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Front Page Comment

- See StoryOn Page 2

Who KilledChief Bola Ige,former Attorney-

General andMinister of

Justice? IGE

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed), acknowledging cheers from his admirers and supporters during the commissioning of St. Stephen’s ‘B’ MiddleSchool, Modakeke, State of Osun, last Friday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Osun 2014: Danger As PDPDistributes Expired Killer-rice

Wole Soyinka at 80Our own WS (Will-iam Shakespeare) ofAfrica, ProfessorWole Soyinka, theKongi himself,clocked eighty lastSunday.

Call him WS, Kongi,Prof or uncle Wole,Professor Wole

Soyinka answers toall these names. As anew baby someeighty years ago theparents of the littleOluwole kinwandedidn't know that

a child that would growup to be the glory of theentire black race hadbeen given to them by theCreator.

Born on the 13th of July

1934 to Mr.Samuel Ayodeleand Mrs. GraceEniola Soyinkain Abeokuta littleWole whom theCreator haddestined to be anepitome of

Continue on pg5

2OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 22, 2014 News

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

Omisore Appears Like A Criminal In Public – Aregbesola•Ondo Senator, Rep, Mobilise Support For Governor

THE governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, on Saturday mocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore,

for what he described as “reckless and irresponsible conductin the public”

Aregbesola said Omisore hasreduced electoral campaign tocomedy and chess play, whichaccording to him, is a reflectionof his true character as anunserious element that has noth-ing to offer the people of thestate.

The governor said this whileaddressing thousands of Ondo

State indigenes residing in Osun,who gathered under the aus-pices of Oranmiyan SunshineMovement (OSM) to endorsethe governor for second term atthe Nelson Mandela FreedomPark, Osogbo, the stte capital.

Aregbesola, who spoke inYoruba language, said “whatPDP represents is fraud, decep-

tion, corruption and violence. Ifyou look at their candidate, heappears like a criminal with hisconduct in the public. If not in-sanity, how would a politicalparty candidate wear AnkaraBuba on a lace trousers in thepublic, holding two cobs of cornand eating them at the sametime. Who else can do such ifnot a criminal?

“We are in a well-culturedsociety, where morality and ci-vility is required to lead and forsomebody to think that appear-ing like a criminal is the best hecan offer the people, that aloneclearly tells you who they are

and what they represent.”Aregbesola, who said he was

born and started his early edu-cation in Ondo State, com-mended the members of OSMfor their support and urgedthem to moblise all the mem-bers to vote for APC in theAugust 9, 2014 governorshipelection.

He said: “I am so impressedwith this crowd and the soli-darity of Ondo people, but themost important thing is that forthose who have collected theirpermanent voters’ cards, youshould keep them and don’t sellthem, and those who are yet tocollect theirs should go and col-

lect them at the INEC headquar-ters.”

“As good as we are manyhere, it is equally important toconvert the crowd to votes onAugust 9 and by God’s grace,we are the winners”.

Aregbesola also dismissed thefear of the opposition threats toharass the people with soldiersand police, saying they aremeant to protect the citizens andit will be abuse of power for any-body to turn them to politicalmercenaries.

“When we are talking aboutgovernment, the people are thegovernment. They use our re-sources to buy uniforms andguns for police and NigerianArmy to ensure peace and de-velopment and if they now be-come political tools, it meansthey want to destabilize thiscountry because every institu-tion derives his power from theConstitution.”

He therefore, urged thepeople not to fear and be prayer-ful.

Speaking earlier, SenatorBorofice Ajayi from Ondo State,described Aregbesola as a hon-est, hardworking and focusedleader, who dedicates his timeand energy to the service of thepeople.

He said the governor is ex-ceptional in character and per-formance and urged all the indi-genes of Ondo State residing inOsun to vote for the governor tocontinue the good work.

Also, the facilitator of OSM,Honourable Abegunde IfedayoAbena, representing AkureNorth and South in the Houseof Representatives, urged thepeople not to be intimidatedwith huge presence of the secu-rity agents and report “voter’scards dealers to the police.

He urged the people to voteand stand by their votes, sayingwhat the people could do to ap-preciate what Aregbesola hasdone is to re-elect him for a sec-ond term.

Chairman of OSM, Mr Sun-day Elijah and its coordinator,Saka Lawal, assured the gover-nor that they would not relentin mobilsing Ondo indigenes inthe urban centres and villages tovote for the governor on August9.

Dignitaries at the ceremonyincluded the deputy governor,Otunba (Mrs) Grace Laoye-Tomori, Honourable LasunYusuf, Dr Taye Maumi amongothers.

Aregbesola’s Administration,Backbone Of Development - Cleric

THE Board of Ministers and Elders of Christ ApostolicChurch, Gbonmi District Headquarters, Osogbo, hasdescribed the administration of Ogbeni Rauf

Aregbesola, as the wheel and backbone of development inthe state.

This disclosure was made byEvangelist ‘Wale Opadele,during a Sunday Serviceprogramme attended bymembers of the State ExecutiveCouncil in the church.

According to the cleric, thechurch acknowledged thebrilliant, visionary, tireless,dogged and hardworkinggovernor of the state.

In his words: “We wouldlike to describe Ogbeni

Aregbesola as the pivot oftruth, pillar of initiatives, themover and shaker ofdevelopment, the backbone ofdevelopment.

“No adjective is too muchto describe the quintessentialgovernor.”

He recalled that the churchwas able to serve God weeklybecause the presentadministration dredged theOkooko River, which had

almost swept away the churchand neglected by the previousadministration.

“It is by divine providenceand the efforts of youradministration that we arecomfortably seated in thisauditorium to worship today.

“May be we would havebeen worshipping on the openfield by now. The dredging wasdone not once, not twice butrepeatedly at every rainyseason”, Opadele asserted.

The cleric noted that variouslife-impacting policies andprogrammes of theadministration deservecommendation.

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

Osun 2014: Danger As PDP Distributes Expired Killer-riceBy KAZEEM MOHAMMED

OUT of its desperation to be in power at all costs inthe State of Osun, not even minding the lives of theelectorate, the state chapter of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded plans to bring intothe state thousands of bags of expired bags of riceconfiscated by the Nigerian Customs and Excise fromsmugglers for distribution to members of the party andthe electorate in the state.

Recent intelligence at the medium’s disposal revealedthat the party hierarchy in the state with due approval byits governorship candidate,Senator Iyiola Omisore,have approached theNigerian Customs officialsin Lagos for the transfer ofthe expired rice to the Stateof Osun, where the partyhopes to distribute it tounsuspecting members ofthe party and the generalpublic.

However, competentsources from the NigerianCustoms and Excise havealso revealed thatconsignments of those riceare unsuitable for humanconsumption.

Responding to thedevelopment, the statechapter of the AllProgressives Congress(APC) has warned thecitizens and residents of theState of Osun to be wary of

gifts of bags of rice from thePDP and its governorshipcandidate ahead of thegubernatorial election in thestate.

“Osun citizens shouldtherefore, be warned thattheir lives are at risk fromPDP poisoned rice,” theAPC stressed.

The party recalled that ithad warned citizens earlier

of PDP’s chairman’s boastthat they will win theelection with a bag of riceand, at least, N10,000 to eachvoter.

“However, it was notclear then that what the PDPintended to do was to bringexpired rice to repackageand distribute to Osunpeople.

“Osun people are not

hungry and they will not selltheir birthrights for stolenpublic money, which thePDP wants to distribute intowns and villages of Osun.

“Those who love theirlives should be carefulbecause the PDP will stopat nothing including thedistribution of poisoned riceto win election,” the partyreiterated.

In a similar development,a tanker of kerosene withseveral empty 5-litre jerry-cans were sighted at theOmisore Campaignheadquarters, that serves asPresident Jonathan OsunCampaign Headquarters andthe PDP headquarters, lastSunday, along Gbongan-Osogbo road, Ogo-Oluwaarea of Osogbo.

Aregbesola Distributes Buses To Public Schools

GOVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, added another plus to his administration’swelfare programmes on Friday as he launched 30 new

buses for pupils of public schools in the state.

Tagged: “Omoluabi ScholarBuses”, the newly-purchased

buses are meant to convey stu-dents from their respective

homes to schools and back ev-ery school-day.

Aregbesola said if the stategovernment’s quest for enduringsocio-economic progress is to beachieved, its commitment toeducation and the future of thechildren cannot be superficial.

The governor said his admin-

istration embarked on this laud-able programme because it’s dan-gerous to play politics with theeducation of children.

He added that the realisationof the importance of educationand development of human ca-pacity building prompted his gov-ernment to create the best pos-sible environment for the devel-opment of their total person.

The governor described theprovision of buses for transport-ing the pupils as another proofof his administration’s focusedattention on education.

“The buses we are distributingtoday for the use of our highschool students are another solidproof of the importance and un-divided attention of ourgovernment’s commitment toeducation.

“With the O’Scholar buses,the culture of punctuality will befurther deepened in our students.They will be encouraged to getready in time for the bus and inso doing, get to school on time.

“And while on the bus to orfrom school, or travelling to andfrom school events, they willhave the time to further bondtogether, reflect on their worksand exchange useful ideas.

“One of the unique character-istics of our administration’sprogrammes is that they ensurethe empowerment of the people.This explains why no singlehousehold in all of the state iswithout positive testimonies ofthe impacts of our programmeson them,” Aregbesola noted.

He added that the buses wouldprovide comfort and ease for stu-

dents, parents and create em-ployment for those that will bedriving the buses.

In her remark, the deputygovernor, who is also the StateCommissioner for Education,Otunba (Mrs) Grace Laoye-Tomorri, noted that the provi-sion of the buses was the demon-stration of government’s com-mitment to quality and qualita-tive education for the children.

She charged the students tomake the best use of the busesand maximise the opportunitiesthe buses afford them.

The Managing Director ofSterling Bank PLC, representedby Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, Re-gional Business Executive,South-West (2), said the bankfinds it profitable to partner withthe state government in provid-ing the buses.

Adeyemi noted that SterlingBank will continue to partnerwith government in realising itsnoble programmes.

One of the beneficiaries, a stu-dent of St. Mark AnglicanSchool, Osogbo, Miss OlatunjiOluwakemi, commended the gov-ernor for making education oneof his administration’s top pri-orities.

Oluwakemi said Aregbesola’sgovernment has made a lot ofimpacts such as provision ofOpon-Imo, free school feeding,free uniforms, building of ultra-modern school buildings, as wellas construction of roads.

She implored the people ofthe state to vote wisely by re-turning Aregbesola to continuehis laudable programmes in thestate.

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

3 News OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 22, 2014

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Founder, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Mountainof Mercy, Orile-Agege, Lagos, Pastor Elijah Ajayi (left) and Senior Pastor, CAC Mountain of Mercy, Harrisburg,USA, Pastor Sunday Ajayi (right), during a solidarity visit to the governor at the Government House, Osogbo, Stateof Osun, last Saturday.

Jubilation, Excitements As Aregbesola Commissions New SchoolsIn Ede, Ilesa, Modakeke, Ikirun, Iragbiji, IlaIN fulfillment of his promise to promote functional educa

tion, governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, on Thursday, commenced mass commission-

ing of the ultra-modern model schools built across the state.

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

The government of the Stateof Osun on Thursday officiallycommissioned the Local Au-thority Elementary school,Obada, Ede amidst celebration,as parents, guardians and pu-pils thronged the venue in their

thousands.The elated parents defied the

downpour to witness the ep-och-making commissioningevent of the new school, whichhas the capacity to accommo-date 1,000 pupils with 25 class-

rooms, one large exam hall, 16toilets, one audio-visual room,and recreation facilities amongothers.

Addressing the gathering inEde during the commissioning,Aregbesola described the com-missioning as a celebration ofgood things to come to the statein the education sector.

He expressed happiness thatGod has used his administration

to impact positively in the stateeducation sector despite notbeing the first governor of thestate, while describing the re-building of public school build-ings in the state as a vision fromGod.

The governor noted that par-ents and kids alike in the stateshould be rest assured of a posi-tive future because the presentadministration is determined to

continue to lay a solid founda-tion for generations yet unborn.

He then congratulated thepeople of Ede and environs,saying the new schools and moreto come would serve as a cata-lyst for development for thepeople of Ede and surroundingtowns.

He said: “This commission-ing is capable of marking a posi-tive turn-around for educationin our state and we shall con-tinue to strive for things to getbetter for our children.

“I am delighted for the stu-dents that will use this facilitynow and those that will use it infuture because we now have avery good education facility thatcan stand the test of time.

“I am happy that God hasused our administration toachieve this despite the fact thatour administration is not thefirst in the state.”

Also on Friday, the governorcommissioned St. Stephen’s ‘B’Middle School in Modakekeand the Local Authority El-ementary school, Imo, Ilesa.

The ancient cities werethrown into jubilation, as pu-pils and parents thronged thestreets, singing and dancing towelcome the governor.

The school, which has thecapacity to accommodate 1,000students, has 25 classrooms, 16toilets, one large hall, audio vi-sual room, dinning room amongothers.

Speaking, GovernorAregbesola reiterated the com-mitment of his administrationto improve education and prom-ised not to spare any effort toachieve functional education.

He maintained that his ad-ministration remains committedto the mission of creating a to-tal human being that can com-pete with his peers from any-

where in the world.The governor, who explained

that St. Francis ElementarySchool, also in Modakeke,would soon be commissioned,also announced to the delight ofthe gathering that the palace,which has been in a bad condi-tion, would soon be rehabili-tated, while also promising toconstruct a modern market forthe town.

“The money being spent andall our efforts on education areaimed at making education at-tractive to our children andthereby make them to be bril-liant and compete with theirpeers from all over the world.

“I am using this opportunityto appeal to our students tomake use of the various oppor-tunities we are providing forthem to make their lives some-thing we can rely on in the fu-ture.

“All our efforts on you areto secure the future of our stateand we don’t want you to dis-appoint us.”

“We shall continue to workto make life better for ourpeople. I want the people ofModakeke to ensure that theyuse their votes wisely on Au-gust 9 and vote for a leader thatcan guarantee their future,” thegovernor stressed.

The State Deputy Gover-nor, who is also the State Com-missioner for Education,Otunba (Mrs) Grace TitilayoLaoye-Tomori, explained thateducation is the bedrock of anysociety and should be taken se-riously, which is the more rea-son the present administrationis committed to functional edu-cation.

She said: “For Osun, educa-tion is on top of our agenda andit will continue to remain on topbecause we are determined tocontinue to give the best we can.Education is our own industryin this state and we will not re-lent to give the best to our stu-dents.”

In a goodwill message, theobviously excited Ogunsua ofModakeke, Oba FrancisAdedoyin, commendedAregbesola for what he de-scribed as wonder of a school.

The monarch said he waswell-pleased with what he saw,saying the governor has per-formed excellently in the firstterm of his administration, whilecalling on the people of the stateto continue to support the gov-ernor.

Also on Saturday, the gover-nor commissioned NUDMiddle School, Iragbiji, HolyTrinity Middle School, Ikirunand St. Justin Middle School,Ila-Orangun.

APC Petitions Police IG Over Threat To Members’ Lives By PDPBy KAZEEM MOHAMMED

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijesha NorthFederal Constituency of the State of Osun haspetitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over

harassment of its members and illegal possession of voters’cards by some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)in the state.

The petition signed by theChairman, Legal Committee ofthe APC Campaign Committeein Ijesa-North for the re-election of Governor RaufAregbesola, said inspite ofseveral reports that have beenmade on the matters, the policeauthority has not been ensuringjustice.

It reads: “It will interest youto discern that in Obokun LocalGovernment Council Area, wehave a number of reportedcases by our members atIbokun Divisional PoliceStation and most of them weretransferred to Osun PoliceCommand in Osogbo, butregrettably, all the cases wereswept under the carpet,despite repeated warningsthrough various petitions to theState Commissioner of Police.

“It will further interest youto state that for recordpurposes and for posterityjudgement on the police role inthe continuous assault mettedout on APC members by thePDP members, in a desperatebid to hijack power at the statelevel, the complaints includeand are not limited to threat tolife and unlwaful possession ofvoters’ cards,” it stressed.

The petition singled out thecomplaints of the APC againstone Mrs Alice Gbadebo, a PDPmember, who was in unlawfulpossession of seven voters’cards and the alleged atttack on

APC members in Ward 5,Obokun Local GovernmentCouncil Area, saying that thecases have been killed inspitethe evidences implicating theperpetrators of the acts.

It also mentioned thedestruction of Governor RaufAregbesola’s billboards,sponsored by a PDP leader,

Mr Sunday Ojo WillIiams inImesi-Ile, Otan-Ile, Iponda,Ilare, and Idominasi, as well asthe abduction of one OlamikunOlubi by another PDP leader,Mr Francis Fadahunsi throughhis thugs, among who wereKehinde Olorunda, GbengaOmoseebi and one AdeboyeSanni, identified as a servingNigeria Security and CivilDefence Corps (NSCDC)member.

The petition also alleged thatan APC member, one FataiLasisi, narrowly escapedgunshot by Fadahunsi’s thugs,led by one Kola Oguntade on

July 9, in Olorunda Communityof Obokun Local GovernmentCouncil Area, noting thatFadahunsi has again physicallybeen threatening to kill oneOgunwuyi Babatunde, an APCleader and Agboola Olayemi,APC Secretary in Olorunda.

The APC wondered whythe police is treating the matterwith kid’s gloves inspite ofseveral reports that have beenmade by the party in policestations.

The party then demandedthe immediate deployment ofthe Ibokun Divisional Police

Officer (DPO), whom, itdescribed, as a stooge of FrancisFadahunsi, constitute a specialimpartial team to investigatethe allegations and prosecutethe culprits; and guarantee theprotection of all indigenes andresidents of the areas,irrespctive of party affiliations,especially those that are beingthreatened.

While reiterating itscommitment to always supportthe police in the performanceof its duties, the partyrequested that justice shouldbe done to all without fear orfavour.

Osun 2014: NCP Candidate Wants InternationalCommunity To Observe Election Processes

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

THE governorship candidate of the NationalConscience Party (PDP) in the State of Osun,Comrade Olanrewaju Afolayanka, has called on

international communities to observe the election processon August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in the state.

Afolayanka urged theinternational community tohave keen interest and payadequate attention to theelection, saying that someforces and ‘power that be’in Nigeria have been makingmoves to disregard the willof the people and imposetheir candidate on theelectorate.

According toAfolayanka, theobservation of theinternational communitybecame imperative to

checkmate undue influenceof the presidency and whathe described as illicit act ofsome political parties that arealready seducing theelectorate before the electiondate.

He spoke on Sunday whilemeeting representatives ofsome Non-GovernmentalOrganisations and pressuregroups in Osogbo, to solicittheir supports for hisgovernorship ambition.

Afoloyanka reiterated thatthe international communityneeded to observe the

electioneering campaign ofeach and everygovernorship candidate inthe state, the preparation ofthe Independent NationalElectoral Commission(INEC), the body languageof the Presidency and theactivities of the securityagencies ahead of theelection.

The NCP candidate saidthat his call came on the heelof the information at thedisposal of his party that thepresidency was ready tospend N28 billion to captureOsun for the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP)candidate, Senator IyiolaOmisore, as it did forGovernor-elect AyodeleFayose in Ekiti Stateelection.

Afolayanka stated thatthe international communityneeded to caution thepresidency against erodingthe value and tenets ofdemocracy by seducing theelectorate with rice and cash,saying that such step wouldoutrightly weaken themorale of the candidatesthat have less to spend.

He also urged INEC to goback to the era ofcheckmating the spendingsof candidate for election,with a view to sanctioningany candidate that hadspent beyond stipulatedamount for thegovernorship election.

The Iree-born politicianmaintained that the cost ofelectioneering in Nigerianpresently is exorbitant to

the extent that candidatesthat have no financialwherewithal, whencompared to othercandidates of major politicalparties, would alreadyaccept defeat before theelection.

Afolayanka, however,warned that any attempt torig the forthcominggovernorship election in theState of Osun would lead toviolence, saying that theelectorate are prepared toresist electoral malpracticesand interference of thepresidency on the election.

He also warned thepresidency againstdeploying soldiers to thestate during the electionperiod, saying that suchstep was meant to intimidatethe voters and create andenvironment for ‘technicalrigging.’

4 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Wole Soyinka at 80

knowledge and who would alsoassume a larger-than-life image inlife started his elementary educationat St. Peters Primary School,Abeokuta.

Thereafter Soyinka attendedAbeokuta Grammar School wherehe won series of awards in essaycompetitions. He moved from thereto the Government College, Ibadanfrom where he proceeded to theUniversity College, Ibadan and in1954 Oluwole Akinwande Soyinkaproceeded to University of Leeds,London, where he bagged Bachelorof Arts (B.A. Hons).

A Professor of Literature, WoleSoyinka is not just an ordinarywriter. He is the indisputableenigmatic writer of the Africancontinent and this is why he hap-pens to be the first African to beawarded the highest literary prize inLiterature (Nobel Laureate) in

recognition of his literary erudition.This was in 1986.

Wole Soyinka's literary erudition cutsacross all genres of literature viz;prose, drama and poetry. As a prolificwriter he has written many books inall the aforementioned categories.Soyinka is no doubt a man of deepknowledge which makes him to behighly revered both in Africa and thewhole world.

But Soyinka isn't just a writer. He is awriter cum activist as he doesn'tbelong to the category of writers whoonly write against the ills in theirsociety but lack the courage to speakout. Soyinka convincingly believesthat 'the man died in all who keepsilent in the face of tyranny'. For thishe has for years been involved inpolitical activism; speaking againsttyrannical governments not only inNigeria but across Africa.

Soyinka's voice is the vociferous oneagainst bad government, corruptleadership, misgovernance, abuse ofpower, military dictatorship andcivilian excessiveness that have

defined governance in Nigeria, nay,Africa. And in defense of his beliefhe has faced persecutions includingimprisonment and having deathsentence proclaimed on his personmaking him to go on exile for years.We are happy for Kongi that in spiteof all he had faced in life especiallythe persecutions that have beenmeted out to him by different powerdrunk authorities in the country inthe course of fighting for, anddefending what he believes in he stilllives this far while he is hale andhearty still. This confirms the generalbelief that he is an enigma.

We cannot write about Soyinkawithout mentioning the culturalaspect of him as any talk or writingabout him will be incomplete withouta mention of this aspect of his life.One thing that always strike peopleabout him is that even in spite of hislevel of education, exposure andenlightenment Professor Soyinka is aman of culture to the core. He has alot of respect for African culture andtraditions and this reflects in most ofhis writings.

Fearless, brave and outspokenSoyinka is the type who doesn'thesitate to say the truth when theneed be irrespective of whose ox isgored. This quality has endeared himto a lot of people. No doubt Soyinkais the quintessential role model formillions of people not only in thiscountry but in Africa and the world asa whole.

For our country to attain its predes-tined glory we need to respect andpractice those lofty ideals thatSoyinka represents. Otherwise wewill continue in this situation ofmotion without movement.

As this erudite scholar who is also theBoard Chairman, Centre for BlackCulture and International Understand-ing (CBCIU) in our own state of theVirtuous here, celebrates 80th, we atOsun Defender are happy to identifywith him on this great occasion andwe wholeheartedly wish him moreyears of good health on planet earth.

Now That Osun Election Is NearPERMIT me a space

in your highly-readnewspaper to share

my views on my take asper the August 9, 2014gubernatorial election inthe State of Osun.

Without any bias, I ama man who believe in thegoals of democracy andthe benefits of dwelling ina democraticenvironment.

To me, the worstd e m o c r a t i cadministration is farbetter that the best ofmilitary regimes.

The governorshipelection in Osun is set forSaturday, August 9, 2014and the gladiators arebattle set for that day.However, the umpire, theIndependent NationalElectoral Commission(INEC) must be seen tobe very impartial.

In recent times,especially after the

Anambra election, thecredibility that INECgathered from the 2011general elections erodedand many people wantedto hang its Chairman;Professor Attahiru Jegaby his skin.

The fast-approachinggovernorship election inOsun must be seen to be

fair to all and the winnerduly-announced, but myfear is that the GoodluckJonathan-led FederalGovernment cannot dowithout poke-nosing intothe election.

If GEJ wants to be fair,he should allow INEC tobe the impartial umpirethat it was created to be.

Again is the issue ofmilitarising Osun. 36,000security operatives weredeployed to Ekiti duringthe election on June 21,2014 and I asked myself,‘for what?’

The same FederalGovernment couldn’tdeploy such a mass of

security operatives to theNorth-East part of thecountry against therampaging Boko Haraminsurgents, but just for aday election, they couldamass such a huge force.

I know the FederalGovernment has acandidate in the election,but it should display

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maturity and let thepeople of Osun decide,instead of coercing themto.

Security personnelshould be deployed, butnot as if Osun is in a stateof emergency becausewe are not under any andwe are always peace-loving at all times.

August 9, 2014 wouldcome and pass but Osunand Nigeria would everremain. We, the citizensof Osun, are wise and weknow who we want andwould vote for our choicecandidate in a free andfair election, but nobodyshould force us at thepoint of the barrel of agun to vote for the wrongperson.

Long live, Osun!

•OLATUNBOSUNOLAYINKA, IsaleAro, Osogbo, State ofOsun.

Continued fom pg1

5555

PoliticsOSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Our Votes Must Count!Like in the twinkling of an eye, the seventh in the series of mega rallies put together

by the State of Osun Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to drum upsupport for the re-election into office of the incumbent governor, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, in the forthcoming gubernatorial election has come and gone. Thatedition of the programme, which was recently held for Ijesa-South FederalConstituency recorded a huge success. Part of the unique resolutions unanimouslypassed at the event is the creed that one good term deserves another. NIYI OLASINDEbrings out this and other unique features that stood the rally out as truly representativeof the yearnings and aspiration of the people of the Ijesa-South Federal Constituency,and of the State of Osun by extension.

Aregbesola On The March Again

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (left on top of a bus), acknowledging cheers from a mammothcrowd of Aregbesola’s supporters during his re-election campaign mega rally in Ijesa-South Federal Constituency, held in Ilesa, State of Osun, recently.

6 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 22, 2014MAGAZINE

Our Votes Must Count!

Contiuned from page 5

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ALL the beauties and wonders of this campaign season areunfolding by and by. “Nothing lasts forever”, thus runsthe old maxim. Whether it is liked or not, the period of

election campaign will not last forever. It is a sweeping moment;a passing phase, which naturally comes and goes! But it mattersa great deal what is packaged into the moments; and what actuallytakes place in them. Due to the eventful, historical moments ofprogrammes which the State of Osun Chapter of All ProgressivesCongress (APC) has, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine has lotsto document. While some other parties idle their time away onfalse pretences and spurious, futile efforts, the All ProgressivesCongress (APC) has taken the bull by the horns; facing the realitiesof electoral contests anywhere that democracy is held in highesteem. As far as the State of Osun is concerned, the ruling partyis ahead of others with more than just one step. There are manygrounds to justify this claim.

The first fact is that unlike the leading opposition party, thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP) where political processes, whichform one of the integral bedrocks of democracy ire rubbished,they find full expression in the camp of the progressives. Nowonder why the chapter of the party in a nearby state where theparry has just been embraced confesses that “It’s Good Here!”This confession is not a statement made in abstraction. Democracyis firmly rooted in the midst of progressives. The emergence ofOgbeni as the flag bearer of the party since the days of its existenceas Action Congress (AC) proves this fact beyond doubts. It wasnot by imposition that Aregbesola became the collective Symbolof the party and of the people by extension. Even now, after hehad served the state as Chief Executive for four years running,the manner of emergence of Aregbesola as candidate for anotherterm in office followed due process encapsulated in theconstitution of any party that is truly democratic. Not only that,the party towed the line to the letters. Party congresses andprimaries were held and a unanimous adoption, devoid of anykangaroo arrangement prevailed. As proof that the adoption wastruly unanimous, there had not been disagreements or dissentsfollowing the choice.

In some other parties, same process of choice had becomeelusive. Even though they parade democracy in name, they aredistances away from towing the lines of its ideology. All theirpolicies, programmes and operation present a far cry fromdoctrines of democracy. The manner of emergence of theircandidate is worse than imposition by a powerful caucus. It wasa matter of self-imposition. Omisore defied all sanity when heedged all other co-contenders out of the way and lorded himselfover as the only person who qualifies for the job. He corruptedtheir party hierarchy from the basest grassroots to the topmostechelon; giving the false impression that he was being yearnedfor.

Today, the forceful self-imposition is yielding dividends thatare far from being positive. Experiences at their regular campaignsand those at other informal setting speak clearly that the candidateis a bad product to market. The candidate is the worst that anyparty could present – a product design too bad for a marketer topackage, re-package and offer for acceptance.

It is the way one starts an enterprise that he would continue.Similarly, charity begins at home. It is the same attitude of grossdisregard for party internal democracy that reigns supreme in hisparty that Omisore extends to the public. His campaign approachcarries the ambience of force. The campaigns themselves are make-believe. They constitute public disturbances right from their take-off point at Ogo-Oluwa. At their appointed destinations, peopleignore the campaign grounds for various obvious reasons. Whilesome believe that you hardly attend a PDP rally without sustainingone shade of injury or loss; others believe that the scars of suchinjuries or losses outstrip their initial sizes.

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In spite of the fact that those make-believe campaigns aregrounds for distributing several forms of gifts intended to deceiveand manipulate the choice pattern of voters; voters still avoidsuch arenas like contagious diseases. Why? The reasons are notfar-fetched. While some are of the belief that there is a note offetishism attached to gifts such distributed by the PDP – Omisorefor that matter; a greater number find it a slap on their humandignities and personalities for their consciences to be bought overwith food items or money.

It is contradictory and a show of sense of inconsistency thatthe same Omisore and his party that criticized the All ProgressivesCongress (APC)-led Aregbesola administration over the OsunElementary Schools Feeding and Health Programme (O’MEALS)which feeds our school children at Elementary staged One toFour free-of-charge on daily basis that now knows how to doleout food and money to adults in order to buy their conscienceand votes. Their arguments prior to this time had been that thefeeding programme of the incumbent administration spells slighton the respective parents on their abilities to feed their wardsthrough school.

There exists another cross section who avoids Omisore’scampaign arenas for reasons associated with his dearth ofideologies. Omisore, they say has nothing to offer. As a matter offact, his entire speeches anywhere centres on casting aspersionon Aregbesola and his administration. He is found eithercondemning this or that programme, policy or project withoutstating clearly what exactly he has in stock. Once I overheard agroup of people discussing this issue. They contend that Omisoreis an aspirant who owes no promise to anyone and who eventuallywill not be disposed to fulfill any. According to them, the onlypromise Omisore ever made to anyone during this contest wasmade to his listeners at Ifon-Orolu. There he was quoted aspromising to increase the people’s average intake of fufu mealfrom one wrap per meal to ten. What a promise!

The recent public disturbances constituted by Omisore andhis campaign apparatus speak volumes of the kind of governmentto expect, should such a person gain access to the political powersought for. The administration would be lawless, oppressive,wasteful, planless and above all, life-threatening. The way theyheld the people of Osogbo, the state capital hostage for severaldays for the mere fact that they were expecting Fayose, thegovernor-elect of Ekiti, portrays them as irresponsible bunch.After all, Fayose was being expected to come and teach themGod knows what?

The lawless campaign apparatus and their paymaster blockedour roads indiscriminately and drove round city recklessly;violating all sane traffic rules thereby! The huge presence ofpolice and other uniformed security apparatus and the endlessroutine search on vehicles are quite irritating. It portrays thepeak of lawlessness over the expected visit of someone who hadjust won an election and was yet to be sworn in as governor. Itshows that it was probably the same force of arms that prevailedover the Ekiti election and its results. It is unfortunate andparadoxical that the likes of Omisore should be demanding formedical documents stating the mental status of Aregbesola. Eventsunfolding so far have proven it beyond doubts that Omisore isthe one whose head needs psychiatric examination. He and thepowers he represents are clearly the misfortune of this generation.They have to be prevented from gaining political power here, lestthe taints of their malady become perpetuated to the nextgeneration. Be that as it may, other more important issues are athand for dissecting in this edition.

WHEN the pendulum of the series of mega rallies packagedinto this election season swung in the direction of the Ede FederalConstituency of the state penultimate Tuesday; it became moreprominently etched in gold that the wishes and desires of thepeople of the State of Osun to have Aregbesola retained for the

job is irrepressible. This is judging from the massive turnoutrecorded at that rally and the collective and unanimous clamourfor “one man / woman; one vote”. If it has never done before,surely, the people’s votes must count this time around.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state hadembarked in an all-embracing, broad-based grassrootsmobilization, involving campaign rallies at constituency, localgovernment as well as the basest of grassroots levels to educateenlighten and create awareness to residents, voters in particular,on the larger-than-life need not to allow the accelerated rate ofprogress being currently witnessed in the state crash intoretrogression by a careless slip of its baton of leadership into thehands of a bunch of self-seeking avaricious hijackers. This processof mobilization has continued since late May. This time around itbecame the turn of Ede Federal Constituency, comprising fourlocal government council areas to receive the election campaignteam of Ogbeni. The local government council areas involved areEde North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo – all of which arecomponents of the Osun West Senatorial District. As the campaignefforts ushering in the elections come to an end, this latest rallyheld in Ede marked the last of its kind to be held in that senatorialdistrict. Two earlier ones had been held in Ikire and Iwo. However,another extra rally has been fixed for Ejigbo as at the time of filingthis report. The Ejigbo Mega Rally, slated for Monday, July 21,2014 shall be the ninth in the series. By implication, there remainsat least one more campaign to be held at Osogbo, the state capital.At that last rally, the ceremonial handing-over of party flag to thestandard bearer shall be done, and as such, all shall be set to usherin the polls for the party.

In similar reports on the duo of Ikire and Iwo rallies, theimportance and gravity of the entire areas under considerationhad been underscored. The same points are here advanced forEde, being a sub-set of the same area. Part of the added significanceof this constituency to the coverage and spread of campaignmessages in particular is the fact that it is one of the few federalconstituencies in the state with a total of four local governments.There are other uniqueness with the area and its componentcouncils which may be too voluminous for the purview and spaceof this discourse. This is not to preclude the equal importance ofall other areas and council areas in the state. It is just an attemptat bringing out the uniqueness of each of the areas and localcouncils as the turn of campaign rallies swing on them.

The Ede Mega Rally unfolded a promise fulfilled. In similarreports carried on earlier-held rallies, it had been disclosedcontinually how the political arrow-head of the area, one-timesenator of the Federal Republic and the first civilian governor ofthe state, Otunba Senator Isiaka Adeleke had coveted thetumultuous crowd that greeted the occasions and how he assuredthe surging crowd that the Ede event would outweigh in its crowd-pulling effect and eventual votes cast for the Symbol of theliberation of Osun. As far as we have seen, the crowd at Ede didnot disappoint; neither did it betray the trust of the politicalenigma. It was a crowd that was so impressive that it became thetalk of everyone that mattered; by that I mean, everyone whospoke at the occasion.

Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo had seen longer days than allspeakers at the event. Also, his political experience that hadspanned several decades outstripped what most of the otherattendees could claim to have garnered. The former universitydon was the Second Republic civilian governor of the old OyoState between October 1, 1983 and December 31 same year. Hishoary hairs spoke volumes of his advanced age and vast view onlife. The time he last governed old Oyo State is now put at aboutthirty-two years ago! That length of time alone surpassed theentire years of experience of some put together.

In spite of these rich antecedents, Baba Olunloyo spoke at

•First civilian governor, State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (top left), addressing thecrowd, during Aregbesola’s re-election campaign mega rally in Ijesa-South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun, recently.

7 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 22, 2014

•The newly-commissioned Ultra-modern School building of St. Stephen’s ‘B’ Middle School, Modakeke, State of Osun.

•Governor Aregbesola (arrowed), acknowledging cheers from his supporters in Modakeke during the commissioning.

Commissioning Of St. Stephen’s ‘B’ Middle School, Modakeke, State Of Osun, ByGovernor Of The State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Last Friday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•(L-R) Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Francis Adetunji Adedoyinduring the commissioning of St. Stephen’s ‘B’ Middle School, Modakeke, State of Osun, last Friday.

8 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 22, 2014 PHOTOTALKState of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Commissioned And DistributedOmoluabi Scholar Buses To All Public Schools In The State, At Nelson MandelaFreedom Park, Osogbo, Last Friday.

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•Governor Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from his supporters, during the commissioning of the Omoluabi scholar buses.

•A cross section of the newly-commissioned Omoluabi scholar buses

•(L-R) The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Chairman, Osun Schools’ Infrastructure Development Committee,Otunba Lai Oyeduntan; Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Dr Dauda Yinusa and other dignitaries, during thecommissioning of Omoluabi scholar buses in Osogbo last Friday.

9 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 22, 2014PHOTOTALK

•Enthusiastic pupils of Osun public schools showing their acceptance of the Omoluabi scholar buses to be distributed to all public schools.

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•Governor Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from public school pupils and his supporters during the commissioning of the Omoluabi scholar buses in Osogbo, last Friday.

State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Commissioned And DistributedOmoluabi Scholar Buses To All Public Schools In The State, At Nelson MandelaFreedom Park, Osogbo, Last Friday.

10 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 22, 2014PHOTOTALK

•Governor Aregbesola (with mic left), addressing a mammoth crowd of OSM members during the programme.

Oranmiyan Sunshine Movement (OSM), The Umbrella Body Of Ondo State IndigenesLiving In The State Of Osun, Endorsed Governor Rauf Aregbesola For Second TermIn Office At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, Last Saturday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•(L-R) The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Senator Ajayi Boroffice and Honourable Ifedayo Abegundeduring the programme.

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•OSM members endorsing Governor Aregbesola and his deputy, Otunba Laoye-Tomorifor second term in office on the occasion.

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length on the impressive size and prolific quality of the crowd.He used the crowd at that single convergence as affirmativeconfirmation of all he had heard and read about the giant stridesof Aregbesola. He went further in his assessment that Aregbesolais today rated as one of the most impactful administrators amongpolitical office holders of this time – the kind which elders of hiscalibre pray to have spread all over the landscape so that thegood work could continue. Baba’s speech at that occasion meanta lot to the credibility of our collective advocacy. It added credenceto it that we have on hand a noble cause. Thank God for the lifeof Chief Dr. Olunloyo.

The Ede Mega Rally demonstrated the profound love thepeople of that area have for; and the great respect they wieldtoward Aregbesola and his team. It also showed their profoundappreciation for the good gestures of Ogbeni to the people in lessthan four years. Everywhere in the ancient town was repletewith positive things to show for the administration’s magnanimity.This included the venue of the big event – Seventh Day AdventistHigh School – which new magnificent edifice is under construction.

The gathering also put into silence the tongue-wagging of somepoliticians in the camp of the conservatives who are also indigenesof the town; and who had been seen bragging about that they hadweight more than Senator Adeleke. It now becomes unreasonableto doubt the fact that Ede has massive support for Adeleke andany cause he stands for. One good lesson from Adeleke andAregbesola is that one should play his part well if given the rareprivilege to serve. Adeleke held the surging crowd in spell-boundsilence as he rolled out his past and present achievements in thecommunity. This is not to talk of what he did in the positive inhis days as governor of the state.

Also, the local organizing committee, the Aregbesola SecondTerm Campaign Committee for the federal constituency did anexcellent job. Anyway, nothing less should be expected when thechairman of the committee is none less than a seasoned politician,grassroots mobilizer and the current Speaker of the State of Osunlegislative arm of government, Right Honourable Najeem Salaam.The turnout at the event spoke loudly of the professional touchthat went into the mobilization. The people of the four localgovernment areas were largely represented at the event. Theiradmiration for the governor was rapturous. Their responses toslogans and questions were roaring and overwhelming. No hiredcrowd could be so relevant, apt and practically responsive.

The earlier stop-over by the governor and his train at thepalace of the monarch of the town, the Timi of Ede spoke of realacceptance by the people of the area. The royal fathers, traditionalrulers, chiefs and community leaders in the entire area hadconverged on the ancient palace of the Timi of Ede to bid thegovernor a deserving welcome. The royal host, His RoyalHighness, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, Laminisa I was onthe throne to receive all. It was a commendation galore for thecampaign train as they gave appreciation to the governor for howwondrously he had impacted the lives of the people of the area inparticular and the state in general. The Obas took turns to praisethe virtues of the governor; just as they wished him well andprayed for utmost success in his bid to return as governor forsecond term in office.

Speaking at the palace, Aregbesola as usual intimated the royalfathers with the purpose behind the visit. He formally intimatedthem with his desire to recontest the governorship seat in theapproaching elections, promising not to fail them, as hisperformances in the next dispensation would be superlative,compared to established grounds in his first tenure. GovernorAregbesola thanked the people for their massive support whichhad made his mandate a reality.

The governor used the opportunity of the visit to the palaceof Timi of Ede to debunk the rumour making the rounds that hehad disdain for the people and matters pertaining to them. Thegovernor then started to cite the laudable projects and programmeswhich his administration had put in place in Ede and the entirearea. As a matter of fact, no one could so meaningfully impact onthe lives of the people he loathes or hates. The achievementsranged from road infrastructure, through airport project, to

education, health, agricultural rejuvenation and all other sub-sectors.

At the palace of the monarch, an intimidating crowd awaitedthe arrival of the governor. This did not include the mammothcrowd that greeted him all the way to the ancient town. Uponentering Ede, it appeared that the crowd multiplied itself in thesemblance of the power of multiplication demonstrated by JesusChrist in one of His miracles. The crowd simply settled on Edeand dotted all its access roads and streets to welcome their man,Aregbesola into their midst. The atmosphere was charging allalong.

From Oja Timi to the Seventh Day Adventist High Schoolvenue of the big meet, it was a rapturous crowd that regrouped togreet and accompany Governor Aregbesola to the venue. As themuch slowed-down journey progressed, the crowd increased inleap and bounds. It was as if the multitude of all nations had adeal to strike in Ede on that day. All roads narrowed down underthe impact. The experience was electrifying.

The spacious and auspicious premises of Seventh DayAdventist High School shrank more and more under the pressureof the crowd. In spite of its pressing nature, the people were stillmuch jubilant, as they attempted to outdo one another in hailingthe man of the people. The long wait mattered nothing to them.The boredom and drudgery were flung overboard. Weatheruncertainties were defied. All sorts of groups usually identifiedwith campaign rallies of such crescendo and gravity madeappearance.

I imagined taking an aerial view of the events of the day,probably, just landing from another planet. Then, what I wouldhave figured out was that I was landing on a planet of brooms.People brandished brooms of many giant sizes. GovernorAregbesola was not left out. He brandished his broom as if theeffect reshuffled the crowd with renewed strength. On the people’spart, the response was vehement. It is wonderful that someonecould attract that large crowd at just one occasion. As Aregbesolaaptly reasoned it out, it takes God to gather such number ofpeople and keep them waiting for an indefinite period.

The programme of events had already kicked-off at the venue.It was the turn of the State of Osun Acting Chairman of AllProgressives Congress (APC) to address the crowd when thegovernor arrived. The time of day was about 3:06 p.m. The arrivalcaused another round of festivity, as brooms were wielded inexchange with same gesture from the governor. Prior to the greatarrival, speaker after speaker had taken turns to address thepeople. Dignitaries including members of the State of OsunExecutive Council, members of the State House of Assembly,federal legislators from the state, party hierarchy, supporters,friends and admirers of the party and the state had been onground at the venue. The great Fuji entertainment maestro hadbeen on ground to add colour and glamour to the occasion. Thatis talking of King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (K1). He sang beautifulnumbers eulogizing the good qualities of Aregbesola and hisadministration.

After exchange of pleasantries, it was time for the events properto kick-off. After the singing of the National and State of Osunanthems back-to-back, events were started. Introduction ofdignitaries and guests took the central stage. Thereafter, speechesbegan to be made.

The first to speak was the Speaker of the State House ofAssembly, who doubled as the Chief Host at the event,Honourable Najeem Salaam. He welcomed all and sundry to theoccasion. He then assured the governor and dignitaries of therallying support of the constituents for the second term bid;which would be translated to massive votes on the d-day that isAugust 9.

Salaam then went ahead to tongue-lash the antics of lies anddeceits embarked upon by the opposition. He took the rumoursof lies and deceit one after the other, debunking them with allstrength of logicality. He cautioned the people on the decoy of allopposition parties of baiting the constituency with second fiddle,stressing that the real mandate that can bring immense benefittheir way is the Aregbesola mandate.

He unequivocally declared that Ede Federal Constituency isfor Aregbesola; and promised the people’s resolve to do it again

for the enigma of good governance by polling massively for himon the Election Day. He rounded off his speech with the song“Won nle’ri, won l’awon fe gba ‘joba…”; a song which the crowdsang and danced to with electrifying interest.

In the words of the State of Osun Interim Chairman of theparty, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, he thanked all groups and sectorsfor their support. He then cautioned the people against beingthreatened on the Election Day by the strong presence of securityoperatives, saying that it was only for the purpose of maintaininglaw and order. He concluded by suing them to poll their votesmassively for the man of the moment, assuring them that victoryis certain.

The former governor of the old Oyo State spoke next. Hecommended Governor Aregbesola for being obviously the lastman standing with the undiluted ethos and philosophy of the latesage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He appreciated the supportaccorded the administration by the people of the state, chargingthem not to allow their mandate to be swindled as the case wasfew weeks back in nearby Ekiti State.

Former governor of the state, Otunba Isiaka Adeleke gavedetailed erudition on antecedents of democratic growth anddevelopment of the state and the area, his imprints on developmentduring his brief period of administering the state and debunked alldeceits and deception propagated by pathological liars about hisrole in recent times. It was an attestation of consummate approvalthat greeted his list of achievements as he read them one afteranother. He then announced ongoing efforts by the incumbentadministration at revamping the Ede Cocoa Industry, under thereconstituted headship of an Ede indigene, Mr. Wale Adeeyo,who is currently on a trip to China to acquire equipment foroperations at the industry. According to Adeleke, the resolve ofthe administration in taking this bold step was to generate moreemployment opportunities for indigenes of the state as a meansof empowerment. He sounded a note of caution on the membersof the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to be deployed bythe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as adhoc staff for electoral duties, on why they should not compromiseto distort election facts and figures. Lastly, as an experiencedsecurity operative in the United States, he cautioned otherconventional security operatives to refuse unlawful orders asmay be issued to them by their superiors.

It was a pin-drop silence that prevailed at the venue while theex-governor’s speech lasted. He enunciated his achievements toinclude the granting of a federal constituency for the area, whichwe now fondly refer to as Ede Federal Constituency. Not onlythat, his pioneering role in the establishment of FederalPolytechnic, Ede cannot be overemphasized. His visit to thepresident of the time, President Ibrahim Babangida activated thevery first in the pioneering effort, which produced the instantrelease of the first subvention for the institution to take off andwhich translated into the appointment of the late Dr. Bamgbose(now deceased) as the pioneering Rector of the institution.

He went further to recount how his visionary leadershipqualities made indigenes of Ede and those of its adjoiningcommunities proud employees under the employ of theGovernment of the State of Osun. Those beneficiaries of overtwenty years ago have now prominently risen to becomepermanent secretaries, directors and proud occupiers of positionsin the higher echelon of the state’s civil / public service. On theissue of Ede land acquisition by the State Government of Osun,the rumour surrounding which was being peddled round by theopposition to score cheap political goal, Adeleke cleared the dustby reminding the people that it was during the time of theimmediate past administration in the state, under which thetown’s indigene, who is now Omisore’s running mate, HonourableRauf Adejare Bello was the Speaker of the Parliament. It thereforeconstitutes distortion of facts to attribute the acquisition to theadministration of Aregbesola. He however announced that he hadhad the governor’s troth that upon his second coming, the disputedland would be returned and named Agbale Estate.

Adeleke enumerated the massive employment interventioninitiatives he facilitated into the area and the state by extension.He mentioned Adeleke Farms, Adeleke Babes (football club),

•(L-R) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran and Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun atOwa’s Palace during Governor Aregbesola’s homage payment to Oba Aromolaran on his way to his 2014 re-election mega rally in Ilesa State of Osun, recently.

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Pacific Investments and the broad-based scholarship schemethat he bank-rolls on yearly basis. He did not forget to highlightthe materials of empowerment which he distributed to variousclasses of professionals and artisans during his four-year tenureas distinguished senator of the Federal Republic. According tohim, his dispensation of democracy dividends for a period ofthree years gulped an amount in excess of N3 billion. His boreholeprojects in the area numbered up to twenty-six; while his hospitalproject in Alajue is just one in many.

His numerous schools construction and renovation schemesin the area did not leave the Federal Polytechnic, Ede siteuntouched. There and then, the erstwhile governor announcedthat the scholarship scheme for the 2014 /2015 Academic yearwould be in full swing the following week; and that the schemewould be extended to 10 beneficiaries in each ward.

FINALLY, it was a highly elated Governor Aregbesola whomounted the podium to speak. He appreciated all attendeesfor gracing the event. He went ahead to list his achievements

in three-and-a-half years which had outstripped what hiscontemporaries usually parade in two terms of eight years. Hechallenged the opposition on the woeful state of the federation.He cited specific states of the federation where youth crimes,kidnap, armed robbery and other forms of brigandage are order ofthe day. That sad trend does not spare the home front of thesitting President Jonathan, who hailed from Bayelsa State. Healso challenged Omisore, the candidate of the leading oppositionparty in the state to point to his concrete achievements in hisSenatorial District while his eight-year period at the Senate lasted.

Further, the governor cautioned the people on the need forextra vigilance. He warned against the danger of selling their voters’cards for ephemeral gains and urged those who were yet to collecttheir Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to collect them in order tobe eligible to vote. He then unraveled his double-double packagefor the constituency after being sworn in for second term onNovember 27. However, he promised that all ongoing projectswould be completed before the current year runs out.

Governor Aregbesola then took count of his achievements forthe constituency during his first term in office to include massiveroad infrastructure, care of the old and widows, the State of OsunElementary Schools Feeding and Health Programme (O’MEALS)and the worldwide-acclaimed Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme(OYES). As an instance of his incontrovertible giant strides in thearea of education, the high school which hosted the mammothcrowd on that occasion is a project site of school’s reconstruction.The project on that site had reached an advanced stage. GovernorAregbesola referred the audience who were in haste to fullyappreciate the structure being erected at that spot to visit Ejigbo,where a similar project had already been completed.

Specifically, Aregbesola pointed out his achievements, cuttingacross several sectors of the economy, which includeunprecedented quality road network across Ede, Egbedore andEjigbo local government council areas of the state, reconstructionof schools, the ones at Obada and the host Seventh Day HighSchool in particular, and several others dotting various parts ofthe federal constituency in particular and the state in generalunder the State of Osun Schools’ Infrastructure DevelopmentProject (O’ SCHOOLS). Not only this, Aregbesola went aheadto unveil the many achievements of his administration across theEde Federal Constituency of the state, which include the schools’feeding programme (O’MEALS); the free school uniformprogramme for pupils / students of all public schools (O’Uniform); and the Opon Imo (Tablet of Knowledge) InterventionInitiative, which has dispensed not less than 1,800 units to highschool students in the area.

According to the governor, the care of the old in the area alonehad gulped N27 million within a year; not to talk of similarinitiative embraced for widows. Hospitals had been built, whileother ones were being overhauled. While security had been fortifiedsince the coming on board of the incumbent administration, thegovernor blamed the recent loopholes on the influx of “do-or-

die” politician of the leading opposition into the state and calledon the security agents to help apprehend the perpetrators andtheir cohorts.

In the area of provision of potable water, the governor drewattention to the various superlative efforts that had been ongoingon the Ede Water head since his assumption of office and promisedthe delivery of the project before the current year runs out. Onthe Ede Cocoa Industry, Aregbesola confirmed earlier remarks onit by Senator Adeleke by corroborating that the new Chairman /Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wale Adeeyo, an indigene of Edehad been to China for procurement of requisite equipment. Hebrought out the employment generation proficiency of revampedEde Cocoa Industry. He linked this with the OYES interventionand drew a line of demarcation between his administration’s valiantwar against unemployment and the lethargy by the GoodluckJonathan-led Federal Government and various states of thefederation. Not even in the President’s home state had such impactbeen provided in the area of youth employment andempowerment intervention!

Other areas touched by the governor in his erudition includethe O’ AMBULANCE scheme, which had not just providedemployment opportunities to many; but has also saved manyaccident victims and other emergency cases from untimely graves.Governor Aregbesola challenged the contender from the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore to point outwhat he achieved in office while his eight-year period lasted asrepresentative of his senatorial district. He summed up his list ofachievements with the siting of the M.K.O. Abiola InternationalAirport in the area (Ido-Osun) and the ongoing work on theGbongan / Akoda Road dualization project; the Old Garage / Ila-Odo / Erin-Ile / Kwara State boundary road project; and the ObaAdesoji Aderemi East Bypass in Osogbo – all of which, accordingto him will be completed before year 2014 runs out.

Ogbeni Aregbesola then proceeded to roll out his specificelectoral promises for the people of the area, if given the mandateto serve for a fresh tenure of four years duration. The promises,which he titled “beginning of beginnings” include construction ofdual carriage road from Ejigbo to Ede, to terminate at Akoda –Osogbo Road Junction; the bringing of the O’ RENEWAL projectin Ejigbo and Ede to a high degree of conceptualization as hispriority attention during the second term in office; the completionof the 1,000 students capacity High School complex in Ede beforeyear-end, as well as providing double of the facility in the nextdispensation; siting an additional School of Midwifery in Ede,with modern scanning equipment provided. The governor thenpromised that in a week from the time of the rally, 100 pieces ofmodern scanning equipment, which provides a feat of being thefirst time such would be done in Nigeria would be commissionedfor use. Finally, Aregbesola promised life abundant for all asdividends of democracy to expect in from his administration inthe next dispensation.

On a parting note, the governor cautioned the people not togive out their voters’ cards of sell them out for any financial ormaterial consideration. Equally, he tasked them not to allow anypersons or group copy the Personal Identification Number (PIN)on the cards for whatever reasons. He cautioned them also againstbeing lured into joining an occultist club called “Egbe Omo Ilu”with which Omisore and his henchmen entice victims to embracewhat they call ‘empowerment”. The governor announced that anamount of N4 billion had been committed to funding an OsunMicro Credit Agency to be kicked off the following week forgranting interest-free loan facilities to small- and medium-scalebusiness persons in the state.

Thus far went proceedings at the Mega Rally for Ede / Egbedore/ Ejigbo Federal Constituency. The governor dismissed the rallywith four parting songs: “Gbogbo Igba, E Stand by”; “Dagunroo se e je”; “Ha! Egbe Mi, E w’asia”; and “A o pade ni Abere”.

AT this juncture, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine shall drawexcerpts from the pact given to the people of the stateupon rolling out of the Oranmiyan campaign team of Ogbeni

Rauf Aregbesola eight years ago; for the purposes of referenceand setting the records straight:

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

I give you Six-Point Integral Action Plan, to the intent thatthey constitute my actions of faith concerning which I want to beheld accountable at any time during my stewardship.

SIX POINT INTEGRAL ACTION PLAN· Banish Poverty· Banish Hunger· Banish Unemployment (Create Work/Wealth)· Restore Healthy Living· Promote Functional Education· Enhance Communal Peace and ProgressBANISH POVERTYCOMMERCEVision: To make Osogbo the second hub in international

trade in goods and commodities in the Southwest.Osun people’s natural affinity for commerce has been

dampened over the years by unfriendly and unfocused economicpolicies of government thereby popularizing poverty among apeople, who are naturally hardworking, industrious andadventurous.

Our purposeful government of ACN shall revitalize commerceand restore wealth back to the land through:

· Market friendly policies that will revive the customarycommercial activities in Osogbo and other towns in Osun.

· Promotion and support of activities focused on wealthpromotion for our people.

· Transformation of Osogbo into an Internationalmarket where goods will be procured at prices comparable toany other part of West Africa.

FINANCE& ECONOMIC PLANNINGI shall increase the internally generated revenue of the state

and also improve in mileage on every kobo accruing to the stateby:

· Ensuring real time online access to actual position ofthe state finances to prevent misuse and other forms of abuse byreceiving agencies.

· Reducing leakages in the tax collection andadministration process.

· Running a transparent and accountable government.· Ensuring prudent management of the state’s resources.· Ensuring that the funds of the state are used for

developmental purposes.· Create viable Public/Private sector partnerships to jump

start the economy.· Our overall goal is to reduce dependence on federal

allocation as a means of funding the government.BANISH HUNGERFOOD& AGRICULTUREVision: Our government shall banish hunger in Osun and

enhance wealth through massive increase in food productionand agriculture.

Every farmer shall sell his products and be prosperous. Thelabour of the farmer shall no longer be in vain because we shallprovide assistance and support to farmers in finding and exploitingprofitable market for their goods.

We do not presently grow enough food in Osun to feed usround the year and this should concern a government that caresfor its people.

Our government shall support farmers to attain increase infood production, better storage and delivery. We shall provideassistance to farmers in exploiting profitable markets and marketopportunities for their products.

To maximize the benefit of resultant massive increase in foodproduction, we shall improve:

· Access roads and general transportation to even themost remote areas of the state.

· Storage process and capacity.· Processing of agricultural produce.

•(L-R) The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; first civilian governor in the State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Ogun State Governor,Senator Ibikunle Amosun; State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat, at the Ilesa APC mega rally, recently.

13 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 22, 2014MAGAZINE

Our Votes Must Count!

Continue from page 12· Rural electricity and water supply.

CASH CROPS

· Encourage production of cash crops which can enhance farmer’sincome and provide basis for an effective agro-industrial society in the state ofOsun .

· Specified to vigorously develop extensive farming in palm trees tocreate a fully integrated oil palm processing industry.

· To target and capture minimum of 10% of the multibillion naira- perday food market of the neighbouring states.

· Support cooperative efforts by farmers

· Be a catalyst to the development and promotion of micro, small andmedium enterprises that will exploit available raw materials.

· Set up price support scheme for farmers through commodity exchangeboard.

BANISH UNEMPLOYMENT (CREATE WORK& WEALTH)

No job loss, more jobs.

Osun people are peaceful, dignified and hardworking people who desire anddeserve gainful employment for their children and themselves. Rather than policiesthat will create employment and wealth for the people, the policies of the PDPgovernment in place serve to enrich few at the expense of majority of our people.

As part of our GOVERNMENT UNUSUAL programme, I Rauf AdesojiAregbesola make a pact with you good people of the State of Osun, in thepresence and by the grace of God Almighty that our government shall createimmediate employment for 20,000 people within our 100 days in office.

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

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

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

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

· Promote labour exchange centres to facilitate employment of graduatesfrom our Life Academies.

CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS

There is the need for a civil service reform that will not lead to any loss ofjobs as I Rauf Aregbesola do not believe in laying people off in the name ofreforms.

Our reform will make the work environment more conductive, stimulating anddevelopment oriented.

Bonuses, incentives and regular awards shall be instituted to promote a cultureof excellence in the civil service along with the prompt payment of salaries,allowances, leave bonuses and year-end performance bonuses.

Promotions and comprehensive salary reviews and increases shall be regular.

Internal and external training, work exchange programmes and overseas trainingshall be actively reinstituted for comprehensive human development in the civilservice.

New Tutor General/Permanent Secretary Cadre shall be created forTeachers in new education districts for better school administration.

We shall institute Home Ownership Scheme for public servants and alsosupport and encourage their backyard food production business ventures.

We shall do a comprehensive review of civil service names and conventions aspart of our efforts to create a people- friendly civil service.

Appropriate nomenclature will enhance accountability and promote publicaccess to the services of the ministry. A citizen with a complaint of blockage ofdrainage will find a Ministry of Roads and Drainages easier to identify with than

Ministry of Works, a Ministry of Human Resources and Development will moreappropriately communicate its services than a Ministry of Establishment.

TOURISM

Vision: Tourist’s cradle in Africa

The State of Osun is the cradle of Yoruba people and our rich culture. Theopportunities for wealth creation in Osun state through tourism have beenunderexploited. We shall:

· Develop State of Osun tourism potentials to its fullest to promoteemployment and wealth among people of the State of Osun.

· Encourage development of Yoruba museum and world heritage centreat Ile-Ife.

· Encourage programmes that nurture and promote arts and talent.

· Enhance the image of traditional rulers and institutions.

· Mobilize our traditional rulers to showcase the state’s tourismpotentials to Yorubas in the diaspora (e.g. Brazil, Cuba and West Indies).

ROADS

Vision: Roads to and in all towns and villages in Osun. Road constructionand maintenance shall be used to generate employment for the indigenes of theState of Osun.

· Community based road maintenance units will be established to ensuretimely repairs and deduce overall maintenance costs.

· Development and regular maintenance of urban and rural roads to gettop priority.

· Access roads to evacuate agricultural produce shall be constantlyimproved and expanded.

· Create partnerships with the private sector on road development andprovision of infrastructure.

TRANSPORTATION

We shall produce a transport master plan to provide direction for developmentof the sector.

The safety of the lives of the indigenes of the State of Osun is of great concernto us. We shall:

· Reduce to the barest minimum, road traffic accident within 6 monthson all roads starting with Federal roads.

· Create a motorized division of the Osun troopers to patrol roads toprevent accidents on the highways and organize rescue and recovery operations.

INNOVATION

Europe, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and now China have made life for their peoplepermanently comfortable through innovation, research and development, thriftand hardwork.

We Africans especially the people of the State of Osun are thrifty (a ki se oninakuna) 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 researchand we have not developed the fruits of innovation and research. In other wordswe remain backward, poor, unscientific and losers (eni igbehin) among the familyof nations.

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

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

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

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

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

· In these centres we shall teach Men and Women to think with theirhands, sharpen our already proven entrepreneurial skills and stop Nigeria fromimporting:

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 Godwilling.

INDUSTRIALISATION

Key to banishing unemployment permanently anywhere is promotingconducive atmosphere for manufacturing and production. Our Government shall:

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

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

· Provide incentives targeted at attracting manufacturers/ investors.

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

RESTORE HEALTHY LIVING

Vision: 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, weshall:

· Provide effective and available healthcare for all.

· Provide efficient accident and emergency ambulance service.

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

· Provide functional General hospitals within 20 kilometre radius ofhuman habitation.

· Provide referral hospitals within 30 kilometre radius of humansettlement.

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

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

· Encourage and nurture alternative medical therapy.

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

ENVIRONMENT

Vision: To embrace current scientific methods in controlling the generationof waste and the conversion of waste to wealth.

The state of the environment, especially waste generation, management andthe embarrassing filth in our communities demand special attention. The CANgovernment shall:

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

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

· Beautification of town centres as a starting point of

Continued on page 15

•Governor Aregbesola (on top of a bus), acknowledging cheers from the supporters and admirers on his way to the venue of the mega rally in Ilesa.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 22, 2014 14

Our Votes Must Count!MAGAZINE

general urban renewal.

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

WATER

Vision: 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 runningat any time and Osun is the state of the living spring!!!

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

All abandoned water schemes shall be reactivated and speedily completed.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Our ACN Government shall:

· Help Osun indigenes realize their dreams of house ownership orrehabilitation of failing structures through deliberate programmes that improvetheir income earning capacity.

· Support mortgage schemes that make house ownership pocketfriendly.

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

ELECTRICITY

Electricity 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 andfarm settlements in the state.

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

SECURITY

Security of lives and properties are of paramount importance to us. OurGovernment shall:

· Have special programmes for the police and neighbourhood securityoutfits.

· Provide special allowance to all security agents deployed to OsunState and enhance their operational facilities for efficiency.

· Respond to the operational needs of security agents throughprovision of mobility, communication gadgets, protective gears and conduciveworking environment.

FIRE SERVICES

We shall improve capacity of fire services to respond to emergencies.

PHYSICAL WELL-BEING

Our Government will promote physical exercises as a deliberate policy whichwill form a crucial aspect of our healthy-living programme. This is in keeping withthe adage that a sound mind only resides in a sound body.

PROMOTE FUNCTIONAL EDUCATION

Vision: Eradicate the frustration of youths caused by education that doesnot 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 functionaleducation. Education that makes one useful to himself and society.

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

· Restructure administration of school management and create Tutors-General (Permanent Secretary Cadre) from among Head Teachers in threeEducational 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 disciplineand morality.

· Introduce non-partisan community-based governing boards for allschools.

· Reduce number of students per classroom immediately.

· Introduce home development plans for teachers who wish to buildhouses 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 attentionto education of girls and women.

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

ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY

· I am committed to ensuring that an Osun State University takes off ona sound footing and becomes a first-class institution with linkages to renowneduniversities in the developed world.

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

· Encourage use of services of retired, but not tired dons andadministrators, 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 inauthority have not shown enough concern about their welfare or actively engagedthem in formulating policies that affect them.

Our Government shall restore partnership between government and peoplethrough:

SAGES COUNCILS (EGBE AGBA)

Our state is blessed with a large pool of elderly folks who are invariably welleducated, have enjoyed successful careers, travelled widely in the world, but arecurrently reduced to irrelevance in the society.

Our Government will support the formation of non partisan community basedsages councils, capable of providing guidance in management, moral and ethicaldevelopment in our society.

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

Government will support the senior citizens and help in their management ofsocio-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 butunfortunately are often frustrated and unfulfilled as a consequence of intolerablesocial and economic policies.

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

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

Government will promote sporting activities and creation of physical facilitiesfor sporting and related activities.

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

JUSTICE SECTOR REFORMS

An attribute of good governance is to promote justice, equity and fair playamongst citizens of the state.

Government of ACN will e3nsure speedy access ti justice try all individualsin Osun State, by reforming the courts system and procedural rules, introducingalternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms and fee legal services.

To complement these, ACN government shall improve welfare packages ofJudicial Officers and upgrade courts with modern IT and communications facilities.

COMMUNICATION

Our Government will restructure OSBC to:

Ensure its professional are motivated and continuously trained for competency

Provide digital equipment and infrastructure upgrade to conform tointernational best practices in broadcasting.

Exploit its tourism promotional capacity and capability.

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Consumers deserve to have the best goods and services at the best price andnot have to pay more for goods and servi9ces than their counterparts in other partsof the world.

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

In all the above and above all these I intend to run a people-friendlygovernment – 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 willbe given constant nurture.

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

Do not sell your vote and our future to a moneybag or vote people who do notcare 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 mycolleagues shall work in all honesty, tirelessly to bring marked improvements toyour life.

Apart of this pact you will be able to see that your children are better educatedand have jobs; farmers, artisan, traders are more prosperous, general quality ofhealth 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 createwealth through our toil as our fathers and mothers did to make us prosperous until1962.

· Concluded.

Continued from page 13

•A sea of heads of Aregbesola’s supporters at the Ilesa mega rally.

15OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 22, 2014

TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2014

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

By AYO AKINOLATHE late sage,

Chief ObafemiAwolowo, was

well-known more forhis political philosophyin those days. Hisliterary works, whichare well documented forgenerations yet unborn,speak volume of a politicalphilosopher. Awolowo wrotevolumes on his thoughtsregarding how Nigeria should begoverned, what are expected ofpoliticians, as well as how societyshould be ordered.

Most political writs ofcontemporary Nigerian societyhave continued to borrow fromhis wisdom of thoughts knownpopularly as Awo’s PhilosophicalThoughts. Awo was a politicalwarrior in his days and hegenerated so much controversybecause of his forthrightness,unparalleled discipline, boldnessand vision. In fact, Awolowo sawfar beyond his time. This maybe responsible for his frequentbruises with those who could notsee beyond their noses. He wasbetrayed, abused, cursed andeven jailed. He was undauntedeven till the end of his life.

Awolowo’s legacy could not bematched even by the best ofpoliticians till date.

It is quite rare to find acombination of politicalphilosopher and true politicianlike Papa Awolowo. This is wherethe governor of the State ofOsun, Ogbeni Rauf AdesojiAregbesola, has continued to bedifferent from the pack. Hestands out and he is still beingseen as a wonder, which theAlmighty has bestowed on thepeople of Osun.

Governor Aregbesola has notceased to amaze me as apolitician and political philosophercombined in one personality, ararity. In these days of politicsof no direction, the governor ofOsun has confounded critics thatyou can be a political philosopher,as well as a good politician.

He shared so many attributeswith Chief Obafemi Awolowo,

some of which includeforthrightness, discipline,boldness, and vision. It istherefore not surprising that hea l s os h a r e sf r o msome ofAwolowo’sw o e s ,w h i c hi n c l u d ebetrayal,misunderstandingfrom asection of

those who should know betterand verbal abuse. As if these arenot enough, he was even facedwith financial decapitation.

H i sp o l i t i c a lphilosophys p a n seducationreformation,w e l f a r e ,governance,p e r s o n a la n denvironmentalhealth, food

security, just to mentiononly a few. In these days,when application ofdeceptive rhetoric to getwhat you want, Aregbesolahas been very honest withthe people, saying it as it is.He lives a modest life known

only to philosopher kings. Youcan hardly associate him withcrass opulence, which isprevalent in today’s men ofpower.

His Walk-to-Live physicalexercise programme, which hecarries to the grassroots hasalmost turned into a movementof sort; the Apalara youthengagement scheme (O’YES)has literarily bailed out ouryouths out of idleness andunemployment; his educationreform has been applauded bothat home and outside.

In a recent encounter, theGeneral Overseer of the LivingFaith Church (a.k.a. WinnersChurch) Bishop David Oyedepo,had this to say of him: “Anygovernance that is producingresults and affecting the lives ofvast majority of the people, mustbe deeply appreciated.”

He also declared that the neweducation policy, which hadculminated in the building ofmega schools in the state,deserves global applause.

He said: “I deeply appreciatethe infrastructural development.Besides, the education revolutionis for us a great achievement. Ican see the massive roadconstruction going on.

“This is to the benefit of thepeople. No policy can removethe roads. I am very impressed”.

As the election day drawsnearer by the hour, the peoplehave the choice as to whetherthey would want to go back tothe old days of the locustsrepresented by the opposition inthe state.

•Akinola is a social andpolitical analyst.

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.

Aregbesola: Intellectualism,Grassroots Politics In Osun

•AREGBESOLA

“Governor Aregbesola has notceased to amaze me as a politicianand political philosopher combinedin one personality, a rarity. In thesedays of politics of no direction, thegovernor of Osun has confoundedcritics that you can be a politicalphilosopher, as well as a goodpolitician.”