VOL. 9. NO.147 N50tuesday, december 9, 2014

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

Front Page Comment

•Wife of the State of Osun Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola (arrowed), dancing with school pupils during the opening of 2014 Father Christmas programmes at OSBC Headquarters along Ibokun Road, Osogbo, last week.

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Aregbesola Is Not Imposing Any Candidate – Osun APC

Tribunal: Owolade’s Failure To Assemble Evidence Stalls Hearing

Osun Tribunal: Aregbesola 232 Staff Graduate From Osun Staff Development CentreWhy Ijebu-Jesa Should Produce Next Assembly Law-maker - Group

Lean Government: Key To PosterityThe situation with the turbulence in the oil market is dire. The misman-agement of the economy by the central government has left the federat-ing units

(the states) very much up and against it. The terms of trade have simply turned against us and we did not prepare for the rainy day. Now that the day of reckoning has

come we have to react positively. Those who have been proactive like for example, governors Fashola and Aregbesola saw it coming and like the

Boys Scouts were prepared.Having seen adversity on the horizon they opted for a ratio-nalisation of

the machinery of government; trim-ming of waste, du-plication and graft. This sensible route did not of course affect

personnel. On the contrary it helped to elevate the living wage of the civil service.

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2OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december 9, 2014 News

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), registering for his national Identity Card at the na-tional Identification number Registration Centre, Osogbo, State of Osun. With him are, his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori (3rd right); Director, Operations, national Identity Management Commission (nIMC) Abuja, Mrs Yahaya Cecilia (2nd right); an official, nIMC Osun, Akinlabi Olusola (left) and other dignitaries.

by kazeem mOhammedOsun Tribunal: Aregbesola Opens Defence GOVerNOr of the state of Osun, mr rauf

aregbesola, on monday opened defence against the petition challenging his re-election by the Peoples

democratic Party (PdP) governorship candidate, senator Iyiola Omisore, before the state Governorship election Petition tribunal.

This was just as a member of Aregbesola’s legal team, Mr Kunle Adegoke, said the team has more than enough convincing evidence to defend the petition and show that his client won the election fairly and squarely.

Omisore is challenging the August 9, 2014 re-election of Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime-led tribunal, while the Independent Na t iona l Electoral Commission (INEC) is joined as the third respondent.

In proving his case before the tribunal, the petitioners called only 43 out of the over 500 witnesses they listed to testify in their favour before the tribunal.

Two of the witnesses called by the petitioners, Samuel Oduntan and Pius Bakare, who claimed to be expert witnesses admitted faults in the purported

analysis they carried out

on the election materials for the petitioners to prove their case.

All other witnesses of the petitioners also told the court that they voted on the election day for the party of their choices.

To prove that he won the election convincingly,

Aregbesola has l i s ted several documents and over 500 witnesses, who would confirm to the tribunal that the election was the true reflection of the wishes of the people.

L i s t e d a m o n g t h e witnesses are APC polling

agents and voters, who witnessed voting processes in the various units being challenged.

However, each of the three respondents has 10 days each to defend the allegations of irregularities made by the petitioners.

Tribunal: Owolade’s Failure To Assemble Evidence Stalls HearingFaILure of the defeated accord Party (aP)

governorship candidate during the augustm 9, 2014 election in the state of Osun, mr. Niyi Owolade,

to assemble his evidence has stalled the hearing of his petition before the state Governorship election Petition tribunal.

Owolade is challenging the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola before the tribunal in all the 30 local government council areas of the state.

The tribunal was billed to continue the further hearing of the petition on Friday and Saturday respectively, but because the petitioner could not gather his evidence, the matter was adjourned till December 15.

The petitioner’s counsel, Mr B.J. Adedayo, said he had applied for the Certified True Copies (CTC) of some of the election materials, but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not concluded work on them.

The INEC counse l , Ay o t u n d e O g u n l e y e , countered the claim and said he had been briefed that some of the documents were ready, but the petitioner did

not come to pick them up.S u b s e q u e n t l y, t h e

adjournment was granted

with a condition that the two days would be added to the three days already spent by the petitioners.

By implicat ion, the petitioner has exhausted five days out of his statutory 14 days to prove the petition.

So far, Owolade has not called any witness before the tribunal to prove the allegation of the irregularities in the poll, but a number of election materials used for the poll have been tendered.

Some of the documents that have been tendered include photocopies of CTC of former EC8A for some polling units, CTCs of form EC40A, EC40B, EC40C and EC25B.

by kazeem mOhammed

232 Staff Graduate From Osun Staff Development Cen-

the Government of the state of Osun has graduated 232 staffers in the retraining of staff in courses ranging from Financial

regulation, Principle of accounts, auditing, Public service rules and taxation.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry

by abOsede akINPeLu

•OWOLADe

Aregbesola Is Not Imposing Any Candidate – Osun APCthe state of Osun chapter of the all Progressives

congress (aPc) has debunked claims by some aspirants and politicians that Governor rauf

aregbesola is imposing some serving lawmakers on the people ahead of the 2015 general elections.

The Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of the party in the state, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, said this in a chat with journalists in Osogbo, the state capital during the weekend.

A c c o r d i n g t o h i m , the al legat ion against the governor is baseless and unwarranted, as the governor did not interfere in any of the primaries because he wants the most popular aspirants to emerge.

“Some of the aspirants have been going about claiming they won the primaries; don’t allow them

to mislead the public. The governor does not have any preferred choice among them. They are all members of the party,” Oyatomi stressed.

The APC explained that it is looking carefully to present the best qualified, cred ib le and popula r candidates and that process is a very difficult one because of the multiplicity of interests in some cases that the party has to deal with.

“This is a very difficult and delicate process and the party is doing everything

within its powers to sort things out without rancour and disaffection.”

The party reiterated that the perception of imposition by the media is a wrong characterisation of the on-going process.

“When the party is done

with the process and it is satisfied that all concerns h a v e b e e n m e t , o u r candidates will emerge,” the party spokesman stressed.

It would be recalled that the party had, last week, conducted its primaries in a

bid to pick those among its fold who would fly the party flag in the 2015 general elections.

Some of the aspirants, according to the medium’s findings, have gone to town to inform their supporters that they have been picked

to contest on the platform of the party, when in actual fact, the party is yet to officially release the names of those to fly its flag at the polls in 2015.

Ijesa Sports Club May Relo-GOVerNOr rauf aregbesola’s second term in

office began on an historical note last penultimate weekend when he commissioned a multi-

million naira gymnasium donated by honourable korede Idowu, the Ilesa-east Local Government all Progressives congress (aPc) chairman.

re-election and this drew thunderous applause from the crowd, who had waited for his arrival at the venue for almost six hours.

“Ilesa, my place of birth,

happens to be the place I began my second term in office. What an irony of life. I began campaign in Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba and now Ilesa kick-started the second term,” he stated.

He thanked the people of the town for their moral and financial support before and during the election adding: “I am proud of you people.”

The governor also gave kudos to the State of Osun House of Assembly, as well as the Lagos State House of Assembly members for their roles during the election.

“These two houses were my backbone during the electioneering campaign, as well as the election proper,” he said.

Aregbesola, clad in his normal white attire, thanked the donor of the gymnasium named after him and urged other well-meaning Ijesa sons and daughters to emulate Idowu, so as to develop the town.

Earlier in his speech, the President of Ijesa Sports Club, where the event took place, Yinusa Ayo Odidi, congratulated the governor on his victory at the poll and his subsequent inauguration on November 27, 2014 with requests that the governor should endeavour to provide the club with the state-of-art equipment, such as an Olympic-sized Lawn Tennis Court, an 18-seater bus and a plot of land for expansion purposes.

Also speaking wi th OsuN deFeNder on the occasion, the donor, said his kind gesture was to complement the efforts of the governor in the area of fitness adding: “I named the gymnasium after the governor because he has been my mentor for years and I cannot but reciprocate his kind gestures to me. In fact, he is a God-sent leader.”

of Human Resources and Capacity Building, Mr Sunday Olajide, gave credence to the state government under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for sponsoring the participants.

T h e P e r m a n e n t S e c r e t a r y a d v i s e d the graduands to be appreciative of God and the state government for the opportunity given to them.

He therefore enjoined them to make use of the skills acquired in their different offices.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Director, Staff Development Centre, Mrs Yemi Ilesanmi, thanked the state governor for the opportunity given to staff to improve their skills while in the service.

She then advised the graduands to utilise the skills acquired in their different offices.

C e r t i f i c a t e s w e r e later presented to the graduating staff.

Speaking on the occasion amid pomp and pageantry, the Ijesa-born governor brought to the notice of the crowd that he conducted his first official duty in his home town after his

by abOsede akINPeLu

by tuNde esaN

3 News OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december 9,

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left), collecting his national Identification number from Director Operations, national Identity Management Commission (nIMC), Abuja, Mrs Yahaya Cecilia (2nd right). With them are, Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (right); State Coordinator, nIMC, Mr Adegoke Kayode (left) and others, at nIMC Registration Centre, Osogbo, the State of Osun.

Why Ijebu-Jesa Should Produce Next Assembly Lawmaker - a call has gone to Governor rauf aregbesola, the

leader of all Progressives congress (aPc) in the state of Osun, to prevail on the leadership of

the party in the state to respect the agelong zoning arrangement between Ijebu-Jesa and Ipetu-Ijesa in the consideraion of political offices.

H a r p i n g o n t h i s development, Mr Olawale Awe , an ind igene o f Ijebu-Jesa who led no fewer than 200 aggrieved indigenes of the town to OsuN deFeNder office

in Osogbo on Saturday said it was only strict adoption of the existing zoning arrangement of political offices between the two communities in Oriade Local Government

Council Area of Osun that could further enhance the chance of the APC in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

Awe, who said voting arrangement between the two communities should be respected, remarked that some notable sons and daughters of Ijebu-Jesa zone, who are still in support of maintenance of status quo in that regard, are only doing

so for their selfish interest.H e s a i d t h e s t a t e

leadership of the party should take into cognisance the fact that Ipetu-Jesa zone lost its two wards to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the state, while Ijebu-Jesa won its own zone for the APC.

One of the pleadings of the aggrieved people for

Ijebu-Jesa zone was that the state leadership of the party should consider the contributions of aspirants to the party in its selection, adding that some of the aspirants have no record of meaningful contributions to the party but came from nowhere after the victory of Governor Aregbesola for second term.

The angry Ijebu-Jesa indigenes said a choice as a

candidate for the House of Assembly should be made between Honourable Sola Adewumi, the 67-year-old owner of Lugard Paints and the 47-year-old Honourable Olufemi Balogun, who is a chartered accountant and immediate-past Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Revenue, adding that “it is either of these two aspirants that can deliver our constituency to our party.”

Awe said i t was on record that both Balogun and Adewumi were once mandated to step down for Honourable Nathaniel Agunbiade for the House of Representatives’ slot without any complaint from them.

He said, the zoning arrangement, which is rotational, stipulates that if an indigene of one zone is occupying a council chairmanship position, the other should clinch House of Assembly slot.

In Awe’s words: “Record has shown that Honourable G o k e Aw o t u n d e a n d H o n o u r a b l e W o l e Ogunsemi, all indigenes of Ijebu-Jesa had both spent eight years as members of the State House of Assembly, while Honourable Rowland Ogunleye and Honourable M . B . O . I b r a h i m , a l l indigenes of Ipetu-Jesa zone, are both on the verge of spending eight years as state lawmakers representing the zone.

“It is because we abhor violence and believe in justice that we are fervently pleading with the state leadership of the party and the governor to let the House of Assembly slot automatically rotate back to its rightful zone, Ijebu-Jesa, in Oriade Local Government Council Area, if only in the interest of having a record of having the higher number of voters in the area, “ Awe said.

Governor Ahmed’s Second Coming ‘ll Consolidate Achievements In Office - Anu Ibiwoyethe emergence of Governor abdulfattah

ahmed of kwara state as the standard bearer of the all Progressives congress (aPc) in its

just-concluded governorship primaries has been described as the best thing to happen to residents of kwara state at this time.

Police Arraign Man Over N.7m Rob-FOr allegedly robbing one Olasunkanmi abimbola of

N700,000, a 40-year-old man, Wasiu Ibikunle, has been arraigned before a magistrate’s court sitting in

Osogbo, the capital of the state of Osun.

by IsmaeeL uthmaN

According to the charge sheet made available to OsuN deFeNder on Friday, Ibikunle allegedly

committed the offence on Friday, 14th November, 2014 at about 11:00 am, beside Victoria Comprehensive High

School, Iludun, Osogbo. Police prosecutor, Inspector

A b i o d u n F a g b o y i n b o , informed the court that Wasiu and other suspects believed to be currently at-large had invaded Abimbola’s house, where he parked his Toyota Corolla car and robbed him of the said amount.

Fagboyinbo said Wasiu and

his accomplices at-large had conspired among themselves to commit the crime, adding that they smashed Abimbola’s vehicle’s windscreen before gaining access to his money.

The prosecutor added that when Wasiu and his fleeing colleagues could not get any money in the car, they ransacked the vehicle’s boot, where the victim kept the said

N700,000.He maintained that the

accused person had committed offences contrary to and punishable under Sections 516 A (1), 390(4)(c) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 vol. 11 Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.

The accused however, entered into a not-guilty-plea to the three charges bothering on conspiracy, malicious damage and stealing pressed against him by the police.

Defence counsel, Mr. Reginald Ngwu, then applied for his bail in liberal terms, stressing that the accused was ready to provide reliable sureties.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. F. A. Sodamade, released the suspect on bail in the sum of N100,000 with a surety, who was to produce affidavit of means, three years’ tax clearance and two passport-sized photographs before adjourning the case till 15th January, 2015 for hearing.

A n u I b i w o y e i n a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday before the House of Representatives primary election, commended the leadership and teeming m e m b e r s o f t h e A l l Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State for making “a decision that is in the best interest of the state and its residents.”

“ A s s u r e d l y , t h e second term in office of Governor Ahmed will help in consol idat ing the achievements of the first term in office and beneficiaries are going to be the good people of the state.

“We shall continue to solicit the support of the people of the state for a government that is people-oriented for overall growth and development of the state. It is also important that we continue to live in peace and harmony, which is an essential ingredient for development anywhere.”

The APC ch ie f t a in equal ly urged al l h is supporters to continue to

support the party and its

leadership in their efforts to bring succour to the people of Kwara State.

“This is one party that we laboured to build and it is therefore incumbent on us to ensure the victory of the

party at the polls. May I also appreciate

y o u r s u p p o r t d u r i n g the period of the party nomination in which I was actively involved in.

It has come and gone, and as a party man, I remain committed to the ideals of

the party and will work assiduously to ensure that the party wins at the polls,” he concluded.

Osun Workers Welcome Aregbesola Back To Office After 2nd Term InaugurationIt was a remarkable event as civil servants in the state

of Osun thronged on Governor rauf aregbesola on his arrival at the Bola Ige House, where his office is

located, to resume work after the inauguration for his second term in office as Osun governor.

The workers, led by the State Head of Service, Sunday Owoeye, were ecstatic, as they sang praise songs, thanking God for bringing back the man that has brought various innovations that have impacted positively on the workers.

Addressing the workers, the state governor noted that the song with which the workers welcomed

him to office reminded him that three days had already gone from his second term calendar.

He explained that he made a pronouncement after he took the Thursday oath to further develop the state with the speed of twenty years within the next four years of his new administration.

He therefore urged the workers to stand up to the task ahead, while thanking

them for appreciat ing what was achieved by his administration during the first term.

He further urged the workers to ignore the g rands t and ing o f t he opposition; adding that no amount of shenanigans can truncate the steady growth Osun is experiencing.

He noted that members of the opposition “are telling all sorts of lies on a radio station in Ife in order to continue their grip on ignorant members of their fold”.

Aregbesola however

decried the inaction of the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), adding that the broadcast regulatory body “is allowing evil by not cautioning the radio station in Ile-Ife.”

“This is not how to operate in a civilised community. Don’t insult our senses by inciting the public.

“What they were saying before the inauguration on the radio was that inauguration would not hold. Unfortunately for them, the inauguration has held,” Aregbesola said.

4 OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december

Lean Government: Key To PosterityContinued from pg1

This is fundamentally im-portant, for the civil ser-vants have to be protected. It is after all the political leadership and not them who created the imbalance in the first place. In the face of today`s adversity there must be a wholesale cost rationalisation of the cost of the machinery of government.What is needed now is lean government translating to smarter government.Smarter government will be more efficient and effec-tive. This is crucial, for the aggregate savings brought about by greater efficiency will now be re-directed to-

wards production as well as the physical and social infra-structure. This is the sort of operating framework used in the state of Osun and it has worked.It also if we may go down memory lane worked for the Obafemi Awolowo led regional government in the Western Region of Nigeria in the 1950`s.Recurrent expenditure un-der Awo was held to about 27%. This is why so much was done and massive so-cial gains were made in the region. That greatly admired government showed the efficacy of lean and smart government; it must be emu-lated.If social justice is to be

attained there must be a re-ordering of priorities for you cannot have your cake and eat it all at the same time. What is needed today is a govern-ment focused on a direction of capital towards the creation of a new society based on social solidarity and social justice. Only a rationatilasation can bring this about. And it has to be done for the sake of the polity and in the interest of the next generation or two.The quest for lean govern-ment ought to have been undertaken earlier. It will now be done in a very diffi-cult terrain and without very much by way of a margin of error. Fortunately people with the foresight such as Areg-besola have blazed the trail

and shown how lean, smart administrations can lead to greater efficiency and better use of resources.This is why in the present circumstances everyone should follow suit. For right now there is no other viable alternative. To claim that there is a viable alternative to what operates in Aregbe-sola’s Osun, Fashola’s Lagos plus a few other states in our federation where lean government is the principle, is to be economical with the truth. And the consequence of living in denial can only be dire for us all.

Obasanjo-Jonathan’s War Of Attrition: Who Wins?“TOMORROW, about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel in the gate of Samaria” – Prophet elisha.

Then a senior servant in the land responded to Elisha’s prophecy thus: “Behold if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?”

Elisha responded too: “Behold thou shall see it with thine eyes, but shall not eat thereof.”

When the Lord says they should bring you and loose you, the clock will start ticking and His plan for your life starts falling into place. The Lord has perfected all plans to visit and loosen Nigeria as He visited the people of Samaria, who were being ravaged by famine.

This unfor tuna te bu t expected war of attrition between Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan is a perfect tool that the Lord will use. If you are a child born in the 70’s, you will easily recollect the same war of attrition between King Sunny Ade and Emperor Pick Peters, two great juju musicians.

Sunny Ade: E kilo fomo

ode, ko ma rin nipado, ko ma seesi fara ba ogidan lojiji, igboran san ju ebo riru. Literarily means, warn the son of a hunter, not to move or trek to where the angels fear to tread, as to obey is better than sacrifice.

Pick Peters: Ona da komo ode ma rin nipado, nigbati ota n be lowo, omo ode ti de, omo eran ko fese fe. Meaning, why should a hunter’s son not move near the river, when he has

bullets, so the son of animal should run.

Here Ebora Owu is the lion and Goodluck Jonathan is the son of a hunter. What happened after these two chart-bursting songs? Sunny Ade, the Ogidan is still waxing stronger till today, while Emperor Pick Peters has gone out of circulation.

Talking on Obasanjo, twice he succeeded in picking presidents for us and by

now he must have learnt the limitations of kindness. We all make mistakes in life. Jonathan’s mistake caused a storm that threatened the lives of everybody around him. Likewise, Obasanjo’s mistakes since 1979 placed the Omo Oduduwa where we are today. Thank God he realized early enough and he is today an elder statesman.

A f t e r O b a s a n j o h a d installed Jonathan as the

nation’s President, Jonathan is now biting the fingers that fed him. He has the gut to call his mentor a jungle. Do not call a forest that shelters you a jungle. Do we say it serves Obasanjo right? The wise words of the elders foolishly rejected by the impatient young shall come to pass at night. Elders, our people say, are like a library, we need to learn from them.

A man, who pays respect to

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the elders, paves the way for his own greatness. Jonathan’s restless feet has walked him into a snake pit. He, like the Biblical Reuben’s character and ability have collided. Reuben was the beginning of Jacob’s strength, the excellence of his wisdom, but he was unstable as water, therefore, he did not excel. He may have become a big elephant but lacked the speed of a lion.

He who God wants to kill, they first makes mad. Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, was the most powerful ruler in the ancient world. He even saw himself as God. Because of this, God caused him to suffer a humiliating disgrace. He was turned to an animal and lived inside the bush for seven years.

Jonathan may be a good man, but good men do not make history, courageous men like Buhari, Obasanjo, Tambuwal do. Their names have been written in gold in the contemporary Nigerian history.

While pinching the back of an elder, you often forget that sooner or later, you will become an elder, whose back

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G i a n t Celebrating Excellence In Service (II)

In continuation of the series on the laudable achievements of the Government unusual in the State of Osun, NIyI OLasINde beams searchlight on other activities of the administration in identified sectors and sub-sectors of life in

Aregbesola’s Administration In Retrospect:OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december 9, 2014

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

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6 OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december 9, 2014

•

Continued on page 11

Celebrating Excellence In Service (II)maGazINe

· Continued from last week.

INNOVatIONEurope, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and now China have

made life for their people permanently comfortable through innovation, research and development, thrift and hardwork.

We Africans especially the people of the State of Osun are thrifty (a ki se oni nakuna) and hardworking (ati agbe at onise owo lo ka imele si aida nile Yoruba) but we have been backward in looking forward.

We have not been innovative enough, we have not invested enough in research and we have not developed the fruits of innovation and research. In other words we remain backward, poor, unscientific and losers (eni igbehin) among the family of nations.

It is a matter of concern that our leaders do not car or worry enough about these issues.

I care and I’m deeply concerned. As your Governor I will do everything possible to:

· Create awareness and dissatisfaction among all in the State of Osun about our position among the world’s people and the need to move up the ladder of human ascent and development away from permanent and persistent poverty.

· Ensure that ideas with original creativity are tapped for the enrichment of all.

· Give real importance to education with skills development so that we can make what we need and become more competitive in the world as a people by creating more skills development centres in the State of Osun.

· In these centres we shall teach Men and Women to think with their hands, sharpen our already proven entrepreneurial skills and stop Nigeria from importing:

TOOTH PICK (IGI OPARUN FUN ITAYIN) FROM CHINA, ORANGE JUICE (OROMBO) FROM KOREA, SHOES (BATA) FROM SPAIN/ ITALY, FAN BELT/ CAR TYRES (RUBBER) FROM JAPAN AND FRANCE.

When I know that these can be easily manufactured here.

I shall turn the state of Osun into a creative agro-industrial zone God willing.

INdustrIaLIsatION Key to banishing unemployment permanently

anywhere is promoting conducive atmosphere for manufacturing and production. Our Government shall:

· Develop integrated industrial estates for mini, micro and large manufacturing enterprises in the three senatorial zones of the State of Osun.

· Provide the estates with infrastructural facilities that reduce the cost of setting up industries (roads, electricity, water and telecommunications).

· Provide incentives targeted at attracting manufacturers/ investors.

· Develop skilled personnel through our Life Academies, Universities and colleges to service specialized industrial and manufacturing needs.

restOre heaLthy LIVINGVision: To work to save our people from all

avoidable deaths due to accidents, emergencies, poverty and inadequate health facilities.

to achieve this for all and particularly our children and senior citizens, we shall:

· Provide effective and available healthcare for all.

· Provide efficient accident and emergency ambulance service.

· Provide primary health clinics within 10 kilometre radius of every Osun town, with special attention to the needs of children, women and the elderly.

· Provide functional General hospitals within 20 kilometre radius of human habitation.

· Provide referral hospitals within 30 kilometre radius of human settlement.

· Establish free blood pressure checks in conjunction with private organizations at every local government office.

· Undertake special programmes for the upgrading, retraining and working comforts of all health personnel.

· Encourage and nurture alternative medical therapy.

· Free treatment for malaria to children below age 18 and senior citizens (60+).

eNVIrONmeNtVision: To embrace current scientific methods

in controlling the generation of waste and the conversion of waste to wealth.

•The state of the environment, especially waste generation, management and the embarrassing filth in our communities demand special attention. The CAN government shall:

· Encourage all houses in the State of Osun to have a modern and affordable toilet facility through a special scheme.

· Provide private sector driven waste management and beautification schemes to rid our communities of filth which threaten public health.

· Beautification of town centres as a starting point of general urban renewal.

· Work with the private sector to establish appropriate waste-to-wealth projects under a composite waste management policy.

WaterVision: Water for all in the state of the living

spring.It is a painful regret that most cities in Osun do not

have potable water running at any time and Osun is the state of the living spring!!!

Our Government will do everything possible to bring potable water to all parts of the State of Osun and correct this anomaly.

All abandoned water schemes shall be reactivated and speedily completed.

aFFOrdabLe hOusINGOur ACN Government shall:· Help Osun indigenes realize their dreams of

house ownership or rehabilitation of failing structures through deliberate programmes that improve their income earning capacity.

· Support mortgage schemes that make house ownership pocket friendly.

· Actively support research and development on the use of local materials to force down building costs.

eLectrIcItyElectricity for all shall be the creed of ACN

Government in Osun. We shall:· Ensure that electric energy is available in

the state for domestic, commercial and industrial activities.

· We shall endeavour to provide electricity to all villages, hamlets and farm settlements in the state.

· Private sector-led power agencies shall be encouraged to set up energy stations in the state.

securItySecurity of lives and properties are of paramount

importance to us. Our Government shall:· Have special programmes for the police and

neighbourhood security outfits.· Provide special allowance to all security

agents deployed to Osun State and enhance their operational facilities for efficiency.

· Respond to the operational needs of security agents through provision of mobility, communication gadgets, protective gears and conducive working environment.

FIre serVIcesWe shall improve capacity of fire services to respond

to emergencies.

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

7 OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december 9, 2014 PhOtOtaLk

•Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola (right) in a discussion with State of Osun Christian Association of nigeria (CAn) Chairman, Pastor elisha Ogundiya (left) while others watch.

•A cross section of private school pupils during the programme.

Wife Of the state Of Osun Governor, mrs sherifat aregbesola, at the 2014 Father christmas show at Osbc, Osogbo, recently.

•Immediate past State of Osun Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere (right), former OSBC Board Chairman, Mr Kola Akanji (middle) and another dignitary on the occasion. •A cross section of public school pupils at the event.

8 OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december 9, 2014 phototalk

•(L-R) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Kano State Governor, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, during the commissioning of reconstructed Asoro Grammar School, Benin City in Edo State on Friday.

•Aregbesola (right) cutting the tape of the reconstructed Asoro Grammar School while Oshiomhole watches.

•(R-L) Aregbesola; Oshiomhole, Deputy Governor, Edo State, Hon. (Dr.) Pius Egberamwen Odubu and Haed of Service, Edo State, Mr. Jerry Obazelle, during the commissioning of the reconstructed Asoro Grammar School, Benin City in Edo State on Friday.

State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Joined His Counterpart In Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, To Commission School Project In Benin, Last Friday.

•

9 OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december phototalk

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (left) and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, exchanging pleasantries inside a classroom of the commissioned school while standing at the back are the school pupils.

•

•Governor Aregbesola, addressing the pupils of Asoro Grammar School, Benin City, during the commissioning of the reconstructed Asoro Grammar School, Benin City in Edo State on Friday.

State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Joined His Counterpart In Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, To Commission School Project In Benin, Last Friday.

OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december 9, PhOtOtaLk

some Of the Public schools built by Governor rauf aregbesola during his First Term In Office. Photo: GbeNGa

•Baptist elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife.

•Children of AuD elementary School in Osogbo playing toys.

•Multipurpose Hall at Baptist elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife.

11 OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december 9, 2014 maGazINe

Contiuned on page 12

Continued from page 6

Celebrating Excellence In Service (II)

PhysIcaL WeLL-beINGOur Government will promote physical exercises as

a deliberate policy which will form a crucial aspect of our healthy-living programme. This is in keeping with the adage that a sound mind only resides in a sound body.

PrOmOte FuNctIONaL educatIONVision: eradicate the frustration of youths caused

by education that does not lead to employment.To achieve this, the government of AC under rauf

aregbesola shall:· Provide free education at all levels in Osun

State. Focus on functional education. Education that makes one useful to himself and society.

· Improve incentives to teachers and work with the NUT to restore the dignity of the teaching profession.

· Restructure administration of school management and create Tutors-General (Permanent Secretary Cadre) from among Head Teachers in three Educational Districts which we will establish.\

· Fix all collapsed educational infrastructures in all the schools.

· Support with modern teaching aids and well-stocked libraries.

· Ensure cooperation with parents and teachers to improve discipline and morality.

· Introduce non-partisan community-based governing boards for all schools.

· Reduce number of students per classroom immediately.

· Introduce home development plans for teachers who wish to build houses in their home towns, through access to special mortgage packages.

· Promote mass adult literacy and numeracy programmes.

· Promote and support Special programmes that give special attention to education of girls and women.

· Establish institutions that impart life-long skills for all, in and out of formal schooling.

ON hIGher educatION aNd uNIVersIty· I am committed to ensuring that an Osun State

University takes off on a sound footing and becomes a first-class institution with linkages to renowned universities in the developed world.

· I will make every tertiary institution in Osun State an independent degree-awarding one.

· Encourage use of services of retired, but not tired dons and administrators, from reputable institutions.

eNhaNce cOmmuNaL Peace aNd PrOGress

Vision: To restore the bond of trust between the Governor and the governed.

Over time, people have disconnected from government because those in authority have not shown enough concern about their welfare or actively engaged them in formulating policies that affect them.

Our Government shall restore partnership between government and people through:

saGes cOuNcILs (eGbe aGba)Our state is blessed with a large pool of elderly

folks who are invariably well educated, have enjoyed successful careers, travelled widely in the world, but are currently reduced to irrelevance in the society.

Our Government will support the formation of non partisan community based sages councils, capable of providing guidance in management, moral and ethical development in our society.

Our Government will seek elderly guidance and advice as inputs to our policy formation and implementation.

Government will support the senior citizens and help in their management of socio-economic problems peculiar to the group (pension, health and education).

yOuths cOuNcIL (eGbe OdO)People age 30 and below constitute the majority of

our population but unfortunately are often frustrated and unfulfilled as a consequence of intolerable social and economic policies.

Our ACN Government shall support the creation of non partisan community based youth councils to provide a platform for them to articulate and work out solutions to various problems confronting them.

Our Government will encourage cross fertilization of ideas between the Sages and Youth Councils through which public policies would be influenced.\

Government will promote sporting activities and creation iof physical facilities forb sporting and related activities.

We shall reinstate the abandoned ‘boys’ and girls’ clubs’ and name them Omoluabi boys’ and Girls’ club to perform the roles similar to boys’ and girls’ scouts, boys brigade and more.

JustIce sectOr reFOrmsAn attribute of good governance is to promote

justice, equity and fair play amongst citizens of the state.

Government of ACN will e3nsure speedy access ti justice try all individuals in Osun State, by reforming the courts system and procedural rules, introducing alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms and

fee legal services.To complement these, ACN government shall

improve welfare packages of Judicial Officers and upgrade courts with modern IT and communications facilities.

cOmmuNIcatIONOur Government will restructure OSBC to:Ensure its professional are motivated and

continuously trained for competency Provide digital equipment and infrastructure

upgrade to conform to international best practices in broadcasting.

Exploit its tourism promotional capacity and capability.

cONsumer PrOtectIONConsumers deserve to have the best goods and

services at the best price and not have to pay more for goods and services than their counterparts in other parts of the world.

Our government shall support the establishment of a consumer watch agency and also cooperate with organizations that have similar objective of protecting our people from unfair business practices.

In all the above and above all these I intend to run a people-friendly government – a Government of the people, by the people, FOr the PeOPLe. a GOVerNmeNt uNusuaL in this land.

Infrastructures and facilities for reaching, advising, guiding, warning me will be given constant nurture.

Outside these I have no rigging machinery and will strongly appeal to you all Osun voters to fight and defend your votes.

Do not sell your vote and our future to a moneybag or vote people who do not care enough about our future as I passionately do.

I am entering into a pact with each and all of you as you read this that I and my colleagues shall work in all honesty, tirelessly to bring marked improvements to your life.

Apart of this pact you will be able to see that your children are better educated and have jobs; farmers, artisan, traders are more prosperous, general quality of health has improved and you are no longer afraid to go to the hospital.

Osun will again be producing food enough for its people.

Through my Government Unusual, I shall work with and for you to create wealth through our toil as our fathers and mothers did to make us prosperous until

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

OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december 9, 2014 magaziNe 12

Continued from page 11

Continued on page 13

Celebrating Excellence In Service (II)1962.Only you and I can bring change but through new

ideas and work.Oluwa Olorun a ti wa l’ehin. Oodua a fun wa se E je k’a le ise wo’gbo K’a le osi sonuK’aye dara fun wa t’omo t’omo.This is my pledge; my PACT with you people of

Osun State.”

· home affairs, culture and tourism

IN the area of Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, it is placed on record that the incumbent administration has accomplished a lot. In fairness

to the ousted administration of Prince Oyinlola, the popular and internationally revered Osun Grove got listed as an international tourist centre by the UNESCO. In addition, the same UNESCO approved the siting of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding at Osogbo. But the level of development being witnessed in this sub-sector under the incumbent administration outstrips these. The pilgrimages of Christians and Muslims to the Holy Lands of Jerusalem and Mecca in Israel and Saudi Arabia respectively for about four consecutive years running now have recorded huge successes. All hiccups and bottlenecks usually encountered in the course of these pilgrimages in the past have been remedied. Also, to ease pilgrimage operations, aid smooth lifting and return and reduce the chances of corruption to the barest minimum, membership of Christian Pilgrims’ Welfare Board and Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board is no longer on permanent basis. The pilgrims now have smooth sail to and fro the Holy Lands annually. To the pride of all, no pilgrim has brought tarnishment to the image of the state during this period.

Concerning the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, the incumbent administration is providing a far better brand of administration for the centre; in accordance to the specifications spelt out in the Act of Parliament establishing the centre. As the stipulations of the law spelt it out clearly that the chairman of the centre’s board shall be the sitting governor or any other such person he so appoints to do the job; that provision has been adhered to strictly by the incumbent administration. Today, the chairman of the Board of the centre is no less a personality than the highly-reputed academic icon and world renowned Nobel Laurel in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka.

The State of Osun is rich in cultural and traditional

festivals. Some major ones annually celebrated are the international Osun Festival in Osogbo; the Olojo Festival in Ile Ife; the Iwude Ijesa Cultura Festival in Ilesa; the Odun Sango and Ipedi in Ede; and so on and so forth. Also the state is so replete with cultural sites and tourist centres that the state has come to be referred to as “Haven of Culture and Tourism”. Our numerous cultural cum tourist centres in the state have been receiving radical face-lift in the hand of the present administration. Going by what happened so far with the Osun Grove in Osogbo, the Grove has been widened to accommodate more and more of the teeming crowd that converge on it on a yearly pilgrimage; with provisions made for pavilions and car parks. The same hand of assistance has been stretched out to the site of Erin Ijesa Waterfalls ; likewise all other locations in the state. With this development, the State of Osun is fast finding its foothold as rallying-point in the area of culture in Nigeria and yonder.

The consecutive visits of contingents from the State of Osun to Cuba in the West Indies are a worthwhile effort that deserves our commendation. During the course of last year 2013, contingents of the state embarked on rounds of tour to the Caribbean country to fully appreciate and get acclimatized to the culture and traditions of our parts of the African traditions as it is being practiced there. With these rounds of visits, it is expected that our delegates will come to the realization that people from other parts of the globe appreciate our culture more than we do, as indigenous owners. Also, the visits are expected to be avenues for cultural integration and development in our culture and tourism industry.

The Aregbesola administration has also scored another first in the recognition it has so far accorded African traditional religion practitioners in the state. Before this time, the situation on ground was that of according recognition only to the Christian and Muslim bodies; while the believers of traditional doctrines were placed at a place of obscurity. Today, however, due to the large-heartedness of Ogbeni Aregbesola, the traditional worshippers have been allowed free practice of their religious doctrines, observance of their festivals and formation of their own body; just like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Islamic counterpart.

· Information and strategy

WE now move forward to give consideration to the numerous achievements of the administration and its many strengths

over the previous administration in the state in the remaining sectors; starting with the Information and Strategy Sub-Sector. In the years preceding the advent of the incumbent administration to the reins of

power, little or nothing significant took place in this vital public relations sub-sector. The overhaul of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) Radio and Television, Ile Awiye, Oke Baale, Osogbo; that of New Dawn Television (NDTV), Ibokun; and that of the OSBC, Orisun FM, Ile Ife; claimed to have been brought up to obtainable standards globally by the ousted administration ended up in a farce, as nothing on ground – not even their programme broadcast, commercials, news and other activities justified the huge monetary and capital outlay claimed to have been invested into them. The Reality Television Service (RTS), Iwo was worst-hit by the sharp practices of that administration. Let it be emphasized in passing that most of the equipment procured into practically all the state-owned media houses in that dark era was either obsolete or substandard; while some were never delivered before ouster came the way of that administration. In all, most contracts awarded for procurement of equipment and materials in those days were awarded to incompetent hands on the bases of their patronage of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); being bootlickers and cronies to the powers-that-be; and desire to make some segment of the society inordinately rich.

As mentioned in the last paragraph, the case of the Reality Television Service (RTS) in those days made it worst hit. The media station located in Iwo is a legacy of the helmsmanship of late Chief Bola Ige as governor of the old Oyo State. Bola Ige started the project as a satellite station to the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS); but he could not complete it due to sudden change in government which put paid to his administration in October 1983. Consequent to this, the project was abandoned for more than twenty years before its revamping came during the Oyinlola administration. In fairness to that administration, it was it that revisited the project. Unfortunately, it did not carry it to a logical conclusion or completion; even though it had all the resources required so to do at its disposal. The same ugly fate which befell all other phantom projects and programmes in that era befell the RTS project. In what looks as a deliberate attempt at covering tracks, fire gutted the structure sometime toward the tail end of that administration. Instead of facing rehabilitation efforts head-on, the administration started a vehement propaganda campaign; trading blames for the fire incident and pointing accusing fingers at the opposition for it!

We are not out to bore readers with details of those ugly spectacles of those days. But instances must always be cited, if only for the purpose of reference-making. If those contracts at the Reality Television

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

13 OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december magaziNe

Celebrating Excellence In Service (II)continued from page 12Service had been faithfully executed; probably the

fire incident could have been averted; and probably too, whatever legacies the Oyinlola administration had there would have been preserved for the incoming administration to build on. Candidly speaking, the Aregbesola administration met the Information and Strategy Sub-Sector of the State of Osun bare and void.

The monthly audience-participation programme of the Oyinlola administration, tagged Gbagede Oro (People’s Forum) was simply a propaganda project, aimed not only to overbloat, embellish and exaggerate the scarce achievements of the administration; but also to crack jokes in clown-like manner and to derogate the opposition. Aside this, the entire communication and publicity package of the Oyinlola years was propaganda-channelled. The rumour mongering apparatus of those days appears to subsist till date. The countless number of damaging rumours peddled round town regarding the incumbent governor, his administration and their programme package speak volumes that testifies to this indication. Little wonder why that administration could not accomplish much for the state. A government that busied its time with rumours and propaganda could hardly be in the right frame and shape to generate ideas and policies that could propel development,

Today, in the State of Osun, the story has changed. The audience participation programme of the incumbent administration is devoid of the teleguided and stage-managed form its similar counterpart assumed in the days of the immediate past administration. Ogbeni Till Daybreak, the brainchild of the incumbent administration is better packaged and has tolerances for a pool of diverse opinions. Lucidly put, the incumbent administration in the state is far more receptive to criticisms and insults in the true spirit of Omoluabi. The likes of questions being featured at the quarterly Ogbeni Till Daybreak testify to this. With unruffled calm, the governor responds to all manners of questions. The manner of disposition with which the administration managed the situations involving some libelous reports carried by some national daily newspapers in the land is a proof of this. During the time of some administration, the reporters of that kind of anti-government reports could have been blacklisted, witch-hunted or even sent to their early graves. The amicable resolution of these differences shows the government of the day as one with human face, listening ear and large heart. To cap it all, the audience-participation programme of the incumbent administration, branded Ogbeni

Till Daybreak is held far between, depicting an administration that is serious-minded and busier with more serious tasks than holding town/city gossips. In the past, Gbagede Oro was held as often as once in a month. At its inception, the incumbent administration held its own live audience participation programme only on occasions; with the first-ever of its series held on the occasion of its 100th day in office. It was much later when the towns and cities had become replete with daunting achievements that it became more frequently held. Even then, the programme is held on quarterly basis. The wastefulness of holding such programmes at frequent intervals, especially by a government led by a conservative party of the stock of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is killing enough to snuff life out of a state.

A whole world of difference exists between the two administrations. The introduction of another public forum aimed at bringing the governor in close contact with the people has served tremendously to demystify myths, lies and falsehood peddled around by the opposition in the state. More than this, it has provided the governor and his team with the ample opportunity of getting accurate feel of the needs, desires, wishes, yearnings and aspiration of the people; even to the basest grassroots. We saw Gbangba D’ekun actively at work as build-up to the last Governorship Election in the state.

The quarterly-held Ministerial Press Briefing held at the instance of the State of Osun Ministry of Information and Strategy is another effective tool wielded to bridge likely communication gap that could arise between the government and the governed. The just-concluded edition of the press conference, which featured the commissioners of all ministries, some general managers of parastatals and senior special assistants to the governor has done well to demystify the activities of government and guided right the perception and mindset of the generality of the people. Apart from this, the State Executive meetings are no longer as far-between as they used to be during the Oyinlola years. The total number of State Executive meetings held during the entire Oyinlola years is put between fifty and seventy; whereas the administration of the day makes it a point of duty to meet weekly in order to discuss and pool ideas together to move the wheel of development and progress of the state forward in an accelerated fashion. On occasions when those meetings are not held, there must be some other important businesses of government preoccupying the governor and his cabinet. For example, sometime during the outgoing year, the governor and his cabinet

took time off during the period slated for the normal State Executive meeting to pay an unscheduled visit to the sites of some completed/ongoing projects in the state, especially, within Osogbo, the state capital. There is no time when the State Commissioner for Information, Honourable Sunday Akere would not brief the people on the outcome of the deliberations of the State Executive Meeting

Concerning the state-owned media houses, there has been huge investment by the State Government of Osun to the media houses to boost their effectiveness, sufficiency and productivity in terms of education, public enlightenment and information dissemination concerning happenings globally and the various activities of government. The Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) Radio and Television, Oke Baale, Osogbo has witnessed massive overhaul and rehabilitation which has brought about lots of improvement on their scope of operation, news contents and telecast. The New Dawn Television (NDTV), Ibokun has also been improved in similar vein. The same is true of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Orisun FM, Ile Ife. These media houses have been lifted up to the level of standards obtainable elsewhere in the world. We intend to add in passing that the incumbent administration has the plan in the pipeline to commence another media station; a radio station named Omoluabi FM. According to the State commissioner of Information and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere, the station, which shall be totally committed to transmitting in the Yoruba language and its various dialect s shall soon commence transmission, say, in the incoming year 2015.

The first transformation witnessed by the Reality Television Service (RTS), Iwo was that of change in nomenclature and broadening in ifs scope of operation. Immediately on assumption of office, the Aregbesola administration changed the name of this outfit to Reality Radiovision, Iwo. The implication of this is that the station’s activities are no longer to be confined to television telecast, but there is going to be a sort of broadening to include radio broadcast. In pursuance of this, the station has been reinvigorated tor the two purposes with huge capital outlay. The reconstruction of parts of the station which were devastated by the inferno of the Oyinlola years earlier mentioned above has been carried out. Also, gadgets and equipment that were missing have been replaced. Other materials and equipment which procurement contract works had been awarded but which were abandoned have been supplied. Other materials and equipment which had not been awarded or provided for have been supplied; while shipment of a great deal of materials and equipment for the smooth operation of the station is being currently awaited. During the course of the year 2013,, the test-broadcast of the Reality Radiovision,

•Aregbesola (right) signing the oath of office whileh his wife, Sherifat (2nd right), watches; second left is Barrister Wale Afolabi while the Chief Judge of the State of Osun, Justice Adepele Ojo (1st left) watches.

Continued on page 14

OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december 9, 2014 14

Iwo’s Radio segment, branded Odidere FM 96.3 Frequency commenced. This hint was first dropped no less person than the State of Osun Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere.

Before drawing the curtains on the activities of this sector and its performances in the past forty-eight months vis-a-vis the rot of the previous seven-and-a-half years, we need to mention the plan in the offing to make some of the stations specialized stations. These stations include the New Dawn Television, Ibokun; which is intended to telecast issues purely in the field of Education; while the OSBC Orisun FM, Ile Ife is intended to broadcast issues relating purely to Culture and Agriculture. These giant strides present the summary of events and activities in the Information and Strategy segment of life of the state in the last thirty months or thereabouts. Further details shall be bared in later segments of the report.

THE series so far has been out to document the many good sides of the government of the day, typified as “Government Unusual”. In earlier editions, we have considered how the administration was exemplified as people-friendly t through the numerous people-oriented services it had continued to render to the indigenes and residents of the state since its coming on board on Saturday, November 27, 2010, following the verdict of the Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State. In the space of time under review, spanning forty-eight months or thereabouts, the state has witnessed unprecedented radical growth, development, progress and enhancement in practically all facets of life. So far so good, the lease of life witnessed has been accelerated to the extent that it is quite safe to conclude that the state has never in her annals had it so good. We on the team of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine like other progress-loving people around look back proudly with nostalgia at the glorious era of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the Premier of the defunct Western Region; and at a later date, that of late Chief Bola Ige as the Governor of the old Oyo State during the Second Republic; and with the astounding performances of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola and his indefatigable team, we have come to the conclusion that all is not lost for our state and the entire nation of Nigeria. With the score sheet he has in four years into his first tenure in office, we are reassured that with the depth of depravity in the society of today, we are still blessed with men who are not self-seeking but who have the interest and love of our teeming populace at heart and who, in the true spirit and traditions for which our culture and forebears were long reputed, can hold their own to champion the cause of humanity for the good of the generality of our people and that of the generations yet unborn. With Aregbesola and his team at the saddle of governance in our state, we have been blessed beyond measure.

The previous editions referred to above conducted a sector-to-sector appraisal of the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola, starting with achievement in the Agriculture and Rural Development; Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Food Security Sub-Sector, through those in the Health Services Sub-Sector to those in the Industrialization, Finance, Commerce and Cooperatives Sub-Sector. The curtains fell on the edition at the juncture where justice

was meted out to these three vital sub-sectors of our state’s economy. We here express our commitment to pick the serial edition right from that juncture and attempt to bring it to completion. We shall now set out fo filling the missing gaps.

· Social Integration and Inter-Governmental AffairsIN the area of Social Integration and Intergovernmental

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tesiwaju; F’opo Ire Iwo Ni; Imole

At’ohun T’o Dara Gbogbo Adulawo

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

Apart from these, the State of Osun Building in Abuja had been almost abandoned before the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came on board in November 2010. The complex, named after late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, has been fully completed.

Also in the area of integration, Ogbeni Aregbesola has since his inauguration been committed to the issue of socio-cultural and economic integration within the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The issue of regional integration is one of the basis on which critics and detractors have been at daggers drawn against Governor Aregbesola. Our view on OSUN DEFENDER

Magazine crew is that those who go against regional integration of the South-West are enemies of progress. Better put, they comprise those who had misused their chances in public positions and offices; and who detest the sight of others outstripping them in performances and achievements. In the line of regional integration therefore, Governor Aregbesola has been the vanguard. We wish him astonishing success in his bid to attain socio-economic emancipation for our region through regional integration.

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

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

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

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

To be continued.

Celebrating Excellence In Service magaziNe

Continued from page 13

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

15OSun DeFenDeR tuesday, december 9, 2014

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola at a project inspection tour to the Owala Water Dam, Okinni, State of Osun, last Tuesday.

•Aregbesola (2nd left); Deputy General Manager, Osun State Water Corporation, Engr Ogunsina Lawrence (3rd left); former Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, State of Osun, Mr. Gbenga Adebusuyi (left) and others at the project inspection tour to the Owala Water Dam, Okinni, State of Osun, on Tuesday.

•(L-R) Project Manager, Mr. Ladi Whilkey; Aregbesola; former Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Mrs. Tawakalitu Williams; Adebusuyi and former Chairman, Osun Tourism Board, Engr Abimbola Daniyan, at the project inspection tour to the Owala Water Dam, Okinni, State of Osun, on Tuesday.

State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Inspected Owala Water Dam, Okinni, State Of Osun, Last Tuesday.

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phototalk

tuesday, december 9, 2014

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

by ade OLuGbOtemINI G E R I A N S a r e baff led! And the bewi lde rmen t o f

anomie to them is quite daunting. It is not reassuring that come February 2015, the Independent National Elec tora l Commiss ion ( INEC) i s capab le o f independently conducting flawless general elections that will convince Nigerians that indeed, Professor Attahiru Jega and his co-pilots in the electoral clime are the trusted ones. Nigerians are equally worried that the President of the biggest country in sub-Sahara Africa is prepared to stand in contest with opponents that other political parties will push forward to slug it out with, without tinkering with the whole process that will eventually bring to the fore representatives that Nigerians will beat their chests, have, emerged in clean contests.

It is incontestable that Nigerians know their onions; and they are aware when a foul play is being contemplated. It is equally true that they are timid towards violent reactions, except of course when frustration is getting to the extreme. The violent reactions that greeted the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election that would have produced Chief M.K.O. Abiola (May his soul rest in perfect peace) was not unenvisaged; and the wild jubilations, sequel to the announcement of the death of Late General Sanni Abacha were not unexpected. The duo represented the moods of the nation; and I am not sure any Nigerian needs be told today what is pinching, and where the pains of maladministration are being felt. So, our leaders must not assume that all is well, just because people have not taken to the streets yet for reason of overt protests.

The concomitance of Mr. President’s visit to Ile-Ife the penultimate week, and the protests that greeted his arrival on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, despite the ongoing semester examinations are in consonant with the popular saying that ‘the timidity of a tiger is not a measure of its cowardice. The students are not oblivious of the fact that their future is no longer secured due to lack of visionary leadership. They know that their efforts on personal transformation and niche creation might be delicate nictations without a shroud through which eyes are blinded. They are obviously fed up with leaders, under whose hegemony youths’ lives are engrossed in jeopardy. Obviously, they are clamouring for a change of guards in our national life.

Some of the students expressed disdain over what they called Mr. President’s insensitivity to the plight of the students, when he chose to downplay their plight by laying siege to the

campus with heavy presence of security personnel, not minding the ongoing semester examinations. Those students need explanations on why Mr. President had to come to OAU campus at a time when examination fever pervaded everywhere. They simply regarded the act as the extension of his insensitivity to the welfare of millions of Nigerians, who daily suffer deprivations in all spheres of life. This is another issue that cannot be wished away; especially when some students were said to have missed their examinations in the process.

People are aware at the larger society that the pervasive poverty throughout the nation is man-made and deliberate. Except for few cases of people with dysfunctional mentality, most Nigerians are not ignorant of the fact that we are treated and regarded as being equal with animals with lower level of intelligence quotients. We are equated with domesticated animals that are deficient in their thinking faculty, so

we are regarded as lacking in rational inclination to decipher what evil of dehumanization they are meting out. That is why they tell us that there exist those things that are invisible to eagle’s eyes. They even tell us that objects that are naturally white in colour, and are visibly seen, are not whitish but black because they see themselves as the only rational beings, while others are morons.

So many things are agitating people’s minds, and many posers are begging for answers. The soothing of frayed nerves however lies with only the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the person he has saddled with the unique responsibility of superintending the electoral processes as stipulated in the Constitution of this nation. Unless the duo give satisfactory solutions to these puzzles, we may only be playing ourselves to the gallery; the repercussions of which may be injurious to our national life, especially now that consternations are mounting towards 2015 general elections. They will do themselves good if they will not feign ignorance about the genuine concerns of the people.

Only last month, Professor Attahiru Jega told the whole world that the electoral body has lifted ban on electioneering campaigns as statutorily enshrined in the Constitution, so all political parties are now free to sell their programmes and manifestoes to the electorate. Nigerians will want to know what constitutes an electioneering campaign and what is not. Nigerians are quite aware that

long before the ban was lifted, a self-styled neutral body, apparently kitted with Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) cloaks had flagrantly traversed the length and breadth of this country rallying support for President Goodluck Jonathan. Nigerians want to know where it is written in the Constitution that Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) is authorized to do so.

It was very obvious that while the TAN’s open campaign lasted, known leaders of PDP, ranging from ministers, governors, members of PDP Board of Trustees, and other political office holders were in attendance. PDP owe Nigerians explanation as to what constitute a political gathering and what is not. Obviously, pressure groups such as Bring Back Our Girls Group with genuine intention to right the ills of the nation have not been allowed to drive home their rational demands, while security personnel were seen always providing coverage at TAN rallies. We need to know why tax payers’ money is used to protect those who show disdain to our Constitution in illegal gatherings in support of Mr President, but the same harass others who try to draw government’s attention to some societal ills.

Professor Jega recently announced the lifting of ban on campaigns by political parties. He also set up a committee to monitor expenses on electioneering campaigns by various political parties. The Chief Umpire must tell us how much PDP has spent on TAN’s campaign and add same to the amount already spent since the ban was lifted and what will be spent until campaigns are over. He also needs to explain to Nigerians what portion of Nigerian Constitution or electoral laws that allows a body to carry out campaign activities, when ban on such has not been lifted.

While awaiting responses to all these posers, Nigerians must be ready to expect more surprises from the Presidency and the electoral body, which many have seen as flying the kite of the ruling party. We must be vigilant to ensure that the umpires observe the rules of the game in such a way that all parties are treated equally with no prejudice in the application of rules and checks on compliance.

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

Some Explanations Jega, Presi-dent Jonathan Owe Nigerians

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