Osun Defender - September 27th 2014, Edition by OsunDefender

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 Weeks before the August 9th gubernatorial elections which was won by the pragmatic Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the APC, it was obvious we were up against forces other than the people of Osun state which naturally should be the determinant of

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

VOL. 9. NO.116

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

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,

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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 pg5

More Trouble For Omisore As Aregbesola Replies His Petition •PDP’s Petition ‘ll Fail - SSG - See Story On Page 2

•State of Osun Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo (middle); Justice Babajide Falola (2nd right); Justice Kudirat Akano (4th right) and other judges during their visit to Ilesa Prison to mark the New Legal Year recently.

Sept Salary Of Osun LG Staff,- Pg 3 Teachers Paid – PS Osun Speaker Canvasses - Pg 3 Protection Of Women Mum, Son, Other Appear In Court - Pg 4 Over Stealing

PDP’s Election Petition, A Waste Of Time – APC

- See Story On Page 15

News

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

More Trouble For Omisore As Aregbesola Replies His Petition •PDP’s Petition ‘ll Fail - SSG By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has filed his reply against the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, against the conduct of the August 9, 2014 governorship election held in the state. The reply was filed on election, is the first Thursday along with the respondent in the petition, witness statements of while the APC is the about 600 witnesses second respondent. The second respondent proposed to defend the election before the Election had earlier filed its reply against the same petition, Petition Tribunal. Aregbesola, who was with compilation of about the APC candidate at the 600 witnesses.

Filing Aregbesola’s reply on Thursday, his counsel, Mr Kunle Adegoke, said the witnesses, whose statements were being filed, were real voters at the election, while the ones earlier filed on behalf of the second respondent were majorly polling agents. He said the reply was to the effect that the petition filed by the PDP and its candidate was baseless and should be dismissed by the tribunal. Secretary to the State

Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, who was among the witnesses listed, after deposing to his witness statement in the court, said the petition against the re-election of his principal would fail. He said it was to the knowledge of everybody that the election was peaceful and reflected the wishes of the people, as against the allegation of the petitioners. Adeoti wondered why the PDP could be alleging in the petition that he was distributing money on the election day, even when it

was the PDP leaders and members perpetrating such act. Noting that no malpractice was engaged in by the APC or its leaders to warrant the cancellation of the election, he stressed that his party and the governor would eventually be vindicated. Also, the State Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs Mofolake Adegboyega, also a witness, said the petition was baseless and could not have any effect

on the election, because it was the wishes of the people that prevailed. A leader of the APC, Alhaji Fatai Oyedele Diekola, also wondered why the PDP could approach the tribunal to challenge the conduct and result of such peaceful election. He contended that the PDP is aware that the petition could not hold any water, except to ensure that its members remain in the party as the 2015 general elections approach.

Ilie Indigene Commends Aregbesola •Solicits Govt Help By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO prominent indigene of Ilie, a town in Olorunda Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun, has appealed to the state government under the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to come to the aid and of his community complete some of the infrastructural projects that had been abandoned by past administrations. This plea was made by in the gubernatorial election Mr. Isaiah Oladimeji Fajimi, held on August 9, 2014, he a member of Carpentry also commended the Association of Ilie and the administration for bringing Proprietor of Ogo Ni Fun some level of developments Jesu Carpentry, Furniture to Ilie town. and Cabinet Ventures, “The first help the Osogbo when he paid a visit governor rendered to Ilie to the office of OSUN town was the provision of a DEFENDER in Osogbo boat, so as to allow recently. indigenes to navigate the According to Fajimi, Erinle River to Ikirun, then some of the projects that the construction and were abandoned included rehabilitation of roads that the bridge, which spanned had hitherto been the Erinle River that had abandoned by previous been abandoned long ago administrations. by the Federal Government “Governor Aregbesola of Nigeria. also facilitated the He also called the employment and attention of the state deployment of teahers to all government to intervene in public schools in the town,” the pending case of the Alie he added. of Ilie, which he revealed had been pending since 2001. Fajimi had earlier commended the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for the many milestone achievements he had been able to accomplish in his first term of office and prayed for God’s continual guidance over him. While thanking God for the success of Aregbesola •FAJIMI

•(L-R) Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso; former Vice-President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) at the APC rally in Lokoja last Tuesday.

2014/15 Legal Year: Osun CJ Pardons 16 Inmates By SHINA ABUBAKAR

files could not be traced and had stayed in the prison for four years and above, having not been found guilty of the offences they were alleged to have committed. Their offences ranged from armed robbery and murder to stealing, felony and other simple offences. According to the Chief Judge, the freed inmates have been denied trial long enough and they could not

HE Chief Judge (CJ) of the State of Osun, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, has pardoned a total of 16 inmates at both Ilesa and IleIfe prisons respectively. The CJ, who was on The freed inmates were prison visit, as part of those who had spent four activities marking the years and above, as well commencement of 2014/ as those who suffered ill 15 Legal Year in the state, health and those that were freed the inmates at the 60 years and above. Ilesa and Ile-Ife prisons on Most of the released Tuesday 23 and inmates were either Wednesday 24 September awaiting trial or their case 2014 respectively. Some of the inmates set free by the Chief Judge included: Dauda Karimu, By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO 29, Bamidele Balogun, 42, Seun Alatise, 31, Dayo HE Commissioner for Agriculture and Oluwafemi 35, Usman Food Security in the State of Osun, Mr. Shaibu 31, Victor James Wale Adedoyin, has appealed to the 23, Femi Bamidele 28, Ojo leadership of the state chapter of All Farmers James 38, and Kabiru Association of Nigeria (AFAN), to allow peace Jimoh 34 from Ilesa to reign within the association to achieve the task prison. of making the the state food basket of the nation. Those released from IleAdedoyin gave the only issue government Ife prison were: Augustine advice in Osogbo, the was interested in was to Friday 39, Oladipupo state capital, during a support farmers, with a Sunday 26, Hassan meeting held with the view to boosting food Bamigbade 31, Babatunde production and not to Gbela 40, Adewale executive members of continue to settle feud the association on how to Omolade Yinka 32, among members of the Adegoke Elijah 26, and make things work better association. for farmers in the state. Muritala Tope 25. The commissioner, who He explained that the

be kept in the prison custody indefinitely. Justices Oyejide Falola and Kudirat Akano, both of Osun State High Court, and also part of the CJ’s team, urged stakeholders involved in the dispensation of justice to always endeavour to do justice to the accused persons following due process. The CJ however, advised the freed inmates to turn away from crime and ensure that they sin no more.

Osun Govt Tasks Farmers On Peace

expressed delight in the co-operation and love that now exist among the farmers’ body, stated that government was not interested in the association’s politics but can only act as an observer during the process of electing their leaders. He advised the farmers’ body to eschew bitterness, but rather to embrace co-operation, saying that it is the only way through which they

could get the support of the present administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who is always willing to give to farmers. He stated that with the new harmonious relationship, the Year 2014 Agric Show and Farmer’s Festival would be more colourful and interesting than the previous ones, while the World Food Day would also be celebrated accordingly. The Chairman of the

All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Osun chapter, Chief Raheem Adeniji, assured the Commissioner that all grievances within the AFAAN Executive Committee had been settled, assuring that they are now ready to work together for the progress of all farmers in the state. He expressed gratitude to the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola for always calling for peace within the farmers’ association.

News

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

Osun NUT Assured Of Safety Against Ebola In Schools By SHINA ABUBAKAR

EACHERS and students’ safety against the contact of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that currently constitutes health challenge to the nation has been considered by the Government of Osun before the announcement of schools’ resumption date in the state. The Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Education, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran, gave the assurance to members of the state branch of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), at a meeting on Ebola held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Education. Oyeniran reiterated various efforts put in place by the government of the State of Osun under Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to curtail the spread of Ebola Virus in schools, which include training of teachers. He noted that Osun is currently Ebola-free with a guarantee from the reports of the state branch of the Nigerian

Medical Association (NMA). The Permanent Secretary maintained that it’s a known fact that Ebola Virus is a deadly disease that can be prevented with early detection and treatment by medical personnel between the incubation periods of 2-21 days, which informed the government’s decision to provide infrared thermometers to all schools in the state starting from Friday this week. Oyeniran disclosed that, the state government will no longer allow any pupil to stay in school without adequate medical attention.

He held that the appointment of Ebola Desk officers in all schools is for easy detection of pupils with high temperature through the use of infrared themometers and to recommend and identify any pupil for immediate medical treatment. Oyeniran therefore, appealed to NUT and teachers in general, who he described as light, to complement the efforts

of the government of the State of Osun in sensitizing both pupils and parents on Ebola for the safety of all. Responding on behalf of the union, the immediatepast Chairman of NUT in the state and current Second National Vice Chairman of NUT in Nigeria, Comrade Saka Adesiyan, who hinted that the Nigerian Union of Teachers was not running away from its responsibilities by

directing their members not to honour the resumption date announced by the Federal Government but to protect their members from the hazard constituted by Ebola. He appreciated the efforts of the Government of the State of Osun in the fight against Ebola and for considering them as a major stakeholder in the education sector.

Osun Speaker Canvasses Protection Of Women By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

PEAKER of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, on Tuesday said government would not relent in ensuring the full implementation of the law protecting women against domestic violence. Salaam said this during Journalists (NAWOJ). a courtesy visit to his The Speaker, who office in Osogbo by the noted that bill; ‘Osun newly-elected executive Protection Against members of the Osun Domestic Violence’ was Chapter of National passed by the House in Association of Women the month of May, said it

was aimed at protecting women against domestic violence in the state. He said government would not relent in its effort to protect the rights of the women in the society. The Speaker said anyone in the state, who violates the law, would be severely dealt with in line with the dictates of the law

•PREPARATION FOR ILEYA FESTIVAL IN OSOGBO: Ram buyers and sellers at Jaleyemi area in Osogbo, State of Osun, last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Man Docked For Allegedly Beating Policeman By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

OR allegedly molesting and beating a policeman, a 30-year-old man, Israel Sunday, has been arraigned before a magistrate’s court, sitting in Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun. Sunday was accused of committed the offence on beating and biting one September 4, 2014, at Hamzat Adebayo, a about 9.00am, at Orita police officer with Force Olaiya in Osogbo. Number 8073GI, after he Ajadi alleged that the cautioned him on his accused person alleged reckless usage of descended on the police the road. officer and bites his left Police prosecutor, fingers. Inspector Isiaka Ajadi, in The prosecutor a charge sheet made maintained that the available to OSUN suspect had committed DEFENDER on offence contrary to and Wednesday, told the court punishable under Sections that the accused person 355 and 356 of the

Comrade Adesiyan identified the provision of necessary preventive equipment like gloves, infrared thermometers, hand sanitizers, soap to schools as a condition for resumption. He noted that teachers would be exposed to danger, if necessary measures to protect both teachers and pupils are not met.

Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol.11 Laws of Osun, 2003. However, the accused person pleaded not guilty to all the charges proffered against him. Counsel to the accused, Barrister Ramgeous Ugwu, applied for the bail of the accused person in the most liberal term. Ugwu assured the court that the accused would not jump bail if granted, just as he said that credible and reliable sureties would stand for the accused. Police prosecutor did not oppose the bail

application. In his ruling, Magistrate Olusola Aluko, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties. Aluko ordered that the sureties must be residing

within the court’s jurisdiction, and produce evidence of tax payment and two passport-sized photographs to the court. The case was adjourned till September 29, 2014 for mention.

Salaam, who described women as an agent of change in the society, said their role to the development of the society cannot be overemphasised He however, charged the NAWOJ executive members to see their position as a call to service, just as he also urged the association to assist government in sensitizing the public on how to prevent the deadly Ebola Virus disease in the state. Earlier in her remarks, the NAWOJ Chairperson, Mrs Toyin Adeoye, said the purpose of their visit was to establish a relationship with members of the state parliament in promoting women welfare in the state. While appreciating government on its prowomen programmes in the state, Adeoye said more is still needed to be done by allowing more women in political offices and appointments. “We specifically come here to reiterate the fact that women-related activities are mostly under-reported, despite the fact that they are always at the forefront of development in the family and the society. “This group is looking ahead to right the wrong and we will not leave any stone unturned at achieving this objective.” “We are optimistic about our involvement at forging the state ahead. We have a visible role to play and the roles should not be undermined,” Adeoye said.

Sept Salary Of Osun LG Staff, Teachers Paid – PS

N furtherance of the avowed commitment of the current administration in the State of Osun to the welfare of the entire workforce of the state, the September salary of local government staff and the primary school teachers in the state has been paid. and This was contained in a Government press statement issued by Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Oyeleke the Permanent Secretary, Muftau Ministry of Local Oluwadare.

The statement added that the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is committed to the promotion of culture of excellence in the state public service. The statement enjoined the workers to reciprocate the gesture by being regular and punctual at their duty posts.

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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

Osun Assembly To Pass Law Against Livestock Roaming, Others By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

EMBERS of the State of Osun House of Assembly have unanimously agreed to pass into law, the bill prohibiting the roaming about of livestock, as well as Hotel and Other Tourism Industries Enterprise Licensing Authority Establishment bill. The two bills were Central Constituency sponsored by Honourable respectively. Afolabi Atolagbe, Reading the policy-trust representing Ifedayo State of the State of Osun Constituency and Livestock Roaming Bill, Honourable Adetilewa 2014 at the plenary on Sijuwade, representing Ife Wednesday, Atolagbe said

the bill was aimed at curbing environmental problems and diseases that might be caused by animals. He argued that the bill was not seeking to prohibit the rearing of animals, but it must be properly reared and kept to ensure that they are not constituting nuisance to the environment. The lawmaker also cited

the instances of accidents that have been caused by goats or sheep which cross roads indiscriminately, saying that if the animals are reared in confined areas, such circumstances would reduce. Honourable Ipoola Binuyo, representing Ife North and Kamardeen Akanbi, representing Ede South, opposed to the

passage of the bill on the ground that it would block the means of livelihood for those engaging in such business, especially the old members of the masses. They argued that asking the elderly persons, who have no other means of livelihood except goatrearing to construct a fence to keep their livestock, would not augur well, as the financial implication would be unbearable for them.

•The Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria 50th President, Mr Chidi Onyenkwu Ajaegbu (5th right); 4th Chairman ICAN, Osun District, Hon Femi Faronbi (4th right); representative of the governor, Mrs Bafunke Adeogun (3rd right); State Chairman of ICAN, Mr Olatunbosun Titus (5th left) and the EXCO members during the inauguration of 2014/2014 Executive Committee and Award Day, last Wednesday.

Osun ICAN Inducts New Chair •Promises Employment For 6 Undergraduates By ABOSEDE AKINPELU

HE newly-inaugurated chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr. Olatunbosun Akinwumi, has promised that as part of his new administration’s policy, he would present an open cheque for employment for six out of two hundred Accountancy graduates in the State of Osun. He made this remark during the award and investiture ceremony organised for him as the fifth Chairman of Osun District and inauguration of 2014/2015 executive committee held at Leisure Springs Hotel, Osogbo. In his acceptance speech, the new chairman appreciated God for making the ceremony a success. Mr. Akinwumi said he was humbled by his people’s vote at the last annual general meeting that led to his emergence as the 5 th chairman of Osun District society. He also advised other executive committee members that were

elected with him to remember that they were unopposed and that had always been the practice in their district and he would still want the practice to continue. In reminding them of the association’s motto which is: “Accuracy and Integrity” , the new ICAN chairman urged them to ensure that at their various places of work, they should try not to tarnish the image of their institute and on behalf of all other executives that they should serve with all their strength. He then saluted the vision of the founding fathers of the district

society, adding that he was convinced that they would be happy that the district they mid-wifed over 20 years’ ago, with only 10 members, had grown geometrically and now having close to 400 members in the State of Osun, who are occupying various positions. He later congratulated all the awardees, because

the occasion was the first time that the society was awarding deserving members of the public, as well as corporate awards to institutions that had impacted positively in their lives in the past. The chairman then implored the awardees to remain steadfast in whatever they are doing, maintaining that their

effort would be appreciated. He also recognized the Golden Jubilee president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Mr Chidi Ajaegbu, the Registrar/ Chief Executive; Mr. Rotimi Omotoso , Chairman of other district societies that were present on the occasion.

Other lawmakers, including Mohammed Ibrahim (Oriade), Dejo Osuolale (Boripe/ Boluwaduro), Folarin Fafowora (Ilesa-West), Timothy Owoeye (IlesaEast), Rasak Adeyemi (Odo-Otin) and Kamil Oyedele (Irepodun/Orolu) among others supported the passage of the bill, saying it would prevent public health hazards that might be caused by the animals. Also reading the policytrust of the Hotel and Other Tourism Industries Enterprise Licensing Authority Establishment bill, 2014, Sijuwade said the bill was aimed at controlling the activities of hotteliers and other related businesses. Apart from controlling their activities, the bill, if passed into law, according to him, would add to sources of Internally Generated Revenue for the state. Supporting the passage of the bill, other lawmakers in their submissions said it would boost the economy of the state. Speaking on the two bills, the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, also gave his nod to the passage of the two bills. He said while the Livestock Roaming Bill would have positive impact in the efforts to have a healthy environment, the Hotel and Other Tourism Industries Enterprise Licensing Authority Establishment bill would portray Osun as a serious partner to investors in the tourism industry. The two bills were subsequently taken through the second reading. Meanwhile, the State of Osun Mishandling of Opon Imo Provision Bill 2014, sponsored by Honourable Ipoola Binuyo and Disposal of Bodies by Decremation Bill 2014 have passed through the first readings.

Mum, Son, Other Appear In Court Over Stealing By SHINA ABUBAKAR

HREE suspects, Odedeji Olalekan, 22, Olaoye Oluwamuyiwa, 19 and Bolanle Odedeji were arraigned before Magistrate Olusola Aluko of an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court over stealing. entered into the house of The charge sheet one Yinusa Ogundare and alleged that the first stole the following items: suspect broke into the two mobile phones and house of one Mrs Bolatito cash of N5,000; all Adebisi and carted away totalling N45,000. one Cannon Camera, The charge sheet Blackberry phone, T- disclosed that the mobile Phone, all totalling offences run contrary to N64,000. the section 411(i)(2) of the It also disclosed that State Criminal Law 2003. the first accused person According to the

charge sheet, the second and third accused persons were charged for receiving stolen properties from the first accused person, therefore committing an offence punishable under Section 427 of the State Penal Code. The charge sheet stated that the suspect stole the properties at Ogundare Street, Onward area, at about 11:00am in the state capital. The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges

preferred against them. Defence counsel to the suspects, Raji Abiodun, urged the court to admit the suspects to bail in the most of liberal terms. Police prosecutor, Sergeant Mireti Wilson, did not oppose to bail application. Aluko then admitted the suspects to bail in the sum of N50,000 and two sureties each in the same sum. He adjourned the matter till October 22, 2014 for mention.

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

The War Called The Osun Elections- By Segun Tomori Continued frompg1 I just couldn’t imagine my home State go back to the disastrous “years of the locust”. I had participated actively 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 a sigh of relief when I arrived Osogbo safely late in the evening. I have attended rallies, mega-rallies , name it, but what I saw on Tuesday at the grand-finale of the campaign was frightening. A stadium whose capacity can’t be more than 60,000 almost caved in due to pressure from an unprecedented

mammoth crowd. Every space on the covered stands were over-filled, the main bowl of the Stadium was virtually unpassable. My associates and I had to hold ourselves to navigate our way through the crowd, it took us about an hour from the entrance of the stadium to find somewhere to perch! Yet thousands more extend to adjoining roads outside the stadium. It was the APC mega-rally and to say it was awesomely mega is an understatement! We even heard that the Lord of Aso-rock caught an instant migraine seeing the magnitude of the rally! The effect of that was seen in the sealing off of the freedom park that was supposed to host workers rally the next day by “hooded soldiers” They got the now familiar, albeit emergency “orders from above” to forcefully if need be halt the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliates endorsement rally for the Ogbeni.

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.

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!

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 overnight 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.

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 56pm. By 4pm, I arrived at my own secure location and quickly moved to set up. I surveyed the enviroment to assess the possible threat level. I saw that it was negligible so I settled down for the task ahead. By Friday evening we got intelligence report that

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.

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

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

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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

FEATURE

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

On Aregbesola’s Education Policies And Election Promises N opinion article titled A ‘Aregbesola, education and election promises’ written by Tade Adekunle from Osogbo on September 24, 2014 makes an interesting reading but still leaves a sour taste in the mouth. The author does not sound familiar, but it matters little. His main concern is on his perceived state of education in Osun which he used the last result of the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination to buttress. According to him, Osun pupils’ performance which was 22nd out of the 36 states that sat for the examination was worrisome and an indication that the state’s educational policies are not working. He then stacked his cards with the issues of merger of schools and uniform school uniform. Pardon the tautology. The author tries hard to be civil but the piece is riddled with cynicism and thinly disguised mockery of the state’s education summit chaired by the revered Prof Wole Soyinka, that had recommended comprehensive review of the education policies of the state, early in the life of the administration. Adekunle sounded like the voice of one of those who stoutly resisted the education reforms in the state from the standpoint of opposition politicians, religious former school owners, disgruntled teachers or an old student revelling in past glory, even when the alma mater had fallen into disgrace and disrepute. They forged a coalition of the disgruntled with the opposition in the August 9 election and were thoroughly trounced and disgraced. He might just have resumed where they left, considering his conclusion that the policies should be reversed. It should be pointed out, however, that the immediate result of an examinationis not and cannot be the right yardstick to measure an education policy. Those who wrote the last examination in question must have been in the school system at least for 11 years (assuming they spent five years in primary school and six at the secondary level) in the school system. The result you have today is a cumulation of all the inputs and efforts within that period. We all know that it is not the day you plant a crop that you harvest it. What is being harvested today could not have been planted yesterday. The result of today is the reflection of the neglect of the putrefaction that

categories. The mergers are therefore necessary to streamline these schools into the various classes for operational and administrative purposes. These policies do not affect private schools. What the governor promised, due to much agitation, was that some of the schools would be returned to their original owners. This is after some of the mega schools being built are completed and the pupils moved into them. At no time did he promise that the policy would be reversed. It is high time all the agitated were reconciled to this. Those hoping for a reversal are only engaged in wishful thinking and let no Tade Adekunle raise false hope where there is none. The governor, being a student of history, does not wish to erase the memory of any school. However, mergers and closures are part of the history of education. Even in the affluent world, when the caretakers can no longer maintain a school or it is no longer relevant to the need of that society or community, it will be merged with others or shut down. Plato’s Academy no longer exists, but it is etched permanently in the books, in the philosophy and the memory of •AREGBESOLA those who have acquired western education. Where a school is government, as at last year, had closed, a monument will be left By SOLA FASURE committed N2.5 billion. Grants to schools was jacked up to N856 as its physical legacy. had crept in. that is not What is more important, million from the N122 million Aregbesola’s making and it will however, is its intellectual legacy be illogical to blame him for this. inherited from previous and how it has affected our time administration. Before And it could have been worse, and society. Those still sulking Aregbesola’s coming, no school since the problem is over the carcass of a dilapidated had instruction materials, but his longstanding. Governor and ruined physical structure Aregbesola noticed this and cried administration has committed should let go and embrace out when he was inaugurated upon N506 million to providing these. positive change. These are verifiable facts. observing that less than five per On school uniforms, the Beyond those still sulking cent of those who took the government has explained that the because the reforms had cut off WAEC and NECO of 2010 uniform distinguishes those in their extortion channels in the passed. This actually informed public schools from others. Even schools, even the teachers and his convoking the education in the United Kingdom, this is the other stakeholders are full of summit early 2011. norm – uniforms are the same praises to the governor, claiming The state government is doing and can be picked in any that they feel proud to be everything needed to turn convenient store. What mark teachers for the first time. education around. This includes The central basis of opposition them differently are the badges, hiring over 10,000 teachers, cardigans and berets branded for to the reforms is the inability of training and retraining them, each school. In our neighbouring some stakeholders to reconcile kitting them and giving them all Benin Republic, all school to the facts that the state necessary motivation. It also children wear khaki as uniform. involves building new state of the government owns all the schools Aregbesola has carried out a in question. They are still living art schools, rehabilitation and revolution in education in Osun. I in denial since the takeover in equipping existing one and am of the firm belief that with the 1975 or thereabout. The tragedy providing 150,000 computer policy direction, funding, is that eight out of 10 agitators, tablets to senior pupils and their equipment, motivation and when asked, still think that the teachers (out of which 50,000 technology, all driven by the schools belong to the old has been delivered and passion and will to change things missions and the reforms are distributed). Do not forget that for better, Osun, within the elementary pupils now enjoy free superfluous government shortest possible time, will be interference. feeding and medication in all producing the best school leavers The government had explained public schools, to which the countless times that the mergers and world beaters in all fields. government commits N3.6 were brought about by the policy billion every year. •Fasure lives in Osogbo For school furniture alone, the of classifying schools into elementary, middle and senior

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

PHOTOTALK

State Of Osun Ministry Of Health Organized Ebola Sensitization Workshop For Traditional Rulers In The State, Recently.

•State of Osun Commissioner for Environment, Professor (Mrs) Olubukola Oyawoye (2nd right), State Commissioner for Health, Dr (Mrs) Temitope Ilori and the Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Abdul-Rauf Adedeji, demonstrating hand-washing technique at the workshop.

•(L-R) The Akinrun; the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Olabomi, the Elende of Eko-Ende, Oba Abdul-Rauf Adebayo Ajiboye, the Olufon of Ifon-Osun, Oba AbdulMaruf Magbagbeola, and the Elerin of Erin-Osun, Oba Yusuff Omoloye at the workshop.

•A cross section of traditional rulers at the Ebola sensitization workshop.

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

Laro Timehin Middle School, Isale Osun, Osogbo, Constructed Under The Administration Of The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, As Captured By Our Cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, Last Thursday.

•Front view of the school.

•Back view of the school.

• •Security house at the school.

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

Roads In Osogbo Construction/Rehabilitated Under The Administration Of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, As Captured By Our Cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, Last Thursday.

•Gbodofon road, Osogbo.

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•Pedestrian way along Gbongan/Ibadan road, Osogbo.

PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

Some Of The Achievements Of The Governor, State Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, In The State Packaged By GBENGA ADENIYI.

•A newly-constructed pedestrian bridge at the Osogbo Railway Terminus.

•Beautification of the Old-Garage area of Osogbo.

•Beautification of road along at Alekuwodo area of Osogbo.

FEATURE

•AREGBESOLA

•FAYEMI

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

•ONI

Oni, Fayemi, Aregbesola And Politics Of Character WITHOUT any fear of inaccuracy, I was the first person in the media industryboth national and foreign-to have an exclusive interview with Engr. Segun Oni after his swearing-in as the governor of Ekiti State in 2007. The interview happened less than a month after he settled down for the serious business of governance. The interview was a no-holds barred and I asked then Governor Oni many questions. Not minding the political tendency on which I may be leaning as he was meeting me for the first time-having been introduced by Dr. Samuel Arowolaju (a senior friend) as a media guy from the United States, he answered my questions candidly and without mincing words. Some of the questions revolved around his predecessor, now governorelect Ayodele Fayose and he said more than a mouthful. Hear him: “On the 29th of September, 2005 we had a meeting that was to become a rally somewhere along Falegan Estate area. We actually had a peaceful meeting but the police came in nonetheless. They said Governor Fayose had prepared an agenda to get some of us. They came to get me and fired some rubber bullets…They kicked me, beat me up and I was dragged on the main road of this (Ado-Ekiti) city and thrown into a vehicle. People were watching from afar. The police thought they’ve thrown my lifeless body inside the vehicle but when they realized that I wasn’t dead they took me to the police station and sprayed teargas on me. They wanted to spray the teargas into my nostrils but I told the guy if he did that I would die and the policemen watching him are the ones who would give evidence against him and he would never get out of it.” I asked the then governor if he was contemplating revenge since he then occupied the same office his predecessor allegedly used to attempt to

By FEMI ODERE

snuff life out of him. The governor said: “The only lesson I took away from that unfortunate incident is that power is very transient. You see, when you have power and you refuse to use it based on your whims you enhance its value.”(Italics mine for emphasis). I never stopped thinking about this last sentence since as reflecting the man’s strength of character. A different aura, as if issued from the core of his being, enveloped Ekiti State when John Kayode Fayemi took over the mantle of leadership. The calm that descended on the state, which reflected the persona of Fayemi was palpable. Scrupulous Nigerian entrepreneurs and the international community saw in him his genuineness and started to set up shops in the state so much that billions have been sunk into hospitality and other service businesses by private investors. The governor will probably go down in the 18-years’ history of the state as the only governor that continued with the projects of his predecessor, despite the very painful and tortuous experience to which he was subjected in regaining his mandate. On assumption, he became the first governor in this dispensation to declare his assets and that of his wife. The governor declared an eight-point agenda as a blueprint of his administration that not only touches every socio-economic strata of society, but also implemented virtually all the points and sub-points on the agenda during his tenure. This remarkable feat earned him the sobriquet of “O wi bee, O se bee” which literally translated into “He said it, did it”. As part of rebranding the state along the lines of the values that he holds dear, Ekiti state is now known as “Ile Iyi, Ile Eye,” a phrase that embodies a virtuous state that I hope the new helmsman will keep. Osun State was a violent and highly

traumatized state on its way to a bottomless perdition when Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took over its administration. It was a beleaguered state not because it is socio-culturally disposed to brigandage, but because a class of its own people was attempting to take away its very soul. On his assumption of office, Aregbesola decided -almost from Day One of his administration-to take the road less travelled. This earned him the description of an unusual man running an unusual government. He believes that a people, as that organic structure that makes up society, must coalesce around some core principles which must of necessity become their ethos if they must realize their collective destiny. The state was also rebranded along this line of thought. His administration created a crest, a Coat of Arm, a flag and a state anthem that the country’s central authority stuck in its primordial hunter and gatherer political disposition accused him of trying to secede from the republic. The governor did not stop there. A state known as the “State of the Living Spring” became known as a “State of the Virtuous.” He has been described by people from various walks of life to be a “scrupulously honest and humble” chief of state, which probably contributed in no small measure to his victory at the recent poll for a second term. I have given the synopses of this trio in order to identify a common thread that runs through them. And this is the character thread. Much has been said by political scientists and pundits that one of the major reasons why the All Progressives Congress(APC) has been unable to gain significant traction so far is because of its inability to anchor its existence on a political ideology or an identity. It should look no further. The opposition political party should make character the lifeblood that gives it sustenance. Character should be seen by the people

as what distinguishes it from the ruling party. It should be seen as its main pillar. It should be the first identifier of the party’s candidates for electoral offices from henceforth. This time tested virtue should be its brand. As much as Nigeria has been touted as having the largest and the most promising economy in the continent, much of the rest of the world still will not touch her even with a long pole because the country’s government and its people are deemed as hopelessly corrupt and lacking in character. Therefore, injecting character into the body politic will most definitely reverse the self-destructive trajectory of a pathetic country such as Nigeria. Other social pillars of justice, fairness and equity that must be present to lend support to the growth and sustenance of any society can only thrive with the presence of character. A nation without character is a living dead. They say that character is really what you do when no one is looking. I will add that it is also when one is willing to go against the grain because the values that one represents will be seriously compromised or impaired, as exemplified by the people of the State of Osun when they overwhelmingly voted for the presidential candidate of the party they identified with in 2011 even when they knew that his chances of winning was hopelessly low. •Odere is a media practitioner. He can be reached at femiodere@gmail.com. •Culled from THE NATION

INTERVIEW

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

Aregbesola Is A Dealer In Hope - Oladejo Mr. Abiodun Oladejo is a politician, businessman, and member of the Board of Rural Development, Water Resources and Infrastructure in the State of Osun. He accorded the last concluded gubernatorial election that saw Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola winner for second term to the decision and massive support of the people of the State. As a philanthropist, motivator and core active member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose drive and passion for the people of his constituency and the State at large placed him on the verge to represent them in the forth coming election for the House of Representatives, come 2015. He further tells Moses Boba of OSUN DEFENDER that in his quest to serve and lead the people, has gathered more knowledge and experience, even as he prepares for the race. Excerpts: OSDF: How would you explain your political prowess? OLADEJO: Thanks for another opportunity to talk to my people, Nigeria and the world in general. First of all, I want to use this medium to congratulate the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola and the people of the state for the success and victory recorded in the just-concluded governorship election that ushered Ogbeni Aregbesola into office for a second term. Let me also say that I am happy to let you know that your paper, OSUN DEFENDER is known worldwide today. According to John Maxwell, who was one of the political writers in socio-development and human capacity; leader has ability to influence the followers. I have read about leaders and not rulers that have influenced people positively. I have gained momentum in their prowess and ability to move people towards the enthronement of egalitarian society. One of such people was Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Others were Mahatma Ghandi Nehru, Martin King Luther, Patrick Lumumber, Steve Biko, Nelson Mandela. The cumulative effect of all these has been a succor and inspiration from my higher institution days because of my political involvement at Ibadan Polytechnic, where I studied Mass Communication. I contested for General Secretary in the Students’ Union then. So, these were my motivational factors. If you must lead the people, you must show ability and charisma. Some of the books and write-ups, and messages I have read have been tonics to my political development. OSDF: Can you describe your role as a party member in the All Progressives Congress (APC)? OLADEJO: Yeah! That was a very good question. I tell you, my father, before his demise, was a staunch member of the progressive fold. It also reflected on us as his children, as a way of tradition and life. I have been following the trend and legacy of good tidings and glory. Today I am politically active, not only in Nigeria, also in Austria, where I lived for twenty three years. I was once General Secretary of Egbe Omo Oduduwa for four years, Vice President of the same union for three years and presently I am the President of the union in Austria. You will agree with me that whether I am at home or abroad, I eat politics, sleep politics and wakes in politics. During Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s era, I was a co-follower and co-traveler during his campaigns and meetings. Since then, I had never looked back. I have been actively involved in the practice of progressive politicking. My visit to Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in Lagos State, when he was the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure about ten years ago, really electrified me the more to participate actively in politics of our dear country, Nigeria. When I studied our political system and people around, I could see excruciating pains of poverty boldly written on their faces. There must be a sectarian voice against this political impunity. So, I have come to be part of the wind of change in the progressives and to vie for the House of Representatives for the people of Boripe/ Ifelodun/Odo Otin Federal Constituency, where I came from. I remember then during Alliance for Democracy (AD) before we metamorphosed to Action Congress (AC), then to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and today, All Progressives Congress (APC). I should have been in the House of Representatives, but due to one issue or the other, because on two occasions I came out to contest during the primaries, which I won and subsequently was denied of the victory. It is my joy that the wind of change in the atmosphere circulating in the State of Osun and Nigeria as a whole will take progressive dimension come 2015. Despite my not being in the House of Representatives today, I have been part of the vanguard for socio-engineering, and vehicle of progress and change, moving our people from dungeon of poverty and slavery to a destination of prosperity, abundance, peace, harmony and unity. I know that the time has come that in this generation, Nigeria will see the light of the day. OSDF: What is your role as member of the Board of Rural Development, Water Resources and Infrastructure in the State? OLADEJO: Very well, it is an advisory role. Other members and I were appointed last year and we are working on proper integration because some of us are prime movers in our various constituencies. We are comprised of former commissioners, important personalities, and people of substance. We have intellectual capabilities to contribute meaningfully, especially to the success of the Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration, as our primary objective. We are agents of change. OSDF: The last gubernatorial election in the state was a success. What lessons should we draw from this? OLADEJO: Yeah! This has been a wonderful

•OLADEJO time for me. According to Dala Laima, a social crusader that says, all roots of appreciation is found in the soil of appreciation. I really thank the people of the State of Osun for being so wonderfully organized against the purported tyrannical antecedents of the Federal Government. They waged war against Nazism. When you see a government being vain glorious and wanting to rule by force, it will come to a halt that day. I want to salute the gallantry efforts, courage, boldness and the effrontery of the people that stood and say, no! Enough is enough. I salute them once more because it was not election between Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola of APC and Iyiola Omisore of PDP, but between State of Osun, Yoruba land and Nigeria, especially the Federal Government. With what we witnessed in the state in the last election, Nigeria will never be the same again because it has sent signals, opened many cans of worms. Let me tell you something about the good people of the State of Osun; they went to the poll, voted their choice of candidate for continuity. This is because Aregbesola’s administration, has in the last three and half years, touched the lives of every family member in the state positively. We have learnt to be resolute and upright where there will be abundance for all and not for a tiny group of people. OSDF: You’ve travelled far and wide, lived in Europe for over twenty years. How would you inter-marry European and Nigerian politics for growth and development in Nigeria, especially State of Osun? OLADEJO: My brother, frankly speaking, nothing good comes easy, but with perseverance, success is sure. You see, from my experience in the twenty three years that I spent in Europe, it shows that a lot of things had gone wrong in our country Nigeria. Who will transform and liberate her? Every problem in life has a solution; and there is a particular solution for a particular problem. I have gathered knowledge and experience to work with my people for growth, progress, unity and development. It is not that the Europeans are saints but the way they do their things politically, socially, economically differs. They have undergone what we are processing today, though it may tarry but we shall get there. All the resources that Nigeria needs for a developed nation, God has given us. How do we harness these resources and through what channels are they dispensed to our people? I tell you today, that, it is only the right people that can transform this country Nigeria because I believe that there is more power in the people than the people in power. So, it is going to be a collective responsibility in one voice. As for me I will not relent to advocate for the truth. Nigeria is a possibility. OSDF: You are warming and preparing to run for the House of Representatives come 2015. What is the motivational factor behind this? OLADEJO: Well, I have travelled far and wide; I have been to USA and many countries in

Europe. Last two month, I took a bus from Vienna to London en route Austria, Germany, Belgium, and France. The set up in these countries are appealing and interesting. It is made by the people. We can also do it. I said this before, that Nigeria is one of the most blessed countries in the world. So, we can change Nigeria to a nation of reckoning on the globe. Is there anything wrong in being black? No! Nigeria of today, instead of us to celebrate icons, we celebrate scum. Nigeria has potentials, manpower and resources but they are not properly channeled for the benefit of our people. We cannot keep doing it the same way, there must be a new innovation, and change is the solution. Generally speaking, Nigerians are nice people. According to John Maxwell, that two people dominate the word; the thinkers and the doers. I want my people to rise and let us think and reason together, so that we can move our nation forward. No matter how far you have travelled, home is home. We are capable and the resources are there. In this country, we are not only blessed, we are overblessed. We should not allow tiny group of elites to keep mismanaging our resources on swanky and palatial homes, swimming in the ocean of affluence, pocketing our billions, flying here and there. It saddened my heart that in the country of plenty, poverty is the order of the day. I am also poor because I have a lot of dependants and this should not be. OSDF: What should we expect from Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration in his second term? OLADEJO: You know, seeing they say is believing. Aregbesola is an institution, metaphor, matador, paladin, cerebra. Aregbesola, like Baba Awolowo, has a nimble mind and nimble fingers and given Midas touch to all facets of life in the State of Osun. He is not a pretender, he is real, genuine and a genius, he knows his onions, and he knows what his people want. These characteristics are evidences that he means well for the good people of the state. Ogbeni Aregbesola will do more because he wants to leave a legacy that posterity will one day judge him, that in a small town close to Ilesa, a true leader emerged. Actually, most great leaders of the world never came from big cities; President Johnson, even President Barak Obama; they all came from small towns. So, we expect more and more development. Some people are cars and spare parts dealers, while Aregbesola is a dealer in HOPE, “Hold On Pains End”. I am a convinced and die-hard supporter of Ogbeni Aregbesola. His administration has developed shanties into towns and cities. That is why today, State of Osun is wearing a new look. Look at the road network, pupils, farmers’ commerce, O’YES, widows, aged and so on that are enjoying from his good works. All of these and many more he has touched. Aregbesola is working! As a matter of fact, we need him at the center not only in the State of Osun because I know that with few other personalities, he can fix this nation within the space of ten to fifteen years. It is about the passion and vision with

positive thinking to make things work. Though, the doubting Thomas will be talking, but we will not listen to them. By the grace of God, when he leaves after eight years, the people and the entire world will say that a man has come and better the lives of his people. OSDF: What modalities would you assert to carry your people along at the National Assembly? OLADEJO: Thanks for this question. If I am voted as one of the parliamentarians at the House of Representatives, I will ensure that I follow the roles and rules for making laws not only for us at the chamber but the ones that will change the lives of my people for good. Take for instance, we should have genuine federalism. What is the relevance of a police commissioner, who will not take orders from the governor? The affairs and responsibility of a state rest on the shoulders of the governor. When we have true federalism, the states will be more vibrant in the resource control. We have to look inward to see the resources we have and explore them. Chief Obafemi Awolowo did it, he didn’t go to Lagos because all the resources were within the Western Region. Yoruba as a nation, we are number one in the world. I want to be part of change of policy. I have a Foundation running for the past fifteen years, I gave out scholarship to students in my home town, addressing and assisting my people. My philosophy about life is I came to this world with nothing, and I will go back with nothing. The essence of living together as one is to reach out to people looking up to you, by putting smiles on their faces and also give them sense of belonging. That is my kind of person, and it is the project of my life. What I have, I share with my people. In Europe, the law is so powerful. It is better to follow the law for it will constantly put us on check. If Omisore had hijacked the election on that day, you know it was on Saturday, he would have gone to church on Sunday for thanksgiving and the man of God would have preached the glory of God, quote and unquote. Spirituality is good but it is personal. We will get there one day. Power is transient and when you are given power, you are given responsibility because success is so difficult to maintain, for some see power as an avenue to accumulate wealth and to perpetrate evil. No! Power is to serve. This year, I had oscillated five times between Europe and Nigeria. It is a personal sacrifice and I will continue to make sacrifice for this state and Nigeria to be great again. OSDF: What message do you have for the people of the state, especially in your constituency in the forthcoming 2015 general elections? OLADEJO: It is obvious that we did brilliantly well in the last governorship election in the state and it is my joy that the success will be replicated in the 2015 general elections. All Progressives Congress (APC) stands for fairness, equity, genuine transformation, not this shadowy, cosmetic Federal Government’s. The APC logo is spiritual because it is a broom and when you open your Bible to the book of Isaiah 14:23-24, where the party derived its logo from, it tells us how to use broom to wipe out bad influence and unwanted elements in the government. People are labeling APC as an Islamic party. No! Go and read the book of Isaiah. So, in 2015, I don’t think that Nigeria will be the same again because there is going to be a change and APC will take over. Just like what we did in the State of Osun during the August, 9, 2014 gubernatorial poll, I hope that Nigerians will imbibe the same spirit to rise as a people against this torture, against people that forbid us to live well, then, Nigeria will begin to see the light of the day and a new song will be heard in our dwellings, for a new dawn has come. It is time for better things to come because we cannot continue this way. They have made us foreigners in our own country, we are in pains, and there is a gap between the government and the governed. We are almost in shattered slavery. The dry bones must rise again but with our collective responsibilities. Enough of this butter and bread politics! Let there be abundance for all. It is ungodly and inhuman to in flinch injuries on us. God is not to be blamed. I granted an interview during our mega rally before the August 9th governorship election, that the election is going to be between heaven and hell, whether we are going to hell or heaven, but God answered our prayer because our people stood. So, the same way, I want them to stand for the general elections. The 2015 election must be a milestone in paradigm shift. We must embrace new things; there must be redemption for this country. Insecurity is staring at us every day. Nigerians must be on guard in 2015 for the beginning of a new era.

FEATURE

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

CAN Full Of Worms, A Country Full Of Warts!

EFORE now, he minimally knew about Nigeria other than its name. He befriended no Nigerian aside the few he stumbled across in his ministerial assignments as a preacher. But in recent times, Joe, my white American friend has learnt so much about my country and its people that he now believes he is more equipped than a Nigerian Professor of History or any Nigerian alive, about all that is in Nigeria’s past, present, and what will be in the future. That was his confession. Joe’s acuity about our country’s stories was acquired through Facebook where he is connected to me as a friend, and in turn to many others he has never met and may never meet. He follows our arguments about issues and according to him; he laughs his head off reading many of our opinions. Joe summed up Nigeria and Nigerians in this short American Southern sentential submission; “y’all gat some mess up in there”. He is right. Nigeria has a messy past, a messier present, and a gawky; gaucherie future except our God shows His mercy. What have got many giving up hope are events we see all around us in everyday Nigeria. This country has become a cesspool of ludicrousness and ridiculousness, a cesspit of laughability and farcicality, and a cistern through which all things miasmic and mephitic flow. Government after government, it appears as if we are in a quotidian navigation through the noxious vicinage and nauseating neighbourhood of the nonsensical and the absurd. And writing or blowing out your larynx in a scream for a change looks like shadowboxing and sciamachical strain, stress, and stab. Friday September 5th 2014, a Bombardier Challenger 600, with a Nigerian flight crew headed for Johannesburg in South Africa. The jet became a flying cash-vault and strongroom brimmed up with undeclared raw cash that totaled $9.3 million. Mission was to purchase arms and ammunition for some agency of the Nigerian Federal Government as it continues chasing Boko Haram from pillar to post in its newly-sculpted caliphate. So, reinforcement was needed from xenophobic South-Africans because all routes to the Western World to purchase ammunitions for Nigeria are full of booby-traps and suspicions of money-laundering by Nigerian government apparatchiks. On board was an Abuja Israeli man, Eyal Mesika, who was the only man with the combinations to open the lock on the suit cases containing the cash. Arriving Johannesburg, the cover was blown. When covers are blown in deals that have to do with money in Nigeria, it means someone in the deal is probably been edged and schemed out from the booty; and what follows is always crying and gnashing of ugly teeth

•STRONG-ROOM JET By FOLA OJO

of obstreperousness. Between the couriers of the cash and the Nigerian diplomats in South Africa, something happened, but we don’t know what it was. Some day, we will find out the truth. It was the known truth that got someone talking to the media about the dingy deal. The shock in the whole drama was the mode of transfer of the whooping sum and the initial responses of our government. It was both risible and daffy when we read that the government belives money- transfer through a jet would deliver faster than going through the Central Bank. The purchase of the ammunition was so urgent in the thought of those responsible for this irresponsibility that the government chose not to make the transfer via the Central Bank but through a pastor’s private pet jet. The jet must have been so anointed with some kind of miracle-oil that, in a holy-rolling of sort, it can cover a 3,000 miles journey between Lagos and Johannesburg and deliver money faster than a Bank Wire Transfer would in minutes. If this is not a jejune jabbering from a polemic whippersnapper; if this is not a farrago of bunkum and absurd verbiage, I wonder what then it is. These are some of the stories the world reads about the giant of Africa that makes it look like a divagate gallimaufry of ridicule and loutishness. Warts of weird behaviours are found in all crevices of our government, and stench is locked up in all nooks and cranny. God must come to Nigeria’s rescue. The man or woman who knew the

•ORITSEJAFOR

truth then dropped the name of a man of God. It was Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the head of all Christians in Nigeria under the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the sole owner of the flying cash-vault and strong-room jet. I and many all over the world have drawn and learnt from the man of God’s teachings and expository prowess of the infallible word of the living God. Oh, how I love Pastor Ayo! I wish the nightcrawling money transfer had not taken place on his jet, or any other jet belonging to a man of God. I wish the money had not been transferred on Pastor Ayo’s jet because all of us Christians now have to defend what I believe is totally indefensible. I wish Pastor Ayo will just leave these politicians alone and preside over CAN in a noble and decent manner, not running back-and-forth genuflecting before politicians in pursuit of wealth that has wings. As a servant of God, I always cringe in shame when scandals regarding anointed men brew up; I have to attempt sharpening my debate skills to confront some of my friends who think Pentecostalism and Pentecostal pastors are just a bunch of unemployed lowlifes and unemployable barracudas who just love to extort and manipulate both the highs and the lows in the society with perfected Pentecostal abracadabra. Pastor Ayo is a great man of God, but he is now perceived in recent times as a man of glittering gold and blinking bling. The leasing and sub-leasing of the jet is obviously an attempt to make extra cash to maintain the jet. I wish Pastor had found another way of maintaining the toy. If he cannot maintain the jet, he

should not retain it. You cannot retain what you cannot maintain. I wish gun-running, dirty-deals, money-trafficking under the cover of the night had not been part of how Pastor Ayo’s ministry is now defined. But, it has happened, and it’s not a happenstance. Any kind of romance between pastors and Nigerian politicians may surely land big and heavy bags of free money, but it will always land you in a heavy pile of trouble especially as CAN president. When a CAN president is in conjugal conjoining, lovey-dovey dance-steps with Nigerian politicians, it will spring a carbuncle that may never heal. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that Pastor Ayo presides over has become a CAN of worms that many Christians have kept an arm’s length from since Pastor Ayo became president. The Catholic Church has pulled out, and many others are also tinkering with the same idea. We know Pastor Ayo is an unapologetic supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan, and that is well. But he cannot drag millions of his members who don’t believe what he believes regarding politics. He has every right to do that with the church he founded, not CAN that is a rallying umbrella for all Christians in Nigeria who have differing political swings. There is no doubt that this present leadership of CAN is full of worms, and it will be a great move if Pastor Ayo stepped aside. Doing otherwise with all the foofaraw we have now is kicking the CAN down the road. •OJO, a Pastor, lives in the United States.

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

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INTERVIEW

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

PDP’s Election Petition, A Waste Of Time – APC In this interview with ALLWELL OKPI, the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy for the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, says the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party at the Osun election tribunal is unnecessary

hat is happening now at the election tribunal in Osun State? Though, I’m not part of the team of lawyers representing the government and the APC, what I can tell you is that what is before the tribunal now is the inspection of elections materials, especially the ballot papers. The tribunal has permitted the APC and the PDP to inspect the election materials. For now that is what is going on. Is it true that Governor Rauf Aregbesola tried to evade service of the court order? When you have an order to serve the other party, what you do is go to the person and serve him. You know where he lives; you know where his office is. It’s so unfortunate that the lawyers that are representing the PDP are just playing politics. The fact is that they are the ‘petitioners, it is a known fact that when you are the petitioner, the court will ask you to go and serve the other. That is not the reason for them to make issues out of nothing. Why are they going to the press to talk nonsense? It’s absolute nonsense; it doesn’t exist. How have they been able to serve others? I heard they have served the other parties. The governor is available any day. He is available in his office; he is available in the Government House and they say he is trying to evade service. Did they try at all? That is what the tribunal chairman should have asked them, No reasonable person will listen to such argument. The PDP said INEC is colluding with your party to delay the inspection of election material and other processes of the tribunal. Before the election, they told the whole world that if Ambassador Rufus Akeju, the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, was allowed to conduct the election of August 9, the outcome of the

election would not be accepted because Akeju was accused of being bias. To allow the process to have some credibility, INEC allowed the man to proceed on his annual leave. They brought in Segun Agbaje, and he conducted the election, did Aregbesola not win? Despite this, the same PDP still accused Agbaje of colluding with us. If the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, came to Osun to conduct the election, this PDP would have still accused Jega of colluding with us. In which way do you want to please them? If they lose election they say the umpire colluded with our party. Are they saying they have the popularity of Aregbesola? But why does the APC want the chairman of the election tribunal changed? One way or the other, they wrote a petition against the first chairman and somehow, the PDP in Abuja and the PDP in the judiciary, removed him and replaced him with somebody who had given a judgement against the Action Congress of Nigeria (now part of the APC) then in Kogi. The ACN at that time wrote a petition to the National Judicial Council about the judgement but it was not looked into. We have experienced this man in Kogi and we remember what he did and we complained about what he did how can we now believe that he would be fair in this case? The PDP said the election was manipulated in 17 local government areas. Did any monitoring team see anything? Those who are credible election monitors said the election was free and fair, so where did they get their report from? People should commend Aregbesola and the APC for what happened in Osun State on August 9, 2014. The federal might spent everything in their possession to take over the state, but it was not possible. The APC has no godfather other than God Almighty and that God

•OYATOMI played his role. What is this noise about Aregbesola rigging the election? He couldn’t have rigged it with the presence of all the security forces offered by the Federal Government; 73, 000 of them. If you distribute the 73, 000 security agents among 3010 polling units, you will get about 25 per polling unit. This 73, 000 came to meet about 30,000 security agents previously on ground. That means you are talking about over 100, 000 security agents for one election. In the face of this, the good people of Osun came out and voted and some people are now making noise about what happened. Let me tell you, out of the election material they have

inspected so far, they have not seen even one election result paper that was not signed and stamped by INEC and all the agents present. These people are just busybodies. They are wasting the peoples’ time; they are wasting INEC’s time, they are wasting the time of the people of Osun State who want to move ahead. Mind you, the plot to cause trouble will be taken care of. They can’t go far. We don’t have the kind of power they have. They have the power of soldiers, police, Department of State Security but with all of that, they got nothing. •Culled from THE PUNCH

PHOTOTALK

Hon Azeez Bayo Oyekanmi, Commissioner 1 At Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), Declared His Intention To Contest The House Of Representatives’ Seat In Ila/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro Federal Constituency Last Thursday.

•Alhaji Azeez Bayo Oyekanmi, addressing APC executives and members at OtanAyegbaju, State of Osun, last Thursday where he declared his intention to represent Ila/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives during the 2015 general elections..

•Oyekanmi and his numerous supporters shortly after his declaration in front of the APC office at Otan-Aiyegbaju.

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AUDACIOUS EXPLOIT

ANBABA Suntai is the elected governor of Taraba State in the North-East geo-political zone of Nigeria. He was involved in a plane mishap sometime in October, 2012 when he decided to fly himself. Suntai has been to hospitals in the United States of America (USA) and of late in Britain to take care of his health. By every stretch of imagination, the ailing governor is not fully fit healthwise to continue with the task of governance in his state. However, his political acolytes and friends, rather than push for his full recovery, are more interested in his political manoeuvre. Since Suntai crashlanded on October 25th 2012, in Yola, Adamawa State, life has not been the same for the 53-year old administrator. In spite of his current state of health, his political menders, who still need him in their political schisms, have been pushing him around. He has been in his present condition for the past two years, which means the mantle of government leadership automatically falls on the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Garba, who incidentally is not in the good book of the governor. According to the sycophants around the ailing pharmacist-turned politician, his deputy wants to have a shot at the governorship slot next year. There is now a mutual distrust between the governor and his deputy, who is acting. Nigerians would recall that similar situation transpired between the late President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and President, then Vice-President, Goodluck Jonathan. The National Assembly had to step in with the Doctrine of Necessity to allow, Jonathan to function as the Acting President. This shows the extent to which we covet power. Political power, the ultimate aphrodisiac is coveted by everybody because of the influence, control and the overriding benefit it bestows on the holder. The defective system we operate makes it even more compelling. The presidential system bestows more powers on the chief executives, either as president or governors. They are the leaders of their parties and they are also the leaders of governments. In practical terms, it translates to the fact that when the chief executive sneezes, the whole state catches cold. Whether you like it or not, you have to be in the good book of the chief executive. The president or the governor dispenses favour at will and one has to be in his good book to be a beneficiary. A politician once summarized the power nexus thus, a

with MURTALA AGBOOLA TEL: 0806-119-7897 E-mail: murtalamuag@yahoo.com

Suntai As A Metaphor

•DANBABA

fifteen minute chance meeting with a governor can change the fortune of a person’s life forever. This tells you how powerful and influential officials in government are. For this reason, people would want to do anything and everything to get power and maintain it at all cost. Power, while you hold it, is so pervasive and pervading that you shudders to imagine it to go away from you. Once in the corridor of power, a person becomes relevant. Little wonder that some people have been in the corridors of power since independence and still hold sway today in public sphere. In a developing country as ours, where political, rather than economic power, determines everything, the desire for the acquisition of elective power is very strong.

It is the strong desire for power that makes some individuals to shift base or political loyalty from the one they are known for, to another one. The late Waziri of Ilorin,AlhajiAbubakar Olusola Saraki was the Senate President in the Second Republic. He belonged to the conservative school of politics. He installed his stalwarts at will. In the second republic (1979 and 1983), he put up Alhaji Adamu Attah of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) as the gubernatorial candidate. He won convincingly. By 1983, the strongman of Kwara politics had fallen apart with Attah. Even though, the NPN represented Attah, he was trounced by the candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Mr Cornelius Adebayo, because Saraki asked all his supporters to vote for him. In the fourth republic, he started off with the All Peoples Party

(APP), which later became All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and ended up in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While in the APP, he won Kogi and Kwara States for the party. Commodore Mohammed Lawal (retd) won the gubernatorial election in Kwara, while Alhaji (Prince) Audu Abubakar won in Kogi. By the time he left for PDP, his candidates on the ticket of the party won in both states. In his life time, Oloye, as he was popularly called, had his daughter, Ms Gbemisola Saraki, who represented Kwara Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, while his son, Dr Bukola Saraki, was a twotime governor of Kwara State. Jokingly, people said Saraki owned Kwara and that his wishes were the command of the people. In the State of Osun, Otunba Isiaka Adeleke, can be likened to Saraki. Wherever Adeleke turned to, his people would follow him. He contested and won election as the first Executive Governor of the State of Osun. In the fourth republic, he started with the APP, where his loyalist, Honourable Adejare Bello became the Minority Leader in the State House of Assembly. He later joined the PDP from where he switched loyalty to the APC. As a result of that, the APC won the Osun West Senatorial district convincingly in the last gubernatorial election. His influence spreads to Ejigbo and Iwo besides his foothold in Ede, his home town. There are others too who have gone into political oblivion because they switched camp. In conclusion it is my firm belief that if relatives and friends of Suntai want to be of assistance to him, they should take care of his health first. All other things are secondary. But fundamentally, would Nigerians learn any lesson from the two cases narrated above? Certainly no, because power in Nigeria provides everything. As at the time of going to press, the State House of Assembly has been restrained from setting up a committee made up of medical experts to determine whether Suntai is permanently incapacitated to function as a governor. Whether the committee is set up or not, if the ailing governor is strong enough, the acting governor cannot stand in his way to function. My candid advice to the wife, children and true friends is that they should fix his health first before considering any political relevance. When the chips are down, those who grandstand as his true friends today would abandon him.

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.