Osun-Defender February 7th, 2015 Edition by OsunDefender

www.osundefender.org saturday, february 7, 2015 The decision of All Progressives Congress candidate not to take part in a so-called Presidential debate generated a short-lived debate. The debate, in the first place was unwarranted.

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Debating The Non-debatable- By Duro Onabule called election debate as an integral part of 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

group.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

Otherwise, the muchtouted constitutional conference populated largely by President Goodluck Jonathan’s proteges rejected debate

Nigeria’s political/ electoral set-up. That conference was the latest official attempt to standardize our poliContinue on pg7

Osun Governorship Election:

Tribunal Authenticates Aregbesola’s Election

• As Omisore’s Petition Is Struck Out

- See Story On Page 2

Osun Assembly Advocates Peace During - Pg 6

Assault: Witness Insists Adeleke Was Beaten - Pg 5

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (atop a luxury bus with broom), acknowledging cheers from his numerous admirers after he was declared winner of the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the State of Osun by Election petition tribunal sitting at High Court, Osogbo, last Friday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

2015 Elections: PDP Begins Distribution Of Rice In Osun - Pg 5

A dmirers Defy Rain To Celebrate Aregbesola’s Victory

- See Story On Page 6

osun Defender Saturday, February 7, 2015

News

Osun Governorship Election: Tribunal Authenticates Aregbesola’s Election •As Omisore’s Petition Is Struck Out

By kazeem mohammed

he dispute arising from the August 9, 2014 governorship election was eventually settled on Friday, as the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal dismissed the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, against the reelection of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Thethat Chairman of thefound tribunal,intimidation Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, and harassment ruled the panel no reason to interfere with of voters, non-signing and the results of the election in stamping of the duplicate all the 17 local government results, disenfranchisement council areas in contention, of voters, arbitrary allocation as there was no credible of votes, while unqualified evidence to substantiate all persons were allowed to vote. In the judgement, the the allegations made in the tribunal formulated three petition. The local government issues for determination, c o u n c i l a r e a s b e i n g which were whether the challenged were Ayedaade, tribunal had the jurisdiction Atakumosa-East, Boripe, to entertain the petition, Ede-North, Ede-South, whether the election was Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ilesa- vitiated by non-compliance East, Ilesa-West, Irepodun, with the requirement of the Irewole, Iwo, Obokun Ola- law and whether Aregbesola Oluwa, Olorunda, Oriade and was validly elected, having polled the majority of lawful Osogbo. T h e P D P a n d i t s votes at the election. On issue one, the panel candidate had alleged that the Independent National r u l e d t h a t t h o u g h t h e E l e c t o r a l C o m m i s s i o n evidence showed that the ( I N E C ) c o n n i v e d w i t h petitioners failed to comply Aregbesola and the All with the rule guiding the P r o g r e s s i v e s C o n g r e s s filing of the petition, as their (APC) to rig the election, reply to the reply of the hence the election was in respondents was filed out total non-compliance with of time, but for the sake of the Electoral Act and the substantial justice, ruled that the preliminary objection of manual of the election. They alleged that there the respondents against the were improper accreditation, petition failed.

On issue two, which bothers on all the allegations of irregularities made by the petitioners, the tribunal chairman said the witnesses called by the petitioners did not establish any of the allegations in all the polling units being challenged. She said the allegations in largest part of the polling units, wards and local government council areas being challenged were either abandoned, as no evidence was led on them. In the seven and a half hours judgement, Justice Ikpejime added that the allegation that the duplicate copies of the result forms were not signed or stamped has no place in law, saying the documents before the tribunal clearly showed that original copies of those result were stamped and signed. She said: “In any case, we have not seen how the nonstamping of results affected the result of the election and how it affects the petitioners alone.” She added that the signing of those result forms by PDP agents has depleted the claims of harassment and disenfranchisement of PDP members in the various polling units. On the reports of expert

witnesses of the petitioners, the tribunal contented that their analysis covered more units than the units in contention and they also admitted that there were errors in their analysis. She said the tribunal agreed with the respondents that no reasonable tribunal would rely on the evidence of the expert because of inconsistencies. According to her, most of the witnesses were PDP supervisors, who did not stay in one unit and relied on what they were told by their agents, saying, they were found unreliable and not credible due to their inconsistency. She ruled that the evidence of the APC witnesses, who stayed at their various polling units throughout the conduct of the election and witnessed the election, were found to be more reliable, as they were consistent and unshaken under cross-examination. The tribunal further ruled that the allegation by the PDP witnesses that there was no accreditation was strange, as all the witnesses’ names were found in the voters’ registers to be accredited, noting that none of those witnesses said he voted without accreditation.

She said there was no sense in the allegation of the PDP challenging the result of the election, when its agents signed the result and collected copies of the result. On the failure of the INEC to call evidence, the tribunal noted that it is the responsibilities of the petitioners to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by law, saying, the respondents is not under any obligation to lead any evidence, if the burden of proof on the petitioners has not been discharged. The petitioners, according to the tribunals abysmally failed to point out any discrepancies in the result of the election. She added that allegation of corrupt practices at the election were criminal in nature and must be proved beyond reasonable doubt, saying, of the gamut of evidence of the petitioners before the panel, none was credible. Since the allegations were not proved, Justice Ikpejime held that the election and its result were not liable to

‘Tribunal: A Verdict Toeing The People’s Paths, Wish’

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); Reverend (Dr) Gabriel Abegunrin (4th left); Senator Sola Adeyeye (right); State Chairman of APC, Prince Gboyega Famodun (3rd left) and other dignitaries during Governor Aregbesola’s inspection of Oke-Maria building at Otan-Ayegbaju, State of Osun, last Wednesday.

APC Seeks Support From Oba, Ayekale Communities

By shina abubakar

he All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign train for Osogbo Federal Constituency took its rally to Oba-Ile, Oba-Oke and Ayekale communities in Olorunda Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun, in a bid to garner support for its candidates ahead of the general elections. Senator Bayo Salami, interest of every Nigerian t h e C h a i r m a n o f t h e is adequately taken care of constituency’s campaign and the nation would be put committee, while presenting on the path to greatness. its candidate to the electorate, Addressing the gathering, urged the people to vote Senator Sola Adeyeye for all APC candidates in sought the support of the the forthcoming general people in his bid to return to e l e c t i o n s t o f o s t e r the senate, saying he would development in all the nooks continue to be the voice of and crannies of Nigeria. the common man and ensure He assured the teeming that they enjoy the dividends populace in the communities of democracy. that the APC government He urged each supporter would ensure that the of the party to spread the

message of change in their various communities and ensure that they win, at least, fourteen more people before the date of the election. In his own address, the House of Representatives candidate for the federal constituency, Honourable Lasun Yusuf, disclosed that only APC has the programme to ensure that Nigeria returns to the path of honour and be respected in the international community like it was in the past. He assured the electorate that if given the mandate to represent them again, he would ensure that more dividends of democracy is delivered to their doorsteps. Mr Waseeu Adebayo, who

is representing Olorunda State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, reiterated his commitment to making life better for the people by sponsoring more bills that would enhance standard of living if returned to the House. He said: what he has done is just a tip of the iceberg, urging the teeming youths in the council area to re-elect him again to bridge the gap between the youths and the elderly in government.

be voided by reason of noncompliance, and the tribunal found no reason to invalidate the result. Subsequently, the petition was dismissed by the tribunal. Responding to the judgement, Aregbesola’s counsel, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe and the APC c o u n s e l , Wa l e A f o l a b i commended the tribunal for being painstaking in its judgement. The petitioners’ counsel, Mr Nathaniel Oke (SAN), said his client would appeal the judgement at the appellate court.

By ismaeel uthman

he affirmation of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s victory on the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the State of Osun by the election petition tribunal has been described as a verdict toeing the people’s paths and will on the re-election of Aregbesola. E x e c u t i v e S e c r e t a r y, the APC members and other Ayedire Local Government electorate, who desire good C o u n c i l , M r G b e n g a governance should see the Ogunkanmi, while reacting tribunal verdict as morale to the judgment on Friday, booster for them to mobilize stated that the tribunal verdict people and come out enhas put an end to the spurious masse to vote for the APC lies and illusive victory of in the presidential, National the candidate f the Peoples Assembly and House of Democratic Party (PDP), Assembly elections. Senator Iyiola Omisore, and Ogunkanmi said: “After his followers. several months and days of According to Ogunkanmi, spreading falsehood, the PDP the dismissal of the Omisore’s and its members have come to “ u n n e c e s s a r y p e t i t i o n ” embrace the truth and reality, was not surprising, as it as they could no longer run was frivolous and lacking away from it. Now, the PDP e v i d e n c e t o p r o s e c u t e , members have come to know adding that the petition was that they were being deceived just meant to tie down the by their leaders on the illusive remaining members of the victory of Omisore. PDP for the 2015 general “By now, the PDP members elections. and sympathizers should have Ogunkanmi hailed the known that they were being tribunal for upholding the deceived, misinformed and truth, justice and the wish of misled by the party leaders, the people of the state, who whose aim was to use the had reposed confidence on tribunal to tie them down for Aregbesola to govern them them to vote for the party in for another four years. the coming general elections. He maintained that “The tribunal verdict is a right from the inception welcome development and of the tribunal, the people I see it as not surprising. had known that nothing Aregbesola truly won the spectacular would come out election, which the Chairman of the petition, going by the of the Independent National inability of Omisore and the C o m m i s s i o n ( I N E C ) , PDP to substantiate their i n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d l o c a l allegations of irregularities observers described as free, in the governorship election. fair and credible. Omisore’s T h e c o u n c i l b o s s the petition was just as waste urged members of the All of time.” Progressives Congress (APC) to see the victory as theirs and a resounding call on them to vote massively for all the party’s candidates for the forthcoming general elections. Ogunkanmi stressed that

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osun Defender Saturday, February 7,

PDP Wants To Stop Buhari With Kangaroo Court Injunction,

By shina abubakar

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has alerted Nigerians of alleged plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), from contesting the election through kangaroo a court injunction. Its Publicity Secretary, the speculation that he has no Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said secondary school certificate. He lamented that the PDP the plot has confirmed that the ruling party is jittery and afraid and the Presidency, which manipulated court workers of imminent failure. He spoke to reporters in to embark on strike to stop Lagos that a rash of court the courts from hearing cases cases have been instituted in an that could be detrimental unrelenting effort to frustrate to Dr, Jonathan, have also APC and Buhari by elements, manipulated the same elements he described, as compromised to end the strike, so that the cases against Buhari could fronts. M o h a m m e d w a r n e d commence. Mohammed said: “This stopagainst the consequence of compromising the courts, Buhari-at-all-cost campaign is saying that it is dangerous for being pursued simultaneously with the push to postpone next democracy. He added: “At the last month’s elections, ostensibly count, at least, four cases have because of the low level of been filed by those who are PVC distribution, but in the undoubtedly fronting for the real sense, an implementation PDP and the Presidency, and all of the mindset of the Presidency are working towards the same never to hand over to General goal: Stop Buhari, scuttle next Buhari, and then, of course, set month’s elections. We expect up an interim government .” He added: “It is in view of more cases to be filed in pursuit of this ignominious objective.” the multiplicity of court cases Mohammed recalled that at this late hour that we have Buhari emerged as the APC decided to alert Nigerians to candidate at a transparent the execrable plan of the PDP primary election in Lagos, and the Presidency. We have adding that he has met all the also decided to appeal directly requirements to run for the to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to stoutly defend the Presidency. H e s a i d a l t h o u g h t h e independence and integrity PDP expected the APC to of the judiciary at this critical be enmeshed in controversy moment, to avoid a repeat over the choice of a vice- of what transpired in 1993, presidential candidate, the when unscrupulous elements emergence of Professor Yemi constituted themselves into Osinbajo (SAN) as Buhari’s the infamous Association for running mate has been hailed Better Nigeria (ABN) that was used to annul the 1993 general by Nigerians. The Publicity Secretary also elections, thus aborting the said that Buhari also triumphed Third Republic and throwing over his foes, who had fuelled the country into a deep and

prolonged crisis. “The rumour mill is spinning fast. Stories abound of a huge war chest of $100 million being earmarked to grease the palm of any pliable Judge, who can disqualify General Buhari and halt the electoral process. We do not know whether or not this allegation is true, but we do know that Nigerians do not want to return to ‘Egypt’. We have been down this road before with disastrous consequences, and we do not want to tread that path again. Never before has so much been deployed just to stop the candidacy of just one man! “While we are at this, may we also alert Nigerians and the global community to the systematic denial of visas to foreign journalists wishing to cover next month’s elections. A regime that has nothing to hide or fear will not hesitate to allow international coverage of what is undoubtedly one of the most important elections in the world this year! Information reaching us indicates that most of the foreign journalists, who applied for visas to travel to Nigeria, from different parts of the world, for the elections have been kept in abeyance under the guise of security clearance. This is totally unacceptable, and it is another indication that this administration has a lot of skeletons in its cupboard, as far as the forthcoming election is concerned. We ask local and international observers to take note of this, and to immediately take the administration to task, with a view to ameliorating the situation. “We will like to ask the PDP and the Presidency: Why are you so frightened by Genearl Buhari’s candidacy for the office of the President? Why are you so terrified of facing

General Buhari at the polls? Why have you been engaging in a clandestine campaign to postpone the elections, when on the other hand, you claim to be ready? If General Buhari ran in 2003, 2007 and 2011, and there was never an issue with his meeting the pre-requisite qualification, why have you made it an issue now? Is it because you have realized that he is poised to shellac President Jonathan at the polls? Why is an interim government an option, when Nigerians are willing and eager to vote next month? “While we will continue to appeal to our members and supporters to remain calm, we call on them, and indeed all Nigerians, to be vigilant, knowing that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. We urge the CJN to be a bulwark against the abuse of the courts just to achieve a pre-determined end. “We call on the international community to take note of the multi-faceted campaign to stop General Buhari at all cost and scuttle next month’s elections to pave the way for an interim government that will benefit no one but the PDP, the Jonathan Administration and its cronies.” The Presidential Campaign Organisation of the APC also alerted of an organised plan

to use the court to scuttle the forthcoming elections to pave way for the declaration of a six-month state of emergency in the country. The organisation, in a statement in Abuja said the Jonathan-led government has prepared a Judge to rule that the APC presidential candidate lied on oath that his certificates are with the military and therefore, disqualify him from participating in the election. The statement signed by Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the counter arguments by the APC candidate’s counsel on the issue would not matter because the particular Federal High Court Judge has been prepared to do a dirty job. He added that the calculation of those planning the evil was the pronouncement of disqualification of the APC candidate is expected to precipitate spontaneous violent protests across the country, which will then enable President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate to declare a six-month state of emergency. Shehu said further that the three-week long strike

Osun Speaker Congratulates Aregbesola

peaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, has congratulated the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as the lies fabricated against his victory at the August gubernatorial election have been deflated and put to rest finally both on technical and substantial grounds of justice at the election petition tribunal headed by Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime. In a statement signed by

his Press Secretary, Mr. Goke Butika, Salaam said truth is

•Physically-challenged beggars hailing Governor Rauf Aregbesola during the APC rally in Ile-Ife, State of Osun, last Tuesday.

Medical Expert Counsels Harsh On Weath er

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

medical practitioner in Osogbo, State of Osun, Dr Kayode Oyebode, has advised Nigerians against exposing themselves to the current harsh weather conditions to avoid contracting diseases. Oyebode, while speaking to journalists in Osogbo on the present hot weather condition, said that most Nigerians are not mindful that the present weather

was capable of causing illhealth. He enjoined parents to also stop exposing their children to the cold weather without considering the health implications.

He said: “Most parents never care whether their children are exposed to cold or not and when the effect arises, you see them running around for help. “There are clothes at the market sold at cheap prices, which they can afford, but because they lacked healthy tips, they never cared. “Also, exercising in cold weather can cause asthma-

action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) was embarked upon on the prodding of the PDP-led Federal government as a way to stymie any higher Court upturning of the lower court pronouncement which ruled on President Jonathan’s eligibility to contest the February 14 election. He alleged that the same trade union has been procured to open the court to allow for this court pronouncement in disqualifying General Buhari from contesting the elections. “We are aware of the intense desperation of the PDP-led Federal government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in desiring to retain political power at all costs despite his and his party’s overwhelming rejection by the Nigerian people, ahead of the 2015 general elections. The APC Campaign Organisation called on the international community to prevail on this obviously agitated presidency not to plunge the Nigerian state into avoidable intractable crisis.

like symptoms, even in people who don’t have asthma and also infections that are dangerous to our health. “So, there is need for every citizen of the country to take precautionary measures, rather than falling a victim of the harsh weather condition,’’ the doctor said. According to him, people need to be sensitised by the

government on health tips, ways of preventing diseases in harsh weather condition, and the precautionary measures, which must be adhered to. O y e b o d e , h o w e v e r, charged the people to adhere to medical tips and be at alert at all times, saying “health is wealth”.

an unchangeable reality that demolishes falsehood in all its ramifications, noting that the entire citizens except few, as a matter of deliberate act, knew how the last governorship election was conducted, free, fair and credible upon the atmosphere of intimidation and mass arrest of leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaker Salaam then lauded the courage of the people in standing by the governor, who is delivering on his mandate and adding value to governance in all spheres of influence, asserting that the petitioner at the election tribunal himself knew he was playing to the gallery right from the beginning, having lost 22 out of 30 local government councils areas including Area Office, Modakeke at the last poll. H o w e v e r, t h e t o p lawmaker has commended Mr. Iyiola Omisore for approaching the election tribunal with a view to seeking redress he purportedly perceived, saying that Omisore’s action was civil and in line with the tradition of democracy, instead of resorting to violence. Salaam then thumbed up for Aregbesola for his tolerance and democratic tendencies, which subscribed to latitude given for all manners of opposition to challenge and question his leadership, hinting that the State of Osun has raised the bar of democratic tradition with the civility of the governor.

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osun Defender Saturday, February

UNESCO Seeks Osun’s Permission To Adopt, Reproduce Opon-Imo

•Says The Concept Of E-Learning Device Is In Line With Its Objective Of Promoting Education

By Kehinde ayantunji

he United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has approached the government of the State of Osun seeking to adopt the e-learning device created by the Rauf Aregbesola administration, Opon Imo (Tablet of Knowledge). UNESCO, in a letter resource materials and dated 15 November 2014 content of Opon-Imo to to the Osun Commissioner promote its educational for Education and signed by programmes in Nigeria. Professor Hassana Alidou, The organisation added Director and Representative, that it was fascinated by U N E S C O ’s R e g i o n a l the three major content Office in Abuja, said the categories of the e-library, organisation is impressed by the integrated test zone, the the components of the Osun virtual classroom containing e-learning project. 63 books covering civic UNESCO also requested education, Ifa on ethics and to reproduce and adapt morals among others in the educational learning Opon-Imo.

The United Nations organisation held that the concept and educational contents of Opon-Imo is in line with UNESCO’s objective to promote open access to quality education in the country. According to UNESCO in the letter of request, “as you may be aware, UNESCO is a specialised Agency of the United Nations with a broad mandate in promoting education, science, culture, communication and

information. “The concept and education content of Opon-Imo is in line with UNESCO objective to promote open access to scientific information, open educational resources and open training platform, as well as open distance learning. “We acknowledge that the Opon-Imo was designed to enhance students’ access to knowledge, sexuality education and

entrepreneurship, all of which are within the scope of UNESCO’s educational programme activities in Nigeria”. The organisation also pointed out that it would partner with Osun, noting that the government of Osun will be officially acknowledged by UNESCO and other users as the major source of the e-learning resource materials wherever they are used. Opon Imo [Tablet of

Knowledge] the innovative education tool by Governor Aregbesola’s administration has bagged several international awards. Opon Imo was selected as the best in innovative category in the e-learning and science category of the awards of United Nations backed World Summit Awards (WSA) among many other awards.

This Is An Undeniable Victory For The People’s Wishes - Aregbesola

By Kehinde ayantunji he governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described his victory as the triumph of the will and wishes of the people, from the verdict of the Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered on Friday, February 6, 2015 which further confirmed his election. Aregbesola, in a swift reaction to the judgment, said in a sane society, his it,” he said. Aregbesola further reopponent in the August 9, 2014 governorship assured the people that election would not even his government would not approach the election relent in its zeal to make tribunal because there was Osun the hub of the most no redress to be sought in profitable commercial •A mammoth crowd during the APC rally in Ila-Orangun, State of Osun, recently. centre, not only in the the first place. “It is pertinent to state South-West, but in Nigeria as a whole. here that ab initio, those “Our target is to make who went to the tribunal this small corner of the earth knew that the petition a centre of reference in all he State of Osun Governor Rauf people will remember lacked any substance that is great and elegant. Aregbesola has been described as a living you (Aregbesola) when whatsoever. It is a share The history of our place waste of the time of the tells us that civilization legend, whose legacies would be remembered your legacies would be judiciary. And they knew! was not alien to us and that for a long time much after he has left office. speaking for you long “One is appalled by indeed, our people were This assertion was made to Tuesday by the Ooni time after you have left the fact that a candidate, epitome of innovation, responded to a ‘light office.” who knew that the entire technology, industry and of Ife, Oba Okunade comment’ made by the The Ile-Ife monarch Sijuwade, in his place, state rejected him and the enterprise. governor that he was urged the gathering, where the governor led political party he represents; “We must revamp this performed abysmally in the and make our people proud candidates of the All not the late sage, Chief particularly the APC build-up to the election, again among other nations Progressives Congress Obafemi Awolowo, said: candidates, to emulate during the election and of the world,” he concluded (APC), who are running “Even when somebody Aregbesola’s selflessness compounded his woes by for various parliamentary says he is not Awolowo, to humanity. failing to meet up with the He expressed optimism seats at the federal w e k n o w w h e n required deadline set by the somebody is replicating t h a t A r e g b e s o l a ’ s and state levels to pay rule of the court, would be homage on the monarch. Aw o l o w o t h r o u g h character will lead him taunting us with any fake The monarch, who his character. A lot of to further greatness. victory. “I have been studying Aregbesola, in the this man. I don’t live statement made available with him but I study him by his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, congratulated PVCs by PDP members, the closely and I am strongly the people of Osun on party was not relenting in its convinced that he is still the victory, saying it is a sensitisation programme. going to much higher confirmation of their dogged “Despite the impressive levels.” he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of desire for good governance, collection of PVCs by Oba Sijuwade prayed Osun, has described the turn-out of its members for our members, we are still as demonstrated by the four the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for the success of all sensitising our members years of the first term of his as encouraging. who are yet to collect to go the APC candidates, administration. whom he asked to out and get it”. “We must salute the The party’s Publicity Ajao urged the party stoop before him for his courage of our people that Secretary, Mr Bola Ajao, in the PDP are sensitising and our members to members who are yet to get in the face of overwhelming an interview with newsmen informing royal blessings. “The get their PVCs. the cards to go and get it aspirations of you all intimidation, harassment of said the party had embarked “In all our political unimaginable proportion, on aggressive sensitisation campaigns, we made our before the deadline. He expressed confidence shall be granted,” the t h e y s t o o d b y t h e i r of its members at ward and members to realise that their that President Jonathan monarch said. government and ensured local government levels. PVC is the only instrument would be victorious in the The campaign train “Everybody is aware that they have to ensure that the re-election. This is a further coming election, saying his later moved to Enuwa affirmation of the fact that the most talked-about issue, transformation programme tranformation agenda has Square, Ile-Ife land any government that makes aside political campaign, is continues under President turned the nation around. where multitude of Ife the people the centre of its the collection of PVC. Goodluck Jonathan.” “INEC is doing the policies will always find residents had gathered. Ajao said despite the the people solidly behind distribution, while we in encouraging collection of

Aregbesola Is A Living Legend -

Collection Of PVCs In Osun Is Encouraging - PDP

Each if the candidates addressed the gathering, promising good representation if voted in. Aregbesola, who presented them one after the other to the people, said sixteen years’ rule of the PDP reached its worst under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration with trillions of Naira missing or unaccounted for. “Jonathan has gone into indelible history as the first president under whom parts of the country have been invaded and occupied by insurgents, leaving the government helpless,” Aregbesola told the gathering. He then urged the people to repeat the zeal of patriotism as displayed during the last governorship election come February 14, by voting for all APC candidates from the presidential to parliamentary.

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2015 Elections: PDP Begins Distribution Of Rice In Osun

By kazeem mohammed

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stormed the State of Osun with truck loads of rice that would be used to induce voters and other stakeholders to win the February 14 presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. A s o u r c e w i t h i n was part of the system t h e p a r t y m a d e t h e of the party to win the confirmation, saying it election. Apart from voters, the

major focus of the PDP, it was gathered, is to compromise the security agencies in the state with items and money ahead of the election to get their favour at the various voting centres. The truck loads of rice were sighted being offloaded at the PDP

secretariat and the state headquarters of some security agencies few days ago. It would be recalled that the distribution of items and kerosene was allegedly introduced by the PDP to induce voters in the June 21, 2014 governonorship election

in Ekiti State. The distribution of rice and kerosene, which was subsequently coined “stomach infrastructure,” was replicated in the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the State of Osun. However, it has been gathered that the PDP

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, addressing the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, in his palace in Ile-Ife, recently.

February Election ‘ll Liberate Nigeria – Aregbesola •As APC Campaigns In Ile-Ife By Kehinde ayantunji

he governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described the forthcoming February elections as one that will liberate the Nigerian masses from what he tagged: economic recession and under-development. He affirmed that the APC The governor stated this standard bearer, General at the All Progressives M u h a m m adu Buhari Congress (APC) campaign rally held across Ife Federal (rtd) and Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s are ready to put Constituency. Aregbesola called all a stop to corruption and eligible voters to see the make Nigeria a country, fast-approaching elections where every citizen has a as a date with destiny, sense of belonging. According to the which must be accorded governor: “ I want to use full concentration and the opportunity of our diligence. Leading the campaign to campaign to Ile-Ife to the cradle of Yorubaland, tell our people that the the governor condemned forthcoming elections are t h e 1 6 y e a r s o f t h e as important as the August Peoples Democratic Party 9 governorship election in presidency, which he noted which all of us stood up in as being characterised by defence of truth. “We were not in any corruption, insecurity, way moved by their ploy infrastructural failure and to intimidate us; we all untold hardship.

Change Of Name

I, formerly known as kareem moruf adebayo now wish to be called and addressed as oyeniyi Moruf adebayo. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known as Miss kasali nimonta m o d u p e ol a n o w wish to be called and addressed as Mrs oyeniyi nimonta m o d u p e ol a . A l l former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

came out to vote for us and at the same time, ensure that your votes count by protecting the votes. We must ensure that all our National Assembly members and the State Assembly members are voted for. “Voting for all our candidates will complement o u r a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ’s policies and desire to continue to raise the level of governance and infrastructure in our state. We must ensure that the PDP fails in the coming elections. With this, we will be able to ensure that they have nothing to do in our land,” Aregbesola told the crowd. Earlier at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Aregbesola, while paying homage to the frontline monarch, presented all APC candidates across Ife Federal Constituency for royal blessings. The governor recalled his earlier visits in 2007, 2011 and that of last year, describing it as his administration’s tradition during political campaigns to make the palace as

his first point of call for blessing. He noted that the monarch’s blessing is the magic wand the APC has been enjoying and a contributory factor to the party’s victory in Osun. The governor charged the gathering to encourage

people who are yet to collect their Permanent voters’ cards to do so, saying this is the only way to get the much-desired change they have been clamouring for.

has allegedly designed another strategy of sharing the rice in Osun to have the desired effects during at the election. The new strategy, a source within the party said, was sequel to the findings of the party leadership that the way the goodies were shared in the last gubernatorial election did not produce the desired result at the poll. Meanwhile, the item was reported to have started creating rancour within the fold of some security agencies in the state, as the rank and file in the agencies were said to have been protesting the sharing formular. It was gathered that out of the 80 bags of rice given to one of the agencies, the person incharge took 12 bags to himself and 10 bags to another superior officer, leaving the remaining to other officials to share. Our source said the party leadership was hellbent in correcting its failure that played out in the last year’s election by all means to get the confidence of the Presidency. He said: “Whether they like it or not, we will win the coming elections in Osun. We may not win all the legislative elections, but we will win presidential election here. “What happened in the August 9, 2014 election was not expected at all and this time, we will do everything to win, including coercing the security agencies,” he boasted.

Assault: Witness Insists Adeleke Was Beaten

By ismaeel uthman

ne Dipo Fabode, who testified in a petition written by the first executive governor of the State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan and one Sogo Agboola, over alleged assault on him during a stakeholders’ meeting of the PDP at Ideal Nest Hotel, Osogbo on Tuesday, told the panel that security aides attached to Adesiyan molested him and Senator Adeleke on the instruction of the minister. Fabode, who was the last witness in the case, said the Department of State “I was beside Senator Security (DSS) men had Adeleke on that day, when seized their mobile phones Alhaji Adesiyan ordered before they were asked to the DSSmen to collect our mobile phones and lie on the floor. He said all his efforts commanded us to lie down. “We could not argue with to explain himself proved futile, as the security men them because they were armed with guns. Four of subsequently kicked him. A c c o r d i n g t o h i m : them stood at the entrance,

while one stood very close to inside the hotel’s hall,” he added. Fabode also reminded the commission that Alhaji Adesiyan had admitted in a newspaper report that he truly slapped Senator Adeleke. H o w e v e r, c o u n s e l to the petitioner, Lekan Olayiwola, promised to provide a copy of the purported newspaper and tender it as an exhibit. The Chairman of the panel, Justice Moshood Adeigbe, told the witness that the commission would write a letter to him for physical inspection of the scene of the assault.

News

osun Defender Saturday, February 7,

NCP, CDHR Decry Calls For Postponement Of Elec-

By ismaeel uthman

the only institution that can call for extension of date of the election and the commission has not said it is not ready for the election. “Nigerians have waited and come this far than for any extension being planned

by mischievous and deceitful set of people in power to work out. “Postponement of election at this time will wreck havoc on o u r d e m o c r a c y, s o anyone calling for its postponement doesn’t mean well for democracy

and Nigeria. The election postponement is not a debatable option. We reject it outrightly. Asifat warned again about any act capable of sabotaging the credible conduct of the elections, saying that Nigerians are watching with

keen interest the steps of the power that be on the possibilities of postponing the elections. He also called the attention of international communities to what he described as “call to scuttle democracy” plan for the postponement of

he National Conscience Party (NCP) and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights have decried the calls for the postponement of the forthcoming general elections, describing the calls as insincere and treacherous. In their separate press INEC had released the statement, the NCP timetable. and CDHR stated that “Moreover, INEC is those calling for the postponement of the elections on the ground of insecurity and challenges of the collection of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) were being mischievous and evilminded. Deputy National Chairman of the NCP, S o u t h - We s t , A l h a j i Wa h e e d L a w a l , o n Thursday called on the security agents to investigate those calling for the extension of the elections for possible breakdown of law and order on the election day. Lawal, who warned against any act possible of undermining the peaceful conduct of the general elections, maintained that it was erroneous and illconceived for anyone to think of postponement of the election. He said: “The callers of election postponement are agents of politicians, •Honourable Patricia Etteh (3rd right) and Senator Babajide Omoworare when about to enter the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who are afraid of losing recently. the election, as Nigerians are ready to vote out irresponsive government and bring in good and fair.” issues, said no matter candidate is sellable,” By kazeem mohammed governance that they He however urged how personality is he added. desire. he State of Osun House of Assembly, has security operatives to attacked, electorate The lawmaker also “The call for called on political stakeholders to allow ensure that those who knows what they want. urged INEC and the postponement of the peace to reign in the forthcoming elections. perpetrate violence “Rather than using security operatives to coming general elections Chairman, House Committee on Information, before, during and inciting words and ensure that the election is basically from the Presidency. President Honourable Ajibola ourselves as brothers. after the elections are attacking personalities, is free and fair. “ W e h a v e t h e brought to book. Goodluck Jonathan, Akinloye, made the call Ajibola, who is what politicians need apparently aware of his in an interview, saying, C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d Ajibola, who also to do is to sell their seeking re-election to impending loss in the it was only in a peaceful the electoral laws, decried the way and manifestoes to the the state parliament on February 14 polls, is atmoshere that a free politicians should abide m a n n e r p o l i t i c i a n s electorate and leave the platform of APC, the one pushing for the by these laws. If they attack personalities, the people to decide said his contribution and fair election could postponement of the do, I believe the election rather than addressing whether or not the to the development of be conducted. elections.” will be free, credible The NCP chieftain Ajibola, who is m a i n t a i n e d t h a t representing Ola-Oluwa President Jonathan was planning to install State Constituency in governor addressed the journey. interim government if the state parliament, Cladded in a simple crowd at the APC State the postponement of urged the political class election is achieved. everal thousands of State of Osun white attire, the victor Secretariat, Ogo-Oluwa not to see the election H e s t a t e d f u r t h e r as a do-or-die affair, governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s was waiving a broom, where he enjoined his that any insinuation, supporters and members of the All symbol of the party, supporters to go about rather, they should play suggestions, call or plan Progressives Congress (APC), defied rain to throughout the duration their victory activities in peace. to postpone the election the game according to celebrate with the governor whose election as the of the victory journey. is dead on arrival, as it the rules. He said, he dedicated O n e t h i n g t h a t state governor was affirmed by Justice Elizabeth could not find a place his tribunal victory to was noticed was that He said the unity and Ikpejime-led tribunal on Friday. in Nigerians’ heart and God Almighty and the his supporters milled peace being enjoyed reasoning. T h e A r e g b e s o l a at Ogo-Oluwa area of round him as ants do people of the state who CDHR Coordinator in the state should adherents who filed Osogbo, singpraising to sugar throughout the refused to be cowed in the State of Osun, guide the conduct of out with ecstasy in the their political idol. by the forces of the celebration trekking. Comrade Akinkunmi the politicians towards rain to identify with Aregbesola too who There was a long reactionary elements in Asifat, said: “We find it their preparation for the the governor trekked was atop a bus inside queue of vehicles of the society. difficult to understand elections. from the Government the rain did not abandon Aregbesola’s supporters Aregbesola prayed to why some set of people “Politicians should House at Oke-fia area his numerous supporters c o v e r i n g a b o u t o n e God to continue to use would be calling for not see the election as of the state capital to the during the about the kilometre. him mightily in order postponement of the a do-or-die situation. five-kilometre victory APC State Secretariat to give his optimal The re-confirmed Osun elections, a year after We should rather see

Osun Assembly Advocates Peace During Elections

A dmirers Defy Rain To Celebrate Aregbesola’s Victory

osun Defender Saturday, February 7,

Debating The Non-debatable- By Duro Onabule every NTA station in every part of Nigeria. That 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

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.

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.

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 and bring the 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. 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

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.

If Jonathan Knew Then What He Knows Now, He Will Not Be Running

his m o n t h ’s p r e s i d e n t i a l T 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 election will not be about

All these apart, since 2003, General Buhari is the 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.

And the same maligned General Buhari was expected to be moderated by the same NTA chaps on a bogus platform of election debate group?

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

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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

•Next week: The Grudge Election, as never before

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interview

osun Defender Saturday, February 7, 2015

Buhari ‘ll Live To See The Misfortune Of All His Enemies - Prophet Predicts

Prophet Wale Olagunju, the Presiding Bishop of The Divine Seed of God Chapel, Sasa, Ibadan, Oyo State, is one man many people take serious because of his predictions that have come to pass over the years. Prophet Olagunju is a man who never hides his disdain for corruption in any form. In 2007, he issued a warning that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was fielding a sick candidate. He also predicted that the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo would “soon realize that Yar’Adua is a bad investment”. In the heat of the then President’s sickness, while Bishops were praying for Alhaji Yar’Adua’s recovery, Olagunju had already stated that Dr. Jonathan should be sworn in as President because Yar’Adua was going to die. In an interview with our reporter, Prophet Olagunju restated his prediction that General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) will win the election. He also took time to allay fears, especially the ones that came after an advertorial bordering on the health of General Buhari. He pointed out that Buhari will not die in office but will live to see the misfortune of his enemies. He also took a swipe at some Nigerian Bishops and Pastors, who, he said, have misled the President. Excerpts: OSDF: Sometime last year, you led a group of pastors to call for the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan. Why did you do that? OLAGUNJU: President Goodluck Jonathan has not ruled Nigeria well. There is massive corruption going on under his administration. Some concerned Pastors and Prophets of God met in Ibadan and discussed the situation. We concluded that the man has to leave the place. But unfortunately, we discovered that the present members of the National Assembly were too soft. They closed their eyes to all the mess that is going on in our nation. We had no choice than to tell them: “Why don’t you impeach this man and let him get out of that place?” And should they impeach Jonathan, heaven would not fall. OSDF: But the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) seems to have a different point of view. The CAN President is usually with the President of Nigeria and they go along well. So, how does it make you feel, calling for the impeachment of the President, while CAN is saying something else? OLAGUNJU: I stated it in one of my write-ups some time ago that Pastor Ayo Oristejafor has become the campaign manager for Jonathan 2015, he has lost focus completely. Look at the CAN he is running now. You cannot compare this CAN with that of Akinola and Olubunmi Okogie. There is divided loyalty. Why should a CAN President, who Nigerian Christians are looking up to as the Pope of Nigeria, be so biased and allow religious and tribal sentiments to blindfold his reasoning? They have divided CAN and the Christian community. Ayo Oritsejafor and others are supporting President Jonathan. Right, they have the choice to support whoever they like but why should they allow religious and tribal sentiments to break the country? There is a CD, a pastor, used the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s platform to blackmail many Nigerian leaders, saying they want to Islamize Nigeria and the pastors of the church could not even say anything. They said the Constitution was based on Sharia or Islamic law. The question now is: Was there no Christian there when they were drafting it? Instead of them to sit down and ask themselves, how are we going to do this thing? They resorted to propagating mess, dividing the country along religious and tribal lines. They showed Jonathan to us as a Christian; a man who eloped with Witches and Wizards’ Association of Nigeria; a man who called Alfas from Senegal to come and pray for him and his government. What does light have in common with darkness? So, I disagree with Oritsejafor and other Christians that are saying Jonathan is a Christian. He is not a Christian, Jonathan is an unbeliever. Those pastors supporting

•OLAGUNJU him have lost focus; they are not rooted in the Bible. If their focus had been the Bible, they would have reasoned together that this man is not a Christian. Is it not the same sin that King Saul committed that God broke his kingdom into pieces? Ayo Oritsejafor was one of the pastors who said they should remove fuel subsidy and Nigerians are still suffering. Okay, look at it, they took the President to Jerusalem, with three thousand pastors to go and pray for him and they anointed him there. When they came back, Jonathan came out of the plane; a whole Bishop was following him as if he is a Personal Assistant to Jonathan. Can you now see that they have lost focus? Are you now telling me that those pastors that

took him to Jerusalem can come out boldly and say Jonathan will not win? What is the sin of all the prophets in the Bible? It is so simple, their failure to close eyes to all forms of corruption and injustice, coupled with their unalloyed stand on integrity and their constant feelings for the poor masses. In our own dispensation, we have pulpit men, who maintain sinful silence in the face of tyranny and failed in their responsibility to tell those in power the gospel truth. OSDF: Is it right for pastors to meddle in politics? OLAGUNJU: Well, as pastors, we are agents of peace. During the time of Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie and Bishop Akinola, they separated politics from religion. When they

discovered that the president, governor or any other official was misbehaving, they would come in, mediate and show them the way. But the current Christians in Nigeria have involved themselves deeply in politics to the extent that they are even campaigning in their churches. Not only that, they are campaigning in their churches for Jonathan, they hate the Muslims. I heard there are offices for pastors in Aso Rock, what are they doing there? Why should pastors have offices at Aso Rock? They now do more of politics than the preaching they should do on the pulpit. In Enugu State now, I think we have a Bishop as the Deputy Governor. Maybe very soon, we will have a Pastor as the President of Nigeria and he will be addressed as His Excellency, Pastor so and so. In my own view, they are not supposed to do that because the Bible says “my government is not of this world”. We are just to preach the gospel in a peaceful atmosphere. OSDF: Let’s come to your 2015 predictions sir, from what God revealed to you, who will be Nigeria’s next president? OLAGUNJU: (cuts in) Buhari, no controversy. If you look at my 2015 predictions, numbers four and five, the Lord said they will humiliate Jonathan, they will destroy his billboards, they will insult him. All those ones have come to pass. When you go to number 45, it says corrupt politicians will gang up against Buhari. That is what we are witnessing today. In 2003, 2007, 2011, the Lord revealed to me that Buhari would not win the elections and it was published. But it is the same God that revealed to me that Buhari is the next President of Nigeria, so as to execute His fierce judgment against those corrupt politicians. Forget about the propaganda that he has no certificate, it is just politics. Let me also tell you, Buhari’s votes will supersede the votes Abiola got in 1993. OSDF: A publication came out recently making people to ask themselves about General Buhari’s health status, especially one sponsored by the Governor of Ekiti State. What do you think would happen if the retired General wins and he is not healthy? OLAGUNJU: Let Buhari have Ebola, God forbids, not to talk of HIV. When we get to the river, we will know how to cross it. Buhari will not die there as revealed to me. Even if he has Ebola, we have the Almighty God that will heal him of the disease, so that the northerners will not face the same fate they faced over Yar’Adua. Our God shall close every gate of death open for Buhari and the APC leadership and put to shame those sacred witchcraft advisers’ called Bishops. Everything is propaganda. Don’t mind Ayodele Fayose. He doesn’t know what he Continued on page 9

interview

osun Defender Saturday, February 7, 2015

Buhari ‘ll Live To See The Misfortune Of All His Enemies - Prophet Predicts Continued from page 8

is doing. How can you place the obituary of a living person? It is a taboo in Ekiti State, where I come from. Fayose has spiritual problems. This is a man that told people in Ekiti State that he is born again. I told some of them that Fayose is not born again. That advert can cause chaos; he needs to be spoken to. I want to assure you, as God Almighty revealed to me, Buhari will live to see the misfortune of all his enemies. And let me tell you, I am the President of Concerned Prophets and Pastors of God in Nigeria and we are praying for Buhari, and we want change. That was what they did to Baba Obafemi Awolowo, another person now came up and they are blackmailing him, they said he doesn’t have a certificate, he doesn’t have this, he doesn’t have that, they said he is a dictator, but whatever they say, I want to assure you, Buhari will win the election. And should they fail to hand over to him, Nigeria will go back to the days of Abiola in 1993 and there will be problems in the country. OSDF: And now there are allegations that he does not have the certificate he claims to have and as such, might not be qualified. And even when he presented the result, some people alleged the paper was forged. OLAGUNJU: The former President, Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullahi said they sat for their WASCE the same time. You see, PDP is now jittery. They are trying to do everything to discourage that man. Even if Buhari doesn’t have Primary six certificate, not to talk of Secondary School Certificate, Nigerians will vote for him. Okay, they are saying Buhari doesn’t have certificate so as to disqualify him, isn’t it? But between a man who has no school cert and another one who has a PhD but cannot differentiate between transparency and corruption, a man who told us that stealing is not corruption. A PhD holder is now dividing the country along religious and ethnic lines. Buhari will stop Boko Haram. I am not happy the way they are shedding the blood of Christians and Muslims in the North under the present government everyday. Buhari will stop Boko Haram just as he did to Maitatsine and he will reduce the rate of inflation. PDP is jittery; they know they have lost the presidential election; that is why they are bringing all these up. If they know Buhari does not have a certificate, let them go to court. Instead of them to discuss what they will offer Nigerians and tell us their programmes; they are just chasing Buhari and APC up and down. In all their campaigns now, it is either they are insulting Obasanjo, insulting Yoruba leaders. They have failed already; it means they don’t have any programme for Nigerians. OSDF: Talking about the Ekiti State governor now, in your predictions, you said he would have problems and may not finish his tenure, but Governor Fayose seems to have established himself in Ekiti State now, as he is giving Ekiti people stomach infrastructure. He has just paid salaries, the people seem to be enjoying him contrary to what your prediction says. OLAGUNJU: Ayo Fayose will not complete his tenure, as revealed to me. Look at the way he is behaving now. Are you saying if APC wins the election, they will leave him there? The ground has been prepared already, you don’t even need anybody to come and tell you. The fulfillment of the prophecy is on ground. Look at his utterances, look at the way he behaves, the governor of my own state behaving like that? In fact, I am disturbed. How can he say somebody will die in office? He is just plunging the state into another crisis. He will not complete his tenure and that was what I saw.

•OLAGUNJU OSDF: In 2003, before the Americans did, you predicted that Nigeria would break into four or five countries. But lately, some men of God have been saying Nigeria will not break. What is your opinion? OLAGUNJU: First and foremost, I, Wale Olagunju, believe in the unity of the Nigerian nation. I have many important friends who are Ibos and Hausas and we relate with each other freely and I believe God loves Nigeria, that’s why he brought us together. Yes, the Lord revealed to me in 2003, 2004 and in 2005 that Nigeria would break. Looking at the way the politicians are doing things, Asari Dokubo is saying if Jonathan doesn’t win the election, there will be war. The Igbos have gone to court, they want to pull out, Meanwhile, a former Governor of Kaduna State said if they don’t allow a Hausa man to become president, they will break the country. You can see the sign; you can see that President Jonathan is ruling over a divided nation. He marginalized Yoruba people as if the South-South and South-East are the only ones that own Nigeria, forgetting that he was put there by a Yoruba man. So the country has already broken up spiritually. The Igbo want to go, the South-South wants to go, the Hausas want to go, leaving Yoruba people as the only ones saying there should be one united Nigeria. I love Nigeria to remain as one, I don’t want a situation where I will want to go and greet my friends in Igboland or in the North and they will tell me to go and queue for visa. I don’t like that. OSDF: You just spoke of marginalization of the Yoruba by President Goodluck Jonathan. But when the President came to Ibadan, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the governor of Ondo State was there, notable

Yoruba politicians were there and they have promised that Yorubaland is for Goodluck Jonathan. OLAGUNJU: (Cuts in) Yorubaland is not for Goodluck Jonathan. It can’t be so. They are on their own. When you look at my prophecy in 2009, 2010 and 2011, I said Mimiko would decamp to PDP and now he is in the PDP. I said the PDP would lose Ondo State, two thirds of the PDP members there decamped to APC recently. I want to tell you that Jonathan will not win in Yoruba states. The reason is this; this is a President who called Yoruba rascals. He marginalized Yorubaland, he insulted Obasanjo anyhow. He called him a tout, he wrote a silly letter, when he was at Mapo Hall the other day; he described Afenifere leaders as hypocrites. How do you expect me to support such a man? A man who is insulting my leaders and the generality of the Yoruba. Are you saying Ogun people will vote for Jonathan who insulted their own son? Who knows Jonathan, if not because of Obasanjo? Jonathan’s government crumbled the day he insulted Obasanjo, a man who singlehandedly picked you up; a man who campaigned for you all over Nigeria. Where was Edwin Clark, where was Asari Dokubo? Today, you hate this man. You stripped him naked publicly, you are now calling Pastor Adejare Adeboye and Bishop Oyedepo to come and beg him. Beg Obasanjo for what? All these things just amazed me. Don’t they read their Bible? The Bible says whosoever repays good with evil, evil shall never depart from his house. Some yoruba, who are looking for what they will eat, are now supporting him. How can you support a man who is scandalizing your race? He can’t win, I stand to be quoted. OSDF: But to some people, the insults on Obasanjo might just be a way he is

reaping the rewards of his own deeds. OLAGUNJU: Even if Obasanjo is the devil incarnate, is it right to disrespect elders in Yorubaland? Does the Yoruba culture support that? In Ekiti State, Omo kekere to ba r’agbalagba fin, a je ‘gba (any child that disrespects elders will be flogged). Our culture forbids all those things. Do you remember what happened during the time of Dr Nnamdi Azikwe and Chuba Okadigbo? Okadigbo was insulting Azikwe then. He said ex-this ex-that. Azikwe told him: “One day, you will become ex this, ex that.” Anyone that disrespects elders is just trying to shorten his life. Even the Almighty God said: “I will give honour to those who honour me”. That respect must be there, the Yoruba cherish respects so much. If Obasanjo is reaping what he had sown, that remains between Obasanjo and God, not for us to judge. Most of the PDP governors today, Obasanjo put them there, including Jonathan. But I warned Obasanjo then in my prophecy that he would realize at the end of the day that ‘Yar’Adua and Jonathan ticket is a very bad investment. Look at it today. OSDF: You seem to like Chief Obasanjo so much. OLAGUNJU: He is just like Baba Awolowo, very bold. He is a leader who knows the way, leads the way and shows the way. It’s not only Obasanjo, any leader that is upright. Obasanjo might have his own faults, I am not defending him. But he is a leader. Ah! Obasanjo, patriot of a nation. Just like Ahmed Bola Tinubu now, look at Buhari. I have plans to write books on these men, Obasanjo, Tinubu, Buhari and Pastor Kumuyi. They are leaders. Pastor Kumuyi is my idol. Politicians cannot be tossing him around like other pastors. He is so focused, that is the type of leader I want to associate myself with. How do you expect me to support a leader that will tell you he did not sign an agreement and at the end of the day, you will find out that he signed an agreement? The Bible says: “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”. OSDF: But Ashiwaju Tinubu has been alleged to be corrupt in some places. OLAGUNJU: How many of these leaders are not corrupt? The President of our country, a so-called Christian came out the other time and said what Jim Nwobodo stole is not up to the cost of a Volkswagen Beetle. We need somebody who will step on toes to remove corruption in Nigeria. It is when he leaves office that he will realize that those who surrounded him are the ones that grounded this country. Look at the cash-for-arms deal, when I prayed, God told me Jonathan doesn’t know anything about it. If I had my way, I would have removed Ayo Oritsejafor as CAN President, Christian Welfare Chairman, I would have removed him too and I would have probed both of them. Jonathan might have good intentions for Nigeria but look at the way they grounded the country because of corruption. They are just hiding under him to siphon money. They are all so corrupt; see them all buying jets now. You cannot even differentiate between a politician and a pastor. See what they have turned Nigeria into. As far as I am concerned, the Bible is against corruption. It really amazes me to see Bishops supporting corruption in our country today. As for me, I hate corruption, either physical or spiritual. OSDF: A lot of prophets and senior pastors seem to favour President Goodluck Jonathan, why is your own prediction different? OLAGUNJU: Number one is that they have allowed religious sentiments Continued on page 10

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osun Defender Saturday, February 7, 2015

Buhari ‘ll Live To See The Misfortune Of All His Enemies - Prophet Predicts Continued from page 9

to blindfold their reasoning. I don’t read people’s prophecies and I always stand by my prophecies. If you look at the way things are going, 70 per cent of those who are supporting him are from the South-East. They believe in one thing, they are using human reasoning. They believe it will be very difficult to defeat the incumbent. And they look at Jonathan as a Christian and, at least, majority of the so-called Christians are supporting him. Jonathan is not a Christian, in my own biblical view because I believe light and darkness have nothing in common. I am not condemning their own prophecies because I don’t know the source; I only know the source of mine. I know my prophecy came from the Living God. And the Bible says by their fruits, we shall know them. February 14 is getting nearer. After the election, Nigerians will know the true prophet. They allowed religious and tribal sentiments to blindfold them; it is not prophecy per se. Some of them don’t even know what is called prophecy. A true prophet of God must align with God and his people. It really amazes me how Nigerian pastors are supporting illegality. Look at what is happening in Nigeria, Jonathan grounded everything and you are saying Jonathan should come back, to come and do what? OSDF: You said you don’t know the source of some prophecies. What do you think would make two prophets stand and prophesy two different things? OLAGUNJU: That is what I am saying that they have allowed religious and tribal sentiments to darken their reasoning. They just assume that is their own prophecy. Nigerians don’t even know true prophets of God. Somebody will just come out and say “I prophesy, Jonathan is the next President”. That is not prophecy. The Lord will speak with you. A prophet is a person who sees yesterday, today and the future. When you look at my prophecies, since 2001 to date, you will discover consistency in them. Numbers 4, 5 and 6 of 2015 says they will humiliate Jonathan in the North, they will destroy his billboards, and they will assault him. Those things have happened and when you come to 45 or 46, it says the corrupt politicians will gang up to blackmail Buhari, it has come to pass. That is prophecy. In Nigeria today, we have many prophets. I was at one mountain some time ago. While conducting the programme, the Pastor was just saying ‘yes, I heard the voice of God, the Lord spoke’ and I thought the Lord spoke until I heard the Pastor saying ‘yes, I see many people want to travel abroad, many people who have abandoned properties, come out. Go and give me one tenth of the ticket charges’. Is that a prophecy? Some of the prophets are into occultism, they are not prophets. A prophet who has three or four wives, can you call that one a prophet of God? In 2008, I predicted that Yar’Adua would die; Tribune Nigerian and some other papers in Lagos published it. A notable prophet in Lagos came out and insulted me. He said they should just ignore that man in Ibadan. Some journalists came here and I told them I had nothing to say than that I stand by my prophecy. Eventually, Yar’Adua died, journalists asked him that ‘but you said Olagunju’s prophecy should be ignored’. He said they came to him and he prayed for him. I now told them I had seven opportunities because I was invited to Abuja to come and pray for Yar’Adua but I discovered the Lord said I should not go. Lord revealed to me that while some of these prophets were praying for Yar’Adua’s healing; secretly they were anointing Jonathan to become the President of Nigeria.

•OLAGUNJU How can I lump myself with those type of pastors? Nigerian bishops have become businessmen. The fact remains that it is not Dokubo or Ateke Tom, or even Jonathan that is the problem of Nigeria. It is these so-called witchcraft advisers called pastors. They manipulate the President and the nation through their modern day witchcraft. They are the problem of this country. They have aligned with Jonathan now. As God would have it, they picked Osinbajo, Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God as Buhari’s running mate and they are blackmailing him that APC is a Muslim party. Are they not the ones that were saying this? They made CDs, wrote books, why should that be? We are agents of peace, not agents of destruction. If Nigeria has a problem today, it is the so-called men of God that are causing the problem and we have not even searched to say where is this problem coming from? Why should they support Jonathan? Instead of them to distance themselves, so that we can speak with one voice. How many of them can condemn Jonathan now? I heard Father Mbaka the other time. This is Mbaka who said Jonathan should go. How can he say so? Two years ago, he was praising Jonathan to high heavens. He even cursed his enemies just like they are doing today. He now came up to say Jonathan should go. Why should he say that? Whosoever dines with the devil is a friend of the devil. If Jonathan should release the names of the pastors that are dining and wining with him, Nigerians will cry. They have benefitted from this government and that is why they don’t have the mouth to condemn

him. I had opportunities to meet President Jonathan. In 2011, they sent for me to be his coordinator in the state here. I told them I was not interested. So that is just the point, they are the problem. If we stand aside as men of God, we will hear the voice of God for our nation. They said Buhari wants to Islamize Nigeria. I disagree completely. The useless pastors and politicians took a step that portrayed Buhari as a religious fundamentalist. Is it now under a democratic government that he will cause the Islamization of our nation? The fact remains that rogues are seriously against him and the looters are also being deceived, just like they did to Papa Awolowo. This I know for sure that if we miss this great chance, we might never get deliverance again. OSDF: So, did God show you whether Nigeria would be Islamized or not? OLAGUNJU: I didn’t receive that prophecy. The Almighty God just told me that Nigeria would break but I don’t know the date. But the issue of Islamization of Nigeria is a pure lie. It is the evil machination of some pastors. They said Turkey; are we Turkey? This is Nigeria, not Turkey. I spoke with some Redeemed Christian Church of God pastors who are my friends, I said where are you going o?. They said it is Buhari. And when they asked me, I told them the last time I voted was around 1979 but this time, I have mandated my family, we are all going to vote for Buhari. I am not supporting Buhari because I want him to Islamize Nigeria or because he is a sickler or because he is a retired General or because I want Osinbajo to become

Nigeria’s president later. No, it is based on two principles, one, the Lord revealed to me he is the next president and that he will carry out His judgment against the wicked people. Two, I believe that he can do better. There is no light, he will fix the light; he will fix many roads. In the time of Buhari, I am a living witness, a bag of rice was just N100 then compared to N10,000 under this government. In Abacha’s time it was N2, 300. During the time of Buhari, I would just drive my Volkswagen Beetle to the fuel station and give them N50, they will fill up my tank. So, I know he will do well by God’s grace. I want to assure you that Buhari will not die and he will get there because I and the Concerned Prophets and Pastors of God in Nigeria, we are praying seriously, I just came back from the mountain now, as soon as we leave here now, I am going back. We are on the mountain, praying for Nigeria and for General Buhari. My question is this, Jonathan and the so-called Bishops supporting him and his re-election bid, are they being sincere about the oneness of Nigeria? If yes, what is their stand? Are they not part of those using religious card, political and tribal labels to cause confusion in the country? All these heartless and corrupt Bishops and politicians have successfully beclouded our conscience with foolish religious and ethnic sentiments. OSDF: You spoke on Father Mbaka, he supported President Jonathan till October and on December 31, he changed gear. Couldn’t it have been that he heard from God? OLAGUNJU: He didn’t hear from God. He saw that there is change coming (laughs). OSDF: But look at it this way sir, years back, before a general election, you predicted that Buhari was wasting his time by contesting that year. Now you are the same person predicting that Buhari would be the president. Couldn’t Father Mbaka’s case have been the same? OLAGUNJU: My prophecy came out even before Buhari emerged as the candidate of the APC. Look at the difference. When you look at my prophecy for 2015, the Lord God Almighty revealed all the sins of President Jonathan and God picked Buhari to execute His judgment on corrupt Nigerian leaders. You can see there is a difference and there is no one, anywhere in Nigeria that can say I am wining and dining with the government of the day. I don’t do that. I tried my best to correct all these things that are going on in the Presidential Villa, I rolled out many prophecies. I did many things to tell the President that these people will spoil your government but all to no avail. So, it is not as if I was dining and wining with Jonathan and now turned my back against him. Father Mbaka was wining and dining with President Jonathan, the evidence is on ground. They accused him of asking for oil blocs which they refused to give. They have never accused me of that; I am not looking for oil bloc. I hope you can see the difference now. When you look at my prophecies since the beginning of this administration, you will see that I have been guiding the man. I prophesied in 2010 that Jonathan would become Nigeria’s President, am I not the same person that now prophesied that Jonathan will not win. What’s the difference? Is it because he doesn’t give me money? I don’t need his money but I want peace in Nigeria. I want Nigerians to enjoy dividends of democracy.

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All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial, House Of Representatives And State House Of Assembly Rallies In Ile-Ife, Boluwaduro-Ila-Ifedayo Federal Constituencies Last Tuesday And Wednesday.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left on the stage) acknowledging cheers from the crowd in Ile-Ife.

•Some of the Aregbesola supporters in Ile-Ife.

•Elated APC admirers in Ile-Ife.

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osun Defender Saturday, February 7, 2015

Final Judgment And Declaration Of Governor Rauf Aregbesola As Winner Of The August 9 Governorship Election By The Osun Election Petition Tribunal In The Election Petition Between Aregbesola And PDP Governorship Candidate In The State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, At High Court, Osogbo, Last Friday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s counsel, Chief Felix Fagboungbe (SAN) (with mic), addressing the tribunal, while with him are, Barrister Wale Afolabi (left); Barrister Femi Faturoti (right) and others.

•Securitymen and newsmen at the court premises.

•Aregbesola’s lawyers jubilating after the declaration.

•PDP counsel, Nathaniel Oke (SAN) (right), addressing the tribunal while other PDP lawyers watch.

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•Securitymen at the tribunal premises.

•People in Osogbo jubilating after the declaration of Governor Aregbesola.

•Women in Osogbo jubilating after the declaration.

•A cross section of market women at Akindeko Market, jubilating after the declaration.

phototalk

osun Defender Saturday, February 7, 2015

All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial, House Of Representatives And State House Of Assembly Rallies In Ile-Ife, Boluwaduro-Ila-Ifedayo Federal Constituencies Last Tuesday And Wednesday.

â&#x20AC;˘Mammoth crowd of APC supporters during the rally in Ila-Orangun.

â&#x20AC;˘Another mammoth crowd of APC admirers at Kajola-Ajaba during the rally.

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Unprecedented Development In The State Of Osun Engineer Sabitu Oladepo Amudah was the special adviser to the Governor on Works in the state of Osun, In this interview, he sheds more light into the activities of the present administration concerning public works, infrastructure and transport. BLAZON: When Ogbeni came into office, you as an Engineer, what was the state of road before and now? SA: Thank you. The state of roads in the state of Osun before the advent of the present administration was substantially nothing to write home about although they were not totally bad. Mostly affected by this undesirable State of public infrastructure were the township roads within cities, urban and semi - urban areas which form centres of administration and governance. Township road were in very bad shape while some of the intra-city I intercity road were fair but not up to the expectation of the current regime. This was the major reason why Ogbeni’s administration started work on the township roads especially in Osogbo ,lIesa , lie - Ife, Iwo and some other town in the state. BLAZON: What was the plan put in place by Ogbeni that transform into what we are seeing now? SA: Well, we are all witness to what is happening now - rapid development of all nooks and crannies of the state. It one thing to plan and another thing to execute the plan. Failing to plan is planning to fail. However, target - getting is more desirable than of the state by the current regime before her administration took off. What the citizens are witnessing on completion of various public works are manifestation of initial adequate plans of state government of Osun, all hands are on deck to get all jobs executed to satisfactory completion, planning is not just being done but state is executing what has already been previously

planned adequately , and people could see the massive construction works going on, in every nook and crannies of the state. BLAZON: In the process of dualization of major roads in the state especially Osogbo , building were separated. Were there any compensation? SA: Yes, There were compensations paid on all building and properties affected by the road dualisation projects, once genuine paper are presented to the State Government of Osun as appropriate. Let me correct an impression at this juncture, there were no demolition exercises whatsoever in the state of Osun but separation of

some illegal building I properties from the roads right - of - way, as expected, take for instance, the right - of - way of the on - going Oba Adesoji Aderemi bye pass (of 18km length) had been acquire since 1994 when the original concept and design works took off, but, despite this fact, some illegal structures were still erected along the proposed road alignment. That notwithstanding, full compensation were paid on all properties “separated” from the road right - ofway of Oba Adesoji Aderemi Byepass. It could be observed that its construction is ongoing uninterruptedly - no disturbance or any hindrance from anybody or litigation from anywhere

because the affected property-owners have been fully paid. Similarly on road dualization project from Osogbo - Ikirun- lIa Odo KWSB, the right -of - way had been acquired by Federal Government very long time ago. Most of the shops and houses along the road corridor either fall within the building line regulation set- back and I or road right- ofway. Nevertheless, compensations were paid through the Ministry of Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development on all properties that were “ separated” from the roadway once titled document are Continued from page 16

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Unprecedented Development In The State Of Osun Continued from page 15

presented by property - owners. BLAZON: What gave birth to the issue often (10) kilometers roads in each of thirty (plus one) local governments in the state? SA: The issue of ten kilometers per local government areas (as originally conceived) was borne out of the drive to evolve an egalitarian society for total development of all sectors of the state. But due to paucity of fund, it ranges between 6-10km in many of the local government areas. While some of these projects are still ongoing, some are substantially being completed across the state. BLAZON: You promised that works on the Local Government roads would be completed by September 2013 but we are now in December what happening? SA: It’s is true that September 2013 delivery date was initially promised. Incidentally there were challenges encounter by contractor because of long period of raining season .others could be attributed to the introduction of services ducts at intervals of 25 metres as .a modification to the initial concept, This would allow for passage of utility service units e.g. water pipes, electrical/optic cables etcetera, without damaging the road surfaces. Consequently upon these factors, January 2014 is the latest deadline for the local government road projects to be delivered by all contractors. Going by the rate of completion of considerable number of these projects, the new date would be realistic. B L AZ O N : R O A D S A N D D R A I N A G E I N T H E PA S T A N D N O W, I S T H E R E A N Y DIFFERENCE? SA : Y E S . T h e r e h a d b e e n an improvement on technical specifications, subject to availability of fund and, the will of the client/ promoter. In the past either of sandcrete blockwall lined drain (both side) or composite lined drain (sand crete SC, plus reinforced concrete RC walls) was used throughout the state by the previous

regime. But the present administration is adopting full reinforced concrete in all road construction projects. This would promote duability of public infrastructures (Le lasting for longer years of service ability) Moreover, crushed stone base course of 75mm thickness has also been introduced in the Local Government roads construction I rehabilitation works with at least. 40mm thick asphaltic wearing course. Hopefully, the life - span of local government projects would be enhanced with these improved specifications. B L AZ O N : A n y s a n c t i o n o n any contractors that do not follow specifications from the Ministry? SA: There are Sanctions already put in place to safeguard the project from some, un- ethical practices. There are three layers of technical supervisory team on the projects for the success of local government road projects. (a) Director of Works (& other Local Government Engineering Personnel)

(b) Engineer’s Representative, ER (from external consultants) (c) Superintending engineers, (SEs) from The Ministry of Works (in all the six ‘zones with their engineering personnel). With necessary site instruction site instructions from the supervisory teams, contractors would have no option other than to comply with the appropriate technical specifications. In case of probable ethical deviants among contractors, general condition of contract (as a component in the engineering contract agreement) stipulates that claims should not be entertained on any items of works that conflict with technical specification. Quality control (material testing certificates are also to support every item of works before payment recommendation certificate could be issued from the Ministry of Works. It is therefore difficult for any bad job to be paid for by State Government of Osun. Furthermore, there could be

contrast determination on any project where contractors have failed to deliver quality jobs to client’s expectation. BLAZON: ON IWO - OSOGBO ROAD. WHY WORK IS NOT YET STARTED THERE? SA: Thank you. This is a Government that is transparent and we don’t want to build our house on mud because we want a stable house talking of legacy. We don’t want to start a construction that will stop mid-way especially because of funds. As such, we want to ensure that fund and ways of funding such a project is completely sealed before we embark upon construction. The Ogbeni Aregbsola administration does not subscribe to sub - standard jobs Therefore, development project planning by agencies of government has to be adequate. B L A Z O N : T H E PA S T ADMINISTRATION PROCURED SOME VEHICLES FOR THE NURTW AND R TEA NS, IS THIS GOVERNMENT GOING TO DO THE SAME? SA: The present Government is not planning to go into public transport in that sense, what the government is doing is to assist whoever wants to go into ventures like that through the Ministry of Commerce, Industries & Empowerment to ensure loans from banks or any other financial houses for that type of encouragement. So far, the State Government would not be buying vehicles for any of the transport unions but that did not stop the assistance of the State Government towards helping interested individuals from getting the Federal assistance/ support in that regard. BLAZON: INA SENTENCE WHO IS OGBENI AREGBESOLA? SA: Mr. Governor is a visionary and altruistic (self - less) personality and leader in all ramifications. Ogbeni Adesoji Rauf Aregbesola is a committed leader, faithful, trustworthy, and an exemplary leader worthy of emulation who did not belief that something is impossible to achieve to improve the live for the people with almighty God, all things are possible.

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Seven Days To Go: How Osun Legislative Candidates May Emerge

y this time next Saturday, the electorate across the State of Osun would be deciding who become what both at Presidency and the federal legislative houses in Abuja. The state is not left out in the electoral process, as parties in the state also present candidates for federal legislative offices and have in the past weeks tried to outwit each other in the race to the lawmaking chambers in the FCT. Osun is renowned for the popularity of only the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), so this piece would concentrate on the chances of both parties in the forthcoming polls, as well as the opportunities their candidates can ride on to the chambers next June. Osun East Senatorial District The battle is strictly between the incumbent Senator Babajide Omoworare, a prince of Ile-Ife and Fadahunsi, a retired Customs Officer from Ilase. Omoworare defeated Senator Iyiola Omisore at the 2011 poll. Although, there were skirmishes in the process through which he emerged, but the Ifes, as speculated in some quarters, would not give

By shina abubakar

up all elective positions to the Ijesas, who already have the governorship of the state in their kitty. Omoworare is said to have problem with the party hierarchy, but he was said to have the support of the Ooni’s palace, which happens to be a factor in Ife politics and the governor is said to have the ability to sway the Ijesa votes in his favour. Going by his performance at the Senate, Omoworare is one of the performing senators, who is believed to get his way back to the senate to enrich the nation’s democratic tenets. On the other hand, Fadahunsi has not served in any political capacity before now, but has a warm relationship with the people from his locality. Although, the votes from his hometown cannot guarantee him a ticket to the senate, but would rely on the popularity of the PDP in Ifeland to defeat a son of the soil to the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when it is reconvened in June this year. Osun West Senatorial District

Here, the election in some quarters is said to be a one-way poll because of the popularity of the APC candidate, who was a former governor and senator, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, popularly referred to as ‘De Guv’ among his admirers. It was even believed that his defection into the APC was one of the major reasons the PDP lost the governorship poll and if the former governor should contest for senate on the platform of any other party, he would still win by majority number of votes. The Ede-born politician is popular and has followers in all the ten local governments in the senatorial district. Observers were of the view that if Adeleke had contested the governorship poll with Aregbesola, it would have been more difficult to win, as it happened against Omisore. The PDP candidate for the senate here is Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, a former minister from Odeomu, and would have a herculean task defeating the former governor in the race for the senate seat. Akinlabi, it was believed, was given the ticket to appease his surrendering the governorship ticket to Senator Iyiola Omisore and not because

he has the ability to win the seat against Adeleke. However, if the former minister would pull surprise during the February 14 poll, observers are watching with keen interest. Osun Central Senatorial District Senator Sola Adeyeye is one of the most respected voices in the senate because of his courage and ability to discuss without sentiment on national issues. Adeyeye was famous for telling the entire world when he was serving in the House of Representatives that their pay was outrageously high, hence, the governor and party leaders rooted for his return to the senate. His emergence as the party’s candidate was devoid of rancour. The Senator, however, has the structure of the party working in his favour. The senatorial district is where the party is most formidable and considering the large voting population in Osogbo/Olorunda, the two areas where the APC has die-hard supporters. Also, the Ila local government factor cannot be Continued on page 18

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osun Defender Saturday, February 7, 2015

Se ven Days To Go: How Osun Legislative Candidates May Emerge

Continued from page 17

For Oludaisi Aina, the Oluomo of Iresi, many believed he has grassroots support in his hometown due to his philanthropic credential in the community, but was said to be late in the political scene of the district. His campaign strategy for now seems to be concentrating in the two council areas in the state capital, which determine where the pendulum eventually swings. Ife Federal Constituency The incumbent honourable member, Honourable Rotimi Makinde, has enough supporters on ground and he is said to be investing in Ile-Ife, unlike previous politicians from the constituency, the posture which endears him to the electorate in Ifeland. Makinde is also a favourite among the youths, who he has empowered in various skill acquisition programmes and he is seen as one of them, contrary to his opponent, Dr. Albert Adeogun, who is seen as too elderly for the young ones in the ancient town to relate with, as they would with the incumbent. They are both from Ile-Ife, so the son of the soil sentiment may not fly in this case. However, Modakeke, to a large extent, plays a determinant factor in whoever emerges victorious in the House of REpresentatives election because of their block votes. Ijesha South Federal Constituency Honourable Nathaniel Agunbiade of the APC and Oluwole Oke from the PDP had fought over the same seat before and the former defeated his opponent by a wide margin against all odds because Oke was not the favourite. The situation is the same with a week to the poll, as there is clear shot at who is most likely to win the seat but observers would have to wait till the day of the election. However, if the people decide to vote in line with the tradition of the area, then Nathaniel will emerge the winner. Ijesha North Federal Constituency Here, the contest is between the incumbent, Honourable Ajibola Famurewa, of the APC and PDP’s Ayo Olowofoyeku. Barring any last minute swing in opinion, Famurewa would overwhelmingly defeat his challenger for the seat. This is owing to Famurewa’s proximity to the electorate and loyalty to the party.

•adeleke

•ADEYEYE

•OMOWORARE

•FAMUREWA

Osogbo Federal Constituency The contest is a straight one between Honourable Lasun Yusuf of APC and Mr Bashir Arogundade, with the only obstacle to Lasun re-emergence being within the party. This barrier played itself out during the party primaries that eventually saw his emergence as the preferred candidate of the APC. It is believed that once the party agree to work for him among its rank and file, Lasun would not have a problem of returning to the

green chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja. What Arogundade would rely on is the disagreement within the APC camp, which seems to have been resolved after Lasun Yusuf’s emergence of Lasun. It would be recalled that the APC won in all the local government council areas of the federal constituency in the August 9 governorship poll and is ready to repeat the feat again going by the statistics on ground.

Ifelodun/Boripe /Odo-Otin Federal Constituency Although the people of OdoOtin and Ifelodun voted for the APC in the last governorship election and the party leaders for an Ikirun indigene for the House of Representatives, but the incumbent from Ada, Yinka Ajayi, emerged as the candidate of the party and the party has since put behind its challenges Continued on page 19

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S even Days To Go: How Osun Legislative Candidates May Emerge

•YUSUF

•MOJEED

•NATHANIEL

•AMERE

•Makinde Continued from page 18

and rally round its candidate. Some members of the electorate in Ikirun may make their choice based on sentiment of son of the soil and vote for Kayode Oduoye of the PDP but traditionally, Ikirun is an APC stronghold and that may be the determinant factor in who eventually wins the seat. Iwo Federal Constituency Ajani Tajudeen of the PDP is new in the politics of Iwoland

violence for votes during which many indigenes of Ila-Orangun and other towns were physically assaulted. Though, he was said to have been going to plead with family heads to forgive him since, but it is a miracle if the people would not use his antecedents against him In the case of the APC candidate, Honourable Olu Fakeye, votes are likely to sway in his favour because he is from Ila-Orangun too and the popularity of the candidate of the party for the State House of Assembly would help him a lot as it is witnessed at the various rallies of the party.

•OMIDIRAN

and the area lacks a strong PDP leadership that could give moral support to the ambition of the young man, while Gafar Amere enjoys the boisterous support of his party chieftains, who command a lot of respect in the town. With the support of the likes of the Secretary to the State Government, the Asiwaju of Iwo and other prominent indigenes, as well as support of the senatorial candidate of the party, he may ride to the House of Representatives

on a platter of gold. Ila/Boluwaduro/Ifedayo Federal Constituency Ismaila Kolawole of the PDP secured a seat to the lower chamber of the National Assembly between 2003 and 2007, after he had decamped to the PDP from the then AD. However, what the teeming populace in the area holds against him since that time was his involvement in violence against the people. He was alleged to have spear-headed

Ede/Ejigbo Federal Constituency Professor Mojeed Alabi is poised to win the seat owing to two factors; the first is the fact that the PDP candidate for the same seat, Oladipupo Oguntola, is not popular among the electorate and neither does the PDP enjoy any goodwill among the teeming populace in the constituency. The second factor is the other APC candidates in the area, the combined factors of Senator Isiaka Adeleke and the incumbent Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, will make the election an easy ride for the former Speaker. Irewole/Isokan/Gbongan Federal Constituency Apart from the fact that Honourable Ayo Omidiran is the incumbent lawmaker representing the area, another factor that works in her favour is that she is the only female from the whole contingent from the state from both parties. The influence of Senator Isiaka Adeleke and the likes of Elder Peter Babalola, and the council Chairman would help deliver the necessary votes she needed to return to the lawmaking chamber. Retired Colonel Olayiwola Falabi, the PDP candidate for the same seat, has a lot of hurdles to cross to make it to the Green Chamber in Abuja not because of Omidiran’s popularity, but because of so many gladiators in the APC camp. The recent decampment of Hon Patrica Ette, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, from the PDP to APC is going to be an added advantage for Omidiran chance. Barring any last minute shift in the poll, the electorate have the power in their hands to decide which set of lawmakers would be representing their interest at the National Assembly when it is

foreign news

osun Defender Saturday, February 7,

Kerry In Kiev Amid Calls To Arm Ukraine

.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in snowbound Kiev on Thursday amid calls for Washington to begin arming Ukraine to battle Russian-backed separatists advancing in the east. NATO says Russia has sent weapons, funds and troops on the ground to assist the rebel advance, which scuppered a fivemonth-old ceasefire in eastern Ukraine where war has already killed more than 5,000 people. Moscow denies involvement in fighting for territory the Kremlin now calls “New Russia”. Washington has given its clearest signal yet that it is considering providing weapons to Ukraine. President Barack Obama’s pick for defense secretary, Ashton Carter, told a Senate committee he would “very much incline” toward supplying arms to Ukraine. “The nature of those arms, I can’t say right now,” Carter said at his Senate confirmation hearing. “But I incline in the direction of providing them with arms, including, to get to what I’m sure your question is, lethal arms.” Asked about the risks of escalation, he said: “I think the economic and political pressure on Russia has to remain the main center of gravity of our effort in pushing back.” Kerry’s visit is more about diplomatic support for now. U.S. officials said he would promise $16.4 million in humanitarian aid, barely a token gesture for a country that is in desperate need of billions in overseas financing to stave off the threat of bankruptcy, worsened by war. Western advocates of arming Ukraine say it would help raise the costs for President Vladimir Putin of pursuing Russia’s objectives. Opponents worry about escalating a conflict that would see NATO and Russia actively aiding opposing sides in battle for the first time since the Cold War. Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko called unambiguously for NATO arms in an interview with a German newspaper. “The escalation of the conflict that’s happening today, the increasing number of civilian casualties... should move the alliance to provide Ukraine with more support,” Poroshenko told Die Welt. “(That) includes, among other things, delivering modern weapons for protection and for resisting the aggressor.” B u t s o m e N AT O members are opposed to sending weapons. “This is not a solution that could involve the European Union or our country in the slightest,” Italy’s Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said in a radio interview. The EU should maintain pressure through sanctions, not weapons, he said. The rebels have been concentrating their advance

on Debaltseve, a rail hub between their two main strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk, where a government garrison has held out despite being nearly encircled. O n We d n e s d a y, t h e rebels appeared to have captured Vuhlehirsk, a nearby small town where government troops had also been holding out. The army said it was still contesting the town, but Reuters journalists who reached it saw no sign of areas under army control. Some of the residents who had not fled the shattered town came out of cellars where they had been holed up through days of fighting. Four dead Ukrainian soldiers lay in a garden. “Someone should come to remove these corpses, it is inhumane to leave them here to rot,” said Sergey Kopun, 50, a metal worker, who emerged from the cellar where he had sheltered with his wife and quadriplegic mother. In Kiev, the military said on Thursday five more

soldiers had been killed and 29 wounded in the past 24 hours. Troops had fended off two attempts to storm Debaltseve. The war and years of endemic corruption have brought Ukraine to the

verge of economic collapse and bankruptcy. The central bank announced an sharp hike in interest rates on Thursday, boosting the key re-financing rate to 19.5 percent from 14 percent, to

stave off the collapse of the hryvnia currency. “There is still panic on the market, connected with ongoing fighting,” Central Bank governor Valeria Gontareva told a news conference.

•U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry

Taiwan Pilot Hailed A Hero For Pulling Plane Clear Of Buildings

aipei’s mayor hailed the pilot of a crashed TransAsia Airways plane a hero on Thursday for narrowly avoiding buildings and ditching the stalled aircraft in a river, likely averting a worse disaster. At least 31 people were Amateur video recorded killed when Flight GE235 by a car dashboard camera lurched between buildings, showed the plane nose-up as clipped a taxi and an overpass it barely cleared the buildings with one of its wings and close to Taipei’s Songshan crashed upside down into airport before crashing into shallow water shortly after the river. take-off from a downtown “The pilot’s immediate Taipei airport on Wednesday. reaction saved many people,” T h e r e w e r e 1 5 k n o w n said Chris Lin, brother of s u r v i v o r s a n d 1 2 m o r e one of the survivors. “I was unaccounted for. a pilot myself and I’m quite “He really tried everything knowledgeable about the he could,” Taipei Mayor Ko immediate reaction needed in Wen-je said of the pilot, his this kind of situation.” voice breaking with sobs. Aerospace analysts said it

was too early to say whether the pilots intentionally pulled the plane above the buildings, and noted that the crew may have been aiming for the river to reduce casualties. A more conclusive picture will emerge only when authorities release details from the plane’s cockpit voice and flight data recorders, which were recovered on Wednesday. “He’s missed the buildings but it is premature to make an analysis of what happened on this flight. We have to wait for the data from the cockpit voice recorder and flight recorder,” said aviation analyst Geoffrey

IS Defeats In North Iraq Reveal Evidence Of Atrocities

irt-covered skulls and bones scattered among ragged clothing in a ditch in north Iraq are all that remain of some two dozen people believed to have been murdered by the Islamic State group. The blood still staining one contained the remains of about side of the ditch and the bullet 25 members of the Yazidi casings scattered on the ground religious minority. paint a grim picture of how IS spearheaded a militant they died. offensive that began in northern The recently discovered Iraq last June and overran large site is not unique, and more parts of the country, before evidence of IS atrocities will again turning its attention to the likely emerge as areas retaken north in August, seizing areas from the jihadists by Kurdish including Sinjar. forces are searched, a task made The jihadists carried more difficult by explosives out a campaign of killings, they left behind. kidnappings, enslavement and “Three mass graves have rape against Yazidis living in been confirmed — two in the the area that the UN termed an Hardan area and the other in “attempt to commit genocide.” Sinuni,” said Myaser Haji Saleh, Backed by US-led air strikes the local official responsible for and assisted by international the Sinjar district in the northern trainers and advisers, Iraqi province of Nineveh, where the Kurdish forces have made sites are located. significant gains in the north, “But we believe that the driving IS back and retaking biggest graves are in the centre areas including Sinuni. of the Sinjar district and areas At first glance, the massacre that are now under (IS) control,” site appears to be a place where Saleh said. old clothes and other rubbish The two graves in Hardan has been dumped, but a closer have yet to be excavated, but inspection reveals bones also Saleh said the site near Sinuni lying in the ditch.

Skulls, some broken and others still intact, vertebrae, ribs and other bones are mixed among the clothes, shoes and sandals the victims wore when they were murdered. Kidnappings carried out by IS have left devastated relatives unsure whether their loved ones are alive or dead. Ali Bazo, who was a resident of the nearby Khana Sur housing complex but now lives in a camp for displaced people, came to the massacre site to search for signs of his father, who was seized by IS when it overran the area last August. “We learned of the discovery of this mass grave and came and found the keys to our house,” he said, but he still does not know which bones belonged to his father. Bazo said wants experts to examine the remains to identify his father, so he can be given a proper burial. The first step toward identifying the victims was taken on Wednesday, when the remains were brought to a morgue in autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan for DNA testing, said Fuad Othman, a spokesman for the region’s martyrs ministry.

Thomas, editor-in-chief of airlineratings.com The pilot and co-pilot of the almost-new turboprop ATR 72-600 were among those killed, Taiwan’s aviation regulator said. TransAsia identified the pilot as 42-yearold Liao Chien-tsung. Taiwanese media reported that it appeared Liao had fought desperately to steer his stricken aircraft between apartment blocks and commercial buildings The head of Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration, Lin Tyh-ming, has said Liao had 4,914 flying hours under his belt and the co-pilot 6,922 hours. Taiwanese media reported that Liao, the son of street vendors, passed exams to join the air force. He later flew for China Airlines, Taiwan’s main carrier, before joining TransAsia. The aviation regulator ordered TransAsia and Uni Air, a subsidiary of EVA Airways Corp, to conduct engine and fuel system checks on the remaining 22 ATR aircraft they still operate. Tr a n s A s i a ’s s h a r e s closed down 6.9 percent on Wednesday, its biggest percentage decline since late 2011, and were down another 3.3 percent on Thursday. The crash was the latest in a string of aviation disasters in Asia in the past 12 months and TransAsia’s second in the past seven months. Macau’s Civil Aviation Authority said the engines of the plane had been replaced at Macau Airport on April 19 last year, during its delivery flight, “due to engine-related technical issues”. It said the engines were r e p l a c e d b y Tr a n s A s i a engineers and the plane left Macau airport two days later. Lin from Taiwan’s CAA said the aircraft last underwent

maintenance on Jan. 26. The plane was powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW127M engines. Pratt & Whitney is part of United Technologies. The last communication from one of the pilots was “Mayday engine flameout”, according to an air traffic control recording on liveatc. net. A flameout can occur when the fuel supply to an engine is interrupted or when there is faulty combustion, but twinengined aircraft can usually keep flying with one engine. Taiwan’s United Daily reported that a flight attendant, identified only by her surname of Huang, told her family she had crawled out of the rear of the plane and found herself in the water. “I thought I was going to die,” she said. It also said a family of three who survived the crash had changed seats before take-off to the right of the plane, most likely saving their lives. A TransAsia official said the airline would give the families of those killed T$1.2 million ($38,198) for funeral expenses and T$200,000 to each of the injured. Two people on the ground were also injured, it said. The plane was bound for the Taiwan island of Kinmen.

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osun Defender Saturday, February 7,

Job Vacancies In Nigeria

Career Opportunities at The Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3), Abuja, Nigeria

The Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3) supports the US President’s Malaria Initiative’s (PMI) goal of significantly reducing deaths from malaria in high burden African countries. Social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) activities ensure Nigerians are aware of, understand, and play their part in the national goal of malaria elimination. HC3 Nigeria is working with the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) and partnering organizations to ensure SBCC activities achieve scale and intensity throughout the country. With over 177 million people to reach, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. Interventions introduced have to achieve impact with a combination of wide reach and intense interpersonal communication activity. Job Description: Position: Admin/Finance Assistant JHU CCP-HC3 Nigeria Malaria Project Location: Abuja, Nigeria Supervisor: Admin/Finance Manager Responsibilities: The Admin/Finance Assistant will be responsible to assist the Admin/Finance manager with day to day tasks related to administration and finance. Specifically, the Admin/Finance Assistant will: Assist with payments Assistant with budget tracking and financial reporting Assist with procurement processes and procedures Assist with coordinating transportation Assist with logistics for international visitor Assist with logistics for conferences, local travel, workshops and other activities Possible driving assignments as needed Other duties as identified by supervisor. Minimum Qualifications: Minimum of a(n) OND, Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or Business is highly preferred Minimum two years’ experience with QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint, Outlook, web browsers Excellent written and oral communication skills Fluency in English, written and spoken Driver’s license with ten years clean driving record How to Apply: 1. Send CV and cover letter ONLY by February 13, 2015 at 5 pm Nigeria time to: AsstHCThree@ gmail.com Do NOT send any other documents or attachments. Please note, any applications submitted with certificates, transcripts etc. will be immediately discarded. Do NOT send links to online resumes or CVs. Any applications submitted with a link to an online resume or CV will be immediately discarded. 2. The subject line for your submission MUST read: “Application for HC3Admin/Finance Assistant” any emails without this exact subject line will be immediately discarded. 3. Only final candidates will be contacted for further engagement Position: Senior Technical Advisor-Monitoring and Evaluation Location: Abuja, Nigeria Responsibilities: The Senior Technical Advisor-M&E will work closely with program staff in Nigeria and M&E staff at CCP headquarters to lead all monitoring, and evaluation activities and possibly research activities. Specifically, Senior Technical Advisor-M&E will: Coordinate the design, analysis and reporting of program activities (and possibly qualitative and quantitative studies), in collaboration with headquarters RM&E staff. Prepare an implementation/operational plan for project data collection, analysis, and reporting. Develop and maintain the project reporting system and database(s) and train staff and partners on reporting forms and procedures. Develop work plans and budgets for project M&E activities, in collaboration with the CCP HQ research staff. Ensure the timely monitoring and reporting of all programs and activities. Ensure quality in all data collection, analysis and report writing for CCP HC3 M&E activities Prepare documentation for and liaise with Internal Review Boards (at JHU and in country, if necessary) and monitor compliance with human subjects’ research guidelines for all assigned research projects, if required. Present M&E findings during meetings, conferences and workshops, as appropriate. Assist staff and partners in translating research findings into evidence-based programming. Build capacity of staff and partners in communication monitoring and evaluation. Collaboratively publish evaluation results and research findings in project documents, professional journals and CCP publications. Other duties as identified by supervisor. Minimum Qualifications: Minimum of a Master’s Degree in social science research; PhD or DPH in social science or public health field preferred. Minimum five years’ experience in programmatic research, monitoring and evaluation. Excellent quantitative and qualitative research design and data analysis skills, including use of statistical packages such as STATA, Epi-info, SPSS and qualitative data management software such as NVivo and/or ATLAS.tl Experience designing and maintaining an electronic management information system. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Fluency in English, written and spoken How to Apply: 1. Send CV and cover letter ONLY by February 13, 2015 at 5 pm Nigeria time to: hc3stamande@ gmail.com Do NOT send any other documents or attachments. Please note, any applications submitted with certificates, transcripts etc. will be immediately discarded. Do NOT send links to online resumes or CVs. Any applications submitted with a link to an online resume or CV will be immediately discarded. 2. The subject line for your submission MUST read: “Application for HC3 NSTA-Monitoring and Evaluation” any emails without this exact subject line will be immediately discarded. 3. Only final candidates will be contacted for further engagement. Position: Senior Technical Advisor-Media JHU CCP-HC3 Nigeria Malaria Project Location: Abuja, Nigeria Supervisor: Chief of Party Responsibilities: The Senior Technical Advisor-Media will work closely with program staff in Nigeria and staff at CCP headquarters to lead media and materials development and implementation activities for the USAID HC3 Nigeria Malaria Project funded by PMI. Specifically, Senior Technical Advisor-Media will; Coordinate and oversee the production of mass media, print and other project communication materials in tandem with staff and partners. Coordinate and oversee media planning, broadcasting and materials distribution in tandem with staff and partners. Develop with the Senior Technical Advisor-M&E a tracking system for media products and activities.

Develop micro work plans for state level adaptation of key media materials. Present media and materials development and process during meetings, conferences and workshops, as appropriate. Build media and materials capacity of staff and partners Collaboratively document media development, distribution and success stories. Other duties as identified by supervisor. Minimum Qualifications: Master’s degree in communication and or public health or related field preferred. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in communication. Minimum eight years’ experience in Media and Communications. Experience with media distribution agencies. Experience with local adaptation of Social and Behaviour Change Communication materials. Ability to work well with a team. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Fluent in English, written and spoken. How to Apply: 1. Send CV and cover letter ONLY by February 13, 2015 at 5pm Nigeria time to: hc3stamedia@ gmail.com Do NOT send any other documents or attachments besides your cover letter and CV. Please note, any applications submitted with certificates, transcripts etc. will be immediately discarded. Do NOT send links to online resumes or CVs. Any applications submitted with a link to an online resume or CV will be immediately discarded. 2. The subject line for your submission MUST read “Application for HC3 NSTA-Media”. Any emails without this exact subject line will be immediately discarded. 3. Only final candidates will be contacted for further engagement ————————————————————————————————————— Oyo State Security Trust Fund recruitment for Executive Secretary , February 2015 The Oyo State Security Trust Fund is a Public-Private initiative set up to compliment the remarkable efforts of the State Government in the provision of safer environment for its citizenry. Towards this end, a Board of Trustees has been inaugurated and since commenced duties. In line with the law establishing the Oyo State Security Trust Fund, applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the position of an Executive Secretary to the Trust Fund. Position: Executive Secretary Responsibilities: The Executive Secretary shall be subject to the general direction of the Board of Trustees, and be responsible for: The day-to-day administration of the Fund; The administration of the Secretariat of the Board; Keeping the books and proper records of the proceedings of the Board; The general direction and control of all other employees of the Fund; Handling fund raising programmes for the Trust Fund; A symbiotic relationship between the public and private sectors to have a safer environment in the state; Effective coordination of stakeholders. Salary and Allowances: Salary and allowances are very attractive for this category of officer Terms of Office: The appointment is for an initial term of five (5) years in the first instance and may be renewed, subject to satisfactory performance at the discretion of His Excellency, the Executive Governor for another term of five (5) years. Requirements: Applicants for the post must possess the following: A good university degree with 15 years cognate experience in related fields Have knowledge of Computer/ICT Be of good character and integrity Have mental stability and ability to provide the needed “Servant Leadership” to take OYSSTF to the next level. Method of Application: Interested candidates should forward 10 copies of their curriculum vitae, copies of relevant credentials, together with names and addresses of three (3) referees to The Office of the Special Adviser (Security), Room 52, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan on or before 18th February, 2015. ————————————————————————————————————— Graduate Job Opportunities in a Nigerian Fabrication Yard, February 2015 Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the following positions in Nigeria Fabrication Yard Position: Materials/Corrosion Manager Locations: Lagos State, Rivers State Requirements: University degree to Engineering or Science discipline e.g. Material & Metallurgical, Mech, Eng, Corrosion Science & Engineering or Applied Science Professional certifications, experience depth and/or higher qualifications offer added advantage Experience: Not less than 8 relevant years Eligibility: Resident in Nigeria Aged 28 to 40 years Certified to be in good health Position: NDT Inspector Locations: Lagos State, Rivers State Requirements: BSc/HND or its equivalent qualification in Engineering or Applied Sciences. AWS Certified Welding Inspector, UK – PCN level 2 or TWI Level 3 certifications of higher required Experience: Not less than 8 relevant years Eligibility: Resident in Nigeria Aged 28 to 40 years Certified to be in good health Position: Graduate Trainees Locations: Lagos State, Rivers State Requirements: BSc/HND or its equivalent qualification in Mechanical, Metallurgical, Materials, Marine, Chemical Engineering or Applied Sciences Experience: Not critical Eligibility: Resident in Nigeria Aged 18 to 28 years Certified to be in good health Method of Application: Send Curriculum Vitae (MS Ward or pdf format) to: cstg.resourcing@hotmail.com or cstg247@ gmail.com Application closes on or before Friday 13th February 2015. ——————————————————————————————————

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FEATURE

osun Defender Saturday, February 7,

How PDP Made Buhari Presi dent T he PDP, a party that has ruled over Nigeria and Nigerians in the last almost 16 years, chose a campaign of calumny over a campaign on issues. They recruited the loudmouth Mr Femi FaniKayode, who had said a ton of unprintable things against the current regime, when he found himself on the other side, as the chief spokesman; a major faux pas if I am asked. All APC had to do was repeat all the guy called FFK had said about the ruling party back to the PDP, on a daily basis, including that the President hopes to ‘destroy’ Nigeria rather than let go of power, asides from other evils they have planned against the poor people of this country, according to FFK of course. I wasn’t quite enthusiastic about the phenomenon called Muhammadu Buhari, until I saw the amount of evil mounted against the poor man. When the PDP promised to throw the kitchen sink at the man, I waited with bated breath for what they had in stock. However, I made up my mind from the beginning that nothing would ever make me support PDP. Buhari had my vote in 2011 and since the Igbo candidate, Rochas Okorocha, whom I favoured earlier, because I felt Nigeria should address the Igbo “marginalization” question, and about whom Igbo people themselves made fun of me didn’t emerge, nothing would make me not to support Buhari again like I’ve always done. But the strategy adopted by the PDP, actually worked against them and gifted the presidency to the amiable General. Don’t say I am counting my chicks before the eggs hatch, after all, one of PDP’s evil geniuses, one Femi Aribisala, recently wrote an article titled: “How to Lose Elections Four Times”. Now he is panicking big time! I hadn’t known exactly what Buhari was about until the PDP helped to dig up more information. They claimed the man does not have a WASC (secondary school) requirement, when in fact, the provision of the law and its interpretation shows he has a Masters Degree equivalent. Whatever the 54-year old story may be, the man eventually got his statement released by the school he attended, including the Cambridge result, comprising the names of all the other students he took the exams with. While all that transpired, some Nigerians, those who are transfixed with the old ways of doing things and especially those who have

•buhari By Tope Fasua

sworn to destroy Nigeria, if they don’t get their wishes, were selling the story that if Nigerians could as much as pin a single misdemeanour on the gentleman general, we could conclude that the man was striving to lead Nigeria, so that at 73 years old, he could embezzle money!! It was case of “yeah we know the entire system is rotten, but if we could detect a single bacteria on this other option, then we can say it is even worse”. Imagine! It clearly showed how bad our educational sector has let us down lately. And nothing could be put past a group of people who forged hospital reports that someone had cancer or Parkinson’s disease, or people who would publish in the front pages of national newspapers that they wished someone dead in a couple of years, making a mockery of our heroes past, including Balewa, Ironsi, Yar’Adua, Abacha, and of course the iconic Murtala Muhammad! Anyhow, the PDP gifted us Buhari, on a platter of gold. I refrain from praising him here as much as I would have wanted, because we are moving into a season of modesty, honesty, contentment, measuredness, humility, cleanliness, chastity, charity, sacrifice, indeed all the

good values, in Nigeria. From the outpouring of love on the good man from the length and breadth of the country, and as documented properly on social and traditional media, the PDP guys, who are used to rigging now know better than to try any tricks. I know, however, that their last trump card will be a resort to violence, as they usually do, especially by instigating and sponsoring drug addicts in the North. Asari-Dokubo and co are already stoking violence in the South, unchecked by the DSS. The mob actions against Bala Mohammed and the Jonathan campaign in some parts of the north are instructive, much as violence is condemnable, it has been said eloquently that the PDP is no longer wanted in Nigeria; across its length and breadth. Even the core East now has a groundswell of following for the general in spite of the mudslinging. Father Mbaka helped, but the PDP itself has helped the scale fall off the eyes of most Nigerians. When a serving Vice President goes around, instigating hate against churches, while his principal, the President, hops around churches hoping to drum up sentiments against Muslims, you know we are being led by two extremists. Please see below Buhari’s references since he was 18 years old, and note that psychologists

say people don’t change from when they are 21 when their character is formed. Muhammadu Buhari’s character has formed and he cannot be what they are saying he is at 73! It is all blatant lies. We look forward to a new government where universal values shall reign, where Nigerians will be proud of their country once more, since 1985! Below is what I was able to extract from the results and testimonials that PDP forced his school and his campaign to release, much to their detriment. See whether you would not be proud of anybody about whom these were written, mostly by white men and Indian Army Generals, not Nigerians: RE C O MME N DATI O N / TESTIM O N IA L FR O M BUHARI ’ S L O N G - DEAD ENGLISHMAN SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Entered January 1954. Taking normal 6 years to WASC. Head Boy of the school. Played for (illegible) Soccer II on (illegible). Reserve for 1st Hockey II. Plays House Soccer and Hockey. Member Red Cross Junior (illegible). Vice President of the Debating Society. Active and alert, physically and mentally. Mock WASC 1961 predicted a Grade 2 Certificate for him. This is a reasonable hope. Wants a career in the Army. A fine boy of honest and open disposition. A trifle gentle in dealing with his juniors. Loyal, polite, wellmannered. Conscientious. Went to (illegible) 1961 for a visit sponsored by Elder Dempster Ltd.Highly recommended for potential officer material. TESTIM O N IA L FR O M DEFENCE SERVICES STAFF COLLEGE, WELLINGTON 1973 LT. COL MUHAMMADU BUHARI KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY A sincere and hardworking officer, who is keen to learn. Has average intellect. He possesses a working knowledge of his own Arm but knowledge of other Arms and Services is just adequate in its extent and application. He can comprehend the implications of most of the situations and has the imagination and common sense to arrive at generally reasonable solutions. He can express himself adequately. Has shown keen interest and benefitted from the course. C HARA C TER A N D PERSONALITY Tall, slim and well-turned-out, Buhari is a quiet, unassuming and honest individual, with a matured and balanced outlook. Subdued

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osun Defender Saturday, February 7, 2015

Aregbesola Campaigns For Buhari, Adeyeye, Other APC Candidates In Osun.

•The governor, State of Osun/South-West Presidential Campaign Coordinator, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (in-white, on top of a bus) with APC Senatorial candidate, Senator Sola Adeyeye, acknowledging cheers from party supporters, during the APC Presidential and National Assemblies Campaign at Palace Square, Ila-Orangun in Boluwaduro, Ifedayo and Ila Federal Constituency last Wednesday.

•Aregbesola, addressing enthusiastic APC members and admieres during the party’s Presidential and National Assemblies campaign in Otan-Ayegbaju, Boluwaduro, Ifedayo and Ila Federal Constituency on Wednesday

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Philosophers have interpreted the world to mean that the only thing that is permanent in life is change. Change therefore becomes inevitable in the life of a man. Some people may argue that change may be positive or negative, which is true. However, depending on the situation one finds him or herself, change will become necessary. In Nigeria today, we are already down under the government of President Goodluck Jonathan; hence change can only be positive. For 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party-led (PDP) Federal Government has not inspired leadership to meet the yearnings of the people. At best, the leadership offered by the ruling party is inept and rudderless and needs to be changed. The government that cannot provide security for her citizens ought not to be, in the first instance, not to talk of seeking re-election. The fundamental function of any government is the protection of life and property. If a government therefore fails in this basic responsibility, it has no business being in power. For the first time in the political history of Nigeria, insurgents are controlling parts of the country. Some local government council areas in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states have been taken over by insurgents with the Federal Government looking helpless. Despite the armada of security apparatus at the disposable of the Federal Government, it has not pursued the fight against the armed bandits as effectively as it ought to do. Nigerian soldiers have distinguished themselves creditably well during peacekeeping operations in Africa and elsewhere, yet they look despondent in their own country. What could be the cause, if not lack of inspired leadership? Nigeria has enough human and material resources to effect positive change, not only in Africa but in the world. This is however possible if we do the right thing. The Chibok school girls kidnapped closed to 300 days are still in captivity. Our CommanderIn-Chief could not summon his security chiefs to provide security for him to visit the distraught parents of these hapless girls. But when it was time to embark on campaign tour of Maiduguri, the President visited the place. Our

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

Let Us All Be Agents Of Change

•jonathan

refineries have been producing at less than the installed capacity. Nigerians have cried out that if these refineries are put in shape, Nigerians could be productively engaged. Yet, the government keeps rationalizing why it is not feasible to either make them functional or set up new ones. With the dwindling fortune in the country’s mono-cultural economy, the government is not offering to do something positive in that direction. Can such a government be trusted? Certainly not. In a presidential system as we practice now, the President has the whole country as his constituency, which means he can access any technocrat or expert to assist in shoring up his government. At the campaign rallies of the PDP,

moves by the President to shift the election. All the reasons being touted for the shift do not hold water. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the statutory body established to deal with fixing of election dates. No other authority or person has the legal right to effect any change in the days of election. The issue of the PVCs cannot and should not be used as an alibi for shifting election forward. Available information from INEC shows that they have distributed above 62 percent of the cards, the time between now and Sunday 8th February, which is the deadline for the collection of cards could also be meaningfully used to collect the remaining ones. As for security challenges in the troubled states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States, can any security official determine when peace would be restored? Since nobody can rightly predict accurately, does that mean we have to shift election indefinitely? Nigerians should use the PVC wisely to throw away government that is not committed to the welfare of the people. A person or leadership cannot give what it does not have. The PDP lacks leadership with vision and foresight to do the right thing. Enough of complaints! We should take our destiny in our hands, for the saying goes: “Opportunity lost may not be regained.” We have seen the best of Jonathan and the PDP, let us give a try to somebody else. General Muhammadu Buhari has been maligned for different reasons, forgetting that the prevailing circumstances then was different. From the anti-democratic forces that are hell-bent on effecting shift in the election date and their supporters, they should be reminded that those who orchestrated the annulment of June 12 1993 election would forever remain ignominious. Nigerians are being called upon now to do the right thing. We should use what we have (PVC) to get what we want. Today, we relish the achievements of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. What sacrifice are we prepared to make for ourselves now and for the future generations unborn? If we allow this golden opportunity to slip by, we may not be able to get it back. Get your voter’s card

it was a visibly enraged President that was bitter about criticism of the major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Rather than concentrate on issues, he dwelled on nonissues. At the Lagos rally, it was a visibly angry President that kept referring to a refrain “They say we have not done this, we have not done that’ which ought not to be. What Nigerians needed from the incumbent is to tell us what he had done with the previous mandate before asking for a new one, if he is elected. It is in view of the prevailing situation in the country that Nigerians must use the most potential and powerful instrument, the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to affect a positive change in the country next week. Already there are subterranean 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

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