Osun-Defender 23rd December, 2014 Edition

VOL. 9. NO.150 N50tuesday, december 23, 2014

www.osundefender.org THE 6TH MOST-VISITED NEWSPAPER WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

Front Page Comment

•State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), in a handshake with All Progressive Congress (APC) Vice-Presidential candidate in Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), at the ongoing governorship election petition tribunal over the August 9, 2014 governorship election between Governor Aregbesola and the defeated PDP candidate in the State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, at State High Court, Osogbo, last Friday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

- See Story On Page

3

Osun Governorship Election Peti-

- See Story On Page 2

- Pg 3

My Witnesses Haven’t Disappointed Me - Aregbesola•As APC Opens Defence

Osun Tribunal Proceeds On Recess

Gunmen Abduct UNIOSUN ASUU Chairman’s Wife, Demand N50m Ransom - Pg 3

Pray For Touch Of God, Christians Urged In Israel

- Pg 2

Aregbesola’s Giant Strides Steal Show At NCI In Abuja

Ebola: Personal Hygiene Is KeyThe recent declaration of Nigeria as Ebo-la-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) came as a palatable news for the country. Of course it’s really a great thing to hear from the World

Health body that Nigeria is free of the killer-disease that spreads like the har-mattan fire. For a country where you hardly hear any good news; a country that’s hardly associ-

with anything positive, to have been given a clean bill of health with respect to EVD, is a thing to rejoice over and the gov-ernment and the people of Nigeria deserve to be congratulated

on this. And more so Nigeria being the first country in the world to be so declared. Honestly, to regard

a feat would not amount to exaggera-tion and it shouldn’t be so considered. This is why we are proud of our governments both at federal and state lev-

pro-active manner with which they approached the Ebola epidemic. And of particular men-tion here is the Lagos state government. In fact, that government really exhibited exem-plary pro-activeness.

Continue on pg4

2OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december 23, 2014 News

•(L-R) All Progressives Congress (APC) Vice-Presidential candidate in Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Mr Femi Falana (SAN) and Barrister Wale Afolabi during the ongoing Election Petition Tribunal over the August 9, 2014 gov-ernorship between Governor Aregbesola and the defeated PDP candidate in the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, at the State High Court, Osogbo, last Friday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

by kazeem mOhammed

Osun Tribunal: My Witnesses Haven’t Disappointed Me - Aregbesola •As APC Opens DefenceGOVerNOr of the state of Osun, Ogbeni

rauf aregbesola, has said that none of his witnesses that testified before the state

Governorship election Petition tribunal hearing the petition challenging his re-election has ever dissapointed him.

He spoke on Friday after he attended the tribunal proceedings, as Al l Progress ives

Congress (APC), the s econd r e sponden t , opened its defence against the petition.

The defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship c a n d i d a t e , S e n a t o r Iyiola Omisore , are cha l leng ing the re -election of Aregbesola and the APC before the Justice Ikpejime-led tribunal, while the Independent National Electoral Commission

(INEC) is joined as the third respondent in the matter.

The governor, who said his appearance before the court was to honour the t r ibunal jur is ts , described the proceedings a s s t i m u l a t i n g a n d impressive.

“The entire proceeding was quite stimulating.

I was impressed by t h e a s t i t u t e n e s s o f m y w i t n e s s e s a n d none of them actually dissapointed me.

“I still have absolute confidence in this tribunal and I look forward to a good process and an ultimate judgement,” he said.

Earlier, the four APC

witnesses called for the day, who were party agents during the election, had told the panel that the election was properly conducted, free and fair.

The witnesses were Isau Waheed from Ward 5, Unit 5, Ejigbo Local Government Council Area ; Musa Abdul -Bak i f rom Ward 1 , Unit 3, Osogbo Local Government Council Area; Opeyemi Olalemi from Ward 2, Unit 1, Atakumosa-East Local Government Council Area and Otegbayo Oyebanji from Ward 8, Unit 5, Obokun Local Government Council Area.

The witnesses, who were led in evidence by the APC counsel, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, remained unshaken under cross-examination and told the tribunal that acc red i t a t ions were properly carried out and voting processes were free and fair in their various units.

Oyebanji, who was the last witness for the day, subjected everyone into laughter when he said: “I was the first agent they called to sign, but because I won, I said I was going to sign last being the biggest masquerade.

“There was no protest against the processes on that day, we all talked about it, we laughed it off and left,” the witness testified.

All the witnesses told the three-man panel that they all voted for the party of their choice, just as other eligible voters did, adding that nobody was harrassed, intimidated or induced with either money or food in their various polling units.

B e i n g t h e A P C agents in their various uni ts , the witnesses told the court that they stayed throughout the period of the election and witnessed sorting, counting, recording and announcement of the votes after the voting.

They also told the tribunal that they counter-s igned the o r ig ina l copies of form EC8A and stamped by INEC presiding officials in their various units, after which duplicate copies were given to each of them.

According to each of the witnesses, INEC officials came with all the necessary materials for the election and showed them to everyone, saying, neither voters nor party agents protested against the processes of the

Pray For Touch Of God, Christians Urged In Israelby shiNa abubakar

christiaNs all over the country have been admonished to pray for the touch of God so that Nigeria will become a better

place for all.T h e a d m o n i t i o n

was made by Prophet A d e b u n m i A l a b i , Chairman of the Christian P i l g r i m s We l f a r e Commission in the State of Osun, while leading the second batch of 2014 pilgrims from Osun in a prayer at the Garden of Tomb, Jerusalem last Saturday.

The second batch of Christians from Osun were part of the total 298 Christians on holy pilgrimage to Israel, out of which the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola-led administration sponsored 250, leaving only 48 as self sponsored.

The Garden of Tomb was where the Lord Jesus was crucified on the cross and buried in the tomb before rising again after the third day.

The second batch o f Chr i s t i ans f rom Osun, which included clerics from various churches, traditional rulers, members of the security services, medical personnel and two former members of the State Executive Council; Mr Sunday Akere and Mrs Folake Adegboyega, left Lagos on Wednesday 17th December, 2014.

Extolling the vision of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who instituted the policy of sending emissaries to churches around the nooks and crannies of the state to fish out indigent church workers, who could never have dreamt of visiting Jerusalem for sponsorship (a policy other state governments a r e c o p y i n g n o w ) , Prophet Alabi said the

peace existing in Osun today is possible through the efficacy of prayers.

He prayed to God to support the governor in taking Osun to the level of his dream and turn round the economy positively, so that the governor can quickly deliver on all his electoral promises.

Prayers were also offered to God for a peaceful, accident-free Christmas celebration and a free, fair, transparent and successful general elections in February 2015, which outcome would be acceptable to all, restore credibility to the Nigerian nation a n d b r i n g p o s i t i v e development that will benefit all.

Similarly, at the Place o f H o l y C o m m i s a , Jerusalem, the team further offered prayers to God for the success of the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola-led administration, who is the principal facilitator of

the pilgrimage. Also, prayers were

offered for peace to reign in Nigeria, with special focus on the Nor th Eastern part of the country that has been under constant siege from the Boko Haram insurgents, peaceful celebration of the Christmas/New Year festivities and orderly conduct of the 2015 general elections.

The delegation later moved to the Mount of Olives, which is the best observation point overlooking Jerusalem.

The f irs t point of ca l l was t he p l ace of ascension, where the footstep of Jesus Christ was seen when ascending to heaven after resurrection and later to the room, where Jesus first taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer.

The team then moved through the road through which Jesus entered the city as a king on Palm Sunday before moving to

the Tomb of the Jewish, which the Jews, by their belief, consider as the beginning of life, the City of the Dead, the Chapel of Dominus Flevit and Chapel of Peter Noster.

At the Church of Agony, it was revealed that the place was where Jesus predic ted the destruction of the symbol of Jerusalem, which will not be built again and thus the place of the Tears of The Lord.

The first day in the holy land saw the pilgrims visiting the Garden of the Tomb, Mount Zion, Cathedral of Sheperdhill and the Nativity Church in Bethlehem, which hosts the his tor ical manger, where Jesus Christ was born.

Also current ly on pilgrimage in the holy land are Christians from states like Kwara, Lagos, Gombe, Edo, Plateau.

3 News OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december 23,

Osun Tribunal Proceeds On Recessby kazeem mOhammed

the state of Osun Governorship election Petition tribunal has proceeded on christmas and New year recess and adjourned its further

sitting till January 5, 2015.The tribunal is hearing the petition of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) and i ts governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, challenging the August 9 re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The tribunal chairman, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejim, adjourned the further hearing of the petition till next year on Saturday after the APC, the second respondents in the matter, had called four witnesses for the day, who testified that nobody was harrrased or intimidated during the election.

She said the tribunal was also taking into consideration the 180 days required by the Electoral Act within which to complete the hearing of the petition and would take care of it.

The witnesses called for the day were Azeez Taofeek from Ward 2, Unit 4, Ede-North Local Government Counci l Area; Ilesanmi Ademola from Ward 9, Unit 4, Ilesa-East Local Government Council Area; as well as Olusola Ademubo from Ward 4, Unit 9 and Agbaje Lekan from Ward 4 both in Osogbo Local Government Council Area.

Telling the tribunal that they acted as APC polling agents and stayed at their units throughout the period of the election, they said, agents of all the political parties signed the original

copies of form EC8A for their units, after which they were given duplicate

copies each.Led in evidence by the

APC counsel, Ajibola Basiru, the witnesses told the tribunal that they were duly-accredited like other voters in their various units before voting.

U n d e r c r o s s -

examination, the APC agents said the INEC officials arrived their po l l ing un i t s a t the appropriate time, with all the necessary materials and agents of all the parties jointly inspected and confirmed them.

They said they al l witnessed the conduct of the election in their units

and every eligible voter was allowed to vote for the party of his or her choice.

They also said there was no inducement of voters or campaign by anybody on the day of the election.

According to them, nobody came to vote without accreditation and there was no arbitrary allocation of votes to any

of the parties.T h e y f u r t h e r t o l d

the court that ballots in their various units were sorted, counted, recorded and announced in their presence, saying, none of the agents complained about the conduct of the election.

Gunmen Abduct UNIOSUN ASUU Chairman’s Wife, Demand N50m Ransom by ismaeeL uthmaN

POLice authorities in the state of Osun have confirmed the abduction of Mrs Funmilayo abiona, the wife of the chairman, academic

staff union of universities (asuu), Osun state university chapter, dr Oluseye abiona.

M r s A b i o n a w a s reportedly abducted by unidentified gun-wielding men at around 7:30pm on Friday while returning home from her shop located at Oke-Baale Area of Osogbo, the state capital.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Osun P o l i c e C o m m a n d , Mrs Folasade Odoro, confirmed the abduction on Saturday.

The businesswoman was said to be driving in an unmarked ash-coloured Toyota Lexus ES 330 salon car with her two children, when the gunmen double-crossed her, smashed the rear wind screen of the car, dragged her into their vehicle and drove her away.

Mrs Abiona was taken away in a red car by the abductors, who also wore red clothes, according to information.

The incident shocked most of the passerby as they scampered for safety, while the two children,

who were left behind were screaming and weeping profusely.

OSUN DEFENDER

gathered that the abductors had since cal led the husband of the abducted woman, Dr Oluseye Abiona, to demand a N50 million ransom, saying his wife was currently unharmed and in good condition as at the time of the call.

It was also gathered that Mrs Abiona spoke with her husband on phone, when her abductors called to demand for the ransom.

The case is currently b e i n g i n v e s t i g a t e d by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Osogbo.

All efforts to get in

touch with Dr Abiona proved abortive, as his phone number was said to have been switched-off when called.

However, the Vice Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Professor Bashir Okesina, confirmed the kidnap.

Aregbesola’s Giant Strides Steal Show At NCI In Abujaat the 45th National council on information opened

on monday, the giant strides recorded by the Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni rauf

aregbesola in the provision of amenities such as standard roads, health care facilities, construction of modern school buildings, providing monetary succour to the elderly among others, stole the show, as all these activities were displayed on a giant screen at the entrance of the venue of the event at Nicon Luxury hotel in abuja, with encomiums showered on the governor for taking into consideration the plight of the people in the act of governance.

In his opening speech on the occasion, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, said the theme of this year ’s meeting: “Strategic Information Management for Credible and Peaceful Elections,” was most timely and appropriate, considering the fact that Nigeria has reached a critical stage in its history, as it prepares to deepen further its democratic system of government into the national fabric with the general

elections in 2015.Dr Fo l a sade Yemi -

Esan said it has become absolutely important to articulate government’s

a g e n d a o f e n s u r i n g free, fair and credible elections by formulating and implement ing an a l l - i n c l u s i v e p u b l i c enlightenment campaign strategy against violence, d i s r u p t i o n o f p u b l i c order, as well as effective mobilisation techniques .

Furthermore, in order to have peaceful polls next next year, the Permanent Secretary implored all Nigerians to borrow a leaf from the president’s message of unity and peace

and appealed to the people not to harm, maim or kill anybody and neither to incite violence of any kind.

On the occasion, the state presented two memoranda on “Digi t isat ion as i t affects States Broadcasting Corporations and others” as well as “The Need for the Establishment of Compulsory Insurance Po l i cy fo r P rac t i s ing Journalists and Information Officers in the Employment of Fede ra l and S ta t e

Information Mangers Charged To Be Conscious Of National Securi-the supervising minister for information, dr.

Nurudeen muhammad, has said that the theme for this year’s 45th meeting of National

council on information (Nci) was carefully chosen in order to focus on the council’s obligation to build understanding, as well as dispel wrong perception and fear among the electorate.

The minister stated this in his keynote address at the just-concluded 45th meeting of NCI, held in Abuja with the theme: “Strategic Information Management for Credible and Peaceful Elections”.

The meeting, which was well-attended, featured 376 delegates from 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, it was resolved that the role of the media in sustainable information management, should be enhanced in the interest of national security.

It was also resolved by the council that mass media information should be effectively harnessed for public enlightenment towards keeping Ebola away permanently from Nigerian borders.

The eleven-paragraph communiqué equa l ly resolved that the role of mass media mangers at federal, state and local

council levels should be harnessed for adequate mobilization and civic e d u c a t i o n t o w a r d s e n h a n c i n g v o t e r s ’ registration, as well as credible and peaceful elections.

The counc i l no ted the need for the Federal Ministry of Information to continue working with other stakeholders towards preparing a draft bill that would facilitate the enactment of a law on

d i g i t a l i s a t i o n a n d na t iona l swi tch-over from analogue to digital transmission.

The council unanimously adopted Jigawa State as the host of next year’s National Council on Information meeting.

The Sta te of Osun delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Engineer Olusegun Aduroja other d e l e g a t e s i n c l u d i n g Director-General of OSBC, Prince Soj i Fadehan, d i rec tors and deputy director from the ministry.

•Permanent Secretary, SuBEB, Alhaji Fatai Kolawole (left); Director, School Services, SuBEB, Alhaji Bakare Yaya (2nd left); Princess Aremu (3rd right) and another member of Oranmiyan Group from Abidjan during their courtesy visit to SuBEB recently.

•Adjourns Till Jan 5

4 OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december

Ebola: Personal Hygiene Is KeyContinued from pg1

We are indeed proud of her. For with the myriad of problems confronting us as a nation it would have been a di-saster writ large for the coun-try should we have failed to contain the lethal disease. With our population it would have really been disastrous for us if we failed to deal successfully with the scourge. The question is ‘how many problems would we have been dealing with’? For instance the problem of insecurity rather than abate is getting complicated by the day. Quite sad that the administra-tion of President GEJ for the past four years has been preoc-cupied with how to tackle our security challenges. This has constituted a major distraction for his government making his government’s performance

to be at a lowest ebb. Thus wouldn’t it have been unspeak-ably woeful for his administra-tion to be further preoccupied with another big challenge like EVD? This of course is a rhetor-ical question. However, as we rejoice over this good news we must not go to sleep with the belief that it’s over. Though it could be regard-ed as being over in Nigeria, we must not forget that some neigh-bouring West African countries are still being ravaged by this deadly disease. Thus our joy could only be complete when we are able to get rid of Ebola from the shores of Africa, nay, the world at large. In view of this there is a chal-lenge before all of us espe-cially at personal level and the challenge is for us to keep to the rules of hygiene. Personal hygiene is very key in keeping Ebola at bay. Not only Ebola

but various types of disease. It’s of course not disputable that per-sonal and environmental hygiene play a pivotal role in keeping dis-eases at bay from human commu-nity. For this reason we must not take personal and environmental hygiene for granted. It’s very important that we adhere strictly to hygienic rules. At personal level we must ensure that we wash our hands regularly especially before eating or putting anything into our mouth. Wash-ing our hands or making use of sanitizer and washing our fruits properly before eating, is very important. Not only because of Ebola but it’s the key to warding off certain ailments that can arise out of uncleanliness. And it’s very important to mention here that we need to educate our little children in this regard. We must ensure that they imbibe the culture of hand-washing before they eat or swallow anything.

Environmental hygiene is next to personal hygiene. We cannot talk of personal hygiene with-out talking of environmental hygiene. In fact they both go together; hands in glove. For time immemorial the dictum has been that ‘a clean environment promotes good heath’. This is not disputable. On the contrary a dirty environment provides habitat for diseases and brings about ill-health. In the light of the above it’s im-perative for us as individuals to live by the rules of personal and environmental hygiene. This is the only way to keep Ebola and other hygiene-related diseases away from our midst. It’s also by this that governments’ efforts so far in containing the spread of EVD will not be in vain.

Why FG Should Reduce Petroleum PricesSI N C E t h e

beginning of t h i s m o n t h ,

petroleum prices have been falling from about $100 to what is now less than $50 per barrel. But despite this situation, the official price of petrol in Nigeria has remained at N97 per litre. This is unethical and grossly unacceptable.

C h a n g e s i n petroleum prices should also affect the market price of such products. For a large oil-producing nation like Nigeria, now that the price has fallen significantly, the pump price of fuel should be reduced to

N50 to N60 per litre.It is sad that even

after the fuel subsidy demonstrations that resulted in the death of several people, Nigerians still buy petrol at a very high price. In fact, it is the highest in the league

of oi l -producing countries.

Despite the fact that subsidy was partially removed, it is quite verifiable that only a cabal of less than one per cent of Nigerians are

benefiting from the accruable resources. Even the Subsidy R e i n v e s t m e n t Project (SURE-P) is not making any positive impact on Nigerians.

While it is true that the fall in oil prices

h a s i m m e n s e l y affected Nigeria’s economy and foreign exchange, there is no reason why Nigerians will be made to buy petroleum products higher than any other country in the world.

The change in

OSUN DEFENDERPublisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd.

Managing Editor – Kola Olabisi (0803-392-7286)

Editor – Kayode Agbaje (0803-388-0205)

Lagos Editor – Kola Odepeju (08023191891) Production Editor – Pet-Kola Taiwo Ibitowa Senior Reporter – Sola JacobsSenior Reporter – Kazeem Mohammed

Magazine Editor – Niyi Olasinde

Reporter – Kehinde AyantunjiReporter – Francis Chukwuma

Photographer – Oluwagbemiga AdeniyiPhotographer – Olushola Aderinto

Admin. Manager – Murtala Agboola

Computer Operator – Saheed AfolabiComputer Operator – Mary AkintolaAssistant Computer Operator – Lukman Oseni OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun.All correspondence to the above mail address.ISSN: 0794-8050Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205Website: www.osundefender.com/index.phpe-mail: [email protected]

petroleum prices and value should reflect in Nigeria. We should not be made to suffer for an unfortunate situation we did not create. Why should the helpless masses always be at the receiving end? The Federal Government, through the relevant agencies, should work out modalities for reducing petrol pump prices. Other countries have done that ; why would Nigeria’s case be different?

• C o m r a d e ABDuLBAqI JARI, Katsina, Katsina State.

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G o o d G o v e r -Fresh Tenure Well Deserved!

As the second tenure of Ogbeni Aregbesola in the saddle of leadership in the State of Osun gathers momentum, and as residents of the state bask in the eu-phoria of the goodies engendered by the first tenure, NIYI OLASINDE bares blinkers off the hopes and expectations which formed the basis for the re-elec-tion of the administration.

Aregbesola’s Second Coming:OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december 23, 2014

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right), taking the oath of office. With him are his wife, Sherifat (2nd right); Barrister Wale Afolabi (2nd left); the Chief Judge of the State of Osun, Justice Adepele Ojo (left) and one of the governor’s sons during the inauguration recently.

6 OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december 23,

Continued on page 11

Fresh Tenure Well Deserved!maGaziNe

ON the 26th of November, 2010, the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola came alive through the justice delivered by the courageous

judges of the Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. That verdict delivered ended a three-year-old legal tussle that had dominated the political scene; and which had set eyes wide open with consummate expectations. Following the April14, 2007Gubernatorial Elections in the state, the governorship aspirant under the auspices of the Action Congress (AC) of the time, Engineer Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola and his political party had approached the constituted election petitions tribunal and Courts of competent jurisdiction for redress over alleged widespread electoral malpractices and irregularities in up to ten (10) out of the thirty (30) local government council areas and one area office which the state is comprised of. In the legal suit, the candidate for the opposition party (the ruling party of the time), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, his political frontier, the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the law enforcement agencies were joined in the suit alleging them culpable in the widespread irregularities and attendant violence that greeted the declaration of the results of the election.

As a matter of fact, the 2007 Gubernatorial Election in the state was a charade, and everything far from a free, fair, credible and transparent election. The state and its residents witnessed gross rape of democracy, as they were terrorized to forcefully accept the forced imposition of the incumbent governor of the time for the second term. Unfortunately for the perpetrators of the foisting, the fraud was perpetrated at a time when a good majority of the people saw a change in the baton of leadership not only as important, but also as necessary, desirable and larger than life. On its own part, the administration of the time and the political party that gave impetus to it insisted that maintaining the status-quo ante was incontrovertible. In effect, the latter resorted to the use of force; which led a situation where things started falling apart for the state.

During the three-and-a-half-year period in which the legal tussle lasted, it came up for hearing before the first election petitions tribunal, the first Appeal Court, which referred it back to a reconstituted election petitions tribunal before it came for final hearing before the second Federal Court of Appeal. As it stood at the time, many pessimists and strong believers in the vanity of brazen power felt that the case was a sure-win for the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) and its governor. This was mores so as the powers-that-be at the federal level and in other parts of the country threw their weight behind the falsehood of the claim and criminal hold on power by their party.

Gladly, God’s intervention came on November 26, 2010, when the courageous judges of the Federal Appellate Court situated at Ibadan in Oyo State in a unanimous judgment granted virtually all the prayers of the petitioners when it cancelled the votes in all the local government council areas where election irregularities were recorded; thereby upholding the election of the first petitioner and sacking the illegal tenure of the first respondent. Following the discharge of this verdict, Engineer Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola was ordered to be sworn in immediately as governor of the state.

On Saturday, November 27, 2010, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola was sworn in as the fourth democratically elected governor of the State of Osun. With that swearing-in ceremony, the stage was set for a fast-tracked, accelerated pace of progress and development which is unprecedented in the annals of the state. Even though the emergence of any new administration could be likened to an untrod path which destination is unknown, uncertain and indefinite, the fact that the people of the state desired for a change and that they demonstrated that desire with their power of the thumb in the April 2007 Governorship Elections spurred them into a frenzy at that earliest stage of the administration. The wild jubilations which greeted the declaration of Ogbeni Aregbesola as governor went down in history as first of its kind in these parts of the globe. Not even a similar event recorded in nearby Ekiti State a month previous could match it. Osogbo, the state capital shook to its basest foundations. Similar event was recorded in all towns and villages throughout the local government council areas in the state.

The jubilations witnessed as aftermath of the November 2010 declaration of Ogbeni was a proof to the fact that a good majority of the people demonstrated their joy toward their liberation from the demonstration of their collective will which had hitherto been suppressed. It became clear who the people voted for in the 2007 Gubernatorial Elections. The mammoth crowd at the inauguration ceremony on November 27 that year came as another convincing point. If at such short notice that magnitude of crowd could converge to witness an event, then that event, its motive and raison detre

must be a populist one.Four years later, we are here to confirm that

the jubilations with which the people greeted the administration were not misplaced. The landmark, monumental and unprecedented achievements of the administration has justified their jubilations. OSuN DEFENDER Magazine shall at this stage dwell briefly on these achievements which make that administration conform truly to its appellation as “Government Unusual”.

First in its line-up of achievements was the introduction in December 2010 of the State of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), which came as a timely intervention to salvage the youth of the state from the savage grip of poverty, lack and squalor occasioned by unemployment. Earlier during his time of preparation, Aregbesola had placed timely identification on unemployment as a major albatross plaguing the state in particular and the nation in general. In reasonable response to that, he promised to provide 20,000 jobs for the youths of the state within the space of his first 100 days in office, should he be given the mandate to serve as the helmsman of the state. Details of relevant portions of this as contained in his manifesto document titled “My Pact With the People of State of Osun” are here presented:

“My mission and ambition are to restore to the people, a state of peace, opportunity, for progress and room for the pursuit of prosperity in our time under a people friendly government.

I give you Six-Point Integral Action plan, to the intent that they constitute my actions of faith concerning which I want to be held accountable at any time during my stewardship.

SIX POINT INTEGRAL ACTION PLAN· Banish Poverty · Banish Hunger· Banish unemployment (Create Work/

Wealth)· Restore Healthy Living · Promote Functional Education· Enhance Communal Peace and ProgressBANISH uNEMPLOYMENT (CREATE

WORK& WEALTH)No job loss, more jobs.Osun people are peaceful, dignified and

hardworking people who desire and deserve gainful employment for their children and themselves. Rather than policies that will create employment

•(L-R) The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, taking the oath of office as Deputy Governor of the State. With her are Barrister Wale Afolabi and Chief Judge of the State, Justice (Mrs) Adepele Ojo during the swearing-in ceremony of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the deputy governor for second term in office at Osogbo City Stadium, Osogbo, State of Osun, recently.

7 OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december 23, 2014 PhOtOtaLk

•

•A cross section of Governor Aregbesola’s lawyers. From left, Vice Presidential candidate of APC, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Mr Bashiru Ajibola, Mr. Ibrahim Lawal and others. With them in front are Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right) and State APC Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun, at the governorship Election Petition Tribunal at the State High Court, Osogbo, on Friday.

state Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni rauf aregbesola, at the Ongoing Governorship election Petition tribunal Over august 9, 2014 Governorship election between him and the defeated PdP candidate in the state, senator iyiola Omisore, at high Court, Osogbo, Last Friday. Photo: GbeNGa

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•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (in white agada), on his arrival at the ongoing Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, at the State High Court, Osogbo, on Friday.

8 OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december 23, 2014 PhOtOtaLk

•All Progressives Congress (APC) Vice Presidential Candidate in Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) (right) in a handshake with a PDP lawyer at the court room.

•INEC lawyer, Ayotunde Ogunleye (2nd left) and other lawyers at the court room.

•A cross section of lawyers at the tribunal.


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9 OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december PhOtOtaLk

•A cross section of lawyers at the tribunal.

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right) in a handshake with the PDP deputy governorship Candidate in the State of Osun, Honourable Adejare Bello (left) at the tribunal.

t

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OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december 23, PhOtOtaLk

UNICEF Ambassador In The State Of Osun Demonstrated Sanitation Exercise At the 2014 Global hand Washing day celebration in Osogbo, recently.

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•Mrs Aregbesola in a group photograph with pupils while demonstrating hand washing, during the 2014 Global Hand-washing Day celebration in Osogbo, the Sate of Osun, recently.

•uNICEF Ambassador on Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, demonstrating hand washing. With her are former Special Adviser to Osun Gov-ernor on Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr Kunle Ige and former Commissioner for Environment in Osun, Prof. (Mrs) Olubukola Oyawoye, during the 2014 Global hand-washing Day celebration in Osogbo, the Sate of Osun, recently.

11 OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december 23, 2014 maGaziNe

Contiuned on page 12

Continued from page 12

Fresh Tenure Well Deserved!

programme, I Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola make a pact with you good people of the State of Osun, in the presence and by the grace of God Almighty that our government shall create immediate employment for 20,000 people within our 100 days in office.

5,000 of these places shall be reserved for those who were retrenched and are still willing and able to work.

As a people-friendly government, our policies shall help to:

· Create economic environment that ensures availability of jobs for all Osun indigenes.

· Establish one LIFE ACADEMY in each of the three Senatorial constituencies for the building of life- long skills in out of schools, youngsters as well as adults seeking alternative competencies.

· Promote labour exchange centres to facilitate employment of graduates from our Life Academies.”

Aregbesola matched his words with action as he, at the inception stage of his administration made a call for applications in hard copies and on-line for the expression of interest from youth of the state to be enlisted in the State of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES). Throughout all the local government council areas in the state, applications came in; so much that true reflection damned over the extent of devastating blow which unemployment had dealt the state and its youths. It became surprising millions of applications received from that exercise.

The most important thing, which today passes for a feat is how the Aregbesola administration was at that infancy stage of his administration able to provide productive engagement for 20,000 vibrant youths of the state under the State of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES)! Then, till date, the Aregbesola administration became the envy of all other states, the inept Federal Government as well as the international organizations, all categories of which have at one time or the other lent their voices and active support to the scheme. We place on record how some states had invented some replica of the scheme. Even the Federal Government, through its “YESSO” and Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE P) attested to it that they attempted at borrowing a leaf from the sagacity of the invention of Rauf Revolution – the State of Osun Youth

Employment Scheme (OYES).Today, not only has the scheme recorded huge

success, but it has also replicated itself by producing two subsequent streams. In other words, two subsequent batches of 20,000 youths have been employed and empowered, thus engaging an average of 60,000 youths under four years. The import of this feat is that that same number of families in the state has been saved from poverty, while on the average, an amount of N200 million is being injected into the economy of the state monthly.

A later offshoot came out of the OYES programme; a further attestation to the fact that the scheme has replicated itself. That programme is OYES Tech, which provides training in technical and technological skills to participants in the scheme who have graduated and intend to establish a vocation of their own. Under it, trainings are available in computer assemblage, servicing and repairs as well as repairs and component assemblage of communication assemblage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment. As at today, call is being made out to enlist former OYES cadets and other interested members of the public into an enlarged version of training being organized under the aegis of OYES Tech; almost at no cost!

We have also witnessed the absorption of a reasonable segment of the OYES former cadets into the civil / public service of the state; either as teachers or as clerical careerists. Another segment has taken up vocation in farming under the aegis of the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP). Sub-divisions of the OREAP programme where they are functioning include O’Beef, O’Honey, O’Fish and others like them. The task would remain quite incomplete if we fail to mention the training of some of the OYES former cadets in the modern practice of agriculture in Saxony, Germany. All these shall be discussed to greater details in other segments of this series.

MUCH transformation has been witnessed in the Agricultural sub-sector since the advent of the Rauf Aregbesola administration in the State of Osun. On yearly basis, the announcement comes live on the state-owned media stations of names of fresh allottees for farming on the various farm settlements within the confines of the state. These same announcements are relayed on the pages of some renowned national dailies. The effort is another in the lineup of exertions to boost agricultural productivity,

integration and sustainable food security; as well as boosting the internally-generated revenue base of the state. This effort in itself has come as fulfillment of promises and ready-made answers to desires and expectations from yearly budgets. Agriculture is the mainstay and prime sustainer of our economy in the South-West in particular; and in the Nigerian nation in general. It is on this note that we boldly assert that the overwhelming importance of this sub-sector to our socio-economic life and our overall prosperity cannot be overemphasized. This is more so because above 70 per cent of our working population is engaged in this industry and all forms of farming enterprises. In full cognizance of this fact, the Rauf Aregbesola administration has vowed not to renege in its determined efforts at investing massively in food production, food security and agriculture in entirety. The activities of government in this regard have transcended mere lip-service. The Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP)has taken off effectively since year 2011. It has, during the years given birth to such other programmes like O’Beef, O’Fish, O’Honey and chicken production. It has also till date served as life-giver and sustainer to the State of Osun Elementary Schools Feeding and Health Programme (O’MEALS). The number of “O” programmes in this connection is still counting. As the 2012 Budget contained much promise in the area of agriculture, so it was that at the end of the year, the trust of the people for a fruitful year of bumper harvest was not betrayed. This position is true of the state and of the incumbent administration up till date.

The incumbent administration under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had in 2011 embarked on various programmes geared towards boosting agricultural output in the state. One of such was the land validation exercise carried out in four out of the nine farm settlements in the state, to determine the status of the performance of the settlers. While doing that, the governor did promise that the exercise shall be extended to all other farm settlements in the state. Ogbeni has made good his promise in the past years by fully validating the other farm settlements and funding them all into full capacity, as well as restoring them to their pride of place of old. Gladly, we have fond reference to giant strides in this important sub-sector with the mention of our state-owned farm settlements as focal point. This outgoing year 2014 has brought in the best of bumper

•(L-R) Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; wife of the governor, State of Osun, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola; Kwara State Governor Abdul-Fatai Hammed; State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his counterpart from Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, at the inau-guration venue.

OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december 23, 2014 maGaziNe 12



Fresh Tenure Well Deserved!states in the federation. Greater laudable

achievements are still expected as the years of this administration’s second tenure in office unfold. The government on its part promises to keep faith with its avowed pledge to make life more abundant for the people and transform their living standards through sustainable agricultural programmes and projects; especially, by moving the state upward from its hitherto stagnant position below the poverty line to a higher pedestal of higher per capita income.

In order to facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce from the farms, as much as a total of 45-kilometre access and 25 kilometre feeder roads were constructed during the year 2011 to link farm settlements with the urban centres. According to government sources, the list of affected farm settlements includes Mokore, Esa Oke / Esa Odo, Iwo / Patara and Orile Owu and Ago Owu. The willingness and readiness of the Government of the State manifested in its intensified efforts at providing access / feeder roads in the rural areas in the subsequent fiscal years – 2012 and 2013 in particular. In the current year (2014) alone, lots more of these roads have been commissioned. Today, there are a high number of these local roads under construction; and the government at the state and local tiers are collaborating to work assiduously to bring these projects to safe and logical conclusion while initiating fresh ones all of which shall be brought to safe stages of completion and use within the remaining time for the completion of the administration’s second tenure in office. This fact asserts that many more roads in this category are still being initiated day-in; day-out. On its own part, the State of Osun House of Assembly is intensifying its oversight function to ensure that all projects of road construction adhere strictly to, and abide by safety and quality standards. This year however, expressed high expectations among the populace that these roads shall be ready for use and handed over to the people, for whom they were constructed have not been dashed. Due to the insatiable nature of man’s wants, needs and desires, hopes are still very high now that the year is almost gone. However, the hope is high that by the time of their completion and delivery, the coast would have been clear for a rapid transformation of the agriculture sub-sector; and that of the fortunes and economic prosperity of the people of the State of Osun.

In the area of empowerment of farmers, a total of 3,776 farmers’ cooperative societies were

registered in the 2011 fiscal year; out of which 66 benefitted from N153 Million loan disbursed by the Government of the State under its quick impact intervention programme. The year 2012, it is placed on record, also witnessed bumper production of broilers through the Osun Poultry Grower Production Scheme; a tripartite arrangement involving the Government of the State, an agric concern (Scheme Manager) and the Poultry Association of Nigeria. It was also to the awareness and the gladdening delight of all stakeholders in the field of agriculture in the state in the years under review that more than N40 Million out of the N1 Billion obtained under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, as early as the first quarter of the year 2012. A large number of poultry farmers in the state who had benefitted from the scheme in year 2011 were also opportune through the scheme to expand the scope of their poultry farms under a well-guaranteed market for their broiler production in year 2012. The effort had since witnessed an upward swing.

Equally worth of note is the fact that a total sum of N621 Million was released during the year 2011 for the procurement of modern agro-inputs which included 3,580 metric tonnes of fertilizer; 14.68 metric tonnes of improved maize and rice seeds and various quantities of agro- chemicals. Apart from the 42.50 per cent subsidy provided by the Government of the State, farmers were also granted loans pending harvesting and marketing of their produce to be able to buy fertilizer. The Government of the State did promise and did actually redeem the promise in the concluded fiscal years (2010 - 2013) to give necessary encouragement to farmers by making fertilizer available to them at subsidized rates.

In the unfolding of the various agricultural policies for the year 2013 and the previous years; the governor reasoned that the State of Osun is an agrarian economy with arable fertile soil, which can only be moved forward positively by revolutionizing its Agriculture. As all indications around us have shown, the focus and pursuits of the administration since inception have drifted toward this inclination. The foregoing came in affirmation of our earlier claims that the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola prioritizes agriculture and sees it as a vital means to attain its lofty ends in government. It further confirms the claims laid to it above that the helmsman of the State of Osun accords great emphasis to the Six-Point Integral Action Plan of his administration, on the basis of which he made his pact with the people of the state during his election

campaign prior to the 2007 Gubernatorial Elections. True to his promises and pact, the administration of Ogbeni has been proving well its worth and mettle by prompt, consummate and accurate delivery of his (Ogbeni’s) election promises. Staunch evidence to this is found in the assessment of his administration for the year 2012 and earlier years; in terms of priority attention given to the sector and its various sub-sectors, huge yearly budgetary provisions, provision of infrastructural amenities aimed mainly to open up rural areas to urban areas, employment generation and youth empowerment, among others. Excerpts of his speech regarding this area run as follow:

“In the out-gone year, under the Farm Settlement Scheme, we provided land for potential farmers in the state. The programme covers nine different locations across the state with a total of 3,456 settlers cultivating 17,280 hectares of farmland. Access/feeder roads of the settlements received priority attention with the construction of a total of 77.2 kilometre roads in settlements, namely Mokore, Ago-Owu, Ogedengbe/Ago-Owu, Esa-Oke/Esa-Odo, Iwo and the link road between Ago-Owu and Ijebu-Igbo. As part of the present administration’s efforts to banish hunger, 150 hectares of virgin farmland were cleared and allocated to 30 prospective farmers in Akinleye, Iwo farm settlements and Mokore cooperative farm at Ago-Owu under the aegis of Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Scheme (OREAP). In our efforts to boost food production, O’REAP Youth Academy was established. Already, 48 youth have been selected for training in Germany under an exchange programme with the State of Saxony Anhalt. The programme, as conceptualized, aims at producing modern-day farmers equipped with modern technologies in agriculture thereby ensuring food supply at sustainable basis. The programme recruited 610 O-YES cadets at 20 per LGA and 10 from Ife East Area Office to kick-start the programme in the State of Osun. The participants of the programme are currently receiving intensive training in nine training centres.”

OSuN DEFENDER Magazine is at this juncture committed to unveil the actualization of the promise of the administration just bared above, concerning the training of the selected youths of the state’s origin in the German State of Saxony. Today, it is highly commendable that the Aregbesola administration has sent the vibrant youths, numbering upward to about

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat, acknowledging cheers from his admirers after taking his oath of office for second term at City Studium, Osogbo, State of Osun, last week Thursday.

13 OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december maGaziNe

Fresh Tenure Well Deserved!continued from page 12fifty, selected from the length and breadth of the nine

Federal Constituencies which the state comprises. The youths, who had been selected in just, fair and objective manners, have successfully received a three-month intensive training in virtually all areas of agricultural endeavour, which include animal husbandry, soil science, crop propagation, agro processing, food preservation, feeds milling and others; and are fully back to impact in positive terms the economy of their indigenous state. This effort came courtesy of the State Government’s intervention innovation called Quick Intervention Programme (QUIP).

Since the arrival in batches of trainees in Germany of the state’s contingents of trainees in various fields of agriculture, the expectation that their acquired expertise being put to practice shall be brought to bear on the state’s agricultural productivity and transformation from crude practice to modern farming approaches has not been cut short. The subsequent training programmes organized and conducted by these competent Germany-trained personnel shall further reduce the spate of unemployment in the state; especially among the vibrant youths. Finally on this sub-sector, it is noticed that since most agriculture-oriented programmes are perennial or long-term in nature, they take long time to mature. It is therefore hoped that the Aregbesola administration shall continue assiduously in its pursuance of its already-initiated programmes and projects; nourishing them to a logical conclusion thereby.

We have placed on record in earlier editions how emphasis has been placed on the promotion of cultivation of tuber crops like cocoyam and potatoes. This effort has paid off well in the outgoing year (2014) as it has attracted further interest and committance of resources from outside. Not long ago, the Federal Government through its Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has sited an institute for researches and cultivation tuber crops in Iresi, a town in Boluwaduro Local Government Council Area of the state. Similarly, we sometime ago witnessed the visit by a South American Agricultural Institute contingent which came around to negotiate terms with the government of the state on the introduction of a special species of sweet potatoes, orange colour in flesh and fortified with Vitamin A. These are just examples of recent trends in the area of agriculture in the State of Osun.

It was revealed that during the same year under review, 97 hectares of land was put into cultivation by the participants of the programme and that efforts were in top gear to form the participants of the academy into registered cooperative groups with assistance from the

government as part of the exit strategy for the OYES cadets in January/February 2013. This goal has by now been realized, as the 2010/2012 Batch of OYES cadets have already been graduated into the labour market. Also, already, another batch of OYES cadets, i.e. the 2013/2015 Batch, comprising 20,000 vibrant unemployed youth has been recruited; a substantial part of which is to receive functional training in areas of farming, animal husbandry and dairy farming and entire agriculture practice.

In addition, Mr. Governor’s assessment of his government’s performance in the previous year in the field of agriculture was revealing of the following facts:

“In order to inculcate the virtue of dignity of labour in our young school leavers as well as make a career in agriculture in the face of non-existing jobs in our society, 47 secondary schools across the State of Osun were assisted with inputs of piglets and cockerels under Agriculture-In-Schools-Programme. A total of 100 hectares of farmland was cultivated by these schools for the production of cassava, maize, red cocoyam and vegetables. It is expected that proceeds from the programme, especially, red cocoyam, will be extended to the Elementary Schools’ Feeding Programme. Also, efforts would be made in the current year to expand the scope of the programme.”

In pursuance of the foregoing, incentives are already being provided by government in the current year for actual practising farmers; especially through their registered farmers’ cooperative societies Also, the following exploits and feats were made in various sub-sectors of agriculture during the period under review; with high promise of greater performances this current year and during the entire life-span of the Aregbesola administration:

“In the area of seedlings production, 100,000 and 40,000 seedlings and oil-palm respectively were raised and sold at subsidized rates. In addition, 1,796 plantain suckers, 24,473 cashew seedlings, 1,531 potted root stocks for budding were raised in 2012. Moreover, 221,930 hybrid cocoa pods from hand pollination were produced. Under the capacity building of modern-day cocoa production, 22 farmers’ field schools were established while 20,000 sachets of fungicide, 13 solo pumps and 136 litres of avestrin were distributed to farmers. In the area of livestock development, 115,515 animals comprising cattle, sheep, goats and pigs passed through the nine control posts in the state.”

The following other feats and exploits were recorded

during the year under review: Under animal diseases control we were made to realize that 135 surgical cases were attended to while 8,268 samples from various animal species were sent for confirmatory test. Also 50,128 animals of various animal species were investigated and diagnosed for various diseases, 84,844 fowls were inoculated against various poultry diseases. It also came to the fore that under veterinary epidemiology, 5,581 dogs and 2,168 cats were vaccinated against rabies infection while 25,000 sheep and goats were similarly vaccinated against kata. Active surveillance of birds and sensitization were also stepped up in the year to check-mate trans-boundary emerging diseases from the neighbouring states, especially, Avian Influenza (AI). The sub-sector also received a boost during the outgone year with the implementation of the Osun Broilers Outgrowers Production Scheme (O’BOPS) under OREAP. A total of 1,186,860 Day-Old Chicks Broilers were produced and supplied to 224 participating farms as at 22nd November, 2012. The assessment of the scheme, according to Governor Aregbesola revealed that over 783 jobs were generated with an estimated 7,830 farmlands empowered indirectly.

The governor accounted that under the sub-sector 3, fish farm estates were established at Esa Odo, Iwo and Okuku, each on a 50 hectare of land to boost protein intake of the citizens of the state as well as generating employment to reduce youth restiveness in the state. As far as the current year is concerned, the governor promised that over 3,000 ponds would be dug and allocated to over 3,000 interested fish farmers when the project is fully operational. An impressive revelation that came to the fore is that in government’s efforts to boost fish production, the government is in continuous collaboration with a private scheme manager in Okuku Osun Fish Outgrowers production Scheme (O-POPS) on fish production. The scheme was defined as one that is aimed at promoting fish production as well as providing training ground for youths in Osun. Under the scheme, 120,000 catfish fingerlings stocked in July 2012 were said to have reached 1 kilogramme each by the middle of December 2012 for cropping and sale. It was further revealed that 24 OYES cadets were currently undergoing training in fish production at the centre in Okuku. These cadets are part of the recently-graduated first batch beneficiaries, and are already

•Aregbesola (right), signing the oath of office while his wife, Sherifat (2nd right), watches; second left is Barrister Wale Afolabi while the Chief Judge of the State of Osun, Justice (Mrs) Adepele Ojo watches.


OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december 23, 2014 14

1. Ise Wa Fun ’le Wa 2. Igbagbo Wa Ni Pe Fun Ile Ibi Wa B’a Ti B’eru L’a B’omo

K’a gbe E Ga; K’a Gbe E Ga K’a a S’ise; K’a S’ise

K’a Gbe E Ga F’aye Ri K’a S’ise K’a Jo La

3. Isokan A T’ominira 4. Omo Oodua Dide

Ni K’e Je Ka a Ma a Le”pa Bo Si Ipo Eto Re

Tesiwaju; F’opo Ire Iwo Ni; Imole

At’ohun T’o Dara Gbogbo Adulawo

Fresh Tenure Well Deserved!magazine


•Governor Rauf Aregbesola, acknowledging cheers from his ecstatic admirers at the Osogbo City Stadium, venue of his inauguration, recently.

self-employed through assistance from the government.

It was also placed on record how government engaged in the provision of agricultural inputs in the outgone year, to the extent that the state distributed 2,160 metric tones of fertilizer to farmers. Other inputs made available to farmers included 10,242 metric tones of maize seeds,1,283 kilogrammes of solid and 2,902 litres of liquid herbicides/insecticides, 89 tubes of insecticides, 24.16 kilogrammes of fungicides at subsidized rates. Regarding the implementation of the Third National Fadama Development Project (FADAMA III), government was said to have released a sum of N196.3 million as counterpart funding, The project, it was revealed, had assisted rural communities in the provision of infrastructural facilities such as access roads, cold rooms as well as productive assets like tools, agro-processing equipment, livestock and fisheries facilities. The Government of the State of Osun then renewed pts avowed support to the programme to ensure its success.

In his final assessment of the performance of the sector for the year 2012, the governor had the following remarks to make:

“There is no doubt that agricultural sector in 2012 witnessed tremendous improvement vis-à-vis the huge investment by the Government. In the current year, Government will definitely improve on this as new programmes/projects have been factored into 2013 budget to further sustain the current achievements, if not surpassed. Those programmes/projects include: Arable Crop Nursery Development; Feeding African Project; Young Farmers Club; Multiplication of Red Cocoyam, and Best Agricultural Practices.”

To facilitate and enhance the gesture mentioned earlier on in the course of this discourse, an independent committee of experts was constituted in 2011 with a view to advising government on the distribution of fertilizer to genuine practising farmers as part of government’s resource optimization strategies. In validation of this, the government confirmed that the state currently has reserve of fertilizer and agro-inputs for active genuine farmers. Given the importance attached to agriculture and rural development sub-sector, a total sum of N5.6 Billion was provided in the 2012 Budget to fund the various government programmes in agriculture and rural development in the just-concluded fiscal year (2012). The provision set aside and implemented for the year 2013 was higher than this.

Surely, regarding feats in the area of Agriculture,

Food Security and Rural Development, this outgoing year 2014 has been one of greater consolidation of achievements and lofty grounds already gained. In the light of this, the Government of the State of Osun is expected to devote greater budgetary provisions to this all-important sub-sector in the years ahead. Also, since the government had not, in the past years, been out with its entire exhaustive list of intended programmes, policies and schemes in this area, more of new innovative programmes are expected to be rolled out in 2015 and subsequent years.

IN the a rea o f Soc ia l In t eg ra t ion and Intergovernmental affairs, lots have been achieved in the State of Osun in the space of the last forty-

eight months plus. Prior to the advent of the incumbent administration, nothing remarkable was known of the state in terms of its relations with other states in the South-West geopolitical zone and the Nigerian state as a whole. Upon the assumption of office of the Aregbesola administration in November 2010, the administration spared no time to rebrand the state, which had hitherto been known as the State of the Living Spring into the State of the Virtuous, that is, Ipinle Omoluabi where the age-long virtues of hardwork, industry, enterprise, discipline, honesty and integrity are being upheld through a process of cultural reorientation. These virtues, which are the sterling qualities for which our forebears were renowned, had become gradually eroded in our culture, in our body politics and in practically all spheres of life. The virtues are now being revived through the concerted efforts of the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Apart from change of sobriquet, there are other components of the rebranding efforts of the incumbent administration in the State of Osun. These include the introduction of an anthem tor the state, a brand-new logo/crest; a brand-new flag; and brand-new colours. The New Osun Anthems is here cited preferably in the

Last in the aspect of rebranding is the name of the state. Hitherto, the State had been referred to simply as Osun State of Nigeria. A new bill to the effect of modifying the name of the state was forwarded by the governor to the State House of Assembly for passing into law. Thus, the Bill for the change in name of the state from Osun State into the State of Osun was passed into law about mid-2012. From that date, Osun State metamorphosed into “The State of Osun, Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Apart from these, the State of Osun Building in Abuja had

been almost abandoned before the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came on board in November 2010. The complex, named after late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, has been fully completed.

Also in the area of integration, Ogbeni Aregbesola has since his inauguration been committed to the issue of socio-cultural and economic integration within the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The issue of regional integration is one of the basis on which critics and detractors have been at daggers drawn against Governor Aregbesola. Our view on OSUN DEFENDER Magazine crew is that those who go against regional integration of the South-West are enemies of progress. Better put, they comprise those who had misused their chances in public positions and offices; and who detest the sight of others outstripping them in performances and achievements. In the line of regional integration therefore, Governor Aregbesola has been the vanguard. We wish him astonishing success in his bid to attain socio-economic emancipation for our region through regional integration.

Beyond the borders of the state and those of the South-West Region, the governor is in collaboration with his counterparts in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to identify and condole with people of other states of the federation, especially those befallen with griefs and disasters. This gesture was demonstrated when Ogbeni Aregbesola joined others to visit the crisis-ravaged Borno State with material and monetary donations. This gesture exemplifies the doctrine of the Scriptures of being one’s brother’s keeper.

The gesture of the administration of Ogbeni in the evacuation of the indigenes of the state from the war-torn Cote d’Ivoire gladdened the heart. The gesture did not stop with mere evacuation, the administration also went further to settle the evacuated people and provided them with abundant supply of food items and other essential materials. This shows that the Government Unusual is extraordinarily caring.

Similarly, following the post-election crisis that trailed the 2011 Presidential Polls in certain parts of the country,, the Government of the State of Osun under the control of Ogbeni facilitated the evacuation of the state’s indigenes resident in Bauchi State for the purpose of safety. The unfortunate killing of two members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were indigenes of the state drew great concern, grief and sympathy from government. The way the government identified with the bereaved families and the Gbongan community on account of the loss demonstrated an administration with great human feelings.

On the whole, the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been a unifying force in the present socio-economic and political terrain of the country. Judging by the number of markets currently under construction in the state capital, the coast is radically becoming clear for restoring the state and its capital in particular to its old lost status as the commercial hub of the South-West. It is hoped that by the time the administration is through with all its laudable projects, the State of Osun shall have been completely transformed into a land of unity, plenty, prosperity, peace and prosperity. These laudable goals are attainable.

· To be continued.

15OSuN DEFENDER tuesday, december 23, 2014 feature

Change, Politicians And The Attribute Of DistrustOurs is a country of beleaguered

people. Hope seems to have waned going by past failed efforts towards having a change of guards. All occurrences point to one direction; that we must continue to smart in deceits that flow in torrent from leaders in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who have assumed, albeit erroneously, that we have no choice than to take hook, line and sinker anything they give as ideals of governance. We attempted glaringly and glowingly to get off the hook in 1993, thinking that if we played down such volatile issues of religion and tribalism, the promised land of milk and honey would bring respite. The reality of that dream was not to be, as the power of imperialism played out to deprive people in their millions a government that was to be truly national.

Institutions under the current dispensation, l ike any other dispensation, only have to offer the products of intrinsic nature of those in-charge. It is often said that no one can offer what he does not possess. That statement remains an infallible fact anytime, any day. We are gradually getting to the end of the road under the superimposed rule of PDP. In non-PDP controlled states, the party still has a subtle way of calling the shot through fund allocation that our skewed constitutional framework and financial policy create and surreptitiously accommodate. Most operations are shrouded in secrecy; that is why corrupt practices are difficult to detect or dealt with. Perpetrators of such ignoble acts get away with their nefarious activities because those at the helm of affairs also always have conscience war to contend with.

It is usually common with members of political parties to look forward to seasons of booty, when politicians go around doling the largesse of electioneering for the purpose of currying support; knowing full well that most political office holders make themselves inaccessible soon after they have ridden through the platform of people’s mandate to power. They are therefore not impervious to pranks and deceit of the politicians, who capitalize on their gullibility to have undue advantage that catapults them to power. This is responsible for the below-average performance of some political office holders, who go out there to amass wealth at the expense of life-changing programmes that will affect positively the prospect of the

masses. Politicians also find ways by which their cohorts are short-changed in the process of ‘booty sharing’, having realized that their elected leaders are always evasive, and not accountable while in office.

This dirty scenario has been on for over fifteen years unabated, and people have become so disenchanted with civilian rule because of expectations that have so far been disappointed. Many have given up hope of redemption until very recently when the merger of some opposition political parties caused some disquiet in the camp of the ruling-PDP. The build-up appears systematic; as the process through which All Progressives Congress (APC) evolves as possible replacement revives some confidence that end-of-the-tunnel light may still beam on the horizon. The faultless democratic process that produced General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as the presidential candidate and the rancour-free means through which the running-mate emerged kindled the hope that something good may well be around the corner.

The appa ren t na t ionwide

deficiency in governance has engendered waning confidence in the ruling party at the center. Not a few Nigerians are looking forward to a more purposeful replacement to a government that seems to have lost its bearing without a modicum of remedy to our multifarious problems. We therefore appear to be heading towards a repeat of pre-1993 experience, when most Nigerians showed no pretence in their desire to part ways with General Ibrahim Babangida-led military government. The only difference is that whereas people did not mind the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Late M.K.O. Abiola and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, same religion ticket is considered today as too sensitive to wish away. The choice of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a legal luminary of no mean repute is therefore seen as a perfect match with General Buhari, whose impeccable track record is known all over Nigeria.

The concern of most Nigerians now lies in the ability of the teeming electorate to make objectivity their watchword. People seem to have lost confidence in our electoral system; and many are sceptical about the ability of those saddled with the responsibility of moderating

in the process to exhibit utmost neutrality in next year’s general elections. Pundits have continued to express doubts whether there can be a repeat of the process that led to the most acceptable election of 1993 in Nigeria. According to them, the ruling party seems to wield too much influence on agencies of government, including the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which seems to have lost her neutrality on the altar of compromise. Others are premising their pessimism on the unpredictable nature of present day Nigerian electorate, who see Nigeria as a failed state, where no process can produce the desired result.

The security agents displayed a high sense of proficiency and professionalism in the august 9 Osun gubernatorial election. A repeat of such outstanding performance is expected in February 2015 general elections. Our compatriots in the armed forces must be proactive to study the mood of the voting populace prior to the elections. This will help them to have close marking on those who intend to rig or do anything funny against the general wish of the people. No Nigerians must be allowed to circumvent the free expression of intents as to who to lead the nation from May 29, 2015. Our security men and women have major role to play in this regard.

T h e t r a n s p a r e n c y i n t h e APC primary election and the painstakingness of the choice of its running mate that heralded wide accolade are enough pointers that INEC has something to learn from, and copy for Nigerians to have respite on. The bad eggs in their rank and file should be fished out now for appropriate disciplinary actions. It is not enough to just redeploy an officer who has been found culpable and compromise procedural rules at one point or the other of previous exercises. This is basically the starting point in the entire process that will convince Nigerians that the much-needed paradigm shift has evolved. Complaints of possible disenfranchisement through non-availability of voters’ cards, which is the only instrument to express political preference amongst diverse available options of candidates, must be addressed with despatch before it is too late.

People must give objectivity a pride of place in their choice of candidates, so as not to get carried away with rhetoric that is likely to arm-twist them in their decision-

by ade OLuGbOtemi

“The apparent nationwide deficiency in governance has engendered waning confidence in the ruling party at the center. Not a few Nigerians are looking forward to a more purposeful replacement to a government that seems to have lost its bearing without a modicum of remedy to our multifarious problems. We therefore appear to be heading towards a repeat of pre-1993 experience, when most Nigerians showed no pretence in their desire to part ways with General Ibrahim Babangida-led military government. The only difference is that whereas people did not mind the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Late M.K.O. Abiola and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, same religion ticket is considered today as too sensitive to wish away. The choice of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a legal luminary of no mean repute is therefore seen as a perfect match with General Buhari, whose impeccable track record is known all over Nigeria.”

tuesday, december 23, 2014

www.osundefender.org THE 6TH MOST-VISITED NEWSPAPER WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

by GOke butika“Wealth is not his that has it, but his who enjoys it.”——Benjamin Franklin.

NI G E R I A N e c o n o m y i s o n i t s d e a t h b e d ; t h e value of naira is already in the grave, the mono-product, crude oil, is no longer sweet in the market and foreign reserve is developing wings almost on hourly basis. Salary payment has become a tedious project, infrastructural development is stalled, insecurity is a normal policy, but politics and politicking are thriving. Welcome to the gate of “Banana Republic”.

For a fairly long time after the victory of the governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, I withdrew myself from the news media and faced my refresher course squarely and I made reading my second religion. Of course, I intended to make it like that for the rest of this year, but the political and economic development, which have affected other spheres of influence has compelled me to return to the ring.

While welcoming you to my thought on the state of the nation, let us quickly discuss the issues that made the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari monikered GMB and his choice of running mate, highly respected Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), viz a viz, the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, the only major item on the table for now.

Let it be clear that I have my sympathy for All Progressives Congress (APC), not because the party is constructed on any ideology, but for the fact that the pushers claim their passion for change, which is the only alternative now anyway. So, I am left with no choice than to hope against hope, having being convinced that the ruling-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is innocent of any progressive ideas that can fix Nigeria.

Shall we quickly predicate our argument on some challenges militating against the country on the forethought of the world citizen, a Philosopher king, who lived ahead of his time, Mahatma Ghandi, on the seven deadly sins against the being of any nation:

Wealth without work;

Pleasure without conscience;

Science without humanity;

Knowledge without character;

Politics without principle;

Commerce without morality;

Worship without sacrifice.”

Today, the heavily-sponsored agents of President Goodluck want us to believe that “Lee Kwan Yu did it” in Singapore, so Jonathan is doing it in Nigeria, forgetting that people like Edwin Clark, Asari Dokubo and other emergency millionaires, who are busy establishing private universities in foreign countries, without traceable job, could not survive in Singapore, but here in Nigeria, “Jonathan is doing it” ensuring wealth without work, as long as you are either from his part of the country, or you can threaten fire and brimstone, if he is not re-elected.

Meanwhile, David Ricardo, a renowned Economist, once said that in the long run, all factors will become variables. Our President has no big table of ideas, and he confesses that he is surrounded by advisers, who need advice

themselves, because, according to him, most times, their pieces of advice are contradictory. I will be correct to say that a lot of political jobbers are making millions of dollars from the government without adding value. That is wealth without work and the country is paying dearly for the leakage.

I can’t ever imagine that our army with intimidating record of performance in international engagement could be punished by Boko Haram insurgency, but it should be because Department of State Security (DSS) that ought to gather intelligence and foil pre-emptive strikes, has become a political instrument in the hands of the ruling party; while the police under the watch of one IGP Sulaiman Abba has put on the garment of partisanship. The soldiers have no superior equipment, because the budgetary expenditure on defence is being diverted to private purses. Surely this wealth without work is killing Nigeria.

There was a time one of the aides of President Jonathan said the increase in acquisition of private jets is an achievement, but now that the economy of this nation is gasping for breathe, because so many political actors are living in sprawling luxury without justifiable work, you and I now know that Ghandi must be having Nigeria in mind, when he postulated the notion of seven deadly sins.

Another deadly sin is pleasure without conscience. I am constrained to follow the line of argument raised by Chief

Christopher Kolade, the man, we all agree, has unimpeachable character, and based on that, President Jonathan appointed him to pioneer the so-called safety net to cushion the pains of increase in fuel pump price in 2012. So, if such a man of impeccable character spanks any political leader, he must be taken serious, as suggested by a columnist, Simeon Kolawole.

Kolade said it loud and clear that Jonathan has failed in his capacity to provide leadership, wondered why Mr. President would be dancing Azonto in Kano, when some psychopaths were murdering young school boys in Yobe. He could not come to term with a leadership that was too timid to show up in Borno, even if it is just to encourage the military boys, who are using their blood to keep the country’s name.

Honestly speaking, Mr. Jonathan should be paid by Buhari for making him the hottest of the presidential materials in town. Just take a look at the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces that finds pleasure in the fortress of the highly-fortified presidential villa, eating with N1 billion and dashing golden iPhones to guests, who graced his adopted daughter’s wedding in Otuoke, when daughters of countrymen are wasting away in the hands of terrorists in Sambisa Forest.

In their pleasure, stealing is different from corruption, and who cares, if $20 billion could not be accounted for in the federation accounts, what matters is that a minister must buy two BMW cars for N250 million, and another Dame of oil must use another $10 million

dollars for hiring of private jets for her engagements. Look, the Aso Rock tenants are too comfortable to know the suffering of the masses.

so, for the second sin, Jonathan presidency is as guilty as adam to the forbidden tree of biblical story. mr. President has shown to us sufficiently that he could not think beyond the box. unfortunately, he is in short supply of good advisors,

who could make him to take good decisions. as a result, the nation has become a butt of joke in an international arena. ditto for the tragicomedic angle of the iron lady of the villa, whose uses of syntax, grammar and morphology have begged for the award among the half-baked. i think Nigerians do not want this kind of Jonathan Presidency, and it will be a good decision to sack him from the job by 2015.

Science without humanity is the third unforgivable sin, according to Ghandi. I am of opinion that the deployment of nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, both in Japan, in 1945 by the United States, which exterminated thousands of souls and retarded growth of people, coupled with depletion of land, caused Ghandi to lament on the index of man-inhumanity to man, for that weapons of mass destruction was too much to bear; and the way and manner Goebbels dished out lies in propaganda of the second world war through electronic media to foist Adolf Hitler on the world, explained the hypothesis of science without humanity.

In Nigeria, Jonathan is a “Jesus Christ” as propounded by the lead-clown in the presidential court, Doyin Okupe, the medic, who may not remember where to keep malaria injection again. Of course, our dear CAN President, Ayo Oritsejafor, has no objection to that. As a matter of fact, when his dollar-laced private jet was arrested in South Africa, it was Jonathan that bore the cross of crucifixion. The people in-charge of the social media for Jonathan are dishing out lies and make-belief to fool Nigerians; while some smart Alec calling themselves Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) are consistently bamboozling the people about the imaginative projects that are only known to Aso Rock alone. Yes, we watch railway service, bridges and roads, functional education and security, all computer-generated, on television. That is science without humanity, because there is no nexus between the make-belief and the actuality.

We have petroleum here, yet we have a government that claims to be subsidizing imported finished premium motor spirit, where four refineries built by the military regimes have been left to rotten. Today, government contractors, businessmen and governors, who could not pay salaries of workers were made to cough out N22 billion for re-election of Jonathan in an economy that is on “life support”, yet the lies in the media continue with magistrate swagger.

Let check out for the remaining sins in the next piece.

•Goke Butika wrote in this piece from Osogbo.

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the Managing Editor, KOla OlabiSi, Telephone: 08033927286 ([email protected]); Editor, KaYODE aGbaJE, Telephone: 0803-388-0205, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org.

7 Deadly Viruses Against Nigeria’s Progress

•JONATHAN

Osun-Defender 23rd December, 2014 Edition

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