www.osundefender.org thursday, february 5, 2015
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Front Page Comment
VOL. 10. NO.08
N100
Debating The Non-debatable- By Duro Onabule
The decision of All Progressives Congress candidate not to take part in a so-called Presidential debate generated a shortlived debate. The debate, in the first place was unwarranted.
Read elsewhere on this page for that far-sighted view expressed in this column on December 19, 2014. The unwarranted debate was the one organized by a socalled election debate
Which group? Under which authority? Who made the debate group judges over, okay salesmen of our political or voting intention or even the presidential aspirations of the candidates? It is all part of a veiled
scheme to handicap a particular candidate in favour of the other in a contest in which one candidate has at his command our entire national resources embracing unlimited patron-
Otherwise, the muchtouted constitutional conference populated largely by President Goodluck Jonathan’s proteges rejected debate
as an integral part of Nigeria’s political/ electoral set-up. That conference was the latest official attempt to standardize our poli-
Continue on pg6
Osun PDP In Disarray Ahead Of Tribunal Judgment - See Story On Page 2
Omisore’s Security Aides In Trouble Over N12m Stolen Money - Pg 3 Former Speaker, - Pg 6 Etteh Defects To APC In Osun
Fresh Clash - In Pg 5 Asipa,
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeaola (2nd left), acknowledging cheers from the crowd, while former APC Chairman in the state, Elder Lowo Adebiyi (left) and other party chieftains are with him during the All Progressive Congress (APC) Senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly rally in Ikire, State of Osun, last Monday.
Ipetumodu
Missing $30 Trillion: Aregbesola Laments Nigerians’ Silence
- See Story On Page 6
osun Defender Thursday, February 5, 2015
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Osun PDP In Disarray Ahead Of Tribunal Judgment
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he crisis in the State of Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the judgement of the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which should come up on or before February 10, has deepened, as authoritatively gathered from the party’s camp. The defeated candidate at the tribunal, Senator of the PDP in August I y i o l a O m i s o r e , i s 9, 2014 governorship reportedly miffed by the election and petitioner shenanigans of the party
chairman in the state, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, in his bid to edge him and his loyalists out and firmly take hold of the party. It was gathered that Omisore is angry at the reported threat by Olaoluwa not to help him
influence the outcome of the tribunal and has reported the party’s chairman to Abuja. An impeccable source within the party revealed that Omisore is currently gathering evidence on O l a o l u w a ’s a l l e g e d embezzling of over N1
billion meant for last year ’s governorship election and other funds released for the party’s operation in the state, including the February 14 presidential election. He is desperately pushing for the chairman’s suspension
•(L-R) Senator Oluremi Tinubu; wife of the State of Osun governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola; wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola and another dignitaries during the APC Presidential Rally in Lagos State recently.
PDP Group Attacks Jonathan Campaign Group Leadership In Osun
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By kazeem mohammed
he internal wranglings rocking the State of Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is far from over, as a proGoodluck Jonathan group, Transformation Vanguard, has attacked the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation of working at a cross-purpose with the President’s re-election bid. The campaign organisation is led by the current Chairman of the Federal statement: “The attention R o a d M a i n t e n a n c e of the Transformation A g e n c y ( F E R M A ) , Va n g u a r d h a s b e e n Engineer Jide Adeniji. drawn to the inactivity A statement, signed of President Goodluck by the Coordinator of Jonathan Presidential the group, Chief Dipo Campaign Committee in Ajayi, accused Adeniji Osun State. of being more committed “The Committee, to the All Progressives h e a d e d b y E n g i n e e r Congress (APC) despite Jide Adeniji, the current his much-touted closeness Chairman of FERMA, has to Mr. President, saying, become an embarrassment he is allowing the re- to the Goodluck Jonathan election campaign of re-election bid and those President Jonathan to of us who are working suffer serious setback, due a s s i d u o u s l y f o r t h e to lack of commitment of president’s re-election. members of the campaign “Though Engineer committee. Adeniji is the Chairman It further noted that of FERMA, a position the committee had not he is enjoying because of deemed it fit to erect his assumed membership any campaign billboard of PDP. We are at a loss anywhere in the state and where his loyalty lies. that it made Osun, the To many members of only state that did not our party in Osun, he is beam the campaign rally seen more as an APC of the president live on man, despite his muchtelevision. touted closeness to Mr. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e President.
“The assumed closeness has failed to convince most of our people of where his loyalty resides, while his appointment as the coordinator of the Jonathan campaign in the state has, in no little way, hurt the Jonathan campaign in Osun. “It is on record that the Adeniji committee has not deemed it fit to erect a single billboard for the president in the state, while the only billboard, bearing the picture of the president are those erected by other candidates in the February elections. “It is also on record that the presidential campaign rally of Presidential Jonathan in Osogbo was the only one so far not broadcast live on television. This is embarrassing to the president and those of us in the state, who are committed to Mr. President’s re-election to say the least. One wonders why the Adeniji committee chose not to showcase the campaign rally to those who could not attend the rally for one reason or the other. “The fear among most
PDP members in the state is that the committee may be working towards the defeat of the PDP and Mr. President in the February 14 presidential election just like how it happened in 2011,” it stated. The group then called on the leadership of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and President Jonathan to closely monitor the
activities of the Adenijiled committee in the State of Osun and take proactive steps to nip in the bud, the imminent failure they are working towards.
and eventual removal from office. This move by Senator Omisore has reportedly infuriated Olaoluwa, who told his close friends that Omisore has been very ungrateful to him in spite of all he did for him in his bid to become governor. According to him, he’s had enough of Omisore, who at the height of his insult to him publicly, gave him a heavy slap in the run-up to the governorship election. While urging party members to brace up for a coming storm in the party in Osun, he has sworn to expose the details of how Omisore attempted to rig the August 9, 2014 election and how the party tried unsuccessfully to bribe the tribunal. This development is however giving party members concern, as they were worried this kind of scandal, a few days before the general elections, would killoff the party not only in Osun but the entire South-West. They have since called the attention of President Goodluck Jonathan to the putative crisis, but the president is however bogged down by his campaign tour and has not been able to wade into the matter. Meanwhile, Senator Omisore, according to sources close to him, said he is undeterred and would go ahead with his plan to remove Alhaji Olaoluwa, saying his reported threat to spill the bean on him and the party is an indication he is not a loyal party member, who does not deserve to hold any party position.
Ikirun Residents Embrace resident, Osun ID Scheme MrAnother Saheed Akanni,
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By Francis Ezediuno
esidents of the State of Osun in Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Council Area of the state, thronged out to register for the state identification scheme. M o n i t o r i n g t h e believed the scheme exercise in Ikirun on had an advantage for Monday, the registering the people because it is officers were busy also done in developed attending to prospective countries. She said the problem residents, who showed enthusiasm for the around this part of the world is ignorance exercise. One of the residents, and it has always been R u q o y a t L a w a l , the bane of societal disclosed that she problems.
who had completed his registration, disclosed that he was happy to be registered and would help spread the news around for others to be part of the scheme. He also called on other residents to come out en masse and be part of the scheme, adding that the people would later be the beneficiaries. One of the registering officers disclosed that the turnout has been impressive, saying the
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Osun Defender Thursday, February
F akeye, Clement Canvass Vote From Ila Electorate
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By shina abubakar
he legislative candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February general elections have urged the people of Ila Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun to cast their votes in the party’s favour during the elections. Honourable Clement Ila State Constituency Ademola vying for a n d H o n o u r a b l e
Olu Fakeye for Ila/ Boluwaduro/Ifedayo Federal Constituency promised to give effective representation to the people if elected to represent them at both chambers during the polls. Speaking to the
teeming crowd of party supporters at Oke-Ogbun area of Ejigbo Ward 3 in Ila-Orangun town, Honourable Ademola urged the voters to vote for APC candidates in all elections to avoid disruption of good governance after the
polls. According to him, the PDP has been causing chaos in the state like it is doing presently in Ekiti and therefore, urged the people not to allow them to do the same in Osun or at the federal level when the
police officers attached to the PDP candidate was mistakenly shot dead by one of his colleagues in the course of an argument over money given to the escort. Sometime ago at Parakin, Ile-Ife home of Omisore
APC eventually wins the presidential election. He reiterated the situation where minority members of a state parliament are causing crisis like in Ekiti, Rivers and Edo states is an invitation to chaos, therefore calling on the electorate not to vote for any PDP candidate in the coming polls. He urged the electorate not to allow themselves to be deceived by the PDP again, while further charging them to join the APC movement, which, according to him, is committed to changing the story of Nigeria positively. Similarly, Honourable Fakeye called on the electorate and Nigerians to resist call for postponement of election, as being clamoured for in some quarters in the country. According to him, the move is capable of truncating the nation’s nascent democracy and therefore admonished everyone to work against such postponement. Fakeye also urged voters not to sell their conscience and ensure that they vote for the candidates of their choice, who will represent them appropriately and effectively. The campaign train then headed for a street rally, moving from OkeOgbun, through Palace Square, to College Road, to Idi Mango, while the
at a time when what the country requires is a serious fight against corruption. Another trader, who pleaded anonymity, said the electorate should not entrust the destiny of the country unto President Jonathan for another four years, considering his antecedents as the incumbent president. Mrs Balogun Balqees Change Of Name
said the way the country is being run by the present administration is not what the President promised Nigerians in 2011, saying it is time Nigerians use their power and show politicians that citizens know how to use their power of franchise. She disclosed that Nigerians deserved better leadership in Change Of Name
I formerly known as adeyemi m o s h oo d n o w wish to be called and addressed as adeyemi moshood olaniyi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.
I formerly known as moruf popoola now wish to be called and addressed as popoola moruf abiodun. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.
•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (on top a luxury bus) acknowledging cheers from his supporters in Ikoyi, State of Osun, during a rally last Monday.
Omisore’s Security Aides In Trouble Over N12m Stolen Money
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he security operatives attached to the defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the August 9, 2014 election in the State of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, have again run into trouble, as their principal was reported to have handed them over to the police authority for allegedly stealing his N12 million. A source close to the PDP candidate said: Omisore revealed that “Even if the policemen recently, he claimed that had stolen his money, I his money was missing, would not blame them, but he could not ascertain because he doesn’t take who was the culprit, good care of them. only to later allege the “The policemen policemen attached to that are with him are him as his suspects. suffering, yet they are Three of the police b e i n g p u n i s h e d f o r o ff i c e r s , t h e s o u r c e nothing. May be his claim said, were called for was false, who knows,” interrogation by Omisore the source stated. He said, apart from the himself, who threatened them to get to the root issue of the stolen money, of the matter, describing since his principal lost the governorship election, them as “thieves”. W h e n h i s t h r e a t he has been behaving could not hold water, as strangely, as he takes the policemen denied offence in every action s t e a l i n g t h e m o n e y, of his staff and associates. “I think what is he handed them over to the police authority happening to Otunba for investigation and now is a case of transfer recovering of his money. of aggression because Sources at the police nobody ever thought command informed the that he would lose that medium that investigation election. So, one has to into the allegations has be very careful with him now,” he added. commenced. It would be recalled The source, who is one that shortly after his of the domestic staff of failure to win last year’s
By our reporter
governorship election, some of his civilian aides allegedly stole a huge sum of money from him. The money allegedly stolen then was part of the remaining election fund deployed to the state by
the Federal Government to win the state at all cost and when he discovered the stealing, he handed his suspects over to security operatives. It would also be recalled that one of the
Market Women Seek Change Of Govt
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By our reporter
arket women in Ila-Orangun have vowed to use their vote to effect change of administration during the February 14 presidential election. OSUN DEFENDER was at the Palace Square Market to survey the level of awareness among traders in the build-up to the general elections and it found out that they are fully prepared for the polls. Most of those who spoke with the medium disclosed that the only power they have to contribute to the development of the country is their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and they are
ready to effectively utilise it to effect the much-desired change. A retired school teacher, who now owns a shop in the market, Mrs Adewuyi Ajoke, berated the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government for its poor leadership style in the country, saying it dampens the morale of citizens. She lamented a situation where corruption is allowed to thrive in the country,
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osun Defender Thursday, Febru-
2015 Elections: Osun Informal Workers Warn Against Violence By Kehinde ayantunji
informal workers and the e d e r at i on o f I n f o r m a l Wo r k e r s entire citizens of the state Oganisation of Nigerian (FIWON) in the to troop out en masses on State of Osun has urged artisans and the the day of election and people of the state to shun violence before, during cast their vote for the candidates of their choice. and after the February 2015 elections. In these coming elections, F I W O N S t a t e had over 70 percent of people should be ready to Coordinator, Comrade the votes. We must not sacrifice their time on the O l a y i n k a I b r a h e e m , relent in participating in election day to vote and made the appeal during the coming elections, it is protect their votes.” the inauguration of the our responsibility.” T h e F I W O N newly-elected executives “We are encouraging coordinator however of the Nigeria Motor Rewire Charging Battery Association, State of Osun, held at the FIWON State Headquarters, Osogbo. He said that as the hairman of the Labour Party (LP) in the February general State of Osun, Comrade Rufus Oyatoro, elections are fasthas lamented what he described as insincerity approaching, FIWON members should desist of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on from any act capable the party. of causing cruelty and Oyatoro bemoaned the Party to the PDP,” he violence before during defection of Mimiko and added. and after election. Oyatoro spoke on mischievous attitude of Ibraheem urged the some national leaders of M o n d a y i n a p r e s s informal sector workers to the party, describing them statement made available resist political temptation as politicians lacking in to OSUN DEFENDER or influence that may integrity. in Osogbo, the State of provoke violence, saying According to Oyatoro, Osun capital. the civilized manner of M i m i k o a n d s o m e The LP chairman stated engaging the political national leaders of the that the party was not parties is to challenge party had for long been fielding any candidate for them on their programmes acting the script of the the 2015 general elections and policies. Peoples Democratic Party in the State of Osun, He further advised (PDP) before they finally saying that the party was the FIWON members, dumped the LP. not in the mood to present who, according to him, He maintained that the candidates. constituted the largest action of the former LP Oyatoro cautioned working force in Nigeria, chieftain was responsible p e o p l e f r o m h a v i n g to collect their Permanent for the backwardness of political business with Voters’ Cards, which he the party and the current any member of the party, described as democratic challenges facing it. pending the determination instrument to determine “It is a pity that our o f t h e c o u r t o n t h e their destiny. great party has been leadership suit before it. He said: “We have been in doldrums these past He stressed that the sensitizing our people; we years. It was the script leadership tussle of the have it on record during of some former national party has been a subject the last gubernatorial leaders of the party and of litigation in court for election in August 9, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, some time, adding that 2014, the informal sector to sell the soul of Labour judgement would soon
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admonished the newlyelected executives of NMRCBA to provide adequate and effective representation, saying they were ordained to see to affairs of the organization with all fairness. In his acceptance speech, the new State President of NMRCBA, Mr Joseph Oladiti,
appreciated the members of the association for bestowing on him, the leadership of the association. Oladiti, who pledged to build upon the unity, virtue and progress that the association was known for, said he was determined to make the welfare of every member his priority.
Other new executives are: Pastor Samson Boladale (Vice President), Mr Arigbede (General Secretary), Mr Adeniyi Onigbede (Treasurer), Wa h e e d Jimoh (Financial Secretary), Imam Moshood Badmos (Organizing Sectary) among others
Osun Labour Party Chair Laments Mimiko’s Insincerity
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By ismaeel uthman
be delivered on it, as soon as judiciary workers resumed. He explained that only a case instituted by him remained in court, saying
that the one instituted by Comrade Abiodun Afolabi and former member of the party who has defected to the PDP, Daniel Afilaka, has been
struck out. Oyatoro however urged supporters of the party to be patient and wait for the court verdict on the suit before it.
I fon Agog For Lawmak ers
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By kazeem mohammed
fon, the headquarters of Orolu Local Government Council Area was on Thursday agog for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the State of Osun House of Assembly representing Orolu/Irepodun State Constituency, Kamil Oyedele and APC candidates from Osogbo Federal Constituency, Lasun Yusuf, as their campaign train stormed the area. Party members, women, youths, old and young trooped out to welcome heights. and identify with their “As an honourable own, Kamil Oyedele, member, Kamil Oyedele who is contesting to go has done a lot in terms back to the State of Osun of attracting government House of Assembly for p r e s e n c e t o t h e another term. constituency. The people of the town “Through him, we were full of praises for have had 10 blocks of Kamil, as he is popularly classrooms across the called, for the role he has length and breadth of our played over the years constituency; he has been in moving the town and sponsoring quite a number its residents to greater of young members of
•(L-R) Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; wife of the governor, State fo Osun, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola; wife of the Former Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Mosurat Sunmonu during the APC Presidential Rally in Oyo State recently.
the council areas in technical education; he has sponsored external examinations for more than 600 candidates after giving thorough extra-mural classes that enhanced their performances in various subjects,” Abegunde, a youth in the town said. Speaking at the event, Senator Bayo Salami, Chairman, Osogbo Federal Constituency Campaign Committee, urged the people of the local government council areas to come out en masse on February 14, 2015 and vote General Muhammadu Buhari as the President of Nigeria and other candidates of the APC. In his remarks, Oyedele thanked the people for their support always and reiterated his commitment to do more in terms of robust legislative works as a good ambassador of the constituency. In terms of influencing and attracting government presence to his constituency, he said what he has been able to achieve in making sure that the standard of living of his people are raised would be a tip of an iceberg. He also promised to see adequately to women empowerment and youths development. Dignitaries at the rally were Honourable Adeoye Adelakun, APC senatorial leader; former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Barrister Kolapo Alimi, among others.
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osun Defender Thursday, February 5, 2015
Second Oba Aromolaran Soccer Tourney Achieves Record Entries By Francis Ezedi-
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s the city of Ilesa prepares to host t h e O b a Adekunle Aromolaran N a t i o n a l Un d er-17 Soccer Competition, which entered its second edition this year, organizers of the tournament have achieved a record entry of 35 teams from all the states of the federation. In a media briefing, which was held at the palace of Owa Obokun, the paramount ruler of Ijesaland, who is the donor of the cup and financier of the tourney, Mr. Akinpelu Akinkunmi, the representative of A Square Sports, the organizers of the competition, said all the states of the federation would have a representative in this years’ edition of the competition instituted by Oba Aromolaran to help grassroots football in Nigeria. “Going by the entries received after the zonal preliminaries played in various states precluding this year’s tournament, we are going to have teams from every state in Nigeria coming to Ilesa from the 7th of March, for the commencement of Second Oba Aromolaran National U-17 Cup”. The organizers said His Royal Majesty, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, has reiterated his commitment to contribute his quota to the development of sports at the grassroots by increasing the incentives for participants and winners of the competition this year. They added that good accommodation and facilities had been secured for all the teams and officials that would be coming for the tourney, while Ijesa people are also ready to give the visitors warm and accommodating reception when the tourney gets underway.
•Donor and financier of the soccer tourney, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran (left), presenting the trophy to Edo State, the winner of last edition of Oba Aromolaran National U-17 Unity Cup recently.
Fresh Clash In Asipa, Ipetumodu
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By Francis Ezediuno
people. H o w e v e r, a g o o d number of indigenes of both towns have expressed confidence in the Justice Olajide Falola Commission of Inquiry, believing that the body would come out with a solution and far-reaching and widely-accepted recommedation that would bring the lasting peace they all desired.
espite the inauguration of Justice Olajide Falola Judicial Commission of Inquiry instituted to look into the remote and immediate causes of the clash between Ipetumodu and Asipa communities in Ife North Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun, news reaching this medium has indicated that pockets of fresh violence has again erupted. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e agree to a negotiated credible source, who settlement, a view which preferred anonymity, she Asipa had dismissed as revealed that after the rather that of Ipetumodu first round of violence which was settled by the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the indigenes of Asipa, one of the communities involved in the boundary University don, Professor Abiodun dispute, were not satisfied Balogun, has attributed the major political by the steps taken to and economical challenges facing Nigeria maintain peace by the state government and to absence of ethical values and respect for went on the offensive human dignity. again disturbing He advocated for social revolution are the subtle peace of massive education on likely consequences of Ipetumodu people, who cultural reorientation the decline value, adding dwelt along the boundary that every concerned between the two towns. and ethical value to Nigerian must work build politic a l a nd She stated that violence for the overhauling of again erupted during government intuition the moral and ethical that can stand the test the weekend and this values. of time. had made many people According to Balogun, a Professor to relocate from their homes for fear of being o f P h i l o s o p h y a n d him: “Revolution is victims of the communal Dean, Faculty of Arts, evidential turn-around clash. O l a b i s i O n a b a n j o and in political parlance, Despite pleas from the University, Ago- Iwoye, ordinarily suggests a traditional institutions Ogun State, expressed forceful overthrow or a n d w e l l - m e a n i n g concern on imminent a replacement of an i n d i g e n e s o f b o t h consequence of decline established government communities, the trouble on ethical values during or order, considered was still to be abated. the Annual Lecture of impervious in order to Most of the town’s the Faculty of Arts and pave way for a favoured people, whose views new system and a were sought, threw the Humanities, Osun State complete new order. University, Ikire, tagged: blame for the resurgence “An unethical of trouble again at the “Ethical Revolution g o v ernment is one and Development in the doorsteps of Asipa. that fails to adequately Nigerian Democratic They attributed it to protect its citizens their unwillingness to Space”. He said uprising and from both foreign and
They attributed the recent violence between the two boundary communities as the handiwork of mischief makers, who wanted to capitalise on the mayhem that it would cause to their own advantage. The terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry included: the investigation and determination of the identity of the
perpetrators and sponsors of the communal clash and disturbance in the communities. It also includes that the panel should recommend appropriate administrative civil or criminal action to be taken against persons or groups found to be involved in the destruction of properties
Varsity Don Laments Decline In Ethical Values In Nigeria
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By Kehinde ayantunji
domestic threats; fails to defend the rights of the citizens or breaches those rights unnecessarily; it exists solely to exploit its citizens and provides no system to balance the power of the governed versus the power of the people. “For the democratic space to thrive, some vital moral qualities are indispensable to be upheld, not only by the leadership, but also the fellowship: Honesty, patriotism, patience, fortitude, a temperament for consultation, consensus, building and compromise, the courage to take the right decisions, even if unpopular, to step on powerful toes and to sacrifice sacred cows when the occasion
demands.” He added that to halt the trend, massive education across different strata of Nigeria’s socioexistence is a key, stressing that moralrestorative-evolution of the Nigerian democratic space to a more just form, is inevitable There must be massive and continuous public enlightenment on the inherent values of each and every human life; on the value of dignity in labour, values of excellence in character, honesty and modesty in attitude, and selfrestraint in action and expression, communal relationship, social responsibility among others,” Oladele said In his remarks, the university Vice-
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osun Defender Thursday, Febru-
Missing $30 Trillion: Aregbesola Laments Nigerians’ Silence
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he Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf whole country became infrastructure. He added, “What you “Now, look at our Aregbesola, has lamented what he charged and demanded He said, “Look at how country, we have spent make of Nigeria is your described as the criminal silence of Nigerians for the resignation of the many roads that would about $31.45 billion and business. It’s in your at mind-boggling revelations that about N30 Minister,” Aregbesola build. Look at how many we could only generate interest to join in the trillion of Nigerian money allegedly got missing lamented. schools that would build. 4,000 MW,” he disclosed struggle to have a new under the watch of the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi The governor said what leadership in Nigeria. “Incontrovertible facts The governor said the must have a change Okonjo-Iweala. amount in question is have it that the Three is made of Nigeria is a We of government to have a enough to build several Gorges Dam in China business of the youths, new beginning. Aregbesola, while of us can keep quiet? receiving representatives “ H o w m u c h w a s kilometres of roads, was built at a cost of adding that they must “Should this man of students of Nigerian involved in the crisis several schools, and help USD26 billion and it is join hands to ensure the have another four years, polytechnics who visited that led to the Ali Must bring back into life many generating 22,500 MW needed change in the the country is doomed country. him at the Government Go protests? But the of the country’s decaying of power by July 2012. totally.” House on Tuesday, said it was amazing how corruption has become so entrenched in the country that the mention of N30 trillion common wealth missing under the government of President Goodluck Jonathan has not been greeted with trepidation. He said with such mind-blowing frittering away of the nation’s resources, the future of the youths of today has been mortgaged. Addressing the students’ representatives who said they were at the Government House to show solidarity with the Governor, his APCled Government and support for presidential candidate of the APC, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, Aregbesola said With the way Nigeria is now, Nigerians of the age Alhaja Ayo Omidiran (with mic); APC Chairman in the State of Osun, Prince Gboyega Famodun (2nd left) and another party chieftain during the of the students should All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly rallies in Apomu, Ikire, Araromi-Owu, Oriletake it upon themselves Owu in the State of Osun, last Monday. to ensure the pursuit for change is driven to a logical conclusion. “With the bomb that Soludo threw on the missing money, when I was in school, Jonathan would have been Aregbesola emphasised governorship election. ormer Speaker, House of Representatives, of APC in this month’s “We are here again to preparing for his exit. For Hon. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, on Monday elections started from that the victory of August ask for your votes for our a former Central Bank defected to the All progressive Congress Ikoyi in Irewole Local 9 governorship election in of Nigeria Governor to (APC) with thousands of her supporters in Irewole, government noted that her the state would be boosted presidential candidate and accuse the Minister of Ayedaade and Isokan Federal constituency in Osun. coming to the party was with the party securing all every other candidate in Federal constituency. Finance that under her long overdue. the seats available both your We must show to the world The former speaker, in Aregbesola, to the federal watch, the country lost Etteh told the huge in upper, lower and the that Osun is completely a rally led by the Governor constituency to drum up crowd that she decided Legislative chambers. about $30 trillion and all of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf A P C , ” t h e governor support for the candidates to join the APC because H e p o i n t e d o u t emphasised of the party’s progressive that change can only He noted that for policies and the love come when the APC sixteen odd years under for the masses, saying presidential candidate, he former Governor of the State of Osun, state, he contributed his that her decision was to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria quota to the growth and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has been join the progressives so comes to power by May has not gained anything development of the state. described as an astute politician and leader she will be able to 29 this year. meaningful and enduring. “On behalf of myself, that of repute. contribute her quota to The governor held According to him, government and people the development of the that the much needed The Governor of Osun, and growth of the state. “Our experience was a of Osun, we salute this Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, “Prince Oyinlola is a people. change that Nigerians bad one with the federal in a statement by the respectable politician, revered Prince of Okuku, S h e c o m m e n d e d are clamouring for can government when we D i r e c t o r, B u r e a u o f who knows his onions who just arrived at the Governor Aregbesola for only be achieved when a joyfully approached the C o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d when it comes to real doorstep of three scores the positive change he progressive party like the President with the free and four (64 years),” the has brought to the state APC is in power. offer of train coaches to Strategy, Mr. Semiu politicking. Okanlawon, said Oyinlola “As the governor of the statement said. in the past four and a He said: “February the state from the Chinese half years, noting that the 14 and 28 elections are government. is a politician, who places “The offer was given transformation of the state significant for the change peoples’ interest above under APC is glaring for that Nigerians have been to us shortly after we personal or self-interest. all to see. clamouring for, we need came into office. Till date, Aregbesola made A r e g b e s o l a w h i l e not say much. Our good the President failed to this observation while admitting the former work has been speaking even acknowledge the felicitating with Oyinlola, S p e a k e r a n d h e r for us, we plan to do more application. All these will who clocked 64 years old s u p p o r t e r s i n I k o y i , than what we have done in stop when the APC comes on Tuesday. into power this year.” Apomu, Ikire, Araromi the last four years. The governor noted He charged the people Owu, Orile Owu and “We can only do more to go all out to collect their that Oyinlola, who was Gbongan enjoined voters with your support by voting permanent voter cards also former Military in the local government all our party members in at the INEC designated Administrator of Lagos areas and the whole the forthcoming elections. collection centres for State, had during his state to vote for all the I also want to use this them to be able to vote tenure as the governor candidates of APC across opportunity to thank you for change of Osun contributed his board. for standing behind us quota to the development •oyinlola during the last August 9
Former Speaker, Etteh Defects To APC In Osun •As Aregbesola Canvasses Votes For APC Candidates
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Aregbesola Salutes Oyinlola At
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Debating The Non-debatable- By Duro Onabule is mandatory, according to the instrument establishing NTA. Continued from pg1 Against that background, why the arrogance of a so-called election debate group? Who is that member or participant of the debate group without his political bias? A civil servant earning his daily bread virtually from President Jonathan? Then, view any NTA’s current affairs slot, specifically coverage of the on-going political campaigns. NTA conveniently publicizes President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and PDP presidential candidate as one and the same person. They are in fact, different persons when competing with any other person. All it requires to display the distinction are courageous and impartial professionalism. Throughout the current campaigns so far, whatever Jonathan does is deliberately and disgustingly configured to his political enhancement in the coming elections. As many as the first seven to ten items on NTA’s nightly network news are strictly and religiously on Jonathan’s public shows, each item extending to two minutes or even more. On the other hand, any item on General Buhari’s campaign comes a poor eleventh on NTA network news and even then only grudgingly for less than a minute constantly. Watch NTA Network news tonight. I queried NTA (yes, they are colleagues) and the lame answer was that General Buhari’s party, the APC, refused to honour NTA’s request for their candidate’s (Buhari’s) itinerary so that a crew could be attached to him. Did the NTA put such a request to President Jonathan’s party, PDP? If so, that would only be in addition to feeders from every NTA station in every part of Nigeria. That
Does that therefore render NTA blameless? It is only in modern day journalism that professionals wait for news or to be patronized. We were taught to search for news failing which you were considered to be unproductive and accordingly sanctioned depending on the mood of the bosses. It was a daily self-effort every morning to search through rival newspapers for stories one might have missed and (to) immediately follow-up as a cover-up. And the same partial chaps at NTA hiding on the platform of a nebulous election debate group expected General Buhari to expose himself to personal scandalisation by beneficiaries of Goodluck Jonathan’s patronage – one way or the other as NTA staff, government media consultants, chairman or members of parastatals of Jonathan’s government. Initially, General Buhari’s APC appeared at fault for handicapping itself by ignoring NTA. But what a foresight! Never in Nigeria’s political history did a television station malign a rival candidate in a onehour totally distasteful documentary as the NTA did on General Buhari. For what purpose? To handicap and indeed destroy him in favour of President Jonathan. Again, queried on such professional shortcoming, the explanation from NTA was that the one-hour malicious documentary on General Buhari was a sponsored advertisement. Another question followed if NTA would have aired, even as a sponsored (that is paid) advertisement, a similar documentary against President Jonathan? There was no answer. Yet a third question, if NTA, even as a paid advertisement, would have aired the same advertisement against General Muhammadu Buhari if he (Buhari) were the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria? No answer would be found.
And the same maligned General Buhari was expected to be moderated by the same NTA chaps on a bogus platform of election debate group? Another member (television station) of the election debate group, Africa Independent Television (AIT) also transmitted the gutter documentary on General Buhari. And General Buhari was expected to participate in an election debate to be partly moderated by AIT? Who anyway, owns AIT? Raymond Dokpesi, an acolyte of Goodluck Jonathan.
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his month’s presidential election will not be about how angry you are, how abusive you are, how hateful you are, or how toxic your tongue is against a particular candidate. It will not be about an hour-long perverted documentary about Mohammadu Buhari; it will not be about the 53-year-old High School certificate missing from the Nigerian Army record, or about whether the General debates the President or not. This election will not center around whether the Hausas hate the Igbos, or the Yorubas detest the Ikweres, or the Niger-Delta hates Niger State. The coming election will not be about an attempt to rig; attempt to use the police and soldiers to suppress voting voices, or an attempt to want to grab power by every means necessary. This election will not be about what kind of God any of the candidates call unto when he wakes up in the morning and goes to bed at night; the expression of faith remains a private business in Motherland Nigeria. If you hate a candidate because he is Hausa/Fulani or Ijaw, or whether he is a Christian, Moslem, or Buddhist, you are just wasting your time. Your candidate may lose this election, its better you adjust the knob of
your mind to that possibility. This coming election will be about Mathematics. It will be about who gets the highest number of votes. The mathematics in this election is against Goodluck Jonathan; and it’s getting worse daily for him and his men. The picture is getting clearer, and Mr. President and his men are pacing more frantically. If the President knew in November what he now
knows in February, will he be running? But with all humility in my bones and being, permit me to submit that it may be too late for this Goodluck. Our president’s tracks in office, according to former Central bank Governor Charles Soludo, aren’t much to write home about. “…What I say to you, Mr. President, is that your record of performance so far is like a farmland filled with grasses. Yes, they are many but there is no tree, let alone any Iroko tree, that stands out…So far, your report
card is not looking great…So far, it is not working…” the former CBN Governor said. Not much is working under Goodluck. Even the machines of his campaign are malfunctioning. Except in his stronghold of the South-South and South-East, Campaign events centres are either near-empty or half-filled. But Goodluck is not the President of the Ijaws; he is
the leader of all of Nigeria. Enthusiasm among the President’s men has plummeted, as those milling around Goodluck now just want a piece of the national cake before the Confectioner-InChief closes shop. For example, the 25,000 capacity AhmaduBello Stadium, Kaduna was half-filled last Saturday, when the President went campaigning. The dismal turn-out caused the visibly angry PDP Governor Nuhu Bajoga to yell out at the organizers; “go and bring the
Therefore, if for once, especially with the compelling reasons of unwarranted denigration of his person and family members in a distasteful television documentary, General Buhari refused to debate, what is the fuss about? Why were there no complaints against Obasanjo (1999 and 2003), Yar’Adua (2007), and Jonathan at the last Presidential elections? In 2011, Jonathan debated with himself in one of the debates, ignoring the other. He is also free to repeat the solo-debate.
Raymond Dokpesi has quit as owner of AIT. Fine. But could AIT have rejected the documentary on General Buhari? The only consideration for the station’s transmission of the documentary on General Buhari was Raymond Dokpesi’s closeness to President Jonathan. Better still, would AIT have aired, as a sponsored advertisement, any television documentary maligning the person of President Jonathan?
Only seven days more. Don’t give up. From now till Election Day, everybody should tolerate whatever provocation and move to the polling booth on Election Day to choose their new President. These people are scheming for every excuse to postpone the election and install their interim government. We must not allow them. If anybody is slapped, turn the other cheek to deny them any opportunity of escaping their day of judgment.
All these guys are unfair to General Buhari in every aspect. Transmitting a one-hour television documentary ridiculing a man for his bereavement? A television documentary invoking sad memories of a man’s deceased family members – the late wife, and the late daughter. Yet till now, Jonathan never thought it fit to condemn that documentary. In effect, Jonathan endorsed the documentary and expected to debate with General Buhari?
I collected my Permanent Voters’ Card on Wednesday. Go for yours.
Meanwhile, both Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) have not sanctioned NTA and AIT. Would these supposedly regulating bodies have similarly acquiesced if the documentary were on Jonathan? On the contrary, NBC in particular, would have moved in to shut down NTA and AIT throughout the country while Nigeria’s secret police (disguised as State Security Services) would have arrested anybody remotely connected with the production and transmission of the television documentary.
•Next week: The Grudge Election, as never before
All these apart, since 2003, General Buhari is the
If Jonathan Knew Then What He Knows Now, He Will Not Be Running
only one who offered himself for television debate more than any other candidate. In 1999, former President Obasanjo refused to debate with Alliance for Democracy candidate, Olu Falae. In 2003, Obasanjo refused to debate with General Buhari. In 2007, Umar Yar’Adua refused to debate with General Buhari.
crowd”!!! The crowd did not show up because the organizers may have allegedly pocketed the money earmarked for mobilizing supporters. They too, like many PDP officers, wanted a piece of the national cake before Jonathan returns to Otuoke in May. It’s the same tune almost everywhere, especially in all of the Northern states and the South West, where the President was heavily celebrated as the saving Goodluck of Nigeria just four years ago. If you closely observe the President at his campaign rallies, the gradual physical emaciation and fatigue are obvious; the tiredness and the feeling of inevitable doom and trouncing at the polls in two weeks make me feel sorry for our first minority civilian president, who is now at loggerheads and mud-wrestling with the majority. I am sure that if the President knew in November what he now knows in February, he probably wouldn’t have thrown his hat in the race. If the picture unfolding in the Nigerian political landscape had been the visible image in November, this President wouldn’t have declared he is running for a second term that he does not deserve.
•Fola Ojo lives in the United States of America
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osun Defender Thursday, February 5, 2015
Jonathan, AIT And Merchant Of Falsehood
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he falsity of President Goodluck Presidency acquires a frenzy dimension with the African Independent Television (AIT), and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), reeling off untruth, incorrect, treachery and falsehood to demonise General Mohammadu Buhari. The aim is to continue to swindle Nigerians of their votes and cement the PDP’s agenda to run the country for 100 years. Tragically, the poorly-harnessed and re-created Nigerian history turned out to be a dupe on the presidency itself. The purpose of the constantly-aired documentary is for President Jonathan to lie his way out of embarrassment and difficulty, since his defeat at the poll is more vivid than ever before. But the people who the lies were targeted at are now ready to fling the lies back at him at the polls. They know that the President is only asking them to come fishing with him, now that the lake has gone dried. Those who earlier believe in President Jonathan’s mythical providence have since seen the hollowness through his poor performance. His poor work gives the lies to his acclaimed and taunted experience. Instead of working to fulfil his electoral promises, he is busying himself dallying with corrupt folks, whose only love for his government is the president’s inclination for corruption. The documentary is perhaps, President Jonathan’s first major political drubbing since he realised that his tenancy in Aso Rock has come to a terminal end. In all that was contained in the documentary, there was nothing close to what was grafted to the nation’s history book. The documentary, as it stands, was a sheer inanity cobbled together by a drowning administration that clutch at every available straw to stay afloat. The documentary was nothing but a lie at the moment of its airing. Faintly, President Jonathan, AIT and their collaborating NTA tried to rekindle the vanished magic of 2011 when Gen. Buhari was described as “Blood and Iron” tyrant and an Islamist bigot, who hates the rule of law and an agenda to Islamise the nation. That argument now fell on its face. That safe haven, Nigeriaas-PDP-conquered-territory grandstanding has evaporated. Nigerians have come of age. They know the difference between military regime and democratic government. They know that no democratically-elected president can wish a law or promulgate
•jonathan By Erasmus Ikhide
any legislation into existence without the Senate and the House of Representatives passing it. Mr President’s belated or stale propaganda slant has no practical consequence. He and his minders wilfully authored a downgraded populist documentary that suggests that their Big Lie has matured to epic proportion. Instead of showcasing what he has done with the whopping trillions of dollars, he is chasing Buhari’s history to his political detriment. As a misguided figure, his government didn’t find it necessary to investigate former CBN Governor’s latest charge, Professor Chukwuma Soludo that N30 trillion was stolen from the time OkonjoIweala was appointed Minister of Finance and co-ordinating Minister of Economy. In a desperate move, President Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been smearing the image and personality of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, just to score cheap political points. Political deception and gimmickry, as we know it, in underdeveloped nation like ours, easily finds its root,
where poverty; both of the stomach and head, prevails. Such deception gives mileage to corrupt, bankrupt, and wayward political leaders, who exploit these weaknesses to their advantage, at the expense to the governed. That there is no lie more subtle than the truth untold cannot be more apt. Better still, any lie concocted to misdirect, deceive or circumvent the people of their own volition in the governance of their country must be seen a crime against humanity. President Jonathan and his behemoth of a political party have been caught fla-footed in an attempt to sell outright dummy to the Nigerian electorate. Instead of telling Nigerians his own story of achievements; how he gives Nigerians bad beating or how he lifted their hope, created jobs, fought corruption, stamped out insecurity, stabilised the Naira, increased power generation, build the Second Niger Bridge he promised in the last six years, the affable president veered off the course. The documentary, to say the least, did violence to history by twisting and turning facts on its head. For the record, the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti NEVER mentioned
Buhari in the $2.8 billion scandal. He mentioned former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The African Independent Television (AIT) edited that part out of the documentary. Second, Buhari never expelled Ghanaians from Nigeria. Shagari of the defunct National Party of Nigerian (NPN) did. AIT made a false assertion on behalf of its pay master. Third, Gloria Okon did not disappear under Buhari. Gloria Okon’s disappearance happened under IBB military government. In the same token, Fela’s mother, the GREAT Funmilayo Kuti, died after soldiers attacked Kalakuta Republic in 1978; while Buhari came to power in 1984. It is on record that all the politicians that were sentenced to prison by the 1984 military tribunal were found to have either enriched themselves with public funds or diverted public funds. None was convicted by fiat. The documentary also alleged that Buhari had been losing elections since 1999. This is a blatant falsehood. General Buhari’s first shot at the presidency was in 2003. Chief Olu Falae of the defunct ANPP/ AD alliance contested against Obasanjo in 1999. The documentary criminally criticised Buhari heading PTF’s Board, whereas PTF is till date the most successful parastatal ever in Nigeria, which also brought prominent trailblazers like the late Prof. Dora Akunyili to the limelight. If we may ask, what has the documentary on the supposed President Jonathan’s achievements in six years in office got to do with the family of General Buhari? Why should the President and his sidekicks stooped so low to bring Buhari’s daughters and his late wife into their stone walling politics? President Jonathan’s moralising documentary is dubiously hypocritical. Several newspapers houses have been heavily clamped down on and their newspapers confiscated since he became president. Many Nigerians died during the invasion of Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota Lagos, during the fuel subsidy scam protest. President Jonathan is labouring to label himself as a prolife president, when he could not use his omnipotent power to rescue the nearly 300 Chibok girls and others who have been adducted under his watchful eyes. He could not name the Boko Haram sponsors, whom he claimed infiltrated his government some three years ago. As February 14 draws to a close,
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osun Defender Thursday, February
Politics Without Bitterness W ith the 2015 general elections by the corner, the sycophants surrounding some of the political party candidates are helping to heat up the polity unnecessarily and this is not needed. A free, fair and transparent election is what is needed and the space has to be created for Nigerians to freely make their choice. I had earlier vowed that I will not say or do anything that will betray my political emotions, but it seems recent happenings that I have been monitoring on the rundown to the February 14 and 28 elections have left me with no choice than to contribute this little. It is except one who has been ignorant to the political climate in our dear country to see the recent developments among the key political parties and their candidates as something strange but to the discerning mind, it is normal politicking. I would like to say, this type of politicking has gone beyond the ordinary and it’s absolutely strange to our African cultural background, where you find youths calling old men names all because of some temporal titles, forgetting that they too will one day attain that status of being called ‘old’. We find people with the zeal to serve their people being murdered in cold blood and if you stop and ask what the motive behind the dastardly act was, you would hear ridiculous responses, which would make you boil over. The government in power too is not absolved of any blame, as they portend to throw their political opponents in jail after accusing them of unheard-of crimes. Needless to say that the political space in Nigeria is awash with all sorts of abnormality and the latest is what we are observing by the politicians who are currying the favour of the poor masses. The allegations and counterallegations emanating from the camps of contenders in the February polls leaves one in a state of doubts, which has further heated up what we in Nigeria term as ‘the polity’. Everywhere on the world stage, elections have always been based on issues, but why is it different in the Nigerian context? Why do we have to resort to cheap blackmail and name calling, as being done by Femi Fani Kayode (FFK) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In all FFK had been going about doing, I have not seen any political party that had labelled President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) with a negative name tag? So what is FFK up to by calling General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) a cheat, a fraud and a murderer? I guess if FFK was in GMB’s shoes some 31 years ago,
•jonathan By Francis Ezediuno
he would have done same or even worse than that. Yes, let us blame GMB for his inability to apologise to his countrymen like Gowon and the others did for the injustice done Nigerians during his regime but doesn’t ‘Fani Power’s’ son know that the retired General is a shy and reserved person, who, if not for political reasons, may have stayed away from the limelight? You have to study a person’s temperament before you begin to judge him and reliably, it can be argued that Buhari is an extroverted personality, which may be attributed to his upbringing as a young man growing up in Daura, Katsina State or from his military background, which former President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida had come out to defend. The ex-military president even chided the people going about painting GMB in black for their lack of respect. Same thing applies to GEJ. Whatever it may be, President Jonathan is Nigeria’s chief executive for now, since no election has been held, according to the electoral time table. In other words, any act of disrespect on his person is to Nigeria and such should not be taken lightly.
•buhari
What is emanating from both camps of our political gladiators is very bad for the polity. It is foreign and alien to our culture and all of it is being perpetrated in the name of politics. What then happens when the polls are conducted and we have a winner and a loser? Nigeria has moved on from the era of postelection violence and why should there be violence after an election? A quick look at the history of elections in this country shows a cycle of pre and post-election violence right from the days of the defunct First Republic until the last general elections in 2011. Surprisingly, after the 2011 general elections, elections had held in states like Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun with no recorded pre or post-election violence. This translates to the fact that Nigeria can conduct violence free elections. As there are many sides to a coin, so there should be diverse opinions shared by the electorate on whom their candidates should be. It is a democracy and people should be at liberty to vote for a personality of their choice but an exception is the case the way things are going in the run up to the February General Elections. There is no doubt that this general election is the single most important
thing this country will witness this year and it is the most discussed issue in all Foras across every divide such as public places, churches, mosques, schools, markets, family meal times, public transport, street junctions, newspaper vendor stands and so on The media campaign directorates of these political parties are not helping matters too like I pointed earlier to the antics of Femi FaniKayode, who, it was widelyreported, had earlier decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) before he traced his way back to the PDP fold, all because he was told point blank by the APC chieftains that they would not reward him with a vice-presidential ticket in the forthcoming elections. There is the Electoral Act to guide each actor on how to go about exercising their rights to vote and be voted for and I ask: Is the academic qualifications of one of the aspirants a public issue? Cambridge had written to say he wrote the exams and I know the Army of those days would have done their investigation and come to the conclusion that he was dulyqualified. The PDP and GEJ are campaigning for continuity, while APC and GMB are clamouring Continued on page 10
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osun Defender Thursday, Febru-
Osun Parliamentary Elections: The Need For Conti nuity I am not saying that cordial Osun and that is why I plead with
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ome February 14, the people of the State of Osun State will join the rest of Nigerians to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice in the National Assembly and presidential elections, while on February 28, the state Houses of Assembly and governorship election would be held. In Osun, the elections will be unique because there will be no gubernatorial election. This is because election into the Office of the Governor took place on August 9, 2014 with the action governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, re-elected for a second term. Thus, the battle shifts to House of Assembly, as well as the National Assembly elections. We must note also that in the State of Virtue, just like in all other states of the federation, we now have two major political parties; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), in addition to the other smaller political parties, thereby making the elections more competitive. Before we go to the parliamentary
By Yinka Olatunbosun
polls in Osun, we need to ask ourselves the question: Do we want continuity of the harmonious relationship that has existed in the last four years between the state executive arm of government and the state legislature? Do we want continuity of the massive infrastructural development that is taking place in the state as a result of this harmonious relationship? If your answers to these questions are in the affirmative, then you must vote for all the candidates of the ruling APC in the State of Osun. We should note that Governor Aregbesola wouldn’t have succeeded in his first term, if he did not receive the support of the State House of Assembly members. Also, the wonderful support he got from the House of Representatives members and Senators from the state cannot be underestimated. This unflinching support is hinged on one major fact: the State House of Assembly members and those of the National Assembly are from the same party (APC) with the governor.
relationship does not exist in states where the governor and members of the State House of Assembly come from different political parties, but the experience in the South-West politics has shown that such party differences between the head of the executive and the majority members of the legislative arm gives room for frictions. The ugly incident playing out in Ekiti State since the election of Ayodele Fayose of the PDP as governor is a pointer to what I am trying to explain. When an opposition party gains majority in a State House of Assembly, the threat of impeachment is usually high. It is either the governor will be busy wooing some members of the House, who are in the opposing party, to decamp to the ruling party or the House members will be pre-occupied with how to frustrate the governor through the threat of impeachment and non-passage of executive bills. And of course, the end result of this scenario is the collapse of governance. This is the least of what we expect in the State of
all Omoluabis to continue with the progressive politics that we have enjoyed in the last four years in our state. With the co-operation of the State House of Assembly, Governor Aregbesola has performed excellently, given the limited resources that come to the state. We have witnessed massive infrastructural development, peaceful co-existence and security of lives and properties, as well as over 40,000 jobs created for our youths, just to mention a few. We need more of these developmental strides in our beloved state and these can only be guaranteed if all hands are on deck to support the present government of Aregbesola by electing all APC candidates into the Osun Assembly and also at the National Assembly. Don’t forget also to effect a change at the centre by voting for the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket on the platform of the APC for the February 14 presidential election because Nigeria needs a change of government to take us out of shackle of under-development. Next month is FE-BUHARI. Let us make it happen.
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Politics Without Bitter ness Continued from page 9
for change and I ask? Continue what? Change what? President Jonathan had said at a forum that “corruption is not a crime”, so should we continue in that? General Muhammadu Buhari has said he wants to change the way things are being done in the country, does that mean he wants to change our corrupt mindset? The response is left with those that will vote on the 14th and 28th of February, 2015 and it is advised that we vote wisely but the confusion is glaring, as people with whom the publicity of these candidates are left are confusing the very electorate they are supposed to court and woo. Some of these politicians have even descended to the abyss of laying curses publicly on political opponents, just as a way of settling political scores. A case in point was when the Director General of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Ahmadu Ali publicly cursed former Information Minister; Labaran Maku for defecting to the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), when PDP denied him of contesting on its platform for the governorship seat of Nasarawa State. An older man, telling a young man that he will not succeed, except he comes under the umbrella of PDP. Meanwhile the Nigerian Constitution, which is far greater than Ali and the PDP, states that a citizen has the right to freedom of association, which Maku had exercised. Funny, this same Maku was even urging
his people to vote GEJ and the PDP in the presidential election. So should we vote PDP and continue getting cursed by old men like Ahmadu Ali? I do not have an answer to that question. I leave it to the readers to decide but there is no way that I can absolve myself of being partisan. Indeed, I am but I am not a politician and I am writing as a Nigerian, who desires change, but not a violent one because enough is enough to the spilling of the blood of innocent Nigerians. As Mr. Jonathan always say: “Nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian”. It is believed GEJ has said it and it behoves on him and the other contesters to call-off their hounds, sheath their swords and stop the beating of war drums and ensure that the forthcoming general elections is held in an atmosphere that is devoid of violence and where love, understanding and the desire to move this nation forwards prevails. For me, I do not see a reason why a peace pact should be signed by all the players in the contest, it does mean that they were ready to make this election a “do or die affair” and for what? It also meant that there was war initially and the actors had come to negotiate terms of surrender. The people that really needed to be brought and such a pact obtained from them were left out and these are the ones spewing hot coals from their mouths, going about beating the drums of war and threatening war should GEJ lose the election. If GEJ loses the election, it is a just a statement that Nigerians do not want him again. After all, by the people he got there and by the people he will depart from there one day. That is what
democracy is all about. There are many issues that needed to be met headlong by each of these candidates, but instead of such matters being addressed, the sensibilities of honest Nigerians are being insulted by just a handful of Nigerians, who stand to lose everything if their principal loses out. Why should you refer to somebody who fought and laid down his life for the peace and unity of this country a Jihadist? For that cause only, there is no way any mortal can confuse me that GMB is a fundamentalist. When he had all the draconian powers to Islamise and ‘Sharianise’ Nigeria, he did not, but instead he chose to set out on an all out war against indiscipline. Some of his actions then may be unpardonable to some Nigerians, but that was the necessary thing to do under such circumstances. No wonder, the son of one of the executed trio and Pa Michael Ajasin’s kith and kin have come out to say they would vote for him despite what he did to them when he was military Head of State. We should not forget to compare the number of Nigerians who had died under Jonathans’s watch to those under Buhari’s? So who is innocent and who is guilty? The response is none but it is what Nigerians wants that they will get. So on the 14th and 28th of February, 2015, vote wisely.
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All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial, House Of Representatives And State House Of Assembly Rallies In Apomu, Ikire, Araromi-Owu, Orile-Owu In The State Of Osun Last Monday.
•(L-R) Governor Rauf Aregbesola; The Olu of Araromi-Owu, Oba Nathaniel Oyetunji Ariwajoye and Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori.
•Some of Governor Aregbesola’s admirers at Araromi Owu.
•Aregbesola addressing the mammoth crowd of APC members and supporters at Orile-Owu.
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All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial, House Of Representatives And State House Of Assembly Rallies In Apomu, Ikire, Araromi-Owu, Orile-Owu In The State Of Osun Last Monday.
•(L-R) Elder Peter Babalola; State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Olukoyi of Ikoyi, Oba Yisau Oyetunji Otunla, at the Olukoyi’s palace.
•Governor Aregbesola (on top of a bus) acknowledging cheers from his supporters in Apomu.
•Mammoth crowd during the rally in Ikire.
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All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial, House Of Representatives And State House Of Assembly Rallies In Apomu, Ikire, Araromi-Owu, Orile-Owu In The State Of Osun Last Monday.
•A cross section of APC supporters during the rally in Ikoyi.
• •(L-R) Former APC Chairman in the State of Osun, Elder Lowo Adebiyi; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Senatorial Candidate representing Osun West Senatorial District, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; the Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori and others in Ikire.
•A cross section of Elementary School pupils hailing Governor Aregbesola in Apomu.
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Campaign Rally For General Mohammed Buhari (Rtd) And APC National Assembly Candidates In The State Of Osun, Recently.
•(L-R) Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Senatorial candidate, Osun West Senatorial District, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; All Progressives Congress (APC) State Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun and others, at a campaign rally for General Muhammadu Buhari state and National Assembly candidates in Osun West Senatorial District at Ile-Ogbo, State of Osun, recently.
•State of Osun supporters of All Progressives Congress (APC) at a Campaign Rally for General Muhammadu Buhari(rtd), State and National Assembly candidates in Osun West Senatorial District at Ile-Ogbo recently.
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World Bank’s $945m Loan
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ecently, the Minister of State for Finance, B a s h i r Yu g u d a , disclosed that Nigeria is to take $945 million from the International Development Bank, an arm of the World Bank, for irrigation and drainage projects. The borrowing consists of $495m for irrigation projects in states including Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara, $250million for urban water projects in Bauchi, Ekiti and Rivers States and $200million to improve drainage in Ibadan, Nigeria’s third biggest city. The loan repayable in 20 years comes at an interest rate of 1.25 percent and a service cost of 0.75 percent. According to the minister, with irrigation, Nigeria will have a capacity for a yearout, year-in farming session. The purpose is to expand agricultural output to reduce dependence on oil exports, which account for more than 70 percent of government revenue. Agriculture, which employs more than 80 percent of the population, represents about 22 percent of the gross domestic product, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. I note this huge loan amount again and I urge that it should be judiciously utilized strictly for the purpose for which it is taken viz agricultural development to rescue the nation from the present monocultural state of the economy as epitomised by high dependence on oil revenue. The news that the United States is reducing oil imports from Nigeria is not a cheery one at all. Before now, the U.S. used to be Nigeria’s biggest oil buyer, with about one million barrels every day. However, since its discovery of shale gas, which can be converted into oil, the world’s biggest economy is now reducing imports from Nigeria. This reduction will undoubtedly have an impact on Nigeria’s oil revenue as the country will now be looking for buyers to
•okonjo-iweala By A.S. ASAJU
snap up the over one million barrels per day abandoned by the United States. The other top oil buyers are China and India and they both have suppliers already. With oil accounting for an estimated 85 per cent of government’s revenue, this development will definitely affect government’s spending. The need for the government to develop other sectors of the economy cannot therefore be overemphasized. I concede, however, that oil has contributed a lot to the nation’s fortune. It ostensibly catapulted the country from a struggling independent nation to an economically buoyant one. It is the pillar of the Nigerian giant economic programmes. Nevertheless, the extractive sector is another avenue through which government
can make foreign exchange. The nation is blessed with gold, diamond, bauxite, copper, coal, among others and all the government needs to do is to put round pegs in round holes, so that everything would fall into place. South Africa is one of the major exporters of gold and diamond and the country has no oil. Before the discovery of oil, Ghana survived only on gold and agricultural products. Ivory Coast is the world’s top cocoa producer, it has no oil. Nigeria used to be top producer of cocoa, groundnut, palm oil, among other agricultural produce, and the discovery of oil turned tables upside down, so to say. The news from the United States is a sign that something urgently must be done before it is too late. There is the need for the nation to retrace steps, surviving solely on oil will
worsen the already precarious situation. It is high time we focused on agriculture and the extractive industry to diversify the income base to prevent a scenario of a global oil price full creating trembling situation and to absorb the teeming unemployed youth. There is the need for the government to take a holistic view of the development in the nation’s oil sector. While oil provided resources for the improvement of agriculture, it ironically led to its relegation from the pivotal role it was playing in the national development. The quest for oil wealth pulled fairness and youths away from the rural areas to the urban centres, leaving the countryside for the aged, whose production capacity could make only insignificant input in the sector. Oil wealth, the concurrent decline of other economic sectors, and a lurch towards a statist economic model fuelled massive migration to the cities and led to increasingly widespread poverty, especially in rural areas. Consequently, there was an abandonment of those agricultural products for which Nigeria was known. For instance, cocoa, palm oil, groundnut and other agricultural products suffered serious setbacks, resulting in low output. Presently, cocoa production mostly from obsolete varieties and coverage trees is said to be stagnant at round 180,000 tons annually while 25 years ago it provided about 300,000 tons annually. A mechanized agriculture using oil resources would have forestalled labour slight and made agriculture attractive. Unfortunately, this was not the case. The result is that Nigeria became an importer of food items including palm oil, a one-time pride of the nation. I submit that recent development in the oil sector of the national economy is a wake-up call on the imperativeness of diversification of the national economy particularly the
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Before Oil Runs Dry: Options For The Development Of The South-West Of Nigeria Being an address delivered by the former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr J. ’Kayode Fayemi, at the public lecture organised by Afenifere Renewal Group (Ogun State Chapter), Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, Thursday, January 22, 2015. with movies produced in the three major Continued from last edition
languages of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba; and beyond its geographical matrix of production, Nollywood films are now a global phenomenon seen across the African continent, Europe and North America. As an epicentre of economic and investment potentials, Nollywood has the capacity to generate several thousands of youth-related jobs in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) category, which is what largely fed its recent grant of N3bn by the Federal Government as a catalyst for leveraging other levels of funding and expertise that would grow the sector. Areas of benefit for investments in the Nollywood film industry include those targeted at buffering its technical standards in terms of production, directing and scriptwriting inputs, or enhancing its faulty marketing and distribution network, which has been a grave source of income leakage due to piracy. As a stirring symbol of cultural globalization, investments in Nollywood could not only be on the level of its further exposure to a larger number of cinemas across the world, but also its increased availability on the digital channels of the Internet and cable TV, as a way of complimenting the efforts of online content vendors like iRokoTv and Dobox.tv.
S
ome of the incentives designed to promote investment in mining in South-Western Nigeria comprise capital allowances of up to 95% of the qualifying capital expenditure; the waiver of customs and import duties on machinery and equipment brought in for mining operations; three to five years of tax holidays; and a possible total (100%) foreign ownership of the mining enterprise. Other business incentives in mining in the region include the free transferability of funds and the permission to retain and use earned foreign exchange. Also, there is the deductibility of environmental costs as part of overheads; an Annual Capital Cost Indexation; and the presence of a One Stop Investment Centre through the national investments council to ease the burden of business registration. Telephony and Internet Wi t h t h e d e r e g u l a t i o n o f t h e telecommunications sector in 1992, its further liberalization through the Nigerian Communications Commission Decree No. 30 of 1998 allowing for the entry of private investors into the sector, and the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) of 2003 defining the operations of the industry, the telecommunications industry in Nigeria has grown exponentially in the past decade. This growth has been on the backbone of a population of over 100 million people of improving affordability, and the market potentials of the industry, which would – not doubt – be considerable in the next couple of years. Telecommunications is one of the fastest growing non-oil sectors of the Nigerian economy, accounting for 8.5% of the GDP. Whilst the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 offers a progressive framework guaranteeing a safe market that protects investments, its effects have witnessed the evolution of a sector involving 119 million mobile subscribers, a teledensity of 85.25%, and private investments of over $25bn in the past 12 years. The Nigerian telecommunications market, which has been growing at about 30%, is the largest and one of the most competitive in Africa, with one of its early investors declaring full profitability less than 18 months into an investment of $700mn. The sector has created huge wealth and several thousands of jobs, directly and indirectly. In correlation with the foregoing, Nigeria’s Internet user base has grown in leaps and bounds, and the digital landscape has fundamentally evolved from a previously faltering fixed-line infrastructure, with the rise of mobile internet use on the telecommunication networks, newer Internet Service Providers who are deploying cutting edge and ground-breaking technologies, and the surge in the number of data carriers, internet exchanges and gateway operators now operative within the country. The super-growth in Internet use in Nigeria has witnessed almost 35 million subscriptions and a penetration of over 25% of the population, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The Commission’s Wire Nigeria (WiN) project and the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative (SABI) targeted at providing a fibre-optic broadband network in Nigeria will witness an acceleration in the access and growth of the Internet and services running on its backbone in the country, while reducing costs.
CONCLUSION •fayemi
With a fully liberalised market allowing for competition in all its segments and a unified licensing regime enabling operators to offer converged services, the opportunities for investments in telecommunications in the South-western states of Nigeria is massive. And, since much of the present voice and data uses in the sector is focused in urban areas, it is salient to note that this region has one of the largest concentration of cities and urban centres in Nigeria, holding a fluid population of over 30 million people – over 90% of who are likely to be to telecommunications products. Therefore, the states of South-Western Nigeria are natural hosts for investments in telecommunications. Coupled with this is the fact that the region is the location of the predominant number of industries, financial services companies, media, manufacturing concerns, and other crucial drivers of the country’s economy, who rely on the use of telecommunication services in attaining their objectives. The deregulated telecommunications environment in Nigeria has opened up space for the private sector operation of and participation in the sales and installation of Terminal Equipment; the provision and operation of Public Payphones; and the provision and operation of Private Network Links employing cables, radio communications, or satellite systems. Also, investors are allowed to provide and operate Public Mobile Communications (Cellular Mobile telephony, Paging, and Trunked Radio); to provide and operate Community Telecommunications (Rural and Urban); and to provide and operate Value Added Network/Data Services (Internet, Voice Mail, Electronic Mail services). Private investors are equally allowed under the deregulated regime to
engage in the repair and maintenance of telecommunications facilities, and Cabling (e.g. Telephone-external and internal wiring for residence, office etc.). The foregoing investment and entrepreneurial opportunities in the telecommunications sector in the South-Western states of Nigeria open up a world of business possibilities for those who are willing. Mo re o v e r, w h ils t th e N igerian government has established promotion initiatives that will support investments targeted at providing broadband access to groups and communities, it is also encouraging the local manufacture of fibre optics cables, switching and transmission equipment, and other electronics that support the ICT sector, since we have a market large enough to sustain these in the region and the country. Besides, the spectra of services and needs of the telecommunications sector in the SouthWestern States of Nigeria offer those who have the capacities to proffer business and social solutions linked to the ICT sector an array of continuous investment prospects. Nollywood and Domestic Tourism Development The Nigerian movie industry, referred to as ‘Nollywood’, is one of our region and country’s greatest cultural exports and interface with the world. It is regarded as the third largest film industry on earth, after the American Hollywood and Indian Bollywood, with great potentials for investments and expansion. Located mainly in Lagos in the South-West, which is the cultural capital of Nigeria, it generates about 2,000 titles a year and a revenue of about $300m per annum, making up a fair size of the country’s GDP. In its 20-year history, Nollywood has evolved into a multi-lingual industry
From the foregoing, we may surmise the following. The case for diversifying our economy and moving away from our dependence on oil has been argued for so long that it has almost become an exhausted cliché and a mantra. But its necessity has never been more urgent. Today, a confluence of economic forces is forcing this course of action upon us. The revolutionary trends in the global energy economy are forcing us to consider the measures that we should have taken long ago. The situation demands nothing less than a radical restructuring of our political and economic order. In this paper, I have made a case for decentralization of the economy and the devolution of power and economic autonomy to newly constituted regions aggregated from states, many of which are functionally bankrupt rentier channels for the aggrandizement of local elites. I have argued that true federalism is the way forward for Nigeria. I have shown that such a reconfiguration is possible and holds untold reward in terms of greater economic growth and prosperity and I have shown how the Southwest is perfectly positioned to drive such growth as an exemplar of the virtues of regional governance. We now have to summon the political will, the sincerity of resolve and the unity of purpose to do the needful. Thank you for listening. Odu’a a gbe wa o. •J. ’Kayode Fayemi, PhD. former Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria.
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Dissecting Goodluck Jonathan
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resident Goodluck Jonathan is a man who has had good luck woven around his neck from his creator since birth. Alas, good leaders are not born, they are made. Hence, as the leader of the most populous black nation on the mother earth, Jonathan is saddled with the burden of moral rectitude in governance to make the black race proud. Unfortunately, due to what people refer to as incompetence and penchant for corruption as his shortcomings, a man of high integrity and disciplined patriot like General Mohammadu Buhari becomes the needed leader that could salvage our shattered fortune in the present moment. I was motivated to write this piece in reaction to President Jonathan’s campaign committee media strategist; Mr. Femi FaniKayode, who makes General Buhari the campaign issue. He posited that issues like youth unemployment, energy, lack of infrastructure, including corruption and impunity, which is Jonathan’s albatross, are not issues. Buhari has however been soiled with several spurious allegations namely ethnic chauvinism, religious bigotry, terminal illness and the likes by Jonathan’s campaign group as they realize the reign of power is slipping off their hands, as campaign progresses. Unfortunately, the likes of Fani-Kayode and their principal do not understand that Nigerians know the reticent general as a patriot, who was persuaded by his colleagues to salvage this nation after Shagari government ran our economy aground in 1983, just as witnessed under Jonathan of recent. These allegations however show how desperate Jonathan loves to keep power at the expense of our great nation and this makes Buhari’s supporters swell up by the day. Jonathan’s incompetence is obvious to all, but the monumental fraud that permeates his administration since inception leaves much to be desired. He has overlooked how the progressive forces across the country vehemently fought the forces of reaction, who had vowed never to allow him smell the presidential seat after Yar’Adua’s demise. At last, Nigeria’s destiny was entrusted in Jonathan’s hands but it is obvious the man had failed to appreciate that unto whom much is given, much is expected. Mr. President promised to create a better living condition for Nigerians in his campaign in 2011. He asserted his resolve to fight corruption, an anathema that had bedeviled this country’s greatness since independence. He also pledged to create employment for the youths, provide infrastructure and tackle
•jonathan By Adebayo Ogun-
the hydra-headed tribulations facing power generation and distribution in Nigeria. Nigerians are yet to see any meaningful difference. Instead, Nigerians awake to a rude shock with monumental increase of pump prices of petroleum products in the early hours of January 2012. Jonathan made several promises to assuage the effects of the increase with the SURE-P, equivalent of Abacha’s Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund. Nigerians are yet to witness massive infrastructural development, provide books and research grants to schools, provide employment to teeming unemployed youths and upgrading of health facilities among others. Everyone in this country knows President Jonathan’s antecedent. We still have not forgotten how he became the governor of Bayelsa state when his principal was caught over-milking the state resources. Those who fought for his ascension to presidential throne had thought with his academic credentials and his apprenticeship in governance
since his Bayelsa days, he was well prepared to lead Nigeria at that trying time when we lost a president that meant well for this nation. It is common belief that education remains the greatest inheritance a nation can bestow on its citizens. The legacy is regarded as the bedrock for the eradication of illiteracy, ignorance and thoughtless misleading among the people. How far Jonathan’s education has helped him to eradicate ignorance and thoughtless misleading remains debatable judging by the way the man is running our nation’s affairs. Under this government, education budget has once again gone to the back seat. Education sector is in serious crisis such that the ASUU went on strike for over half a calendar year while their counterparts in the federal polytechnics shunned classrooms for more than one calendar year until recently. The health sector has not fared better. As I write, health workers in all federal health facilities including the revered Abuja National Hospital and all teaching hospitals have down-tooled since last October. All
workers in different professional groups are either warming up or just returning from incessant strikes which are the common feature of Jonathan’s administration. Permit me to quickly add that no one is looking for a messiah to govern Nigeria. We only require a much-disciplined leader that loathes such vices inimical to our nation’s growth; will be above board with moral courage to fight corruption in his public and personal life; and that places very high premium on accountability. Regrettably, President Jonathan does not seem to possess these qualities; hence the need for us as a nation to elect a leader that will ensure total departure from this abyss and move us toward complete reorientation in all facets of our national life. This country stinks and we all clamour for complete quarantine of the polity. Sadly, the likes of Buruji Kasamu, Bode George, Muhammed Abacha, Stella Oduah, DSP Alamieyesia, Diezani AllisonMadueke et al are our president’s men and women of integrity and high moral standards. Men and women who are prepared to sell this nation given the slightest opportunity. This nation surely needs a Daniel to come to judgment soon, and very soon. Men who had been convicted for running public offices in their care aground suddenly get state pardon and become our president’s best friends, simply because they are perfect masters of subterfuge and probably co-conspirators. Women, under whose watch, a whopping $20 billion (or $10 billion as the case may be) could disappear overnight and they will run across courts to get injunctions against being accountable to the oversight authority in order to escape justice. Posterity will surely judge Jonathan and his co-sojourners, who are bent on bringing this our beloved nation to its knees. Methinks a government that recently declared austerity measures will be morally-bound to lead by example. The Federal Government is yet to remit allocation to any state since November, hence the states remain insolvent and unable to either pay salaries or provide social amenities and complete ongoing projects. Instead, Mr. President that asked Nigerians to gird their loins for tougher time ahead has reportedly deployed all the eleven aircrafts in the presidential fleet for campaign towards his reelection bid at the expense of the downtrodden masses of our beloved nation. We need leaders who will lead by example, not the kleptomaniacs currently parading the corridors of power. This is a civic duty and the golden opportunity we have at this
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Jonathan Is Not A Christian - Friend “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”MATHEW 7:21-23 nyone running for the office of president in Nigeria is not required by law to hold a religious belief as a prerequisite for contest. And to this writer, the professed religion of a candidate does not determine my endorsement or otherwise. But it becomes concerning, h o w e v e r, w h e n a candidate uses religion, especially Christianity, as an identity to win the electoral sympathy of millions of Nigerian Christians savagely pitching them against one another. That may be the ugly stunt the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has pulled on Nigerian Christians in the last six years. A very close associate of the president, Dr. Chief Frank Akpoebi, from Bayelsa State gave a shocking revelation that the man from Otuoke, who has for six years paraded himself as a Christian and lover of Jesus Christ, is not a Christian after all. “Jonathan serves voodoo”; Chief Akpoebi said. This
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•jonathan By fola ojo
bombshell came at a press conference called by the former Commissioner for Health in Bayelsa State and Former Federal Commission Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission on Sunday. Below is what the president’s friend said in a statement monitored by Sahara Reporters: “On C h r i s t i a n i t y, D r. Goodluck Jonathan is not a Christian. I am a close friend of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and he confirmed our friendship during one of his presidential briefings. Jonathan I know serves voodoo, and that is what he practises . In 2006,
in the dining at the Governor’s Lodge, Yenagoa, he did not pray before eating, so I asked him why, and he replied me that he has not prayed in his life. I was really worried hearing that from him. The following day, we were discussing, when Dr. Goodluck told me he has a weakness and that he does not know how to forgive. The country today is blood, blood , blood and nothing is done. Why? And no solution, “So by their fruit, we shall know them.” When the righteous rule, the people shall rejoice. Dr. Goodluck should desist from using religion or the
churches to advance his campaign or adoption, because it will make to expose him further. We want a country of peace, love and security”. This latest revelation by the president’s friend provokes more questions: Why did the president choose to declare his intention to run for re-election on11-11-2014, a date in the cultic world considered a day of appeasement to power of darkness? This is among many other questions now in the minds of many, especially Christians, who the president is exclusively appealing to. When Pastor Chris Okotie, Founder and Presiding Pastor of Household of God Church International Ministries, mentioned this last year about the president, warning shots were fired at him from the presidency. Okotie had said that President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration for the 2015 presidential election on November 11, 2014 has occult significance. “The implication of Dr. Jonathan’s declaration on that day (11-11-2014) has occult significance. When you add 11-112014 as a year together, you arrive at 11 also. This is in consonance with occult
INTERVIEW
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Why Can’t Christians Produce A Buhari? – Rev. Moses Iloh
Octogenarian, Reverend Moses IIoh is the General Overseer of Soul Winning Chapel, Ebute-Meta, Lagos, and an accomplished sportsman, administrator, labour and social activist. His avid interest in sports, and the grace of God account for his good carriage despite being above 80 years. When he comments on national issues, Rev. Iloh does so with candor and insight. In the run up to his 85th birthday on February 13, he sat down for an extensive interview and liberally commented on the Nigerian polity. Excerpts
Q
uest: In a few days, the 2015 general elections will kick-off with the Presidential and National Assembly elections on February 14. Different men God have spoken on the election. What is your perception the forthcoming election? My understanding and what I believe regarding the election is that Christians in Nigeria constitute the main problem of Nigeria. This is a time for Christians to feel a bit wor ried. In Nigeria, statistics show that we have about 80million Christians who go to church at different locations on Sunday, and they are all praying for a better Nigeria. Now what does the Bible say? Faith without works is dead. Quote clearly, when it comes to politics in Nigeria, it’s all about faith, faith, not work. The Bible has been asking, “who shall go for us, who shall we send? If you go to your church tomorrow and a Christian there, who is very honest, very bold, forthright, has dignity and he says, ‘Look, I want to go and contest for the governorship be governor, do you know what the church will ask him first, do you have money? What is money in the church for? What is the con gregation in the church for if not to change the world? My understanding of politics is that politics is the proper management of the affairs of men, preferably by the righteous. In Nigerian church es today, you have over 50 million righteous people, who are doing their business straight or they are lecturing straight or they have family that are a testimony but when it comes to politics, they are as naïve as a kindergarten in politics. I want to make a political statement about the Nigerian situation by alluding to the Bible. In the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ
•Reverend Moses IIoh
said, “The thief cometh not but to steal, to kill and to destroy but I have come that they may have life and have life more abundantly (John 10v10). Part ‘A’ of that scripture says, ‘the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.’ That is the politics of Nigeria. God is serio usly expecting Christians to come into politics and bring about Part ‘B’ of that scripture: life and life more abundantly to the people. But today, the Christians are so naïve. Oh, its politics of the world. But you go to the politicians to take money,
you go and befriend him and you know he is a crook, you know he is evil; you know he is anti-Christ. When you pray to the Lord, you have to do something. Faith without works is dead. So, the problem in Nigeria is not Islam, it’s not Boko Haram, it’s not Ebola, but the Christians. Faith without works is dead. I hope that Christians would repent. Let me tell you something else – we have been praying and saying, ‘Lord, change Nigeria, we want a good Nigeria, corruption does not mean stealing money only.
Corruption is not just only about stealing public money. When you say corruption, everybody’s idea is, I don’t steal money, how can you say am corrupt? Corruption means spoiling. When you corrupt a thing, you have spoilt it. The church itself has been corrupted. I don’t say they steal money but they have been spoilt. They have shown that they have faith, but without works. They have been praying and praying and God said I have heard your prayer, I am now going to do for you what you need, not what you want. When we are praying, God is just watching. When do we know what we need? What Nigeria needs is the taming of corruption and this country would become like Garden of Eden or Canaan. All we need is to tame corruption, there is corruption in every facet of the Nigerian polity and the most urgent thing is to tame it. We have been praying and not doing anything; then God selected a Muslim, who has a very severe commitment to tame corruption. He is not a Christian, but God has seen his inside, God sees the innermost of men’s hearts and he sees that this man has an aversion for corruption, he wants to deal with corruption then he chooses Buhari to go and be president for four years to tame corruption. Why can’t Christians raise a Buhari? Why can’t Christians raise someone who comes up bold and we can identify him as being anti-corruption. And we say to him, we beg you, we are sending you; we don’t need your money. We will send you there, we will vote for you, we will give you the money, we will give you the crowd, we will give you the support, and we will give you the prayer. Why can’t 80 million people raise one Buhari?
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Rebels Pound Ukrainian Troops After Peace Talks Fail
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eparatist rockets streaked across hills in eastern with Europe. man, and we left her lying in Several residents were Ukraine on Monday as rebels pounded the positions Moscow denies it has any the rubble. She was picked seen loading bags in cars of Ukrainian government troops holding a strategic regular troops in Ukraine up later by a sanitary team,” and hastily lea ving the rail town while both sides pressed ahead with mobilizing despite what the West and said Anatoly Pomazanov, 42, neighborhood. more forces for combat. Kiev say is incontrovertible who owns a grocery shop in Natalya, 68, who with Kiev’s military said five withdrawn from Ukraine, is proof. the building. her daughter lives in an more Ukrainian soldiers the only viable roadmap to In a street on Yenakieve “It is like this every day. apartment a floor below the were killed in clashes while ending the conflict. outskirts, a shell landed The shelling is incessant. one destroyed, was weeping. municipal authorities in the But the separatists, who directly onto a 3rd floor We keep children in cellars. “Tell me what do I do now? big rebel-controlled city of have declared their own apartment of a nine-story We let them out only during This is all I had, the soldiers Donetsk said 15 civilians building, instantly killing a lulls in shelling, for about 30 are two kilometers away, were killed at the weekend by ‘people’s republics’ and woman and wounding her minutes at most. I want to ask there are no targets here.” shelling in a surge of violence have notched up several husband. President Poroshenko: are we Dmytro Boichuk, 78, a following the collapse of a military successes since then “We had to climb across also Ukrainians or simply retired miner, said people new peace effort on Saturday. including taking Donetsk the balcony to evacuate the targets?” were already immune to the airport from government Talks between Ukraine, Russia and rebel officials in troops, now appear to want Minsk, Belarus, had raised to negotiate a new blueprint. German Chancellor hopes of a new ceasefire to stem the violence in a conflict Angela Merkel appealed for that has claimed more than a ceasefire to be urgently 5,000 lives. But they broke restored in Ukraine, under up without progress with the terms of the Minsk peace Ukraine and the separatists plan, and said Germany accusing each other of would not support Kiev’s military forces through sabotaging the meeting. Donetsk reverberated deliveries of weapons. to the thud of artillery and The New York Times mortar fire through the night reported on Sunday that and several homes were President Barack Obama’s destroyed with at least one administration was however civilian death on Monday. taking a new look at But separatists kept up providing Ukrainian forces attacks on Debaltseve, a with defensive weapons and strategic rail hub to the equipment in the face of the northeast of Donetsk, in rebel offensive. an attempt to dislodge The separatist rebellion government forces there. erupted last April after Russia The outskirts of Yenakieve annexed Ukraine’s Crimea in and Vuhlegirsk, both on the response to the ousting of a main highway to Debaltseve, Moscow-back president by were under heavy artillery street protests in Kiev which fire as rebel multiple rocket ushered in a government launchers and artillery committed to integration Ugandan forces have been hunting down the LRA in the Central African Republic pummeled the positions of Ukrainian troops in the area. At one point, a salvo of around three dozen rockets uba warned the United States on Monday that it wants But Cuba’s lead negotiator organizing, training, supplying fired from rebel positions American diplomats to scale back aid for Cuban said in an interview broadcast and financing elements within screamed across surrounding before the two countries can reopen embassies on state television that if our country that act against the hills towards Debaltseve. in eachdissidents other’s capitals. the United States wants free interests of ... the government It was followed 15 minutes The long-time adversaries confrontation. Officials for both movement for its diplomats in of the Cuban people,” Josefina later by incoming fire from are negotiating the restoration governments met in Havana in Cuba, it must stop using them to Vidal said. government forces. “The total freedom of support the political opposition. “The toughest situation of diplomatic relations as a January and a second round of “The way those (U.S.) movement, which the U.S. side first step toward reversing talks is expected to be held in is around Debaltseve diplomats act should change is posing, is tied to a change in where the illegal armed more than five decades of Washington this month. in terms of s timulating, the behavior of its diplomatic formations are continuing to storm the positions of Ukrainian military,” military spokesman Andriy Lutsenko the the BBC that US forces gandan troops have found the grave of what is were conducting DNA tests LRA’s top leadership, but told a briefing. But he said believed to be that of a rebel commander wanted by to check whether the remains the CAR’s Seleka group said Ukraine’s forces in the town it had captured Mr Ongwen the International Criminal Court (ICC). were enough to hold it and were those of Mr Odhiambo. after a battle before handing he denied government forces A deserter from the Lord’s blamed on the LRA. T h e B B C ’ s P a t i e n c e him over. were encircled. The LRA began its Resistance Army (LRA) People were burnt alive, Atuhaire in the Ugandan According to Kiev officials rebel group had led troops hacked to death with machetes capital, Kampala, says the rebellion in northern Uganda January was one of the to the suspected grave of and shot as they tried to escape, army is not giving that many more than two decades ago, bloodiest months in eastern Okot Odhiambo, an army Uganda’s state-owned New details, but the grave is believed but it retreated to CAR, South Ukraine since the conflict spokesman said. to have been uncovered in Sudan and the Democratic Vision newspaper reports. Mr Odhiambo was erupted. Regional police If Mr Odhimabo’s identity the Central African Republic Republic of Congo following an offensive by the Ugandan s p o k e s m a n Vy a c h e s l a v presumed to have been killed is confirmed, it will mean (CAR). In its indictment, the ICC military. Abroskin said 112 civilians in clashes in 2013. that only LRA leader Joseph The group says it is fighting He was indicted by the Kony remains at large from the describes Mr Odhiambo as a were killed by separatist for a Biblical state in Uganda. ICC in 2005 on 10 counts of “ruthless killer” who was part ICC’s wanted list of suspected shelling and attacks. of the LRA’s core leadership The rebels, in a statement war crimes and crimes against Ugandan war criminals. Last month, the LRA LRA commander Dominic quoted by Russia’s RIA humanity. ‘Ruthless killer’ Ongwen is now in the custody suffered a major blow when Novosti news agency, said He is suspected to have of the ICC one of its feared commanders, 242 civilians were killed in commanded Dominic Ongwen, was taken an attack on a The LRA is notorious for the month as well as 92 of camp for displaced people in into the custody of US forces seizing children and using their number. in CAR. northern Uganda in February G E N E R A L 2004, killing about 300 people them as sex slaves and fighters. The US said Mr Ongwen Ugandan army spokesman MOBILIZATION in one of the largest massacres Lt Col Paddy Ankunda told had surrendered to its elite The separatists, whom troops searching for the the West says are armed by Russia and supported by several thousand Russian troops, defiantly announced based legislature in the Muammar Gaddafi between a general mobilization plan east holds little sway over 1 September 1969 and the which they said would the rest of the country, collapse of his regime in boost their fighting forces to ibya’s internationally recognised parliament has making it doubtful whether October 2011. 100,000 men. revoked a controversial law which banned Gaddafi- the new measures will be The law was adopted Kiev itself is also pressing era officials from taking part in politics. enforceable. under pressure from armed ahead with a fourth wave Torn by conflict groups who surrounded The law was passed under only limited powers and of military call-up aimed at Since September 2014, public buildings until it was duress in 2013 when MPs is opposed by the militia raising an extra 50,000 men. Tripoli has been held by an approved by officials. were being besieged by controlling the capital T h e We s t e r n p o w e r s Islamist-led militia which Libya has been torn by support Kiev’s view that armed groups in the capital Tripoli. operates a rival government conflict since the fall of Col Tripoli. “We voted to cancel the a peace deal reached last in the city. Gaddafi, with rival militias It was criticised by rights political isolation law it’s September, which included a The original bill was battling for control of cities groups who described it as done,” one MP, Ibrahim ceasefire and a commitment sweeping. passed in May 2013. and resources. Alzgheid, told the BBC. for foreign fighters and I t t a rg e t e d o ff i c i a l s The elected parliament However, the Tobrukmilitary equipment to be in the city of Tobruk has who had served under Col
shelling. “We are numb. We go about our businesses. Someone gets killed, someone gets wounded, but we carry on.”
Cuba Sounds Warning Ahead Of Next Round Of U.S.
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Ugandan LRA Commander Okot Odhimabo’s ‘Grave Found’
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Libya Revokes Bill Which Banned Gaddafi-Era Officials From Office
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mission and its officials,” said Vidal, Cuba’s top official for U.S. affairs. Wa s h i n g t o n h a s l o n g criticized the communist government for repressing opponents of the one-party system. While public support for dissidents is limited, they receive plenty of attention from U.S. and Western diplomats. The United States says it supports Cuban activists who exercise their right to freedom of expression. The restoration of diplomatic ties could happen before a regional summit in Panama in April, when U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro would meet for the first time since shaking hands at the funeral of Nelson Mandela in December 2013. Obama and Castro spoke on the phone the day before their separate but simultaneous announcements on Dec. 17 that they would attempt to end their Cold War-era hostilities. The warning by Vidal suggested there were obstacles to restoring diplomatic ties, which has been seen as a relatively easy first step before the two sides try to resolve deeper differences on matters such as human rights and the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba. Vidal said the conduct of Cuban diplomats in Washington was “impeccable”, while suggesting the Americans were meddling in internal Cuban affairs. “Matters of the internal a ff a i r s i n C u b a a r e n o t negotiable,” Vidal said. “Nor are we going to negotiate matters of an internal nature regarding Cuban sovereignty in exchange for lifting the embargo. Beyond that, everything else is a process of negotiation.”
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osun Defender Thursday, February 5,
Job Vacancies In Nigeria
Current Job recruitment in an Independent Examinations Body based in Lagos, February 2015 Bradfield is equipped not only to attract excellent personnel but to ensure that they are improved and empowered to deliver on every client’s strategic intent/organizational goal. Our value is to assist in getting rid of all inconvenience associated with recruitment; plus reducing unsuitable employees either via skill or culture. And more… all this would be done within concise turn-around time. Beyond this, we package and deliver quality trainings to help prune your employees to deliver efficiently. Mission And Purpose Of Business Our mission is founded on the principle that an organization’s most strategic asset is its people. Our mission is “To Assist Every Client in Equipping Its Self with Exceptional, Effective and Performing Employees”. The end result for every client would be towering performance and higher profits. Our Client is a Newly Established Independent Examinations Body based in Lagos and saddled with the responsibility of providing a unified syllabus and conducting qualitative examinations for candidates. The aim of this body is to play a leading role in researching, developing and delivering assessment to Federal, State and private universities as well as interested foreign tertiary institutions. Always evolving, our Client is currently looking for more professionals, who must be IT literate and compliant, to join its committed team. We’re currently seeking for outstanding result-oriented professionals to fill the following positions: Position: Senior Test Officers: REF: STO- Subject name (4 Positions) The Senior Test Officers will develop, commission, moderate, critique, field lest and carry out item analysis on questions in each of the following subjects: Mathematics or Physics: Chemistry; Social Science Subjects and Art Subjects Qualification: A minimum qualification of a Masters Degree in the relevant Subject Experience: Applicant must have at least 5 years’ post qualification experience as an Examiner/Moderator for an Examination body, a University system or a relevant department. Responsibilities Develops, commissions, moderates, critiques, field tests and conducts item analysis in each subject Plans for the conduct of, and administers the Board’s Examinations in various centres across the country Oversees the accreditation and supervision of operations in various Affiliate Centres Position: Registrar/CEO: REF: REG -01 The overall responsibility of the Registrar is to ensure the successful implementation of the Board’s mandate of conducting credible and standard examinations. Qualification: A minimum of a PhD, degree in relevant disciplines. Experience: Applicant must be a Professor with a minimum of 15 years post-PhD, experience, some of which must have been at management level in a University or an examinations body. Responsibilities Ensures successful implementation of the Board’s mandate of conducting credible and standard examinations. Manages, evaluates and supervises effective and clear procedures for the operation and functioning of the organisation Ensures compliance with all laws. Board policies and civil regulations Position: Senior IT Officer: REF: SIO The Senior IT Officer will be responsible for planning, organizing, and execution of all IT functions within the organisation. Qualification: Applicant must have a minimum of a BSC Degree from a recognised institution, with a minimum of Second Class Lower Division. Registration with CPN or other relevant recognised bodies is essential. Experience: Applicant must have at least 5 years post-qualification experience as a systems analyst in a relevant organisation. Responsibilities Coordinates and manages all IT needs, staff, activities, facilities and equipment including: updating websites; managing banks of examination question items databases of candidates, candidates’ results and other related Communicates IT plans, policies and technology trends throughout the organization as well as promotes and oversees relationships Between IT resources and internal and external Develops and maintains enterprise IT policies and procedures to ensure the protection of IT assets and the integrity, security and privacy of information Position: Senior Accountant: REF: SAC The Senior Accountant will coordinate and manage the finances and accounts of the Board, superintending over Credit, Salaries & Wages, IT, Treasury, Expenditure Control and other related units. Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from a recognized institution with minimum of Second Class Lower Division. Professional Qualification such as ICAN, ANAN, ACA, ACCA is essential. A Masters degree in Accounting is an advantage. Experience: Applicant must have a minimum of 8 years post-qualification experience of which 5 years must be in a financial leadership role. Responsibilities Coordinates and manages finances and accounts of the board. Facilitates and completes monthly close procedures Analyzes revenues, commissions and expenses to ensure they are recorded appropriately on a monthly basis Position: Personal Assistant/Secretary to the Registrar: REF: PA/SEC The role of Personal Assistant to the Registrar is to provide invaluable clerical and administrative support in order to assist and facilitate the efficient discharge of responsibilities attached to the office of the Registrar. Qualification: A first degree from a recognized institution with a minimum of Second Class Lower Division. Experience: Minimum of four (4) years relevant post qualification experience with at least two years’ experience as a Personal Assistant to a Senior Management position Responsibilities Organises the Registrar’s meetings, visits, lunches and diaries to ensure effective and productive use of time Prepares routine correspondence and reports on behalf of the Registrar/Chief Executive Attends meetings with the Registrar and acts as Secretary to ensure proper documentation of minutes of the meetings. Liaises with the Directors and Heads of Departments on behalf of the Registrar/chief executive Coordinates to ensure all visitors to the Registrar’s office are properly attended to Prepares and distributes relevant reports or documents to Heads of departments and Directors; follows up on responses and communicates to the Registrar as required Position: Senior Administrative Officer: REF: SAO The Senior Administrative Officer will coordinate and supervise administrative duties of the organisation Qualification: A first degree from a recognized institution with a minimum of Second Class Lower Experience: Applicant must have a minimum of 8 years post-NYSC working experience with at least 3 years in a similar role. Responsibilities Responsible for general administrative functions of the organisation. Maintains administrative staff by orienting, and training employees: maintaining a safe and secure work environment; developing personal growth opportunities. Accomplishes staff results by communicating job expectations: planning, monitoring, and appraising job results: coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; initiating, coordinating, and enforcing systems, policies, and procedures. Provides supplies by identifying needs of all departments within the organisation; establishing policies, procedures, and work schedules.
Position: Security Officer REF: SO The overall responsibility of the Security officer is to see to the day to day supervision of security in the organisation. Qualification: A Bachelors Degree from a recognised institution with a minimum of Second Class Lower Division. Must be a Senior Security Personnel, retired senior police, military or DSS officer. Experience: Applicant must have at least 7 years’ experience in similar capacity. Responsibilities Teaches and enforces safety regulations at the work site. Establishes security patrol priorities. Supervises all duties of Security Guards. Reviews utilization and maintenance of security equipment. “For more details of Qualifications and Skills required for these positions and for online application, kindly visit webpage: https://bradfieldconsulting.has-jobs.co.uk/ How to Apply: You will be perfect for any of these roles if you describe yourself as someone with a can-do attitude, strong attention to detail and outstanding communication skills. To apply for any of these positions please visit our career webpage: https://bradfieldconsulting.has-jobs.co.uk/ OR by Hand to: 5/7 James Oluleye Crescent, Harmony Enclave, Off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja Lagos Application closes on 13th February 2015. ——————————————————————————————————— Bobo Food and Beverages Limited recruitment in Nigeria for Sales Executives and Microbiologists Bobo Food and Beverages Limited a leading manufacturer in the fruit milk industry invites suitable qualified and competent candidates to fill the positions below:Position: Sales Executives Job Responsibilities: Achievement of monthly, quarterly and annual sales target. Monitoring of competition closely to promptly and concisely give report of competitor’s activities in assigned territory. Monthly field report. Establishment of Sales channel and development of new distributor network. Building and maintaining of good relationship with Distributors in assigned territory. Qualifications: BSC/HND Social/Management Sciences. 1-2yrs experience on the same position in an FMCG. Should be between 23- 33yrs of age. Should possess good communication, interpersonal, and selling skills. Should be proactive, honest, energetic and passionate. Position: Microbiologist Job responsibilities: Incoming samples and raw materials microbiological analysis. Microbiological monitoring of process water, intermediate and finished products. Microbiological analysis of shelf life, trade and special samples. Daily, Weekly and Monthly Microbiological result collation and report. Laboratory and equipment management. Qualifications: BSC/HND Microbiology. Should be smart and energetic. Should be between 23- 35yrs of age. 1 -2yrs experience on the same position in an FMCG. Should possess good interpersonal, communication and analytical skills. How to Apply: Interested candidates should forward their detailed CV’s to: careers@bobofoodandbeverages.com & bobofoodbevhr@yahoo.com using the position title as the subject of the email. All the applications must be sent on or before 13th February 2015. ——————————————————————————————————————— Total Nigeria Plc recruitment for Graduate VIE - Project Engineers, February 2015 Total is a major energy player on the global stage, we are organized around an integrated model that promotes synergies among our businesses. Our employees drive our success. With our diverse professions, worldwide presence and cuttingedge expertise, we can hire the best talent and offer our employees exciting career opportunities that enable them to grow both personally and professionally. Give your best to better energy and make the commitment with Total. With over 500-plus professions in 130 countries, we offer high safety and environmental standards, strong ethical values, an innovation culture and wide-ranging career development. Be part of the global team whose mission is already shared by 100,000 employees: to make energy better each and every day. TOTAL is recruiting for its subsidiary in Nigeria, Total Nigeria Plc, a VIE - Project Engineer. Job Title: International Programme for Juniors (VIE) - Project Engineer (M/F) Auto req ID: 200BR Workplace Location: Lagos (NGA) Employment type: VIE Experience level required: 0 - 3 years Functional discipline: Industrial Projects Branch: Marketing & Services Proposed start date: July 2015 Job Description The VIE, the International Internship Programme, is a French international corporate placement programme for young professionals. The job holder will be part of the Technical Division and the main activities will be : Implementation of ongoing Total programmes in liquid hydrocarbon depots and in LPG plants Upgrade of Koko blending plant Implementation of a maintenance software in liquid hydrocarbon depots The selected candidate will receive a VIE allowance according to the Business France rates and the subsidiary will provide either a furnished accommodation or will grant an accommodation allowance. Please check the following website to make sure that your application complies with the criteria to carry out a VIE assignment: www.civiweb.com Candidate Profile Education and Knowledge: 0 - 3 years experience A 5-year or Engineer degree with a specialisation in Mechanics Fluent in English. French MS Office, Autocad Experience: Relevant internships Skills: Technical Skills: Project management, mechanical construction, layouts reading/understanding, maintenance plan conception. Innovation, autonomy, open-minded, adaptable, able to analyze and summarize a situation, rigorous, reliable, able to work in a team. How To Apply Interested and qualfiied candidates should: https://krb-sjobs.brassring.com/tgwebhost/jobdetails.aspx?jobId=773102&PartnerId=30080&Site Id=6105 Application Closing Date 15-Mar-2015
You can subscribe to Job Vacancies in Nigeria, Jobs in Nigeria via your e-mail: www.jobszilla.ng
FEATURE
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osun Defender Thursday, Febru-
General Buhari Is Unstoppable
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hat happened in 1993 between Alhaji Bashir Tofa and the late Chief Moshood Abiola of the blessed memory is about repeating itself in Nigeria in Nigeria today. Before the June 12, 1993 presidential election, handlers of Alhaji Bashir Tofa knew that comparing Bashir Tofa and Chief Abiola was like Apples and Oranges comparison. They knew that it was like comparing a giant with a dwarf. They knew that there was no basis for the comparison, and if it was a 100m dash, Chief Abiola would have hit the tape, while Tofa was at the starting point. The handlers, led by Dr Doyin Okupe, initiated a strategy to hit Chief Abiola from all corners and try to panel beat him to Tofa’s level. They failed miserably and woefully too. In the process of doing that, they helped in no uncertain terms to catapult Chief Abiola to an unprecedented height. The rest is now history. In 2015, the reckless, useless and fraudulent historians and hack writers are at work again. This time, it is a battle between President Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB). Buhari has contested presidential elections in 2003, 2007, 2011 and even though, he did not make it, he gave a good account of himself. Though, he was cheated out, he got millions of votes. He remained consistent, committed and courageous, even in the face of all the troubles he had to go through. President Jonathan became a deputy governor and through luck, he became governor, Vice President and now President and he would have ruled Nigeria for six years by next year. In 2015, Nigerians will take stock. Nigerians are looking back, they are looking at the present and as well as the future. In the past sixteen years, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. Nigerians have seen a lot. Devastated, pillaged and gangraped in all fronts, Nigerians are now thinking seriously. Shall we continue with this mess? Do we have an alternative? Can we do things differently? Is Nigeria a basket case? Are we helpless and hopeless? Are our destinies in our hands? Can we bring the change we all desire? Can we raise the bar of leadership in 2015? Can we recover our stolen country? Many hard questions demanding
•buhari By Joe Igbokwe
hard answers. After the 2011 elections, General Buhari said he may not seek the highest office again. But the crisis of leadership in our country has pushed him to throw his hat into the ring again. He has been compelled by the forces of history to step forward again and this time, it is a different ball game. General Buhari of yesteryears is no longer the same Buhari of today. Things have changed. Time has changed. The calculations, equations and permutations have changed. Nigerians want Buhari to come clean up the Aegean stable PDP-led Federal Government is leaving behind. GMB is coming to change the way we think and the way we work. But the enemies are at the door
again. The thieves are at the door once again. They are with guns, bombs, Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (IBM), Rocket Launchers (RL), Warships, Jet fighters, Bows and Arrows, AK47s, etc to shoot him down. They tell us he is a religious bigot, an Islamic fundamentalist, a semi-illiterate person, too old and too weak to get things done. They are still manufacturing every bad thing under the sun and are heaping them at GMB’s doorsteps. They are desperate, vicious, hopeless, helpless and potentially dangerous. They are doing everything humanly possible to stop and if possible to kill General Buhari. This is the reason why l want maximum security for General Buhari now. These meretricious mediocre can pull the house down to remain
in power. They are ready to slaughter thousands to remain in power. They are ready to continue to divide the country to remain in power. The corrupt people and criminals in the land will do everything humanly possible to stop Buhari. We have seen them at work. They know the consequences of General Buhari’s presidency. They know that he is a no -nonsense man. They know he will fight criminals headon. They know he is going to remove feeding bottles from their mouths. They know he will do things differently. They know his puritanical disposition and they know he will stop at nothing to stop the mess in the land. General Buhari may be a religious bigot; he may be a fundamentalist, he may be a dictator; he may be an old man and semi-illiterate; he may be everything they claim he is, but these congenital liars from the pit of hell will kiss the dust. They will swallow their words when the chips are down. They will go down with their pathological lies, when it dawns on them that no 21st century idiot will stop an idea, whose time has come. They can call General Buhari names, they can call him anything, but it will amount to nothing. Those who claimed they are Ph.D holders have disappointed us. Those who claimed they are not dictators have bruised and oppressed us. Those who claimed they are young brought shame and mediocrity to us. Leadership is not measured by height or age. Mr Webster wrote Webster Dictionary at the age of 80. Buhari remains a candidate to beat in the 2015 presidential election and I pity these characters, who will dare to stand on his way. I pity those who did not know when the train left the station. I sympathize with those who did not know when to call a spade a spade. I fear for those who did not know that an idea whose time has come is here. I worry that history is leaving some people behind in Nigeria. I fear that some compound idiots, who have ruined Nigeria for years, are yet to come to terms with GMB’s towering personality.
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phototalk
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All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Rally In Ilorin, Kwara State, Last Friday.
•All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), addressing his supporters at the APC rally in Ilorin, Kwara State last Friday.
National Association Of Osun Students Adopted General Muhammadu Buhari’s Candidacy During The Visit To The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At The Government House, Osogbo, Last Tuesday.
•The governor, State of Osun and South-West Co-ordinator of APC Presidential Campaign, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (5th left); his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori (4th left); President, National Association of Osun State Students ((NAOSS), Offa Poly Chapter, Mr. Akintunde Maruf (6th right); Secretary General, National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Mr Seriki Ibrahim Olawale (5th right); Students’ Union Government (SUG), Mr Adegbele Hammed (2nd left) and NAPS Director of Women Affairs, Miss Giwa Oluwadamilola (left) and other students’ leaders, during a visit to declear support for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari presidential aspiration, at Goverment House in Osogbo on Tuesday.
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THURsday, february 5, 2015
T
he best way to keep soul, body and spirit together in a healthy manner is to keep hope alive. Hope that is nurtured in positive optimism often keeps one radiant. The body will be spared the rigmarole of psychological trauma that usually incubates immunity destroyers in the body, if and only if the nurtured hope is not shrouded in fallacious premeditation. This goes a long way in reducing the propensity of high blood pressure, which in the long run causes damage to body’s mechanism of interconnectivity and immunity. Body cells are damaged; and this eventually leads to untimely death for so many people as vital organs of the body are rendered dysfunctional prematurely. Mass mortality is associated with fake optimism that lacks empirical neutrality, because hackers merely raise hopes without revealing the underlying deception and fallacy; so as to realize inordinate ambitions that may not bring tangible benefits to a mass of sufferers from the accompanying ultimate disappointment. This is the case for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) supporters, who intended to send wrong signals to the State of Osun people, and Nigerians in general a few weeks ago through fake jubilation, with chants that the tribunal sitting in Osogbo to determine the genuineness or otherwise of the claim by the PDP candidate, Iyiola Omisore that the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in Osun was determined in favour of the incumbent Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had ruled in their favour. The presumption was still there, that their failed evil machination could still be upturned to award victory in their favour unjustly. People were surprised to see a group of people that are bereft of sound moral judgement, who failed to ruminate over what may likely constitute negative public opinion, if and when at the end of the day the claim of a favourable ruling at the Tribunal was found to be mere wishful thinking, often orchestrated amongst folks in a mirage world. Those who expressed disappointments on the said extreme display of ignorance were of the opinion that PDP is daily showing to the world that they have nothing to offer Nigerians than to concoct lies and package it for Nigerians as if those lies are domiciled in verifiable concrete information. With their rejection at the polls, in spite of flooding the political terrain with fabulous fables to turn the hearts of voters against incumbent Governor Aregbesola without success, they ought to have woken up from their trance and realized that going ahead with such antics to seek redress would lead to more electoral misfortune bechancing them at the national level. It never came to Osun people as a surprise that the petition was struck out for its demerits and inconsequential litigation substance on petitioner’s ground. It was otherwise not so in the petitioners’ camp; as their slaughtered cows to celebrate their expected
By ade olugbotemi
Desperadoes And The Dashed Inordinate
•aregbesola
imaginary victory eventually became spoils for famished party supporters, who were hitherto cajoled to trust in the perceived invincibility of Goodluck Jonathan’s hapless presidency. The verdict itself would not have come on Friday, February 6, 2015 of all days, because it was a day the hope of celebrating a pseudo-charade in the name of electoral victory that was expected through a back-door arrangement was bungled. The hope of expected double celebration of a life well-spent by the immediate elder sister of the defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Iyiola Omisore, who passed onto glory late last year, and the upturn of Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola’s victory in August 9, 2014 was summarily dashed. Ecstasy absolutely took to flight at the venues of the burial (church service and reception) because of the apprehension associated with the expected tribunal verdict. The case got worse when news filtered into the reception venue that Omisore’s petition has been thrown out for lack of merit. Nobody needed be told that something calamitous had befallen the celebrants, who had expected that Omisore would be hailed and celebrated as the newly-declared Executive Governor of Osun State (as
PDP love to refer to the rechristened State of Osun) at the open space venue of the reception within Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Complex, Ile-Ife . The PDP are also now desperate to hold onto power at the centre, having been condemned to the political Lilliputians’ zone in Nigeria due to mass exodus of their former members, who felt it was time they repented, stopped being draining pipes to our commonwealth under the PDP’s shield and umbrella of corruption, and joined hands with the uncompromising progressives to move the nation forward. The depleted PDP have now forced the electoral umpires to shift the polls, which are expected to take place on February 14 and 28, 2015 to March 28 and April 11 respectively. Speculations of hacked plans to buy time by the ruling party has finally come to the open at the weekend, when Professor Attahiru Jega was made to capitulate to the threat of security vacuum to force an unwarranted poll shift on expectant Nigerians. Custodians of our security apparatus owe Nigerians explanations, why it is now that Nigerians are eager to go to the polls that they feel strongly compelled that Boko Haram’s issue should be tackled. Many people have seen this move as
the highest level of desperation by the bewildered PDP to cleave to power at all cost. Little wonder then that a number of new projects are now being kick-started all over the country to convince (confuse?) people that the socalled transformation agenda is really on course. However, many Nigerians have seen this elections shift as the best thing that can ever happen to Nigeria as a nation, and Nigerians as a people. Not minding the fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians and the international community of its readiness, PDP surrogates in the military suddenly woke to the belated reality of security risk that North-East insurgency posed, and one that must be quashed. They are of the opinions that with these antics, they will be able to change the mood of Nigerians, who have resolved to see a change to a party that has ruled them for sixteen years without adding noticeable positive value jots to their existence. The shift will surely complicate issues for the ruling PDP, because INEC now has enough time to smoothen the rough edges that would have provided a loophole to challenge in court, the almost certain victory that now beckons at the main opposition All Progressives Congress, being tipped by majority of voting Nigerians to form the government at the centre come May29, 2015. As it stands, collection of Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) has been more pronounced in the troubled zone of the North-West. Many believe that most of the PVCs remaining uncollected either belong to those who have fraudulently engaged in multiple registrations, or are owned by those who are not ready or willing to exercise their civic duties. Since it is not the statutory duty of INEC to take the cards to individual owners’ domiciles, most of those cards will still remain uncollected, even if the extension is for eternity. It is certain that more woes await PDP at the polls in the coming general elections. The political abracadabra in Ekiti State that could not be replicated in the State of Osun has further exposed the fraudulent ways by which PDP crosses the hurdle of electioneering easily in the past. Latest revelations have exposed PDP as a party of artful riggers, which I am sure Nigerians are not prepared to condone anymore. May the good Lord spare our lives till March 28, when PDP will meet their electoral waterloo, and be catastrophically humiliated in what will be adjudged the freest, fairest, and most credible election in Nigeria’s existence as a nation. Let PDP spend all the ill-gotten money they have in reserve to purchase voter’s cards from all hunger-plagued Nigerians, this wind of change will sweep them off Nigeria’s political terrain; just as it has happened in the State of Osun that PDP has now become historical relic.
OSUN OSUN DEFENDER DEFENDER is is published published by by Moremi Moremi Publishing Publishing House House Limited, Limited, Promise Promise Point Point Building, Building, Opposite Opposite Guaranty Guaranty Trust Trust Bank Bank GTB, GTB, Gbongan Gbongan Road, Road, Osogbo, Osogbo, State State of of Osun. Osun. All All correspondence Managing Editor, Editor, Kola Kola Olabisi, Olabisi, Telephone: Telephone: 08033927286 08033927286 (kolaolabisi@yahoo.com); (kolaolabisi@yahoo.com); Editor, Editor, KAYODE KAYODE AGBAJE, AGBAJE, Telephone: Telephone: 0803-388-0205, 0803-388-0205, E-mail: E-mail: correspondence to to the the Managing
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