www.osundefender.org Tuesday, april 21, 2015
After sixteen years of misrule which epitomised under the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan the far from being
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learn from the downfall of the The incoming gov- PDP at the centre. ernment of APC that And therefore it’s our considered will take over power opinion to warn from the PDP come the incoming May 29th, 2015, has government a lot of lessons to
LessonsMarch For28,APC From Failed PDP 2015 as All Progressives
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) finally met its waterloo at the presidential poll held on
Gen. Muhammad Buhari (retd), who was the presidential candidate of
Congress (APC) and now President-elect trounced the incumbent president with a wide margin.
Continue on pg5
Osun APC Canvasses Formidable Opposition
•T ells Decampees To Stay Put In Their Parties - See Story On Page 2
Jonathan Under Pressure -To Pg 3 Sack IGP Osun ‘ll Bounce Back Soon - Pg 4 - Group
Osun National Assemblies Members- - Pg 4 elect Receive Certificates Consult Police Before Taking House Ijesa In Diaspora Support Famurewa Help, Security Expert Warned - Pg 3 For House Of Reps Speaker - Pg 2
•The Panel on Innovative Governance at London School of Economics African: From left; Mimi Fawaz,CNN/VoxAfrica TV(Chair/ Moderator of the Panel), and Speakers.....Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor, State of Osun; Dr Mamphela Ramphele,South African activist and Dr Nkosana Moyo, Founder of Mandela Institute for Development Studies and former Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the African Development Bank at a programme.
osun Defender Tuesday, April 21, 2015
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Osun APC Canvasses Formidable Opposi tion •Tells Decampees To Stay Put In Their Parties
M
embers of the opposition, who were defecting in large numbers, have been advised to stay in their parties and form a formidable opposition. Speaking in an ( A P C ) , A l h a j i interview recently with Azeez Issa Adesiji, OSUN DEFENDER, maintained that by so t h e D e p u t y S t a t e doing, the political Chairman of the All party at the centre Progressives Congress would be forced to
continue in its path of priotising the welfare of the masses in all its programmes and policies for the country. While noting that the law of the land did not stop anybody to stay in one party, the APC chieftain reiterated that the nation needs a
formidable opposition, so they are needed in their parties. “Even the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun, has equally emphasised on the need for them to stay in their parties but if they come, we will not send them away,
By Francis Ezediuno
we will accept them.” He stated that even when the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, came in during his first term, he did not discriminate among political parties as attested to by the many people-oriented projects he embarked
•(L-R) Nigerian President-elect, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, in a handshake with Pastor Tunde Bakare in Kaduna during a courtesy visit last Thursday.
Ijesa In Diaspora Support Famurewa For House Of Reps Speaker By ismaeel uthman
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socio-political group, the Ijesas in Diaspora, has thrown its weight behind the ambition of Honourable Ajibola Famurewa, representing Ijesa South Federal Constituency in the State of Osun at the National Assembly, to be the next Speaker of the 8th Assembly. Chairman, Ijesa in the lower chamber Diaspora Board of f o r e f f e c t i v e Trustees, Bobaseye lawmaking needed Akinyemi Fasakin, to support President noted that Famurewa Muhammadu Buhari’s merited and deserved administration. to be the next He stated this Speaker of the House i n a l e t t e r s e n t of Representatives, t o c o n g r a t u l a t e going by his legislative Nigerians and the All achievements and Progressives Congress valuable contributions (APC) on the justat the floor of the concluded general parliament. elections, urging the A c c o r d i n g t o leadership of the APC Fasakin, Famurewa and lawmakers at the w o u l d b e a g o o d lower chamber of the Speaker to stabilize National assembly to
support Famurewa’s ambition. He maintained that if Famurewa becomes the Speaker of the House, his leadership would tremendously assist the implementation of Buhari’s developmental ideas and also ensure proper budget monitoring of the executive arm of government. Fasakin said: “We are not being sentimental on this cause; we are very genuine and objective about it. We are not supporting Famurewa because he is from Ijesa land. We are supporting him to
be the next Speaker of the House of Representatives because he merits and deserves it. “The legislative acumen of this Engineer-turnedpolitician cannot be underestimated. Record has it that he is the House of Representatives member from Osun with the highest number of bills and motions in the history of the state. “Famurewa is also one of the lawmakers with highest number of sponsored bills and motion in the 7th Assembly of the House of Representatives and his contributions at
the floor of the House are highly valuable and impressive. Famurewa is composed, calm and intelligent. “He is matured and intelligent. He is a person that listens and seeks advice before acting on issues. That is why we are supporting his ambition to be the next Speaker of the House of Representatives and we call on the APC leadership, members of the House and traditional rulers in the state to support him,” the group stressed.
upon. The State APC Deputy Chairman revealed that there would not be any discrimination against any politician willing to join the rank of the APC in the state, as the party practises the spirit of ‘Omoluabi’. Adesiji also maintained that the people defecting to the APC would not affect the dividends of democracy from getting to the members of the party because it was against the law of natural justice. On the peace and success the APC is enjoying in the state now, he attributed it to the mechanism of settling disputes initiated by the state governor and the party, which ensured that all parties were adequately taken care of. This, he said, was the reason why there was no party member defecting to another political party before the election in the state. “We have always gone back to the drawing board to make sure all issues are properly taken care of. “We take care to do what the government wants and the government does what the party wants. “The government represents the people and by so doing, we are all satisfied. “On this basis, the APC will be the party to watch out for. We cannot afford to fail the people. “This is the first time that the opposition will be directing the affairs from the centre and with the many peopleoriented programmes, Nigerians would see the difference. “Some people said they will rule for more than 60 years but where are they today? We are not God, but the APC would make a difference and the
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osun Defender Tuesday, April
Jonathan Under Pressure To Sack IGP T here were indications on Friday that the fuelled the demand for the fate of the IGP and other service chiefs to Presidency is unhappy with the Inspector- IGP’s sack.” It was however learnt his successor. General of Police (IGP), Mr. Suleiman “The fact that a former Abba, for alleged security and protocol breaches. that the President is not President sacked some disposed to the exit of S o m e f o r c e s i n was said to have been the IGP, instead, he was public officials few days government at the centre taken in the Presidency said to have left the fate to his exit does not mean have started mounting b y t h r e e o ff i c i a l s , of the IGP and service that Jonathan would pressure on President including the IGP. follow in his footsteps.” A reliable source said: chiefs to the PresidentGoodluck Jonathan to A police source said: elect. drop the IGP, but the “There is disquiet in the “You see, the IGP made Another source added: President was said not Presidency on whether “The President might sure that the police to be interested in taking or not to drop the IGP not bow to the demand force was non-partisan any disciplinary action for certain mis-steps. by some forces to drop throughout the election Some forces are angry against Abba. the IGP because he is period, and this was It was learnt that that the police failed not a vindictive person. a departure from the Jonathan has made up his to back the status quo He has decided to leave practice in 1983, 1993, mind to leave the fate of in some states during 2003, 2007 and 2011 the IGP to the incoming the recently-concluded polls. administration. “I think the IGP chose Investigation revealed that there had a neutral position and been disquiet in the opted to live up to his Presidency over certain oath of office during the steps Abba took during general elections. By kazeem mohammed “The IGP’s presence the recently-concluded eligious leaders have been called upon presidential election during the presentation to always remain as shining lights to the and since Jonathan of certificate of return society in their confession, character and conceded defeat to the to Buhari left many conduct, with a view to quickening the conscience presidency officials President-elect, General of the society to seek eternal values, rather than dazed because it was Muhammadu Buhari glory of the world. alleged not to be within (rtd). The House of Assembly should remain committed S o m e f o r c e s i n his official “mandate.” member-elect for Obokun to their callings through “The presence of the government were disturbed that with the IGP at the National Constituency of the State preaching and practice of exception of Rivers, Collation Centre with of Osun, Honourable good morals. While calling them Delta, Cross River, Buhari was rated as a Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, made the call on Friday to continue to inspire partisan move and a Ekiti, Akwa Ibom and at the inauguration of the e x c e l l e n c e t h r o u g h provocative initiative. the entire South-East “Some forces in the New Executive Council i n t e r c e s s i o n a n d region, the Nigeria for the Obokun Chapter of encouragement of men Police did not act the Presidency believe that the Christian Association of goodwill, Oyintiloye election script written Abba should be asked to of Nigeria (CAN). said for those who are led for the force in strategic step aside. The leakage O y i n t i l o y e , w h o to venture into politics, states like Lagos, Oyo, on the redeployment of congratulated the newly- these virtues would assist Ondo, Ogun, Osun, AIG Tunde Ogunsakin inaugurated executives, them to bring about rapid Borno, Kaduna and from Rivers State on described the callings of development. the eve of April 11 the religious leaders as Kwara. He said apart from The IGP was said governorship poll has the highest, saying, they direct engagement in to have instructed the Divisional Police Officers in Lagos to comply with the directive of the Commissioner of Police in Lagos and not any Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police. It was further gathered that upon the ‘failure’ of the police in the strategic states, the Presidency was angry that the IGP was at the presentation of Certificate of Return to the President-elect by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, contrary to the norm. The Presidency had also noted that Abba was at the airport at a time to receive the Presidentelect. However, a source noted that what really “pissed off” the Presidency was the alleged leakage of the presidential directive to redeploy Assistant Inspector-General Tunde Ogunsakin from Rivers State on the eve of April 11 governorship poll. •Photo of the day. Source: Facebook. The covert decision
polls. “Naturally, some government officials, governors and politicians will not be happy at all. This IGP is professionally inclined and he has been enforcing this. “If you look at his antecedents, even when Rivers State was volatile, he made sure that he was non-partisan. Up till today, the people of Rivers State still celebrate Abba for his
professionalism. “He remains loyal to the President irrespective of the outcome of the election. To the best of my knowledge, he has not eroded the confidence reposed in him by the President. He keeps official secrets and he has never leaked any. Since he came on board, signals or information flow had become more compact.” Responding to a question, the source
Religious Leaders Must Demonstrate High Moral Standard - Oyintiloye
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•oyintiloye
politics, religious leaders of different faiths must also move closer to those in the position of authority for prayers and guidance without necessarily denigrating
their positions as men of God. According to him: “Leaders generally are vulnerable in some ways, just as positions of authority are very sensitive and it requires the intervention of religious leaders through prayers and guidance for one not to misbehave.” The lawmaker-elect, who also addressed the Muslim faithful during the Jumat Service at Ibokun Central Mosque, thanked the people of all religious faith in his constituency for reposing their confidence in him. He called for their prayers and guidance to succeed in the responsibilities given to him through their votes. Promising to give quality representation to the people of his c o n s t i t u e n c y, t h e lawmaker-elect said he would do everything within his power to ensure that the people get more dividends of democracy. Oyintiloye, who subsequently visited the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and members in IpetuIle, Ilare, Esa-Oke and Ikinyinwa on a thank you visit, assured them of his commitment to give his best in the state parliament.
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osun Defender Tuesday, April
Consult Police Before Taking House Help, Security Expert Warned By sola jacobs
She counselled young mothers to sacrifice professions to nurture their homes, bearing in mind that the foremost job of a woman is to
build lives. “The issue of gender equality has been taking too far that most women are losing the essence of womanhood in pursuit
Gbonjubola Ahmed, in criminal activities as security expert and retired Police officer, bemoaned the collapse un-African and must Mr Olawuni Osho, has counselled in societal values and the be condemned it in all members of the public to consult the involvement of women totality. Police before employing the services of domestic staff, with a view to forestalling employing criminals in one’s household He stated this in a He concluded that it telephone chat with was a sign of the endOSUN DEFENDER on time being referred to the recent kidnapping in the scriptures. of Orekoya boys by An Islamic cleric, Alfa unsuspecting house Najeem Ajigbotoluwa, m a i d i d e n t i f i e d a s commenting on the Mary Akinloye, which issue, advised the elite, happened in Lagos last e s p e c i a l l y w o m e n , week. to shun seeking high The retired police profile in their choosing officer said further career at the expense of that there is the need their homes. for members of the He continued that public to take police despite the economic into confidence while problem being faced all employing the services over the world, women of drivers, gardeners, of faith will choose to s e c u r i t y m e n a n d nurture their children h o u s e h e l p s , s o a s and husbands at home, not to fall victims of than running after their criminals, who disguise career and money at the as job seekers only to expense of their homes. gain entry into one’s A community household. women leader, Alhaja •Re-elected Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his wife, Florence, at a thank you road show in Ibadan recently. Speaking further, the case of Mary Akinloye was only one among many that are reported P r e s i d e n t G o o d l u c k by the jugular. denied the state would be By ismaeel uthman to Police on daily basis. Specifically, Agboola released by the BuhariJonathan administration Some victims do State of Osun-based socio-political group, has come to an end. stated that President led administration. not even report such the Peoples Welfare League, has said that A c c o r d i n g t o Buhari would release “The outgoing cases, especially when the stalled developmental projects across the Agboola, Nigerians, a d e q u a t e a v a i l a b l e President Jonathan has the suspect involved is state would soon take off for completion, following and Osun people in funds to all the states been starving our state not a Nigerian national; the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as particular, should expect f o r t h e i r r u n n i n g , because of being an they feared to report the President-elect in the March 28 presidential rapid socio-economic against the starving of opposition party state. As such incidence, so as election. a n d i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l opposition states by a result, Governor Rauf not to be prosecuted for office. development that had President Jonathan’s Aregbesola could not pay The group noted that S t a t e C o o r d i n a t o r stopped because of lack administration. human trafficking and current paucity of funds salaries as at when due, all H e s a i d : “ I a m the projects were stopped occasioned by the fall of of the group, Comrade of funds. child labour. Agboola maintained optimistic that things and Osun people were Osho carpeted the the nation’s economy that Abiodun Agboola, in an interview with OSUN t h a t t h e i n c o m i n g would soon be alright subjected to undeserved elite, who often engage were responsible for the DEFENDER on Sunday president would address in Osun. Workers will hunger. delay in the completion of domestic staff without stated that the deliberate the collapsed economy, receive their salaries and the projects and payment “Go has however, been due process of crossof opposition infrastructural decay, all the stalled projects good to the people of the c h e c k i n g w i t h t h e of workers’ salaries would starving in few weeks when states to frustrate their corruption and insecurity would soon be completed. state. The administration police, whether the vanish Buhari takes the oath of g o v e r n m e n t s b y t h e that had held the country The funds that had been o f t h e w i c k e d a n d prospective employee unfriendly President has criminal record or has been rejected, and tendencies, to which the people’s General only the police could By Kazeem Mohammed Muhammadu Buhari is give clues. through the conduct of He expatiated representing Osogbo/ coming in as Nigeria’s h e I n d e p e n d e n t N a t i o n a l E l e c t o r a l elections with utmost Irepodun/Irepodun/Orolu new President. further that registering “ Ve r y s o o n , O s u n C o m m i s s i o n ( I N EC ) h a s p re s e n t e d transparency, fairness and Federal Constituency, a domestic staff with Certificates of Return to the National Assembly freedom of choice. workers will receive commended the p o l i c e i s a s i m p l e members-elect in the State of Osun. H e e x p r e s s e d c o m m i s s i o n f o r their salaries, abandoned process in which the P r e s e n t i n g t h e Nigeria has done itself a p p r e c i a t i o n t o a l l conducting a credible p r o j e c t s w o u l d b e Police will interview completed and Osun will certificates to the elected proud before the whole s t a k e h o l d e r s w h o s e election. such employee, take contributions have He contended that for bounce back on track o f f i c i a l s , t h e I N E C world. his biometric data and National Commissioner, T h e I N E C made it possible for the the first time, the INEC again, to the periods finger prints in case of P r o f e s s o r M u r t a l a c o m m i s s i o n e r t h e n commission to conduct h a d m a d e t h e v o t e s when Aregbesola was any eventuality. Akinola, charged the gave commitment that credible, free, fair and of Nigerians to count, paying workers’ salaries A clergy man, Pastor elected lawmakers not the commission would violence-free elections in saying they would not on or before 25th of every betray the confidence of Akintoye Oladipo, in to betray the confidence continue to be firm, fair the state. The INEC chief then the electorate reposed in month. his own remark, said the reposed in them by the and forthright in the “Buhari is our man; conduct of subsequent cautioned the elected them. case of the kidnapping electorate. he understands what officials to accord the Also speaking for He appreciated the elections. of the Orekoya boys interest of the electorate the Peoples Democratic Aregbesola and Osun courage of those who lost Also speaking, the by one Mary Akinloye people had been going election and decided State Resident Electoral the priority it deserves, Party (PDP) lawmakers- t h r o u g h b e c a u s e o f s h o w e d t h e h i g h the with a view to sustaining elect, Honourable Wole to move on in the spirit of o m m i s s i o n e r, D r their support for him. degree of criminality sportsmanship, saying this C Adekunle Ogunmola, the tempo of democratic O k e , r e p r e s e n t i n g in the society, where has assisted in sustaining said the presentation d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e O b o k u n / O r i a d e Everything, fund and a supposed mother the electoral system of the of the certificate was a country. Federal Constituency, opportunity that were due Speaking on behalf of said they would work for the state but denied becomes a willing tool country. result of national political All Progressives Congress constructively, objectively us would be released by According to him, consciousness to redefine of destruction for the (APC) lawmakers-elect, and patriotically for the Buhari. Our time has through the election, the electoral landscape love of money. Honourable Lasun Yusuff
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Osun ‘ll Bounce Back Soon - Group
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Osun National Assemblies Members-elect Receive Certificates
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Osun Defender Tuesday, April
Lessons For APC From Failed PDP Continued from pg1
to be headed by GMB to watch its steps so the fate that befell the PDP will not be her own lot within a short period. The victory that has come to the side of the APC is a great one; an opportunity that must be savoured. On no account should they give the PDP or the Nigerian people the cause to say to them; “It’s true that you know how to obtain a great victory, but you do not know how to use it” just like the great Roman General, Marcus Aurelius had cause to tell his formidable foe, Hannibal of Carthage. Of course this must serve as a cautionary note to the APC. And the only way not to give room for the PDP or anyone at all to utter this statement to them like Marcus told Hannibal is for them to provide good governance. Good governance is the key. Lack of good governance
under the PDP is the party’s undoing. It’s what is responsible for its downfall. So the APC government must learn from this. They must know how to savour this great opportunity. It’s not enough to win election, neither is it enough to present a good manifesto. To fulfill your campaign promises is most important.
Like an age-long adage says that ‘to whom much is given much is expected’. The Nigerian electorate has given much to the president-elect and his party by giving them their mandate. They did this because of the confidence they reposed in Buhari based on his record of integrity and also because of the trust they have in his party based on her performance in the states it governs. Thus the onus is on the party not to betray the trust the Nigerian people have in her. The incoming APC government cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians like PDP did. It must be careful not to take Nigerians for granted like the PDP which believed that once you are in power then you can do and undo;
forgetting that power actually belongs to the people while ultimate power belongs to God Almighty.
P
Monday markets in Ikirun, Oja OdoOgbe and Lagere road in Ile-Ife, as well as Ereja Square and Isida Street in Ilesa and display wares on the road thereby disrupting free flow of traffic in the areas
mentioned. Apart from interrupting free flow of traffic by the hawkers and traders, street trading can lead to loss of lives, hence the appropriate authorities should take action against
Like we said earlier the APC government must learn from PDP’s downfall. A yoruba adage says that ‘he who falls into a pit teaches others a lesson’. Thus for APC to stay longer in power it needs to endear itself to the people by running a people-centred government. We are now in the era where the people’s votes count and therefore no government can ride on the people roughshod any longer.
In fact, we cannot point to one single area that the PDP government has excelled. The party has destroyed all facets of our life. By her inability to fight corruption - even in spite of her anti-corruption crusade - and her mismanagement of our resources and financial recklessness the economy has been brought to comatose. Without mincing words sixteen years of PDP’s rule has been a woeful story. It hasn’t
The exercise will not only prevent loss of lives, but will help to keep our state clean, as well as enhancing free flow of traffic on our major roads. These steps, if taken, will also keep criminals away from our roads, as cases abound of those who use the pretence of hawking to rob people of their valuables. Let’s all cooperate with the government to eradicate street trading and hawking offenders will serve on our roads. as a deterrent. This is the era of The government change. should also intensify campaign against • S A K I R AT street trading and FAKEYE, 28, Ogbonh a w k i n g t h r o u g h Idi, Ilesa, State of visits to our various Osun. markets in the state. street trading on our major roads in the state, as the state has the right to protect the lives of the citizenry. Therefore, the enforcement of the various laws against street trading and prosecution of the
Thus the incoming APC government must try as much as possible to put things right. It must pass in all the areas that the PDP has failed. In fact, light, security, employment generation, education, good health care system and infrastructural renewal are very important to making life better for the people. The APC government must therefore get its priorities right and ensure the pursuit of pro-people agenda.
For sixteen years under the PDP Nigerians knew what extreme poverty is. For sixteen years the PDP could not guarantee adequate supply of electricity for the people despite sinking billions of naira into the power sector. Sixteen years of PDP in power it could not fix our refineries, it couldn’t fix our roads that have become death traps, it couldn’t guarantee affordable housing for the people, it couldn’t provide good health care and worst of it all our security system collapsed completely under its watch.
Street Trading Is Taking Over Our Roads Again
assing t h r o u g h major roads in Osogbo, the State of Osun capital, one could notice that street trading has taken over some of our major roads again, as traders and hawkers take over Alekuwodo, Orisumbare, Station Road and Central Mosque area all within Osogbo metropolis, to the detriment of pedestrians and motorists. The trend is not only noticed in Osogbo, but other major towns in the state such as Ikirun, Ile-Ife, as Ilesa traders have abandoned their stalls at Alamisi and
brought good for Nigerians.
OSUN DEFENDER
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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the above mail address. ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com
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osun Defender Tuesday, April
How The Court Of Appeal Massacred Omisore’s Petition Continued from last edition
SUBMISSIONS IN THE MAIN APPEAL APPE L L A N T S ’ C O U N SE L SUBMISSIONS ON ISSUE ONE earned Senior Advocate for the Appellants, Dr. Izinyon SAN, submitted that grounds 1 & 3 of the petition filed by the Appellants are grounds of civil allegations while ground 2 was a ground of criminal allegations. Counsel submitted that the tribunal in its report on pre hearingsession laid out three issues for determination in the petition by fusing the allegations of corrupt practices and substantial non compliance under the second issue for determination. Counsel submitted that the tribunal having fused the allegations of corrupt practices and non compliance into one issue and proceeded to consider both allegations in the 17 Local Government Areas of Osun State using the standard of proof of beyond reasonable doubt. Counsel submitted that the tribunal held that in the proof of the allegations by the Appellants the onus remained static on the Appellants and did not shift unto the Respondents and contended that in law the evidential burden is not static but shifts depending on the issues as joined by the parties in their pleadings. Counsel submitted that the allegations of non compliance were made against the 3rd Respondent and contended that by the evidence of PW1, PW15 and PW38 together with Exhibits 1-340, the evidential burden shifted unto the 3rd Respondent to satisfy the court that the questioned election was in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and that the alleged non compliance did not substantially affect the result of the election but the 3rd Respondent failed to call any evidence to that effect. Counsel referred to Section 139(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. Counsel relied on UCHA V. ELECHI (2012) 13 NWLR (PT. 1317) 33.0at 363, NIDB V. ABI l TD (2005) 19 NWLR (PT. 959). Counsel submitted that the standard of proof of the allegation of non compliance being civil in nature was on a balance of probabilities or preponderance of evidence and contended that thetribunal was under a duty to put the evidence of the parties on the imaginary scale to see where the weight of evidence preponderates. Counsel relied on ARE V. ADISA (1967) 1 ALL NLR 148; MOGAJI V. ODOFIN (1978) 4 S.C. 91, 93-95. Counsel submitted that the tribunal by failing to sever the allegations of non compliance from those of corrupt practices and using the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt in resolving the second issue for determination fell into grave error and contended that such error was fatal as the requisite standard of proof for non compliance was on balance of probabilities. Counsel relied on FAYEMI V. ONI (2009) 7 NWLR (PT. 1140) 223 AT285-286, PARA. F.
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ON THE SECOND ISSUE Learned Senior Advocate for the Appellants submitted that the tribunal fused ground 3 of the petition alleging non compliance with ground 2 of the petition alleging corrupt practices and treated both together without any severance as to the respective standard of proof and contended that the tribunal thus fell into error in holding that the non compliance was not proved and did not also affect the result of the election, which findings were perverse being contrary to the copious pleadings and evidence of the Appellant before the tribunal. Counsel relied on OKUNZUA
•aregbesola By Ibrahim Lawal
V. AMOSU (1992) 6 NWLR(PT. 248) 416 AT 430-431, PARAS. H-A; FAYEMI V. ONI(2009) 7 ,NWLR (PT. 1140) 223 AT 285-286, PARA. F.; AGBALLAH V. CHIME (2009) 4 NWLR (PT. 1122)373; AJADIV. AJIBOLA (2004) 16 NWLR (PT. 898) 111 AT 165, PARAS. D-E. Counsel submitted that Exhibits 1 162, being the forms ED8A are in law the pyramid of any election and contended that the Appellant proved non compliance through the evidence of PWL PW15 & PW38 together with these exhibits and urged the court to set aside the finding of the tribunal that the allegations of non compliance were not proved, which proof ought to be on balance of probabilities and not beyond reasonable doubt as done by the tribunal. Counsel relied on OGBORU V. UOUAGHAN (2011) 2 NWLR (PT. 1232) 538 AT 597, PARAS. O-E; TERAB V. LAWAL (1992) 23 NWLR (PT. 231) 519 AT 5U8; INEC V. OSHIOMOLE (2009) 4 NWLR (PT. 1132) 607; OMOBORIOWO V. AJASIN (1984) SCNLR 108; ORJI V. OHUABUNWA (2007) ALL FWLR (PT.351) 1533 AT 1551, PARAS. C-E.; FAYEMI V. ONI (2009) 7 NWLR (PT. 1140)223 AT 285-286, PARA. F. Counsel submitted that the tribunal failed to evaluate the evidence of PW1, PW15 & PW38 on the allegations of lawful and unlawful votes and thereby arrived at a perverse finding that the non compliance was not substantial and urged the court to set aside the perverse findings, more particularly so on the face of complete lack of evidence from the 3rd Respondent and contended that the copious documentary evidence of the Appellant cannot in law be contradicted by oral evidence. Counsel relied on EBBA V. OGODO (1984) NSCC, VOL. 15, PG. 255, PARAS. 40-50; FANNAMI V. BUKAR (2004) ALL FWLR (PT. 198) 1210 AT 1238-1239, PARAS. F-A; CPC V. INEC (2011) 18 NWLR (PT. 1279) 493 AT 545, PARAS. H-A; NWOBOOO V. ONOH (1984) NSCC 1. ONE ISSUE THREE
•omisore
Learned Senior Advocate for the Appellants submitted that the findings by the tribunal in the judgment appealed against were against the weight of evidence and thus was perverse and urged the court to hold that the evidence led by the Appellants through their witnesses including ward collation officers, whose evidence together with Exhibits 1A - 380 were not evaluated far out weight the evidence of the 1st and 2nd Respondents, which were not even reviewed by the tribunal. Counsel relied on AREGBESOLA V. OYINLOLA (2010) LPLR 3805 or AREGBESOLA V. OYINLOLA (2011) 9 NWLR (PT. 1253) 458 AT 562-563, PARAS. H-A; 065-606, PARAS. H-Bi LASUN V. AWOYEMI (2009) 16 NWLR (PT. 1168) 513 AT 549, PARAS. D-H ON ISSUE FOUR Learned Senior Advocate for the Appellants submitted the tribunal’s rejection of the evidence of PW15 & PW38 as mere ipsi dixit was perverse and contended that their statement of oath were their evidence in chief and which evidence were not contradicted by any contrary expert evidence and thus wrongly rejected their evidence without any justifiable basis. Counsel relied onAREGBESOLA V. OYINLOLA (2010) LPLR 3805 orAREGBESOLA V. OYINLOLA (2011) 9 NWLR (PT. 1253) 458 AT 562-563, PARAS. H-A; 065-606, PARAS. H-B; NICON V. EZE (2004) 15 NWLR (PT. 896) 245 AT 264-265, PARAS. F-A; INEC V. OSHIOMOLE (2009) 4 NWLR (PT. 1132) 607; NGIGE V. OBI (2006) NWLR (PT. 999) 1 AT 149, PARAS. F-G; AWUSE V. ODILI (2005) 16 NWLR (PT. 952) 416 AT 482, PARAS. C-E; AKEREOOLU V. MIMIKO (2014) 1 NWLR (PT.1388) 402while contending that ANPP V. USMAN (2008) 12NWLR (PT. 11 0) 1 AT 72-73 PARAS G-C was not applicable. ON ISSUE FIVE Learned Senior Advocate submitted that the parties joined issues and at the address stage a chart was introduced by the 1st Respondent’s counsel on which the Appellants counsel joined issue but the
tribunal held that the chart was not binding on the 1stRespondent and contended that the 1st Respondent was bound by the admissions made in the chart, though was not binding on the Appellants. Counsel relied on INEC V. OSHIOMOLE (2009) 4NWLR (PT. 1132) 607; HARUNA V. UNIAGRIC MAKURDI(2006) ALL FWLR (PT. 304) 432 AT 479, PARAS. C-D. ON ISSUE SIX Learned Senior Advocate submitted that the decision of the tribunal that the Appellants’ replies to the 1st & 2nd Respondents’ replies were filed out of time on 14th October, 2014 under paragraph 16 (1) of the first schedule to the Electoral Act 2010 as amended but contended by the Interpretation Act, the five days within which to file the Appellants’ reply being less than six days excludes Sunday and thus the Appellants’ replies were filed within time. Counsel relied on ETUK V. IKON (2011) LPER 4045 (CA); ADEFEMI V. ABEGUNDE (2004)15 NWLR (PT. 895) 1; ABUBAKAR V. NASAMU (2012) 17 NWLR 9PT. 1330) 523; SAEED V. YAKOWA (2013) 7 NWLR (PT. 1352) 134 AT 157-158, PARAS. G-A and urged the court to hold that ESTAKO v.CHRISTPHER (2014) 14 NWLR (PT. 1426) 73 AT 90; ACN V. NYAKO (2012) 12 SCM (PT.3) 1 AT 60 were not applicable. ON ISSUE SEVEN Learned Senior Advocate submitted that by the failure of the tribunal to sever the allegations of corrupt practices from allegations of non compliance and using the same standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt, the tribunal fell into error which had occasioned a miscarriage of justice and contended that even proof of corrupt practice was not beyond shadow of doubt and urged the court to hold that mere perception of the court on a witness without any basis shown in the judgment was not sufficient to discountenance such witness evidence as did the tribunal. Counsel relied on AKPAN V. STATE (1991) 3 NWLR (PT. 182) 646; ODILI V. THE STATE (1997) 4 SC 1. Learned Senior Advocate urged the court
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osun Defender Tuesday, April
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Received Certificate Of Return From INEC Recently.
•Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, displaying the Certificate of Return presented to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner in-charge of Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti states, Prof. Lai Olurode recently.
United Nations Secretary-General For Central Africa And The Special Representative Of United Nations Secretary For West Africa Paid A Coutesy Visit To The President-elect, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, In Kaduna Last Friday.
•Nigerian President-elect, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari (right), in a handshake with Special Representative of UN Secretary-General for Central Africa, Abdoulaye Bathily (left) while Special Representative of the UN Secretary for West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas (middle) watches when the representatives of Ban Ki Moon paid a courtesy visit to the President-elect in Kaduna last Friday.
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osun Defender Tuesday, April
Presentation Of Certificates Of Return To Elected Candidates During The 2015 General Elections In Osun, Last Friday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
•Honourable Lasun Yusuf (middle) receiving his certificate from INEC National Commissioner, Professor Akinola Salaam (right) while Resident Electoral Commission, (REC) Osun, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola (left), watches.
•A cross section of traditional rulers at the event.
•Honourable Oluwole Oke (middle); Professor Salaam (right) and Dr Ogunmola (left).
•A cross section of politicians at the event.
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osun Defender Tuesday, April
Lagos State Governor-elect, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode And Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Receivied Certificates Of Return, Recently.
•Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (middle) displaying his certificate of return while others watch.
•Governor Abiola Ajimobi displaying his own certificate of return.
Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi And Senator Ifeanyi Ararume Paid A Courtesy Visit To Nigerian President-Elect, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, In Katsina State Recently.
•(L-R) Amaechi; Buhari and Ararume during a courtesy visit.
Lagos State Governor-Elect, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode Paid A Courtesy Visit To Oba Of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Recently.
•(L-R) Mr Akinwunmni Ambode and Oba Rilwan Akiolu during the courtesy visit.
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Good Goverosun Defender Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Aregbesola’s Second Coming:
Fresh Tenure Well Deserved! In further pursuance of the series in vogue, NIYI OLASINDE advances discussion on the many positive impacts of the Aregbesola administration in various sectors and sub-sectors of life during the first tenure it spent in office. The effort so far shall set formidable background for capturing expectations, hopes and desires for the second tenure.
•The danger zone where auto accidents were rampant and robbery attacks usually occurred at Asejire area along Ibadan/Ife Expressway has being turned into a beautiful site through State of Osun Government Urban Renewal and Beautification programmes.
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Osun Defender Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Fresh Tenure Well Deserved!
•An asphalted road along Fagbewesa Road in Osogbo.
W
Continued from last week. E have so far done justice to events and happenings in the Roads and Infrastructure sub-sector of our state. We were able to bring out the revolutionary transformation already recorded in that sub-sector up till the point of this eve of the termination of the administration’s first tenure in office. We now deem it most convenient to forge ahead at the exact point where we paused. Apart from the entire massive road projects mentioned as monumental achievements of the “Government Unusual” of Ogbeni Aregbesola, there are still left more road projects which constitute the full list of difference as at date, between his administration and that of his predecessors. Our exact stopping point was where we were considering the ongoing local government road projects in the State of Osun, measuring ten kilometers at a go. During the time of the ousted administration in office, little of nothing was found on ground with regards to the Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP). This was even as the project is a collaborative effort between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank. In spite of the fact that that ousted administration was controlled and run by the same party that held sway at the centre, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); the State of Osun did not fully access this facility which was provided with the auspicious intent of opening up of our rural areas to urban centres for the purpose of accelerated industrial growth and all-round development. Readers would agree that little or nothing could be achieved in the area of activating the industrial drive of any administration or even developing its agricultural policies without developing road infrastructure to the fullest. It is with pride that we place on record that the Rauf Aregbesola administration has since inception been pursuing all Rural Access Mobility Projects (RAMP) approved for the state faithfully and assiduously. This is to the extent that barely a year into the lifetime of the administration, over 500-kilmetre roads in the category of Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) had been constructed in the state, under the execution and supervision of the incumbent administration. This trend came, regardless of the fact that the administration of the state today is in the hand of a different party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). About mid-2013, it was in the news that another batch of these RAMP roads was approved for selected states of the federation. The glad part of that news was the inclusion of the State of Osun as part of four or five benefitting states. With this trend of events, our state is certainly on its fast-tracked surge to the top among comity of states, especially, in terms of access to farmlands as a way of boosting agricultural productivity, industrial development and overall good living of our people. Since that first frantic step was taken at the inception of the administration, the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been impacting positively on the lives of the citizenry of the state in many diverse ways; most especially, in the area of provision of road infrastructure. Till date, the Rauf Aregbesola administration has not
relented in its efforts at bequeathing the legacy of good motorable roads to all nooks and crannies of the state. Apart from the many roads which have been completed and instantly put to use, many other road projects subsist at various stages of completion, and which await official commissioning at any date from hence. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine shall at this stage shift focus to the in-depth consideration of these numerous projects so as to serve as documentation and reminder for all, to attest to the fact that that the administration is working. We now turn to the apt consideration of these numerous road projects. For the purpose of conservation of space and time, we here take Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun as focal point. The administration has embarked on the construction of such road projects as: Igbonna / Ago Wande / Oke Onitea Road; Olu Alabi / Anaye Market Link; West Bypass modification; Bisi Bankole / Owoeye / Apostolic Faith / Pepsi Cola ; Oke Fia / Alekuwodo; and Orita Sabo / Orita Elelede / Oluode Road. Others include Orita Gbaemu / Isale Aro / Our Lady of St. Francis; Odi Olowo / Baptist High School /Gbodofon / Aregbe; Ola Iya Junction Opening; Oke Fia / Rasco / Old Garage Opening; Freedom Park; and Rasco / Railway / Old Sawmill / Olaiya Link. Others are MDS / Railway Station / Ola Iya Access Way, Rasco / Railway / Old Sawmill / Olaiya Link, MDS / Railway / Olaiya Access Way, Station Road, Ajegunle / LAUTECH / First Bank / Station Road Link, Old Garage / Orisunmbare / MDS, Olaiya / Odi Olowo / St. Francis / Asubiaro / Ita Olookan and Fagbewesa Road / Station Road. We also have Aregbe / Akindeko /Capital Hotel, Capital Hotel / Tinumola / Boorepo /Ring Road, New Gbongan Road, New Iwo / Ibadan Road, Ilesa Road, East Bypass, Old Garage / Ikirun-Ila Odo-Erin Ile-Kwara State Boundary Road, Testing Ground /Aderin / Orita Sabo / Onisekere Road, Gbongan / Akoda Road and Ife/Ibadan / Gbongan Junction Trumpet Road. The list is apparently endless! It is fervently hoped that even if no new road projects are initiated in the current year, the already existing ones shall before the arrival of the last quarter of the New Year be brought to a stage of total completion; fully delivered and officially commissioned for use. Roads and infrastructure has been our point of focus in some of our previous editions. It would be recalled that by the end of the time of the immediate past administration in office, the voice of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine was vehement over the state of disrepair in which virtually all roads in the Osun State of the time were. We remember vividly that most access within the metropolis of Osogbo, the state capital had become erosion paths and courses for drainage. The administration of the time, both at state level and local government levels were simply there doing nothing. Their functionaries were busy siphoning funds from public accounts; while the situation of our roads worsened. Many of the roads were plunged into such state of disrepair that they ceased to be motorable. Even as state capital, all access roads linking Osogbo with other states were not dualized. The administration of the
time excused itself on the premise that those inter-state roads are federal roads; even as it was the ruling party at the federal level, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that held sway in Osun, the concessioning deal could not be sealed by governments at the two levels. The only one so concessioned was the Akoda/Old Garage/Ikirun/ Ila-Odo/Erin-Ile, Kwara State Boundary road; which was billed for reconstruction in two phases. Unfortunately, the administration spent its entire years in office on only the first phase of that road; the stretch from Akoda to Old Garage. It is the Aregbesola administration which is of another party that is now carrying out the reconstruction of the other phase of the road. Even the first phase constructed by the Oyinlola administration cannot be certified as fully constructed. It was haphazardly done! The road had begun to have trouble spots long before its purported completion. It is placed on record that the road project commenced by the immediate past administration in the state was brought up to standard and eventually completed by the Aregbesola administration. If it is possible or rather expedient to accord an area of specialization to an administration; then it would not be exaggerative to pin-point road project as the major area of specialization of the incumbent administration in the state. In virtually all parts of the state, road projects measuring various lengths of kilometers have been initiated since the commencement of the administration’s tenure of office in November 2010. These toads have today reached various levels of completion, while many that have been completed are either awaiting delivery or commissioning. In addition to these, various local government road projects have been constructed by the thirty (30) local governments in the state and the Ife East Area Office. Upon the fresh re-inauguration of the executive secretaries of the local government councils for the last lap of their time in office sometimes last year, the governor charged them how important it is for them to take the construction of the 10-kilometre road project in their respective council areas serious; amidst other indices of good governance. The State of Osun Urban Renewal Project of the incumbent administration, which entails the reconstruction of roads in and modernization of ten kilometer radius of city centres in nine major cities in the nine zones of the state, is already in progress. The cities are Osogbo, Ikirun, Ila Orangun, Iwo, Ede, Ejigbo,Ilesa, Ikire and Ile Ife .Osogbo, as the state capital shall have two city centres: Oja Oba/Palace area and Old Garage. The city centres shall be provided with good modern amenities like post offices, police stations, recreational centres, parks and gardens, eateries and the likes to give the places the desired facelift that shall make them conform to modern-day standard of cities. Apart from these efforts, episode of the several Federal Government road projects are currently ongoing in the present-day State of Osun. This has been made possible through the process of concessioning. The rumour making
Continued on page 12
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Fresh Tenure Well Deserved! VI Continued from page 11 the rounds amidst a segment of the people in the society is that the roads are federal roads and so, none else could wield the magic wand of reconstructing such roads except the “Almighty” Federal Government; more so, when such roads are being dualized. The source of this rumour is not hard to discern. The governor of the State of Osun during one of the live audience participation programme, a brainchild of the incumbent administration branded “Ogbeni Till Daybreak” did not mince words while responding to a pool of questions fielded, which were related to this kind of insinuation. His response was that if an administration which was led and powered by the ruling party at the centre (referring to the People’s Democratic Party - PDP); and which stayed in office and held on to power for an upward of eight years could not reconstruct Federal Government roads within its area of jurisdiction; then it could not be true that an ousted administration or a Federal Government that had been hitherto co-plagued by inertia could now come back to do the reconstruction. The fact of the matter is contained in this analogy, that if you refuse to take care of your own house, premises or vicinity; it will be vain wish to expect someone from the neighbourhood to come and take care of it for you. This analogy depicts the mindset which governed the resolve of the incumbent administration to seek the concessioning of all Federal Government roads in its vicinity and get them rapidly transformed into well-dualized and macadamized roads. In Aregbesola’s opinion and feeling, it is shameful to observe that all access roads leading to the State of Osun from adjoining states are narrow, single-track roads. Osogbo in particular as the state capital has been bereft of good roads; which cause frequent traffic congestion in the metropolis. It is on record how OSUN DEFENDER Magazine had frequently bemoaned the sorry sight of poor access roads in the state. Today, work is earnestly in upper swing in getting reconstructed the Osogbo/Ila-Odo/Erin-Ile, Kwara State Boundary road. It is expected that the completed road shall be delivered before the middle of next year, 2015. The contract for the reconstruction of Osogbo/Iwo/Ibadan Road; also a dualization project has been awarded and work has started on the road project. Not only these, work on the Gbongan/Orile-Owu/Odeyinka/Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State Boundary road has reached an advanced stage – also a contract awarded by the incumbent administration. Gbongan/Akoda end of the Gbongan/Osogbo Expressway is also not left out of the massive reconstruction in roads, currently ongoing in the State of Osun. Work is also going on, on the construction of Igbajo/Imesi/Ekiti State Boundary road. The Gbongan/Orile-Owu/Odeyinka/ Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State Boundary road is important as it provides a shortcut to cosmopolitan Lagos State without having to go through the unnecessary headache of traffic congestion which is the normal feature of Ibadan/Lagos axis. Already, the Ikirun/Iree/Ila-Orangun road project has been completed. THERE are other road projects currently going on in the State of Osun. Within the metropolis of Osogbo the state capital alone, practically all the inner access roads have
•Newly asphalted Oroki Estate road in Osogbo.
been reconstructed. These roads are damn too numerous to mention. Of recent, the East Bypass, stretching from Ido-Osun end, through Ilesa Garage end; bursting out at Ikirun road had its contract work awarded and work has commenced in earnest. This is not to talk of the work that is ongoing at the Old Garage Area of Osogbo, which, apart from being a work of beautification, is intended to make that heart of the city more spacious, healthy and more befitting. The West Bypass, popularly referred to as Ring Road, constructed by the Alliance for Democracy (AD)-led administration in the state is currently witnessing a facelift. Judging from the way things are as at date with regards to road infrastructure in the State of Osun, it is fast becoming easier for any traveller to cover any part of the state with absolute ease within a day. From Osogbo, the state capital for instance, it is more of a reality than possibility to make it to and fro to any part of the state with all convenience. It is fully appreciated the degree of administrative convenience this development shall contribute to governance and other productive activities in the state. In a nutshell, the first citizen of our dear state, Ogbeni Aregbesola has actually matched his words with action. Upon his assumption of office, Aregbesola promised to take road infrastructure transformation throughout the state as a matter of urgent and utmost priority. At a point in time, he even said that with him on the seat of governance, the State of Osun has been privileged to have Ona Baba Ona, meaning “road that surpasses road”. Today, this promise has nearly completely matured into a fully accomplished mission. One more point to stress before moving to the next point is the fact that Aregbesola’s antecedents are clearly speaking for him. Readers are here reminded that the same enigma it was who played prominent roles in road transformation in his days as Commissioner for Road Infrastructure in cosmopolitan Lagos State during the tenure of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Governor of that state. It is therefore important to draw attention to how important it is to always consider the antecedents of aspirants before entrusting the task of leadership and governance in their hands. Through his this present outing in the State of Osun, Aregbesola has not disappointed the good people of the state who voted massively for him at the Gubernatorial Polls of April 14, 2007. It is certain that entrusting the task into his hands for a repeated term in office shall not be tantamount to disappointing destiny. This feat has been copiously displayed all over again in the August 9 2014 Gubernatorial Polls which returned the governor into office. IN like to the foregoing are the efforts so far made by the administration of the day in the area of Environment and Sanitation now beg for our attention and searchlight. There is no time that OSUN DEFENDER Magazine would write about this sub-sector that the pains and agony of the past years of the massive flooding terrains and their attendant enormous loss of lives and property will not reverberate in our memory. As the years of the immediate past administration in office wore on, the dastardly and horrendous effects of environmental degradation, environmental pollution, water pollution and contamination, indiscriminate waste disposal, water
erosion and flooding became more and more devastating. This became worse and worse to the extent that –practically all places within the state capital – drains and gutters, street/road divides, major streets and junctions; not to talk of banks and beds of rivers, streams and springs became refuse dumping sites in those dark years. As the years rolled by, the people of the entire state were reeling and languishing under the full negative effects of unkempt environment improper waste disposal and lack of drainage channelization. Of all towns, cities and settlements in the state, Osogbo, the state capital was the worst-0hit by the menace of degradation and flooding and the leftovers of their attendant after-effects. In those days, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine never relented in drawing attention to many untoward situations which portended threats of grave epidemics and other health hazards for citizens. We used to draw prompt attention to incidences of pollution emanating from hospital mortuary morgues which were inadvertently kept; decomposing animal carcasses and human corpses on our roads; refuse heaps which constituted eyesore and offensive stenches at vantage places even within the state capital; and the devastation effects of water erosion and flooding on our communities. These did not exclude the devastating effects of wind erosion and rainstorms which annually removed roofs and rafters of residential houses and structures of institutions in the state. In some cases, what we had was a complete pull-down of structures that had been weakened cumulatively due to poor maintenance culture. Enough talks had been held; while vibrant debates had also been made in the past concerning what horrible fates befell the huge provisions coming from the Federation Accounts to our state in form of Ecological Funds during the Oyinlola years of fiery siege. These enormous sums of funds, cumulatively summing up to several tens of billions of naira were released to states and local government councils as second and third tiers of government respectively to prevent, mitigate and remedy the devastating effects of natural disasters within their territories of governance. Unfortunately all the monies went elsewhere, suspiciously, into the private coffers of some mighty men in power in those days; and got committed to causes for which they were least intended by the releasing authorities at the federal level of governance. As clearly demonstrated earlier, the ugly effects of environmental degradation, pollution, indiscriminate waste disposal, water contamination and water erosion/flooding became more pronounced as the Oyinlola administration progressed in office. In year 2009, the state and its people reeled helplessly under the destructive yoke of erosion and flooding. The flooding incident of July 10, 2010 was the climax for the state in entirety and for Osogbo in particular. It also sang the Nunc Dimittis for the Oyinlola administration and that of the local administration in the town. The Ataoja of Osogbo of the tome, Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi II joined his ancestors barely a month after that flood wreckage; precisely on August 5, 2010; while an end came to the seemingly-endless Oyinlola siege barely five months later, precisely on November 27, 2010. Honestly, had an end not come to that administration in Continued on page 13
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Fresh Tenure Well Deserved! VI
• Ikirun to Obaagun road rehabilitated under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Continued from page 12 our state; what remained of it as at 2010 would have been completely washed away by the rains of 2011 and the supposed Gubernatorial Elections of that same year! By the time of turning around of captivity in November 2010, both threats had their mouths agape; with their venomous fangs outstretched; ready to devour the state and its people; thus bringing the corporate existence of the state into total annihilation and extinction. But God had not designed the state and its people for the gastronomical intents of these devouring spirits. That is why our salvation came in the fullness of time! Thank God for His saving grace! One of the very first areas of priority attention of the Aregbesola administration upon its coming on board the saddle of governance in the State of Osun was the Environment and Sanitation Sub-Sector of our economy. Since that very first effort made by the administration in that direction; it has so far not relented; neither has its strength and means abated. Governor Aregbesola has clearly demonstrated his avowed determination to rid the State of Osun of dirt and filth. Not only that, he has shown that he has all it takes in terms of knowledge and wherewithal to convert our weaknesses into strengths; and convert our threats into opportunities by making the state prosperous – even by turning waste into wealth. This last feat has been record3ed recently by the administration through the launch of the O’Clean Plus. The earlier intervention efforts in the direction of purging the state of dirt, filth and horrible sites kickstarted when Governor Aregbesola in February 2011, barely three months into his career in the governance of the state, declared a 90-day emergency in the Environment and Sanitation Sub-Sector. Alongside this, the State of Osun Environmental Sanitation Scheme, nicknamed O’Clean was rolled out. Much earlier, as early as the first week of December 2010, call had been made to young, vibrant, unemployed, yet interested residents of the state who were either university graduates or polytechnic Higher National Diploma holders to apply free online for employment into the Osun Youth Employment Scheme, known for short as OYES. The response was impressive, and the strides made so far in that sub-sector is reserved fie another segment of this report. All that needs be said in passing here concerning the OYES programme is that the first major area of its impact; apart from youth empowerment and employment generation has been the area of Environmental Sanitation, beautification, crowd and traffic control, ambulance and rescue operations as well as paramedics. Thus the OYES programme of the Aregbesola administration has impacted well on the health and sanitation needs of residents of the State of Osun; so much that the OYES and the O’Clean intervention efforts have become the envy of other states in the federation, as well as the Federal Government and other interest groups like the international communities and organizations such as the United Nations and its World Bank. The first 90-day of emergency in the Environment and Sanitation Sub-Sector of the State of Osun having been completed, the sanitation efforts were not given up; neither
were they relaxed. Up till the time of filing this report, a mandatory bi-monthly environmental sanitation exercise is being observed throughout the length and breadth of the state; and this has so positively impacted the sanitation and health needs of the state that Osun has become the land of healthy citizens where all threats of deadly epidemics have been made not only to lose their grip but also to disappear for good and all! Apart from the regular general mandatory bi-monthly environmental sanitation exercise being observed throughout the State of Osun, there are other types of similar exercises earmarked for other categories of people on weekly basis. For instance, the civil servants and offices have theirs on Wednesdays; the traders, artisans and ship-owners have theirs on Thursdays, while commercial motorists and motor parks hold theirs on Fridays – all between the hours of 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. Also, that of bi-monthly general sanitation also holds on second and fourth (last) Saturdays of every month, between the hours of 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. Since the rolling out of the sanitation exercises in the State of Osun; the efforts and the O’Clean outfit have so far impacted so positively that asserting that the people have internalized the virtue of cleanliness is stating the obvious. The Government Unusual in its own part has been doing things that are unusual in the usual way! Vehicles, equipment and waste disposal vans were procured to facilitate the work, while townspeople across the state are made to embrace the practice of dropping their refuse at accredited points and centres in order to make their lifting much easier. Also, Central dumping sites have been so located at town and city outskirts that they could not constitute any threat of pollution to residents Also upon the recent launch of O’Clean Plus, an obvious downward extension of the initially-launched broad O’Clean intervention; it is clear that not all the waste materials that are combustible shall be set on fire, as some of them shall be used to generate some alternative sources of energy for household use. This, as said earlier on, is a source of wealth to the State of Osun. It is highly imperative to point out that the achievements of the incumbent administration in the state in this area have been highly illustrious and impressive. Up till date, the impact of the administration is being felt to the extent that the State of Osun has risen to become the envy of other states in the federation. Any part of the state being visited speaks of changed value system from the ugly horrible sights of the past to a new, well-rebranded land of beauty and high aesthetic value. This measure is well taken as a means of backward integration; so that through our collective carefulness and vigilance, we can take our destinies into our own hands and forestall the occurrence of avoidable diseases. This trend has been achieved. We shall at this juncture do justice to a careful analysis of the achievements of the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in other remaining sectors and sub-sectors of the life of the state. It is the consummate attainment of this that OSUN DEFENDER Magazine is now committed.
IN the area of Women and Children Affairs cum Social Development, the Government Unusual has done so well that we can boldly assert that the best so far has begun to be witnessed in the sub-sector. We place it in record that in recognition of the vital role played in the development and future greatness of our society that Ogbeni Aregbesola in the presentation of the Appropriation Bill Estimate for the year 2013 before the honourable members of the State of Osun House of Assembly, announced the creation of a new ministry with the branding and nomenclature of Ministry of Children and Women Affairs. The inclusion of children in particular indicates that new imprints are about to be left in the sands of time and governance of the state. This trend has begun to be set, not only in name but also in action and programmes. We shall make this crystal clear in due course of time. The role of and commitment of the incumbent administration in and to the issue of women development have been prominently visible since its coming on board the parlances of governance in the state. Various programmes and supportive schemes have been put in place to organize women into groups with a view to training them and empower them so as to enhance their liberation by reducing their overdependence on then male gender. This feat was recorded through a collaborative, coordinated effort between the two tiers of government visibly on ground within the confines of the state, i.e. the State Government and the grassroots administration called the local government. Various efforts subsist through which the administration of the day has empowered women, housewives in particular. We place on record various training programmes for widows, puddahs and other groups. Also, professional groups like market women have not been ignored in terms of their needs and requirements that could boost their activities, welfare and prosperity. Also in this regard, we place on record how the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola has organized and held for the very first time ever, the O’odua World Children’s Day; which was an attempt at the unification of all the Yoruba race scattered all over the place – within Nigeria and yonder, that is, in West Africa, the rest of Africa, Asia, West Indies (the Caribbean), the United States of America, South America and all the rest. At the programme, we had in attendance contingents from nine good states of the federation, which included the following Yoruba-speaking states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta. Added to these is the tenth, which is the host state, the State of Osun. Going by the information provided above, the programme was a huge success, as it turned out to be not only a convergence for the children and youth but for adults of all classes, cadres, classes and caste. The greatest achievement of all in the intrinsic quality of that programme is the forum it provided for two frontline traditional rulers in Yorubaland, regarded to be at swords drawn since time immemorial, to sit together and relate as offspring of the same forebears and leaders of the single Continued on page 14
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osun Defender Tuesday, April
Fresh Tenure Well Deserved!
•Osun Waste Management Agency (OWMA) members of staff performing their duty at Estate area of Osogbo, State of Osun, recently. Continued from page 13 largest ethnic group among the black race. The Aregbesola administration shall eternally win medals for this feat of acting as a unifying force for the Yoruba race. It has this to its eternal credit. We shall now dwell briefly on the aspect touching on Social Development, Youths and Sports sub-sector of the whole heading under consideration; particularly, in the sphere of social welfare. Much has been achieved by the administration of Ogbeni since its inception over thirty months ago. In April 2011, the Government of the State of Osun under the dynamic leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola spearheaded the eviction of the state indigenes that were stacked in the war-ravaged Cote d’Ivoire. The cocoa-rich West African country had been war-ravaged for sometime over the sit-tight syndrome exercised by its past leader, Laurent Gbagbo and his blatant, brazen refusal to honour the collective voice and wish of the citizens who overwhelmingly voted for his opponent, Alhassan Quattara in a free, fair and credible general election. The evicted indigenes, comprising mainly indigenes of Iwo and Ejigbo local government councils of the state were not just evicted but well settled home with donations of money, food items and other materials by the Government of the State. In addition to these good gestures; the respective local government councils complemented by giving their own support too. These gestures were clear demonstration that the people had a government of their own, which had the disposition to guarantee and protect their welfare, well-being and prosperity. Similar to this was the rescue mission embarked upon by the Government of the State to Bauchi State following the post-Presidential Elections violence which erupted there also in April 2011. The mission of the rescue team was to search for, find and evict the state’s indigenes from the state that had suddenly become heated up with violence and pandemonium, following the announcements of the results of the Presidential Elections held nationwide that April 2011. The mission was successful as the state’s indigenes, consisting mainly of residents who took sojourn there and youth corps members on national assignment were evicted home in droves. Regrettably, the State of Osun had its own share of loss of lives which came attendant to the crisis. Two of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were killed in the mayhem hailed from the State of Osun. As luck would have it, the duo even hailed from the same town of Gbongan in Ayedaade Local Government Council Area of the state. The way the Government of the State of Osun intervened and identified with the bereaved families, communities and entire people by according the two fallen youths befitting burials and giving support and succor to the families showed a government which places premium on the life, well-being and welfare of its citizens. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine is of the opinion that the blown on the state would have been deadlier, heavier and more fatal if government intervention had not been forthcoming at all; more so, if it had not been timely enough. In early October 2011, the State of Osun School of
Special Needs, located at Powerline Area of Osogbo, the state capital, received a philanthropist gesture from the government of the state when Pharmacist Israel Oyagbile, representing the State Governor delivered consumables and gift items to the students of the school. The items such donated included bags of rice, clothing materials and jerry cans of vegetable oil. The gesture, it was further revealed, was part of the demonstration of the determination of the Government of the State to distribute dividends of democracy evenly throughout the state; class, caste, and state in life notwithstanding. In a similar vein, local government councils in the state have been in the business of taking turns to cater to the social need of the people in their domains. Our terrain is replete with examples of these gestures. In a nutshell, our thirty local government council areas and the Ife East Area Office have always complemented the efforts of the incumbent administration by taking up the bull by the horns in arresting the challenges of taking care of the elderly in the council areas’ domains. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine tarries here to document the effort of the administration in putting smiles on the faces of the old and elderly. This initiative in particular is commendable. The care of the elderly in the society is vital; as most of those who constitute the class of elderly must have one time or the other, taken active participation in the building of the society. Giving back to this class of senior citizens in their declining years cannot constitute giving too much. Today, a great number of old and elderly citizens in the state; the poor and indigent in particular is receiving monthly stipends from the government of the day. This care of the old and elderly includes the health and medical care, and it goes a long way to reduce unceremonious deaths, dependency and senility of the old. WATER resources are a vital sub-sector in the Regional Planning and Environmental Development Sector of the state’s economy. In the year 2012, the Annual Capital Expenditure for this sub-sector was Five-Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, One-Hundred and Six Thousand, FiveHundred and Ninety-Five Naira, Twenty-Six Kobo (N555, 106,595.26). In full recognition of the importance of good potable water to forestall and combat outbreak of ailments, diseases and epidemics, the incumbent administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola did in the year 2011 earmark and actually committed a whooping sum of Two Billion, Two-Hundred and Fifty-Four Million, FiveHundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Four-Hundred and Seventy Naira (N2, 254,585,470.00) for the sub-sector. This whooping sum gives an improvement of 306.15 per cent over the expenditure of year 2010 in the sub-sector. In pursuance of its determination to provide all parts of the state with good potable water, the effort helps to revive the New Ede Waterheads and make it fully functional in water supply to all parts of the State of Osun started in August 2011. It snowballed into the proposal for the award of its contract to the tune of N417 Million for the rehabilitation of the New Ede4 Waterworks with capacity to 100,000 metric tonnes of water per day. It is expected that fresh construction of water channels
shall soon begin throughout the state, while rehabilitation of existing burst pipes and damaged ones have also begun in earnest. As at the time of the last election campaigns, the governor is made fresh promises to the people of Ikire and the entire Irewole, Ayedaade and Isokan local government council areas that the Ikire Waterworks is included among the numerous water projects in the state earmarked for rehabilitation, resuscitation and reconstruction. That promise was on the heels of an earlier one made to a contingent of Ikire indigenes led by the reigning monarch of the ancient town, Oba Olatunde Falabi, Olambeloye III, With these moves, it is evident that the coast is clear for effective water supply to the good health and healthy living of the people of the State of Osun. THERE is hardly any other area where the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has scored its first excellent mark than the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES). This vital and laudable achievement of the Aregbesola administration is here treated last to detail as a matter of deliberacy. As pointed out in the appropriate segment of this report in earlier editions, rather than lumping this sub-heading with the broad heading of Industry, Commerce, Finance and Cooperatives or that of Human Resource and Capacity Building; OSUN DEFENDER Magazine is singling it out here owing to its all-important nature on the one hand, and the towering influence it has garnered to itself all along. We make bold to assert that there is nowhere in the federation of Nigeria where one makes mention of OYES and people would not have caught winds of it as a thriving youth empowerment intervention initiative of the State of Osun extraction. The programme has so much touched lives that its fame, credibility and recognition have travelled beyond the shores of our country. The Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), which was rolled out as a powerful, life-changing initiative of Ogbeni himself, began to see the light of day at the very wake of the administration, precisely in December 2010; and before the first 100 days of the incumbent administration in office, it had begun to record gigantic success. By that initiative, which was obviously an intervention [programme to arrest the spate of poverty and unemployment, 20,000 unemployed youths were productively employed in various fields of specialization in a fell swoop. This development marked a great feat which has been, and which shall remain difficult, if not impossible to outwit in decades to come. This fact is even truer, more accurate and realistic as processes have been kick-started for the enlistment of another batch of OYES cadets. The enlistment processes is still ongoing due to some hitches encountered at the initial stage of the call for fresh enlistment. However, the organizers are proving to be on top of the situation. The enlistment of fresh OYES cadets for the 2013/2015 shift, also numbering up to 20,000 shall soon be completed and concluded. By the year 2015, 40,000 youths would have cumulatively been saved from the horrendous fangs Continued on page 15
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osun Defender Tuesday, April
Fresh Tenure Well Deserved! Continued from page 14 of sloth and unemployment, even as it becomes very certain that the youths are being graduated and
absorbed into vocations of their choices at the expiry of their two-year mandatory period as corps cadets of the scheme. The development is made remarkable in many ways. All indications attest to it that it has never been possible anywhere else in this country to absorb that many into the workforce at a go. For the OYES initiative, the payroll bill monthly adds up to a whooping sum of Two-Hundred Million Naira (N200 Million). Yet the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is unshaken even as the precedence it met on ground was that of a government acquiring loans and overdrafts from commercial banks to pay the salaries and allowances of regular workforce in the public/ civil service employ of the state and even the pension of retirees. By injecting N200 Million Naira into the economy of the state, via the enlistment of 20,000 youths of the state’s origin, Aregbesola has by this scheme saved more than 20,000 people from above that number of homes from the dastardly negative effects of dehumanization brought about by unemployment and poverty. Also, he has succeeded in mopping up into productive engagements idle hands which hitherto had been the devil’s workshop. Youths who had hitherto been co-opted into odd jobs like thuggery, political brigandage, violence prostitution, drug abuse and other social vices have been provided with more socially acceptable and by far more productive engagements for their respective betterment and for uplifting the status and living standard of the society. The OYES initiative has contributed in no small measure to the overall welfare, wellbeing and economic emancipation of the State of Osun. The index of its contribution to the overall prosperity of the state and its entire people is inestimable. Much is this impact that the programme won the nod and commendation of the United Nations’ International bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), otherwise known as the World Bank. The World Bank team that visited the State of Osun sometime during year 2011 came on assessment tour of the state with particular focus on the OYES programme. It
•Aregbesola
was in token of the World Bank’s appreciation for the scheme that the international (global) finance institution decided to throw its weight behind the programme by assisting the government to expand its scope. One essential feature of the OYES programme is its transitory nature. As at the completion time of the first batch of the scheme, many OYES cadets graduated to other segments of the civil/public service e.g. teaching, clerical/ administrative cadres, while room is being opened to absorb fresh cadets in replacement. Some of the cadets were even sent abroad to various overseas countries for proper adequate training requisite for their full and functional establishment into their chosen life-long vocations. Few months ago, a graduation ceremony was held for the first set of products of the OYES-tech; the technical/technological training wing of the broad OYES scheme, who were integrated into the society in various aspects of computer assemblage, repairs, telephone handsets assembly and repairs and the likes. On the whole, there is hardly any facet of life where the OYES initiative has impacted lives in the state more than Environ mental Sanitation; and Crowd/ Traffic Control. By OYES initiative, the State of Osun is being rapidly transformed radically decent and beautiful abode, where disasters associated with environmental degradation are fastbecoming things of the past. This implies that the chains of awards, encomiums, recognition and commendation being poured on the governor, in particular, the merit award conferred on him during the penultimate episode of the governor’s audience media chat, tagged “Ogbeni Till Daybreak” by the B Zone of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), where the governor was decorated as the best governor in the area of environment and disaster management in Nigeria for the year 2012 had not been misplaced. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine accords great recognition for the efforts of Ogbeni Aregbesola and his indefatigable and irrepressible team. It is on that note that the State of Osun was earmarked to benefit from the World Bank/Federal Government Youth Empowerment Fund to the tune of N50 Billion. The fact that the World Bank itself has a sub-agency called Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operation (YESSO)
•laoye-tomori
complements the ingenuity and creativity of Ogbeni Aregbesola in coming out with the coinage “OYES”. We have referred to it repeatedly here that recruitment and selection exercise for the next 20,000 cadets into the 2013/2015 batch of the scheme are currently ongoing. It is expected that training and selection processes of the new batch must be completed in due course of time. Already, the first batch of beneficiaries has graduated into jobs, careers and life-long vocations. On the occasion of first year anniversary of the OYES programme, held precisely on May 5 2012; the scope of the OYES scheme was broadened, as the cadet corps members were divided into various corps, groups, or cadre corps. Thus, the following cadre corps, which had been part of the initial plan of the initiative, became prominently operational. They are: 1. Public Works 2. Green Gang 3. Traffic Marshall 4. Sanitation Czar 5. Teachers’ Corps 6. Sheriff Guard 7. Paramedics. Development into operative cadres did actually expand the initial concept in response to the exigencies of the State of Osun experience. This new range of additional cadres comprised a new range of products designed to engender entrepreneurship and economic independence in the corps by way of exit strategy; including the OYES-tech (ICT repairs) mentioned above and the e-payment entrepreneurship project. It is hoped that the finances of the scheme would be improved in the future as more and more private businesses and corporate bodies partner with the government. By then, the initial goal of having each corps member possess all the uniforms of the various cadres in order to facilitate rotation of their experience shall be made possible. • To be continued.
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t is desirable to once again appreciate our Maker (God) for helping the people of the State of Osun to be rightly focussed, such that an error of mismatch was not committed in the justconcluded elections at all levels. Although it was not a 100% sweep, as some people would have expected, we, as government and people of this state can conveniently beat our chests that the outcome was predominantly a true reflection of general wishes of the people. In all, we can rightly conclude that the people of this state, particularly the civil servants, who almost drifted into choice error due to skewed judgment and failure to adequately consider the pros and cons of voting against the wish of Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, who is considered the front runner in the move to have power change from the dreaded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are true winners. I have listened to, and read about nasty comments credited to some disgruntled individuals, who had wished that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates at all levels be defeated at the polls. Honestly, listening to comments from some of them, especially those ones that are considered to understand better, I felt disgusted about the level of understanding of those trying to justify their standpoint. Some retired Permanent Secretary descended so low to persuade people to vote against the wish of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola based on his failure to pay workers’ salaries and retirees’ allowances. They suddenly forgot that they are supposed to be bridge builders through wise counsels that should be respected by those who know next to nothing about governance. Elections have now come and gone, and the electorate have spoken through their votes that have now brought to effect the much-desired change through the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. From this outcome, Osun people, especially the workers, are the most fortunate because we now belong to the mainstream of Nigeria’s political arrangement; and in a matter of weeks from now, Osun will sit comfortably in the midst of movers and shakers of Nigeria’s social, political, and economic affairs. In a way, all that are now shrouded in secrecy due to the way and manner Nigeria’s affairs are being run will be open to our governor, and he will be able to have better understanding of Nigerian project that a few people in PDP
By ade olugbotemi
Patience Is All We Need Now
center. More stringent measures would have been slammed on the State of Osun after May 29, if PDP had emerged victorious in the recently-concluded general elections; and government business would have continued to suffer more than is the case presently. The Federal Government is hugely indebted to Osun by reason of road network categorized as federal roads being constructed and maintained by Aregbesola’s government. Defraying this alone by Buhari-led Federal Government will be a great bailout capable of cushioning the effect of fund paucity that the state is currently facing. The current trend in which unfavourable loan repayment condition is paralysing government business is likely to be reverted under the new regime that is predominantly controlled by the APC. Besides, the expected administrative acumen that Buhari’s economic team will put in place, coupled with the expected eradication of profligacy and restoration of best practice in doing government business will go a long way in improving the economic status of the state.
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cabal have kept secret for the past sixteen years that they have been in the saddle. We are all aware that President Goodluck Jonathan’s number one enemy in Nigeria today is the selfstyled Ogbeni, who has been a major stumbling block to Jonathan in his determination to win the South West geo-political zone to PDP. Way back in 2011, it was only in Osun that President Jonathan failed to secure a win in the South West; an event that rattled him, leaving him with no option than to deal with Governor Aregbesola and by extension, the people of the state, in his own way. It has been widely speculated that the latest paucity of fund in the State of Osun is the direct effect of that 2011 saga, which Jonathan considered as
too spiteful. The President was said to have overruled the earlier loan repayment schedule, which was not to create serious financial threat to the state. any states of the Federation have also found themselves in serious financial quagmire, as we now have it in Osun. However, intermittent bailout intervention from Mr President to PDP-controlled stated has often created fall-back-on buffer, which has reduced tension significantly in places like Bayelsa, Ekiti and Kogi. The President was so categorical about this during the just-concluded electioneering campaign that only states being controlled by PDP are getting money to run government business for being overseen by the ruling party at the
M
overnment workers in the state must also ensure that they fashion out ways by which the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state is greatly improved upon. Although e-payment is being applied for government businesses in the state, sharp practices still pervade the running of government businesses because not all revenues accrue to government get to its coffers. With improved IGR through tightening up of loose ends and opening up of minds and hearts for some new possibilities, the state will no longer need to depend on the ever-dwindling allocations from the Federal Government. Enabling environment is also likely to attract more economic prospects that will provide more opportunities to the teeming inhabitants; which means the state will no longer depend on government workers’ salaries to survive. I am sure that the recent harrowing experience, whereby workers are being owed salaries up to four or five months, is going to result in tremendous blessings at the end of the day. Although it constitutes an art of forced saving at the moment, since nobody prepares for this type of thrift, the eventual defrayment of the backlog will afford workers opportunities to plan and apply their money on things that will bring them joy at the end of the day. The man at the helm of affairs in the
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.