VOL. 9. NO.116 NNNNN5050505050SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

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Front Page Comment

•State of Osun Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo (middle); Justice Babajide Falola (2nd right); Justice Kudirat Akano (4th right) andother judges during their visit to Ilesa Prison to mark the New Legal Year recently.

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- See StoryOn Page 15

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More Trouble For Omisore AsAregbesola Replies His Petition•PDP’s Petition ‘ll Fail - SSG

Osun SpeakerCanvassesProtection OfWomen

Sept Salary OfOsun LG Staff,Teachers Paid – PS

Mum, Son,Other AppearIn CourtO v e rS t e a l i n g

PDP’s Election Petition, A Waste Of Time – APC

Weeks before theAugust 9th gubernato-rial elections which waswon by the pragmaticOgbeni RaufAregbesola of the APC,it was obvious we wereup against forces otherthan the people of Osunstate which naturallyshould be the determi-nant of

how the elections willswing. The Allprogressives Congress(APC) still smartingfrom its shocking defeatin the previous Ekitielections had literarilysworn it will lose Osunover its dead body. Themurderous villain fieldedby the Peoples Demo-cratic

The War Called The OsunElections; By Segun Tomori

Party (PDP), outrightlyunpopular with barely afew dozens of peopletrailing him at campaignshowever woretheconfidence of a Gover-nor-In-waiting. He they

didn’t care a hoot aboutthe people’s wish, allthat matters was the fullcompliment of theparaphernalia of Stateactivated by an

imperial Presidentthough utterly clueless,but desperate to addOsun to his conquest infurtherance of his still-born second term bid. Solo and behold, the diewas cast!I have notbeen emotionally at-tached to any electionsin Nigeria as I was withthe Osun elections,

maybe June 12, 1993Presidential electionspresumed to have beingwon by my President,M.K.O Abiola could bean exception.It wasn’t because I hadaffinity with anyone inOgbeni’s government orbecause I enjoyed anyform of patronage butbecause

Continue on pg5

2 OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014News

•(L-R) Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso; former Vice-President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar andformer Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) at the APC rally in Lokoja last Tuesday.

More Trouble For Omisore As Aregbesola Replies His Petition

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

GOVERNOR of the State of Osun, OgbeniRauf Aregbesola, has filed his reply againstthe petition of the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, againstthe conduct of the August 9, 2014 governorshipelection held in the state.

The reply was filed onThursday along with thewitness statements ofabout 600 witnessesproposed to defend theelection before the ElectionPetition Tribunal.

Aregbesola, who wasthe APC candidate at the

election, is the firstrespondent in the petition,while the APC is thesecond respondent.

The second respondenthad earlier filed its replyagainst the same petition,with compilation of about600 witnesses.

Filing Aregbesola’s replyon Thursday, his counsel,Mr Kunle Adegoke, said thewitnesses, whosestatements were beingfiled, were real voters at theelection, while the onesearlier filed on behalf of thesecond respondent weremajorly polling agents.

He said the reply was tothe effect that the petitionfiled by the PDP and itscandidate was baseless andshould be dismissed by thetribunal.

Secretary to the State

Government, AlhajiMoshood Adeoti, who wasamong the witnesseslisted, after deposing to hiswitness statement in thecourt, said the petitionagainst the re-election ofhis principal would fail.

He said it was to theknowledge of everybodythat the election waspeaceful and reflected thewishes of the people, asagainst the allegation ofthe petitioners.

Adeoti wondered whythe PDP could be allegingin the petition that he wasdistributing money on theelection day, even when it

was the PDP leaders andmembers perpetratingsuch act.

Noting that nomalpractice was engagedin by the APC or its leadersto warrant the cancellationof the election, he stressedthat his party and thegovernor would eventuallybe vindicated.

Also, the StateCommissioner for Womenand Children Affairs, MrsMofolake Adegboyega,also a witness, said thepetition was baseless andcould not have any effect

on the election, because itwas the wishes of thepeople that prevailed.

A leader of the APC,Alhaji Fatai OyedeleDiekola, also wonderedwhy the PDP couldapproach the tribunal tochallenge the conduct andresult of such peacefulelection.

He contended that thePDP is aware that thepetition could not hold anywater, except to ensurethat its members remain inthe party as the 2015general electionsapproach.

2014/15 Legal Year: Osun CJPardons 16 Inmates

By SHINA ABUBAKAR

THE Chief Judge (CJ) of the State of Osun,Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, has pardoneda total of 16 inmates at both Ilesa and Ile-

Ife prisons respectively.The CJ, who was on

prison visit, as part ofactivities marking thecommencement of 2014/15 Legal Year in the state,freed the inmates at theIlesa and Ile-Ife prisons onTuesday 23 andWednesday 24 September2014 respectively.

Some of the inmates setfree by the Chief Judgeincluded: Dauda Karimu,29, Bamidele Balogun, 42,Seun Alatise, 31, DayoOluwafemi 35, UsmanShaibu 31, Victor James23, Femi Bamidele 28, OjoJames 38, and KabiruJimoh 34 from Ilesaprison.

Those released from Ile-Ife prison were: AugustineFriday 39, OladipupoSunday 26, HassanBamigbade 31, BabatundeGbela 40, AdewaleOmolade Yinka 32,Adegoke Elijah 26, andMuritala Tope 25.

The freed inmates werethose who had spent fouryears and above, as wellas those who suffered illhealth and those that were60 years and above.

Most of the releasedinmates were eitherawaiting trial or their case

files could not be traced andhad stayed in the prison forfour years and above,having not been foundguilty of the offences theywere alleged to havecommitted.

Their offences rangedfrom armed robbery andmurder to stealing, felonyand other simple offences.

According to the ChiefJudge, the freed inmateshave been denied trial longenough and they could not

be kept in the prisoncustody indefinitely.

Justices Oyejide Falolaand Kudirat Akano, both ofOsun State High Court,and also part of the CJ’steam, urged stakeholdersinvolved in the dispensationof justice to alwaysendeavour to do justice tothe accused personsfollowing due process.

The CJ however,advised the freed inmatesto turn away from crimeand ensure that they sin nomore.

Osun Govt Tasks Farmers On PeaceBy FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

THE Commissioner for Agriculture andFood Security in the State of Osun, Mr.Wale Adedoyin, has appealed to the

leadership of the state chapter of All FarmersAssociation of Nigeria (AFAN), to allow peaceto reign within the association to achieve the taskof making the the state food basket of the nation.

Adedoyin gave theadvice in Osogbo, thestate capital, during ameeting held with theexecutive members ofthe association on how tomake things work betterfor farmers in the state.

He explained that the

only issue governmentwas interested in was tosupport farmers, with aview to boosting foodproduction and not tocontinue to settle feudamong members of theassociation.

The commissioner, who

expressed delight in theco-operation and love thatnow exist among thefarmers’ body, stated thatgovernment was notinterested in theassociation’s politics butcan only act as anobserver during theprocess of electing theirleaders.

He advised thefarmers’ body to eschewbitterness, but rather toembrace co-operation,saying that it is the onlyway through which they

could get the support ofthe present administrationof Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, who isalways willing to give tofarmers.

He stated that with thenew harmoniousrelationship, the Year2014 Agric Show andFarmer’s Festival wouldbe more colourful andinteresting than theprevious ones, while theWorld Food Day wouldalso be celebratedaccordingly.

The Chairman of the

All Farmers Associationof Nigeria, Osun chapter,Chief Raheem Adeniji,assured theCommissioner that allgrievances within theAFAAN ExecutiveCommittee had beensettled, assuring that theyare now ready to worktogether for the progressof all farmers in the state.

He expressed gratitudeto the administration ofOgbeni Aregbesola foralways calling for peacewithin the farmers’association.

Ilie IndigeneCommends Aregbesola

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

•Solicits Govt Help

A prominent indigene of Ilie, a town in Olorunda LocalGovernment Council Area of the State of Osun, hasappealed to the state government under the

administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to come to theaid and of his community complete some of theinfrastructural projects that had been abandoned by pastadministrations.

This plea was made byMr. Isaiah Oladimeji Fajimi,a member of CarpentryAssociation of Ilie and theProprietor of Ogo Ni FunJesu Carpentry, Furnitureand Cabinet Ventures,Osogbo when he paid a visitto the office of OSUNDEFENDER in Osogborecently.

According to Fajimi,some of the projects thatwere abandoned includedthe bridge, which spannedthe Erinle River that hadbeen abandoned long agoby the Federal Governmentof Nigeria.

He also called theattention of the stategovernment to intervene inthe pending case of the Alieof Ilie, which he revealed hadbeen pending since 2001.

Fajimi had earliercommended theadministration of OgbeniRauf Aregbesola for themany milestoneachievements he had beenable to accomplish in his firstterm of office and prayed forGod’s continual guidanceover him.

While thanking God forthe success of Aregbesola

in the gubernatorial electionheld on August 9, 2014, healso commended theadministration for bringingsome level of developmentsto Ilie town.

“The first help thegovernor rendered to Ilietown was the provision of aboat, so as to allowindigenes to navigate theErinle River to Ikirun, thenthe construction andrehabilitation of roads thathad hitherto beenabandoned by previousadministrations.

“Governor Aregbesolaalso facilitated theemployment anddeployment of teahers to allpublic schools in the town,”he added.

•FAJIMI

•PDP’s Petition ‘ll Fail - SSG

3 News OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

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

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

•PREPARATION FOR ILEYA FESTIVAL IN OSOGBO: Ram buyers and sellers at Jaleyemi area in Osogbo, State of Osun, last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Osun NUT Assured Of Safety Against Ebola In SchoolsBy SHINA ABUBAKAR

TEACHERS and students’ safety against thecontact of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) thatcurrently constitutes health challenge to

the nation has been considered by theGovernment of Osun before the announcementof schools’ resumption date in the state.

The PermanentSecretary, State Ministryof Education, Mr.Lawrence Oyeniran, gavethe assurance to membersof the state branch ofNigerian Union ofTeachers (NUT), at ameeting on Ebola held atthe Conference Hall ofthe Ministry of Education.

Oyeniran reiteratedvarious efforts put inplace by the governmentof the State of Osununder Ogbeni RaufAregbesola to curtail thespread of Ebola Virus inschools, which includetraining of teachers.

He noted that Osun iscurrently Ebola-free witha guarantee from thereports of the statebranch of the Nigerian

Medical Association(NMA).

The PermanentSecretary maintained thatit’s a known fact thatEbola Virus is a deadlydisease that can beprevented with earlydetection and treatmentby medical personnelbetween the incubationperiods of 2-21 days,which informed thegovernment’s decision toprovide infraredthermometers to allschools in the statestarting from Friday thisweek.

Oyeniran disclosed that,the state government willno longer allow any pupilto stay in school withoutadequate medicalattention.

He held that theappointment of EbolaDesk officers in allschools is for easydetection of pupils withhigh temperature throughthe use of infraredthemometers and torecommend and identifyany pupil for immediatemedical treatment.

Oyeniran therefore,appealed to NUT andteachers in general, whohe described as light, tocomplement the efforts

of the government of theState of Osun in sensitizingboth pupils and parents onEbola for the safety of all.

Responding on behalf ofthe union, the immediate-past Chairman of NUT inthe state and currentSecond National ViceChairman of NUT inNigeria, Comrade SakaAdesiyan, who hinted thatthe Nigerian Union ofTeachers was not runningaway from itsresponsibilities by

directing their membersnot to honour theresumption dateannounced by theFederal Government butto protect their membersfrom the hazardconstituted by Ebola.

He appreciated theefforts of theGovernment of the Stateof Osun in the fightagainst Ebola and forconsidering them as amajor stakeholder in theeducation sector.

Comrade Adesiyanidentified the provision ofnecessary preventiveequipment like gloves,infrared thermometers,hand sanitizers, soap toschools as a condition forresumption.

He noted that teacherswould be exposed todanger, if necessarymeasures to protect bothteachers and pupils are notmet.

Osun Speaker Canvasses Protection Of Women

SPEAKER of the State of Osun House ofAssembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, onTuesday said government would not relent

in ensuring the full implementation of the lawprotecting women against domestic violence.

Salaam said this duringa courtesy visit to hisoffice in Osogbo by thenewly-elected executivemembers of the OsunChapter of NationalAssociation of Women

Journalists (NAWOJ).The Speaker, who

noted that bill; ‘OsunProtection AgainstDomestic Violence’ waspassed by the House inthe month of May, said it

was aimed at protectingwomen against domesticviolence in the state.

He said governmentwould not relent in itseffort to protect the rightsof the women in thesociety.

The Speaker saidanyone in the state, whoviolates the law, would beseverely dealt with in linewith the dictates of thelaw

Salaam, who describedwomen as an agent ofchange in the society, saidtheir role to thedevelopment of the societycannot be over-emphasised

He however, chargedthe NAWOJ executivemembers to see theirposition as a call to service,just as he also urged theassociation to assistgovernment in sensitizingthe public on how toprevent the deadly EbolaVirus disease in the state.

Earlier in her remarks,the NAWOJ Chairperson,Mrs Toyin Adeoye, saidthe purpose of their visitwas to establish arelationship with membersof the state parliament inpromoting women welfarein the state.

While appreciatinggovernment on its pro-women programmes in thestate, Adeoye said more isstill needed to be done byallowing more women inpolitical offices andappointments.

“We specifically comehere to reiterate the factthat women-relatedactivities are mostlyunder-reported, despitethe fact that they arealways at the forefront ofdevelopment in the familyand the society.

“This group is lookingahead to right the wrongand we will not leave anystone unturned atachieving this objective.”

“We are optimisticabout our involvement atforging the state ahead.We have a visible role toplay and the roles shouldnot be undermined,”Adeoye said.

Man Docked For Allegedly Beating Policeman

FOR allegedly molesting and beating apoliceman, a 30-year-old man, IsraelSunday, has been arraigned before a

magistrate’s court, sitting in Osogbo, the capitalof the State of Osun.

Sunday was accused ofbeating and biting oneHamzat Adebayo, apolice officer with ForceNumber 8073GI, after hecautioned him on hisalleged reckless usage ofthe road.

Police prosecutor,Inspector Isiaka Ajadi, ina charge sheet madeavailable to OSUNDEFENDER onWednesday, told the courtthat the accused person

committed the offence onSeptember 4, 2014, atabout 9.00am, at OritaOlaiya in Osogbo.

Ajadi alleged that theaccused persondescended on the policeofficer and bites his leftfingers.

The prosecutormaintained that thesuspect had committedoffence contrary to andpunishable under Sections355 and 356 of the

Criminal Code Cap 34,Vol.11 Laws of Osun,2003.

However, the accusedperson pleaded not guiltyto all the chargesproffered against him.

Counsel to theaccused, BarristerRamgeous Ugwu, appliedfor the bail of the accusedperson in the most liberalterm.

Ugwu assured thecourt that the accusedwould not jump bail ifgranted, just as he saidthat credible and reliablesureties would stand forthe accused.

Police prosecutor didnot oppose the bail

application. In his ruling,

Magistrate Olusola Aluko,granted the accused bailin the sum of N50, 000with two sureties.

Aluko ordered that thesureties must be residing

within the court’sjurisdiction, and produceevidence of tax paymentand two passport-sizedphotographs to the court.

The case wasadjourned till September29, 2014 for mention.

Sept Salary Of Osun LG Staff, Teachers Paid – PS

IN furtherance of the avowed commitment ofthe current administration in the State of Osunto the welfare of the entire workforce of the

state, the September salary of local governmentstaff and the primary school teachers in the statehas been paid.

This was contained in apress statement issued bythe Permanent Secretary,Ministry of Local

Government andChieftaincy Affairs, Mr.Muftau OyelekeOluwadare.

The statement addedthat the government ofOgbeni Rauf Aregbesolais committed to thepromotion of culture ofexcellence in the statepublic service.

The statement enjoinedthe workers to reciprocatethe gesture by beingregular and punctual attheir duty posts.

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 20144 News

•The Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria 50th President, Mr Chidi Onyenkwu Ajaegbu (5th right); 4th Chairman ICAN, Osun District, HonFemi Faronbi (4th right); representative of the governor, Mrs Bafunke Adeogun (3rd right); State Chairman of ICAN, Mr Olatunbosun Titus (5th left)and the EXCO members during the inauguration of 2014/2014 Executive Committee and Award Day, last Wednesday.

Osun Assembly To Pass Law Against LivestockRoaming, Others By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

MEMBERS of the State of Osun House ofAssembly have unanimously agreed to passinto law, the bill prohibiting the roaming

about of livestock, as well as Hotel and OtherTourism Industries Enterprise Licensing AuthorityEstablishment bill.

The two bills weresponsored by HonourableAfolabi Atolagbe,representing Ifedayo StateConstituency andHonourable AdetilewaSijuwade, representing Ife

Central Constituencyrespectively.

Reading the policy-trustof the State of OsunLivestock Roaming Bill,2014 at the plenary onWednesday, Atolagbe said

the bill was aimed atcurbing environmentalproblems and diseases thatmight be caused byanimals.

He argued that the billwas not seeking to prohibitthe rearing of animals, butit must be properly rearedand kept to ensure that theyare not constitutingnuisance to theenvironment.

The lawmaker also cited

the instances of accidentsthat have been caused bygoats or sheep whichcross roadsindiscriminately, sayingthat if the animals arereared in confined areas,such circumstances wouldreduce.

Honourable IpoolaBinuyo, representing IfeNorth and KamardeenAkanbi, representing EdeSouth, opposed to the

passage of the bill on theground that it would blockthe means of livelihood forthose engaging in suchbusiness, especially the oldmembers of the masses.

They argued that askingthe elderly persons, whohave no other means oflivelihood except goat-rearing to construct afence to keep theirlivestock, would not augurwell, as the financialimplication would beunbearable for them.

Other lawmakers,including MohammedIbrahim (Oriade), DejoOsuolale (Boripe/Boluwaduro), FolarinFafowora (Ilesa-West),Timothy Owoeye (Ilesa-East), Rasak Adeyemi(Odo-Otin) and KamilOyedele (Irepodun/Orolu)among others supportedthe passage of the bill,saying it would preventpublic health hazards thatmight be caused by theanimals.

Also reading the policy-trust of the Hotel and OtherTourism IndustriesEnterprise LicensingAuthority Establishmentbill, 2014, Sijuwade saidthe bill was aimed atcontrolling the activities ofhotteliers and other relatedbusinesses.

Apart from controllingtheir activities, the bill, ifpassed into law, accordingto him, would add tosources of InternallyGenerated Revenue for thestate.

Supporting the passageof the bill, otherlawmakers in theirsubmissions said it wouldboost the economy of thestate.

Speaking on the twobills, the Speaker,Honourable NajeemSalaam, also gave his nodto the passage of the twobills.

He said while theLivestock Roaming Billwould have positiveimpact in the efforts tohave a healthyenvironment, the Hoteland Other TourismIndustries EnterpriseLicensing AuthorityEstablishment bill wouldportray Osun as a seriouspartner to investors in thetourism industry.

The two bills weresubsequently takenthrough the secondreading.

Meanwhile, the State ofOsun Mishandling ofOpon Imo Provision Bill2014, sponsored byHonourable Ipoola Binuyoand Disposal of Bodies byDecremation Bill 2014have passed through thefirst readings.

Osun ICAN Inducts New Chair•Promises Employment For 6 Undergraduates

By ABOSEDE AKINPELU

THE newly-inaugurated chairman of theInstitute of Chartered Accountants ofNigeria (ICAN), Mr. Olatunbosun

Akinwumi, has promised that as part of his newadministration’s policy, he would present an opencheque for employment for six out of two hundredAccountancy graduates in the State of Osun.

He made this remarkduring the award andinvestiture ceremonyorganised for him as thefifth Chairman of OsunDistrict and inaugurationof 2014/2015 executivecommittee held at LeisureSprings Hotel, Osogbo.

In his acceptancespeech, the newchairman appreciatedGod for making theceremony a success.

Mr. Akinwumi said hewas humbled by hispeople’s vote at the lastannual general meetingthat led to his emergenceas the 5th chairman ofOsun District society.

He also advised otherexecutive committeemembers that were

elected with him toremember that they wereunopposed and that hadalways been the practicein their district and hewould still want thepractice to continue.

In reminding them ofthe association’s mottowhich is: “Accuracy andIntegrity” , the newICAN chairman urgedthem to ensure that attheir various places ofwork, they should try notto tarnish the image oftheir institute and onbehalf of all otherexecutives that theyshould serve with all theirstrength.

He then saluted thevision of the foundingfathers of the district

society, adding that hewas convinced that theywould be happy that thedistrict they mid-wifedover 20 years’ ago, withonly 10 members, hadgrown geometrically andnow having close to 400members in the State ofOsun, who are occupyingvarious positions.

He later congratulatedall the awardees, because

the occasion was the firsttime that the society wasawarding deservingmembers of the public, aswell as corporate awardsto institutions that hadimpacted positively intheir lives in the past.

The chairman thenimplored the awardees toremain steadfast inwhatever they are doing,maintaining that their

effort would beappreciated.

He also recognized theGolden Jubilee presidentof the Institute ofChartered Accountants ofNigeria, Mr ChidiAjaegbu, the Registrar/Chief Executive; Mr.Rotimi Omotoso ,Chairman of other districtsocieties that werepresent on the occasion.

Mum, Son, Other Appear In CourtO v e r S t e a l i n g

THREE suspects, Odedeji Olalekan, 22,Olaoye Oluwamuyiwa, 19 and BolanleOdedeji were arraigned before Magistrate

Olusola Aluko of an Osogbo Magistrate’s Courtover stealing.

The charge sheetalleged that the firstsuspect broke into thehouse of one Mrs BolatitoAdebisi and carted awayone Cannon Camera,Blackberry phone, T-mobile Phone, all totallingN64,000.

It also disclosed thatthe first accused person

entered into the house ofone Yinusa Ogundare andstole the following items:two mobile phones andcash of N5,000; alltotalling N45,000.

The charge sheetdisclosed that theoffences run contrary tothe section 411(i)(2) of theState Criminal Law 2003.

According to the

charge sheet, the secondand third accused personswere charged forreceiving stolenproperties from the firstaccused person,therefore committing anoffence punishable underSection 427 of the StatePenal Code.

The charge sheet statedthat the suspect stole theproperties at OgundareStreet, Onward area, atabout 11:00am in the statecapital.

The suspects pleadednot guilty to the charges

preferred against them.Defence counsel to the

suspects, Raji Abiodun,urged the court to admitthe suspects to bail in themost of liberal terms.

Police prosecutor,Sergeant Mireti Wilson,did not oppose to bailapplication.

Aluko then admitted thesuspects to bail in the sumof N50,000 and twosureties each in the samesum.

He adjourned thematter till October 22,2014 for mention.

By SHINA ABUBAKAR

5OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

The War Called The Osun Elections- By Segun Tomori

Continued frompg1I just couldn’t imagine my home State go back tothe disastrous “years of the locust”. I hadparticipated actively in the campaigns, interactedwith the people, felt their pulse and the story wasthe same – Osun has never had it so good, thepeople vowed to defend their votes by all meanspossible! From that moment I had made up mymind to give my all and put myself at harm’s wayif need be to ensure we form a bulwark ofresistance against the machinery of State to bedeployed to thwart the people’s wish.

When I was about to proceed on my journey toOsogbo, the Osun State Capital on Mondaypreceding the elections I prepared for the worst.Few associates privy to my trip advised stronglythat I removed any APC sourvenir from myluggage,any ID card that can associate me withthe party amongst other security tips. They wereright to be apprehensive, soldiers, officials of theDepartment of State Security(DSS) including thehooded ones,lorry loads of mobile policemen hadsince being deployed across the nook and crannyof Osun State. Bearing in mind the desperation oftheir paymasters, we knew they could stop andsearch vehicles and abduct anything synonymouswith APC, so I took all the precautions. I took offon the journey which in itself was dramatic.

As we got close to Oshogbo, a discussion ensuedin the bus and I found out I was not alone in theSave-Osun initiative. Most of the passengersshared the same sentiments with me and were alsonatives of the State. They spoke emotionally andfiercely about their determination to ensureAregbesola’s victory. Speaker after speaker reeledout programmes and interventions of the Governorthat has brought smiles to the faces of the people.They concluded he was the best thing to happento the State since its creation. The menacingapparatus of State then suffocating the enviromentwill not deter them, they thundered! “Ko si ohunti soja o se, a ma duro gboin gboin lati diboAregbe” they said in yoruba dialect meaning“there is nothing Soldiers can do, we will standfirmly to vote for Aregbe”. I thought to myself,we are about to witness mass resistance unequallyin our national history if anything go against thepeople’s will. Hopefully, the soldiers we met onthe various check-points didn’t stop and search,they just peeped through the bus windows andpassed us on. I heaved a sigh of relief when Iarrived Osogbo safely late in the evening.

I have attended rallies, mega-rallies , name it, butwhat I saw on Tuesday at the grand-finale of thecampaign was frightening. A stadium whosecapacity can’t be more than 60,000 almost cavedin due to pressure from an unprecedented

mammoth crowd. Every space on the covered standswere over-filled, the main bowl of the Stadium wasvirtually unpassable. My associates and I had tohold ourselves to navigate our way through thecrowd, it took us about an hour from the entrance ofthe stadium to find somewhere to perch! Yetthousands more extend to adjoining roads outsidethe stadium. It was the APC mega-rally and to sayit was awesomely mega is an understatement! Weeven heard that the Lord of Aso-rock caught aninstant migraine seeing the magnitude of the rally!The effect of that was seen in the sealing off of thefreedom park that was supposed to host workersrally the next day by “hooded soldiers” They gotthe now familiar, albeit emergency “orders fromabove” to forcefully if need be halt the NigeriaLabour Congress (NLC) and its affiliatesendorsement rally for the Ogbeni.

Co-incidentally, Wednesday, 6th August was mybirthday but I was in no mood for celebrations ofany kind. I told my well-wishers, family and friendsthat you don’t clink glasses in a battle-front!Interestingly, one of my compatriots who was also amajor ‘battle-axe” and good friend’s birthday was8th August so I told him we’ll do a birthday plusvictory party on the 10th, a day after theelections,when we triumph at the polls. We knowwe had the people behind us, we never gave defeat athought! By Thursday, preparations had reachedfeverish pitch, the towns, hamlets and villages wasnow massively flowing with uniformed men of allhues and shades. Some DSS operatives came to therestaurant we were having dinner, Thursdayevening, apparently on surveillance mission. We gotthe message and we left in a jiffy! On our way to ourlocation, we noticed a car trailing us, so we had totake a decoy to a bar. As we turned to the bar, thecar also turned in another direction. Their missionstill remains a mystery. Thank God for littlemercies!

When we arrived our abode, we swung into actionto put finishing touches to our master-plan whichwas to run a co-ordinated and effective live broadcastof the elections on social and online media incollaboration with the APC situation room whichwas to start from Friday evening till theannouncement of the results on Sunday. This wasnecessary because leaking the plans of our deviousopponents was key to frustrate their riggingmachinery; announcing results online as we get itdirectly from our agents was also crucial to frustrateany manipulation at the collation level. By Fridayafternoon, I had to tactically separate from myfriends who then proceeded to a high securitylocation. The curfew was going to start around 5-6pm. By 4pm, I arrived at my own secure locationand quickly moved to set up. I surveyed theenviroment to assess the possible threat level. I sawthat it was negligible so I settled down for the taskahead.

By Friday evening we got intelligence report that

notorius election rigger, Chris Uba was in town with aunit of 50 soldiers attached to him. We sent that outand made sure it went viral. Later that night,information about the arrest of our leaders ranging fromAPC Publicity Secretary, lai Mohammed, theAttorney-general Of Osun State, barr. Wale Afolabi,Tinubu’s Special Adviser on media, Mr Sunday are,Commissioner for Agric among others were swiftlypublicised with dispatch. The far-reaching effect of thenoise we made contributed in no small measure to therelease of most of those picked up by Saturdaymorning. We discovered by Saturday morning that fakesoldiers and policemen had surfaced in many locations.Their logo was a red ankara tied to their left hand.Quickly we activated our instant alert to ourpeople,through all means possible. That againthwarted efforts to manipulate the elections from thebeginning.

The elections started peacefully however in mostlocations with accreditation going on smoothly. Theonly snag was the continued harassment of APCleaders across the State. The case of the 1st CivilianGovernor of Osun State, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke wasquite instructive. After failing to assasinate him over-night due to resistance by his security aides, he wastrailed from the polling unit to his mother’s residencewhere he went after accreditation. He escaped the siegeby the whisker after he was discreetly notified. Hecouldn’t come back to exercise his franchise. Theresults started trickling in by afternoon and the PDPdemolition squad sensing their rejection quicklyswitched to a plan B to disrupt the collation process.We instantly alerted the public about their norturnalmeeting and evil plot. What really helped the APCapart from the determination of the people was ouraccess to classified information. We were always a stepahead of them and that frustrated the election riggers.

I got an anonymous call from a patroitic police officeraround 8pm who claimed he was at a location atmodakeke and that results being collated was about tobe altered. You could detect the fear in his voice as heasked me to ensure his cover. He was an igbo officerdeployed from other states, he wasn’t familiar with theterrain but what was gratifying that there could still befew men of integrity in the corruption-ridden NigeriaPolice Force. In order to confirm the authenticity of hisStatement, I asked the Apapa Local GovernmentChairman who was with me to speak to him. Hesounded credible, he concluded. So I made some callsto the authorities and sent text message to our men toact immediately.

Before 11pm, we already had all the results and we hadwon, though unofficially. What sealed the deal for usand put paid to any manipulation the PDP had instock was the unexpected congratulation of Aregbesolaas the winner of the election around 9.40pm by theOoni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade. Omisore accordingto our sources had already informed Aso-rock that therewas fighting in his home-town of Ile-Ife becauseaccording to him, the results we were circulating werefake and he was actually leading in the “original”

results. The Ooni swiftly debunked that, not onlycongratulated the Governor-elect, but also statedthat nobody was fighting in Ife! That took the sailout of the wind of Omisore and his treacherousgang.

If we thought the threats have been subdued, wewere in for a shocker! The returning officer whosetask it is to announce the final result was underpressure to collect a whooping N1b and announceOmisore winner! They were ready to damn theconsequences and ask us to go to court. So we hadto practically go on our knees! I salute theindefatigable people of Osun State, they wereresolute, they stood like a rock, stayed on thestreets all through and formed a human shieldaround the collation centre. Then the returningofficer came in around 1.35pm. The results of allthe local governments were announced before 5am.Then we now witnessed dilly-dallying of thehighest order. It got to a point around 7am,anxious journalists and people started singingasking for the results. Lo and Behold, at about7.10am, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was finallypronounced the winner!

There was instant jubilation across the nook andcranny of Oshogbo. Never in the history ofelections have I seen such spontaneous excitementpervade the landscape because of resultsannouncement. Within the twinkle of an eye, thewhole town went agog with people clutching theirbrooms- symbol of the Governor’s party,congratulating themselves, okada riders drivingmenacingly in such euphoric ecstasy and finally wecould say hurray! We won! We didn’t win anelection, we won a WAR with a stone like thebiblical david. Goliath came to battle with the bestarsenal at his disposal but we came with the will ofa determined people that vowed that never againshall they go the road of perdition they oncetrodded. Who says the voice of the people is notthe voice of God? Because ultimately the hand ofthe Almighty saved the day and gave us victory.Osun ti dara ooooooo.

Segun Tomori

OSUN DEFENDERPublisher – Moremi Publishing

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OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 20146 FEATURE

On Aregbesola’s EducationPolicies And Election Promises

AN opinion article titled‘Aregbesola, education

andelection promises’ written

by Tade Adekunle from Osogboon September 24, 2014 makes aninteresting reading but still leavesa sour taste in the mouth. Theauthor does not sound familiar,but it matters little.

His main concern is on hisperceived state of education inOsun which he used the lastresult of the Senior SecondarySchool Certificate Examinationto buttress. According to him,Osun pupils’ performance whichwas 22nd out of the 36 states thatsat for the examination wasworrisome and an indication thatthe state’s educational policiesare not working. He then stackedhis cards with the issues ofmerger of schools and uniformschool uniform. Pardon thetautology.

The author tries hard to be civilbut the piece is riddled withcynicism and thinly disguisedmockery of the state’s educationsummit chaired by the reveredProf Wole Soyinka, that hadrecommended comprehensivereview of the education policiesof the state, early in the life ofthe administration.

Adekunle sounded like thevoice of one of those who stoutlyresisted the education reforms inthe state from the standpoint ofopposition politicians, religiousformer school owners,disgruntled teachers or an oldstudent revelling in past glory,even when the alma mater hadfallen into disgrace and disrepute.They forged a coalition of thedisgruntled with the opposition inthe August 9 election and werethoroughly trounced anddisgraced. He might just haveresumed where they left,considering his conclusion thatthe policies should be reversed.

It should be pointed out,however, that the immediateresult of an examinationis not andcannot be the right yardstick tomeasure an education policy.Those who wrote the lastexamination in question musthave been in the school system atleast for 11 years (assuming theyspent five years in primaryschool and six at the secondarylevel) in the school system. Theresult you have today is acumulation of all the inputs andefforts within that period.

We all know that it is not theday you plant a crop that youharvest it. What is beingharvested today could not havebeen planted yesterday. The resultof today is the reflection of theneglect of the putrefaction that

had crept in. that is notAregbesola’s making and it willbe illogical to blame him for this.

And it could have been worse,since the problem islongstanding. GovernorAregbesola noticed this and criedout when he was inaugurated uponobserving that less than five percent of those who took theWAEC and NECO of 2010passed. This actually informedhis convoking the educationsummit early 2011.

The state government is doingeverything needed to turneducation around. This includeshiring over 10,000 teachers,training and retraining them,kitting them and giving them allnecessary motivation. It alsoinvolves building new state of theart schools, rehabilitation andequipping existing one andproviding 150,000 computertablets to senior pupils and theirteachers (out of which 50,000has been delivered anddistributed). Do not forget thatelementary pupils now enjoy freefeeding and medication in allpublic schools, to which thegovernment commits N3.6billion every year.

For school furniture alone, the

government, as at last year, hadcommitted N2.5 billion. Grantsto schools was jacked up to N856million from the N122 millioninherited from previousadministration. BeforeAregbesola’s coming, no schoolhad instruction materials, but hisadministration has committedN506 million to providing these.These are verifiable facts.

Beyond those still sulkingbecause the reforms had cut offtheir extortion channels in theschools, even the teachers andother stakeholders are full ofpraises to the governor, claimingthat they feel proud to beteachers for the first time.

The central basis of oppositionto the reforms is the inability ofsome stakeholders to reconcileto the facts that the stategovernment owns all the schoolsin question. They are still livingin denial since the takeover in1975 or thereabout. The tragedyis that eight out of 10 agitators,when asked, still think that theschools belong to the oldmissions and the reforms aresuperfluous governmentinterference.

The government had explainedcountless times that the mergerswere brought about by the policyof classifying schools intoelementary, middle and senior

categories. The mergers aretherefore necessary to streamlinethese schools into the variousclasses for operational andadministrative purposes. Thesepolicies do not affect privateschools.

What the governor promised,due to much agitation, was thatsome of the schools would bereturned to their original owners.This is after some of the megaschools being built arecompleted and the pupils movedinto them. At no time did hepromise that the policy would bereversed. It is high time all theagitated were reconciled to this.Those hoping for a reversal areonly engaged in wishful thinkingand let no Tade Adekunle raisefalse hope where there is none.

The governor, being a studentof history, does not wish to erasethe memory of any school.However, mergers and closuresare part of the history ofeducation. Even in the affluentworld, when the caretakers can nolonger maintain a school or it isno longer relevant to the need ofthat society or community, it willbe merged with others or shutdown. Plato’s Academy no longerexists, but it is etchedpermanently in the books, in thephilosophy and the memory ofthose who have acquired westerneducation. Where a school isclosed, a monument will be leftas its physical legacy.

What is more important,however, is its intellectual legacyand how it has affected our timeand society. Those still sulkingover the carcass of a dilapidatedand ruined physical structureshould let go and embracepositive change.

On school uniforms, thegovernment has explained that theuniform distinguishes those inpublic schools from others. Evenin the United Kingdom, this is thenorm – uniforms are the sameand can be picked in anyconvenient store. What markthem differently are the badges,cardigans and berets branded foreach school. In our neighbouringBenin Republic, all schoolchildren wear khaki as uniform.

Aregbesola has carried out arevolution in education in Osun. Iam of the firm belief that with thepolicy direction, funding,equipment, motivation andtechnology, all driven by thepassion and will to change thingsfor better, Osun, within theshortest possible time, will beproducing the best school leaversand world beaters in all fields.

•Fasure lives in Osogbo

By SOLA FASURE

•AREGBESOLA

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014 7PHOTOTALK

State Of Osun Ministry Of Health Organized Ebola Sensitization Workshop ForTraditional Rulers In The State, Recently.

•State of Osun Commissioner for Environment, Professor (Mrs) Olubukola Oyawoye (2nd right), State Commissioner for Health, Dr (Mrs) Temitope Ilori and the Akinrun ofIkirun, Oba Abdul-Rauf Adedeji, demonstrating hand-washing technique at the workshop.

•A cross section of traditional rulers at the Ebola sensitization workshop.

•(L-R) The Akinrun; the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Olabomi, the Elende of Eko-Ende, Oba Abdul-Rauf Adebayo Ajiboye, the Olufon of Ifon-Osun, Oba Abdul-Maruf Magbagbeola, and the Elerin of Erin-Osun, Oba Yusuff Omoloye at the workshop.

8 OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014PHOTOTALKLaro Timehin Middle School, Isale Osun, Osogbo, Constructed Under The Adminis-tration Of The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, As Captured ByOur Cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, Last Thursday.

•Front view of the school.

•Back view of the school.

•

•Security house at the school.

9 OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014PHOTOTALK

Roads In Osogbo Construction/Rehabilitated Under The Administration Of GovernorRauf Aregbesola, As Captured By Our Cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, LastThursday.

•Gbodofon road, Osogbo.

•Pedestrian way along Gbongan/Ibadan road, Osogbo.

•

10 OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014 PHOTOTALK

•A newly-constructed pedestrian bridge at the Osogbo Railway Terminus.

Some Of The Achievements Of The Governor, State Of Osun, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, In The State Packaged By GBENGA ADENIYI.

•Beautification of the Old-Garage area of Osogbo.

•Beautification of road along at Alekuwodo area of Osogbo.

11 OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014FEATURE

Oni, Fayemi, Aregbesola And Politics Of CharacterWITHOUT any fear of

inaccuracy, I was the firstperson in the media industry-

both national and foreign-to have anexclusive interview with Engr. SegunOni after his swearing-in as thegovernor of Ekiti State in 2007. Theinterview happened less than a monthafter he settled down for the seriousbusiness of governance. The interviewwas a no-holds barred and I asked thenGovernor Oni many questions. Notminding the political tendency on whichI may be leaning as he was meeting mefor the first time-having beenintroduced by Dr. Samuel Arowolaju (asenior friend) as a media guy from theUnited States, he answered myquestions candidly and without mincingwords.

Some of the questions revolvedaround his predecessor, now governor-elect Ayodele Fayose and he said morethan a mouthful. Hear him: “On the29th of September, 2005 we had ameeting that was to become a rallysomewhere along Falegan Estate area.We actually had a peaceful meeting butthe police came in nonetheless. Theysaid Governor Fayose had prepared anagenda to get some of us. They cameto get me and fired some rubberbullets…They kicked me, beat me upand I was dragged on the main road ofthis (Ado-Ekiti) city and thrown into avehicle. People were watching fromafar. The police thought they’ve thrownmy lifeless body inside the vehicle butwhen they realized that I wasn’t deadthey took me to the police station andsprayed teargas on me. They wanted tospray the teargas into my nostrils but Itold the guy if he did that I would dieand the policemen watching him are theones who would give evidence againsthim and he would never get out of it.”

I asked the then governor if he wascontemplating revenge since he thenoccupied the same office hispredecessor allegedly used to attempt to

snuff life out of him. The governorsaid: “The only lesson I took awayfrom that unfortunate incident is thatpower is very transient. You see, whenyou have power and you refuse to useit based on your whims you enhance itsvalue.”(Italics mine for emphasis). Inever stopped thinking about this lastsentence since as reflecting the man’sstrength of character.

A different aura, as if issued from thecore of his being, enveloped Ekiti Statewhen John Kayode Fayemi took overthe mantle of leadership. The calm thatdescended on the state, which reflectedthe persona of Fayemi was palpable.Scrupulous Nigerian entrepreneurs andthe international community saw in himhis genuineness and started to set upshops in the state so much that billionshave been sunk into hospitality andother service businesses by privateinvestors. The governor will probablygo down in the 18-years’ history of thestate as the only governor thatcontinued with the projects of hispredecessor, despite the very painfuland tortuous experience to which hewas subjected in regaining his mandate.On assumption, he became the firstgovernor in this dispensation to declarehis assets and that of his wife. Thegovernor declared an eight-point agendaas a blueprint of his administration thatnot only touches every socio-economicstrata of society, but also implementedvirtually all the points and sub-points onthe agenda during his tenure. Thisremarkable feat earned him thesobriquet of “O wi bee, O se bee”which literally translated into “He saidit, did it”. As part of rebranding thestate along the lines of the values thathe holds dear, Ekiti state is now knownas “Ile Iyi, Ile Eye,” a phrase thatembodies a virtuous state that I hopethe new helmsman will keep.

Osun State was a violent and highly

traumatized state on its way to abottomless perdition when Ogbeni RaufAregbesola took over its administration.It was a beleaguered state not becauseit is socio-culturally disposed tobrigandage, but because a class of itsown people was attempting to takeaway its very soul. On his assumptionof office, Aregbesola decided -almostfrom Day One of his administration-totake the road less travelled. This earnedhim the description of an unusual manrunning an unusual government. Hebelieves that a people, as that organicstructure that makes up society, mustcoalesce around some core principleswhich must of necessity become theirethos if they must realize theircollective destiny. The state was alsorebranded along this line of thought.

His administration created a crest, aCoat of Arm, a flag and a state anthemthat the country’s central authoritystuck in its primordial hunter andgatherer political disposition accusedhim of trying to secede from therepublic. The governor did not stopthere. A state known as the “State ofthe Living Spring” became known as a“State of the Virtuous.” He has beendescribed by people from various walksof life to be a “scrupulously honest andhumble” chief of state, which probablycontributed in no small measure to hisvictory at the recent poll for a secondterm. I have given the synopses of thistrio in order to identify a commonthread that runs through them. And thisis the character thread.

Much has been said by politicalscientists and pundits that one of themajor reasons why the All ProgressivesCongress(APC) has been unable to gainsignificant traction so far is because ofits inability to anchor its existence on apolitical ideology or an identity. Itshould look no further. The oppositionpolitical party should make characterthe lifeblood that gives it sustenance.Character should be seen by the people

as what distinguishes it from the rulingparty. It should be seen as its mainpillar. It should be the first identifier ofthe party’s candidates for electoraloffices from henceforth. This timetested virtue should be its brand.

As much as Nigeria has been toutedas having the largest and the mostpromising economy in the continent,much of the rest of the world still willnot touch her even with a long polebecause the country’s government andits people are deemed as hopelesslycorrupt and lacking in character.Therefore, injecting character into thebody politic will most definitely reversethe self-destructive trajectory of apathetic country such as Nigeria. Othersocial pillars of justice, fairness andequity that must be present to lendsupport to the growth and sustenanceof any society can only thrive with thepresence of character. A nation withoutcharacter is a living dead. They saythat character is really what you dowhen no one is looking. I will add thatit is also when one is willing to goagainst the grain because the values thatone represents will be seriouslycompromised or impaired, asexemplified by the people of the Stateof Osun when they overwhelminglyvoted for the presidential candidate ofthe party they identified with in 2011even when they knew that his chancesof winning was hopelessly low.

•Odere is a media practitioner. He canbe reached at femiodere@gmail.com.

•Culled from THE NATION

•AREGBESOLA •FAYEMI •ONI

By FEMI ODERE

OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 201412 INTERVIEW

Aregbesola Is A Dealer In Hope - OladejoMr. Abiodun Oladejo is a politician, businessman, and member of the Board of Rural Development, Water Resources and Infrastructure in the

State of Osun. He accorded the last concluded gubernatorial election that saw Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola winner for second term to thedecision and massive support of the people of the State. As a philanthropist, motivator and core active member of the All Progressives Congress(APC), whose drive and passion for the people of his constituency and the State at large placed him on the verge to represent them in the forthcoming election for the House of Representatives, come 2015. He further tells Moses Boba of OSUN DEFENDER that in his quest to serve andlead the people, has gathered more knowledge and experience, even as he prepares for the race. Excerpts:

OSDF: How would you explain your po-litical prowess?

OLADEJO: Thanks for another opportunityto talk to my people, Nigeria and the world ingeneral. First of all, I want to use this medium tocongratulate the Governor of the State of Osun,Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola and the people ofthe state for the success and victory recorded inthe just-concluded governorship election thatushered Ogbeni Aregbesola into office for a sec-ond term. Let me also say that I am happy to letyou know that your paper, OSUN DEFENDER isknown worldwide today. According to JohnMaxwell, who was one of the political writers insocio-development and human capacity; leaderhas ability to influence the followers. I have readabout leaders and not rulers that have influencedpeople positively. I have gained momentum intheir prowess and ability to move people towardsthe enthronement of egalitarian society. One ofsuch people was Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Otherswere Mahatma Ghandi Nehru, Martin KingLuther, Patrick Lumumber, Steve Biko, NelsonMandela. The cumulative effect of all these hasbeen a succor and inspiration from my higherinstitution days because of my political involve-ment at Ibadan Polytechnic, where I studied MassCommunication. I contested for General Secre-tary in the Students’ Union then. So, these weremy motivational factors. If you must lead thepeople, you must show ability and charisma.Some of the books and write-ups, and messages Ihave read have been tonics to my political devel-opment.

OSDF: Can you describe your role as a partymember in the All Progressives Congress (APC)?

OLADEJO: Yeah! That was a very goodquestion. I tell you, my father, before his demise,was a staunch member of the progressive fold. Italso reflected on us as his children, as a way oftradition and life. I have been following the trendand legacy of good tidings and glory. Today I ampolitically active, not only in Nigeria, also inAustria, where I lived for twenty three years. Iwas once General Secretary of Egbe OmoOduduwa for four years, Vice President of thesame union for three years and presently I amthe President of the union in Austria. You willagree with me that whether I am at home orabroad, I eat politics, sleep politics and wakes inpolitics. During Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s era, Iwas a co-follower and co-traveler during hiscampaigns and meetings. Since then, I had neverlooked back. I have been actively involved in thepractice of progressive politicking. My visit toGovernor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in Lagos State,when he was the Commissioner for Works andInfrastructure about ten years ago, reallyelectrified me the more to participate actively inpolitics of our dear country, Nigeria. When Istudied our political system and people around, Icould see excruciating pains of poverty boldlywritten on their faces. There must be a sectarianvoice against this political impunity. So, I havecome to be part of the wind of change in theprogressives and to vie for the House ofRepresentatives for the people of Boripe/Ifelodun/Odo Otin Federal Constituency, where Icame from. I remember then during Alliance forDemocracy (AD) before we metamorphosed toAction Congress (AC), then to Action Congressof Nigeria (ACN), and today, All ProgressivesCongress (APC). I should have been in the Houseof Representatives, but due to one issue or theother, because on two occasions I came out tocontest during the primaries, which I won andsubsequently was denied of the victory. It is myjoy that the wind of change in the atmospherecirculating in the State of Osun and Nigeria as awhole will take progressive dimension come2015. Despite my not being in the House ofRepresentatives today, I have been part of thevanguard for socio-engineering, and vehicle ofprogress and change, moving our people fromdungeon of poverty and slavery to a destinationof prosperity, abundance, peace, harmony andunity. I know that the time has come that in thisgeneration, Nigeria will see the light of the day.

OSDF: What is your role as member of theBoard of Rural Development, Water Resourcesand Infrastructure in the State?

OLADEJO: Very well, it is an advisory role.Other members and I were appointed last yearand we are working on proper integration becausesome of us are prime movers in our variousconstituencies. We are comprised of formercommissioners, important personalities, andpeople of substance. We have intellectual capa-bilities to contribute meaningfully, especially tothe success of the Ogbeni Aregbesola’s adminis-tration, as our primary objective. We are agentsof change.

OSDF: The last gubernatorial election in thestate was a success. What lessons should we drawfrom this?

OLADEJO: Yeah! This has been a wonderful

time for me. According to Dala Laima, a socialcrusader that says, all roots of appreciation isfound in the soil of appreciation. I really thankthe people of the State of Osun for being sowonderfully organized against the purportedtyrannical antecedents of the Federal Govern-ment. They waged war against Nazism. Whenyou see a government being vain glorious andwanting to rule by force, it will come to a haltthat day. I want to salute the gallantry efforts,courage, boldness and the effrontery of thepeople that stood and say, no! Enough is enough.I salute them once more because it was not elec-tion between Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola ofAPC and Iyiola Omisore of PDP, but betweenState of Osun, Yoruba land and Nigeria, especiallythe Federal Government. With what we witnessedin the state in the last election, Nigeria will neverbe the same again because it has sent signals,opened many cans of worms. Let me tell yousomething about the good people of the State ofOsun; they went to the poll, voted their choiceof candidate for continuity. This is becauseAregbesola’s administration, has in the last threeand half years, touched the lives of every familymember in the state positively. We have learnt tobe resolute and upright where there will beabundance for all and not for a tiny group ofpeople.

OSDF: You’ve travelled far and wide, lived inEurope for over twenty years. How would youinter-marry European and Nigerian politics forgrowth and development in Nigeria, especiallyState of Osun?

OLADEJO: My brother, frankly speaking,nothing good comes easy, but with perseverance,success is sure. You see, from my experience inthe twenty three years that I spent in Europe, itshows that a lot of things had gone wrong in ourcountry Nigeria. Who will transform and liberateher? Every problem in life has a solution; andthere is a particular solution for a particularproblem. I have gathered knowledge andexperience to work with my people for growth,progress, unity and development. It is not thatthe Europeans are saints but the way they dotheir things politically, socially, economicallydiffers. They have undergone what we areprocessing today, though it may tarry but we shallget there. All the resources that Nigeria needs fora developed nation, God has given us. How do weharness these resources and through whatchannels are they dispensed to our people? I tellyou today, that, it is only the right people thatcan transform this country Nigeria because Ibelieve that there is more power in the peoplethan the people in power. So, it is going to be acollective responsibility in one voice. As for me Iwill not relent to advocate for the truth. Nigeriais a possibility.

OSDF: You are warming and preparing torun for the House of Representatives come 2015.What is the motivational factor behind this?

OLADEJO: Well, I have travelled far andwide; I have been to USA and many countries in

Europe. Last two month, I took a bus fromVienna to London en route Austria, Germany,Belgium, and France. The set up in these coun-tries are appealing and interesting. It is made bythe people. We can also do it. I said this before,that Nigeria is one of the most blessed countriesin the world. So, we can change Nigeria to anation of reckoning on the globe. Is there any-thing wrong in being black? No! Nigeria of today,instead of us to celebrate icons, we celebratescum. Nigeria has potentials, manpower andresources but they are not properly channeled forthe benefit of our people. We cannot keep doingit the same way, there must be a new innovation,and change is the solution. Generally speaking,Nigerians are nice people. According to JohnMaxwell, that two people dominate the word; thethinkers and the doers. I want my people to riseand let us think and reason together, so that wecan move our nation forward. No matter how faryou have travelled, home is home. We arecapable and the resources are there. In thiscountry, we are not only blessed, we are over-blessed. We should not allow tiny group of elitesto keep mismanaging our resources on swankyand palatial homes, swimming in the ocean ofaffluence, pocketing our billions, flying here andthere. It saddened my heart that in the countryof plenty, poverty is the order of the day. I amalso poor because I have a lot of dependants andthis should not be.

OSDF: What should we expect from OgbeniAregbesola’s administration in his second term?

OLADEJO: You know, seeing they say isbelieving. Aregbesola is an institution, metaphor,matador, paladin, cerebra. Aregbesola, like BabaAwolowo, has a nimble mind and nimble fingersand given Midas touch to all facets of life in theState of Osun. He is not a pretender, he is real,genuine and a genius, he knows his onions, and heknows what his people want. These characteris-tics are evidences that he means well for the goodpeople of the state. Ogbeni Aregbesola will domore because he wants to leave a legacy thatposterity will one day judge him, that in a smalltown close to Ilesa, a true leader emerged. Actu-ally, most great leaders of the world never camefrom big cities; President Johnson, even Presi-dent Barak Obama; they all came from smalltowns. So, we expect more and more develop-ment. Some people are cars and spare parts deal-ers, while Aregbesola is a dealer in HOPE, “HoldOn Pains End”. I am a convinced and die-hardsupporter of Ogbeni Aregbesola. His administra-tion has developed shanties into towns and cities.That is why today, State of Osun is wearing a newlook. Look at the road network, pupils, farmers’commerce, O’YES, widows, aged and so on thatare enjoying from his good works. All of theseand many more he has touched. Aregbesola isworking! As a matter of fact, we need him at thecenter not only in the State of Osun because Iknow that with few other personalities, he canfix this nation within the space of ten to fifteenyears. It is about the passion and vision with

•OLADEJO

positive thinking to make things work. Though,the doubting Thomas will be talking, but we willnot listen to them. By the grace of God, when heleaves after eight years, the people and the entireworld will say that a man has come and better thelives of his people.

OSDF: What modalities would you assert tocarry your people along at the National Assem-bly?

OLADEJO: Thanks for this question. If I amvoted as one of the parliamentarians at theHouse of Representatives, I will ensure that Ifollow the roles and rules for making laws notonly for us at the chamber but the ones that willchange the lives of my people for good. Take forinstance, we should have genuine federalism.What is the relevance of a police commissioner,who will not take orders from the governor? Theaffairs and responsibility of a state rest on theshoulders of the governor. When we have truefederalism, the states will be more vibrant in theresource control. We have to look inward to seethe resources we have and explore them. ChiefObafemi Awolowo did it, he didn’t go to Lagosbecause all the resources were within the WesternRegion. Yoruba as a nation, we are number one inthe world. I want to be part of change of policy. Ihave a Foundation running for the past fifteenyears, I gave out scholarship to students in myhome town, addressing and assisting my people.My philosophy about life is I came to this worldwith nothing, and I will go back with nothing.The essence of living together as one is to reachout to people looking up to you, by puttingsmiles on their faces and also give them sense ofbelonging. That is my kind of person, and it isthe project of my life. What I have, I share withmy people. In Europe, the law is so powerful. Itis better to follow the law for it will constantlyput us on check. If Omisore had hijacked theelection on that day, you know it was onSaturday, he would have gone to church onSunday for thanksgiving and the man of Godwould have preached the glory of God, quote andunquote. Spirituality is good but it is personal. Wewill get there one day. Power is transient andwhen you are given power, you are givenresponsibility because success is so difficult tomaintain, for some see power as an avenue toaccumulate wealth and to perpetrate evil. No!Power is to serve. This year, I had oscillated fivetimes between Europe and Nigeria. It is apersonal sacrifice and I will continue to makesacrifice for this state and Nigeria to be greatagain.

OSDF: What message do you have for thepeople of the state, especially in your constitu-ency in the forthcoming 2015 general elections?

OLADEJO: It is obvious that we did bril-liantly well in the last governorship election inthe state and it is my joy that the success will bereplicated in the 2015 general elections. AllProgressives Congress (APC) stands for fairness,equity, genuine transformation, not this shadowy,cosmetic Federal Government’s. The APC logo isspiritual because it is a broom and when you openyour Bible to the book of Isaiah 14:23-24, wherethe party derived its logo from, it tells us how touse broom to wipe out bad influence andunwanted elements in the government. Peopleare labeling APC as an Islamic party. No! Go andread the book of Isaiah. So, in 2015, I don’tthink that Nigeria will be the same again becausethere is going to be a change and APC will takeover. Just like what we did in the State of Osunduring the August, 9, 2014 gubernatorial poll, Ihope that Nigerians will imbibe the same spirit torise as a people against this torture, againstpeople that forbid us to live well, then, Nigeriawill begin to see the light of the day and a newsong will be heard in our dwellings, for a newdawn has come. It is time for better things tocome because we cannot continue this way. Theyhave made us foreigners in our own country, weare in pains, and there is a gap between thegovernment and the governed. We are almost inshattered slavery. The dry bones must rise againbut with our collective responsibilities. Enough ofthis butter and bread politics! Let there beabundance for all. It is ungodly and inhuman to inflinch injuries on us. God is not to be blamed. Igranted an interview during our mega rally beforethe August 9th governorship election, that theelection is going to be between heaven and hell,whether we are going to hell or heaven, but Godanswered our prayer because our people stood. So,the same way, I want them to stand for thegeneral elections. The 2015 election must be amilestone in paradigm shift. We must embracenew things; there must be redemption for thiscountry. Insecurity is staring at us every day.Nigerians must be on guard in 2015 for thebeginning of a new era.

13 OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014FEATURE

CAN Full Of Worms, A Country Full Of Warts!BEFORE now, he minimally

knew about Nigeria other thanits name. He befriended no

Nigerian aside the few he stumbledacross in his ministerial assignments asa preacher. But in recent times, Joe,my white American friend has learnt somuch about my country and its peoplethat he now believes he is moreequipped than a Nigerian Professor ofHistory or any Nigerian alive, about allthat is in Nigeria’s past, present, andwhat will be in the future. That was hisconfession.

Joe’s acuity about our country’sstories was acquired through Facebookwhere he is connected to me as a friend,and in turn to many others he has nevermet and may never meet. He followsour arguments about issues andaccording to him; he laughs his head offreading many of our opinions. Joesummed up Nigeria and Nigerians in thisshort American Southern sententialsubmission; “y’all gat some mess up inthere”. He is right.

Nigeria has a messy past, a messierpresent, and a gawky; gaucherie futureexcept our God shows His mercy. Whathave got many giving up hope are eventswe see all around us in everydayNigeria. This country has become acesspool of ludicrousness andridiculousness, a cesspit of laughabilityand farcicality, and a cistern throughwhich all things miasmic and mephiticflow. Government after government, itappears as if we are in a quotidiannavigation through the noxious vicinageand nauseating neighbourhood of thenonsensical and the absurd. Andwriting or blowing out your larynx in ascream for a change looks like shadow-boxing and sciamachical strain, stress,and stab.

Friday September 5th 2014, aBombardier Challenger 600, with aNigerian flight crew headed forJohannesburg in South Africa. The jetbecame a flying cash-vault and strong-room brimmed up with undeclared rawcash that totaled $9.3 million. Missionwas to purchase arms and ammunitionfor some agency of the Nigerian FederalGovernment as it continues chasingBoko Haram from pillar to post in its newly-sculpted caliphate. So,reinforcement was needed fromxenophobic South-Africans because allroutes to the Western World topurchase ammunitions for Nigeria arefull of booby-traps and suspicions ofmoney-laundering by Nigeriangovernment apparatchiks. On boardwas an Abuja Israeli man, Eyal Mesika,who was the only man with thecombinations to open the lock on thesuit cases containing the cash.

Arriving Johannesburg, the coverwas blown. When covers are blown indeals that have to do with money inNigeria, it means someone in the dealis probably been edged and schemedout from the booty; and what follows isalways crying and gnashing of ugly teeth

of obstreperousness. Between thecouriers of the cash and the Nigeriandiplomats in South Africa, somethinghappened, but we don’t know what itwas. Some day, we will find out thetruth. It was the known truth that gotsomeone talking to the media about thedingy deal.

The shock in the whole drama wasthe mode of transfer of the whoopingsum and the initial responses of ourgovernment. It was both risible anddaffy when we read that the governmentbelives money- transfer through a jetwould deliver faster than going throughthe Central Bank. The purchase of theammunition was so urgent in the thoughtof those responsible for thisirresponsibility that the governmentchose not to make the transfer via theCentral Bank but through a pastor’sprivate pet jet.

The jet must have been so anointedwith some kind of miracle-oil that, in aholy-rolling of sort, it can cover a 3,000miles journey between Lagos andJohannesburg and deliver money fasterthan a Bank Wire Transfer would inminutes. If this is not a jejune jabberingfrom a polemic whippersnapper; if thisis not a farrago of bunkum and absurdverbiage, I wonder what then it is. Theseare some of the stories the world readsabout the giant of Africa that makes itlook like a divagate gallimaufry ofridicule and loutishness. Warts of weirdbehaviours are found in all crevices ofour government, and stench is lockedup in all nooks and cranny. God mustcome to Nigeria’s rescue.

The man or woman who knew the

truth then dropped the name of a manof God. It was Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor,the head of all Christians in Nigeriaunder the Christian Association ofNigeria (CAN), and the sole owner ofthe flying cash-vault and strong-roomjet. I and many all over the world havedrawn and learnt from the man of God’steachings and expository prowess of theinfallible word of the living God. Oh,how I love Pastor Ayo! I wish the night-crawling money transfer had not takenplace on his jet, or any other jetbelonging to a man of God. I wish themoney had not been transferred onPastor Ayo’s jet because all of usChristians now have to defend what Ibelieve is totally indefensible. I wishPastor Ayo will just leave thesepoliticians alone and preside over CANin a noble and decent manner, notrunning back-and-forth genuflectingbefore politicians in pursuit of wealththat has wings.

As a servant of God, I always cringein shame when scandals regardinganointed men brew up; I have to attemptsharpening my debate skills to confrontsome of my friends who thinkPentecostalism and Pentecostal pastorsare just a bunch of unemployed lowlifesand unemployable barracudas who justlove to extort and manipulate both thehighs and the lows in the society withperfected Pentecostal abracadabra.Pastor Ayo is a great man of God, buthe is now perceived in recent times asa man of glittering gold and blinkingbling. The leasing and sub-leasing of thejet is obviously an attempt to make extracash to maintain the jet. I wish Pastorhad found another way of maintainingthe toy. If he cannot maintain the jet, he

should not retain it. You cannot retainwhat you cannot maintain.

I wish gun-running, dirty-deals,money-trafficking under the cover of thenight had not been part of how PastorAyo’s ministry is now defined. But, ithas happened, and it’s not ahappenstance. Any kind of romancebetween pastors and Nigerianpoliticians may surely land big andheavy bags of free money, but it willalways land you in a heavy pile oftrouble especially as CAN president.When a CAN president is in conjugalconjoining, lovey-dovey dance-stepswith Nigerian politicians, it will spring acarbuncle that may never heal.

The Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) that Pastor Ayo presides overhas become a CAN of worms thatmany Christians have kept an arm’slength from since Pastor Ayo becamepresident. The Catholic Church haspulled out, and many others are alsotinkering with the same idea. We knowPastor Ayo is an unapologetic supporterof President Goodluck Jonathan, andthat is well. But he cannot drag millionsof his members who don’t believe whathe believes regarding politics. He hasevery right to do that with the churchhe founded, not CAN that is a rallyingumbrella for all Christians in Nigeriawho have differing political swings.There is no doubt that this presentleadership of CAN is full of worms, andit will be a great move if Pastor Ayostepped aside. Doing otherwise with allthe foofaraw we have now is kickingthe CAN down the road.

•OJO, a Pastor, lives in theUnited States.

By FOLA OJO

•ORITSEJAFOR•STRONG-ROOM JET

14 OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014

Job Vacancies In Nigeria

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

Graduate Job Opportunities in Abuja, FCT at Interra NetworksInterra Networks Ltd (Interra) – is a leading provider of Information & Communications Technology(ICT) solutions for the private and public sector. We develop, deploy and manage ICT products andservices with a focus on the emerging markets of the world – from as simple as a website to ascomplex as a secure IP-Voice Network, we can help turn your business needs into a workingsolution.We bring our years of experience to bear in developing innovative solutions and partnering withour clients to ensure they derive maximum value from their technology projects.At Interra Networks our people are our greatest assets. We are growing and need people looking fora rewarding and challenging careers in various disciplines. If you have drive, intellect and a passionto exceed the norm, we want you!Interra Networks is recruiting to fill the vacant job positions of:Marketing/Product Development Officer Senior Marketing/Product Development Officer Business Development Officer Senior Business Development Officer Sales Officer Sales/Business Development Officer——————————————————————————————————————Hewlett Packard Job in Nigeria for a Networking Field EngineerJob Title: Networking Field EngineerDescription · Apply advanced technical knowledge (i.e. Networking) to operate one or more technology areas(e.g. server administration, technical security management, performance management) or customergroups that are critical or high risk.· Build and maintain strong relationship up to senior management level in assigned accounts.· Design and deliver support solutions using specific industry knowledge and expertise.· Assist in managing delivery of industry support solutions.· Lead Customer Expectation management as part of escalation process.· Integrate technical knowledge and business understanding to create solutions for customers.· Resolve single- and cross technology incidents independently. Work with team members toresolve cross technology incidents.· Proactively and reactively look for solutions to prevent problems from occurring in team/technology area· Apply HP solutions to meet customer needs.· Identify additional services that could lead to future service revenue growth.· Provide technical consulting during contract renewal discussions. Education and Experience Required:Bachelor’s degree preferred or Associate degree holder (technical field) with 3 -5 years workingexperience as a field support engineer.Knowledge and Skills Required:Good knowledge of HP products and services offerings, competition, third party products andmarket trendsActive listening skills and ability to adjust messages to audience levelProblem-solving skills(proactive, reactive and creative)Able to employ consulting skills by becoming a trusted advisor to the customer and providingclarity to solution determinationWell versed in core technical competencies and peaked in some technical area(s) Intermediateskills in project management, communication, analysis and presentation.Technology knowledge (focus on infrastructure hardware, specifically Networking, thoroughknowledge in operating systems required)Broad knowledge of corporate organization, job, and policiesComprehensive business, technical or functional knowledge at an expert levelCommunicate tactfully with diplomacy up to senior management levels within an organization.How to ApplyTo apply for this position, click here https://hp.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=1305351&lang=en&sns_id=twitter____________________________________Phamatex Nigeria Ltd Job VacanciesThe reputation that Phamatex Nig. Ltd has built over the years for high standards is one of ourgreatest business assets. Together, we share the responsibility to preserve and enhance these assets.Our goal has never been solely to comply with the law but to abide by the highest principles ofintegrity, honour and concern for others.

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1.) Ticketing and Hotel Reservation Officer2.) Computer Secretary/Admin Assistant (with good knowledge of diverse computer packages)3.) Customers Relationship Support Officers (with vast knowledge of the computer)4.) Market Development Officer5.) Computer Typist (with cognate experience)How to ApplyInterested and candidates should submit their CV personally to:Human Resources ManagerExpressor International Group(Immigration, Visa, Ticketing and Advert Consultants)69, Obafemi Awolowo-way (2nd floor),Ikeja-Lagoshttp://www.expressorintergroup.com/index.htmlApplication Deadline 7th October, 2014_____________________________________________Association of Telematic Operators in Nigeria(ATON) recruitment for an ExecutiveSecretaryATON - Association of Telematic Operators in Nigeria.ATON is recruiting to fill the below position:Job Title: Executive SecretaryLocation: LagosJob Description:This position is responsible for a wide variety of secretarial and administrative duties for princpalofficers and members of the Association including: supporting the Association’s Strategic Plan andMission Statement;acting as the custodian of minutes; resolutions and ordinance books in accordancewith the general requirements; updating the Administrative Code; creating and maintaining meetingagendas, including incorporating agenda material for presentation for routine, special and adjournedmeetings.Responsibilities:The ideal candidate among other things will be responsible for the following:Provide administrative and clerical support to the AssociationSchedule meetings and arrange conference roomsManage and schedule travelTake and transcript dictationMaintain office procedures and plans all eventsHelps prepare office budgetCoordinate travel arrangements; prepares itineraries; prepares, compiles and maintains travelvouchers and recordsOperate office equipment, such as the photocopying machine and scannerRelay directives, instructions and assignments to executivesReceive and relay telephone messagesMaintain hard copy and electronic filing systemHandle information requestsPrepare correspondence and statistical reportsOrganise outgoing and incoming correspondenceManage spreadsheetsGreet and receive visitorsPrepare confidential and sensitive documentsCoordinates office management activitiesDetermine matters of top priority and handle accordinglyPrepare agendas for meetings as well as coordinate committees and task forcesPerforms all related duties as assignedQualificationsMinimum of a 2.1 degree in any subjectKnowledge of the organization and composition of letters, minutes, reports, charts, and spreadsheetsExcellent typing and verbal communication skillsKnowledge of scheduling and coordinating travel arrangementsAbility to analyze and assess services and operations for quality, efficiency, and effectiveness andto make recommendations for improvements.Efficient stress and time management skillsAbility to analyze and solve problems, as well as make rational decisions where necessaryAt least 3 years cognate experience performing a variety of administrative support functionsincluding transcription and dictation of correspondenceAdministrative writing and reporting skills, professionalism, confidentiality & organizationKnowledge of office practices, procedures, and computer software programs including MicrosoftOfficeHow To ApplyInterested and qualified candidates should forward their up to date CV’s to: hr@xnetnigeria.comusing the job title as the subject of the mailNote: All applications MUST be accompanied by a covering letter explaining why you are suitablefor this role, failure of which will lead to automatic disqualification.Application Deadline 30th September, 2014————————————————————————————————————ICT Jobs in Enugu and Anambra at AfriHUB Nigeria LimitedAfriHUB Nigeria Limited (“AfriHUB”) was established in May, 2004 to provide human capacitybuilding technologies, including satellite and wireless Internet access, telephony and US instructor-led technical training to Federal Universities throughout Nigeria, as well as to the country’sbusinesses and government sectors. 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Symantec Anti-virus server,Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5/2000/2003,TCP/IP, FTP, TFTP, TELNET, STMP, firewalls, VLAN,STP, ANTI-VIRUS/SPAM, ACCESS-LISTS, RAID, ACTIVE DIRECTORY, IPX/SPX, NetBEUI,PPP, 802.11 a/b/g. BLACKBERRY, Cisco 3800, 3700, 2600 Routers / 3500, 2900, 5000 Switches,PIX 506, 515 & 525E Firewalls.Knowledge of Mikrotik Equipments for wifiAbility to provide network and server administration across multiple server platforms includingUnix,Linux, Novell and Windows NT/2000/2003 Server.Candidates in and around Enugu State & Anambra State are preferable.Method of ApplicationInterested and qualified candidates should send their resume to: chukwuemerie.nnamdi@afrihub.com Application Deadline 29th September, 2014.

15 OSUN DEFENDER Saturday, September 27, 2014 INTERVIEW

PDP’s Election Petition, A Waste Of Time – APCIn this interview with ALLWELL OKPI, the Director

of Publicity, Research and Strategy for the AllProgressives Congress in Osun State, Mr. KunleOyatomi, says the petition of the Peoples DemocraticParty at the Osun election tribunal is unnecessary

What is happening now at the electiontribunal in Osun State?

Though, I’m not part of the team oflawyers representing the government andthe APC, what I can tell you is that what isbefore the tribunal now is the inspection ofelections materials, especially the ballotpapers. The tribunal has permitted the APCand the PDP to inspect the electionmaterials. For now that is what is going on.

Is it true that Governor Rauf Aregbesolatried to evade service of the court order?

When you have an order to serve theother party, what you do is go to the personand serve him. You know where he lives;you know where his office is. It’s sounfortunate that the lawyers that arerepresenting the PDP are just playingpolitics. The fact is that they are the‘petitioners, it is a known fact that whenyou are the petitioner, the court will ask youto go and serve the other. That is not thereason for them to make issues out ofnothing. Why are they going to the pressto talk nonsense? It’s absolute nonsense;it doesn’t exist. How have they been able toserve others? I heard they have served theother parties. The governor is available anyday. He is available in his office; he isavailable in the Government House and theysay he is trying to evade service. Did theytry at all? That is what the tribunal chairmanshould have asked them, No reasonableperson will listen to such argument.

The PDP said INEC is colluding withyour party to delay the inspection of electionmaterial and other processes of thetribunal.

Before the election, they told the wholeworld that if Ambassador Rufus Akeju, theOsun State Resident ElectoralCommissioner, was allowed to conduct theelection of August 9, the outcome of the

election would not be accepted becauseAkeju was accused of being bias. To allowthe process to have some credibility, INECallowed the man to proceed on his annualleave. They brought in Segun Agbaje, andhe conducted the election, did Aregbesolanot win? Despite this, the same PDP stillaccused Agbaje of colluding with us. If theINEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, came toOsun to conduct the election, this PDPwould have still accused Jega of colludingwith us. In which way do you want to pleasethem? If they lose election they say theumpire colluded with our party. Are theysaying they have the popularity ofAregbesola?

But why does the APC want the chairmanof the election tribunal changed?

One way or the other, they wrote a petitionagainst the first chairman and somehow, thePDP in Abuja and the PDP in the judiciary,removed him and replaced him withsomebody who had given a judgementagainst the Action Congress of Nigeria (nowpart of the APC) then in Kogi. The ACN atthat time wrote a petition to the NationalJudicial Council about the judgement but itwas not looked into. We have experiencedthis man in Kogi and we remember what hedid and we complained about what he didhow can we now believe that he would befair in this case?

The PDP said the election wasmanipulated in 17 local government areas.

Did any monitoring team see anything?Those who are credible election monitorssaid the election was free and fair, so wheredid they get their report from? People shouldcommend Aregbesola and the APC for whathappened in Osun State on August 9, 2014.The federal might spent everything in theirpossession to take over the state, but it wasnot possible. The APC has no godfatherother than God Almighty and that God

played his role. What is this noise aboutAregbesola rigging the election? He couldn’thave rigged it with the presence of all thesecurity forces offered by the FederalGovernment; 73, 000 of them. If you distributethe 73, 000 security agents among 3010polling units, you will get about 25 per pollingunit. This 73, 000 came to meet about 30,000security agents previously on ground. Thatmeans you are talking about over 100, 000security agents for one election. In the faceof this, the good people of Osun came outand voted and some people are now makingnoise about what happened. Let me tell you,out of the election material they have

inspected so far, they have not seen evenone election result paper that was notsigned and stamped by INEC and all theagents present. These people are justbusybodies. They are wasting thepeoples’ time; they are wasting INEC’stime, they are wasting the time of thepeople of Osun State who want to moveahead. Mind you, the plot to cause troublewill be taken care of. They can’t go far.We don’t have the kind of power theyhave. They have the power of soldiers,police, Department of State Security butwith all of that, they got nothing.

•Culled from THE PUNCH

•OYATOMI

PHOTOTALK

Hon Azeez Bayo Oyekanmi, Commissioner 1 At Osun State Broadcasting Corporation(OSBC), Declared His Intention To Contest The House Of Representatives’ Seat InIla/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro Federal Constituency Last Thursday.

•Alhaji Azeez Bayo Oyekanmi, addressing APC executives and members at Otan-Ayegbaju, State of Osun, last Thursday where he declared his intention to representIla/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives duringthe 2015 general elections..

•Oyekanmi and his numerous supporters shortly after his declaration in front of theAPC office at Otan-Aiyegbaju.

www.osundefender.org THE 5TH MOST-VISITED NEWSPAPER WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. Allcorrespondence 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.

Suntai As A Metaphor

AUDACIOUSEXPLOIT

withMURTALA AGBOOLA

TEL: 0806-119-7897E-mail: murtalamuag@yahoo.com

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

DANBABA Suntai is the electedgovernor of Taraba State in theNorth-East geo-political zone

of Nigeria. He was involved in a planemishap sometime in October, 2012when he decided to fly himself.

Suntai has been to hospitals in theUnited States of America (USA) andof late in Britain to take care of hishealth. By every stretch of imagination,the ailing governor is not fully fithealthwise to continue with the task ofgovernance in his state.

However, his political acolytes andfriends, rather than push for his fullrecovery, are more interested in hispolitical manoeuvre. Since Suntai crash-landed on October 25th 2012, in Yola,Adamawa State, life has not been thesame for the 53-year old administrator.In spite of his current state of health, hispolitical menders, who still need him intheir political schisms, have beenpushing him around. He has been in hispresent condition for the past twoyears, which means the mantle ofgovernment leadership automaticallyfalls on the Deputy Governor, AlhajiUmar Garba, who incidentally is not inthe good book of the governor.

According to the sycophants aroundthe ailing pharmacist-turned politician,his deputy wants to have a shot at thegovernorship slot next year. There isnow a mutual distrust between thegovernor and his deputy, who is acting.

Nigerians would recall that similarsituation transpired between the latePresident, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua andPresident, then Vice-President,Goodluck Jonathan. The NationalAssembly had to step in with theDoctrine of Necessity to allow,Jonathan to function as the ActingPresident.

This shows the extent to which wecovet power. Political power, theultimate aphrodisiac is coveted byeverybody because of the influence,control and the overriding benefit itbestows on the holder.

The defective system we operatemakes it even more compelling. Thepresidential system bestows morepowers on the chief executives, eitheras president or governors. They are theleaders of their parties and they are alsothe leaders of governments. In practicalterms, it translates to the fact that whenthe chief executive sneezes, the wholestate catches cold. Whether you like itor not, you have to be in the good bookof the chief executive. The president orthe governor dispenses favour at willand one has to be in his good book tobe a beneficiary. A politician oncesummarized the power nexus thus, a

fifteen minute chance meetingwith a governor can change thefortune of a person’s life forever.This tells you how powerful andinfluential officials in government are.For this reason, people would want todo anything and everything to getpower and maintain it at all cost.

Power, while you hold it, is sopervasive and pervading that youshudders to imagine it to go away fromyou. Once in the corridor of power, aperson becomes relevant. Littlewonder that some people have beenin the corridors of power sinceindependence and still hold swaytoday in public sphere.

In a developing country as ours,where political, rather than economicpower, determines everything, thedesire for the acquisition of electivepower is very strong.

It is the strong desire for power thatmakes some individuals to shift base orpolitical loyalty from the one they areknown for, to another one. The lateWaziri of Ilorin, Alhaji Abubakar OlusolaSaraki was the Senate President in theSecond Republic. He belonged to theconservative school of politics. Heinstalled his stalwarts at will. In thesecond republic (1979 and 1983), heput up Alhaji Adamu Attah of theNational Party of Nigeria (NPN) as thegubernatorial candidate. He wonconvincingly. By 1983, the strongmanof Kwara politics had fallen apart withAttah. Even though, the NPN re-presented Attah, he was trounced by thecandidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN), Mr Cornelius Adebayo,because Saraki asked all his supportersto vote for him. In the fourth republic,he started off with the All Peoples Party

(APP), which later became All NigeriaPeoples Party (ANPP) and ended upin the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While in the APP, he won Kogi andKwara States for the party.Commodore Mohammed Lawal (retd)won the gubernatorial election inKwara, while Alhaji (Prince) AuduAbubakar won in Kogi.

By the time he left for PDP, hiscandidates on the ticket of the partywon in both states. In his life time,Oloye, as he was popularly called, hadhis daughter, Ms Gbemisola Saraki, whorepresented Kwara Central SenatorialDistrict in the National Assembly, whilehis son, Dr Bukola Saraki, was a two-time governor of Kwara State.

Jokingly, people said Saraki ownedKwara and that his wishes were thecommand of the people.

In the State of Osun, Otunba IsiakaAdeleke, can be likened to Saraki.Wherever Adeleke turned to, his peoplewould follow him. He contested andwon election as the first ExecutiveGovernor of the State of Osun. In thefourth republic, he started with the APP,where his loyalist, Honourable AdejareBello became the Minority Leader inthe State House of Assembly. He laterjoined the PDP from where he switchedloyalty to the APC. As a result of that,the APC won the Osun West Senatorialdistrict convincingly in the lastgubernatorial election. His influencespreads to Ejigbo and Iwo besides hisfoothold in Ede, his home town.

There are others too who have goneinto political oblivion because theyswitched camp.

In conclusion it is my firm belief thatif relatives and friends of Suntai want tobe of assistance to him, they should takecare of his health first. All other thingsare secondary. But fundamentally, wouldNigerians learn any lesson from the twocases narrated above? Certainly no,because power in Nigeria provideseverything.

As at the time of going to press, theState House of Assembly has beenrestrained from setting up a committeemade up of medical experts todetermine whether Suntai ispermanently incapacitated to functionas a governor.

Whether the committee is set up ornot, if the ailing governor is strongenough, the acting governor cannotstand in his way to function. My candidadvice to the wife, children and truefriends is that they should fix his healthfirst before considering any politicalrelevance. When the chips are down,those who grandstand as his truefriends today would abandon him.

•DANBABA