VOL. 10. NO.038 N100thursday, apriL 23, 2015

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Front Page Comment

- See Story On Page 2

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•A cross section of members of Advocate for Peoples’ Rights and Justice in a peaceful protest over the ongoing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, in Abuja on Monday.

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Why Jonathan Must Not Be Hailed - MURIC

Presidential Election Defeat Concession:

Lawyers Offer Buhari Free Legal Services To Prosecute Corrupt Leaders

Ajagbe Dispels Rumour Of Defection To PDPOsun SUBEB Advocates Commitment To Maths, Science

Xenophobia: Osun Civil Groups Want Nigerians Evacuated From South Africa

Osun Reiterates Commitment To Qualitative Health Service

Prioritize Agricultural Sector To Develop Economy, Women Farmers Advise Buhari

After sixteen years of misrule which epitomised under the administration of President Good-luck Ebele Jona-than the far from being

Lessons For APC From Failed PDPPeople’s Demo-cratic Party (PDP) finally met its wa-terloo at the presi-dential poll held on

March 28, 2015 as Gen. Muhammad Buhari (retd), who was the presidential candidate of the

All Progres-sives Congress (APC) and now President-elect trounced the incumbent presi-dent with a wide margin.

The incoming government of APC that will take over power from the PDP come May 29th, 2015, has a lot of lessons to

learn from the downfall of the PDP at the centre. And therefore it’s our considered opinion to warn the incoming government

Continue on pg6

2oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april 23, 2015

If you have a story or advert for us, contact 08033927286, 08033880205, 08061197897, 08023191891.

•Nigerian President-elect, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari (3rd right); Ivorian President, Allassane Quattara (2nd right) and other dignitaries during the President Quattara held a meeting with Alhaji Buhari at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja last Monday.

News

By sOLa JacOBs

Presidential Election Defeat Concession: Why Jonathan Must Not Be Hailed - MURIC By FraNcis EzEdiuNO

thE Muslim rights concern (Muric) has faulted the reason offered by dr. doyin Okupe for the defeat of president Goodluck

Jonathan in the March 28, 2015 presidential election.

MURIC, in a statement by its Director, Dr. Ishaq Akintola, said beyond the excuse of not rescuing the kidnapped Chibok school girls, President Jonathan failed in so many other regards.

Akintola said while Nigerians appreciated the early concession of defeat by Jonathan in the election, that will not however obliterate his many failures in government.

Accord ing to t he statement: “Mr. Doyin O k u p e y e s t e r d a y attributed the defeat of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to his failure to rescue the Chibok girls.

“The Muslim Rights Concern frowns at this hero-worshipping attempt

to extenuate the various excesses of President Jonathan.

“While we appreciate President Jonathan’s timely act of conceding defeat in the presidential election, we hasten to assert that this single act alone is not enough to obliterate his litany of abnormal i t ies in governance.

“ D o y i n O k u p e ’s attempt at praise-singing his employer has only succeeded in jogging our memory. Nigerians cannot forget so quickly. Still fresh in our memory are President Jonathan’s politics of exclusion; his many failed promises; how he soaked the hands of the military in the murky waters of dirty

politics; how he punished the entire North but pretended to be its best friend; the way he tore the entire country into two religious camps, his favouritism in the area of job recruitment and his nepotism.

“ D o y i n O k u p e i s deliberately playing on the collective intelligence of Nigerians. To tell us that the kidnap was staged in order to make Jonathan look incompetent is sheer infantile thinking. Who really is to blame if the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces refused to believe that the kidnap of the Chibok girls was real?

“Who is to blame if the C-in-C failed to act for good eighteen days after the unfortunate incident?

“Can he recall what MURIC said at the time? If Doyin Okupe would check his records, he

would find that MURIC made a statement at the time that tyrants are taught the lessons of their lives during elections. So is it still the Chibok girls’ factor alone?

“ A d d o r r e m o v e Pat ience Jonathan’s o p e n c o n t e m p t f o r Northerners as contained in a statement allegedly made by her in which she derided Northerners as people who produce children only to throw them on the streets!

“The Firs t Lady’s impertinence is also partly responsible for her husband’s loss. Who snatched the microphone from the hands of a s ta te governor a t a public function? Who summoned the Borno State Commissioner of Police? Doyin Okupe should answer those questions.

“President Jonathan p a i d t h e p r i c e f o r

allowing his wife to usurp his executive powers. Nigerians may have said nothing at the time but they are not fools.

“ W h a t a b o u t t h e threats constantly issued by Jonathan’s kinsmen? Couldn’t Jonathan see that they were holding the rest of Nigerians to ransom? Did he think Nigerians are cowards? Jonathan’s conspiratorial silence in the face of the belligerence of his kinsmen has only one meaning.

“How does Doyin Okupe explain Jonathan’s trivialization of corruption and his ungodly romance with corruption kingpins? Why must Jonathan give national awards t o i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y -acknowledged thieves and protect drug barons?

“ J o n a t h a n ’ s dictatorial proclivity was demonstrated in the sealing of opposition

secretariat, misuse of security and other federal agencies to witch-hunt the opposition. In the height of despotism, aircraft carrying members of the opposition were denied landing rights. This was an inhuman act as it could have resulted in the death of those helpless passengers on board, particularly if the aircraft did not have enough fuel.

“A state governor was forced to drive himself from Kano to the South because his aircraft was not allowed to take off. Security agencies were used to subvert legitimate exercises embarked upon by the opposition, while they openly supported illegal acts of members of the ruling party.

“ B u h a r i ’ s certificategate discredited the Army, an otherwise noble profession. I t p a i n t e d P r e s i d e n t Jonathan as mean and desperate to hold on to power. But the effect on the electorate was negative for him as emotions flowed in the direction of the victim.

“These are the issues. It was not just the Chibok girls alone. Jonathan’s cup of excesses was filled beyond the brim and it was already spilling. Regardless of religion or ethnicity, we believe that any credible Nigerian endowed with vision and the credentials for good governance can lead this country.

“ T h e p r e s i d e n t ’s religion does not matter. Any good Chris t ian or good Muslim can successfully lead us and take us out of the woods. Whoever will t reat Chris t ians and Muslims, as well as all ethnicities equally will make a good leader here. The president’s kinsmen must not treat the rest of Nigerians like slaves in their own land

“MURIC implores the incoming administration t o l e a r n f r o m t h e mistakes of the Jonathan administration. Buhari as a Muslim president-elect must rise above religious persecution and clannishness. The Christians of Nigeria must enjoy all fundamental human rights, as well as the dividends of democracy. Ne i the r should the South-South be neglected.

“ B u h a r i ’ s administration must work towards improving the welfare of the people of the Niger Delta as a matter of priority,” the group stressed.

Help Stop Cultist Activities, Residents Tell Govt

rEsidENts of akogun, igbodo, Moremi and ilode areas in ife-East Local Government council area of the state of

Osun have called on the government of the state to help stop cultist activities in the areas.

The residents, who pleaded anonymity made this plea while speaking with the medium in Ile-Ife recently.

Speaking further, the residents alleged that cultists from neighbouring states, especially those from Ondo State have relocated to the areas

under the pretext of being political thugs, thereby unleashing mayhem on the residents of the areas.

A c c o r d i n g t o a res ident , Pa Ahmed Saka, of Akogun area of the ancient town, most of the houses in the aforementioned areas no longer have landlords

and are therefore either dilapidated or abandoned.

This development led the cultists to take over some of these houses therefore making the areas unsafe for legitimate house owners in those places.

T h e o c t o g e n a r i a n lamented that the cultists somet imes in broad daylight snatch their valuables, while it has become unsafe for their young girls to run errands for them, as they could be raped.

Pa Saka continued that the cultists are currently recruiting their wards to take to crime and training them on how to handle arms, hence the need to call on the state government to help curb cultist activities in the areas.

He lamented that all the efforts by the landlords association in the area to curb the activities of the cultists have so far proved abortive.

Pa Saka said, some

of the criminals always posed as commercial motorcycle operators or as young school leavers seeking for employment.

He therefore, called on men of the Nigeria Police in Ife Command to help them rid the areas of cultists, who took advantage of the abandoned houses in the areas to recruit young boys into criminal folds.

3 News oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april 23, 2015

•Nigerian President-elect, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari (right); Kaduna State Governor-elect, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai (middle) and the celebrant, Bello el-Rufai during the wedding ceremony of the son of Mallam el-Rufai, Bello, in Abuja recently.

By KEhiNdE ayaNtuNJiLawyers Offer Buhari Free Legal Services To Prosecute Corrupt Leadersa group, progressive Lawyers’ Forum, has

offered free legal services to all government agencies responsible for

fighting corruption under the incoming General Muhammadu Buhari’s (rtd) administration.

Speaking at a media br ief ing in Lagos, the group’s National Coordinator, Silas Onu, said the free legal service will be for government agencies saddled with the responsibility of fighting corruption against public officials, past and present.

“To demons t ra te our commitment to support the fight against corruption, we have resolved to offer pro-bono legal services to all government agencies,” he said.

He said, the agencies concerned can take advantage of the offer to cut down the high cost of prosecuting corrupt persons.

“There are too many thieves that need to be made an example for prospective ones to learn from, therefore, the cases on corruption may overwhelm the internal lawyers of these agencies,” Onu said.

O n u s a i d , t h e group agreed with the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on the need to halt corruption.

The group also called for the removal of constitutional immunity presently protecting sitting governors and

presidents from facing corruption charges.

The group, which is also part of the All Progressives Congress’ legal team, said the

Ajagbe Dispels Rumour Of Defection To PDPth E m e m b e r o f t h e h o u s e o f

representatives representing Ede-south, Ede-North, Ejigbo, Egbedore Federal

constituency, honourable adetunji ajagbe, has debunked the information being spread around that he has defected to the peoples democratic party (pdp).

Ajagbe, who spoke with OsuN dEFENdEr through telephone on

Tuesday, said it was not true that he had crossed over to the PDP, saying he still remains a bonafide

member o f t he A l l Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmaker, who accused his detractors of being responsible for spreading falsehood, sa id i t was a mere wishful th inking of the imagination of his traducers.

According to him, the rumour that he had crossed over to the PDP was too cheap to be real; and those who are spreading the falsehood have failed in their ulterior motive to misinform the unsuspecting members of the public.

His words: “For God sake, can any sane person prefer a sunk boat to the one that is constantly afloat? I still remain a bonafide member of the APC. Even when the situation was extremely difficult with the party during the struggle to reclaim our governorship mandate, I stood solidly among those to be counted to have paid their dues in the protracted political efforts.

“Perhaps, some people are thinking that because I missed being considered for re-election by my party would be a passport for me to abandon the party. No! It cannot be so. I am not the only one in the party. It was the same party that considered me worthy for the tenure I am currently enjoying.

“I will remain eternally grateful to the party and the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who facilitated my candidature and subsequent winning

of the election, which I am currently serving in Abuja.

“If I was not considered for the first term, what could I had done? I believe in the dynamism of politics and Ogbeni Aregbesola will remain my leader any day.”

Ajagbe , who sa id his relationship with the governor is cordial, submitted further that he owes whatever he might have achieved today in politics to Almighty Allah and the governor.

He noted that the rumour being spread by his detractors that he had crossed over to the PDP defies logic, as it was known to all and sundry that he was an active participant in ensuring the victory of all the APC candidates in his constituency during the March 28 and April 11 presidential, national and state assemblies elections.

Ajagbe, said whoever accuses him of joining the PDP must be ready to tell when and where such declaration was made.

He enjoined the right-thinking members of the society to disregard the rumour as he is still an active member of the APC.

Community Leader Warns Youths Over Crime Proliferationa community leader at aru area of ajewole

community in Osogbo, the state of Osun capital, pa abdulsalam hameed, has

called on youths in the area to be wary of the types of friends they move with to avoid falling victims of crime.

By shiNa aBuBaKar

He disclosed this while speaking at a gathering organised by the youths of the community on curbing social vices among teenagers and peer group negative influence.

According to the elderly retired school principal, the rate of crime among youths in the country is becoming a l a r m i n g t h a t o n e would wonder whether morality has no place in the society anymore.

He disclosed that parents and guardians have prominent roles to play to ensure that youths possess the required discipline to live and contribute to the growth of any society.

Drawing reference from the type of crime prevalent in the society today, he warned that youths can only achieve greatness through hard work, rather than cutting corners to achieve success.

“Some young men have recently lost their lives while trying to escape wi th s to len money snatched from a woman, many others have found themselves in police custody and even jail for similar crime.

“No one achieves greatness while in a hurry to become rich or without wanting to work hard for success. It is high time parents began to monitor the activities of their children and wards, so as to help them become great in life,” he stated.

Speak ing on t he reason behind the event, the community youth

leader, Comrade Ismail Ibikunle, disclosed that the recent spate of crime among youths prompted the group to organise the programme as a platform to enlighten the youths.

He disclosed that t h e r a t e o f s o c i a l vices among youths is alarming and parents, as well as communities, have responsibilities towards ensuring we have a safe and friendly environment for all to thrive.

He therefore, called on parents, guardians, concerned government agencies, as well as community leaders, t o d i s c h a rg e t h e i r responsibilities towards

incoming National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly s h o u l d s e r i o u s l y consider the urgent need to remove the

immunity clause from t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n , which Onu said, has encouraged impunity.

H e a s k e d t h e p r e s i d e n t - e l e c t , Mr. Buhar i , to be c i r c u m s p e c t i n

appointing the heads of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( E F C C ) a n d t h e Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

4 oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april News

By isMaEEL uthMaN

•Photo of the day. Source: facebook.

By KazEEM MOhaMMEdOsun suBEB AdvOcAtEs cOmmitmEnt tO mAths, science

the Executive chairman of the state of Osun universal Basic Education Board (suBEB), Prince Felix Awofisayo, has advocated more commitment to teaching of mathematics and science in schools, describing it as a catalyst for development. Xenophobia: Osun Civil Groups Want

Nigerians Evacuated From South Africa Following the growing attacks on foreign

nationals in south africa by her citizens, a coalition of civil society groups in the state of Osun has called on the Nigerian government to begin the evacuation of Nigerians in the country.

T h e g r o u p , O s u n Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC), in a press statement signed by its Secretary, Comrade Bello Adebayo, on Tuesday u rged the Nige r i an government not to wait till any of Nigeria citizens in South Africa was killed before it starts the evacuation.

Adebayo described the allowance being proposed by the Federal Government to be given to Nigerian nationals in South Africa because of the xenophobia attack as a misplacement of priorities.

According to Adebayo, the priority of the Federal Government is to get Nigerians in South Africa out of the country as soon as possible before the xenophobic attack degenerated into a full-fledged war.

The human r ights a c t i v i s t r e m i n d e d Pres ident Goodluck Jonathan that his primary responsibility is to protect lives and properties of Nigeria citizens both at home and in diaspora.

Adebayo stated that it is expected of the President to have started the process of evacuating Nigerian nationals in South Africa,

instead of approving allowances to be given to them.

D e s c r i b i n g t h e xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South

Africa as barbaric and ungodly, Adebayo stated that it was unexpected of South Africans, who were helped by other countries to fight apartheid some years back.

He called on the South African government to curtail the attack and provide security of lives and properties to the foreign nationals in the

land.However, Adebayo

u rged the Nige r i an government to as a matter of urgency, begin the evacuation of Nigerians in South Africa before their living conditions deteriorate.

He spoke on Tuesday while declaring open a 2-week training for 200 basic school science teachers in the state under the In-Service Education Training (INSET) programme of the Strengthening M a t h e m a t i c s a n d Science Education (SMASE) workshop.

According to him, because of its impact in the development of the wor ld , the s ta te government , u n d e r G o v e r n o r Rauf Aregbesola has decided to continue training and retraining of teachers , most especially in the area of science.

T h e w o r k s h o p , which, he noted, was organised by the board in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, Universal B a s i c E d u c a t i o n Commission (UBEC) and National Teachers’ I n s t i t u t e ( N T I ) , would improve the knowledge of teachers and in turn improve the knowledge of students in mathematics and science.

Noting that the state government has not relented in improving the education system, he said the reform in

the sector under the present administration has been unrivalled in the history of the state.

He recalled that the state government has engaged in training and retraining of teachers in areas like leadership and administration in schools, discipline in schools among others.

Aw o f i s a y o t h e a s s u r e d t h a t t h e A r e g b e s o l a ’ s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n would continue to do everything necessary to improve the quality of its teachers at all levels, despite the lean resources of the state government.

Also speaking, the SUBEB Permanent S e c r e t a r y, A l h a j i Fatai Kolawole, in his address on the occasion, said teachers in the state public schools have demonstrated c o m m i t m e n t t o improving education system.

He commended the governor for employing more teachers, who are also ready to make a positive change in the system.

The SUBEB boss t hen cha rged t he trainees to use the knowledge of the workshop to improve

their teaching and standard of education in the state.

In their separate remarks, the SMASE

Center Coordinator, Dr Bello Hammed and the Representative of the National Coordinating Unit, Federal Ministry

of Education, Mrs Abdul-Kadir Aminat, c o m m e n d e d t h e Osun SUBEB for

its commitment to training and retraining of teachers in the state.

They charged the

•Nigerian President-elect, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari (3rd right) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to meet the Ivorian President, Allassane Quattara, last Monday.

5555 News oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april

Osun Reiterates Commitment To Qualitative Health Service By isMaEEL uthMaN

GOVErNMENt of the state of Osun has reiterated its commitment to prioritizing qualitative health delivery and making it

available freely to the general people of the state, irrespective of age and economic status.

Deputy Governor of the state, Otunba (Mrs.) Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, stated this while receiving the South West Zonal Coord ina to r o f t he National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mrs. Olajoke Balogun, who led a delegation of the scheme on a courtesy visit to her office on Monday.

The deputy governor mainta ined tha t the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola-led administration would continue to provide free good health service to the people of the state, saying that there have been tremendous development in the health sector since the current administration came on board.

According to her, the government of the All Progressives Congress ( A P C ) w a s v e r y committed to ensuring that the people of the state live in good health and dwell in safe and disease-free environment tha t would enhance c o m f o r t a b l e l i v i n g standard.

Laoye-Tomori stated that the introduction of NHIS into the Nigeria’s health sector by the Federal Government was timely, saying that the scheme has impacted positively on the sector a n d o n N i g e r i a n s generally.

The deputy governor

added that the NHIS was a big plus to the Nigerian hea l th programmes, stressing that the scheme has brought good health d e l i v e r y c l o s e r t o

people across the nation irrespective of their places of residence and economic status.

She also commended the introduction of the Public Primary Pupils Social Insurance Scheme by the NHIS to cater for health needs of elementary school children.

Laoye-Tomori called

on the leadership of the NHIS to design special programmes that would cater for the aged and people in unskilled labour sector of the economy, going by the rate of health-related matters these Niger ians are exposed to.

I n h e r a d d r e s s , Balogun, the South West

Coordinator of NHIS, stated that the NHIS is not political but a scheme put in place by law to make health services available to Nigerians at bottom rock charges.

Balogun disclosed that the scheme has helped in the reduction of health budget across the country, provided employment to the unemployed and contributed immensely

in repositioning the state of health facilities in the country.

She then called on the government of the State of Osun to partner with the NHIS for the people of the state to benefit from the facilities of the scheme.

Prioritize Agricultural Sector To Develop Economy, Women Farmers Advise Buhari By sOLa JacOBs

thE president-elect, alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, has been advised to prioritize the agricultural sector to develop the nation’s

economy.This call was made by a

group of women farmers k n o w n a s ‘ O b i n r i n S’ogbin’ in the State of Osun.

The women farmers, while congratulating the newly-elected President, made case for prioritizing the agricultural sector of the nation, as it is the largest sector capable of absorbing the teeming unemployed youths, as well as generate fortunes for the nation’s economy.

The group said, the much-dependence on the oil sector has resulted into the current level of decadence the nation is experiencing.

“ O u r i n a b i l i t y t o a d e q u a t e l y p r o v i d e food for the population and export agricultural products to other nations has portrayed us as a failed nation.

“The importation of items such as tooth-picks and matches, when our forest is full of soft and

hard woods, only shows the ingenuity of our leaders to harness the potentials on our agricultural sector,” the group stressed.

The group therefore, advised the newly-elected President to provide basic amenities for the rural dwel le r s , e spec ia l ly

electricity, motorable roads, security and potable water, as this will stop rural-urban migration, while most of the youths who are supposed to make a living through agricultural practice, migrate to urban areas to join crime gangs.

The Obirin S’ogbin group also lamented the non-recognition of

women populace in the agricultural sector despite the fact that they form the largest hands in foods, vegetable and livestock production of the country.

The women farmers also solicited for accessible loans for illiterate women farmers in the country, as they observed that most of the people who had access to government loans are not practising farmers.

“Let the government agencies that give loans visit us in our villages to verify actual farmers across the states of the federation.

They also counselled the government to organise women farmers in to groups and assign field officers to each group, who will educate them on best agricultural practices, help them in marketing their products and facilitate loan acquisition for them from government.

The need for functional primary health facilities in rural areas was also solicited, as it will prevent m a t e r n a l a n d c h i l d mortalities in the rural communities.

The women farmers in the State of Osun however, appreciated the efforts of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in promoting and harnessing the agricultural sector in the state but urged the government to make the broom factory in the state a reality, as the state has the capacity to be a major broom producer in the country.

We’ve Not Zoned Offices, Ministerial Appointments Yet – APCthE national headquarters of the all

progressives congress (apc) has urged Nigerians to disregard media speculations

concerning the appointment of ministers and the zoning of political offices under the incoming Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari administration.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by its National Publicity S e c r e t a r y , L a i Mohammed, the party said there is no truth to anything that has been dished out anywhere, concerning the issues of appointment, especially the zoning of the National Assembly’s principal

pos i t ions and o ther offices.

The party said that in the true tradition of the APC, all issues of public interest will be handled transparently and conveyed to Nigerians t h r o u g h t h e u s u a l communication channels.

“No appointments

have been made and no offices have been zoned. The main concern of our party at the moment is to ensure a smooth transition and to hit the ground running, in the overall interest of the long-suffering people of Nigeria.

“At the appropriate t ime, Nigerians will be in formed of the appointments made and the offices zoned,” APC said.

•(L-R) ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (left), in-coming deputy governor, Mrs. Yetunde onanuga (2nd left), Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle (2nd right), elected senatorial candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Lanre Tejuoso (right) and Prince Gbolahan Dada (3rd right) when the governor was addressing public servants who paid him a solidarity visit following his re-election at the Governor’s office, oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, recently.

6 oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april

Lessons For APC From Failed PDP Continued from pg1

to be headed by GMB to watch its steps so the fate that befell the PDP will not be her own lot within a short period.

The victory that has come to the side of the APC is a great one; an opportunity that must be savoured. On no account should they give the PDP or the Nigerian people the cause to say to them; “It’s true that you know how to obtain a great victory, but you do not know how to use it” just like the great Roman General, Marcus Aurelius had cause to tell his formidable foe, Hannibal of Carthage. Of course this must serve as a cautionary note to the APC.

And the only way not to give room for the PDP or anyone at all to utter this statement to them like Marcus told Hannibal is for them to provide good governance. Good governance is the key. Lack of good governance under the PDP is the party’s undo-

ing. It’s what is responsible for its downfall. So the APC government must learn from this. They must know how to savour this great oppor-tunity. It’s not enough to win election, neither is it enough to present a good manifesto. To fulfill your campaign promises is most important.

Like an age-long adage says that ‘to whom much is given much is expect-ed’. The Nigerian electorate has given much to the president-elect and his party by giving them their mandate. They did this because of the confi-dence they reposed in Buhari based on his record of integrity and also because of the trust they have in his party based on her performance in the states it governs. Thus the onus is on the party not to betray the trust the Nigerian people have in her.

The incoming APC government cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians like PDP did. It must be careful not to take Nigerians for granted like the PDP which believed that once you are in power then you can do and undo; forgetting that power actually belongs

to the people while ultimate power belongs to God Almighty.

For sixteen years under the PDP Nige-rians knew what extreme poverty is. For sixteen years the PDP could not guarantee adequate supply of electricity for the people despite sinking billions of naira into the power sector. Sixteen years of PDP in power it could not fix our refineries, it couldn’t fix our roads that have become death traps, it couldn’t guarantee affordable housing for the people, it couldn’t provide good health care and worst of it all our secu-rity system collapsed completely under its watch.

In fact, we cannot point to one single area that the PDP government has excelled. The party has destroyed all facets of our life. By her inability to fight corruption - even in spite of her anti-corruption crusade - and her mismanagement of our resources and financial recklessness the economy has been brought to comatose. Without mincing words sixteen years of PDP’s rule has been a woeful story. It hasn’t brought good for Nigerians.

Thus the incoming APC government must try as much as possible to put things right. It must pass in all the areas that the PDP has failed. In fact, light, security, employment genera-tion, education, good health care sys-tem and infrastructural renewal are very important to making life better for the people. The APC government must therefore get its priorities right and ensure the pursuit of pro-people agenda.

Like we said earlier the APC govern-ment must learn from PDP’s down-fall. A yoruba adage says that ‘he who falls into a pit teaches others a lesson’. Thus for APC to stay longer in power it needs to endear itself to the people by running a people-cen-tred government. We are now in the era where the people’s votes count and therefore no government can ride on the people roughshod any longer.

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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: osundefender@yahoo.com

Nigeria Not Yet A NationSOMEONE called me

from London probing to find out what lessons I learnt during the last campaign and elections in Nigeria. I learnt a hell a lot! I will put my experiences in a book someday. Quickly, I swaddled them up in five quick snapshots:

Niger ia is not yet a nation; we are just a n a s s e m b l y a n d conglomerate of people who are only tolerant of one another for different reasons.

Individual ly, there are Yorubas who love Igbos; there are Igbos who love Hausas; there are Itsekiris who love Tivs, and there are Ijesas who love Ogonis. We all have friends we truly love in all zones, and many of them have become family members. But corporately, there is a deep

inter-ethnic hatred that has overshadowed, and that threatens to eviscerate any kind of individual love or admiration we may have for one another. The acrimony is at an acerbic and acrid level.

If you leave the door of your house wide open

in the spirit of nicety and kindness, all manners of characters will come in. If you are too lax, they will become your landlord, and before you know it, you and your children will not only become tenants to your tenants, but you will end up as homeless ignoramuses, roaming the same streets that run past

the same house that your fathers built. So, beware!

You must know your history and teach them to those who have no knowledge of it, especially your children. It’s in the Bible… Deuteronomy 6 vs. 7 – “…thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy

children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou rises up”.

The history lesson must be continuous. History not taught or learnt can be re-rewritten by those who don’t know your beginning. God has given

every man his own well; but there are those who want to greedily control yours and theirs at the same time. If you let them, they will. And your fathers will be rolling in their graves in anger and shame about a child they had no business bringing to this world.

All ethnic groups in Nigeria can live together in harmony; and I think we will. But we must know what line separates the North West from North Central, North-East from South East, and South-South from Southwest. The lines are there; they will never fade. In the spirit of the labours of our heroes past, we must all respect them. Then we will live happy ever after.

•FOLa OJO lives in the united states of america.

5557 oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april feature

2015 Elections And Political Parties’ Financial RecklessnessTHE general elections must have

been won or lost by political parties, but one area that must

be scrutinised and published for the generality to commend for the good of all is the fund expended on the campaign, mobilisation and other areas involving electioneering. Earlier in the build up to the campaign by the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), the party, which has always claimed to be the biggest party in Africa organised a fund-raising for President Goodluck Jonathan’s electioneering campaign. It was the gathering of who-is-who in Nigeria economic circles, as well as heads of federal government agencies and ministries. A huge sum of N26 billion was netted into the PDP pocket. This singular act raised eyebrows, national debate and critical condemnation. The various law enforcement agencies failed to carry out their oversight functions and the issue eventually died naturally and even buried.

However, the recent publication by sunday punch of 19th April 2015 edition, alleging that President Jonathan was demanding for a refund of unspent funds, as well as audit exercise on the money spent to the tune of N2 trillion calls for question. Assuming the whole expenditure of the party in discuss was N2 trillion, how much does the law permit that should be spent for any party’s electioneering campaign? What is the penalty for culprits? The laws on political party expenses are sacrosanct. Take the Electoral Act for instance, it is stated in Section 91(2) that “The maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a Presidential election shall be one billion naira (1, 000,000). Also, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria stated in Section 225 (2): Every political party shall submit to the Independent National Electoral Commission a detailed annual statement and analysis of its sources of funds and other assets together with a similar statement of its expenditure in such form as the commission may require.

The President, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, has since denied the allegation of spending N2 trillion on election, that “the country’s budget, being a little above N4 trillion. The story suggested that half of the federal budget was spent on elections.” Nevertheless, the financial implications of PDP and other political parties at the just-concluded elections are humongous. Apart from the general campaign expenses before the reschedule elections to March 28 and April 11, the last six weeks to the election witnessed open distribution of billions of dollars in the South West of Nigeria by the ruling party. It is an open secret that traditional rulers and expired politicians received huge amount of money in dollars from the desperate ruling party at the centre with the intention to secure favour and electoral success at all cost. Some of the traditional rulers are yet to settle the disagreement generated by the non-even distribution of the dollars.

Although, the PDP may deny the reckless spending during the elections but being in-charge of the nation’s treasury has made it compulsory for the party to lay its financial records bare before the public for scrutiny. Except we are pretending not to speak out, the rate

at which money was disbursed in hard currency was indeed frightening. The fear that the wasteful spending may have financial backlash on our economy, compelled patriotic Nigerians to call for the audit of federal accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria as soon as possible. Most of the political parties in Nigeria spent above the limits permitted by the law. But that PDP over did its spending possibly because it was in-charge at the centre. If we close our eyes to this wasteful spending, the incoming government and party may tread the same path.

FOR instance, most campaign spending is privately financed in the Uni ted Sta tes of America .

Public financing is available for qualifying candidates for President of the US during both the primaries and the general election. Eligibility requirements must be fulfilled to qualify for a government subsidy, and those that accept government funding are usually subjected to spending limits on money. It is on record that half of the states allowed some level of corporate and union contributions. Some states have limits on contributions from individuals that are lower than the national limits. Only four states (Missouri, Oregon, Utah, and Virginia) have no limit at all.

It would be recalled that President Barack Obama spent $370 million during his electioneering campaign, and John McCain spent $333 million for his election. If Obama and McCain could be so discreet in election funding, one wondered how a former lecturer-civil servant could be so spendthrift.

If the ruling party can be so daring as to spend so much for financing election in

a period that our mono economy is down and the states are going cap-in-hands begging for fund to pay their workers’ accumulated salaries, one begins to understand the reason why the people were clamouring for total change. Power must not be the ultimate but the welfare of the people. Chief Obafemi Awolowo once stated: “The aim of a leader should be the welfare of the people whom he leads.” If in the struggle for power, we eventually impoverish them, how will it be possible to give them the dividends of democracy? That could possibly explain the poverty, penury and hopelessness of Nigerians after 16 years of democratic governance.

It is alleged that some party’s coordinators were smiling to banks for the mobilisation funds at their disposal, having kept the free money for themselves, instead of distributing among party faithful. Properties were purchased, while the common men were busy killing and maiming themselves over the crumbs from the politicians, who were bent on imposing themselves on the people. That is the major reason behind political violence in our polity. As the saying goes: “monkey dey work, baboon dey chop”. As a new government is coming in, the true change must be seen on us as a people and nation. The war against political brigandage must start now. Culture of violence must be purged away. Accountability must be seen and heard everywhere. Change in attitude must begin at the top. The rule of law must be permitted. No one should live above the law.

The law must be allowed to have its course. Since the Constitution and the Electoral Act provide for the limitation of election funding, violators of these rules must be made to face the music. The acts of impunity that have pervaded

our society for long must change, if we are to make any meaningful political progress. Investigation must be conducted by the law enforcement agencies to the allegations made by the Governor of the State of Osun that the proceeds from fraudulent sales of kerosene have been used by the PDP to fund President Jonathan’s campaign team and the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and that the Federal Government deliberately sells a litre of kerosene to their members at N95 per litre. It appears that the Federal Government has reversed itself on the fraudulent sales of kerosene since Jonathan lost the election, as kerosene price per litre suddenly crashed to N50.

THE need to try electoral culprits for their roles during the election

must be done with speed. The murderers of the 11 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in the North during the 2011 general elections remained an open wound. No amount of compensation would heal the broken hearts of parents who lost their dearest ones to useless murderers for no just cause while serving their father land. In criminal procedure, there is no time limitation. It is therefore needful to call on the appropriate authority to bring the culprits to justice. Those who have just been arrested for similar offences must not be set free till they are charged before the court of law. The rule of law must have its course. Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari must be ready to step on toes to let justice flow like flood caused by torrential rain. Only then can we experience true change.

By yOMi OBaditaN

•JoNATHAN•BuHARI

8 oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april

•(L-R) Mrs Remi omole; bride’s parents, Chief and Mrs olu Abiola at the event.

•(L-R) Chief of Staff to State of osun Governor, Alhaji Gboyega oyetola in a handshake with Secretary to the State Government of osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti at the event.

Wedding ceremony Of ayodamola Emmanuel and Bolatito tolulope, daughter Of chief Olu abiola, at Fagbola street, isokun, ilesa, state Of Osun, Last saturday. photo: GBENGa

•The newly-wedded couple, Mr and Mrs Ayodele emmanuel.

•(L-R) Resident electoral Commissioners (ReC) in the State of osun, Dr Adekunle ogunmola; Speaker, oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Mosurat Sunmonu and Chief Medical Director (CMD), LAuTeCH, osogbo, Professor femi fadiora who was the chairman of the occasion during the programme.

phototalk

5559 oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april

•A cross section of the foreigners in South Africa packing their luggages.

a young Man Who Vowed to trek From Lagos to abuja if alhaji Muhammadu Buhari Won 2015 presidential Election arrived abuja Last Monday.

•Traffic gridlock on Nnamdi Azikiwe road, Abuja as motorists and passengers struggled to catch a glimpse of Suleiman Hashimu after he arrived Abuja.

phototalk

•Hashimu guided by securitymen.

Members Of advocate For peoples’ rights and Justice in a peaceful protest Over the Ongoing Xenophobic attacks On Nigerians in south africa, in abuja Last Monday.

10 oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april feature

APC And The Task AheadWE h a v e r e a d t h e i r

manifesto, they have elucidated it, they have

advertised it, definitely the efforts of APC must have swayed some voters. Very soon, we shall begin to see the practicability or otherwise of all the party’s goals at a point in time after May 29, 2015. Before they go far, we, the ordinary masses of this country, may also want to call the party’s attention to some specifics in the hope that just as they have a situation room to monitor the elections, they also manage a situation room that collates citizens’ reactions and expectations on their performances as time passes by.

citizens’ health: If small fireballs fall on both father and son, wisdom demands that father wards off his before taking care of the child’s situation. I will therefore be selfish by asking that the incoming government of Buhari subsidizes the cost of medication for us Nigerians with intractable ailments like hypertension, diabetes among others. No need stating the obvious; “Health is Wealth”. We will at a stage get to a fine moment, when we all have access to affordable, qualitative and all-inclusive healthcare system.

c o m m e r c i a l i z a t i o n o f Government agencies and parastatals:

Opinions differ on functions o f government , de f in i te ly commercializing the affairs of government for the people is not one of them. This is not to say government cannot generate money from operating a government. The National Agency For food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has turned into a revenue generating agency against its first and last and most important assignment, which is to safeguard the health of the country and its people. Any reason will never be too good to justify the outrageous costs of products’ registration and regular income that the agency generates whenever the poor importers bring in their consignments for customs brokerage. In some states, traffic control agencies are revenue driven instead of safety on the roads. Vehicle registration costs are outrageous and exploitative; procurement of driver’s licence by prospective drivers has become a cash cow for some tiers of government. Every policy that makes citizens economic slaves is undesirable and should be reversed by the incoming government.

c i t i z e n s ’ r i g h t s : T h e government to be powered by the APC has promised to protect the Constitution. And protection of rights of citizens is part of

constitutional provisions. The incoming government should s ing l e ou t fo r immed ia t e rectification, the trampling on rights of individuals by those saddled and paid to protect them. The police are not debt collectors and soldiers’ duty is not to follow an aggrieved car owner to give bloody nose to a “bloody civilian” mechanic. Neither should street gangs mete out jungle justice to weaker members of the community. The police, like so many institutions, but more importantly, should be revamped from its present abyss to aerate civil rights and curb excesses and assaults on social cohesion by facilitating the process that leads

to successful and equitable judicial arbitration on such excesses. The benefits that accrue to those who fulfill citizenship obligations such as good conduct, tax payments, and by contributing to revolving economic activities deserve reasonable comfort in terms of housing, passable roads, free education, good environment, right to live and let live in addition to goodies adumbrated in the earlier paragraphs.

SUFFICE to say that our mothers should earn monthly child support income per

four kids to a mother, whose kids are under age 18; that public schools should be returned to a position of glory, such that parents are saved the hassles of training their children through financial

hardships; that our elders above 65, who had been self-employed and had not had the privilege of pension fund contributions, should be paid monthly stipends, while a proactive programme is put in place for upcoming elders to be able to contribute to social security to reap from after crossing the age. And these suggestions are no rocket science, all it requires is firm commitment to good governance. Intangible as it may be, the new government should curb the excesses of emergency (Siren Blaring) road users, who harass, intimidate and sometimes kill other innocent road users with impunity. The outgoing governor of Lagos State, Raji Fashola, is an example in decency, whose convoy always conform to the laws.

intervention: If the outgoing government shy away from regulated economy or periodic intervention at critical junctures, the APC template government should learn from such mistakes. If the economy shows symptoms of sickness and employers are threatened, the government can bail out. However, far more importantly, the government should a t a l l t imes make interests of its citizens most paramount. The privatized energy sector has become predatory and exploitative. Outrageous charges are sucking the blood of consumers. Day-in day-out, there is hardly electricity, yet, consumers receive “crazy bills” and we all know when something is crazy. The fixed monthly charges on prepaid meter are exploitative and should be scrapped forthwith. The telecommunication companies are also milking subscribers. Yearly, consumers are short-changed.

A conservative amount that can run into billions of Naira through drop calls

and victims of such abuses are not compensated. By now, the law of quantity, service providers should be able to allot monthly minutes to subscribers at a fixed amount, instead of exploitations through recharge cards. All the above are the areas that affect the daily lives of the multitude, especially low-income earners. This writer has positive outlook that the incoming government will live up to its promises but not oblivious of the fact that the new government will have to contend with critical challenges.

However observations and requests earlier stated are long overdue and require urgent attention once the garbage of filth is thrown out Aso Villa come May 29 2015. The new government is in a race against time.

By LaNrE aJiBOyE

•BuHARI

•AReGBeSoLA

55511 feature oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april

Social Media, The Electorate And Poli-SOCIAL media have been

a raging and common p h e n o m e n o n i n t h e

world today. Social media are computer-mediated tools that allow people to create, share, or exchange information, ideas, pictures/videos in virtual communities and networks. It can be said as a group of internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of information.

Furthermore, social media depend on mobile and web-based technologies to create highly interactive platforms through which individuals and communities share, co-create, discuss, and modify users-generated content . They introduce substantial and pervasive changes to communica t ion be tween businesses, organisations, communities and individuals. Social media are different from traditional or industrial media in many ways, including quality, reach, frequency, user-ability, immediacy and permanence. Social media operate in a dialogic transmission system, (many sources to many receivers).

A tremendous change in the Nigeria political process has been the rise in the use of social media as platform for electioneering campaign, as well as a tool to monitor elections. How the social media has influenced politics in Nigeria was prominently noted by the inability of the political parties to change election result once such result is announced at the polling unit. The use of social media, such as Facebook, Blackberry Messenger, Whatsapp, Twitter, Blog, MySpace, YouTube and Instagram have emerged as important tools of electioneering and policing election results. The social media played a prominent role during the Ekiti and Osun states gubernatorial elections. In the Ekiti State g o v e r n o r s h i p e l e c t i o n , accredited election observers, civil society situation rooms, APC, PDP, and INEC situation rooms deployed observers to the field that relied mainly on

this new media for incident report from the field.

Three hours after voting c o m m e n c e d , o b s e r v e r s and citizens started sharing election results announced in their respective voting centres using Twitter, Facebook, BBM, Whatsapp and SMS. As election result in different voting centres went viral on social media, parties, citizens, both local and international observers were monitoring social media, tracking and analysing election results. It is important to note that the social media put INEC and political parties on the feet especially in the area of consistencies in election outcome unlike in the past that result announced at unit can change before it get to Collation centres or made public.

At the March 28th 2015 Nigeria presidential election, social media played a prominent role not only during the electioneering campaign but also during the process of result collation by ensuring election result were broadcasted before official announcement by the INEC. Just like the case of Osun and Ekiti states. Few hours after voting, result started

trending on social media. The trending result on social media made it clear to Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had won in the North-East, North-West, South-West, and competing with the PDP in the North Central, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led in the South East and South-South, thereby making it almost impossible to tamper with the poll results significantly.

THOUGH politicians in the usual ways tr ied to d iscredi t the socia l

media, for instance, the PDP accused APC of posting fake election results on social media and further urged Nigerians to totally disregard results on social media and wait for INEC to announce the official results. Indeed, Nigerians waited for official announcement from INEC. However, there was no major difference between results announced by INEC and those trending on social media.

According to the result announced by INEC, APC won all the states already trending on social media. The use of social media in election has become a key tool by Nigerians to determine who

leads and wins at the polls. Ekiti, Osun, and March 28, 2015 presidential elections are sufficient examples that show how powerful social media can be in checkmating election rigging. With social media and digital communication increasingly being used as tools for reporting incidents and happenings during elections, it becomes important for political parties to begin to come to terms that citizens now have power to monitor election results making it impossible for election results to be altered, since the results are already in public domain and only have to wait for official announcement by INEC.

The emergence of social media and its utilisation in political environment has obviously frustrated Nigerian politicians and stop the popular strategy of changing election results by the returning officers in collaboration with political parties .The days of changing election results by the returning officer are gone; thanks to the power of social media, as citizens now know who won the election before results are officially announced by

By rEBEcca adELaNi

12 oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april iNter-

Monitoring Is Probably The Widest Application Of DronesHis name is Ayoola olaolu, a genius in his own right. This young inventor graduate of Ladoke Akintola

university of Science and Technology, ogbomoso, oyo State, is fascinated by drones and a chance encounter with him at the NYSC orientation Camp, ede, State of osun, was full of suspense and all about his little device. excerpts:

By FraNcis EzEdiuNO

oSDf: Let us meet you?oLAoLu: I am Ayoola Olaolu. I am

from Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Council Area of Oyo State. I graduated from Ladoke Akintola University Of Science and Technology, Ogbomoso, where he studied Computer Science and I have a passion for aeronautics.

oSDf: Why the pass ion for aeronautics?

OLaOLu: Well, we all have our talents and mine happens to be in aeronautics. It was a natural attraction that has been growing since I was born.

Moreover, seeing birds fly from a very little age sparked that interest in me that one day, I will build a machine that can make me fly too.

oSDf: Do Computer Science and Aeronautics go together?

OLaOLu: Yes, though not as you may think. Aeronautics consists of Computer, Mechanical and Electronics Engineering.

So, I opted for computer with the aim of learning as much as I can of the other sciences.

Moreover, no single person can master all the required science.

oSDf: With your interest in aeronautics, have you developed any device to solidify your claim?

oLAoLu: If you meant “invent”, then no, I haven’t but what I have been doing is studying systems and devices on ground, and trying to see how they can be improved upon, from the software and hardware perspectives.

oSDf: But there is this flying object that even the State of osun Deputy Governor, otunba (Mrs) Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, commended you for. Tell us about it?

oLAoLu: Yes. That is a remotely piloted aircraft commonly referred to as drones. It is basically an aircraft with the pilot on the ground.

oSDf: More about it please?oLAoLu: I would refer to it as a

model aircraft because like a model, it can be used to learn and experiment about the “real thing”.

Well, it is a four-rotor aircraft, with an on-board camera.

oSDf: So, what is the difference between a model aircraft and a drone?

oLAoLu: The live video camera can be watched on the ground by the pilot or someone else, hence, its applicability is as a surveillance and security equipment. I only referred to it as a model because I built it with the aim of using it for my experimentation.

A model is a prototype of a system.oSDf: When do you plan to develop

the real thing?As soon as it is possible. It is not going

to be so easy. So many things are needed; more training, exposure, and finance.

I need more training, you know, like getting to study aeronautics at Masters level, working with institutes such as Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Nigeria Satellite Company, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

All these can give me the necessary exposure and training.

oSDf: I read somewhere in an earlier interview that the deputy governor seemed to like your invention, has she

reached out to you or vice versa, being the Commissioner for Technology and Innovation?

oLAoLu: No! She promised to do something to encourage me. But nothing so far. I have tried reaching her but to no avail

oSDf: We are making a case from osun because you are currently undergoing your youth service in this state. Which local government council area?

oLAoLu: Egbedore.oSDf: Apart from your contact

with the osun deputy governor, which other agency of government or private institution have you approached for funding?

oLAoLu: I have tried making contact with many but I have not got any positive feedback yet.

oSDf: What about those agencies you had earlier mentioned?

oLAoLu: I have tried making contact. NASRDA has promised to work on it, and I am expecting and hoping for a positive reply from them soon.

oSDf: Nowadays, drones are used in practically everyday activity, do you plan to cash in on this trend and market your invention?

oLAoLu: Yes, and as much as possible, I want Nigeria to take full advantage of this technology.

oSDf: Which sector in particular do you want to deal with, defence, c o m m u n i c a t i o n , s e c u r i t y a n d surveillance, agriculture, education and so on?

oLAoLu: As you said earlier, they can be used in all. But I am more interested in defence, agriculture and transport, pipeline monitoring to prevent vandalism, highway monitoring to prevent accidents, ecological monitoring and assessment like Ogunpa River,

overflow and erosions in places like Enugu, Abia, Ondo, news gathering for journalists, especially in hotspots and war zones, environment and physical planning for land mappings and surveys, electioneering campaigns, search and rescue, used in factories for large factory inspection and monitoring, disaster relief and medical assistance during emergency, aerial photography and filming, disaster recovery in chemical plants where there are accidents and areas cannot be reached by human beings, cables and government infrastructure monitoring to prevent vandalism and so on.

OSDf: What about in the media? It seems that some broadcast media houses have started

deploying drones for their news coverage?

oLAoLu: Yes. That is much easier. I will do that too... Infact, currently I’m shooting an aerial video for a music production

oSDf: Can it be useful in monitoring elections?

oLAoLu: It can definitely be used. Monitoring is probably the widest application of drones. We can use these drones to get live footage of voting centres and ensure that the voting process is performed according to the law.

Moreover, security operatives should have drones like this to cover areas which are not easily accessible. The advantage this technology brings is persistence and mobility in the sense that it can hover over an area indefinitely or accelerate to wherever it is called to action.

Apart from election monitoring, this drone can be used by the Nigeria Police to support them in combating crime by giving them a heads-up on the criminals’ positions, weapons, and other information that can give them a tactical

advantage. This is very useful to the military,

especially in fighting insurgency. Moreover, it is very cost-effective in chasing criminals, instead of using helicopters.

oSDf: How can it be useful in Agriculture?

oLAoLu: Nigeria is an agricultural society. With the current investment of the government in agriculture, there needs to be an investment in a technology such as drones, which can be used in monitoring crop yields, growth and diseases, especially on large farms. This will lead to significant reduction in overhead by giving the farmer a fore-knowledge of the status of his crops and animals.

This drone can also be developed such that it can help in precise application of fertilizers, herbicides, water, which will be far more efficient than the existing methods of manual application or use of large, bulky and noisy helicopters.

oSDf: How would the deployment of drones affect the psyche of the average Nigerian?

oLAoLu: I believe it will create excitement and awe, from my little experience. The average Nigerian loves a “little sparkle”, a more exciting way to do things. Fly this thing outside and then you will believe me.

OSDf: With theft of intellectual property rampant in Nigeria, have you taken steps to protect your

invention?oLAoLu: No. It is not my “invention”,

a patent exist for that particular design, though I am working on a new design that is patentable.

oSDf: So how would you protect yours since it would be different?

oLAoLu: When I am done with my design, I will file for a patent right, which will grant me exclusivity to the design.

oSDf: In what way has the National Youth Service Corps helped?

oLAoLu: I met the DG in December 2014 and he promised to do whatever he can to support me.

oSDf: Has he?oLAoLu: No, he has not but I would

like to appreciate the intense efforts of the NYSC, especially the Director General, the former and present state co-ordinators, my LGI and others who have really been of great support and encouragement for me.

Also my parents, loved ones and friends, home and abroad, who have been in contact ever since. I say a big thank you.

oSDf: What do you like about the State of osun?

oLAoLu: Well, I heard the governor is an engineer, and he loves innovation and appreciates creativity.

So, that gives me some assurance that he’s going to support me.

Moreover, the State of Osun is a true pacesetter in deployment of technological solutions to the need of the people.

Look at the ‘Opon Imo’, for example. So, I really believe this state will still be the first in deployment of drones for security and agricultural purposes.

oSDf: When is your service coming to an end?

oLAoLu: OctoberoSDf: Before you leave osun, how

would you like to be remembered?oLAoLu: A young man who sparked

a technological revolution in the country, starting from the State of Osun.

•oLAoLu: The Young Inventor

55513 oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april

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Spencer Ogden Nigeria Job for a Sales Manager, April 2015

Spencer Ogden stands for the best in professional, proactive global energy recruitment - and our Oil & Gas team is no exception. Our managers have a wealth of experience both in recruitment and on-site, giving them the perfect insight and knowledge to understand your recruitment needs. We deliver worldwide across the upstream and downstream sectors to an award-winning standard - and it’s how we do it that makes all the difference. Spencer Ogden Nigeria is currently seeking to employ suitably qualified candidate to fill the position below:Job title: Sales ManagerJob reference: MPSMNIGLocation: NigeriaJob type: Permanent / Staffsector: Marketing & PRJob purpose Responsible for the development and performance of all sales activities in assigned market. Direct a sales team and provides leadership towards the achievement of maximum profitability and growth in line with company vision and values.Establishes plans and strategies to expand the customer base in the marketing area and contributes to the development of training and educational programs for clients and Account Executives.Key accountabilities:Sales and marketing of all Pipeline & marine productsSupport the sales team in the business development activity for product market segment(s).Creates and conducts proposal presentations and RFP responses.Assists Account Executives in preparation of proposals and presentations.Controls expenses to meet budget guidelines.Adheres to all company policies, procedures and business ethics codes and ensures that they are communicated and implemented within the team.Responsible for the performance and development of the Account Executives.Prepares action plans by individuals as well as by team for effective search of sales leads and prospects.Initiates and coordinates development of action plans to penetrate new markets.Assists in the development and implementation of marketing plans as needed.Conducts one-on-one review with all Account Executives to build more effective communications, to understand training and development needs, and to provide insight for the improvement of Account Executive’s sales and activity performance.Provides timely feedback to senior management regarding performance.Key client account management.Expand the business portfolio by adding complimentary products / principals.Develops a business plan and sales strategy for the market that ensures attainment of company sales goals and profitability.Maintains accurate records of all pricings, sales, and activity reports submitted by Account Executives.Provides timely, accurate, competitive pricing on all completed prospect applications submitted for pricing and approval, while striving to maintain maximum profit margin.Critical Skills and RequirementsMust be holding Bachelor’s Degree in any Engineering field.Capable of interacting with different cultures and be able to travel extensively throughout the region.Good IT Skills excellence in Excel, Word and overall good IT skills.Must be holding valid Driving license.Must be holding at least 5+ years of relevant experience in a large heavy engineering / oil field services company.A highly motivated and organized individual.Able to demonstrate excellent knowledge of the training market within the region.SalaryNegotiable how to applyQualified and Interested candidate should:Click here to apply online ———————————————————————————————————Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Vacancy for a Financial Controls OfficerStandard Chartered Bank Nigeria - We attract talented individuals. Not only can they give you the benefit of their experience, they also reveal a closer, more personal look at the wide range of global opportunities we offer. At the core of the Group’s people strategy is our focus on employee engagement. Engagement is a key driver of productivity and performance, which creates the foundation of our performance culture. We encourage and focus on the behaviours that bring out the very best from every employee, assessing their performance not just on results but on how those results were achieved. To further embed these behaviours we have a remuneration programme in place, carefully designed to incentivise our employees to live our values every day.We are recruiting to fill the position of:Job title: Financial Controls OfficerJob id: 473211Location: LagosJob Function: FinanceJob type: Full timeJob descriptions Support the development and enhancement of the control environment across FinanceMonitor compliance with and adherence to Financial Controls Policy (FCP) across the bankDrive the GL accounts reconciliation process bank-wide ensuring completeness, timeliness of reconciliations at the right qualityPerform ORM controls and drive adherence to the ORM framework across Finance, GS and CRESPerform Assurance reviews to ensure adherence to the FCP and other policies applicable to Finance.Participate in OR and Controls projects across Finance as nominated / delegated by the FORMProvide supervision and guidance to the junior FCP OfficerReview General Ledger suspense and sundry accountsEnsure outstanding items in general ledger sundry and suspense accounts are within life span

Assist in coordinating FCP and ORM trainings for Finance and other units across the Bank.

how to applyInterested and qualified candidates should:https://cgportal.global.standardchartered.com———————————————————————————————————carpartsNigeria.com Vacancies for sales/Marketing agents (WaEc/ONd)

CarPartsNigeria.com is one of the leading online car and truck parts and accessories stores in continental Africa. We have a complete selection of high-quality parts for a wide range of new and used vehicle makes and models - offered at the lowest prices.Carparts Nigeria Incorporated require the services of both experienced and inexperienced Sales professional to join our rapidly expanding company:Job title: Sales/Marketing AgentJob reference: CPN17042015Location: LagosEmployment type: Permanent/Full TimeJob descriptions You will have responsibilities that will drive you to self-success.You must be ready to exceed expectations in order to maximise your opportunity to become one of the unique full time employees at CPN.Job ObjectiveResponsible for the development of sales activities in assigned market.You must be capable and efficient in planning and developing marketing strategies.You must be efficient in your sales activities to achieve the maximum profitability and growth in line with company’s vision and values.responsibilitiesEnsure to meet or exceed all activity standards for prospecting calls, creating appointments, presentations, proposals and closings.Must be morally upright in areas of PERSONAL character, commitment, organizational and selling skills, and work habits.Maintains contact with all clients in the market area to ensure high levels of client satisfaction.Demonstrates ability to interact and cooperate with all company employees.Develop sales strategies and action plans for the market that ensures attainment of company sales goals and profitability.Maintains accurate records of all sales activities and continuously adhere to all company policies, procedures and business ethics codes.Person Specification RequirementsInterested persons should have:Minimum of WAEC or OND.Strong understanding of customer and market dynamics and requirements.Willingness to travel and work with a global team of professionals.On job Training will be given.0-2 years of experience in sales and marketing.Ability to take initiatives and accept challenges.remunerationPermanent Position Beginning package: N40,000 + CommissionOpportunity to Earn up to Six figure in commissionhow to apply Interested and qualified candidates should send their application and CV to: hr@carpartsnigeria.comApplication Deadline 1st July, 2015. ———————————————————————————————————Mobile technology company Vacancy for a digital Marketing Executive in Lagos

The JobMag - Our client, a Mobile Technology company requires the services of:Job title: Digital Marketing ExecutiveLocation: Lagosthe roleTo develop the strategy used in marketing the company’s product online, utilizing such techniques in the field as social media, Web analytics, e-mail marketing and search engine optimization, among others.roles and responsibilities Manage the day to day operation of company’ social media platforms and channels such as Facebook Page, Twitter handle etc. (Both broadcast and response)Lead internet marketing campaigns from program management to execution and analyze impactIdentify 3rd party online advertising and promotional opportunities, monitoring their success and Return on Investment (ROI)Track, monitor and create timely reports that include analysis and tracking across the digital portfolioMonitor competitor social media, websites and email newsletters and keep on file best practiceAssist where required over event weekends , product deliveries management and media briefingsMaintain and update the company’s main and product websites to ensure that all content is fresh, relevant and engagingResponsible for producing and distributing email newsletters and SMS alerts on behalf of the companyQualificationA bachelor’s degree with a minimum of second class upperPrevious experience in a similar digital marketing roleSocial media savvyGood planning and time management skills.Proven knowledge and experience within B2C social media campaignsExcellent verbal and written communication skillsStrong experience in e-commerce, current online marketing concepts, strategy and best practicehow to applyInterested and qualified candidates should:https://docs.google.com/formsApplication Deadline Tuesday 21st April, 2015.

Remuneration Salary: 80,000 ———————————————————————————————————

14 oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april feature

Buhari To Move Against Pension For Ex-governorsPRESIDENT-elect, General

Muhammadu Buhari (retd), is to lead a campaign to repeal the

pension laws for governors enacted by many states of the federation, Vanguard has learnt.

The proposal by the incoming president is based on what sources close to him affirm as the incongruity of the laws under the country’s socio-economic environment and also, as a way of demonstrating moral leadership from the top.

Majority of the nation’s 36 state Houses of Assembly have enacted generous pension entitlements for governors that in many cases provide 100 per cent pay for the incumbent governors buildings, generous medical allowances for them and their family members and annual holiday provisions, all of which are to last for life. Provisions in the pension allowances are also made for staff, security and vehicles that are renewable every three or four years.

Buhari’s inclination towards a review of the pension for former governors was first publicly declared few days to the presidential election at the All Progressives Congress, APC, retreat in Owerri, Imo State.

it’s scandalousA source conversant with the

development disclosed that Buhari told the governors that there was no way Nigeria could survive under the financial weight of the pensions that had been earmarked for governors. He was said to have described the pension laws as enacted by states controlled by APC and PDP governors as scandalous.

According to the source, “he was very blunt about it and said that it was something that was going to be done immediately, especially because it is not something that can be sustained.

“The feeling was that not only was it wrong and morally unconscionable, but that it was not something that should be encouraged, and he was appealing to them that it should be changed.”

However, the response of the governors, who were present at the retreat, was not immediately given.

it’s a welcome proposal —Keyamo

The development was, yesterday, welcomed by leading Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, who described it as a fantastic proposal but disclosed that it was something that could, however, only be accomplished through moral suasion.

“Fantastic, fantastic. It is a very welcome proposal,” the Lagos lawyer, who backed General Buhari against President Goodluck Jonathan in last month’s presidential election said.

He, however, said the proposal was something that Buhari could only effect through moral suasion as the pension acts were enacted by state Houses of Assembly.

The crave for financial safety out

of office was recently also extended to the legislature after the Lagos State House of Assembly passed pension laws to guarantee generous pension entitlements with proposals for former presiding officers of the house.

states that have passed the lawMany states of the federation

had steadily been passing the law since return to civil rule. States like Lagos, Edo, Gombe, Oyo, and Rivers have passed the law, through which several former governors are already drawing applicable benefits, which in some cases are 100 per cent of what the incumbent is earning, while in others, some benefits in the pension laws are as high as 300 per cent of what obtains in some states.

100% of basic salary in LagosThe Lagos State Governor and

Deputy Governor Pensions Law of 2007 provides that “a former governor and family (spouse and children both married and unmarried) are entitled to free medical treatment which is not capped. Another highlight is that the ex-governor is entitled to a cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff who are pensionable.

The benefits:Annual Basic Salary: 100% of

annual basic salaries of the incumbent

governor and deputy.Accommodation: One residential

house in Lagos and another in FCT for the former governor; one residential house in Lagos for the deputy.

Transport: Three cars, two backup cars and one pilot car for the ex-governor every three years; two cars, two backup cars and one pilot car for the deputy governor every three years.

Furniture: 300 per cent of annual basic salary every two years.

House maintenance: 10 per cent of annual basic salary.

Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be pensionable.

Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor and deputy and members of their families (not just spouses).

Security: Two DSS operatives, one female officer, eight policemen (four each for house and personal security) for the ex-governor; one SSS operative and two policemen (one each for house and personal security) for the deputy. PA: 25% of annual basic salary.

Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic salary.

Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.

Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.

Drivers: Pensionable (no limit to number of drivers).

Severance gratuity: Not specified.100% of basic salary in KwaraThe law stipulated that qualified

former governors and their deputies be paid pension for life, without other perks like accommodation, cars, etc.

The law was reviewed in 2010 by Bukola Saraki, a former governor of the state and a serving senator, who with the support of the state House of Assembly imposed outrageous raises on all the benefits.

The 2010 law gives a former governor two cars and a security car, replaceable every three years. The governor is also entitled to a “well-furnished 5-bedroom duplex,” furniture allowance of 300 per cent of his salary (which totals over N6 million).

The law also gives the governor five personal staff paid for by the state, eight policemen, three DSS operatives (of which one must be a female), free medicals for the governor and the deputy.

Other entitlements are 30 per cent of salary for car maintenance, 20 per cent for utility, 10 per cent for entertainment, 10 per cent for house maintenance.

100% of basic salary in riversThe Rivers pension law was

first approved in 2003 by former governor, Peter Odili, having been passed by a state assembly headed by the present governor, Chibuike Amaechi as speaker.

The 2003 pension law provides pension for life for governors and deputies, defining “pension” as embodying annual terminal basic salary, annual transport allowance, annual rent subsidy, annual utility allowance, entertainment allowance, domestic staff of not more than four.

Like Lagos, the new law gives the former governor a house in Rivers State and anywhere in Nigeria. The former governor is also entitled to pension for life at the rate of the governor’s basic salary, 300 per cent of salary for furniture paid every four years, three cars every four years, free medical and 10 per cent for house maintenance.

The law gives the former governor a security detail comprising two DSS operatives, four police officers, 30 per cent for car maintenance, 10 per cent entertainment, 20 per cent utility and several domestic staff.

100% of basic salary in EdoThe Edo State House of Assembly

on May 16, 2007 passed a law entitled ‘Provision for the Pension of Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor of the state.’

This law was passed few weeks before Governor Lucky Igbinedion left office as Governor of Edo State.

It provides for 100 per cent pension for the governor at a rate similar to the salary of the incumbent office holder and for domestic staff among others for the former governor.

By EMMaNuEL aziKEN, pOLiti-caL EditOr aNd GBENGa OKE

•BuHARI

55515 oSuN DefeNDeR thursday, april feature

•JoNATHAN

Many Casualties Of Jonathan’s Bloody PoliticsIT’S essentially disturbing that

Nigerians no longer see President Goodluck Ebele “Azikiwe”

Jonathan as the nation’s saviour. His deceptive preachments, “My ambition doesn’t worth the life of anyone”, like the other swaddling hogwash, have been exposed for what they are; fraud. Since his re-election campaigns days, no one was left in doubt that the nation was under the iron control of his PDP-led government. It has been “brain, as demagoguery offered by Femi Fani-Kayode of this world, and fist”, as offered by his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan.

His second term bid generated indignation amongst the people who saw in him previously puritanical statesmanship and a fitting image of a liberal democrat. All that had since faded, even though he has been reeving up and clashing down potent issues to show to the world that he is not as isolated as the opposition claimed. His government is truly a gigantic fraud. Few days to the election, he had the Senate confirmed Musiliu Obanikoro as a federal minister, appointed by himself, brushing aside allegations that Mr. Obanikoro played a key role in election fraud in Ekiti State. To make matter worse, Mr. Obanikoro was only told to “take a bow and go”, without answering questions on the alleged Ekitigate.

There is greater anxiety than ever before that put the nation on the spotlight, and has generated the fear that Mr Jonathan’s autocratic drift has been intensified. The “political momism”, my coinage for Dame Patience Jonathan’s verbal diarrhoea deal devastating blow to whatever peace-pact reached by all the fourteen political parties then gunning for the presidency.

The peace accord came under the auspices of formers United Nation’s Secretary-General and Common Wealth’s Secretary-Geenral , Kofi Anna and Emeka Ayanoku, respectively. The violation of the peace agreement to non-violence was not merely an attack on the reputations of those elder-statesmen who brokered the peace deal tarnished by the First Lady’s call to violence, but the nation’s sensibilities and the genuine crave for peaceful elections.

In case you forgot, the President’s wife told a crowd of supporters to stone to death anyone caught mentioning “CHANGE”. She stated this in Calabar on March 2, 2015, while campaigning for the ruling-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and her husband, the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. “Anybody that come and tell you change, stone that person. She continued: “What you did not do

19 Kirikiri, is now that old age has caught up with you, you want to come and change? You can’t change; rather you will turn back to a baby. You will turn back to a baby. From old age nothing, so nothing like change. Rather (it) is continuity,” she fumed.

She added a comical note: “Even though belle (pregnancy) is disturbing you, tell it baby, baby let me go and vote. Baby, wait let me go and exercise my mandate. Baby wait let me go and do what I can use to feed you. Baby wait for me, let me go and vote, after voting, I will come and deliver you, and you won’t die because Goodluck has given all the safety measures. You won’t die,” she enthused.

Sad and abhorrent as the above banal statement might be from the first lady, it shows how she and her husband have sunk into the pit of desperation to be returned to power.

The opposition All Progressives Congress’ slogan for March 28 election was ‘change’, so Nigerians supposed that Patience Jonathan had called on Nigerians to stone the opposition politicians

to death. Patience Jonathan had previously mocked the APC’s slogan, saying that the PDP does not tell Nigerians about change because they are not bus conductors.

As expected, Mr Jonathan did not respond to the First Lady’s call for stoning anyone who ‘talks change’ to death, literarily speaking. Heeding the wife’s blackmail, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai’ (rtd), SURE-P Chairman was given the boot for a lecture he delivered in Abeokuta during the birthday ceremony of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, where he declared that “change is inevitable”. Agwai merely spoke on the topic, “Imperatives of a National Security Framework for Development and Progress of Nigeria,” at the birthday ceremony, where he noted that change in leadership was inevitable. He typically stressed the need for security sector reform, without which, he said, the country might be doomed.

“IN life, you find out that everything needs change; if that is what the community wants, what the people want, you must give it to them and, as such, it becomes inevitable. “You

can have everything nice, but if you don’t have the right leadership to propel it, it cannot go anywhere. Integrity matters; doing what is good for the larger society and not just what you want to do for a narrow society to please yourself.”

“The military has to be transformed and this becomes necessary from the point of recruitment, training and assuming leadership role. Our forces that are trained, equipped to defend us are now in a strange field.

“We must have security sector reform because everyone that has anything to do with security must be re-branded for professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness. The military has nothing to do with politics, and if we allow it, we will run into problems,” he warned.

Driving by wayward leadership principles; vast and sprawling bureaucracy, having little of the required efficiency usually credited to Nigerians, poisoned by mega-graft, besotted by constant confusion and cut-throat official rivalries occasioned by the muddling interference of party potentates, and often rendered impotent by the terror of his illiterate wife, Mr Jonathan was conned out of governance.

That Mr Jonathan himself maintained dignified silence over his wife’s open call to anarchy, kidnapping and actual slaughtering of people didn’t come as a surprise. Nine members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Southern Nigeria, were killed in two separate incidents in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. While five of the men were killed in the D-Line area of Port Harcourt, the other four met their untimely death along the Eastern By-Pass in the Marine Base area of the state capital!

JOURNALISTS were not left out of the Rivers State political killing field to which Mr Jonathan

turned a blind eye. Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Rivers State, who could not take the threat to their lives as they discharge their lawful duties in the state lying low took to the streets in protest with placards:

“Journalists in Rivers State say enough is enough to insecurity and election related violence”; “We are tired of Violent Politics”; “Allow journalists perform their constitutional functions”, “When you kill journalists, you kill society”; “Toy with journalists, toy with the future of the nation”; “Journalism is a constitutionally recognised profession”; “Rivers Journalists may be forced to boycott polls coverage if…”

At the top of the swarming heap

By ErasMus iKhidE

thursday, apriL 23, 2015

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

By adE OLuGBOtEMi

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

Patience Is All We Need Now

•AReGBeSoLA

IT is desirable to once again appreciate our Make r (God) fo r

helping the people of the State of Osun to be rightly focussed, such that an error of mismatch was not committed in the just-concluded elections at all levels. Although it was not a 100% sweep, as some people would have expected, we, as government and people of this state can conveniently beat our chests that the outcome was predominantly a true reflection of general wishes of the people. In all, we can rightly conclude that the people of this state, particularly the civil servants, who almost drifted into choice error due to skewed judgment and failure to adequately consider the pros and cons of voting against the wish of Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, who is considered the front runner in the move to have power change from the dreaded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are true winners.

I have listened to, and read about nasty comments credited to some disgruntled individuals, who had wished that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates at all levels be defeated at the polls. Honestly, listening to comments from some of them, especially those ones that are considered to understand better, I felt disgusted about the level of understanding of those trying to justify their standpoint. Some retired Permanent Secretary descended so low to persuade people to vote against the wish of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola based on his failure to pay workers’ salaries and retirees’ allowances. They suddenly forgot that they are supposed to be bridge builders through wise counsels that should be respected by those who know next to nothing about governance.

Elections have now come and gone, and the electorate have spoken through their votes that have now brought to effect the much-desired change through the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. From this outcome, Osun people, especially the workers, are the most fortunate because we now belong to the mainstream of Nigeria’s political arrangement; and in a matter of weeks from now, Osun will sit comfortably in the midst of movers and shakers of Nigeria’s social, political, and economic affairs. In a way, all that are now shrouded in secrecy due to the way and manner Nigeria’s affairs are being run will be open to our governor, and he will be able to have better understanding of Nigerian project that a few people in PDP

cabal have kept secret for the past sixteen years that they have been in the saddle.

We are all aware that President Goodluck Jonathan’s number one enemy in Nigeria today is the self-styled Ogbeni, who has been a major stumbling block to Jonathan in his determination to win the South West geo-political zone to PDP. Way back in 2011, it was only in Osun that President Jonathan failed to secure a win in the South West; an event that rattled him, leaving him with no option than to deal with Governor Aregbesola and by extension, the people of the state, in his own way. It has been widely speculated that the latest paucity of fund in the State of Osun is the direct effect of that 2011 saga, which Jonathan considered as

too spiteful. The President was said to have overruled the earlier loan repayment schedule, which was not to create serious financial threat to the state.

MANY states of the Federation have also found themselves in serious financial quagmire,

as we now have it in Osun. However, intermittent bailout intervention from Mr President to PDP-controlled stated has often created fall-back-on buffer, which has reduced tension significantly in places like Bayelsa, Ekiti and Kogi. The President was so categorical about this during the just-concluded electioneering campaign that only states being controlled by PDP are getting money to run government business for being overseen by the ruling party at the

center. More stringent measures would have been slammed on the State of Osun after May 29, if PDP had emerged victorious in the recently-concluded general elections; and government business would have continued to suffer more than is the case presently.

The Federal Government is hugely indebted to Osun by reason of road network categorized as federal roads being constructed and maintained by Aregbesola’s government. Defraying this alone by Buhari-led Federal Government will be a great bailout capable of cushioning the effect of fund paucity that the state is currently facing. The current trend in which unfavourable loan repayment condit ion is paralysing government business is likely to be reverted under the new regime that is predominantly controlled by the APC. Besides, the expected administrative acumen that Buhari’s economic team will put in place, coupled with the expected eradication of profligacy and restoration of best practice in doing government business will go a long way in improving the economic status of the state.

GOVERNMENT workers in the state must also ensure that they fashion out ways by which

the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state is greatly improved upon. Although e-payment is being applied for government businesses in the state, sharp practices still pervade the running of government businesses because not all revenues accrue to government get to its coffers. With improved IGR through tightening up of loose ends and opening up of minds and hearts for some new possibilities, the state will no longer need to depend on the ever-dwindling allocations from the Federal Government. Enabling environment is also likely to attract more economic prospects that will provide more opportunities to the teeming inhabitants; which means the state will no longer depend on government workers’ salaries to survive.

I am sure that the recent harrowing experience, whereby workers are being owed salaries up to four or five months, is going to result in tremendous blessings at the end of the day. Although it constitutes an art of forced saving at the moment, since nobody prepares for this type of thrift, the eventual defrayment of the backlog will afford workers opportunities to plan and apply their money on things that will bring them joy at the end of the day. The man at the helm of affairs in the