www.osundefender.org
THE
6TH
sunday, january 4, 2015
Quote “Look at what we did in Osun State. In Osun, we had the best election conducted so far; the best election we have conducted so far as a commission since 2011.” • Quote from Professor Attahiru Jega’s interview in The Guardian of Wed. Oct. 29 (2nd part of a series that •Jega started on the 28th).
M O S T- V I S I T E D
NEWS-
VOL. 10. NO.02
N50
Front Page Comment
Second Term: More Committed Hands In Governmen
For the first four years of Ogbeni Aregbesola administration which will soon wind up there is cause to glorify
God. Of course there is no disputing the fact that his first tenure is a success story. At Osun Defender we are happy that
Ogbeni was able to record tangible achievements within the first tenure even in spite of the enormous Continue on pg6
Look Forward To A More Rewarding 2015 - Aregbesola
•Assures Osun People Of More Development
- See Story On Page 3
A Vote For Buhari ‘ll End Corruption- Pg 4 - Ex-Speaker
Osun Speaker Charges - Pg 5 On Self-sufficiency Aregbesola’s Wife Mourns Late Ataoja’s - Pg 3
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat, watching fire works during the displaying of fire works to welcome New Year 2015 at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State Of Osun, organised by the governor, last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
Osun Enters 2015 With World Tallest Gong
- See Story On Page 5
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Osun Defender Sunday, January 4,
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Osun Defender Sunday, January 4, 2015
Look Forward To A More Rewarding 2015 - Aregbe•Assures Osun People Of More Development
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By kehinde ayantunji
he Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has urged the people of the state to look forward to a more rewarding year in 2015. He also called on Aregbesola, according Nigerians to use the occasion t o a p r e s s s t a t e m e n t of the New Year to pray for by the Director, Bureau the continued existence of of Communication and the country as it enters the Strategy in the Office of election year.
the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, noted that Year 2015 would engender more development, peace and prosperity for the citizenry. The governor stressed that what Osun had witnessed in the first four years of the administration would be a child’s play
to what will be witnessed in the second phase of his government. He assured the people of Osun of good governance, which will surpass previous achievements, not minding the economic hardship the Federal Government’s strangulating allocation
tactics has caused Osun in recent times. The governor said: “As we enter into the New Year, I urge the people of Osun to look forward to more rewarding and brighter days ahead. “In addition to sustaining our efforts at developing and renewing the infrastructure of our state, in the Year 2015, we will focus more on expanding the economy of the state and concentrate efforts on creating wealth for our people. “I congratulate the good people of Osun and the entire people of Nigeria for navigating through what has been a very turbulent year, considering the frightening security situation,” the governor emphasised. He urged the people to be grateful to God for His mercies and abundant
blessings and be prayerful that the New Year will be better than the previous one. The governor also enjoined the people of the state to demonstrate the virtues of love in all they do, think and say to promote peaceful and harmonious coexistence. Aregbesola assured that his administration would remain focused in its commitment to make a difference by putting the state on a high pedestal among the committee of states in the country. He called on the citizens to be patriotic and pray for the nation as it enters 2015, noting that prayers and patriotism were essential ingredients in the nation’s efforts to strengthen its democracy and entrench peace and development.
Emulate Prophet Muhammed - Osun Speaker Urges Muslims
•Wife of State of Osun governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, carrying a first baby of the year in Osun. With them are her parents, Mr and Mrs Adekunle Rauf (right) and the Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board, State of Osun, Mrs Ajayi Omolara (left), during governor’s wife’s visit to the first baby of the year 2015 at Healthcare Centre, Ijugbe, Oke-Eso, Ode-Omu, last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
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By kazeem mohammed
he Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, has tasked Muslim leaders and faithful to pattern their lives after the teaching and deed of Prophet Muhammed (SAW) which is an open book on honesty, love and peaceful coexistence. Butika, Salaam said the In a statement issued by Muslim faithful in all parts his spokesman, Mr. Goke of the country have to prove to the people of other faith that Quran and the deeds of the prophet have nothing to do with violence and other vices by condemning the blackmail of the insurgents doing everything possible of the North called Boko Haram more. to address it. Salaam said the effort “We shall resolve this to put Boko Haram in the and return the smile to the category of mere terrorists faces of those affected, not Islamist should be especially workers in the concerted, and leaders of in Islam should state. We shall deploy all thought continue to speak against our God-given resources, the raging madness in the human and material, to North East under the guise shore up our revenue of working for Allah. According to him, the base.” misconduct of the sect has no root in the Quran and hadith. The parliamentarian then asked the Islamic preachers to latch on the virtue of Prophet Muhammed by spreading the gospel of Misitura Matanmi eternal peace and godliness devoid rest. of hate speeches. While responding on He observed that behalf of the family, Mrs Muhammed rose against Rasidat Boade, appreciated selfish interest when he all those who commiserated protected the rights and of non-Muslims with the family, praying privileges in Medina when he presided that God would reward over its affairs as Head of them positively. State, and extended love Among the dignitaries and compassion to the that graced the occassion pagans who persecuted were Deputy Speaker of the him in Mecca, before they State House of Assembly, voluntarily chose to practise Honourable Akintunde Islam. Salaam urged leaders of Adegboye, and his wife; faith in all divides to take cue Chief Imam of Osogboland, from the prophet. Alhaji Musa Animasahun The speaker also felicitated and wives of legislators in with Muslim faithful on the commemoration of the state among others. the birth of Great Prophet Muhammed.
We ‘ll Not Be Slowed Down By Unpleasant Federal Allocation - Aregbesola •Says His Second Term ‘ll Surpass The First
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he Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that his administration will do everything possible to ensure that it’s not slowed down in any way by the unpleasant financial weather. The governor in a New governments and people Year broadcast held that of the states affected. his government is poised “I want to call on you all to meet and surpass the to be vigilant and securitytarget it has set for the conscious. Please, report development of the state. all suspicious activities Aregbesola also noted and strange behaviours that ongoing projects capable of undermining in road construction security of lives to the and rehabilitation will police, security agencies continue, even as new a n d o t h e r r e l e v a n t ones will commence authorities. where necessary. “We look forward to Recounting happenings the New Year with hope in the Year 2014, the and courage. We shall governor pointed out the do everything possible year was one with financial to ensure that we are not challenges like no other, slowed down in any way when allocation from the by the inclement financial federation account dipped weather,” Aregbesola to less than 25 per cent of emphasised. what the state used to get. The governor urged He said: “The Year 2014 Nigerians to take wise witnessed an unmatched electoral decisions that u p s u rg e i n se c t a ri a n would redirect Nigeria violence and wanton into peace, prosperity destruction of lives and and safety, away from the property in some states current course of chaos, in the northern part of the insecurity and poverty, country. come February general “ T h i s i s m o s t elections. regrettable. I will like Aregbesola charged to express our heart- those that are yet to collect felt condolences to the their permanent voters’ cards to collect it at the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s offices at the various local government council areas. He stressed that Osun has learnt in the past four years to brace up to the responsibility of developing the state, by generating its own income through productivity to create wealth for the people. The governor said:
“We must brace up to the responsibility of developing our state, generate our own income through productivity and wealth creation and change the culture of dependency on others for our sustenance. “In the last couple of months, some of you have had to endure hardship and make sacrifices on account of dwindling income. This is unusual and we are
Aregbesola’s Wife Mourns Late Ataoja’s Wife
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By kazeem mohammed
ife of the Governor of the State of Osun, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, has described the death of Olori Misitura Oyewale Matanmi as a great loss to the family. Mrs Aregbesola stated this in Osogbo during the fidau held for the deceased at St. Mark Commercial High School Playing Ground, Osogbo, the state capital. The wife of the governor, who commiserated with the family, stressed that the late Misitura led a life of substance that is worth of emulation.
She said the death of the deceased would leave a big vacuum in the family. Mrs Aregbesola, who was accompanied by the wife of the immediatepast Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola, prayed that God would give the family, the fortitude to bear the loss. She also prayed that God should grant Olori
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Osun Defender Sunday, January
A Vote For Buhari ‘ll End Corruption - Ex-Speak-
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By abosede akinpelu
ormer Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, who is also the candidate for House of Representatives for Ejigbo/ Egbedore/ Ede Federal Constituency on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Professor Mojeed Alabi, has urged the people of the state to cast their votes en-masse for the party’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and his running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, during the February general elections. He also pledged his into the National Assembly. commitment to add more Alabi, who spoke in values to the well-being Ede during his tour of of the populace of the Ede-North and Ede South constituency, if elected Local Government Council
areas of the state, said that the former Head of State and APC presidential candidate, General Buhari (rtd) remains a personality of good profile and integrity that would bring the muchneeded change towards the growth of the country. According to him: “Buhari, being a disciplined person, is endowed with talents and exposure that are capable of tackling the nation’s hydra-headed problems.” He said: “It is disheartening that the
people of the country have not been enjoying good governance under the PDPled administration in the past 15 years and it now behoves on the people of the country to use their votes to vote the PDP government out, so as to move the nation forward. “I have the feelings and commitment that General Buhari remains the only presidential candidate that can make a new change that would usher-in new economic prosperity and
political development for the people of the country.” Alabi added that the people of the state and other states of the federation should rally round the APC presidential candidate, and his running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, by coming out en masse to vote for them during the elections. The House of Representatives’ candidate stressed that the votes cast for them during the poll would go a long way in bringing more needed dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the populace. Alabi then assured the people of Ejigbo/ Egbedore/ Ede-North/ Ede-South Federal Constituency of the state of good governance through robust legislation that would add values to the well-being of the constituency if elected into the National Assembly.
He stressed that he would use all his exposures and talents to bring needed growth to the constituency, so as to put the constituency in a world map. Alabi also used the campaign tours to call on the people of the two council areas, Ejigbo and Egbedore, to cast their votes for the former governor of the state and Osun West senatorial candidate in the election, Senator Isiaka Adeleke. He therefore, promised to bring federal presence to the constituency, so that the people of the area can have more access to good governance and employment opportunities.
Mrs Aregbesola Urges Parents To Care For Children •Presents Gifts To Baby Of The Year ife of the Governor of the State of Osun,
W •The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (in white) commissioning the tallest bell in the world in Osogbo during the Fire Works Display To Welcome New Year 2015 At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State Of Osun, last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, has urged parents to be more focussed in the care of their wards, describing them as diamonds that must be properly cared for. She gave the advice The Baby of the Year after visiting the “2015 2015 was born at about Osun Baby of the Year” 12.02 am to the family at the Primary Health- of Mr. Rauf Adekunle, care Centre, Ijugbe-Oke- a driver and Mrs. Bisola Eso, Odeomu in Ayedaade Adekunle. Local Government Council Mrs Aregbesola, who Area of the state. noted that children are God’s gifts and leaders of tomorrow, said taking care of their welfare should be paramount to the parents stressed. and the society at large. “Our children are the leaders of tomorrow. They are our diamonds and that is why I am advising parents to be more focused in taking proper care of them. “Their education, their health and everything that would give our children brighter future must be done. “While the government is working tirelessly to guarantee brighter future state, rather than confront, are for the young ones in terms engaging the state government of sound education, parents on ways to boost the revenue generation capacity and look must not neglect their roles inward for alternative sources on their children,” she said. Mrs Aregbesola then of funding.” The statement assured the prayed God to bless and NLC that it had one of the most protect the new baby workers-friendly governors, adding that the government and her parents, even as is irrevocably committed to cash and other gifts were the welfare of workers even presented to the baby. in spite of the fast-dwindling Responding, the father resources. and mother of the new It said that with a dip of the baby were full of gratitude allocation to the state from N4.6billion to N1.1billion, to the wife of the governor the state government deserved for her gesture, saying the kudos for the creative way it gesture has again given the has managed the economy less-privileged a sense of without collapsing. belonging. They also commended the state government for the various developmental projects going on in the state, while praying for the success of the administration.
Eid-Maolud: Lawmaker Urges Muslims To Emulate Prophet Muhammed By shina abubakar
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other candidate. “I am calling on the people of the state to remain hopeful that Year 2015 would be a year of manifest glory, while we should all continue to cooperate with government towards ensuring that it delivers on all its promises. “It is also time we take our destiny into our hands, especially as we head into the 2015 general elections, we
he legislator representing Olorunda State Constituency in the State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Waseeu Adebayo, has called on Muslims in the state to emulate the virtues of Prophet Mohammed in all their relationship in the society. He made this call while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER He called on Nigerians to last Friday to commemorate use their power of franchise to this year’s Eid-Maolud. He said Muslims must vote for General Muhammad inculcate the habit of being B u h a r i ( r t d ) , w h o s e j u s t t o a l l m a n n e r s o f commitment to changing people, irrespective of their the present comatose in the religious beliefs or cultural country is unrivalled by any backgrounds. According to the lawmaker, Prophet Muhammed exemplified the highest By bolanle babalola level of tolerance, love and understanding, which every tate of Osun government on Thursday rejected the Muslim is expected to exhibit classification of the state among those with the worst in their dealings with others in record in salaries payment. the society. I t a s k e d t h e N i g e r i a body of many of the trade He challenged all Muslims Labour Congress (NLC) unions has initiated a move to make it a duty to ensure to allow its state council to to partner with the state of that the society becomes a provide it with reliable and Osun on how to sustain the better place for all to live and verifiable information about state as a result of falling should remain dedicated to the government/workers allocation from the Federation ensuring that peace reign in relationship. Account, the national office their various communities. D i r e c t o r , B u r e a u o f is singing discordant tunes Adebayo stressed the Communication and Strategy, by erroneously listing the importance of ensuring Office of the Governor, Mr. state among states with “antip e a c e f u l c o - e x i s t e n c e Semiu Okanlawon, said in a workers” postures. among community dwellers statement that if the national “May we inform the NLC as a means of attracting office of the NLC had made that workers in Osun can attest development, while urging efforts to get the accurate to the unparalleled pro-workers residents of the state to sustain information on the state of disposition of this government the relative peace currently affairs between the workers right from inception. At a time existing in the state. and the state government, it when many states had started In his New Year message, would not have listed Osun owing their workers up to five the lawmaker counselled the among states to be served months salaries, Osun, despite people of the state to remain strike notice over unpaid its very meagre allocation hopeful that Nigeria would salaries. as the 34th on the allocation be great again, especially “We find it curious that at ladder then, had continued to as the country heads into a time that the state council of meet its obligations by paying another rounds of elections the NLC which is the umbrella as at when due. We can say in February.
must not sell our conscience or trade our voters’ cards, because it is the only power we have to participate in the electoral process. “We must be wise in exercising this power, by ensuring that we vote for a president that can bring about change in the current mess Nigeria has found itself. I also urge the electorate to vote for APC in all elections come February,” the lawmaker
Osun Rejects NLC’s Claim On Salaries
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categorically that no state in Nigeria can boast of the records of paying salaries by 26th of every month before the pang of their painful reductions in allocation began to bite harder,” the statement added. Setting the records straight, the statement denied Osun is owing up to three month salaries as contained in the allegation by the NLC saying if the state had paid up to October at least, it would be wrong for the NLC to conclude Osun is among states owing “between three to eight months salaries.” While advising the NLC to verify its claims from the state council well, it reminded the congress that Osun has a rich history of pro-workers dispositions which has been attested to by all workers in the state. “This has been the basis of the cordial working relationship because the labour in Osun. “This is why workers in our
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Osun Defender Sunday, January 4, 2015
Osun ‘ll Survive Current Financial Challenges - APC •NCP Advocates Free, Fair Elections
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he All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, on Thursday, assured the people of the state that the party and the government will continue to do its best to conquer the current financial challenges as a result of dwindling federal allocation. The party said the state effects of the financial will survive and limit the austerity.
By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI
Chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun, said this while speaking with journalists during the new year celebration at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo, the state capital, on Thursday.
According to him, the state is, no doubt, faced with the toughest financial challenges in 2014 since the inception of the present administration, saying it has been so tough and rough since the beginning
of the year. Famodun however, said the party has confidence in the ability of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to stabilize the system this year, promising that the challenges will soon be a thing of the past.
doorsteps. So, let us make the use of the opportunity of the election to reshape our political landscape. “We can do this by voting out bad governance, which has characterised the PDP government at all levels. We need to embrace change and support development of our fatherland by voting for General Muhamadu
Buhari, the APC presidential candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. “The coming election is a major event in this year and the decision we make on the election day is going to shape our personal lives till 2019. So, we must get it right and vote for a better Nigeria, which the APC
stands for.” Ogunkanmi promised that the APC would not in any way disappoint Nigerians, as the party would stick to and implement it’s manifestos at every level of government the electorate trust the party with.
2015: A Year That Will Reshape Nigeria’s Political History
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By ismaeel uthman
he Executive Secretary, Ayedire Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun, Mr Gbenga Ogunkanmi, has described 2015 as a year that will positively shape the political landscape of Nigeria. Ogunkanmi said the a year with uncommon Ye a r 2 0 1 5 p r e s e n t s opportunities, one of opportunity for Nigerians, which is the forthcoming with the forthcoming general elections. It general elections, to is a one-in-four-year right the wrongs and o p p o r t u n i t y a t o u r detach themselves from poverty, unemployment, i n s e c u r i t y , underdevelopment, hospitals every first By kazeem mohammed infrastructural decay, week of the New Year economy collapse, among he Speaker of the State of Osun House to identify with the sick other problems facing of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, them. has charged Nigerians to take their According to him, collective destiny into their hands by rising Nigerians could detach above what the government could offer them, themselves from the but what they could offer the nation. problems by voting for He said the nation also charged Nigerians the All Progressives C o n g r e s s ( A P C ) appears to have failed to be their brothers’ and presidential candidate, the citizens as a result sisters’ keepers, noted G e n e r a l M u h a m o d u of some factors ranging B u h a r i ( r t d ) i n t h e from bad leadership, that the wealthy should forthcoming presidential collapse of national endeavour to show kindness to the haveselection. value and the culture not, the infirmed and H e s p o k e i n h i s of cutting corners. the disadvantaged, by New Year message on S p e a k i n g t o checking out on them T h u r s d a y, w h e r e h e emphasised the need for journalists in Ejigbo, occasionally to share Nigerians to come out his home town, while their excruciating pain en-masse and vote for visiting some hospitals and love, saying this change and development to check on the sick to was the basis for his of the country, which he mark the New Year, he visit to the hospitals. said could only happen, urged the people to take He stressed that when the APC takes over to self-discovery for that he chose to visit •salaam the Federal Government. sufficiency. The Executive According to him, Secretary maintained that people could no longer Osun, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo wait for a government and other states being ruled by the APC are t h a t p r o m o t e s t h e good examples of what interest of the few, noting By kehinde ayantunji governance is and what that the peoples’ power resides in the ballot the party is capable of he State of Osun on Thursday celebrated doing at the federal level. and that unscrupulous the New Year in a new dimension with a “The APC states are leaders at all levels big standing gong adjudged to be the tallest where you see good must be punished in in the world. governance in place, the forthcoming general The state governor, year, while the cultural w h e r e d i v i d e n d s o f elections. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, dancers also added colour democracy are available Lamenting the alleged in the presence of the to the celebration. for all; where there is collapse of economy mammoth crowd at the Speaking, at the peace and security; where that has crippled the Nelson Mandela Freedom ceremony, Governor there is genuine and Park, unveiled the gong, Aregbesola called on visible development and allocations accruing which was knocked at the people to use 2015 to the states, Salaam transformation, unlike exactly 12.00 midnight general elections to the President Goodluck regretted that the issue to mark the beginning of rescue Nigeria from what Jonathan transformation of economy has been a the New Year. he described as Peoples pawn on the chessboard agenda,” he said. The gong, according to D e m o c r a t i c P a r t y ’s Ogunkanmi stated that of bad politicking. the governor, is a major (PDP) bondage since Year 2015 is presenting H e c h a r g e d t h e culture and tourism 1999. a o n e - i n - f o u r - y e a r Federal Government to initiative that will attract A r e g b e s o l a opportunity to Nigerians be more accountable, to be free from bad transparent, and allow Yoruba race across the appreciated the people of the state for their governance offered by the states to develop world to the state. After prayers and support last year, most the Peoples Democratic without interference unveiling of the gong, especially, for re-electing Party ( PDP), which had in-line with the notion the usual fireworks him in the August 9, 2014 underdeveloped Nigeria. were light to mark the governorship election He said: “2015 is not of federalism. Speaker Salaam, who beginning of the new despite intimidation and just a New Year, it is
Osun Speaker Charges On Self-sufficiency
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and less-privileged, and to see how he could walk his talk.
He then urged the people to vote for APC presidential candidate, General Muhammd Bhuari (rtd), who he described as the agent of change that will bail out Nigeria from poverty and economic porosity. He therefore, solicited the support of the people in the 2015 general elections to vote for National and State Assembly candidates of the APC. Also speaking, the National Deputy Chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Comrade Whaeed Lawal, said what Nigeria expects in 2015 is free and fair election that will reflect the wish of the people. L a w a l t h e n u rg e d the people of the state to be resilient and determined to enthrone the government of their choice at all levels and called on the security agencies and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free and fair elections. He also called on the Federal Government to double its efforts in securing the lives and property of the people, who are victims of insurgency in the Northern part of the country. He however, encouraged the people of the state to always work for the progress and development of the state in 2015 for the state to sustain its status as the leading light in progressive politics.
Osun Enters 2015 With World Tallest
•Aregbesola Urges People To Rescue Nigeria From PDP
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harassment from the PDP. The governor described 2015 as a critical year for Nigeria in taking decision that will better the lots of the country. He said: “ 2015 is a year of decision for Nigeria, to end corrupt and visionless government at the centre, which has destroyed virtually everything in the country. There is no alternative to Nigeria’s development than voting out PDP. “Our major assignment this year is to ensure that in February 2015 is to elect All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate and ensure victory for all the State and National
Assembly candidates of APC in the state.” He reiterated that the PDP has nothing to show for its stay in power since 1999 and Nigerians must unite this year to vote it out in the general interest of the country. The governor assured the people that APC would end poverty, hunger and unemployment in the country if elected into presidency this year. The governor also assured the people that Osun will survive the current challenges, witness development in 2015 and continue to be a leading example in Nigeria.
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Osun Defender Sunday, January 4, 2015
Second Term: More Committed Hands In Government Continued from pg1
tion on the part of Ogfinancial challenges beni is also the factor he faced. No doubt his of committed hands in success in the first ten- his cabinet who walked ure is attributable to his hand in hand with him determination. Detertowards ensuring that he mination to succeed has was able to carry out his been his driving force. vision. To those commitArmed with determina- ted hands we say kudos. tion and focus Ogbeni For as the saying goes ‘a was able to surprise tree can’t make a forest’. cynics. He was able to Surely a visionary leadprove to excuse givers er also needs supportive who had trodden the hands to stand by him in same path before him the course of pushing his that even with little vision through. This is resources good goverwhat we have witnessed nance is a achievable; in the last four years. who had trodden the We have come to know same path before him that a single person canthat even with little not do it all just as the resources good govermaxim we quoted above. nance is a achievable; For a leader to achieve that good governance his set goal committed isn’t a rocket science hands to work with him as the reactionary eleis also a key factor. A ments had always made visionary leader is to set the people to believe. the goal, having done But it’s also important so he needs the help to mention it here that of committed hands to added to determina-
achieve his goal; people who share his vision and are ready to support him to see through it. Therefore as we are looking forward to Ogbeni’s second term there is need to have more committed hands in government. Those that will work for him in his second coming must be committed people. They must be people who will share his vision; people who will be passionate about the development of our dear state just like him. These are the kind of people we are looking forward to, to see in his cabinet during the second term but not ‘we have only come to chop’ stuffs. If some old hands who worked with him in the first tenure would be lucky to make his cabinet again then we expect more commitment from
them. They must not relent. More commitment is expected from them so they can be part of the success story till the end. And for the new hands that will come in we expect them to exhibit the level of commitment that is even greater or more than that of those who have been in government before. Let those who will work with Ogbeni in his second term have it at the back of their mind that commitment - commitment to a cause - is the secret of Ogbeni’s success. He is a leader so passionately committed to the development of our dear state. In spite of the financial huddles he has remained resolute. This is why he has been able to achieve this
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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
Osun Defender Sunday, January 4, 2015
phototalk
Fireworks Display To Welcome New Year 2015 At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State Of Osun, Organised By Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
•(L-R) Deputy Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat.
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•(L-R) State of Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun; Alhaji Waheed Lawal; State of Osun APC Women leader, Alhaja Fakokunde and Mr Wale Adedoyin.
•(L-R) Former APC Chairman in the State of Osun, Elder Lowo Adebiyi and former Chief of Staff in the state, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, on the occasion.
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Osun Defender Sunday, January
Fireworks Display To Welcome New Year 2015 At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State Of Osun, Organised By Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Last Thursday. Photo: GBENGAADENIYI.
•Enthusiastic crowd at the event.
•Fireworks display at the event.
•State of Osun Cultural troop displaying at the event.
•Another firework display on the occasion.
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Osun Defender Sunday, January 4, 2015
Fireworks Display To Welcome New Year 2015 At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State Of Osun, Organised By Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (with mic), addressing enthusiastic crowd while his wife, Sherifat, watches.
•A cross section of the crowd at the event.
•Another firework at the event.
•Another firework display during the programme.
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Osun Defender Sunday, January
Fireworks Display To Welcome New Year 2015 At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State Of Osun, Organised By Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right in glasses) acknowledging cheers from the crowd.
•Fireworks display.
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•Governor Aregbesola (wtih mic), commissioning a gong in commemoration of year 2015, courtesy of the state government. With him is his wife, Sherifat and other dignitaries.
for the records
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Osun Defender Sunday, January 4, 2015
Statement By The Governor Of The State Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At The Break Of New Year On January 1, 2015.
Welcome 2015, The Year Of Courage, Hope And Change y good people of Osun, I congratulate you for seeing the end of the old year, 2014 and the beginning of the New Year, 2015. I must thank you immensely for your unflinching support in the past four years since our administration commenced, especially this past crucial year. The past year was momentous in our history with its opportunities, challenges and triumphs. It was a year of the culmination of our achievements and delivery of democratic dividends during which an unprecedented number of projects were commissioned. This is an affirmation of our belief in government as the engine of development through the democratic process and steered by responsible leadership. It was also a year of re-election in which you reaffirmed your faith in us by giving us a resounding victory and another mandate of four years. During this period, you demonstrated unparalleled maturity, grace and rock solid determination, even in the face of intimidation, dire threats and provocations. You held your heads high and set the pace in political maturity and responsible civic behaviour for the rest of the country. It was still a year of financial challenge like no other when allocation from the Federation Account dipped to less than 25 per cent of what we used to get. The year 2014 witnessed an unmatched upsurge in sectarian violence and wanton destruction of lives and property in some states in the northern part of the country. This is most regrettable. I will like to express our heart-felt condolence to the government and people of the states affected. I want to call on you all to be vigilant and security conscious. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Please report all suspicious activities and strange behaviours capable of undermining security of lives to the police and other security agencies, traditional rulers, civil society organisations and other relevant authorities. The past year was also a year of ravaging disease which God in His infinite mercies spared us from, as no single incident of Ebola was recorded in our state. But it was a year of fulfilment, of great peace and tranquillity, of success and reward for hard work and democratic development and consolidation. We look forward to the New Year with hope and courage. We shall do everything possible to ensure we are not slowed down in any way by the inclement financial weather. It is our fervent M
•aregbesola
hope to meet and surpass the target we have set for ourselves. Our ongoing projects in road construction and rehabilitation will continue apace even as we begin new ones where necessary. Our schools construction project is dear to our heart; we will continue work on them until we achieve our objectives. More importantly, we shall continue to provide qualitative education for our children in order to position them for a glorious future. We will not slow down on healthcare delivery. We shall continue to improve on our hospitals and banish sickness and diseases from our midst. We began our first term with meaningful youth engagement. We are not going to rest on our oars. This year, we will get more youths engaged as we banish hunger and poverty from our land. Under my watch, no person capable and willing to work hard will go hungry. We will inject new life into agriculture and make farming more profitable for farmers. We will continue to empower as many of our people willing to work by giving them micro-credit and through our various empowerment programmes: O’REAP, O’YES, O’MEALS and other ‘O’ programmes. This year is also an election year in which whatever position we
take will affect the destiny of our nation for good or bad. I urge you therefore to take wise electoral decisions that would redirect the ship of the Nigerian state into the harbour of peace, prosperity and safety, away from the current course of chaos, incompetence, insecurity and mass poverty and immiseration. In February, Nigerians will be required to stand and be counted among patriots and people of goodwill. Osun people, in particular, must be first among the majority standing for change, national rebirth, renewal, progress and a new dawn. I will like to urge those that are yet to collect their permanent voters card to collect same at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s offices at the various local government areas. This opportunity will lapse at the end of January. I need to remind you that those without the permanent voters card will not be allowed to vote. I am also calling on you to demonstrate the virtues of Omoluabi, which you are, by your commitment to peace, good neighbourliness, hard work, mutual respect and tolerance for others who are different from us in religion, ethnicity, political orientation, ideology and belief. Our differences and diversity are a blessing bestowed on us by God. We must beware of those who
seek to exploit them to further their own interest and in the process turn us against each other, leading us to embark on destructive and unwinnable war among ourselves. The progress and development we desire so passionately can only be achieved in an environment of peace, tolerance, mutual respect and cooperation. We must also build on the custom of kindness, generosity and chivalry handed down to us by our forebears. We must rebuild our sense of community in which we are our brother’s keepers, where all stand for one and one stands for all. We must let love reign in our midst. One of the lessons we have learnt in the past four years is that we must brace up to the responsibility of developing our state, generate our own income through productivity and wealth creation and change the culture of dependency on others for our sustenance. In the last couple of months, some of you have had to endure hardship and make sacrifices on account of dwindling income. This is unusual and we are doing everything possible to address it. Though this is a general problem from which even the Federal Government is not spared, it is not one we want our people to experience for longer than necessary. We shall resolve this and return the smile to the faces of those affected, especially workers in the state. We shall deploy all our Godgiven resources, human and material, to shore up our revenue base. We have people, we have the capability and we have the will to make it happen. This also calls for cooperation and demonstration of good citizenship on your part. I am urging you to promptly and honestly pay all necessary dues, rates, taxes and fines to the government through the appropriate channels. Above all, we must be individually and collectively committed to productivity and wealth creation in our various stations. The greatest period in our history was when Chief Obafemi Awolowo presided over the West and galvanised the resources, energy, talent, entrepreneurial spirit and knowledge of the
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Osun Defender Sunday, January 4, 2015
2015: Nigeria’s Hour Of Decision he Year 2015 is a decisive year. It is a year of decision; that will determine the hopes and aspirations of millions of Nigerians, young and old and even, generations yet unborn. It is a golden opportunity for our political leaders to decide for the majority, whether we are going to fulfil the American prophecy that Nigeria’ existence may be terminated or we shall throw such prophecy into the trash can. Nigeria will be weighed by the American author, Bernard De Voto’s book titled: “ The Year of Decision.” The author looked at the American war with Mexico, which led to the annexation of New Mexico, Arizona and Califonia, and how America settled her long-smouldering dispute with Great Britain and became a sovereign nation in Oregon, thus beginning the process of making the South West and West Coast a part of the American Republic. The situation in Nigeria today is not rosy, but we cannot continue to lament over the economic downturn, insecurity of lives and properties, mass youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, haphazard educational policy and poor power supply to sustain industries. What must be done will be to review our political leaders’ efforts in the last 15 years and x-ray the opportunities they have had to better our lots, and do a comparative analysis of the missed opportunities and look ahead to attempt correcting the wrongs of the past. According to John F. Kennedy: “Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past; let us accept our own responsibility for the future.” Our responsibility therefore will be how we shall fix round a peg in a round hole. We have arrived at a point, where ethnic consideration must be jettisoned for merit. We must drop the campaign on the platform of religion, for the factor that will not only save our muchfought-for democracy, but must save our nation from total disintegration. We as a people must recruit men and women of timber and calibre; men that office cannot buy nor wealth corrupt, statesmen that the nation needs in order to get out of the present economic mess and insecurity that is currently overwhelming the military. “We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world or to make it the last,” says J. Kennedy. That power is the power of the electorate; as February 2015 approaches, we must come out and use the power that the powerless majority has over the powerful minority that are our representatives in various political offices. From the office of the President to that of the State House of Assembly, we must vote only for the best in an hour and times like this. Boko Haram insurgency that has eliminated thousands of innocent people and displaced millions in the North-East of Nigeria, calls for concerted effort among all Nigerians. The implication is that such insurgency have multiple effects on our socio-cultural, economic and political instability. Our neighbouring countries are today living in fear and apprehension, just as we are. Our internal insecurity has now snowballed into regional insecurity. We must keep reaching out to our neighbours in West Africa, that we need them to secure our borders. World peace, Kennedy said, is”like community peace, that does not require that each man loves T
•buhari By Yomi obaditan
his neighbour; it requires only that they live together in mutual tolerance, submitting their disputes to a just and peaceful settlement. And history teaches us that enmities between nations, as between individuals, does not last forever. However fixed our likes and dislikes may seem, the tide of time and events will often bring surprising changes in the relations between nations and neighbours.” For instance, Ife and Modakeke in Osun fought themselves for several years, today, they are harmoniously living together under the dynamic Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Before then, who would have thought that Osun would be one of the most peaceful states in the country, as it is today? The Zango Kataf in Kaduna State shed blood among themselves before they eventually sheath their swords. For over 50 years, the United States and Cuba were arch-enemies, but President Obama has put an end to it. The President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, must rise above party politics and mobilize all security agents and see that they are well-equipped to terminate the insurgencies in Yobe, Adamawa, Borno, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe with all urgency. Elections must hold in the above-mentioned states, otherwise, it may be wrongly insinuated that the ruling party intends to disenfranchise the electorate in that region to the disadvantage of the opposition . As chief security officer of Nigeria, Mr. President and by Section 14 (4) of 1999 Nigeria Constitution, which provides that the government must ensure the security of lives and properties, as well as guarantee the
•jonathan
welfare of the people, and must see to the return of peace in the said states. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must awake to its responsibilities, as we have less than two months to the elections. Just as the commission did its best in the conduct of Osun gubernatorial election, which its chairman acknowledged to be the best ever, the nation’s peace and political stability depends on the INEC in 2015; the body must not give room for any excuse. The commission must be transparent in all its operations. Any of its officials, whose integrity cannot be guaranteed, should be removed before the February elections. The commission must not allow politicians, whose trade mark is “do or die” be allowed to have their ways. This nation is greater than an individual. Evil prophecy must not be allowed to come to pass. We as a nation cannot afford to disgrace the black race as the most populous black nation in the world. If we allow politics to destabilise our nation, we must remember and avoid the Rwanda and Kigali genocide, which was a fall-out of political instability. The sign that 2015 election may be violence-prone is gradually unfolding by what happened during the party primaries. Four people were reported to have been killed during the primary of a political party at Ebute Metta, Lagos. Asari Dokubo has promised war in case the incumbent President loses out in the election, but no security agent has attempted to arrest him or invite him over such statement. If we love our nation, must we kill and maim to get power? Violence begets violence; we must avoid it and not just pay lip-service to the rejection of violence in our polity. We the people must condemn any political leader that
provokes violence in any form and mark them out for rejection. The media must not be silent on this ugly practice. The innocent Nigerians that were killed during the 2011 elections, particularly, the case of those corps (NYSC) members in the North that were killed, is still fresh in our memory. Their blood is still crying unto God for vengeance. Those who thought those young Nigerians died just like that should remember the bibilical Abel’s blood crying to God, even when only Cain knew about the crime, and Cain eventually got punished for the crime. Patriotic Nigerians must support Professor Bolaji Akinyemi’s appeal to President Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari over the perceived fear over 2015 elections where he asserted: “The certainty of violence after the 2015 elections is higher than it was in 2011. If President Jonathan wins, the North will erupt into violence, as it did in 2011. If General Buhari wins, the Niger Delta will erupt into violence….. The violence of 2015 is going to be horrendous and worse than the one 2011, for the simple reason that the illegal, massive importation of weapons into the country has reached such alarming proportions that I really wonder which is better armed; the militias on one hand or the official armed forces.” Akinyemi’ clarion call to political actors must not be ignored as we approach 2015 elections.
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Osun Defender Sunday, January 4,
Beyond One Man’s Call Of Duty
R
ivers S t a t e i s t h e heartland of the SouthSouth Region of Nigeria, the wellspring of the country’s milk-and-honey; the fountain head of our economic succour, and the oasis from where fine crude oil resiliently sought-after by the greedy and gluttonous among us, spurts. The state is a land, where those who should have thrived triumphantly from their natural resources are disgracefully deprived by deviants, who control the levers of government. It’s a land successively pillaged by powerful outsiders, pestered by corrupt insiders, and abused by those who seek wealth and fame in a world, where tomorrow is promised no man. It was in Port Harcourt that I was a Guest Minister in a few churches for ten days last November. Preaching is sweet here. The people responded to the spewing of the anointing with loud applauses. I love preaching in Port Harcourt; the praise is relentless and epic. The voice of God here is unmistakable; and the complaints of men and women, whose lives and livelihoods have been battered by governments’ menacing behaviours, are also unassailable. In Port Harcourt, albeit in all of Rivers State and most of the South-South, a palpable feeling of anger and rebellion against the system lodges in their bones and marrows. It’s not about abhorrence for just one particular administration, or one president, or one candidate; many of them essentially just detest the system, which has systematically sloughed off their hopes for a better tomorrow. In this region, the government is execrated and loathed for its oppression, even with a son as President of the Republic. I met a group of young men, who had wanted me to pray with and encourage them. My prayer focus was for unity and togetherness among all ethnic groups in Nigeria and the continued peaceful co-existence of the country at large. I observed that the young men’s ”Amen” responses were heavily subdued. They didn’t care about that, and I asked them why. All of them expressed anger at Nigeria and governments that are in authority over them. Some of these young people told me that they would rather have their communities exist independent of the Nigerian
•Amaechi By Fola ojo
nation, than remain under some sledge-hammer of authoritarianism that they believe every successive administration in Nigeria to date has offered them. I was not taken aback at this kind of anger; many in Nigeria feel this way because the government seems to be on the look-out for just a few in its cohabiting and comingling corridors of corruption and putrescence. Aside some highly-placed and connected individuals and mean militants, who have become stupendously rich in the last six years, more than 50 percent of the population in the oil region of South-South live in poverty, according to data published by the National Bureau of Statistics. Even with a son as president, the sun is not shinning so brightly on the down-trodden in the South-South region. Six years ago, when Jonathan became President, the Aleibiri Community expected that its decade-old spill disaster would r e c e i v e t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s attention. The story of this community has gone from bad to worse. It is this kind of madness that the young people I spoke to in Port Harcourt were silently protesting in a prayer session.
It is beyond one person from one particular region or religion; beyond one person who speaks in one certain way and who builds around himself a certain creed and breed of people. To think contrary to my assertion is a ginger toward a false and infantile hope. Wise men or women among us must not put all our hopes in one man or woman to untangle the knotty gridlocks of government and governance that have come to reside with us. Any presumption or assumption contrary to this submission is not ingenious. Whether it’s your candidate or mine, whether it’s Mohammadu Buhari or who will lead Nigeria for the next four years, corruption has not yet built a new house to live in; Nigeria is still its house. Tribalism and ethnic hatred have not constructed a new abode to lay their ugly heads, Nigeria remains their dormitory. All of these vices still call Nigeria home till now and they live nextdoor to many beautiful homes either built through thieving or legitimate hard-work. One warring fighter and determined leader can never be the all-sufficing weapon that will crush the vices. It is our collective duty under a leadership that is not docile, but agile. Next month when we line up to vote, may it hit our hearts that there is still a whole lot more to do than just voting. Our own individual houses as followers must be put in order because our problems are deeply systemic. I left the young people with the parting words that when all the dusts must have settled after next month’s election, I pray that our expectations for the “Miracleworking man” will not flip into an agonizing disappointment. We are the government; no one can lead a government if there are no people. If we desire that our candidates, and indeed our nation must succeed, we are the tools he needs to achieve that. When reckless people surround any leader in government, fall and failure are always the results. Rebuilding and revamping this particular nation is beyond one man’s call of duty.
I then asked them what they thought should be done on their parts to effect the growth and changes they seek for the country. Some of them are dumping their hopes in the next four years they believe President Jonathan will secure in next month’s election; some believe that General Mohammadu Buhari is the much-needed answer and then all of Nigeria’s hydraheaded problems will take the next flight out to another land; and some think this present arrangement is too putrid beyond fixing. I meekly reminded them that until all of us as individuals do the needful as part of our contributions, Nigeria will remain a mess. The installation of one man or the retention of the other is not the masterstroke that will end our nightmares. We must not be deliberately blind to the fundamentally-intricate problems that have been part of Nigeria from the beginning of our fusion. Nigeria is pathetically problematic and its governance is complicating and complex. It then becomes imperative for all •Ojo, a pastor of RCCG, lives of our hands to be on the wheel together, lest the ship spin into a in America. wreck. I told the young people that the revamping of the nation is beyond one man’s call of duty.
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Osun Defender Sunday, January
Let Nigerians Return To The 80’s
“If the past knocks the door, ignore it because the past has nothing new to offer.” - Mahatma Ghandi
H
ear me out as I disagree with Ghandi on his postulation, for I stand with the Yoruba proverb that says, if a man loses his direction and is choked by the heat of perdition, he has the right to return to the threshold of his journey. Having read some books of the Great Ghandhi and his peaceful revolution in India, I value the great thinker the more. No wonder, Martin Luther King (Jnr) made him his mentor and hero and I must say that Ghandi truly cohered with King in some aspects; especially on the notion of peaceful revolution. Besides, my working visit to Atlanta home, Church and mausoleum of Martin Luther in 2013 further exposed me to some things King drew from Ghandi and I found the myth of living ahead of one’s time and delivering salvos against oppressors with ballistic missiles of rhetorics among some virtues of the duo. The duo were the inspirators, who drove their laid-back people to fight for their liberation. Yes, they broke the chain of slavery; they provided leadership and engendered culture of fighting for their rights. But those things did not work here. However, my study has shown that Nigeria is one corner of the planet called earth, where some indices that worked in other places are in sleep mode. So, human rights fighters here are opportunists, who take to activism as a means of livelihood, not as a service to humanity. Of course, Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) of blessed memory paid the supreme sacrifice for liberating the masses of Nigeria, but his departure has since exposed his lieutenants as “chichidoodoo”. So, who will liberate the masses? Who is believable enough to drive Nigerians to where they ought to be like Ghandi and King? Who is gifted with rhyme and rhythm of rhetorics that can be used to bring the captives to their mortgaged senses? Who truly has a value to add to the struggle of liberation, which is currently directionless? These and many others are the questions that must be searched for by the masses, who are down and fear no fall, and the reasonable elite class, that will
•buhari By goke butika
lose everything when the push comes to shove. F o r n o w, w e h a v e t w o specimens for experiment in Nigeria: GMB dynamo and GEJ NR. The two monikers appear like computer language, but no, it is my way of cloning the reality with symbolic format. And for clarity, GMB dynamo stands for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’ s promised radical change; GEJ NRM stands for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s not responding mode. So, who will liberate the masses? I think we have gone through some experiments in the hands of the past and present leaders; military and civilian regimes and the only time we could claim to have a clean break from the way indiscipline and corruption were handled and dealt with was when Buhari ruled, and that was the last time Nigeria worked and Nigerians behaved to the best of international standard practice. But that was the past. A careful perusal of what obtained during the Buhari’s
regime may provide us some answers as touching who is believable enough to drive Nigerians to where they ought to be, because I recollect people rose against Buhari regime on the basis that he was too hard on corruption and the corrupts, that the democratic pretenders like Ebenezer Babatope, bloodsucking thugs like Adelakun in Ibadan were jailed; declaring wanted incorrigibly corrupts like late Umar Dikko and other potential criminals. Though, collateral damage like mistaken identities was recorded, the marginal error seemed minimal when compared to the catastrophic payload of destructive missiles corruption unleashed on the nation since the day of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to Jonathan. As touching who is gifted enough to drive us with rhetorics, I think, Buhari’s partner on the presidential ticket, Professor Yemi Osinbajo is the bomb; he is intelligent and well-read; he appears humble and cosmopolitan. Ever since he has been delivering
his magisterial observations on Jonathan’s foibles and goofs, the Presidency handlers and attack dogs have not found credible answers to them, making the team GEJ NRM culpable on all given indicators of governance. The little pain I have now is the way the media that helped Ghandi and King has been mortgaged by the owners of the platforms and some journalists, whose mission is to make money, making Nigeria to be a stretched of land populated by fun-loving terribly corrupt lots in the South of Sahara. For instance, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a book to massage his ego as usual called MY WATCH and one Yinka Odumakin, who parades himself as a comrade of human rights advocacy, quickly wrote another book called WATCH THE WATCHER to kiss the corrupt legs of the acclaimed President, who has just offered him a job at an arrangee confab of selected bootlickers, old guards and credible few. And the media chose to celebrate the most inconsistent person. The Odumakin story is to tell the country that the nation is in short supply of men and women of goodwill and character and what obtains with Odumakin’s is a true reflection on the perception of the youths of nowadays. Invariably, we are now forced to borrow from the military culture of reserve, by retooling on Buhari’s change mode; more so, he had once demonstrated his capacity to destroy the monster of corruption that makes eight out of the ten people on the street to be extremely poor today. Therefore, an option is open in February in line with the dictate of democracy; Jonathan with his selective austerity and sprawling corruption, demands continuity and Buhari, with his avowed commitment to change, are begging for votes now and the ball is now in our court. Yes, the presidency under Jonathan will use military might against the opposition; people will be killed, people will be intimidated, economy would be threatened, money would be used to buy votes, but if those calculated antics had failed in the State of Osun, certainly, it can fail nationwide. In that wise, let no Nigerian complains in February, it is either people of like-minds sink or swim together.
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Osun Defender Sunday, January 4, 2015
Fireworks Display To Welcome New Year 2015 At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State Of Osun, Organised By Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Last Thursday. Photo: GBENGAADENIYI.
•Display of fireworks to herald New Year amidst pump and pageantry at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, last Thursday.
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•A cross section of the participants at the fireworks display to welcome New Year 2015 at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo.
www.osundefender.org sunday, january 4, 2015
N
igerians are definitely resilient people. In the face of all odds, you see Nigerians upbeat about worst situations. This is a country that is rich but the citizens are paradoxically poor. The sixth world producer of crude oil, but an importer of refined petroleum products. The revenue spent on imported fuel since the advent of the civilian administration controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is enough to build local refineries, engage idle youths and increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A vast majority of our land is arable, yet we import food for sustenance. Majority of the population live in penury yet a tiny few has cornered our common patrimony. Leaders are always ready to cajole voters with stomach infrastructure to secure their votes, once they are in power, they believe they have settled the voters with what was given them before election, hence they owe them no obligation. As a people, we are able to identify problems and proffer solutions, but once in power, leaders tend to forget all the prescriptions given before. To some critical analysts, Nigerians are gullible to lead because we have collective amnesia. In view of our collective shortcomings, leaders find it easy to cash in and treat us as it pleases them. Before the dwindling price of crude oil in the international market, Nigerians had complained bitterly that there was the need to put our refineries into shape or go into partnership with the private sector to have functional refineries. Till date, none of the four local refineries are operating at half-maximum capacity. The government continued to offer one alibi or the other till now. If we had done that, all the foreign currency spent to import refined petroleum products could have been spent on something else. There is also no way we can discuss our current economic and social malaise without reference to the impact of corruption. There is no human society devoid of corruption. It is, however, the steps taken by different leaders that matters. If the body language of the leader is interpreted to mean condoning it, people would embrace it wholeheartedly. The government of President Goodluck Jonathan has done very little to check corruption. In spite of institutional measures
THE
5TH
Audacious Exploit with Murtala Agboola Tel: 0806-119-7897 E-mail: murtalamuag@yahoo.com
Will Nigerians Praise President Jonathan After His Tenure?
•jonathan
in place to check corruption, this government seems contended to pay lip-service. Some ministers have been mentioned in deals that are less than honourable, yet these “Honourable” ministers have felt they are untouchable. Two ministers readily to come to mind. The erstwhile Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, while in office, was named in a BMW car deal, where she approved money above her approving capacity. There were also parts of the agreement between her ministry and the auto dealer, Coscharis Motors, which was not in conformity with public procurement. The Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani AllisonMadueke is another minister considered above her peers in this government. There have been allegations against her as it
affects the exact figures of barrels of crude petroleum exported and the quantity imported. Many heads have rolled at the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC), a major conglomerate in the ministry under her supervision, yet Minister Allison-Madueke sits like the Rock of Gibraltar. It is difficult to hazard a guess as to how the Federal Government would handle the shortfall in the expected revenue from the sale of crude oil, the mainstay of our economy. But the reductionist approach is most likely to be adopted, that is to retrench public workers. This, I am certain, would be highly resisted by the organized labour unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). This is so because; there are some public expenditures that must be reduced
M O S T- V I S I T E D
NEWS-
drastically to serve as precursor to getting the understanding of public workers. Leadership concern for the plight of the people is lacking, hence the President can hardly get the sympathy of the people. To the downtrodden masses, President Jonathan is concerned mainly with the aura and the perquisite of the office, rather than trying to impact positively on the people. The issue of the captured Chibok girls readily comes to mind. It took the First Family a week to even admit that the hapless girls were captured. Like the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, rightly said after 72 hours of capture, it would be miraculous to get the girls back. We keep hoping and praying that these girls would re-unite with their families, even though some parents have lost their lives in the endless wait for their return. Jonathan failed to inspire confidence in the troops by visiting the trouble-spots, when the BokoHaram insurgency started in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. As the Commander-In-Chief (CIC), if he had asked all the Armed Forces to provide security for him to visit the place, I am sure they could have done that. Rather, the president had to wait till the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors converged in Maiduguri before the CIC could visit Borno and Yobe states. There would always be an unfavorable security report about something or a place; it is left for the leader to decisively instruct that necessary security should be provided. May be, if the President had acted swiftly in the case of Chibok girls capture and visited the troubled spots, may be, we could have nipped insurgency in the bud. While one could argue that it is a mere conjecture, it is right to say that certain delays are dangerous and what has been lost may not be recaptured. Jonathan recently alluded to the fact that Nigerians will praise him after he leaves office. He spoke when he received in audience at the State House, Abuja the Bayelsa State delegation led by Governor Seriake Dickson. He said leaders are hardly praised while in office. He expects to be praised when his achievements are compared with his successor. While arguing
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:
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