but with the things we saw, INEC performed. I believe in Jega and he has proven that he is honest and reliable. You can imagine, immediately after the election, he came out to say the over-militarisation of the state is not good and shouldn’t be repeated anywhere else in the interest of democracy. That is Jega for you. He is not like all these political jobbers who will not be able to do the right thing when given national assignments.

And where is the market for this huge monthly production? There are ready markets for the birds when they are grown. That is why the school feeding project, O’meal came up. The school children project takes about 10 percent of the birds monthly. The remaining 90 percent is sold with about 40 percent going to KFC nationwide. Another 30 percent goes to Shoprite while the balance goes to the oil companies across the country. The ready market is made possible by the certification of TUNS Farm by international audit. The Osun State Government is benefitting hugely in the area of improved IGR. The farmers are paying special taxes to the coffers of the government as a result of this project.

But the huge military presence in Ekiti election was repeated in Osun State, what is your take on this? I think Mr. President was misinformed into deploying so much military personnel into Osun for the election. We heard him explaining that it was necessary to forestall violence; who are those who wanted to cause violence here in Osun? They said there were some area boys, who are they? There was nothing like that in Osun. The people wanted to vote. They wanted to be able to elect their own leaders. That was all. Nobody wanted to fight or burn houses. We don’t play politics like that in Osun State. The election proved that to the whole world. I have no problem with Mr. President’s decision to protect the people but my problem is with those who gave him a wrong impression. Did you see where any of those alleged boys was arrested before, during and even after the election? Jonathan was misled and I am sure he knows better now. He acted like a leader. No leader will take security for granted. But there were allegations that the APC under Governor Aregbesola wanted to unleash terror on the state? Well, I just told you what happened. It is left for you to believe me or not. I live here in Osogbo. For the past three years of Aregbesola as governor, he has been preaching peace. He is not the type of politician who will destroy because he wants power. Remember, when Aregbesola came into governance, he introduced the Omoluabi slogan. And when Omisore started campaigning, he said “Eniyan Iyi”, meaning Osun people are gentlemen. So, if both parties claimed to be gentlemen, where then were we expecting the thuggery and violence. In spite of all that, Aregbesola was re-elected. Will you say the result reflected the wishes of the people of Osun? Look, let me tell you this, I don’t belong to any of the political parties. I am not a politician. I’m an elder statesman. So, I am not supporting any of the parties but the result reflected the wishes of those who didn’t sell their conscience. In every election, people will vote differently, but I want to tell you that Aregbesola should have gotten more votes if people were not induced with money and other things. A lot of people sold their conscience. It was a tough election but the people of Osun made up their mind to return Aregbesola because of his performance in office. A lot of people were also disenfranchised in many ways. Aregbesola reaped where he had sown. He came into Osun to transform the state. And he did that for four years. There is no single family in Osun that has not benefitted from his government. Quote me anywhere. So when election came and he said he wanted another term, everybody agreed. That is the basis for his victory over the Peoples

•BADMUS Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Iyiola Omisore. This is the reason why Osun people didn’t vote for PDP and Omisore.

taught me to be an underground player in politics. I became an intermediary so as to ensure peace and protect my investments.

With this victory, Aregbesola made history as the first person to get re-elected by Osun people as governor. What do you make of this as someone who has been around since the creation of the state?

But there was this rumor of your arrest during the election. What actually happened?

Well, Osun people are educated and enlightened. They are no fools. Aregbesola got reelection because he performed. Osun people are watching every politician. Whatever you do, they will pay you back. Oyinlola in his first two years, people loved him because he was focused and performing. But when he lost focus, the people turned their back on him. If he had continued being focused, the people would vote for him. He lost popularity and he didn’t get the votes of the people. It all depends on the performance of the person. If you do well, they will return you, if you don’t, they will show you the way out. You said you are not a politician. What then is your involvement in the politics of the state? I am an indigene of Osun State and I have huge investments here. It is my notion that there must be peace and good governance in the state. It is my view right from the era of the June 12 crisis that there must be peace in every state capital and the federal capital territory and Lagos for business to thrive in Nigeria. So, my involvement is to ensure peace and good governance. I am not a party man. But I always support good governments. My support for Aregbesola is because of his good initiative that is helping the state and securing my investments. Good and bad things happen in the capitals first before moving to other parts of the state or country. I am a poultry farmer. I need peace for my workers and others to perform. I know what I lost during the June 12 crisis when there was curfew in the town. Before then, I never wanted to do anything with politicians. But that incident

Well, the issue to me is not anything big. The rumour emanated from one of the major aspirants who mistakenly sent the message to my own phone too. I don’t deserve such treatment from anyone, talk less from this person. He didn’t know my number was part of the ones he sent the thing to. I have assisted this person on occasions monetarily and with influence. It is sad that he did that. When the youths came here to say I must refute the story, I decided to move round the city, I didn’t see anybody to say you are wanted. On Friday, I prayed in the mosque. I was not arrested. On Election Day proper, I trekked 13km to go and vote. I was not molested in any way. Maybe that was the plan of this candidate to embarrass me. We thank God it didn’t happen. People around here wanted to use the federal might to intimidate their political opponents which is against the policies of this Jonathan administration. I was not arrested. And I thank the people of Osun State for their concern when they heard the rumour. There were talks about the agricultural project your company is into with the Osun State Government. What is it really about? The project is a Public Private Participation (PPP) effort put together by three partners, namely Osun State Government, TUNS Farms and Poultry Association of Nigeria, Osun State chapter. The poultry association represents the farmers in the project. The government provided money for feeds that the chicks will eat. TUNS Farm provided day-old chicks. Then the farmers are to get the poultry farms. The government appointed scheme manager whose role is to access the farmers to be sure they have ready infrastructures. It is the scheme manager who will write to TUNS farm to release chicks and

The government also provided money to farmers to start the programme. It is a brilliant effort by Ogbeni and he found ready partners in us. We had to give the guarantee. Today, the Poultry Association of Osun is the richest in the country. Aregbesola has been able to help the farmers and at the same time, protect government money. This project has made about 300 people millionaires. This is one project that you can see its product everywhere. It is not like other projects that cannot be felt by the people. You were a leading socialite in Lagos before now. What informed your decision to relocate to Osogbo? Yorubas say it is when you are young that you can dance ‘palongo’. I am an elder now. The body also requires that I go easy. It was in those days one can go from King Sunny Ade’s party to Sikiru Ayinde Barrister’s show and end up at Ebenezer Obey’s club. I am now more at home with the people of my community. It is also important that one should familiarise with his people. This is one of the reasons the people love Aregbesola. He is a grassroots person. He is a friend of everybody. Go out there in the street and you will see why he won the last election. You are the Asiwaju Musulumi of Nigeria. You recently lost the Aare Musulumi Alao Arisekola. How would you remember him? That was one man who touched my life in many ways. Whatever lifestyle I am leading today, I learnt from him. He is an exemplary man who would never disagree with anybody whatever the case may be. He is one man who preaches peace and unity. His leadership of the Muslims in the South-West was God sent and a lot of us learnt from him. He is one man who used his resources to support Islam and humanity immensely. I really felt bad about his death because I related very closely with him. I learnt a lot from him and I will always remember him.

Culled from THE NATION

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, September 16, 2014

PHOTOTALK

Newly-completed Ejigbo High School Project Under The Administration Of The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

•Ejigbo High School in the State of Osun under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, as captured by our cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, recently.

•One of the classrooms in Ejigbo High School, in the State of Osun under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 is fashionable today for IT “Men of God” to put on an emblem of distinction, with a view to according them respect and treat them like second-in-command to the Creator. This in itself was heavenly-ordained because as Messengers of God, they are to be referenced. They are to be holy at all times, so as to be found worthy by God to receive divine instructions that will subsequently be delivered to other human beings, who are incapable of gaining insight into the celestial realm because they are ‘not ordained’ to do so. However, the attitude of some of these people of God recently apparently calls to question the claim that they have minds that can wait on, and receive from their Maker. In the early days of human existence, the priests were usually consulted to choose leaders for the people of God. The priest would then consult God by fervently praying for directives that will guide them to pick the person ordained to lead the people. When there were no clear-cut directives, lots would prayerfully be cast, so that the chosen one would have the lot falling on him. In all cases, the choice would be right because of strict abstinence from extraneous influence capable of modeling personal thoughts towards undue subjectivity. Any leader that emerged through such a neutral process, usually had no choice than to work in tandem with people’s expectations. Our clergies today take to untoward means to chart a course for the people, who are blindly following them. Most of them have become mere prognosticators, who draw counsels from sources other than God’s to pave way for contemporary speculation of man that leads many astray. They project the message as if it has emanated from God and often compound the problems of undiscerning folks that see them as super medium to know the mind of God. Because of the special respect people have for them, they have led so many to reasoning wilderness, which is basically a realm of confusion and a parallel line to the path of divine inspiration. The recently-concluded State of Osun gubernatorial election really gave credence to this standpoint, when desperation pushed people in the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to employ all antics to win voters to their side. They turned so fallacious that they almost exhausted the contents of lies’ repository. The whole process was unprecedented in the history of electioneering process in Nigeria. Added to this was the profundity of the whole mess coming from PDP’s arsenal. Strange multiplication of ‘doubting Thomases’ pervaded the entire political atmosphere of the state; to the end that the bravery of the valiant literally evaporated from them.

By ADE OLUGBOTEMI

what happened on August 9, 2014, when against all odds, God proved His deity as a God of war against injustice, before Whom all powers must bow.

Clergies, Where Lies Your Integrity? “Many fake Spiritualists in invented cassocks became prayer warriors against the incumbent governor. They entered into marathon fasting on hills and mountains and descended after days of dry fast, white fast, and all manners of fast to vaunt themselves, and boast about that the government of the State of Osun has been withdrawn from Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. Inciting handbills were distributed by so many pastors, while many of them ordered their church members to have nights of vigil to pray against Aregbesola’s victory at polls. Insightful text messages found their ways into people’s handsets; many of them declaring war against the person of Aregbesola. The barrage was endless.” The case was made worse by the tacit support and backing given the lies fabricators by some ‘men of God’ who virtually turned the altar of God to an instrument meant to also fabricate and propagate lies. The tenacity of their applications sent serious confusion across and beyond the state that people started wondering whether there was anything profitable in positive innovation that has become the hallmark of governance in the State of Osun of late. Devil’s agents behind the pulpits recklessly fed their congregations with spiritual junks from hell. They openly told their members that Governor Aregbesola had been rejected by God because of his anti-Christ posture; praying that the mighty hand of God might come heavily against him. Many fake Spiritualists in invented cassocks became prayer warriors against the incumbent governor. They entered into marathon fasting on hills and mountains and descended after days of dry fast, white fast, and all manners of fast to vaunt themselves, and boast about that the government of the State

of Osun has been withdrawn from Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. Inciting handbills were distributed by so many pastors, while many of them ordered their church members to have nights of vigil to pray against Aregbesola’s victory at polls. Insightful text messages found their ways into people’s handsets; many of them declaring war against the person of Aregbesola. The barrage was endless. It is noteworthy to recount how many of us were vilified and castigated. Without sounding sanctimonious, we only desired that the Will of God be established. Some of us who were openly branded never received a dime from any quarters. We only developed passion for positive change that will show that God is merciful and good to us. We demanded that God should shame those who were going about to fan mischief and errors, so that people will know their true God, Who brings His counsel to pass in the midst of His people. We never went to any prayer mountains, but with faith in God, we fasted and prayed that God should manifest His power. That was exactly

The good people of this state must be aware that those men of God have begun a new process of satanic prayer to overturn what God perfected on August 9, 2014. They have gotten another gratification that is propelling their energy to have them ruled by their minds. They are seeking for helping hand in human judgment at election tribunal, and I am sure they will find one at the end of their arms. At the end of the whole process, they will find out that God’s arm is mighty, and that it is powerful enough to compliment the frailties of man. People, who love progress, must daily pray for God’s will to manifest upon the adjudication of man that is often misguided by emotional whims. We are at the verge of revival in our chequered history. We are hoping that the ecstasy that greeted the declaration of August 10, 2014 will not be punctured by any human error that has branded our country as a nation of despots, whose discretions have permanently condemned us to a realm of Lilliputians that supports a notion of retrogression in global moves towards socio-political emancipation. For our recalcitrant clergies to get it right and fulfill God’s mandate upon their lives, they must quickly respond to their primary ministry of praying for the good of their ‘Jerusalem’( which in this case is Nigeria) that is currently enmeshed in multifaceted crisis. It is in Nigeria’s prosperity that the clergies’ fulfillments lie. Nobody in his right senses will feel satisfied with the current situation in which most Nigerians are ready to flee the country for any more economically-viable countries of the world. We must look beyond any religious consideration to have our problem fixed and advance steadily to a bay of safety. If Nigeria remains in her problem, no pastor or bishops, or whatever any titles they carry, will worth any while. They must therefore be apolitical in their duty to seek God’s face, so that Nigeria can attain her full potentials under any political party or politician. As we move towards year 2015, which many people consider as a year of destiny, we must be courageous to critically examine our situation and see where we have been missing the point all along. If Peoples Democratic Party and Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan are not the media of greatness and political emancipation, as some of us are sensing, they should develop large hearts to accommodate what God intends to do; so that we can all begin to enjoy together and subsequently feel proud of an emerging Nigeria, where it becomes possible to make full proof of individual innate talents. Enough is enough with our being unnecessarily sentimental.

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.