Osun-Defender February 21, 2015 Edition by OsunDefender

www.osundefender.org saturday, february 21, 2015 As the general elections draw nearer, we deem it necessary to make a call to our elected representatives on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of Osun on the need to be up and doing

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Front Page Comment

VOL. 10. NO.015

An Appeal To Elected Representatives

appertaining to election campaigns. No doubt the importance of campaign to winning election cannot be over-emphasized. Campaign

crucial to winning election just as evangelism- in religious arena - is crucial to winning souls. All over the world campaign provides opportunity to reach out to the people and sell

candidacy and one’s party ideology and programmes to the electorate. This is why candidates and parties do have sleepless nightsduring

electioneering campaigns because they want to try as much as possible to reach all the nooks and crannies within their constituencies to meet the people and convince them

N100

on the reason why they (the electorate) have to vote for them. So they are always up and doing during this period. Habitually during electioneering campaigns politicians hate to leave any stone unturned. Continue on pg7

Ekiti Election Rigging : APC Wants Obanikoro Banned, Adesiyan Sacked As - Pg 3

Jonathan Schemes For Tenure Elongation

•Lawmaker Raises Alarm Over Dollar Rain In NASS Osun Communal

- See Story On Page 2

Clash: Warring - Pg 6 Communities Disagree Over Market Relocation

PDP Deceives Cocoa Farmers With Loans In Osun - Pg 2 Osun PDP Suffers - Pg 6 Another Loss

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); State Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Onunwor Chris (3rd left); Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (2nd left); Assistant Comptroller, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and African Affairs, Mr. Ndupu Udoamaka (left); Passport Control Officer of Immigration, Mr. Isah Salihu (2nd right); Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Aminu Suliman (right) during a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Osogbo, on Thursday.

Polls: Obey Court Ruling On - Pg 5 Soldiers, APC Writes President

PDP Moves Battle To Unseat - Pg 5 Aregbesola To Abuja

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osun Defender Saturday, February 21, 2015

Jonathan Schemes For Tenure Elongation •L awmaker Raises Alarm Over Dollar Rain In NASS

SUN DEFENDER has uncovered a fresh plot by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stay in office beyond 2015 and secure a two-year tenure elongation. Impeccable sources in H o n o u r a b l e R o t i m i the Presidency confided in Makinde, who is currently the medium that President representing Ife Federal Jonathan was ready to Constituency, alerted the offer $1 million to each general public that there of the lawmakers at the was a fresh plot to extend National Assembly for P r e s i d e n t J o n a t h a n ’s the approval of the tenure tenure by two years. OSUN DEFENDER extension. This was coming as a learnt that the President member of the Federal had compromised the House of Representatives,

leadership of the Senate on his plan before the postponement of the general elections. It was also learnt that some opposition lawmakers at the National Assembly have got the hint and were ready to frustrate such move if brought to the floor of the National Assembly. Some aggrieved members of the PDP and All Progressives Congress (APC) who did not secure a return ticket were

By ismaeel uthman

however, said to be ready to support the President’s move with the $1 million bribe. On his Facebook account on Thursday, Makinde alleged that President Jonathan was not ready to conduct the general elections, adding that the PDP stalwarts and the president’s aides were spur to scuttle the elections and make it impossible to

hold. He described the security excuse on which the election was postponed as a ruse and fabrication of lies to ensure that the election was shifted. The lawmaker alleged that the President and the PDP have begun moves to lobby the National Assembly for the approval of the tenure elongation with an initial six months. According to Makinde, the President’s proposal has been gaining momentum among the lawmakers, who have seen the handwriting on the wall that they might not return to the National Assembly, hence they considered the proposed extension as a better option. Makinde added that majority of the leaders of the National Assembly, who were ready to support the tenure elongation were

afraid of being probed by General Muhammodu Buhari of the APC, if he emerges as the President in the March 28, 2015 election. The Ile-Ife born politician therefore, called on Nigerians to be ready to kick against any move to give President Jonathan’s additional days, weeks, months or year after the completion of his term. He also charged Nigerians to intensify prayers for the successful conduct of the forthcoming general elections and vehemently kick against the intension to extend tenure by two years. Makinde warned the Presidency against any plot that would further destabilize the country, saying: “Failure of the Presidency to comply with the general wishes of the people may cause doom for this great country.”

P DP Deceives Cocoa Farmers With Loans In Osun

I •(L-R) State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) and his counterpart from Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) national meeting in Abuja last Tuesday.

Increase In PVC Collection Statistics Excites Voters eactions have started to trail the latest

Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) collection statistics, which was recently released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In the latest collection process of this country. statistics, which put Majority of us will go the percentage for the out on the election day State of Osun at 71.97 and cast our votes, so that percent, many residents we too can be proud to of the State of Osun say that we have an input attributed the rise to the in what goes on in our level of preparedness of country.” the electorate and the Another trader, Bola additional time given by Oluwamayowa, observed the postponement of the t h a t t h e r i s e i n t h e 2015 general elections. percentage of the PVC Olubukola Olawuyi, collection statistics was a trader at Fagbewesa not achievable due to the Street of the state capital, election postponement stated that the increase of but that rather, Osun the PVC collection was electorate were ready to an additional statement even vote on the 14th and that Nigerians were ready 28th of February. for the elections. She agreed that the According to her: “It is postponement would be a good development and an advantage for those it shows that we, in Osun, who were yet to collect are ready to vote when the their own cards to obtain day of election comes. theirs from the INEC “I am happy because offices in their local this means that Osun g o v e r n m e n t c o u n c i l people will not be left out areas. in the decision-making While urging the

By Francis EZEDIUNO

electorate to vote wisely during the elections next month, she advised for a free, fair and peaceful conduct during the electoral exercise as this would be a defining factor that would curtail violence or cancellation of results. Meanwhile, the call for the use of the temporary voter ’s cards and the outright rejection of the use of smart cards as provided by INEC has been rebuffed on the grounds that it would pave way for massive rigging and results manipulations as experienced in the past elections and the individuals calling for such as the brains behind such acts. The act, according to the people who spoke to this medium did not comply with international best standards. They posited that the whole world has moved on and nothing stopped Nigeria from doing same too, adding that the

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By sola jacobs

n its desperate bid to have voters’ sympathy in the forthcoming general elections in the State of Osun, prominent chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been wooing cocoa farmers with loans, using the Bank of Agriculture loans to woo them. Some of the farmers who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in IfeSouth Local Government Council Area of the state under anonymity, said some of the party members have regularly been visiting farmers on their farms, asking them for their voters’ cards and writing their PIN numbers, with the promise that the Federal Government will use it to approve loans for them individually. They also confided in the medium that the PDP members even promised to give them pesticides and other chemicals that they needed for their cocoa plantations. One of the farmers stressed that the current fluctuation of cocoa prices in the international market has made some of them to yield to pressure, as the party even promised to help them find buyers who will offer better

electorate would observe a marked difference from the two methods of vote casting. “It is desperate politicians who are kicking against the use of the PVC and surprisingly, it is this same people that will come to love the use of PVC as time goes. It would be recalled that the call for the cancellation of the use of the card reader and PVC for voting was spearheaded by some politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some rights groups. O n We d n e s d a y, the Chairman of the electoral commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, had announced on the floor of the Senate that further polls shift would be unconstitutional. Osun has 1, 407, 107 registered voters, while a record number of 1, 012, 678 had collected their PVCs. 08033880205, 08033927286,

prices for their farm produce. The investigation also revealed that various artisan groups had met with the leadership of the party, as they promised to give them soft loans for their members, so that they might vote for their party during the elections. Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER at Garage Olode over the PDP’s plot to woo voters in the state, an APC chieftain, Hon Jelili Ahmed(a.k.a Jah) said that farmers in the local government are highly sensitive and educated . They cannot afford to be deceived by the PDP and that the APC will win in the local government despite the ploy and deceit of PDP, he said. He therefore, call on the citizens of the local government to vote APC in the forthcoming

08061197897, 08023191891.

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osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

Ekiti Election Rigging : APC Wants Obanikoro Banned, Adesiyan Sacked As Minister

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for the banning of former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musliu Obanikoro, from holding any public office over his role in the rigging of the governorship election in Ekiti State on June 21, 2014. While Obanikoro’s name was on Tuesday sent to the Senate for confirmation as minister by President Goodluck Jonathan, the APC asked the Senate not to confirm him. The APC also asked Nigeria’s Armed forces

to immediately begin investigating Aliyu Momoh, a Major General, for his role in the alleged rigging of the election in Ekiti and repeating same in Osun and ensure that immediate and necessary disciplinary actions are taken against

all individuals that were involved in what, it said, was subversion of democracy. A v id eo reco rd in g recently emerged of an intelligence officer in the Nigerian Army, Captain Sagir Koli, giving details of how General Momoh was used by Obanikoro, Ayo Fayose and others to rig the election. Also now in the public domain is a recording of a secret meeting convened by top Peoples

Democratic Party politicians to strategise on how to rig the Ekiti election. Rising from its first joint leadership meeting at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, the APC also asked the Federal Government to immediately relieve the Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, of his appointment. The opposition party also asked the Nigerian government to ensure

•State of Osun Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, signing a condolence book during her cordolence visit to the family of Iyalode of Osogboland, the late Alhaja Alake Kolade, at her residence in Osogbo recently.

Osun Assembly Increases 2015 Budget Estimate By kazeem mohammed

ndication emerged on Wednesday that the State of Osun House of Assembly might increase the 2015 budget estimate, as the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation recommended the increase of the budget from N197billion to N201 billion. The budget estimate light adjustment has been of N197,082,191,560, made into the draft budget christened: “Budget of after proper consultation Renewed Hope” was with the Office of the presented to the state Budget and Economic parliament on December Planning and the State Ministry of Finance. 23, 2014. The adjustment, he said, After the presentation o f t h e b u d g e t , t h e has increased the figure Assembly committed the of the original estimate appropriation bill to the to N201,840,518,700, Committee on Finance saying, the revenue and Appropriation in estimate has also been conjunction with other i n c r e a s e d t o r e f l e c t standing committees a balance budget, as for further actions, after presented to the House. He noted that the which ministries and agencies of government recurrent expenditure of appeared before the joint the new budget estimate committees to defend takes N90,714,219,690, representing 44.9 per their estimates. Presenting the report cent, while the capital of the exercise to the e x p e n d i t u r e t a k e s House at the plenary N 1 1 1 , 1 2 6 , 2 9 9 , 0 1 0 , o n We d n e s d a y, t h e repesenting 55.1 per cent C h a i r m a n o f t h e of the budget. Noting that the budget committee, Honourable Kamil Oyedele, said a must be revenue-driven,

he recommended that relevant agencies of government should look inward and redouble their efforts towards ensuring that the oportunity available to the state through the capital receipt is properly leveraged upon. The report, according to Oyedele, reads: “the Osun Internal Revenue Service (OIRS) should ensure the automation of revenue being generated by the state tertiary institutions. “In order to further increase the IGR in specific terms, there should be comprehensive monitoring of quarry, mining, and forestry activities, as well as setting up of all-inclusive revenue monitoring committee. “ Va r i o u s a g e n c i e s of government should restrategise and embark on aggressive revenue generation effort, by blocking all loopholes and leakages, including tax evasion by some federal

and private-owned institutions. “The O’IRS should be repositioned and strengthened in line with the enabling laws in order to achieve the IGR targeted. “The state government should ensure the completion of all the ongoing developmental projects before embarking on any new ones,” he said. He further suggested that the Office of Budget and Economic Planning and Ministry of Finance should appear before the House on quarterly basis to brief the Assembly on budget implementation and performance. The Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, commended the committee for the good job done on the budget, saying the report has reflected the competence of the committee. The report was subsequently adopted by the Assembly for further consideration.

that the armed forces are kept out of partisan politics in line with a recent judgment by a court in Sokoto and its affirmation by the Court of Appeal on Monday. Part of the outcome of the joint leadership meeting was that the rescheduled election dates of the March 28 and April 11 must remain sacrosanct with the party saying it would not tolerate any further shift. The party added that the use of the card readers for the 28th of March and 11th of April is nonnegotiable, as contrary to the misinformation being disseminated about the use of card readers is not synonymous with electronic voting. S p e a k i n g e a r l i e r, the party’s presidential candidate and former Head of State, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, urged members of the party not to “relax” after the completion of its campaign rallies nationwide. Buhari said, APC should not lose focus due to the extension. “Our patience and resilience will be tested in the days ahead. We must pass this test. In a time like this, which in football analogy can be referred to as extra time, we must avoid making costly mistakes,” Buhari stressed. The APC presidential candidate maintained that the party must use the next six weeks to recharge and re-focus on its goal. He said, the goal of the APC remains to win the elections now slated for March 28 and April 11 with a convincing majority. “We should aim to achieve a victory that will be beyond dispute and proceed to form the next government and start work on the task of rebuilding our beloved country. “Our eyes must be on the objective to build a great society that works for all of us; a country, where every child has an equal opportunity to get an education; where every young Nigerian who needs a job can find one; where the sick are looked after and senior citizens are provided for. “A country which gives value to human life; where the welfare and security of all is a national priority and corruption is defeated,” he said. Speaking on the Ekiti rigging debacle, Buhari expressed surprise at the silence from the government over the matter. “Up till now, there has been no official denial of this most

unfortunate event. It makes me wonder, in the circumstances that led to shifting of the date of the federal elections, whether the security services are even now being prepared to play similar roles in the March 28th and April 11th elections.” He reiterated that security services have serious constitutional responsibilities to the people of the nation, adding that their importance to the health of the country cannot be underestimated, while urging the leadership of the security services to keep the institutions out of partisan politics. “I personally and, am sure, all Nigerians, have tremendous respect for our security services. I therefore, urge strongly that they stick to, and concentrate on, their constitutional duties, otherwise, they stand the risk of becoming part of our already complicated national situation,” he said. He also thanked members of the party who took time to participate in his campaign rallies across the country. “I particularly thank those who have been made mind-boggling offers by our opponents in a bid to break our ranks and curtail our momentum in the march to change Nigeria for good, yet you have chosen to be on the side of a cause that is just,” he stressed. He however, appealed to the party leaders and faithful not to rest thinking that all is won. “Six weeks is a long time and we do not know the plans of the other side but with our strong resolve, we will prevail. “Therefore, let us keep our eyes on the ball. Let us work as we have never done before, and let us watch and help each other. The days and weeks ahead will be tough. “Our resolve will be tested and all kinds of evil tricks will be on display. But do not despair. The goal is in sight. Change is coming. The people of Nigeria will prevail. God has destined Nigeria to be a great country. We shall overcome and change shall be achieved,” the APC flagbearer said.

Change Of Name I, formerly known as Miss Adebayo Muibat Monilola now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Adebayo-Oyedele Muibat Monilola. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

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osun Defender Saturday, February

Obanikoro Confesses To Ekiti Rigging Meeting, Says Jonathan Sent Him Jonathan was said to have told a team of reporters from the Wall Street Journal during an interview that the tapes were not real and that he would not investigate the incident. Obanikoro also told President Jonathan that his US lawyers had assured him that they could file some cases against SaharaReporters in the US to “teach SaharaReporters and its publisher, Omoyele Sowore,” a lesson. He explained to the President that with enough financial support, his lawyers would file the case and also employ private detectives to track down SaharaReporters.

President Jonathan reportedly nodded at the idea, and asked Obanikoro not to worry. Following that meeting, the former minister began a series of legal threats last week, claiming to have sued SaharaReporters, as well as The Punch newspaper and Premium Times, both in Lagos. Up until now, those newspapers are yet to be served copies of the lawsuit. O n Tu e s d a y n i g h t , Obanikoro, who is also a US citizen, assured some of the Senators that his US lawyers had already filed a libel suit against SaharaReporters in New

York. O n We d n e s d a y, Obanikoro deployed a small rented crowd of protesters to hold placards in front of the National Assembly to denounce the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was to be noted that two other key participants at the meeting, Police Minister Jelili Adesiyan and Ayo Fayose, the beneficiary of the Ekiti governorship rigging, have admitted that they were at the meeting that was recorded by the Army Captain. For Obanikoro’s role in the rigging of the election, APC has advocated his

being banned from holding any public office, and asked the Senate not to confirm him. President Jonathan was reported to have renominated Obanikoro as his reward for letting sleeping dog lie over the PDP governorship race in Lagos State.

ontrary to earlier denials, embattled ministerial nominee, Musiliu Obanikoro, has confessed to several Senators in Abuja that he did participate in an election-eve meeting in Ekiti in June 2014, in which a group of politicians and government ministers met with a Nigerian Army General to rig the governorship election in favour of Ayodele Fayose, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The meeting, which is now known as “Ekitigate”, was secretly taped by an his US lawyers to do a Army Captain, who was separate voice analysis of subsequently forced to flee the tape and that the lawyers came back with “proof” for his life. Despite the scandal, that certain aspects of the P r e s i d e n t J o n a t h a n tape had been doctored by went ahead to nominate SaharaReporters to make Obanikoro into his cabinet the regime look bad. Counting on that for the second time, and the nominee is lobbying a s s u r a n c e , P r e s i d e n t the Senators to give him a pass during his upcoming nomination hearing. It was in the process that he had confessed to some of them that he was indeed present at the rigging meeting in Akure, on behalf of the President, to ensure that everything went smoothly. Obanikoro’s story was that he was simply making “peace” between the Army and Ayo Fayose at the meeting, claiming that he was not a party to any conversation about rigging. O n t h e c o n t r a r y, Obanikoro, who was at the time a junior Minister for Defence, was overheard clearly on the tape bragging about the authority granted him by President Jonathan. Prior to admitting his involvement to the Senators, the former minister met with President Jonathan to discuss the tape and his role. A presidency source said Obanikoro told President Jonathan that he was present at the meeting but that a part •(L-R) APC Leader in Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (left); APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) (2nd left); APC of the audio-recording was National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun (3rd left); Buhari’s running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) (4th left) and other top APC chieftains “doctored”. during the APC national meeting in Abuja, last Tuesday. It was learnt that, President Jonathan had called him to the meeting to discuss how to mitigate the damage created by the that God can, in His mercies hands must be on deck to discipline. leaked tape. on the occasion of Lent, The governor advised ensure that the 40 days of the He allegedly told the Christians to set aside time help the country conquer Lenten period must be used Senators categorically that he governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf by brethren to pray for the to reflect on Jesus Christ, his insurgency that is ravaging it was Jonathan himself Aregbesola, has called on Christians and other country to have credible, fair suffering and his sacrifice, part of the country. who had sent him to Ekiti “I will also like to use this his life, death, resurrection Nigerians to use the Lenten period to pray to God to help Fayose win the for peace and unity of Nigeria, as the March and April and violence-free elections. and above all, his love for opportunity to charge our He admonished election. Christian clerics to educate elections inch in. Christianity faithful to humanity. On the tape, Obanikoro their congregations on the According to him: “What The governor, in a message by the Director, Bureau imbibe the lesson of the said, at least twice, that he of Communication and need for peace and the unity our nation needs at this Lent, a time when many was on a “mission” for the Strategy, Office of the occasion to supplicate of the nation. time are love, sacrifice and to God for the peaceful Christians prepare for “We must always pray to President. G o v e r n o r, M r. S e m i u conduct of the forthcoming Easter, by observing a period forgiveness. We must all God for His will to be done He also reportedly told O k a n l a w o n , a p p e a l e d pray and join hands with of fasting, repentance, on the nation. We must use President Jonathan at their to Christians to use the elections. Aregbesola held that all moderation and spiritual our security agencies so the time of this Lent to pray meeting that he had asked for the coming elections to be free, fair and devoid of violence. “As citizens, we owe our monitoring of water supply called for accelerated required on health and such country a duty to be loyal. By Kazeem Mohammed to every part of the state. fund would be used for The stark reality is that we Noting that there were passage of the bill. he prospect of adequate water supply to all parts of Afolabi said the bill, if another thing beneficial to have no other place to go many contagious waterthe State of Osun has emerged, as Water Sector passed, would encourage the poeple. and so, we should pray for Bill passed through the second reading before the borne diseases, he added p r o p e r m o n i t o r i n g o f I n h i s c o n t r i b u t i o n , continued existence of the that if the bill was passed, it State House of Assembly. would prevent such diseases measurement of water being the Speaker, Honourable nation. The executive bill was of the bill, Owoeye, who and prevent environmental used and the rate, with a Najeem Salaam, said the “This season of read for a second time at described water as life, said hazard. view to having effective bill would give control spirituality is also good the plenary on Wednesday, if the bill was passed, it Honourable Ibrahim, water supply, saying this m e c h a n i s m t o e n s u r e for our Christian brothers sequel to a motion by would make water supply Kamardeen Akanbi (Ede might be difficult to achieve hygienic water supply to all and sisters to preach and practically demonstrate love the Leader of the House, to the nook and crannies of North), Rasheed Afolabi without a law in place. parts of the state. for other faiths so as to H o n o u r a b l e T i m o t h y the state easier. Ogunsola, in his own H e c o m m e n d e d t h e (Ifelodun), Abiodun promote religious harmony Owoeye, and seconded submission, said with the executive for coming up He also said while more Awolola (Egbedore), Ajibola by member representing revenue would be generated Akinloye (Ola-Oluwa), passage of the bill, the state with such bill, even when wherever we live,” the Oriade State Constituency, to the coffers of the state, it Yemi Taiwo (Ayedaade), health facilitaties would past governments have not governor stressed. Honourable Mohammed would also create jobs for Ojo Johnson (Ede South) be less-burdened, adding been able to think in that Ibrahim. the youths, as more hands and Leke Ogunsola also that when this happened, direction. Reading the policy thrust would be required for the it would reduce the money

Use The Lenten Period To Pray For Violence-free Elections - Aregbesola

Osun Water Bill Passes Second Reading

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Osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

Polls: Obey Court Ruling On Soldiers, APC Writes President

he National Headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has written President Goodluck Jonathan and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, to ensure that the judgment barring the involvement of soldiers in elections is complied with in the forthcoming polls. The letter dated February 16, 2015 was addressed

to Jega, but was copied to President Jonathan, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and the National Chairmen of

the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Director (Legal) of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), who authored the letter on behalf of the

party, said with the recent court decision, armed forces personnel should not be deployed to provide security during elections. The party was referring to a judgment delivered on January 29, 2015 by Justice R.M. Aikawa of the

•A mammoth crowd during the APC Presidential rally in Maiduguri, Borno State, recently.

Aregbesola Commiserates With Muslims In Iwo Over Death Of Chief Imam overnor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni

who upheld the love of his creator, that of his religion and the love of humanity as a whole. “More importantly, he demonstrated tolerance of other religions and preached assiduously on how to promote

Rauf Aregbesola, has commiserated with the Muslim ummah in Iwo over the demise of the Chief Imam, Alhaji Mudathir Ajao Akinlade. The Imam, who passed away on Wednesday, was “He would be described as a versatile remembered as a man and an experienced Islamic scholar during his time. he Senator representing Osun West Senatorial Aregbesola, in District at the National Assembly, Senator Mudasiru a statement by the Husein, has averred that President Goodluck D i r e c t o r, B u r e a u o f Jonathan C o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d election. would definitely lose the March 28 presidential Strategy, Office of the atmosphere devoid Governor, Mr. Semiu C oHour sdei inna,t owr,h oB ui sh atrhie/ peaceful of military intervention. Okanlawon, described O s i n b a j o C a m p a i g n He maintained that the deceased cleric as organization in the State going by the day-to-day a charismatic religious of Osun, advised President popularity of the APC leader. Jonathan, the candidate of presidential candidate, The governor said the Peoples Democratic and the enthusiastism of to use their votes the late cleric worked Party (PDP) to perfect Nigerians to bring change to Nigeria, harmoniously with people his exit strategy before President Jonathan stands to the election day for a soft of other faiths thereby lose his re-election. Husein said: “Nigerians creating peaceful and landing. According to Husein, have known that voting enabling atmosphere for President Jonathan would differences in religion to set a record of being the President Jonathan for another four-year term thrive. first Nigerian incumbent will further spell doom for The statement said: President to lose re-election, the country, hence their “ T h e d e m i s e o f t h e saying that all indices resolve to vote for General Chief Imam came to me pointed to the fact that Muhammodu Buhari, who painfully but as Muslims, he would be defeated by is poised to develop Nigeria we are not to agonise over the presidential candidate and stabilize the economy of country. death, but pray for the of the All Progressives the “We have a President Congress (APC), General repose of the soul of the that has ruled for six years Muhammodu Buhari, at deceased. and nothing tangible the poll. “It is from Allah we The senator, in a press w a s a c h i e v e d b y h i s have come and onto Him statement on Tuesday, administration. Instead of telling us his achievements is our return. urged President Jonathan in those six years, the “ W e t h e r e f o r e t o t h r e a d t h e p a t h o f President is telling us what commiserate with the honour and make sure he wants to do and that he entire Muslim ummah of that the postponed general will make amendment. That Iwo land for the passage elections are conducted at administration is unserious the scheduled dates in a and insensitive to people’s of the scholar.

harmonious living between Muslims and people of other faiths. “On behalf of myself, government and people of Osun, I send a heartfelt condolence to the immediate and extended family members of our

cleric, as well as the entire Iwoland. “May Allah offer him a befitting abode in Aljana Firdaus,” the governor stressed.

plight. “The APC as a party has demonstrated to be the hope of the people in terms of good governance. In all the APC states, people have been enjoying dividends of democracy and there is development in general terms. They have seen the difference between APC and PDP.”

Hussein submitted that Nigerians were ready to have an APC Federal Government that will provide them security, improved living standard, economy stability, infrastructure development, functional education, employment opportunity and affordable qualitative health services.

Perfect Your Exit Strategy, Senator Advises Jonathan

Federal High Court, Sokoto and another by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on February 16, 2015. The APC in its letter, in which it profusely quoted parts of the court judgments, said it acknowledged the INEC’s “frustrations at the illegal imposition of armed forces personnel into a purely civil election process.” The party’s letter read in part: “I am sure all wellmeaning Nigerians share your deep-seated concern on the militarisation of our elections. “It is therefore imperative that your good office and commission ensure henceforth, and until there is an enabling Act of the National Assembly, the court orders are obeyed and armed forces personnel are never again deployed in any form of security supervision of our elections.” Justice Aikawa of the Federal High Court in his judgment on the suit marked: FHC/S/ CS/29/2014, among others, restrained the President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and INEC “from engaging the service of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the security supervision of elections in any manner whatsoever in any part of Nigeria, without an Act of the National Assembly.” Justice Abdul Aboki, in his lead judgment in the Ekiti State governorship election appeal on February 16, held that “even the President of Nigeria has no powers to call on the Nigerian Armed Forces and to unleash them on peaceful citizens, who are exercising their franchise to elect their leaders. “Whoever unleashed soldiers on Ekiti State, disturbed the peace of the election on June 21, 2014; acted in flagrant breach of the Constitution and flouted the provisions of the Electoral Act, which required an enabling environment by civil authorities in the conduct of elections.”

PDP Moves Battle To Unseat Aregbesola To Abuja

By shina abubakar

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun has begun another secret move to get its candidate to the seat of power in the state. Findings the party, in its desperation to acquire power in therevealed state, isthat looking taken by Aregbesola to remove for loopholes to allow the him from office. Federal Government upturn Barrister Oyagbile told the current administration in OSUN DEFENDER that the state. what the party intends to do A lawyer close to the party, was to use the office of the Barrister Oyagbile, revealed Attorney-General to nullify that the party is exploring the the process and unilaterally loopholes in the oath of office remove the governor from the governor, Ogbeni Rauf office. Aregbesola took during his According to a letter dated second term inauguration last January 13 and sent to the November. Attorney-General, the party It was gathered that the claimed the governor did party had sent a petition to the not take the appropriate oath office of the Attorney-General of office and queried his of the Federation, seeking to legitimacy. use an alleged constitutional The PDP had been battling deficiency in the oath of office

the governor after losing in the August 9, 2014 governorship poll and has sought all possible means to remove the governor from office. Recently, the election petition tribunal dismissed the party’s petition before it, saying it lacks merit. Meanwhile, Senotor Iyiola Omisore has taken the battle to the Court of Appeal to try and upturn the verdict of the trial court. H o w e v e r, t h e p a r t y ’s desperation is without bound, according to Oyagbile, saying it is exploiting all means possible to get itself to power in the state before the presidential election in March.

News

osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

Osun Communal Clash: Warring Communities Disagree Over Market Relocation By kazeem mohammed

decided to employ persuasive and dialogue to the raging crisis, pleading with the two communities to cooperate with the commission.

different parts of the State the monster of communal he two communities of Ashipa and Ipetumodu in Ife of Osun, where communal crisis across the state. The commission assured North Local Government Council Area of the State crisis over land are brewing. of Osun, have refused to shift grounds over the land This is in line with one of our that it would not apply its mandates, which is to develop full weight of power on the tussle between the two warring communities. At the first sitting of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set a template to be used to tame affected communities, but had up by the state government to commission had received investigate the cause of the memoranda from the two dispute on Wednesday, the communities, adding that the two communities disagreed members of the commission over the relocation of Akinola had also visited the two Market, which occupies the communities on fact-finding portion of land in contention. mission. The crisis between the two The chairman, who noted communities, which occurred that the commission would on January 13, 2015, resulted carry out the job without any in destruction of property, fear or favour, said that it also including burning of houses received memoranda from and destruction of farmlands other communities such as worth millions of naira. Osogbo and Ede communities, No life was however, Edunabon, Yakoyo and Moro; lost during the communal Songbe and Ede; Origbo crisis, which lasted for days, communities; Ikirun and Okebut many were said to have Ila; Gbongan and Osunjela sustained various degree of among others, where pocket injuries. of similar land disputes exist. The development has Justice Falola explained brought animosity to the that the commission would area, as youths of the two also look into the various communities have vowed to crises in the affected areas, continue the fight, a situation with the aim of recommending that prompted the composition s o l u t i o n s t o t h e s t a t e of judicial commission of government. inquiry, headed by Justice He said: “The memoranda •The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) with the celebrant, former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Oyejide Falola to investigate submitted, so far, are not Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin (rtd), during his 60th birthday anniversary celeberation in his home town, Ipetu-Ijesa, the issue. limited to Ashipa/Ipetumodu State of Osun, recently. Addressing the Falola-led c o m m u n i t i e s , b u t f r o m panel on Wednesday, counsel t o A s h i p a C o m m u n i t y, Funminiyi Adeyemi, asked the commission to recommend the removal of Akinola Market He said: “There was an order from Ashipa. He identified the location of this same court on March 28, and timing of the market as 2011, which restrained Akeju the main cause of the crisis. The INEC had conducted were: “An order directing from conducting the April By kazeem mohammed Counsel to Ipetumodu the April 2011 polls and the INEC to withdrawal the 2011 elections, but he went community, Mr Afolabi he State of Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic all the seats were won by certificate of return given to ahead and violated the order. Adedeji, however, disagreed Party (PDP) suffered another loss on Wednesday, as the candidates of the All the winners of the elections and “The court did not say with the call to relocate the the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, the state Progressives Congress (APC). an order compelling the INEC anything on this but it is market. capital, dismissed its suit seeking the nullification of the The PDP subsequently to conduct a by election to fill so clear that the order was He argued that the power 2011 national and state assemblies’ election conducted by approached the court seeking the seats.” to relocate the market was disrespected. We will test the four reliefs in the motion, Keuwumi however held rulings and we will challenge beyond the discretion of the the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Electoral Commissioner Justice Babs Keuwumi which were: “A mandatory that only “ ...Election Petitions commission. E a r l i e r , a t a p r e s s dismissed the application on the (REC), Mr Rufus Akeju, order for reversal of all steps Tribunal can give such orders. it before the Court of Appeal. “The sanctity and conference, Justice Falola had ground that only the election seeking a reversal of all actions taken by the first defendant and The application is thereby sacredness of the judiciary said that the public hearing tribunal could give such other taken by Akeju as REC after second defendant; an order to dismissed.” of the commission would to nullify the elections and an earlier order of March 28, declare the National Assembly Counsel for the PDP, Mr. must be respected. Akeju run daily between February conduct a bye-election. 2011 given by the same court elections and State House of Kehinde Adesiyan, said that violated the order of the same 18th and Wednesday, March The PDP sued the INEC which restrained him from Assembly election nullity” the PDP would appeal the court. 4, 2015. and the former state Resident conducting the 2011 polls. “It was a pre-election matter Other reliefs being sought ruling. He disclosed that the and the Election Petitions Tribunal has no power to hear arely four weeks to the general elections, the Eripa the campaign for peaceful belong to a group or political we must not destabilize the pre-election matters. So we Progressive Union (EPU) has called on the indigenes cohabitation among members party that suit their purposes. peaceful atmosphere of our will challenge it.” Counsel to the INEC, Mrs. of Eripa to ensure that the outcome of the elections of the various political parties You do not need to compel fatherland because of politics. does not resort to violence among members of the various in the community. Faith Okoli, an Assistant anybody to join your party; We must live in peace with political parties in the community. Ayelabola said: “Politics neither must you go violent one another before, during Director, Legal Services of and after the coming general the commission, hailed the The EPU urged residents and community leaders in should be played in a matured because your party is ruling. ”Eripa is our heritage and elections.” of the community, particularly the ancient town to gear up and civilized way. The beauty ruling, describing it as erudite. of democracy is for people to the politicians, to embrace peace before, during and after the general elections, saying that elections would come and become an issue and seems solid waste into the drains. By Francis Ezediuno current state government has go, but the people will remain most of the environmental “At the end of the day, as a set a record of excellence in and cohabit for longer period oncerned residents of Osogbo Local Government officers are infected with it. result of the mass of the wastes that aspect, he urged for a turnof time. Council Area of the State of Osun have beseeched the “It is only when a task force in the drains, everywhere will around to the same tactics that EPU spoke in a press state government to commence sensitisation on public from the state or council come become clogged and it will release signed by its Public was adopted to overcome the Relations Officer, Mr Lukman safety and environmental management campaigns now that that such is not tolerated but give off an offensive stench problem. the rainy season is about to set in, with a view to preventing usually an advance warning and before long, it will start to Ayelabola, on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the officials would have been sent out to breed mosquito lavae. According to the EPU, a unnecessary hardship on the people. of Osun Waste Management warn the defaulters, so they This was the concern of became alien to them. “We need government very political thug was arrested Lasisi also noted that will quickly tidy up their space fast before things get worse. A g e n c y ( O W M A ) h a v e in Eripa on February 6, 2015 the inhabitants of Gbonmi, with cutlasses, with the Isale-Osun, Itaolokan, Oja- Osogbo Local Government before the task force arrives.” Just look at the damage that been advised to step up their Another resident, who the little rain that fell some activities as the rainy season aim of attacking members Oba and those who reside Council Area authorities had of another political party, along the bank of the River tried its best but the problem disclosed that he had been weeks ago caused in terms of is a period that is fraught should the election petition Osun, as they prevailed on the was not with government but residing in Gbonmi all his electricity. Only God knows with lots of emergency that has to do with drainages and tribunal on the August 9, 2014 authorities to come to their the inhabitants of the area, life, explained that despite what is in stock. governorship election ruled in aid and set in machineries to who were always in the habit all the efforts of the state “The people should be flooding. government, most residents prepared and the government is the favour of his party. ensure that flooding would not of messing things up. Tunde Adeogun and Jelili Ayelabola said it was be experienced this year. “Government cannot be still continued the habit of needed. Through government Abdulkareem, both butchers at disheartening to see some Lasisi, a resident of Isale- everywhere at the same time. indiscriminate dumping of help, the nationwide flood the popular Akindeko Market, politicians of a certain political Osun, stated that there was So when government is not refuse in the drainage system of 2012 did not ravage stated that in time past, party in Eripa threatening need for the government and looking, the people always go once there was a downpour. Osun and with Ogbeni Rauf officials of the agency were a their fellow indigenes of the environmental agency to back to the old ways and when He decried the situation Aregbesola’s help this time usual sight at the market, but another political party because intervene again, as they did environmental officers come where residents see the act around, God will not allow now, their visits had reduced, of political differences, in 2011. around for inspection, some as a fast way to get rid their anything bad to happen.” which has made hygiene a describing such action as He stated that 2011 was of them are compromised and domestic wastes. He maintained that the habit immature and undemocratic. He added that apart from was the cause of the prevalence big issue. a peaceful year for people they give them bribes, after They also revealed that He urged the Eleripa of residing in the area because which they will leave them the domestic wastes, some of diseases especially malaria there was need for the state Eripa, Oba Samuel Bamidele the government intervened alone. of them would also use the in the areas affected. Oyederin, religious leaders on a large scale and flooding While stressing that the government to provide them “ T h e b r i b e t h i n g h a s opportunity to dump their

Osun PDP Suffers Another Loss •Court Dismisses Suit To Void Election

Eripa Progressive Union Preaches Peace During Elections

R esidents Seek Govt’s Help As Rainy Season Sets In

osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

An Appeal To Elected Representatives Continued from pg1

This is the practice the world over as far as countries where democracy has taken its root are concerned. Even for an incumbent who has done well in office and still wants to go for another term he wouldn’t rely on his record of performance and then relax. No, he still goes out to talk to people and convince them on why they have to return him. We have witnessed this both locally and internationally and we have discovered that campaign period - even for an incumbent who has not performed up to expectation - does provide another opportunity to re-assure his constituents of a better offer if given another opportunity. It provides opportunity to clear the air on issues

that might warrant a change of mind by the electorate against a particular incumbent. Thus it’s a period to mend fences. We strongly feel that things cannot and it should not be different in our dear state with respect to the scenario painted above. Honestly we have not seen our elected representatives here to be doing enough to galvanise the support of the people. We are yet to see them hit the ground running as far as what real campaign actually requires especially pertaining to making use of the media. And as they also know media campaign is an integral part of electioneering campaign generally. It’s important to note that no campaign can be effective without the use of the media as the media provides the avenue to reach the people more than any other means. In modern electioneering campaign media cam-

Why Lawless Joseph Mbu Should Be Sacked

igerian media in recent times have been awash with the reckless, irresponsible, crude, barbaric, unconstitutional, provocative, illegal, undemocratic, uncivilized and murderous threat in the media, credited t o c o n t r o v e r s i a l M r. Joseph Mbu, AIG zone 2 comprising Lagos and Ogun states Police Commands, who was reported to have made a declaration at a meeting with police officers that if any of his men were shot, no less than twenty civilians would pay for it. “If one of my men is killed, I shall kill twenty of them but don’t shoot first,” Mr. Mbu said. “If they shoot you, shoot back in self-defence. Anybody who fires you, fire him back in self-defence.” One can only but be shocked and condemn in strong terms, this offensive, barbaric, misconduct,

irresponsible, lawless, i m p u n i t y, i n c i t i n g , invitation to anarchy and despicable utterance of Joseph Mbu, who is a mirror of an institution of state, which is supposed to symbolize unity, discipline, rule of law and order. Mbu, once again has shown that he is a lawless officer, who has no respect for the Constitution of the Federal

Republic of Nigeria and will continue to bring public opprobrium to the image and integrity of the Nigeria Police as long as he remains in service. The Nigeria Police, by the Constitution establishing it, is charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order

hrough enforcement of the law. The right to terminate the life of any citizen is constitutionally entrusted in the courts through interpreting the Constitution and metting out punishment to violators of the law. It is unconstitutional and criminal of the police or any person or organization to kill a human being without

the authorization of the courts after a judicial trial. Therefore, in the light of the above, Nigerians should demand the following: 1. I m m e d i a t e dismissal of Mr. Joseph Mbu from the Nigeria Police for misconduct. 2. Immediate arrest

then it becomes highly imperative for the elected representatives to go out to work and speak to the people through the wide scope of communication which the media provides. It’s important to take full advantage of the media to resell themselves to the electorate. Much as we appreciate their cooperation with the Chief Executive of the state; their support in bringing about the laudable projects being successfully carried out in the state by the Governor, especially the school building projects, we cannot but still enjoin them to do more towards ensuring an effective campaign that will guarantee massive success for APC in the coming general elections.

paign is very crucial to reaching the electorate. There is no doubt about this. And when we talk of media campaign we mean radio/ television jingles, interviews both in print and electronic media and advertisements. The aforementioned are very germane as strategies to winning the electorate to one’s side. For they are the salt of any electioneering campaign. They also serve as condiments that further add sweetness to the campaign soup. Thus a candidate who ignores these only does so to his own peril. Even where your record of good performance speaks for you, it’s still not enough to go to bed and sleep and hope to win election - just like that. Given that ours is still a political terrain full of mudslinging and where opponents revel in using their tongues to rubbish the good performance of the incumbent

and trial of Mr. Mbu for violating the constitution through threats of attempted murder against Nigerians. 3. I m m e d i a t e reorientation of men and officers of the Nigeria Police in line with global best practices of policing, who might have been contaminated by Mr. Mbu’s order to kill Nigerians. 4. Immediate and an unreserved apology to Nigerians for this threat to life and assault on their sensibilities by the Nigeria Police. 5. Failure of the Police Service Commission to comply with the above demands, will imply that the police authorities should be held responsible for any murder(s) committed by AIG Mbu and men and officers of the Nigeria Police before, during and after the 2015 general elections. •Nelson Ekujumi, Lagos

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Feature

osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

2015: Another Election Postponement, A Mischievous Move A t the birth of our democracy in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appealed to Nigerians to seek refuge under the ‘Umbrella’ from the rain of military dictatorship. While some were deceived to embrace the umbrella, as against the alternative of a ‘Corn’ which presented itself as a better choice for the people; our democracy will be 16years of non-directional rigmarole by May 29, 2015, yet our democracy remains a mal-nourished infant and our independence seems like a charade. We celebrate the daylight mediocrity of some of our present and past leaders, who have successfully plunged our heritage into inadequacies and address our heritage as a mere geographical landscape, instead of a country. It is no gain saying that the further postponement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rescheduled election dates will affirm the desperation of the ruling party to stick to the deadly security situation in the North Eastern part of Nigeria and hold on to power beyond the constitutional provision. It will also be conceived as a ploy to either hold the elections in not more than 150 days after the expiration of the incumbent administration, which is still within the ambit of the provisions in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended), if perhaps it is not followed by a Military coup as predicted by a lot of Nigerians, or to conduct the general elections at a time after the expiration of the present Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) boss tenure of office; this will be perceived as a mischievous move to push for more plans to get a stooge of the ruling party as a replacement, who will damn the consequences of electioneering manipulations against the major opposition political parties. The postponement of the forthcoming general elections slated for the 28th of March and 11th of April, 2015 will ultimately make the results not credible, unacceptable, estimated, and doctored in favour of the ruling party. It will also further heat up the polity and might unleash the deadliest dragons on the political key players; which does not only have the capacity of becoming a replica of either the 1983 general elections or the military annulment of the 1993 presidential election, but also has the potential of actualizing the evil plans of some elements to tear our heritage apart, in fulfilment of their personal gains; their names will be written in red inks on a white banner, as history will not leave them and their generations unpunished.

•jega By Kazeem Sulaiman

Unarguably, the forthcoming general elections as rescheduled for March, 2015 is the most tensioned, ethnic-inclined, emotions filled, religious sentimental, affections engrossed, financial resources driven, as we have seen the use of derogatory and undemocratic words, numerous anti-All Progressives Congress (APC) sponsored adverts on national dailies and Television stations; physical attacks from the ruling party on members of the opposition, mudslinging of persons, assassination of characters, unimaginable ethnographic divisions. This is the first time in our polity when Nigerians have a strong opposition party to challenge the misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Unarguably, the world cameras are tilted towards the unfolding of the mysteries in our country, as we make a mockery of ourselves and prepare to converge at the polls with our Permanent Voter Cards. Indeed, this is a shame on some members of our ruling class and bystanders,

•jonathan

who have resorted to sitting on the fence as regards the murky process we have been offered by the leadership of INEC over the distribution process of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and the sluggish process of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) for people, who did not partake in the 2011 voters registration exercise. Nigerians must be educated that successful countries have recorded milestone achievements, as a result of the determination of their leaders to serve the people with less blemish, setbacks and attacks on opposition political parties and not by practicing democracy in the shabby manner it is done in our country. Nonetheless, we remain resolute and confident that patriotic Nigerians and our well-wishers will coarsely reject the move of the presidency and the ruling party to further postpone the rescheduled 28th of March and 11th of April, 2015 general elections, which has the tendency of resulting to a breakdown of law and order in our dear country, as reports reaching us

reveals that the President Jonathanled administration has kicked off plans to further shift the elections by giving bribes to unidentified corrupt members of the National Assembly and whack the electoral commission to an inner corner. In conclusion, it will be better for the presidency and the ruling party to avoid taking the sick Nigerian populace in the wrong direction like Laurent Gbagbo of Cote Devoire (Ivory Coast) but rather sail the Nigerian ship towards a direction free from icebergs and whirlwind, which will aid a safer navigation to the dockyard of progress, growth and development. Nigeria is our collective inheritance and we must do everything possible to protect her from self-serving politicians, who are determined to stop at nothing to achieve their selfish goals.

politics

osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

T h e M a n , Buhari

eneral Muhammadu Buhari has been defined by many according to the lens with which each writer or individual views the man of the moment. This piece is not however constructed to praise the man, but a constructive and objective response to President Jonathan’s campaign committee media strategist, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode’s brouhaha asserting General Buhari is the issue in next month’s election. I want to believe that this is the thinking of the campaign organization and the wish of President Jonathan himself, hence the need to scrutinize General Muhammadu Buhari in this part of this piece, while the second part will be devoted to President Jonathan. The man Buhari came into Nigerian psyche on December 31, 1983, when the civilian government of soft-spoken former school teacher, Alhaji Usman Shehu Shagari, was toppled via a radio broadcast of a bloodless coup read by the then Brigadier Sani Abacha (now late, later became head of state after the annulment of a popular election in 1993). As a teenager preparing to enter final year in high school at the time, I was old enough to understand the dynamics of political system in Nigeria. I was an avid reader of national dailies and also the school curriculum was so rich such that a primary school pupil will be able to narrate Nigeria’s political history through Civics, a compulsory subject in elementary schools then. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case now. Many born in the early 1980s, and teeming unemployed youths are being fed tons of lies about General Muhammadu Buhari, who to me is probably the most honest Nigerian alive today. A l h a j i S h e h u S h a g a r i ’s government was adjudged as corrupt and incompetent. By 1982, Chief Obafemi Awolowo had warned that the nation was being dragged to the precipice due to the manner our economy was being run at the time. Shagari’s government dismissed Awolowo’s allegation as a political statement to heighten tension in the polity. Alas, just like the present regime just declared austerity measure, the same thing happened late 1982 and that was the last straw that broke the camel’s back, as our economy was exposed. Naira was devalued, while the country was about to be brought to its knees. Before this time, Nigeria’s naira was a hard currency that was acceptable anywhere in the world,

•buhari By Adebayo Ogun-

even stronger than the US Dollar, including other western nations’ currencies and almost at par with the British Pound Sterling. One interesting aspect of Buhari’s emergence as the head of the junta was that Buhari was leading his men as the General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armoured Division in Jos in the fight against Maitatsine onslaught in Maiduguri, Borno State on Nigerian Border with Chad. He never participated in the coup but was asked to lead the government to give credibility and direction to the regime. Buhari once remarked in a report that he took the fight to the doorstep of the Maitatsine in order to protect our territorial integrity. He believes you do not have to wait for your enemy at home; instead, you have to ward-off the enemies far away from your territory. That wisdom provided adequate security and stability in our polity then. Nigerians have witnessed how the current regime is handling the Boko Haram onslaught for the past three years. Several traders from other regions can no longer do business in the North Eastern region and vice versa. Also, this has caused increase in food prices with untold hardship occasioned by extra spending by every family in Nigeria. As Head of State, Buhari

ensured the kleptocrats who embezzled and led Nigeria to the economic quagmire were tried and jailed. Those who escaped were smoked out of the rat holes they hid themselves. Umaru Dikko, the Transport Minister, who also doubled as the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Rice scam fled the country. This incident led to diplomatic row and for the first time since independence, Nigeria was able to assert its sovereignty, with Buhari snubbing Margaret Thatcher, the then British Prime Minister, when the British government refused to repatriate the fugitives. That led to the famous “crating of enemies” President Jonathan referred to in his Lagos rally. I was bemused to see Jonathan referred to Alhaji Dikko as Buhari’s enemy and not Nigeria’s enemy. No wonder, the likes of Stella Oduah and Diezani Allison-Madueke are his best friends. President Goodluck Jonathan must realize that a Daniel will one day come to judgment and all shall account for their deeds. Buhari/Idiagbon regime ensured our debts were paid despite the existence of Excess Crude Account and Sovereign Wealth Fund then. The very interesting part of this issue was due to the state of the economy; the Brookings institutions advised Nigeria to take IMF loans to cushion the

effects of biting inflation and devalue our currency. Buhari refused and instead went on to tighten loose ends in our economy, including periodic payment of genuine debts owed various financial institutions by past regimes in Nigeria. It is on record that Buhari’s regime was the only one in Nigeria’s history that never borrowed a dime despite inheriting a shattered economy; instead, several billions were paid, while they rejected loans that had no genuine instruments. The regime, despite being a military junta, ran transparent and frugal economy. Government spendings were cut, while officials were refused any unnecessary comfort at the expense of the country. Everyone knew Nigeria’s character and respected us as a nation. In the end, inflation was brought down and economy picked up. Little did Jonathan camp realize that Buhari’s ascetic life both private and public is what endears him to many. Several vices that characterize our polity like corruption, truancy or lateness to work, examination malpractices, contract inflations and indolence among others were not condoned by the regime. Suffice to say that Buhari’s regime refused to accede to Nigeria Muslim leaders’ request to make Friday work-free day to enable Muslims observe Friday prayers unhindered. This is sequel to the extension of work hours from seven to eight hours daily. Buhari’s regime never bent the rules to favour anyone and that is why some fear long jail terms as widely elucidated in Jonathan’s Lagos rally. But does Mr. President realize that jail rooms are meant for criminals and those who have arrogated to themselves our collective wealth and leave the teeming population to wallow in untold hardship and abject poverty, as currently witnessed in today’s Nigeria? Meanwhile, since a corrective regime will have to step on toes, the famous Decree No. 4 of 1983 that was seen as repressive against the press was regarded as an anathema and abhorred by many. This decree was applied to incarcerate Messrs. Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor, both journalists for one year. Mr. Tunde Thompson had since forgiven Buhari and remarked that his incarceration was part of efforts to salvage Nigeria at the time. Besides, he further posited that “Buhari ensured there was no sacred cow and that his current support for Buhari’s candidacy was borne out of the belief that Nigeria

feature

osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

Will Nigeria Become History On March 28, 2015?

“To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up” – Ecclesiastes 3

he c o m i n g g e n e r a l elections on March 28 and April 11 will decide the fate of this once great country called Nigeria. Will the labour of heroes past be in vain? Will PDP relinquish power if it loses the election? Will the APC allow rigging to go unchallenged? Will the military, which is now enmeshed into politics, not take over? Finally, will the blood of innocents and the guiltiest flow as sacrifice for Nigeria to remain as one entity once again? To an average Nigeria, who is able to read the handwriting on the wall, this is Nigeria’s time to break up. A time, when one tribe will tell others what portion do we have in you? We have no inheritance in you. To your tents all tribes! Now look after your own house’. Just of recent, some hoodlums have been busy vandalizing APC and Aregbesola’s billboards, especially in Ijesaland. This action portends nothing but danger. These hoodlums and their sponsors are just giving Aregbesola’s APC more sympathy votes, which will reflect during the election. They have forgotten that all the forces in the world are not as powerful as an idea, whose time has come. They are animals that have irritating body odour and do not appear odious to themselves. It is he that gave birth to a bad child that has the responsibility of taming him. I pity the parents of these heartless youths, who are allowing themselves to be used. It was Jodi Picoult, in her book: “My Sister’s Keeper” who said, “there are orphans and widows, but there is no word for a parent that loses a child”. Wo r d s a r e d a n g e r o u s instruments, and often go astray. Words put you on the defensive; if you have to explain yourself as a leader, your power is already in question. Chief Femi FaniKayode seems not to realize this, as his outbursts left much to be desired. He probably has not only a misplaced sense of place, but also a misplaced propriety. He has, by his outbursts, stop appreciating God, so he is fast depreciating. He forgets so easily that character is fate, as no one can escape the implacable consequences of his

•jega By TUNDE ESAN

or her foibles. Angry people all over the world usually end up looking ridiculous, for their response seems out of proportion to what occasioned it. He should be told in plain language to stop making inciting statements that could extend the already-tensed atmosphere to the periphery of bloodshed. He is doing a ‘good’ job he’s being paid for, and he’s a good angel to PDP, but a good angel, who has everybody complain about him, must be a bad angel. If anything happens after the election, he will be the first person God will block from running away. With every 12 disciples, there must be a Judas. Why are Yorubas at the forefront of orderliness and peaceful change in this country? Why do they sell their birthright cheaply? They always confirm that sons of perdition will always be sons of perdition, no matter what. Can’t they go back to bed to sleep again, so as to wake up to the reality on ground. Greatness has been Yorubas heritage, no matter where they find themselves, but now, the greatness have escaped from their domain. In society, the Yorubas, not

the likes of Fani-Kayode or Fayose, have to realize that outward appearances are what matter. When you go into society, leave behind your own ideas and values, and put on the mask that is most appropriate for the group in which you find yourself. As the election days are fast approaching and with some APC campaigns I have watched physically and on the television, one thing I have noticed in the party is that, they always say less than necessary. The members are powerful people and they impress and intimidate by saying less. They believe the more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish. They made their reputation unassailable because they are always alert to potential attacks, hence they thwart them before they happen. The All Progressives Congress has all it takes to excel in the election and they are doing everything legitimate to win it. The party consists great men and women in the society and are usually humble. People who are puffed up or arrogant abound in PDP and are never great. This is why even Goodluck Jonathan, Ayo Fayose and Femi FaniKayode will never appear where the likes of Aregbesola, Wole

Soyinka, Okorocha, Fasola, Amosun, Ajimobi and Oshiomole hold sway. The party must grab the sword not by its blade, which may cut them, but by the handle, which allows them to defend themselves. The wise man, they say, profits more from his enemies than a fool from his friends. The All Progressives Congress wants something they’ve never had, they have to do something they’ve never done. Their victory at the centre and 25 states at least will release the country from bondage, if otherwise, the Pharaoh and the Egyptians will make us to sing in the land of the dead. It will not be the usual song: “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion” our mouth will not be filled with laughter again because our dreams may have turn to nightmare. My mentor in journalism Chief Alex Akinyele, who also doubled as the former Information Minister and erstwhile National Sports Commission (NSC) warned in one of his many interviews that should Goodluck Jonathan engaged himself in running for this year’s presidency, calamity would enter the Nigerian political territory. Hear him: “May the Almighty Father keep us all Nigerians till 2015. And I say Amen. If President Goodluck Jonathan stubbornly engages himself in running for the presidency in 2015, then, calamity will enter the Nigerian political territory”. Now he is in the race. Will calamity enter into our political territory as stated by the amiable Ondo High Chief? Only weeks will tell. Speaking further, he was quick to say this: “I can say that Nigerians simply want the right man in the right place.” He cited the case of Rauf Adesoji Aregbeosla and Iyiola Omisore as an example of who should rule the State of Osun between the two. He said, “However, Aregbesola is sure to win because there are no better opponent in that state.” Pray for Nigeria not to witness another civil war or go in the way of Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo, who shifted the country’s elections forward and within a tinkle of an eye, there was commotion, maiming and killing all over the West Africa country.

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Osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

Tackling Environmental Challenges: FG’s New Initiatives

have had cause in the past to call attention to what looked to me like apathy on the path of a fullfledged Ministry of Environment in the country. However, there appears to be light at the end of the dark tunnel taking into consideration recent efforts of the ministry. The Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurentis Laraba, attested to this few days ago. According to her, the ministry had achieved a milestone in the task of addressing the environmental challenges in Nigeria, given the time-tested innovations already put in place by the government for that purpose. According to her, the Ministry of Environment had fully applied itself to the mandate set by the government for re-assessing all ecological factors which, she noted, had been denying Nigerians access to good life, while devising means of solving them. The minister further revealed that the areas of focus by the ministry include climate changes, as well as drought and desertification amelioration, erosion, flood and coastal zone management, environmental assessment, forestry, pollution control and environmental health. Others include the new initiative of the government on the Great Green Wall Project aimed at tackling the problem of desert encroachment and addressing the challenges that had been confronting farmers in Nigeria, most especially in the North. Hitherto, the nation had been grappling with a gripping desert encroachment with statistics showing profound desertification in the Northern part of Nigeria by about two or three kilometres annually. More worrisome is the view by experts that over 500,725 people have lost their farmlands, while many more had been rendered homeless in prone areas as Bornu, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and a section of Bauchi. Other environmental problems of the nation to receive attention include flooding, erosion and general air pollution. I note this apparent wake-up in the Ministry of Environment and urge for its sustenance. The problem of environmental sticks like a sore thumb and raises questions of commitment to promises of reducing poverty in vulnerable regions of the world. Environmental disasters have of recent become a common coin in the world. From China to Mexico, Indonesia, United States of America, UK and Nigeria, there is no doubt that the world is under a serious threat from the environment. But analysts have

•jonathan By A.S. ASAJU

argued that the environment was only responding to the abuses heaped on it by man’s activities. This has created a great burden by world leaders, which is why the issue of environment run neck and neck with matters of the economy and poverty at many world summits. The world leaders, who hitherto had accused of paying lip-service to the problem of global warming, put the issue of environment on the agenda of a summit by promising to set a target of cutting carbon emissions by 50 per cent by the Year 2050 and to enlist the support of 200 other United Nations member states, who have assented to the climate change convention. Even a slight rise in temperature above pre-industrial levels is forecast to result in extinction of over 30 per cent of world’s species. Warmer climates will have serious health impacts as the vectors of diseases, including malaria find new areas, warm enough for survival. That is not the only additional problem that comes with the global warming. Another is the crisis of security. While poor people suffer worst and first, climate change will affect all population and will result in

increased insecurity for all. The authorities in the Nigerian environment ministry should recognise the fact that the country is as much affected by the global problem as other parts of the world, if not more. Nigeria is more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because of its size and population, amongst others. The nation, despite antecedent and contemporary efforts, still faces devastating experience of acute soil erosion in Anambra State, flooding in the coastal states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Lagos as well as Katsina, Bornu, Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi and Yobe. There is the need for the continuous building of the n a t i o n ’s c a p a c i t y t o m e e t international commitments and adapt to climate change through improved governance, promoting gender equality, poverty reduction and more sustainable natural resource management. Whether it is erosion, oil and industrial pollution, desertification, waste management, the blockage of surface and underground drainage or a recurrent ocean surge, the nation is caught up in the massive degradation of our atmosphere, surface and hydrologic environment. In the past, where the problem has always lied is that

government’s response is almost always insensitive, if not cruel. In Lagos, residents have long settled into the regular routine of flooding and ocean surge, whose impact is particularly felt in many of the flooded streets of Victoria Island. The attendant chaotic traffic logjam on the Island and beyond is a constant irritation. Despoliation and erosion have turned the 100 metres wide sandy Bar Beach, once the most popular tourist spot, a messy and murky beach front, now the haunt of miscreants, tricksters and criminals. The ability of human beings to conquer nature and the environment is well-founded. Holland is a country built on reclaimed land, likewise substantial parts of Norway and Japan. Earthquakes are managed elsewhere. Nigeria is lucky that the nation has been spared the ravages of natural disasters occasioned by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, cyclones and the like. Once again, I commend the new Federal Government’s initiatives in the environment ministry. •Prof Asaju, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Oduduwa University, wrote in from Ipetumodu, State of Osun.

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osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

State Of Osun Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, Held A Meeting With Technical Committee On World Bank Basic Education Project In The State Of Osun At SUBEB Office, Osogbo, Last Tuesday. Photo: GBENGAADENIYI.

•(L-R) SUBEB Chairman in the State, Prince Felix Awofisayo; Deputy governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prosolve Associates, Dr Yemi Adegoke, at the meeting.

•(L-R) Dr Moruf Afolabi; Mr Bade Adesina and Permanent Secretary (PS), SUBEB, Alhaji Fatai Kolawole.

•Mr Gbenga Adebusuyi (left) and other dignitaries at the meeting.

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osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

Sitting Of The State Of Osun House Of Assembly Members When Delibrating On State Water Sector Bill, Last Wednesday. Photo: GBENGAADENIYI.

•(L-R) Speaker State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam with Honourable Kamil Oyedele.

•(L-R) Leader of the House, Honourable Timothew Owoeye with Honourable Akinloye Oluseye.

•(L-R) Honourable Muhammed Olatunji and Honourable Akanbi Kamurudeen.

•Honourable Taiwo Akin and Honourable Bello Osuolale.

osun Defender Saturday, February

How The Tribunal Made Nonsense Of Omisoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Petition (5) T 2 . ATAKU M O SA EAST L O C A L G O V ER N M E N T AREA. he petitioners by their pleading in paragraph 40 at pages 26 to 29 of the petition made varying allegations in this Local Government with respect to 6 wards, to wit; Igangan Ward 02 (polling units 001, 002, 003, 005 and 006); Ipole Ward 03 (polling units 001, 002, 004, 005 and 006); Iperindo Ward 04 (polling units 002, 006); Aiyegunle Ward 06 (polling units 001 and 004); Forest Reserve Ward 07 (polling Unit 001); Forest Reserve II Ward 08 (polling unit 001). The total number of units complained of are 17 units. The substance of the complaints here too is that the election was characterized by electoral malpractices in these various units as contained in the petition. Now to support these contested assertions, the only evidence given on the side of the petitioners with respect to the conduct of the election in Atakumosa East Local Government is that of PW41. He deposed to a very brief 6 paragraphs witness deposition. He stated that he was the P.D.P polling agent for Igangan Unit of 001 of ward 2 and that he was at the unit from the beginning until the conclusion of the election wherein he made observations which he forwarded to his Ward Supervisor. Some of these observations were that there was no proper accreditation of voters, non-use of voters register, nonstamping of Form EC8A and the arbitrary allocation of votes by INEC officials to A.P.C. Now no magnifying glass is required to see that the evidence of PW41 is unit specific i.e unit 001. The legal implication here is that the various allegations made with respect to the other 16 units in the 6 wards are deemed as abandoned without much ado. Similarly we also note that this witness did not at all give evidence or allude in any respect to the allegation of intimidation and harassment of voters; the use of unqualified persons to vote and the disenfranchisement of eligible voters; the inducement of voters with money by members of 1st and 2nd Respondents all pleaded in paragraph 40 of the petition. These allegations are also deemed as abandoned. There is here an abysmal failure to prove the various constituent allegations made with respect

â&#x20AC;˘aregbesola By Ibrahim Lawal

to this Local Government. The principle is settled and perhaps need repeating that averments of facts in pleadings or a petition is no evidence and has never been construed as such. Where this is not done, it amounts to a failure of proof. See Yusuf V. Oyetunde (1998)12 N.W.L.R (pt.579)483; Olorunfemi V. Asho (2000)1 SC 15. While answering questions under cross-examination, PW41 agreed that he voted for the party of his choice and went through the process of accreditation contrary to his evidence in chief that there was no proper accreditation. He was equally shown Exhibit 260, the voters register which contains his photograph and name and which was also duly ticked or marked to undermine his allegation that voters register was not used in the elections. Also under cross-examination, the Form EC8A, Exhibit 4 was duly stamped with his name and signature on it contrary to the allegation that the document was not stamped. Although this witness claims that he does not know how his name and signature got to Exhibit 4 which we find convenient, we really do not see or accept that this denial can controvert

â&#x20AC;˘omisore

the contents of these exhibits which are certified true copies. There is similarly nothing of value by this witness to support the allegation that votes were arbitrarily allocated. In any event he duly signed the result sheet or Form EC8A (Exhibit 4) and there is nothing before us to compromise the integrity of the said result or exhibit. As earlier alluded to, the law is settled that where a polling agent signs the result sheet of an election result voluntarily as in this case on the instruction of this party, that authenticates the validity of the result sheet. This is so because a polling agent is presumed in law to understand what he appends his signature to. In the circumstances, it is not open to the polling agent to now seek to controvert the contents of the result sheet. See Gundiri V. Nyako (supra). The bottom line is that the evidence of this witness is completely unreliable and lacks any probative value and clearly failed to meet the standard of proof required to support the sort of evidence he purported to give. It may also be relevant to refer to the evidence of RW 12 and RW 22 on the other side of the aisle. The former is an ordinary voter who said he voted freely for

the party of his choice in unit 1, ward 2 of this Local Government. The latter was the ward agent in this unit. In their evidence both testified to the orderly conduct of the election in this unit and debunked all the allegations made in this unit by petitioners. Their direct evidence of what transpired in their unit was not in any manner shaken under cross examination. Indeed RW 22, the polling agent for A.P.C confirmed that he signed Exhibit 4, the form EC8A for the unit together with the agent of the petitioners and that same was equally stamped by I.N.E.C. With profound respect, and however the imagination is stretched, we cannot see our way through how the evidence of this sole witness, PW 41 from just one unit can aggregate to evidence or proof of the allegations made in all the contested units in this Local Government. What we find here is a complete absence of evidence of any value to sustain the allegations with respect to the polling units in Atakumosa East Local Government where the outcome of the Governorship Election has been questioned. We so hold. Pages 83-85 of the Judgment deliver ed by H on. Justice Elizabeth Nguveren Kpojime,

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osun Defender Saturday, February

How The Tribunal Made Nonsense Of Omisoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Petition (6) W B O R I P E L O C A L GOVERNMENT AREA. ith respect to this Local G o v e r n m e n t , the allegations of the petitioners is at paragraph 41 on pages 29 to 34 of the petition and is in respect of the following 5 Wards, to wit: Oloti Iragbiji Ward 01 (Polling Units 001, 002, 003, 004, 005 and 007); Oja-oba Ward 02 (Polling Units 001 and 002), College/Egbada Road Ward 03 (Polling Units 001, 002, 003, 005, 006, 009 and 010); Isale Oyo Ward 04 (Polling Units 001, 002, 003, 005 and 006) and Agba Ward 05 (Polling Units 001, 002 and 006). The total number of units challenged in these 5 wards are 24. Here too, only one witness, PW31 was called and he served as Ward Supervisor for Isale Oyo Ward 4 which as shown above has only 5 polling units. The legal effect here too is that since his evidence is similarly ward specific i.e Ward 4, the pleadings with respect to the allegations in the remaining 4 wards with 19 units are deemed as abandoned. We need not cite any authority again. On the other hand, the Respondents called two witnesses RW 8 and RW9 who were voters and voted in units 01 and 02 of Ward 4 in Boripe and who testified to the orderly conduct of elections in these units bereft of the allegations made by Petitioners as they were present at the units all through the period of the election. Their evidence was not in any way or manner controverted under cross examination and as already alluded to, no oral evidence was led by petitioners with respect to these units. Now as stated earlier, this witness PW 31 served as Ward Supervisor for Ward 4 and coordinated the activities of P.D.P agents in the said Ward. He stated in evidence that the information disclosed in his witness deposition is based on the reports he received from his agents who were in-charge of these units and from his personal observation. Now these reports which at least formed part if not all of the basis for his deposition were not produced before the court. The agents who were in-charge of these units PW31 said are all alive except one and none was produced in court to give evidence of what actually transpired in their units. It is perhaps necessary to make the position of the law clear here that the best evidence of what happened at a polling unit during an election

â&#x20AC;˘A cross section of All Progressives Congress (APC) lawyers jubilating at the court room after the declaration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the winner of August 9, 2014 governorship election in the State of Osun at the Election Petition Tribunal that sat at High Court, Osogbo, recently.

is the evidence of the polling agent who was physically present at the polling unit and who saw what transpired there at the election. A recurrent feature of the case of the petitioners in almost all the local governments including Boripe is that the agents who were physically present at the polling units and who are truly in the best position to testify as to what transpired at their respective units during the elections were not called to testify. This failure to call such polling agents will clearly be detrimental to the petitioners case and allows or provides a basis for the tribunal to apply the presumption under Section 167(d) of the Evidence Act that had the polling agents been called, their evidence would have been detrimental to the Petitioners case and hence their reason for not allowing them to testify. See Agballah V.Sulliman Chime(2009)1 N.W.L.R (Pt.1122)373 at 433; Gundiri V.Nyako (supra). There is also nothing in the evidence of PW31 indicating what part of the evidence he witnessed and what was based on the reports which clearly makes his evidence unreliable particularly when under cross-examination, he admitted that it was not possible for him to be at each of the 5 units under his jurisdiction from the commencement of the voting on election date to the end in each of these units. The law which we have already alluded to is that probative

value cannot be accorded to such evidence. We also note that the evidence of PW 31 with respect to arbitrary allocation of votes to 1st and 2nd Respondents by INEC officials, the alleged refusal to allow eligible voters of P.D.P to vote by members of A.P.C and the alleged inducement of voters with money and other material things are clearly at variance with the pleaded facts at Page 33 of the petition with respect to Isale Oyo Ward 04. The evidence of PW31 in that respect bears no relevance to any complaint in the units in Ward 4 where he acted as supervisor; the effect of this is that the evidence of PW31 in that regard goes to no issue. The law as stated earlier is settled that evidence led on any matter not pleaded goes to no issue. See Amadi V. Nwosu (Supra). Even if out of caution, we evaluate his evidence that votes were just credited to the 1st and 2ndRespondents by INEC officials, there was absolutely nothing beyond these empty viva voce testimony to demonstrate before the tribunal how this was done and by whom and how it affected the results in unit001,002, 003, and 005. In any event under cross-examination PW31 stated that he does not work with INEC and never saw the voters register before the election and so does not know the actual number of registered voters. He also added that he cannot establish that the

result sheet reflected the correct number of registered voters. If that is the position of PW31, one then wonders the basis for his assertion that the total number of voters on the register exceeded 750 in units 001 and 005. Further while in one breath, he asserts that votes credited to 1st and 2ndRespondents were awarded (paragraph 4(1) of his deposition), in another breath, he stated that entries in Forms EC8A indeed contained the outcome of the elections at units 001, 002, 003 and 005 but that they were not stamped (see paragraph 4(ii) of his deposition). These clearly inconsistent and contrary assertions by PW31, in our opinion undermine the credibility and veracity of his narrative. We have also looked at the Forms EC8A for units 001, 002, 003 and 005 i.e Exhibits 13, 13C, 13D and 13E and they were all duly stamped. Similarly this witness did not give a name to any one member or members of P.D.P who were eligible voters and who were allegedly not allowed to vote and by whom. Indeed nobody was produced to prove the assertion that he was eligible but was not allowed to vote or that he voted because he was induced with money or other material things. We therefore agree with the submissions of learned counsel for the 3rd Respondent that the failure to called any of the affected members allows for the

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osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

PDP Doesn’t Want Elections To Hold - Lai Mohammed National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, met with some journalists in Lagos where he debunked insinuations that the party in alliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), are planning to rig the 2015 general elections. Kazeem Akintunde was there for LEADERSHIP. Excerpts

emi Fani-Kayode accused APC leaders of holding meetings with INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega in Dubia and other places. The Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly (SNPA) also accused him of holding meeting with Northern leaders. Did your party leadership meet him in Dubai or any other place? To answer your question, nothing like that happened. People like Fani-Kayode make a statement and nobody care to see whether it is true or not. I believe we should be able to ask him: where in Dubai did the meeting take place? Which leadership of the party met in Dubai? But he said he was not going to release any more information. That is because he doesn’t have any. If he has that information, knowing him very well, he would have wanted it be published. It’s like the PDP is trying to do a damage-control, as the National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu came out last week to pass vote of confidence in Jega. Yeah, let me tell you; it is clear that the PDP does not want Jega, the PDP does not want this election to go on at all and if they want it to go on they don’t want Jega to conduct it. They don’t want the use of card readers, they don’t want free and fair election and I am going to support everything that I have said. One, if there is no pressure from Nigerians and the international community, there will be no elections because if the military has given us at least six weeks, which is elastic; perhaps six weeks is not enough. Two, the postponement was President Jonathan using the military to blackmail INEC so that they can have more time for their smear campaign, have time to militarise the election, more time to perfect their rigging machinery, hoping that within that time, the court will be used to disqualify Buhari, steal more money and buy PVCs, those are the reasons they postponed the elections. Three, you can see that the moment the postponement was made, the only party on record, when we met Jega that supported the postponement was PDP and 16

•lai mohammed

other portfolio political parties. I am serious. When the position was made, PDP justified it; they were happy about it. Last Saturday, Okupe said there was no way election can hold because X number of people have not got their PVCs but surprisingly they did not use the argument of PVCs but that of security. Is it not surprising that the same day that the Council of State was meeting and the PDP co-travellers met and made allegations against the INEC chairman, Jega, asking for his arrest. They were preparing the ground for postponement. The PDP came, I mean Ahmadu Ali, that they had no confidence in Jega. Now, given the fact that INEC had given a 4-week extension for people to go and collect their PVCs, even as of February 5, 2015, about 67% of Nigerians had collected their PVCs so it is reasonable to

assume that within four weeks all those who intended to collect their PVCs could have done so. How now come that they are now asking that we should not use PVCs again and that we should use TVCs because if the collection of TVC is at 70% it means that as of today, 70% of Nigerians have PVCs, why are we now going to ask them to go back and use TVC? I can’t have my TVC again because I have submitted my TVC to have my PVC. The question people will be asking is that how do you want the election to have integrity? What has happened to the money you invested in card readers and the training? So purely, you can see that these people don’t want elections. So, if you look at those people who are fighting hardest for PDP, they are fighting for their lives, not for the country. Ahmadu Ali’s son is involved in oil subsidy; also Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s son and we also

know that Fani-Kayode has a case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). So, all these people are only protecting themselves and they would do anything to ensure that President Jonathan wins this election. That is what they prefer. There is no way these people will want a change of government, because they know what is in store for them. It was not we that took them to court, it was Jonathan administration’s EFCC that took them to court. Given your position and in view of what the president said a few days ago with regard to election, haven’t that changed your perception about election holding? There is no way I would believe anything Jonathan says. Absolutely, not possible. You all watched the tape on Ekiti rigging. These are the same people that came out to say that the Ekiti election was free and fair and trying to justify that it is only when APC loses elections that they complain. After what I saw in Ekiti, in that tape, I don’t believe Mr. President one bit. There are two conditions we want to put on ground. One, election must hold as scheduled. Two, the elections must be free, fair and card readers must be used. Thirdly, there must not be militarization. The military must not play any role in these elections. If these conditions are met, we are going to accept the outcome of the elections. You heard what Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, then serving as Minister of State for Defence, said in the audio. He said we are not here for a tea party, I have been sent by Mr. President. And Fayose said in this election, I am Jonathan. So, Mr. President assures who? No way. Obanikoro has sued; he is contesting the matter in court. Obanikoro can sue anybody he wants to sue. Look, we are not idiots. If you wake me up in the middle of the night, I know Obanikoro’s voice. They can’t deny it unless there is an inquiry with that tape. What is the assurance that March 28th and April 11th elections stand, and two, what happens if they reverse the order of elections? We have heard that also, we would resist it, because they must tell us why? What would be the logistic reasons putting one first before the other? We did not dictate which one should come first. As a matter of fact, we wanted it from the bottom up. Now if anybody had planned to have National Assembly and presidential polls first, if they

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osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

The Drama, Facts, Verdict Of Osun Election Tribunal F ebruary 6, 2015 must have gone down well as another day of defeat for the State of Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). If anything, it amounts to an icing on the cake for the victory secured at the poll by the governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. It was a day the PDP lost on all grounds - 17 in all, it contested over the outcome of August 9, 2014 governorship election. The PDP had approached the election tribunal to challenge Aregbesola’s victory in the August 9, 2014 governorship poll. A couple of days to the judgment, the PDP state executive had reportedly procured colourful uniform attires (aso ebi), distributed to their members and bought cows which were to be slaughtered in celebration of an anticipated victory at the tribunal. Alas, their expectations were not met; they went home empty-handed. The rest is history, as the PDP suffered its second defeat in a row within six months. But beyond the victory is the conduct of the tribunal, the soundness of its judgment and the thoroughness with which the tribunal handled all the matters before it. To start with, the PDP governorship candidate challenged the result of the elections in 17 out of 30 local governments in the state. And on the judgment day, the three-man tribunal left no one in doubt that the judgment would not be brief because of the array of issues involved. The judgment thus lasted seven and a half hours with every issue closely scrutinised before the pronouncement was made. The tribunal painstakingly adduced facts and give reasons for arriving at the historic judgment. For instance, the chairman of the tribunal, Elizabeth Ikpejieme, in her judgment on the eligibility of the petition brought by the PDP and its candidate, Omisore, ruled that the petitioner failed with his inability to file his reply within the five days stipulated under the law. She held that the five days the appellants had, according to 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), commenced on the day they were served on the 9th of October, 2014 and lapsed on the 13th of October, saying the days under the law included Sunday, which the appellant tried to exclude from the five days. According to her, the filing by the Appellant of the reply on October 14 ran counter to the law, as it states the method and dates to follow in a filing reply. Beside the issue of abandonment of the case by the Appellant, the tribunal noted that for the purpose

•aregbesola: The Victor By Adekunle Owola-

of fair hearing, the tribunal would go on in delivering its judgment on the substantive case. In essence, the petition ought to be thrown out ab initio for failure to file the petition as and when due as stipulated by the law. Yet, the tribunal, in an attempt to uphold one of the pillars of natural justice - fair hearing - did not throw out the petition based on technicality. Rather, it chose to look at the petition on its face value and then pronounce on it. Good for the judiciary that the tribunal did not do a shoddy or lazy job or go on an adjudicating jamboree. In its unanimous decision, the tribunal gave reasons for its decision in all the contentious grounds. It was after this painstaking examination that it pointed out in its judgment that the PDP and its candidate failed abysmally to prove their case in the 17 local governments being challenged, holding that the petition lacked diligent prosecution and substantial evidence. Not done, the chairman held that, for the petitioner not to have satisfactorily proved his case in any of the 17 local governments, the panel had no reason to void the election. Hence, the tribunal returned Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the duly elected governor in the August 9

election and dismissed the case of the petitioner. Given the theatrics that preceded the delivery of the judgment by the tribunal, it was no surprise that the entire Osun went wild in jubilation in an apparent response to what was believed was another instance in the Judiciary holding its head high in a country, where sleaze has crept into every aspect of national life. It was a matter of anxiety whether the Judiciary would upturn what the people, who voted were convinced was the accurate outcome of their electoral decisions on August 9, 2014 or justice would be seen to have been served. It should be noted that the current attempt by the Judiciary to cleanse itself of the bad eggs is a as a result of the many cases of perversion of the cause of justice in the recent political history of the country. That the National Judicial Commission (NJC) had wielded the big stick on some erring judges over amazing perverted verdicts are ample reasons to believe that sleaze had entered that revered arm of the government. Could the PDP have literally bought the judgment of the tribunal in view of their jubilation ahead of the actual delivery of the judgment? That was the question on the lips of many as they watched with bated breath the decision of the tribunal. Agreed that there was no substance

in the petition, which was the position that the tribunal eventually took, the orchestrated jubilation days before the verdict was delivered became a matter of concern to the generality of the Osun people, who could not but wonder on the basis of the prejudgment celebration by the PDP loyalists. The action would definitely go down as a classical case of illusory grandeur; one ballooned by ignorance, crass ambition and baseless optimism to have ever dreamt that something good could come out of the candidate’s journey to the tribunal. This was why even the INEC’s counsel, alongside other two counsel, also submitted that the petition lacked merit and should be thrown out because of paucity of evidence. It therefore, will amount to standing logic on its head for the PDP and its cohorts to laugh last, as they built nothing on something. In law, this can’t stand. And when the judgment was finally delivered, the evidential castle upon which the petitioner had built on a quicksand, crumbled like a pack of cards. Beyond rhetoric, the Osun tribunal has set a standard for other tribunals in the forthcoming elections. Explicit judgment like that of Ikpejime, many have come to admit, would accentuate the appeal of such petitions at the Court of Appeal should the

health EDUCATION

osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

UNIOSUN VC, Governing Council Chair On The Warpath •O ver Alleged Fraud, Nepo tism UNFOLDING events at the Osun State University, Osogbo, are threatening to erode the reputation for excellence in academics and research the institution is noted for. The suspension of the university’s ViceChancellor, Professor Bashiru Okesina, by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Gabriel Olawoyin, is fast turning the academic environment into a hotbed of crisis, threatening to inhibit the standard and responsibilities of the university in discharging its functions as an educational entity. Before the crisis reached its current peak, many were worried about how the previously cordial relationship between the vice-chancellor and the governing council suddenly deteriorated over allegations bordering on the management of finances of the institution. The matter, however, reached a head on the 3rd of February, 2015 when the governing council, in a memo, announced the suspension of the vice-chancellor; the bursar of the institution, Mr Adebayo Lasisi; and the Registrar, Dr. Julius Faniran, for alleged maladministration, financial impropriety and nepotism. It also constituted a panel to probe the three officers over those allegations. Tribune Education, however, gathered that the pro-chancellor and the chairman of the governing council, Professor Olawoyin, had drawn the battle line with the vicechancellor as far back as September 11, 2014 when he forwarded a petition entitled ‘Report on Osun State University’ to the Visitor to the university, Governor Rauf Aregbesola. That petition, obtained by Tribune Education, which catalogued the sins of the vice-chancellor, reads in part: “Recent events in Osun State University dictate that I should bring to your attention serious and daunting challenges the university council has been facing as a result of maladministration, corruption and nepotism, which are the hallmark of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bashir Adekunle Okesina since he assumed duty as the vice-chancellor in April, 2013.” Part of the allegations raised in the petition include the payment of unauthorised allowances to the vice-chancellor, disbursement and sharing of N18.8 million against the authorising limit of N1 million by the vice-chancellor and sharing same with some staff; arbitrary appointments and promotion of staff, as well as misconduct in matters relating to contracts and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the university. But the alleged unilateral decision of the governing council chairman to suspend the vice-chancellor drew the ire of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has insisted that the prochancellor exercised a power he does not have, going by the laws establishing the university. ASUU, at a press conference addressed in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, by its National Chairman, Professor Nasir Fagge, who was represented by the Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of the union, Professor Segun Ajiboye, maintained that the prochancellor lacks the power under the law that established the university to suspend the vice-chancellor. The union accused the governing council chairman of victimization, and demanded the immediate reversal of the suspension with a view to granting the accused officers access to their offices to retrieve relevant documents to prove their innocence before the visitation panel constituted by the governor to look into the matter. The visitation panel constituted by the governor, headed by the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, Professor Gregory Adebiyi, has four weeks to submit its report. Reacting to his suspension, the vicechancellor, Professor Okesina, in a letter dated 5th of February, 2015 described his suspension as illegal, stressing that it negates the laws establishing the university.

By Oluwole Ige Okesina averred: “As a law-abiding citizen, I have carefully perused Osun State University Establishment Laws 2006 and I note upon the review of the laws that the council has acted ultra vires of its power by its action of suspension of a vice-chancellor. “It is apparent that the issues ongoing in the university have become such that the Visitor deems necessary to intervene; upon which consequently has led to setting up of a five-man panel to investigate the issues, and therefore would require the council to ensure compliance with due process and Osun State University Establishment Laws 2006. “Given the fact that the council acted in excess of its powers, the suspension of the vice-chancellor cannot be considered as lawful and rightfully followed.” He insisted that “except and until the Visitor to the university states otherwise,” he remains the vice-chancellor, “in compliance with the Osun State University Establishment Laws 2006 and the Interpretation Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Speaking during a chat with Tribune Education over the crisis, Professor Okesina traced the genesis of his travails to when he was appointed as vice-chancellor, saying that part of the issues raised against him then was that he did not possess a PhD certificate. “Being a medically qualified academician, PhD is not the focus for medically qualified people. We normally use the fellowship of either of the National College or West Africa College of Physicians. I am one of the few that have both – which amounts to double PhDs. I wrote a letter to the council over the removal of my name from the race for the vice-chancellor position and I copied the governor and my name was restored. I emerged as the first person and the governor picked me as VC in March 2013,” he said. He said further: “The first issue I faced was my salary, which was reduced by the chairman of the council, Professor Olawoyin. He cut off some of the allowances on the premise that I may stay in furnished quarters. It was contained in the condition of service that I may stay in quarters, but in lieu of that I should be paid my allowance. So, he opted for the fact that I would stay in a quarters, when there was no quarters available at that time. Up till today, I still earn less than what a vice-chancellor should earn monthly. “Part of the allegation that he (Olawoyin) sent to the governor was that I was

complaining that he cut my salary. I can’t imagine such humiliation. You cut my salary and you are still complaining that I was not happy over it. He wrote it in his report that he did not believe in some allowances, even though the registrar argued that my predecessors were collecting it.” Okesina accused the pro-chancellor of always picking holes in any appointment and promotions he made, despite following due process. On the allegation of financial impropriety, the vice-chancellor described it as unfounded and baseless, recalling that “it has to do with honorarium on the proceeds on pre-degree programmes. This is the approval I made in May and June.” He explained: “There is a pre-degree programme; it is not a regular course. It is a kind of external efforts to prepare students for admission. They are not core students of the university because they are not registered by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). “When I was deputy VC, the former council allowed that staff should be encouraged to shore up the IGR of the institution through such pre-degree programmes. Whatever money we made as profit after we have paid overhead, the facilities are divided into 70 per cent and 30 per cent. The 70 per cent goes to the university while 30 per cent goes to individuals that are involved in generating the fund. That was the practice. “When I came on board, Olatunde, who was acting VC, became the DVC. He now chaired the board which I used to chair. He forwarded a memo to me on the profit sharing for the pre-degree programme. I called him and the bursar to tell them that my approval limit is N1 million and that of the management is N5 million. But the money in question is over N18 million. “Based on the recommendation I got from the DVC and bursar, I approved the money on behalf of the management board of pre-degree. That was in June, 2014. In November, the chairman of the council called me over the voucher. If somebody wanted to steal money, would he be stupid enough to make it pass through normal process? No, such a person would find a way around it. There would be no documentation to show. Such a thing would not pass through the audit unit. Because, we did not plan to steal any money, we passed through the normal process. The list of people, who will share the money and how

much they are getting, is all in the document. “The chairman pointed it out to me that my approval limit is N1million. But I told him I acted on the recommendation that the approval was in order. My predecessors have made such approval ranging from N10 million to N12 million. He now said that was in the previous council and that we must refund the money so that everything would be settled. I didn’t know it was a trap; that once you refund, it is an indication that the money was illegally received. The bursar and registrar said we should not refund the money and I said no we have to refund it. Okesina said that though many people refunded the money, some few others close to the governing council chairman did not pay back the money. He, however, expressed optimism that with the evidence contained in his report, which would be submitted to the panel constituted by the governor, he would be vindicated. Meanwhile, the other UNIOSUN principal officers equally suspended by the pro-chancellor – the Registrar, Dr Julius Faniran; and the Bursar, Mr Adebayo Lasisi – both declined comments on their suspension when contacted by Tribune Education, insisting that they would rather wait and make their presentations before the panel set up to investigate the matter. While inaugurating the visitation panel at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office, State Secretariat, Abeere, Osogbo, the governor emphasised the need for universities in the country to solve problems, rather than create them. He explained that the panel would investigate the basis of the crisis and the misunderstanding between the management and the council in the university with a view to finding a lasting solution. The visitation panel is to be headed by Prof Adebiyi Daramola, while Prof. Jacob Ladipo, Prof Omotoye Olorode and Mr. Babatunde Adebayo are members with Mrs. Oluwakemi Kolawole, serving as secretary. •Culled from NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

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osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

Job Vacancies In Nigeria

Recent Jobs in a Telecommunication Products and Services Provider Company, February 2015

A leading provider of telecommunication products and services with head office in Lagos requires the services of qualified and experienced individuals to fill the position below: Job Title: Human Resources Assistant Location: Ogun State Requirements Good B.Sc/HND in a related discipline. 2-3 years experience in General Administration and/or Support Service. Job Title: Zonal Inventory Officer Location: Ogun State Requirements Good B.Sc/HND in relevant discipline. 3-5 years of inventory experience in a related industry plus MS. Excel skills and Inventory and Sales software experience Job Title: Internal Auditor Location: Ogun State Requirements Good B.Sc/HND in Finance or a related discipline. A professional qualification 3 years or more experience in Internal Audit and Control in a related industry. Job Title: Branch Assistant Location: Ogun State Requirements Good Diploma in Business or related discipline. 2-3 years in Sales Operation. Job Title: Branch Head Location: Ogun State Requirements Good B.Sc/HND in Business or related discipline. 3-5 years in Sales Operation and Administration in a related industry plus MS. Excel skills and Inventory and Sales software experience. Job Title: Financial Controller Location: Ogun State Requirements Good B.Sc/HND in Finance or a related discipline. A professional qualification. 7 years or more experience in Finance and Management in a related industry. Job Title: Financial Analyst Location: Ogun State Requirements Good B.Sc/HND in a relevant discipline, A professional qualification, 3-5 years experience in a related industry. Job Title: Internal Audit Manager Location: Ogun State Requirements Good B.Sc/HND in Finance or a related discipline. A professional qualification. 7 years or more experience in Internal Audit and Control in a related industry. Job Title: IT Manager Location: Ogun State Requirements Good B.Sc/HND in a Computer field or related discipline. A professional certificate 5 or more years of IT management experience in a related Industry. Job Title: IT Assistant Location: Ogun State Requirements Good B.Sc/HND in a Computer field or related discipline. A professional certificate 2 or more years of IT experience in a related Industry. B.Sc/HND with 2-3 years experience in Sales Operation is an advantage. Job Title: Human Resources Manager Location: Ogun State Requirements Good B.Sc/HND in a related discipline. 4-7 years experience in General Administration, Support Service Coordination and HR Administration. How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV’s as an attachment to: helixrecruits@yahoo.com Application Deadline 3rd March, 2015. ——————————————————————————————————— Marketers and Front Desk Officers are needed in a Haulage Company based in Lagos Stresert Services Limited - Our client provides customers with world class supply chain/ freight / haulage/courier services. As a result of growth, there exist vacancy for: Job Title: Marketer (Haulage Organization) Job Ref: MKT630 Location: Ogudu GRA, Lagos Overview Accountable for Sales & Marketing with regards to: Profitable sales (Aggressive targets at handsome incentive scheme) Indirect marketing and brand awareness Public relationship Key Responsibilities Sales: Set, agree and achieve budgets with managers Client - cold call larger clients

New business Sales negotiations Costing & Pricing Public relationship: Relationship management with client Promotional items and gifts Marketing: Pricing Service offering Competition New services / product / opportunities International trends Required Qualification Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Sales Management Minimum of 4-6 years marketing/sales experience Required Skills: Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office Good project management skills Ability to manage a campaign budget Team player - works to ensure team goals are met or exceeded Good communications skills Strong organisation skills Sound understanding of the principles of marketing Strong understanding of new technologies and how they can be applied to marketing Desired Attribute: Energetic and goal driven Be able to operate under pressure and meet deadlines Self-driven and interdependent Strong and friendly personality Maintain a self-development program Presentable Creative and innovative. Good attention to detail Strong interpersonal skills Remuneration N 80, 000/m Job Title: Front Desk Officer

Job Ref: FDSEC Location: Ogudu GRA, Lagos Job Summary The ideal candidate will act as the first point of contact on behalf of the company; Serves visitors by greeting, welcoming, and directing them appropriately; Secretarial duties; Maintains security and telecommunications system. Detailed Job Duties Welcomes visitors by greeting them, in person or on the telephone; answering or referring inquiries. Directs visitors by maintaining employee and departmental directories; giving instructions. Maintains security by following procedures; monitoring logbook; issuing visitor badges. Maintains a professional work environment and administrative support. Maintains telecommunication system by following manufacturer’s instructions for house phone and console operation. Maintains safe and clean reception area by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations. Schedule and maintain appointments diary. Coordinate incoming and outgoing mails, packages, and deliveries. Supply information regarding the organization, products, services and policies to clients on enquiry. Deals with compliant tactfully, calmly and politely Taking minutes of meeting, handling travel arrangement etc Maintains continuity among team members by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs. Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed. Supply line manager adequate information when the need arises. Other important functions are Supervisor support, office harmony, crisis handling, office morale, customer service. Any other duty secretarial duties as assigned from time to time. Educational Requirements Must be a graduate with background in social sciences or secretarial studies. (B.Sc/ HND/ OND) Must have 2- 3 years cognate experience in similar function. Required Skills & Attributes: Listening and Communication skills Interpersonal Skills Organizational skills Computer/IT skills Confidentiality skills Prioriterizing skills priority Flexibility/adaptability skills Self-motivated & efficient Calm under pressure & ability to think on the feet. Customer service orientation Remuneration N 50, 000/m How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV’s to: recruitment@ stresertservices.com using the Job Ref. as subject of mail. Wrong applications will not be opened. Note: Ideal candidates (preferable female) should be resident on the mainland of Lagos. Application Deadline 28th February, 2015. ————————————————————————————————

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

foreign news

osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

Western Volunteers Rally To Iraq Christian Militia

ecked out in his US army-issued fatigues and a beheading of 21 Coptic (YPG) until he found out action. lip stud shining from his mouth, the young Christians by IS in Libya they were “a bunch of damn American fighter cuts an unusual figure in the released on Sunday and Reds”. - ‘Internet cowboys’ northern Iraqi town of Al-Qosh. entitled “A message signed Other foreigners in One seven-year US army He served in the US Afghanistan, Park says he with blood to the nation of veteran called Scott says Dwekh Nawsha say they army in Baghdad in 2006- was diagnosed with post- the cross” sparked a fresh he was planning to join were turned off by what they 2007 and has now returned traumatic stress disorder surge of calls on social the Syria-based Kurdish see as the socialist streak to fight the Islamic State “and some other things” that media for tougher Western “Popular Protection Units” in the YPG, an affiliate jihadist group with Dwekh barred him from combat Nawsha, a Christian militia deployments. As early as October 2014, whose name is an Assyrianlanguage phrase conveying he began saving money to join the fight against IS. self-sacrifice. Park says he travelled to The 28-year-old, who goes by the pseudonym Iraq to continue defending Brett, has become the his country, even though figurehead of an emerging Dwekh Nawsha — with movement of foreigners barely a few hundred coming to Iraq to support fighters in its ranks — sees little frontline action. Christian groups. “I’m patriotic as hell,” Bearing a tattoo of a machinegun on his left arm he says. “If my government and another of Jesus in won’t fight them I will.” The growing contingent a crown of thorns on his right, Brett jokingly refers of foreign recruits have to himself as a “crusader”. a variety of reasons for IS never captured Al- joining Dwekh Nawsha. Andrew, an older man Qosh — but it came close enough for its mostly from Ontario, Canada, came Christian population to because he heard about flee to the neighbouring “slaughterhouses” where IS autonomous region of allegedly cuts people up for Kurdistan, together with organ trafficking. There is no evidence tens of thousands from Mosul and the Nineveh that such places exist but the rumour has been plains. “One man’s terrorist is w i d e l y c i r c u l a t e d b y another man’s freedom evangelical and anti-Islam f i g h t e r, ” B r e t t s a y s , organisations, especially in speaking from a Dwekh North America. •US Army at Northern Iraqi town of Al-Qosh on Thursday. A video showing the Nawsha base in the Kurdish city of Dohuk. “But here we’re actually fighting for the freedom of the people here to be able their ambassadors from live peaceably, to be able Doha last year over its to live without persecution, atar has recalled its ambassador in of supporting terrorism perceived support for to keep the church bells ringing.” Cairo “for consultations”, state news and deviating from Arab Islamists. Egyptian jets bombed The mass exodus that agency QNA said late on Wednesday, amid consensus. Islamic State targets took place in mid-2014 has disputes over Egyptian air strikes in Libya. The diplomatic row in Libya on Monday, put the continued existence revive a rift within The agency said the quoted the ambassador, could a day after the group of one of world’s oldest the Western-allied and Christian communities into a m b a s s a d o r ’s r e c a l l Tareq Adel, as criticizing oil-rich Gulf Cooperation there released a video came after remarks by Qatar for expressing C o u n c i l t h a t h a d apparently showing the question. With Kurdish peshmerga the Egyptian envoy to the reservations over the prompted Saudi Arabia, beheading of 21 Egyptian fighters now clawing back Arab League. Egyptian air strikes in the United Arab Emirates Christians, drawing Cairo land around Mosul, some Egyptian media had Libya and accusing Doha and Bahrain to withdraw directly into the conflict Christians are keen to take up arms for their survival and Dwekh Nwasha is only one of several recently formed groups. Baltics, the way he is Cameron said.

of Turkey’s Kurdistan Workers’ Party whose months-long battle against IS in Kobane attracted many volunteers. Alan Duncan, a prominent British foreign fighter and veteran of the Royal Irish Regiment, recently left the YPG for similar reasons. He told AFP that an exodus of foreign fighters from the YPG has begun, naming several well-known volunteers currently fighting for the group he says plan to leave in the coming days. Jordan Matson, a former US soldier who has become the poster boy of YPG foreign fighters, argued that some volunteers may have lost their bottle when confronted with the intensity of the fighting in Kobane. “Most of the Internet cowboys have come to realise this isn’t a normal deployment,” he told AFP. “So they lose the stomach to come or stay.” Yo u n g A m e r i c a n fighters are among the Western recruits who have returned to Iraq to fight the Islamist State jihadist group alongside Dwekh Nawsha, a Christian militia. Duration: 01:18

Qatar Says Recalls Ambassador To Egypt Amid Dispute Over Air Strikes In Libya

- ‘Foreign fighters’ battalion’ Also acting as a recruiter, Brett says he wants to establish a “foreign fighters’ battalion”. In his first week in charge, he brought in five volunteers from the United States, Britain and Canada, all of whom he says have military or contracting experience. The foreign contingent is tiny compared to the thousands of foreigners who have joined IS, but interest is growing and Brett says he has 20 more volunteers already lined up to join. B r e t t ’s f i r s t r e c r u i t was Louis Park, a mildm a n n e r e d Te x a n w h o retired from the Marines in December. “I did not adjust well at peace time,” he said with dipping tobacco tucked in his lip. “I wanted to get back out here.” After serving in

across its border. QNA quoted the director of the Arab affairs department at the Qatari foreign ministry as saying that Doha had expressed reservation at an Arab League meeting in Cairo over Egypt’s unilateral decision to carry out air raids in Libya without consultations with other Arab states.

Britain Warns Of Russian Danger To Baltic States: Reports

ussia could inflict the tactics it is accused of using to destabilise Ukraine on Baltic members of NATO, Britain’s defence minister warned in comments to British newspapers on Wednesday. Michael Fallon said that NATO must be prepared for Russian aggression in any form, and warned of a “real and present danger” to Baltic members of N ATO — e u r o z o n e members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It comes after Kiev called for UN peacekeepers to help implement a tattered ceasefire between Ukrainian forces battling the advance of proRussian rebels in the east of the country. “NATO has to be

ready for any kind of aggression from Russia, whatever form it takes. NATO is getting ready,” Fallon said in comments to journalists accompanying him on a trip to Sierra Leone. Kiev and the West accuse Russia of arming the rebels and sending thousands of soldiers into Ukraine, charges denied by Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I’m worried about Putin,” Fallon said according to newspaper The Times. “I’m worried about his pressure on the

testing NATO.” In comments also reported by the Daily Te l e g r a p h , F a l l o n described as a “very real and present danger” the possibility Russia could repeat towards Baltic states the covert warfare techniques it is accused of using in Ukraine. British Prime Minister David Cameron on We d n e s d a y s a i d “effectively one country is challenging the territorial integrity of another country” to describe the situation in Ukraine. “Those Russianbacked rebels in eastern Ukraine, they are using Russian rocket launchers, Russian tanks, Russian artillery, you can’t buy this equipment on eBay... it’s come from Russia,”

“So we have to be very firm and strong about the sanctions and say to Vladimir Putin: ‘What you are doing is unacceptable and it will have economic and financial consequences for many years to come if you do not desist with your behaviour’.” The defence minister said the situation was not a new Cold War, because it was already “pretty warm”, according to the Times. Fallon referred to the interception of Russian bombers flying close to British airspace, and Russia’s detention of an Estonian policeman that sent tensions soaring between Moscow and Tallinn. “You have tanks and

armour rolling across the Ukrainian border and you have an Estonian border guard being captured and not yet still returned,” Fallon reportedly said. “When you have jets being flown up the English Channel, when you have submarines in the North Sea, it looks to me like it’s warming up.” Asked for comment, a spokesperson for the Defence Ministry confirmed that Fallon had spoken to journalists but did not confirm his exact words to AFP. His comments came after hundreds of exhausted Ukrainian troops retreated from the strategic railway hub of Debaltseve following a fierce assault by pro-Russian rebels on Wednesday.

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FashionWith & Lifestyle Eniola Agbaje and Shola Okpomu

Healthy Living

Loose That Exfat and sodium in cess Weightsugar, Now your diet.

here a r e f e w secrets when it comes to the basics on how to lose weight. People feel that once you stop eating in excess, you lose weight. But for a task whose fundamentals are so basic and universally recognized, shedding weight requires more efforts than that.

- Exercises In terms of exercise, aerobic activities like swimming, walking, jogging or bicycling is great for cutting calories, and it’s beneficial to your cardiovascular system. Take long leisure walks or strolls.

Which are the surest Dedicate yourself to at ways to shed pounds? least 1/2 hour of exercise There are basically two per day. worldwide known ways Whatever steps you of losing weight: Diet and take in terms of either Exercise. Another essential d i e t o r e x e r c i s e t o key to the maintenance of embark on a weight-loss good size and shape or programme, you are going general weight shedding to need something else: is “discipline”. Everyone commitment. It takes a needs to have discipline in world of self-discipline to order to accomplish their push yourself to exercise mission of losing the extra everyday, or to shy away weight. from any food that you might threaten your T I P S T O L O O SE know weight. EXCESS WEIGHT Remind yourself that - Stay hydrated always achieving takes by drinking lots of water. d i s c i p l i n e .goals Shedding - Reduce your intake of pounds is as much about

feature

o forgive or not to forgive, that is the question. Whether to remain trapped in pains and hurt of the previous time others might have caused us, or embrace the flaws in them and decide to let go their shortcomings and move forward; either to hold to their ills and draw ourselves back or push forward by forgiving them. Everyone tends to have fake forgiveness or pretend to forgive at one time or the other. Out of pressure and plea from people around us, we tend to act out forgiveness, when the only way to truly do it, to really do it, is letting go on our own accord; at our own time and pace. People we hold dear do the unthinkable to us. They become illogical, unreasonable and self-centred and expect forgiveness to which one would think all is forgotten, but they are not receiving true forgiveness. This is not actually forgiveness. When it comes down to forgiving someone, one has to make that decision. Forgiveness is not something one can carelessly overlook. Forgiveness involves a change in a person’s behavioural intentions (hence a change in motivation) towards a transgressor. Forgiveness is more than simply saying the words: “I forgive you.” It is a decision that one really has to absolutely mean. The famous saying goes: “To err is human, to forgive is divine”. What makes the power of forgiveness comparable to God? The very nature of humans is to get angry and feel resentful towards those who have hurt us or did some harm to us in any way. We tend to remember the undesirable actions of others, which impacted us and made us feel bad. Forgiveness is the act of overcoming the feeling of resentment or revenge for the person, who has done wrong actions. Forgiveness is a virtue, but the way people perceive it is quite relative. Some people think that certain actions are

hey come in various designs, various colours, and varieties, all for the use of both males and females. Prints are the “in thing” in the fashion world right now. Every clothing item that you come across these days has a print version and you best believe when I tell you that they are usually stunning. Prints come in skirts, blazers, pants, shirts, bags, even shoes! And these days, the infamous Aztec design has taken over the print world. Everybody wants a piece of clothing that has an Aztec Print on it. These various designs of prints are usually available at cheap and reasonable prices. There are floral shirts, skirts (need I mention jumpsuits for the ladies), also a wide variety of belts for the male folks. If you ask me, I’d say prints are here to stay. Although fashionistas of today combine prints on print but the right and appropriate way to rock your prints are: 1) When wearing it as a shirt When you have a printed shirt, the best way to wear this is to combine it with a plain pant or skirt (for the ladies) with your shoes, belts or bags matching a particular colour of the prints.

osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

Reflection Forgiveness

forgivable, while others are not. Some people think that forgiveness encourages the wrong doer to perform ill deeds repeatedly. Forgiveness is subjective and the act of forgiveness can have many meanings. Acceptance of apology may be forgiveness for some, while helping the others who hurt you to get out of the habit of illtreatment, may be a way for others. The famous saying goes: “To err is human, to forgive is divine”. What makes the power of forgiveness comparable to God? The very nature of humans is to get angry and feel resentful towards those who have hurt us or did some harm to us in any way. We tend to remember the undesirable actions of others, which impacted us and made us feel bad. Forgiveness is the act of overcoming the feeling of resentment or revenge for the person who has done wrong actions. Forgiveness is a virtue but the way people perceive it is quite relative. Some people think that certain actions are forgivable while others are not. Some people think that forgiveness encourages the wrongdoer to perform ill deeds repeatedly. Forgiveness is subjective and the act of forgiveness can have many meanings. Acceptance of apology may be forgiveness for some, while helping the other who hurt you to get out of the habit of illtreatment may be a way for others. We all make mistakes. So when we learn to forgive others, we can also seek forgiveness when we commit follies. Also if we are able to forgive others, we also learn to forgive ourselves in situations of self-guilt. Thus the virtue of forgiveness helps us come out of the feeling of self blame. If we fail to forgive ourselves in time, we often end up realizing that others had forgiven us long back, but we kept feeling bad about ourselves all this time. Forgiveness helps us feel light

and helps us get rid of hard feelings that occupy our mind and heart and eat away our peace of mind. Forgiveness is a way to self-fulfilment. People who can readily forgive others are much more responsible and satisfied inside than those who keep grudges against others and develop feelings of enmity. C.R Strahan once said: “Forgiveness has nothing to do with absolving a criminal of his crime. It has everything to do with relieving oneself of the burden of being a victim. Letting go of the pain and transforming oneself from victim to survivor”. The feeling of anguish only results in arguments, fights, mistreatments and war in certain cases. Those who forgive help create positive energy on this planet. If the people, who are close to you betray or hurt you, you find it most difficult to forgive them. Sometimes, the extent to which your trust is breached determines the ease or difficulty in forgiving. But it is true that the more easily we forgive the other person, the less likely we shall suffocate ourselves keeping bad intentions for the wrongdoer. We need to feed it into our system to let go, so that we do not stay annoyed and offended for long. Our grudges will only affect the relationship with the person and not hurt the other person in any way. The ability to forgive gives us a sense of freedom and makes us suffer less and feel lesser misery and pains. Though it may look impossible, unfair to forgive those that might have hurt us, probably because of the gravity of their offences, but I strongly believe that forgiving others makes us stronger, healthier and far more of a better person than we were. Letting go doesn’t mean we are weak or incapable. It means we are better, bolder and more experienced. Every ill done to us is a lesson learned.

Fashion

Prints! Prints!!

2) Simple print shorts can be worn with a plain t-shirt along with a casual footwear. 3) Print skirts should be worn with a plain chiffon top or with a plain blazers, as the case maybe.

4) Prints that are done on shoes can be worn with a plain pant and a print shirt as well. Prints look better and highlighted when they are worn with just plain attires.

health

osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

Watermelon: Health Benefits, Risks And Nutrition Facts Watermelons are mostly water — about 92 percent — but this refreshing fruit is soaked with nutrients. Each juicy bite has significant levels of vitamins A, B6 and C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants and amino acids. There’s even a modest amount of potassium. Plus, this quintessential summer snack is fat-free, very low in sodium and has only 40 calories per cup. Scientists have taken notice of watermelon’s high lycopene levels — about 15 to 20 milligrams per 2-cup serving, according to the National Watermelon Promotion Board — some of the highest levels of any type of fresh produce. Lycopene is a phytonutrient, which is a naturally occurring compound in fruits and vegetables that reacts with the human body to trigger healthy reactions. It is also the red pigment that gives watermelons, tomatoes, red grapefruits and guavas their color. Lycopene has been linked with heart health, bone health and prostate cancer prevention. It’s also a powerful antioxidant thought to have anti-inflammatory properties, according to Victoria Jarzabkowski, a nutritionist with the Fitness Institute of Texas at The University of Texas at Austin. To really maximize your lycopene intake, let your watermelon fully ripen. The redder your watermelon gets, the higher the concentration of lycopene becomes. Beta-carotene and phenolic antioxidant content also increase as the watermelon ripens. Nevertheless, “All parts of the watermelon are good. There are a lot of nutrients throughout,” said Jarzabkowski. This includes the white flesh nearest the rind. Another phytonutrient found in the watermelon is the amino acid citrulline, which converts to the amino acid arginine. These amino acids promote blood flow, leading to cardiovascular health, improved circulation, and according to research at Texas A&M University, erectile dysfunction improvement (you’d probably have to eat a lot of the fruit to get a Viagra-like effect, though). Here are the nutrition facts for the watermelon, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates food labeling through the National Labeling and Education Act: Health benefits Heart health

Watermelon’s high levels of lycopene are very effective at protecting cells from damage and may help lower the risk of heart disease, according to a study at Purdue University. Also, the fruit’s concentrations of citrulline and arginine are good for your heart. Arginine can help improve blood flow and may help reduce the accumulation of excess fat. A study published in the American Journal of Hypertension found that watermelon extracts helped reduce hypertension and lower blood pressure in obese adults. Anti-inflammatory properties ”The lycopene in watermelon makes it an anti-

inflammatory fruit,” Jarzabkowski said. Lycopene is an inhibitor for various inflammatory processes and also works as an antioxidant to neutralize free radicals. Additionally, the watermelon contains choline, which helps keep chronic inflammation down, according to a 2006 article published in Shock medical journal. Reducing inflammation isn’t just good for people suffering from arthritis. “When you’re sick, you have cellular damage, which can be caused by a variety of factors including stress, smoking, pollution, disease, and your body becomes inflamed,” Jarzabkowski said. “It’s called ‘systemic inflammation.’” In this way, anti-inflammatory foods can help with overall immunity and general health.

Hydration “Watermelons are the perfect example of a food that can help you stay hydrated,” said Jarzabkowski. Their water content can help keep you hydrated, and their juice is full of good electrolytes. This can even help prevent heat stroke.

be helpful in reducing the risk of cancer through their antioxidant properties. Lycopene in particular has been linked to reducing prostate cancer cell proliferation, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Health risks If eaten in reasonable amounts, watermelons should produce no serious side effects. If you eat an abundance of the fruit daily, however, you may experience problems from having too much lycopene or potassium. The consumption of more than 30 mg of lycopene daily could potentially cause nausea, diarrhea, indigestion and bloating, according to the American Cancer Society. People with serious hyperkalemia, or too much potassium in their blood, should probably not consume more than about one cup of watermelon a day, which has less than 140 mg of potassium. According to the National Institutes of Health, hyperkalemia can result in irregular heartbeats and other cardiovascular problems, as well as reduced muscle control. Jarzabkowski also warned watermelon lovers to be mindful of their sugar intake. “Though watermelon’s sugar is naturally occurring, [watermelon] is still relatively high in sugar.” Watermelon facts Some fun facts about watermelons, from the National Watermelon Promotion Board and Science Kids. The watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is related to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash. The watermelon probably originated in the Kalahari Desert in

Africa. Egyptians placed watermelons in the burial Digestion The watermelon contains fiber, which encourages tombs of kings to nourish them in the afterlife. The a healthy digestive tract and helps keep you regular. first recorded watermelon harvest is depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphics from about 5,000 years ago. Skin and hair benefits Merchants spread the use of watermelons along the Mediterranean Sea. By the 10th century, Vitamin A is stellar for your skin, and just a cup of watermelon contains nearly one-quarter of your daily watermelons had found their way to China, which recommended intake of it. Vitamin A helps keep is now the world’s top producer of watermelons. All parts of a watermelon can be eaten, even the skin and hair moisturized, and it also encourages healthy growth of new collagen and elastin cells, rind. Guinness World Records says the world’s according to the Cleveland Clinic. Vitamin C is also beneficial in this regard, as it promotes healthy heaviest watermelon was grown by Lloyd Bright of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in 2005. It weighed 268.8 collagen growth. lbs. (121.93 kg). The United States ranks fifth in the worldwide Muscle soreness production of watermelons. Forty-four states grow Watermelon-loving athletes are in luck: drinking watermelon juice before an intense workout helps watermelons, with Florida, Texas, California, reduce next-day muscle soreness and heart rate, Georgia and Arizona leading the country in according to a 2013 study published in the Journal production. A seedless watermelon is a sterile hybrid, which of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. This can be is created by crossing male pollen for a watermelon, attributed to watermelon’s amino acids citrulline and containing 22 chromosomes per cell, with a female arginine, which help improve circulation. watermelon flower with 44 chromosomes per cell. When this seeded fruit matures, the small, white seed Cancer prevention Like other fruits and vegetables, watermelons may

politics

523

osun Defender Saturday, February 21,

Jonathan Afraid Of Life After Office, By Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has in the past one year been unsparing in his comments on the running of the affairs of state under the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. In this interview with journalists in his Hilltop presidential mansion, Obasanjo in his characteristic manner x-rays the state of the nation and delivers his verdict. SEGUN OLATUNJI, who was there, brings the excerpts: Sir, you have been away from the country for some time and while you were away, a lot happened as regards the state of the nation. How do you see the situation in the country currently? I was away because I had a number of assignments abroad which took me to Morocco, Munich, Nairobi, London and New Delhi. We were in Munich for what they called Munich security conferences annual event and all the people who are in the security community, normally, you would find them there. For this year, the Vice President of America was there, the Secretary of State, John Kerry was there, the Chancellor of Federal Republic of Germany was there, President of Ukraine was there and many others. I was there with Koffie Annan. Our side was to talk about peace and security in Africa. I was to handle the African perspective while Koffie Annan was to look at it from the global perspective. Suddenly, people started asking me questions about what was happening in my country; Americans, British, German’and every other person. Koffie Annan was particularly agitated. While I was out, I refused to make any categorical statement on this issue because I wanted to come back home and learn at firsthand, what actually transpired and what was going on, and it turned out to be a forced decision on the INEC because it was alleged that the Security Chiefs were unable to provide security and as a result the Chairman of INEC has to postpone, in accordance with the dictates of the so called Security Chiefs. I think for me, that was bad precedent for democracy in Nigeria. It means it doesn’t matter what preparations or lack of reparations any electoral body could make in Nigeria, the final decision whether election will take place on the day scheduled for it lies in the domains of the security, it is a sad day for democracy in Nigeria. And I will say this, we must all feel concerned before democracy is killed. The observable and what would appear to be happening is that the president has a grand plan, a grand plan to ensure that by hook or by crook, he wins the election or if it all fails, they scuttle it and create chaos, confusion and unpleasantness in the whole country. Because it is the duty and function and responsibility of the security officers to provide security, the President is the Chief Security Officer of the country and he is the Commander-in-Chief and if security is required anywhere anytime, it is his duty to provide it. Failure to provide it is dereliction of duty, pure and simple. Either the President is following his own grand plan or his aides and associates are working a script, they are playing a script which must not get his endorsement, if not initiated by him. It looks to me as if the President is trying to play Gbagbo. Gbagbo is the former President of Cote d’Ivoire and Gbagbo made sure he postponed the election in his country until he was sure he would win and then allowed the election to take place. He got an inconclusive election in the first ballot and I believe this is the sort of thing Nigeria may fall into if I am right in what I observed as the grand plan. In the run-off, Gbagbo lost with 8% behind Ouattara and then refused to hand over. All reasonable persuasion and pleading was rebuffed by him and he unleashed horror on that country until nemesis caught up with him. I believe that we may be seeing the repeat

•OBASANJO

of Gbagbo or what I call Gbagbo saga here in Nigeria, I hope not. They gave the intensity of the Boko Haram insurgency as excuse for INEC to postpone the elections... (Cuts in) For me, you can give any excuse or you can give any ratonalisation or you can rationalise anything. Look, the Boko Haram problem, as they are now, has been with us since 2009. If we say what we have not been able to achieve since 2009 would be achieved in six weeks, all I would say is that God is a God of miracle. God can do anything but knowing what we know, look, countries like Syria had election, they have full scale war all over their countries. Countries like Iraq held election, they had full scale war and they are still having. Countries like Afghanistan had election, they even had election where the incumbent had his term and moved out, even countries like Colombia where FARC, their insurgent group have been active for more than 50 years. We have been having elections regularly and FARC is still very active. So, to say that what we have not been able to achieve in five years, we will achieve in six weeks, let us wait and see. That would be my own thinking but when people want to make excuses, they should look for excuses that are tenable. But if you really want to get the job done, the job will be done by Nigerian troops who are properly trained, properly motivated, properly equipped, with high moral and properly led, not asking for force we have in these other countries. For a country of 180 million people and the resources that

we have, I believe it leaves a little bit to be desired. Let us see, the days are going, may be something monumental may happen. There are speculations that President Jonathan may not be ready to leave office. What’s your take on this allegation against him? I believe the president’s concern or fear is not life out of office per se, because he and I have had occasions to talk about this both seriously and jovially. I believe the President would want an opportunity to disengage peacefully and have a nice, decent and a glorious exit. I believe the President’s fear is particularly motivated by those who he sees as his likely successor; that is General Buhari. I believe people would have been telling him that Buhari is a hard man, he would fight corruption and you may end up in jail if not in grave. I believe people must have told him all sorts of things and he is not the only one. There are other people who may be afraid of Buhari, but why? I would say that Buhari has learnt his lessons. If he hasn’t learnt his lessons, then he would be probably the most unlearned human being. If he has learnt his lessons, he would know that you do not fight corruption by putting people in jail for 200 years and this has been done by my own predecessor in office, General Abdus-Salam Abubakar. He recovered over US$750 million from the Abacha estate without putting anybody in jail, without hurting or harming anybody. When I took over, we recovered over US$I.25 billion from the same Abacha estate without hurting anybody, without

harming anybody. I don’t think the President is afraid of being out, there’s life after Aso Villa. It may depend of course, to a large extent, on how his descent takes place and how his exit takes place. Out there in the international world, there’s so much need for the wisdom and experience of people who have done it before. They also want people who are creditable and credible. How do you see the criticisms against Buhari’s anti-corruption stance? Corruption must not remain part of our national life. Whoever comes in at anytime in future will fight corruption, and we must even encourage successive fight against corruption. We must. Recklessness and impunity must not continue to be our part of lives, whether recklessness and impunity in the management of our economic affairs, in the running of our finances and even in political affairs, they must not be allowed to remain part of us. I believe that within reason, judging by his track records, and I have said that at the end of the day, I look at people’s track records to see what they can do and what they cannot do, to see where I go and where I do not go. I believe he will fight corruption, he has tried to do it before. I believe he will give firm leadership which is what is good for a country like this. Again, I appeal to President Jonathan not to listen to those who are creating phobia, phobia for Buhari, phobia for inquiry and all that. President Jonathan has done well to the best of his ability and he has made history as the first elected Nigerian president from a minority tribe and nobody can take that away from him; he can even make a second history, if it turns out that way. If he contests a fair, free and transparent election and if he loses, to have a dignified decend and a dignified exit, he will be on the mountain top and he would be acclaimed as a true patriot and a true democrat. What stops him from doing these? I will want to appeal to the PDP and APC, as the two major parties, they have responsibilities to see the continuation of our present democratic process and if any of them does anything to short-circuit or cut shot the process, the verdict of history will be very drastic. I also will like to appeal to General Buhari, if the election takes place, I sincerely hope that it will take place, and if he happens o win, one of his first responsibilities is to allay the fears of those who see Buhari as a buggy, as a threat, particularly in the areas of human rights, in the areas of the rule of law, and in the areas of obedience to our constitution. I will want to appeal to Nigerians, we all have a stake and a say in what is going on. Don’t let us just fold our hands and say there’s nothing I can do’. There’s everything you can do and we must all try to do everything to sustain this process that we have made.

•Culled from Daily Sun

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saturday, february 21, 2015

t is interesting the way things happen in Nigeria. The recentlyshifted general elections at the behest of Nigeria security chiefs is an example. The 2015 general elections were scheduled to take place last Saturday, February 14th for the national election including the presidential and National Assembly, while that of the state elections involving the gubernatorial and state parliaments was fixed for 28th of the month. Feelers coming from the presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) indicated that the two institutions were not comfortable enough with the scheduled elections ostensibly due to the popularity of the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC). After much denial, the National Security Adviser, (NSA) Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) told the whole world at Chetham House, London, that the election scheduled for February 14 th was not feasible. Again the presidency denied the message by Dasuki. Later the Council of States meeting held at Aso Rock, Abuja, where there was preponderance of views that if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was satisfied that it had covered enough grounds to make the election hold, it could go ahead. While all these were going on, there were subterranean moves by the federal forces to scuttle holding elections as planned. Eventually, INEC was made to recant its schedule for the conduct of 2015 on the basis of a letter written to it by the security chiefs that they could not guarantee security for the election. Lo and behold, the INEC helmsman, Professor Attahiru Jega latched onto that to shift the elections forward. Adequate security is an important factor that guarantees a free, fair and credible election. Jega may have decided together with his team to allow the security chiefs have their way, else, if there is any premeditated crisis to undermine the election, Jega would be held responsible for conducting election in an inconducive atmosphere. Was INEC really prepared for the election scheduled for February 14th. According to INEC officials, the electoral management body was ready, but because the security authority had written to the body formally that it could not guarantee security, it has to be shifted. If Boko Haram insurgency was the cause

Audacious Exploit with Murtala Agboola Tel: 0806-119-7897 E-mail: murtalamuag@yahoo.com

Reflection On Delayed Elections

•jEGA

of the shift, it has been with us for the past six years, so how can they need only six weeks to flush the terrorists? If they succeed in doing that, then it means there was element of sabotage. On the other hand if they fail, then, they would have succeeded in drawing us back. The military authorities that called for extension of the election have been in the country for all these years, so what is special about the extension? On INEC preparedness to conduct the elections as scheduled, some people have doubted their ability to do so. The election schedule was announced a year ago. The electoral body knew that the election would be contingent upon the permanent voter’s card. The registration was conducted in 2011, which meant it had three years to provide

Nigerians with the PVCs. This was left till very late. The first time the PVCs were used was in the Ekiti State gubernatorial election last year before it was repeated in the State of Osun in August. People who have questioned the preparedness of INEC to conduct election hinged their argument on the fact that PVC distribution should be close to hundred percent, if not hundred and not around the sixty eight per cent it was, when the election was postponed. Another argument against INEC was that there were no adequate enlightenment about the use of the card reader, which will authenticate voter’s card. INEC never bothered to educate Nigerians that the PVC, which is now in use in official circles, has a chip, that it must not be placed around a magnetic

object. Automatic Finger Print Identification System (AFIS) was a device meant to eliminate double registration, which to some people was not effective. Some people still claim that INEC prepared two PVCs for them, which should not be, if things have worked well. Public enlightenment was left to political parties, meaning that INEC derelict on its functions. Jega has good image and he’s one public official who draws sympathy whenever he addresses the nation on any national issues. The government co-operated with the body he heads, such that whenever he needs funds, Nigerians are ready to put pressure on the government to release same. The body he superintends is made up of egg-heads, bureaucrats and technocrats, whose pedigree cannot be faulted. However, the issue of the PVC and related issues, in my opinion, was not properly handled. The blame, however, cannot be that of INEC alone. The National Assembly has two committees in the House of Representatives and Senate that oversees the activities of INEC. The questions put to him the floor of the Senate last Wednesday could have been asked earlier on. If the committees of INEC had performed their oversight functions diligently, they would have known the extent of the preparedness of INEC. There is also a fundamental issue that cannot be glossed over. Is it that we do not have enough wherein that in the country to print the PVCs? The Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Corporation or other related companies should to my mind have enough capacity to print out security-related documents. Is it a matter of lack of trust or the fear that if it is done in the country, the level of confidentiality would be compromised? There is a need for serious thinking ahead by our leaders. The issue of our biometric data is another issue that shows there is a serious disconnect within our planning system in the country. The National Identification Management is taking the biometric data of Nigerians for the National Identity Card, while the banks are also carrying out the bank verification number gathering our data. The telecommunication communication companies are also asking for our biometric data for the purchase of SIM card. These should be a synergy of efforts, such that a

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