April 13, 2018 Osun Defender Online Version

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Osun Abandoned 413,009 PVCs’ Worries Political Parties, Civil Societies 2 ge a P

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NEWS

More Revelations Trail OAU 'Sex-forMark' Scandal PAGE 12

•INEC Commences Registration The Race & In 332 Wards The Runners POLITICS

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Osun Abandoned 413,009 PVCs’ Worries Political Parties, Civil Societies •INEC Commences Registration In 332 Wards

By Kehinde Ayantunji Despite the commencement of the continuous voters’ registration in the state of Osun by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties and civil societies have been expressing concern over the alarming rate of abandoned Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC).

He attributed poor According to INEC, 413,009 PVCs’ have been political awareness from the orientation agencies abandoned across the 30 local governments, local and political parties to council development the huge number of abandoned PVCs’, areas and area offices.

Meanwhile, ahead of arguing that there was the September 22 more awareness by the Governorship Election in major political parties in the state, INEC has 2014 than now.

He said: “The situation urged electorate to register and collect their is disturbing, comparing the figure with other permanent voters’ cards in the ongoing states with higher continuous voters’ population than Osun. If registration that Lagos with 20 million commenced last population has less than Wednesday April 11 and 650,000 uncollected will end on April 16, PVCs, Ogun with 10 million population is 2018. having 426,000 The National Electoral uncollected PVCs and Commissioner for Oyo, Osun with just less than Ekiti and Osun states, Mr 5 million population is Solomon Soyebi at a having abandoned sensitisation meeting 413,000 PVCs despite with stakeholders on the having election this year, continuous voters’ that is not too good.” registration in Osogbo, “The difference the state Capital, said the between 2014 and now is first step to a credible that as far back as election is for the people January 2014, the two to collect their major political parties, PCVs’ having attained All Progressive Congress the age allowed by law.

(APC) and Peoples The national Democratic Party (PDP) commissioner noted that have already known politics is a game of their gubernatorial number which required candidates, it was citizens to have their already settled for voters’ cards in order to Governor Rauf vote for candidates of Aregbesola, and those in their choice.

PDP knew that despite Reacting on the the contest, Senator abandoned PVC, Osun Iyiola Omisore would Coordinator of have his way but now, Democracy Vanguard both parties are not sure (DV), Comrade Olowu of their candidates not to Emmanuel described the talk of mobilising for situation as worrisome registration exercise five and disturbing, urging all months to the election.”

The State Chairman, concerned authorities to double their efforts in the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Dr advocacy for the PVC Idowu Omidiji while collection.

speaking with OSUN DEFENDER also expressed concern over the large volume of the uncollected cards, saying political parties in the state should use the opportunity of the 6 days continous registration and PVC collection exercise to mobilise.

The State APC

Director, Media and Research, Bar Kunle Oyatomi in his reaction said the party is mobilising through its structures from the ward to the state level for the collection of the PVC. Oyatomi said the sensitisation is not only the role of a political parties, religion bodies,

By Solomon Odeniyi

ensure that the monsters of yesteryears are not coming back to power.

Efforts to speak with the PDP state Chairman, Hon Olusoji Adagundo on the party efforts in mobilising for registrations and PVCs’ collection were unsuccessful, as several calls to his line were not picked or returned as at the time of filing this report.

•Members of Osun Defender Team during the NUJ Football Competition between Osun Defender Chapel and OSBC Chapel in Osogbo.

Osun Speaker Dissociates APC From Omisore’s Imbroglio

By Israel Afolabi Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam has said that it is insolent to insinuate that Senator Iyiola Omisore is being used by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government to destabilise the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Salaam, while According to a with statement by his Press interacting journalists at the maiden Secretary, Goke Butika memorial lecture in on Wednesday, Salaam said Omisore is matured honour of late Ademola a retired enough in politics to Ojo, decide what is good for broadcaster from Osun State Broadcasting him.

Corporation (OSBC),

Stakeholders Score Osun High On Public Procurement Policy Stakeholders have scored the government of the State of Osun high in the implementation of the State Public Procurement Law. They spoke at a to overturn the doldrums sensitisation workshop on that have perverse and Public Procurement constrained the state from Reform and joining some other Understanding of the developed states, the provision of the State of administration has Osun Public Procurement initiated reform Law in Osogbo on programmes that were Tuesday. internationally accepted In their separate as bedrock for promoting remarks, the state best practice in public Commissioner for Finance, finance management.

Mr Bola Oyebamiji and the He said: “Of note, General Manager, Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Public Procurement administration revised the Agency, Mr Ayodele outdated Tax Fatoberu said the Administration Law, by insistence on due process passing a new one in 2012 has guaranteed value for along side Osun Fiscal money in the procurement Responsibility Law, and process in the state.

Bond Administration Law Oyebamiji noted that among others. with a keen determination “With the vision of

civil societies must participate, saying it is an obligation that every individual must value like their life.

“I urge the people of the state to use the present opportunity by going to their ward collation centres to collect the PVC, it is the only instrument they can use to reward the present administration by ensuring continuity and

transforming and repositioning Osun as industrial and commercial hub, the government prioritised infrastructural development in all the nooks and crannies of the state.

“Recognising the pivotal roles of institutionalising sound public procurement system, particularly in promoting probity, and effective use of public resources, the Aregbesola administration set the machinery in motion to develop Public Procurement Bill, and passed in February 2015 and automatically become legal instrument for conducting public procurement in Osun”, he noted.

According to Oyebamiji,

with the operation of the law, the state government has also developed ‘Standard Bidding Document for Works, Goods and Consultancy Services’.

Speaking earlier, Fatoberu who described public procurement as the basis of transparency, accountability and value for money commended the state government for allowing the state Public Procurement Law to work well.

He said that the law is now being institutionalised in all the local government council areas of the state, saying the essence of the gathering is to sensitise the stakeholders on how the law works and the sanctions attached to it under the law.

said it was a conspiracy theory fabricated to bring the governing APC into Omisore’s battle in the PDP, asserting that the Ife born politician has not indicated that he is leaving his party for APC. He said, “With due respect to Senator Omisore, he is a matured politician and he has been around for a long time in the business of politics. So, if he is interested in crossing over to the APC, he can do it without being induced or prompted and as a Nigerian, he enjoys freedom of association as enshrined in the constitution; if he is so desired to join APC, he could be welcomed as long as he is qualified to be a member, but up till now, he has not informed anyone that he has left PDP.” In his lecture titled: “We are all victims of occupational hazard”, Salaam observed that the society has not done enough to encourage safety rules in all places of work across board, saying that the rot began with politics and the situation could change for better if retired journalists partake in politics with aim of

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unleashing their experiences for better society.

“I used to know that journalists and lawyers dominated political landscape in the glorious past, but the departure of journalists, especially the retired ones now from politics has diminished the political engagement and I asked all our Veteran journalists to join politics not as bystanders but as gladiators so that their wealth of experience could be brought to bear in the development of our society and evolution of new thinking, it would be a plus if they can transmute from veteran journalists to political strategists”, Salaam asserted.

The Speaker further tasked Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) to apply strict regulatory exercise into the recruitment of journalists, saying, failure to do that would make journalism all comers’ affairs, noting that free entry into the profession may c o m p r o m i s e “believability” which he described as unique selling proportion.

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3

Osun Assets Management Agency Bill Scales 2nd Reading

By Israel Afolabi members agreed with the view of Hon. Folorunso enumerated the benefits associated with the Bill The State of Osun Assets Management Agency Majority Leader on the Oladoyin was different. which include creating a Bill, 2017 has passed through the second reading of benefits the state would He said it was an Data Bank of all the the House while further consideration on the Osun derive from the bill when innovation that conform assets of government in Penalties and Other Payments (Amendment) Bill, eventually passed into with the standard line with international practice in the act of 2017 has been stepped down for further law.

But the lawmakers amendments of law standard and best consultation so as to clear the grey areas arising said the process and writing and practice with a view to from it during the debate. providing uniform procedure adopted for presentation.

This was sequel to a usage. and The Assembly also management motion moved and He added that about the writting of the Bill in codifying property of seconded by the Majority sixty-five related Laws question was not in had the Policy Thrust of government scattering with the the State Assets Leader of the House, on fines and fees must tandem across the state and Hon. Timothy Owoeye have been put together in convention of the Management Agency beyond for the purpose (Ilesa East) and Hon. a compendium manner. Parliament, thereby, Bill, 2017 as presented by of accountability and T a j u d e e n In their own various called for further the Majority Leader, transparency in Famuyide(Ilesa West) contributions, other consultation on it but the Hon. Owoeye, where he governance. respectively for the second reading of the Asset Management bill and the policy thrust of

By David the two other bills.

OYESTECH Training in state.

Leading the debate on While speaking about The Honourable Commissioner for Youth Ilesa said the scheme was the Policy Thrust of the Empowerment and Engagement of the State of a practical demonstration how important it is for the said bills which were Osun, Mrs. Mofolake Adegboyega has described the of her commitment youth to make use of the Executive Sponsored youth as the tools for technology and innovations. towards addressing programme to become Bills, Owoeye at a Adegboyega, who was honour at the flag off youth redundancy and something in life, she plenary presided over by the special guest of ceremony of Batch B unemployment in the lamented that youth the Speaker, Hon. Najeem Salaam, said the State Penalties and Other Payments (Amendment) Bill 2017 when eventually passed into Law will increase the IGR base of the state through the introduction of new taxes and fees payable for services rendered and penalties for contravening the provisions of the Laws of the state.

Owoeye added that since most of the present fines and fees as provided for in the existing Laws are obsolete and no more in tandem with modern day economic realities; the desire to have an amendment to the extant Laws in this regards would apart from the benefits mentioned, afford the state to have all her Laws relating to this in a codified way that would no doubt •Commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Engagement, Mrs Mofolake Adegboyega (5th right); Commissioner assist in no small for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji (5th left); the OYES Commandante, Col Oyewole Enibukun (rtd) and other officials measure in the area of during the flag off of Batch B OYESTECH training in Ilesa.

Commenting, the Speaker, Hon. Najeem Salaam, who said the Bill when passed into law would serve as an organic framework to coordinate and manage all the assets of g o v e r n m e n t , commended his colleagues for their contributions which he described as robust, fascinating and interesting urging them to keep the spirit up.

Youth, Tools For Technological Development - Adegboyega

Osun Guber: Durotoye Declares Intention, Promises 200,000 Jobs In First Year

By Solomon Odeniyi

An Aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Adeolu Durotoye has declared his intention to contest the governorship position in the state of Osun.

The Political science abandoned projects, poor Don formally made his performance in intention known with the education, spring of letter of intent addressed indebtedness swelling up to party leaders which by the day. The state is was received by the party under stress. These extrachairman in the presence ordinary challenges of his supporters at the requires someone with an party secretariat. extraordinary qualities to Durotoye said his surmount them. As a desire to contest was concerned citizen I have borne out of his love for presented myself for total selfless service, stating he restoration of the state. is on a mission to liberate Let us do everything to the people of the state rescue our state and from the untold hardship liberate the people of beleaguering them and as Osun”, he said. well rescuing them from He promised to create impostors.

200,000 job in his first 12 “There are cries of months through the anguish, malady and private initiatives and groans everywhere. public private There are a lot of partnership, which, he

said was key to the economic recovery of the state.

The Osogbo born aspirant also listed

•Prof. Durotoye

prompt payment of welfare package for civil servants and pensioners, revitalisation of agriculture, sports and

tourism, positive engagement of youths for personal development and wealth creation and comprehensive medical services among others as things he would implement if elected.

The Chairman of the Osogbo chapter of the party, Prince, Sikiru Kolapo said Osogbo residents have been decider of votes in the state adding that he is well assured that the people would support their own as they have long thirst for the seat.

The state chairman of the party, Adesoji Adagunodo, while addressing the aspirant and his supporters assured them a level playing ground for all aspirants with a transparent free and fair primary election, urging supporters to shun violence.

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needs to be more active in engaging themselves in multiple sources of income.

She added that the training had injected 5000 expert in different ICT fields, which has helped in reducing youth unemployment in the state and the country at large, charging the second batch to be focused and be selfdetermined on how they can make something out of nothing using the opportunity given to them by the state government.

“This batch will be given adequate, required resources and practical equipment for all departments to facilitate effective and efficient training by the state Government of Osun.

This will also support and promote the development of millions of Micro, Small and Medium scale entrepreneur as investing in youth who are the greatest assets will actually determine the development trajectory of the state for the next 50 years”, she added.

The commissioner also stated that Osun has been blessed with very productive youths, meanwhile, the current administration is also ready to build the state through the youths as the white collar job is no more the solution but empowering the youth to be able to stand on their feet and make life meaningful for themselves and their environs.

Also at the event were, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bola O y e b a m i j i ; Commissioner for Environment, Idowu Korede and the Representative of the Commissioner for Education; the Chairman RLG, Alhaji Animasahun; MD Omoluabi Holdings, Mr Tunde Faleye and the Commandante OYES, Col. Eniibukun Oyewole (rtd).

PAGE

4 A Forward Thrust In Human Capital Development

The opinion of the philanthropist Bill Gates has certainly raised a fire storm. Whatever the pros and cons of the salient points raised, it has achieved a laudable goal of putting human capital development back on the front burner.

For an underdeveloped country, this new thrust should act as a vitally needed catalyst.

The visitation just concluded this week of the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) to the State of Osun has also given us an insight into the positive gains made in the arena of human capital development by the Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). As can be seen from the positive response of the visitors from Abuja to the site inspection of various projects in the state of Osun, the SUBEB, imaginatively led by Prince Felix Awofisayo has in a tight

As can be seen from the positive response of the visitors from Abuja to the site inspection of various projects in the state of Osun, the SUBEB, imaginatively led by Prince Felix Awofisayo has in a tight fiscal climate delivered on its mandate.

‘

fiscal climate delivered on its mandate.

Prince Awofisayo in a response made a very insightful observation about the synergy induced as reflected in the trickledown effect it is having on the development of the state. To us the trickledown effect is important. The synergy achieved in the State of Osun between students and teachers is paying off and will ensure long-term

’

sustainability.

Sustainability can also be seen in the excellent initiative of the Osun Teachers Housing estate in Ile-Ife which is a great motivational flip to encouraging teachers and complement the magnificent newly-constructed schools in the state, thereby merging as it were, hardware with software.

This is also reflected in the policy

Osun: Peaceful And Secured The horrific event in Offa, Kwara State is a reminder of the need for eternal vigilance in our security landscape. Our condolences go to the families of the bereaved. The best way to express our condolences is to ensure that it never happens again.

The current grim reality nationwide calls for sober reflection as well as comparative analysis. A good comparison here is the State of Osun, which shares a boundary with Kwara State. In Osun State, the pro-active policies of the governor of the state has spared the citizenry wide spread misery, as well as heightened anxiety.

The security landscape is well secured, the state is well policed and at ease with and within itself.

We recall the procurement and distribution of 125 Security Patrol Vehicles, 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers to security agencies in the state to enhance security and an helicopter for air surveillance by the government of Osun. These are in addition to encouragement being given to security personnel in the state and the series of preventive measure put in place interms of youth

In Osun State, the pro-active policies of the governor of the state has spared the citizenry wide spread misery, as well as heightened anxiety. employment.

Reinforcing this widespread opinion which has become the conventional wisdom is a recently published research finding of the foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP). With data collected between 2010 and 2016, the findings rate Osun as the most peaceful state in Nigeria, followed by Kogi, Ekiti, Kwara and Imo States.

Yobe, Kebbi, Bauchi, Zamfara and Sokoto were found to be the least peaceful states in the country.

On a geo-political basis, Akwa Ibom was rated the most peaceful state in

South-South, Kaduna in the NorthWest, Kogi in the North-Central, Osun in the South-West, Imo in the SouthEast and Taraba in the North-East.

The report also indicated that Lagos state had the least poverty rate, Zamfara the least crime, Ekiti, the least incarceration rate and Taraba, the least human right abuses rate.

South-East Nigeria had the highest number of higher education institutions in the country with Imo rated to be the most educated state.

What is indicative here is that the investment in human development and social services by the Aregbesola’s administration has demonstrably paid off. It also reveals the intrinsic link between human development initiatives and enhanced security. No wonder that the Osun initiative is being so widely initiated.

For this reason, we give Publisher kudos to a far-sighted government and stress the need for continuity as we Acting Editor approach a change-over of baton in the administration of the state. Lagos Editor

OSUN DEFENDER

Let's Return History To School Curriculum Times were, when secondary school students could paint actual pictures of Songhai Empire, Mali Empire, Old Oyo empire, Borno Empire with words.

All these were made possible in the past when History was part of the subjects in the secondary school curriculum. All that changed when government in its wisdom, took a decision to delist History as a stand-alone subject of study in the primary and secondary schools.

It was then argued in some quarters that students were no longer attracted to the subject and not willing to pursue it as a degree course in the university.

History is simply defined as the study of the past. It attempts to discover, collate and interpret data or information for future plans. Therefore, with history, cultural values, ethos and civilisation were preserved.

Despite civilisation, it is

not possible to graduate from a college in some European countries without studying European History. Not a few Nigerians have expressed reservation about this development.

Therefore, there had been clamours and concerns expressed by several groups in open debates for the re-introduction of the teaching of History as an independent subject and

not as a mere appendage of other subjects at primary and secondary school levels.

However, the Federal Ministry of Education recently developed its plan

on “Education for change: A Ministerial Strategic Plan (2016-2019)”, which contains several initiatives and activities to be executed including the disarticulation of social studies and the reintroduction of the teaching of History in primary and secondary schools. The plan document was approved by the National Council of Education to start the

process of disarticulating history from social studies.

Thus, save for the Lagos state government which took up the gauntlet using the state house of assembly to ensure the return of

initiatives of the state government.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola highlighted the efforts of the government towards developing the education sector at the basic level, saying no fewer than 250,000 pupils from grade one to four across the state are being fed daily with nutritious meal through the state school feeding programme known as OMEAL. He pointed out that his administration has rehabilitated and built modern schools with over 1,633 standard classrooms which accommodate 98,150 pupils, ICT rooms, good offices for staffers as well as safe playing ground across the state.

We are delighted that the Executive Secretary of UBEC Hamid Boboyi expectedly gave kudos to the work of the State Universal Basic Education Board.

According to him, a lot has been heard about Osun in terms of its investments in the education sector and was amazed with the effort put in place by the state government, saying the commission would do all it could to help the state move the education forward.

Commending the state government for its effort at raising the standard of education in the state, he stated that the issue of technology and the availability of instructional materials remain one of the challenges of education in Nigeria, adding that the materials will help complement efforts of teachers.

He however urged the government to invest more on the provision of instructional materials.

We give kudos to everyone involved in the forward thrust on human capital development in Osun State, principally the state governor, Ogbeni Aregbesola and the state SUBEB; they have done an excellent job.

History as a subject, the Federal government has yet to come up with a decision on this.

This is a wake-up call for all the concern stakeholders on education to wake up from their slumber and bring back history to curriculum. The roles of History in governance, conflict resolutions, diplomacy and international relations, science and medical studies, technological development, nation building and human relations are vital.

History has a unique position in African societies and was prominent as a subject for the preparation and training of the citizen.

Therefore village heads, parent and older siblings and others from the level of the nuclear family helped to transfer history from generation to generation.

•IFEOLUWA AFOLABI, Oyan, Odo Otin North LCDA, State of Osun.

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MAGAZINE FRIDAY APRIL 13 - THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018

Moving Towards Restoring Healthy Living Since his assumption of office in November 2010, the Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in Osun has been seen to be proactive in the public health sector to ensure that citizens and residents of the state get access to quality health services. However, the enrolment of the state in the Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS) is another effort of the government to enroll the entire populace into some financial and risk-pooling health scheme.

KINSGLEY OMOYENI writes.

A responsible government must create and maintain the conditions under which members of the community can be healthy, though the maintenance of healthy living and public health is a responsibility of every member of the society.

Society’s efforts have been carried out through a combination of personal health care and public health system.

Through the activities of both private and governmental health care providers, organisations, and institutions, the personal health care system provides primarily curative services, such as treating illnesses and injuries, to individuals with relatively little attention to prevention.

These agencies build partnerships and often provide or coordinate direct services to ensure that there is access to adequate healthcare in a community.

Public health agencies have particularly played this role in efforts to reduce the spread of diseases, illness, injuries, environmental and other risks. They have also directly taken on the challenges of addressing the health care service needs of the most vulnerable.

Public health agencies meet obligations to their communities in many different ways: by fostering a wide range of policy-guided community initiatives to promote health, improve health conditions through the collection, monitoring, and dissemination of information about health status and disease occurrence; through the direct provision of service in the community and in the home; and through community education.

Another role public health agencies play is to regulate sources of risk and promote health and safety practices, such as licensing restaurants and health facilities, and regulating water and air quality.

Public health tasks are carried out primarily by governmental health and environmental protection agencies at local, state, and national levels.

Frequently, the government agency provides either financial or technical assistance. This is because government functions as a representative of the people and needs to be responsive to them, the ultimate responsibility for public health activities must lie with government agencies.

Non-Governmental Organisations carry out many useful activities.

However, only government agencies

•Dr Niyi Oginni, Executive Secretary, OHIS

•Dr Rafiu Isamotu, Osun Health Commissioner.

Just recently the state government through the ministry of health took delivery of health equipment for government hospitals across the state, training of medical personnels, while provision of drugs are also being attended to. that derive authority from the community, locality and nation are therefore accountable to members of the public. Public health agencies, even while being cost conscious, are in principle not constrained by profit motives, nor by agenda other than that of the public’s health.

Public health interventions focus on the health needs of the entire population or population groups.

Personal healthcare providers have little incentive to consider populationbased services, although they may provide individual clinical preventive care. Even with increased attention to the provision of clinical preventive

services by healthcare organisations and others, the clinical preventive services provided will often be those with short-range, immediate payoffs.

Moreover, population most at risk for increased morbidity and mortality may be least likely to receive these clinical preventive services because of financial and non-financial barriers.

Public health addresses these issues through outreach, health education, transportation and translation services, and culturally sensitive provision of services. These are provided by the public health system.

Since assumption of office in November, 2010, the Rauf Aregbesola-

led administration has done everything possible in the public health sector to ensure that citizens and residents of the state have access to quality health services in all the nooks and crannies of the state. No wonder the life expectancy at birth in Osun has increased from 45 to 75 years, according to reports.

The Osun Ambulance scheme, an idea of the present administration has saved countless souls from untimely death, as the state governor procured ambulance vehicles worth millions of naira and equipped them with facilities and personnels and stationed in strategic locations around the state to arrest emergency health challenges.

Health facilities and hospitals across the state are never left unattended to, as they are constantly being upgraded; just recently the state government through the ministry of health took delivery of health equipment for government hospitals across the state, training of medical personnels, while provision of drugs are also being attended to.

The Aregbesola administration has strengthened the state’s health system •Continued on page 6

6

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FRIDAY APRIL 13 - THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018

Moving Towards Restoring Healthy Living

•Continued from page 5 by carrying out comprehensive changes in policies and regulations, develop strong financing mechanism, changing organisational structures and relationship across the health system and ensure effective use of resources to improve multiple health services.

Supporting the health system can also include any activity that improves services, from upgrading facilities and equipment to distributing mosquito nets. All these are the efforts of the present administration in Osun.

For a government that has put the health of its citizens on the front burner since assumption of office, it was no surprise to learn that the administration is going another step further at ensuring that the people have more access to affordable health services.

Since a single stay in hospital can wipe out your savings and more, not many people can afford to go without some kind of health insurance - even if they’re healthy. Not only will health insurance protect the rich from bankruptcy in the event of a major medical event, it will also give the vulnerable or poor of the poorest in the society peace of mind knowing that they can have access to quality health delivery when the need arises.

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been there for many years, but the truth is that many people at the state and local governments’ level do not understand how to enjoy the service nor have access to it; hence the NHIS has only been in existence for existing sake.

Many people still view the national health insurance as a contract between you and an insurance scheme company that says that the insurance company will pay a portion of your medical expenses if you get sick or hurt and have to visit a doctor or hospital. They believe that such contracts also specify that the insurance company will pay a portion of your medical expenses such as paying for annual physicals or immunisations all at a burden which you will still have to bear one way or the other.

It was therefore a huge step in the right direction when the government of Osun under Rauf Aregbesola did everything possible to be part of the first sixteen states that will serve as pilots for the state health insurance schemes.

At an awareness programme to sensitise the people of the state on their

For a government that has put the health of its citizens on the front burner since assumption of office, it was no surprise to learn that the administration is going another step further at ensuring that the people have more access to affordable health services. roles and responsibilities under the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS), it was made clear that it is to enable the people, rich or poor to have access to universal health scheme.

The Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS), is an insurance plan seeking to enroll the entire population into some financial and risk-pooling insurance mechanism or set of mechanism with the aim of removing the financial barriers of attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC) so that needless deaths caused by lack of immediate funds will be avoided.

•Some of the ambulance vehicles distributed as part of the Osun health programmes.

For a government that has done so much in the state’s health sector, it is worth eulogising such government for going another step further to ensure that the people are completely covered when it comes to issues relating to their health as OHIS will ensure that even the poorest of the poor will have access to quality health services because through the scheme such expenses would have been taken care of through tax and donors from the rich.

With the Osun Health Insurance Scheme, everybody is covered as avoidable deaths will be avoided. With

adequate awareness and taking up of responsibilities by all stakeholders, the Aregbesola administration has set a new standard in the discharge of health services to all in Osun, which means, days when simple illnesses claim the lives of the poor as a result of lack of money to visit the hospital or doctor are gone for good.

It should be noted that the provision of quality healthcare delivery is a right of the people and through the scheme, the burden of catastrophic health expenditure will be eliminated and the people of the state are encouraged to take the opportunity and enjoy access to quality healthcare at the appropriate time.

The appointment of a former Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, (NMA), Dr Niyi Ogini as the Executive Secretary to pilot the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (O’HIS) has again reaffirmed the commitment of the government to the scheme.

Dr Ogini while speaking at an awareness programme stressed that public health services should be considered part of the social safety net which is the responsibility of government to provide for the people.

“Governor Rauf Aregbesola wants free health for his people but at the same time he realises that it cannot be totally free, he knows that it cannot be hundred per cent possible, hence the creation of the Osun Health Insurance Scheme.

“It is the desire of the Governor to deliver quality health services to the people of the state on the basis of equity.

I want to assure the people of the state that through the O’HIS, the death of children under five will be greatly reduced in Osun.

“The scheme would be operated on equity where those who do not have money can have access to quality health services and we want it to succeed so that Osun will be an example to emulate”, Ogini stressed.

It is hoped that citizens and residents alike in Osun will embrace this good gesture of a government that is determined to restore healthy living as contained in its six points integral action plan.

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COMMUNITY

FRIDAY APRIL 13 - THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018

Egbedore South Chair, Others Decry Poor Utilisation Of Aje Market The Chairman, Egbedore South LCDA, Honourable Adekola Ajao and other stakeholders have expressed dissatisfaction over the unimpressive level of utilisation of the Aje International Market by traders in spite of its economic potentials.

According to a Osun, saying the market statement by the is one which has the Information Officer of the capacity to accommodate council, Mrs. Iyabo 3000 shops with facilities Adeniran, they spoke at like, cold room, filling a stakeholders meeting at station and others Ido Osun city hall to rub facilities. minds with the developer He regretted that as a of Aje International developer, he was not Market towards ensuring encouraged to build sustainable development more than 600 shops in the community. which are not utilised till Ajao recalled that he date. had made several Taiwo implored the attempts to ensure that stakeholders to the market is utilised by endeavour to convince traders in the LCDA and the traders in the LCDA its environs, but and its environs to make lamented that only maximum use of the Hausa traders rented market to safe the shops at the market so developer from being far, noting that the blamed by the occupants of the shops government as well as have been making some other towns and impressive sales at the cities who wished the market, hence, the reason market is sited in their for the meeting with domain at onset. stakeholders.

The Commissioner for The developer of the Commerce and Industry, market, Mr Abiodun Mr Ismaila Jaiyeoba Taiwo lamented how he appreciated Governor struggled to ensure the Rauf Aregbesola for not market is sited in Ido- playing partisan politics

with the project, recalling that the site was initially used for trade fair, but

the governor decided to site Aje International Market because of its

wideness.

According to him, a hall with a capacity to

•Workers of Ifelodun Local Government, Ikirun clearing refuse during a sanitation exercise instituted by Alhaji Hammed Omoloye’s administration.

Olorunda North Chair Lauds Workers For Support The Chairman, Olorunda North Local Council Development Area, Ota-Efun, Hon. Quadri Owonikoko has lauded the council’s workers for their support towards the actualisation of the council’s development.

He gave the promised to ensure that commendation at a his administration is prayer session to host committed to the welfare workers of the council, of workers in the LCDA the first of its kind since appreciated them for the the creation of the cooperation and LCDA. endurance during the Owonikoko who construction of the

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That ODOGWU CHIGOZIEM KHURSNEY and ODOGWU CHIGOZIEM KHURSNEY FAITH are the same person, but now wish to be known and addressed as ODOGWU CHIGOZIEM KHURSNEY FAITH. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

council secretariat, saying without their cooperation he would not have achieved that much within the space of three months.

S t a t i n g h i s commitment to take good care of his workers within the available resources, he said it would be done in such a way that the developmental projects in the Local Government would not be affected.

The prayer held for the successful tenure of O w o n i k o k o administration was led

by Ustadh Rauf Lukman and Pastor Olaore Segun.

While speaking, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Chairman in the council, Comrade Okesola appreciated the council boss for being a partner in progress, which has translated to the hosting of an end of the year get-together, as well as distribution of gift items to workers.

The NULGE Chairman sought his people’s unalloyed support,

diligence and dedication to their work, just as he noted that the workers will always look up to him for many other things for the successful running of the NULGE office.

The Council Manager also urged the Chairman to let the love of workers be paramount in his administration, saying the workers also need to be cared for, just as he thanked the council boss for being a good listener to both the workers and the people.

accommodate 2,000 people was built in the market to host International Trade Fair, saying it was the plan of Ogbeni Aregbesola to enable the traders in Osogbo and environs to shop with ease without travelling to Ibadan or Lagos.

The commissioner therefore enjoined the people of Egbedore South LCDA to give the government maximum co-operation so that the market would be properly utilised.

He suggested that the Olojudo of Ido Osun, Oba Adeen Adedapo should fix a day as market day as a step to utilise the market.

Also, the House of Assembly member representing Egbedore State Constituency, Honourable Abiodun Awolola enjoined clergymen of all religious faith, the Iyalojas’ and traditionalists to help in praying for the survival of the market so that the government would not regret siting the market in Ido Osun.

Oba Adedapo while speaking reinstated that it was not a mistake on the part of government to site Aje International market in Ido-Osun, enjoining the people of the LCDA to put all efforts for the market to function properly at the earliest possible time.

Others at the stakeholders’ meeting included; the APC Chairman, Egbedore Local Government, Mr Fawande, the Iyalojas’ in the LCDA, Community heads, Traditional chiefs, Law enforcement officers amongst others.

Atakumosa East Central LCDA Embarks On Massive Road Rehabilitation A new wind of change is blowing in Atakumosa East Central Local Council Development Area, Iwara, as the Hon. Busuyi Makanjuola-led administration has embarked on massive grading of bad roads across the council to guarantee access to rural communities and boost the economy.

The roads include, the residents to pay their Ajebamidele to Ayinrin taxes and other levies’ in Adedeji; Ifewara to order to complement the Fayabale, Olowu, Atorin efforts of the government developmental and Temidayo; Abon on Jegede to Okere Okun; projects.

The chairman Obembe Erinsebiija, Omiodo, Ehin Oke; reaffirmed that the and Igangan township; rehabilitations Atibiojo Sajiku Alapomu; grading of roads are in Owode to Eyingun; phases and will ensure Iwara-Oke Oja; Ilota that all communities in the council benefit from Igigun among others.

The council chairman the projects.

The council boss and while inspecting the of his bulldozing and grading members of the roads was highly entourage also visited appreciated by the ongoing opening up of residents of the abandoned market at Orogoji Ijesa along Iwara communities.

Makanjuola enjoined road.

The market has started to wear a new look with all necessary rehabilitation to make it usable for market purposes, as the council boss noted that when completed, it will be another source of revenue generating for the council and the state government.

The council boss applauded the people for their love, cooperation and unflinching support since he assumed office just as he lauded the people for eschewing violence and maintaining peace and order.

Meanwhile, towards preventing outbreak of diseases in the LCDA, the authority of the council has charged food

vendors to be focused on food hygiene and medical fitness.

He also appreciated the environmental sanitation officers of the council for their efforts so far in making sure that all dung hills and blocking gutters are cleared before the commencement of the raining season.

On the entourage with the chairman are; the leader of the House, Hon. Ajewole Moses; Deputy Leader, Hon. Ogunleye Dare; Vice chairman, Hon. Kolawole Morufudeen; Hon. (Mrs.) Fadare Olusola; Hon. Ponle Ayodeji, Secretary for Youth and Market Sanitation and Hon. Mrs. Ganiyat Oladejo among others.

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THE SOCIAL REGISTER

FRIDAY APRIL 13 - THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018

THE SOCIAL REGISTER

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9

A Cocktail Of Recent Happenings UBEC Lauds Osun On Investment In Education

75th Birthday Ceremony Of Chief Jimoh Buraimoh In Osogbo.

Oba Ile International Women’s Day.

•Executive Secretary UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboye (2nd right); SUBEB Chairman in Osun, Prince Felix Awofisayo (right); Permanent Secretary Osun SUBEB, Alhaji Fatai Kolawole (middle); Director Social Mobilization, Alhaji Bello Kagara (left) and others during the UBEC visit to Osun.

By Solomon Odeniyi The Federal Government’s Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has commended the government of the State of Osun for its massive investments and achievements in the education sector, especially at the basic education level.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ahmed Boboye gave the commendation during an inspection to the site of the Osun Teachers’ Housing Scheme in Ile-Ife and some of the newly constructed schools in the state on Wednesday.

According to him, a lot has been heard about Osun in terms of its investment in the education sector and was amazed with the effort put in place by the state government, saying the commission would do all it could do to help the state move the education forward.

Commending the state government for its effort at raising the standard of education in the state, he stated that the issue of technology and the availability of instructional materials remain one of the challenges of education in Nigeria, adding that the materials will help complement efforts of teachers.

He however urged the government to invest more on the provision of instructional materials.

At a subsequent courtesy visit on him, the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola highlighted the efforts of the government towards developing the education sector at the basic level,

saying no fewer than 250,000 pupils from grade one to four across the state are being fed daily with nutritious meal through the state school feeding programme known as OMEAL. This policy, he said, has ensured increase in the number of enrolment into public schools, and increase in the students’ academic performance.

He also said that the review of the uniform policy, which generated a lot of criticisms has enhanced beautiful appearance of the pupils and as well grew the economy of the state, adding that the state had a partnership with a firm supplying the materials and those sewing the uniforms.

He said his administration has rehabilitated and built modern schools with 1,633 standard classrooms which accommodate 98,150 pupils, ICT rooms, good offices for staffers as well as safe playing ground across the state.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Osun State Universal Basic Education Board, Prince Felix Awofisayo said the commitment of the present administration to the education was unprecedented, saying that the efforts of the government would have trickle down effect on the development of the state.

According to him, the commitment ranges from the encouragement of students and teachers which have paid off, saying that several other programmes have also been laid down for the development of the education sector.

He then urged other stakeholders to support the government in its quest for the development of the sector.

•UBEC delegation on the site of the ongoing project of Osun SUBEB Teachers Housing Scheme in Ile Ife.

•(L-R) The Celebrant, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh (right); Osun Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori and the former governor of Osun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

•A cross section of the wives of the celebrant during the service.

•Guests at the event.

The ancient town of Osogbo in the State of Osun was the host city of dignitaries, as Chief Jimoh Buraimoh celebrated his 75th birthday ceremony in Osogbo.

The ceremony was held at the All Saint Cathedral, Balogun Agoro, Osogbo in the State of Osun on Sunday, 8th April 2018.

Chief Jimoh Braimoh used the opportunity to thank God Almighty for spearing his life and his family members till his birthday and showed his appreciation to all invited guests.

The Deputy Governor State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi LaoyeTomori described the celebrant as an easy going man.

Deputy Governor, Mrs Tomori, Former Governor of the State of Osun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and other important dignitaries joined the congregation to celebrate with Chief Jimoh Buraimoh.

•A cross section of women during the programme.

In line with the recognition of community viable socially and Women as a force in the development economically through their enterprise of a community, Oba-Ile Community efforts since the ancient times and has dedicated a day to celebrate assured them of his support always.

He acknowledge the role of women women in the ancient town as a mark of respect for the female gender in the in nation building, saying the palace would continue to assist women community.

The event which was tagged the towards enhancing their social status, first Oba-Ile international Women’s saying empowering women amounted day recorded the female folk in the to empowering the entire society.

The women at the palace expressed town thronged to the palace of the Monarch, located at the town square their joy for the community to deem it to join the party with some strapping fit to celebrate the women folk, saying their babies to their back, while those it is an attestation of the monarch’s that were of age followed their readiness to ensure the community grows through women efforts. mothers to witness the event.

Women in attendance danced and The monarch, Oba Adekunle Oyeyemi, while addressing the showed their enthusiasm towards the gathering commended the efforts of emancipation of their folks in the women towards making the town.

•Some of the dignitaries at the programme.

OUR SOCIAL REGISTER IS OPEN FOR YOUR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES TO BE MADE PUBLIC Spaces are available for your anniversaries such as weddings, house-warming and chieftaincy title ceremonies among others for your take. To take advantage of this, you can reach out to Murtala, 08023280935, Kazeem 08062207954 and Nike on 07032594744 Let the public know what you are doing.

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org 10 POLITICS With 162 days to go into the election on September 22nd, the preliminaries and the heats for the main race, we continue our review of the purported contestants, even though only a few of them have formally declared.

FRIDAY APRIL 13 - THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018

ADEOTI: Doughty Fighter In The Race It will not be out of place to refer to the name Moshood Olalekan Adeoti as being synonymous with politics and political activities in the State of Osun.

Born in Iwo, headquarters of Iwo Local Government Council Area of the state on February 27, 1953 into the family of the late Alhaji Abduwahab Adeoti of Olode’s Compound, Gidigbo Quarters, Iwo. He started his elementary school education at the District Council Primary School in 1959 and in 1963, he got transferred to Aipate Baptist Day School, all in Iwo, where he finished in 1964 with a Primary Six Leaving Certificate.

Despite pressure from few family members and some of his classmates to leave the elementary school to learn a vocation, as it was the practice in his days, the young Moshood stuck to his gun in his determination to further his education.

It was this that forced his father to accede to his request to obtain the entrance examination form of the Local Authority Secondary Modern School, Iwo. He passed the entrance examination and was admitted into the school in 1967 and completed the three-session programme in 1969 in flying colours.

In 1970, he proceeded to the then elitist Baptist High School, also in Iwo, where he sat for and passed the West African School Certificate Examination in 1974.

It was at this stage that he went into farming by establishing his private business. Having had a firm grip of his farming business, Adeoti decided to pursue his education career further by seeking and securing admission into the University of Benin to study Business Administration in 1980 and in 1984, he sat and passed his final examination and was awarded the Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration.

During his university days, Moshood Adeoti still spared time to come to Iwo on regular basis to see to the welfare of workers on his farm and also participate in political activities.

For his one-year mandatory National Youth Service (NYSC) programme, he was deployed to Kaduna State and posted to the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he served as Graduate Assistant.

At the ABU, he was offered immediate employment after his national service as a reward for his sterling performance and dedication to his duties. This he humbly rejected, as the urge to participate in political activities in Iwo and taking care of his thriving business took better part of him.

He later got elected as Councillor in Iwo Local Government Council in 1988, where he served till 1989. He was appointed and served as Supervisor for Education from 1991 to 1993 before he was deployed to the Finance and Economic Department as Supervisor, where he served till he became the Secretary to the Local Government Council (SLG), a position he held till the third republic which was truncated by the General Sanni Abacha-led military junta.

Alhaji Adeoti invested all his earnings from his farm produce in buying shares from blue chip companies, including multinationals and even served on the boards of some of them.

He was the GeneralSecretary, Unity Party of

The Race & The Runners

Nigeria (UPN) Youth Wing, Iwo Local Government 1978 – 1983; Administrative Secretary, United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), Iwo Local Government 1997 – 1998; State Delegate for Alliance for Democracy (AD) 1998 – 2003; Organising Secretary, AD, Iwo Local Government - 2001 - 2002.

Adeoti was appointed the Chairman of Iwo Local Government Council by the Chief Adebisi Akande-led administration in June 2002, the position he held till the government was ousted in a controversial poll in May 2003.

He became the State Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2003 to 2006, the pioneer state chairman of the Action Congress (AC) 2006 to 2010 and later the pioneer state Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the position he held during the struggle to reclaim the stolen mandate freely given to Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his party.

Adeoti was appointed the Secretary to the State Government of Osun in January, 2011 by Governor Aregbesola, a position he is holding till date.

Awards in his Kitty include, Award of Excellence by Nigeria Institute of Physicists (October, 2014); Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria (July, 2012); Astute Mobiliser, Forum for the Patriotic Members of APC (March, 2016); Distinguished Leader, the International Association of Lions Clubs, Ede Mopo Lions Club (March, 2016); Merit Award as Advocate of Democracy, Modern Progressives Awareness, State of Osun (May, 2014); Politician of the Year, Nigerian Union of Journalists, OSBC Chapel (December, 2015); Outstanding Alumnus, Osun State Students, UNIBEN Chapter (2012); Award of Excellence (Distinguished Islamic Contributor), Arabic Teachers’ Association of Nigeria, Ibadan North East Chapter, Oyo State (December, 2016); and Award of Excellence in Technological Development and Humanity by National Association of Academic Technologists, UNIOSUN Branch (May, 2017) among several other awards.

Adeoti remains an individual who has had the sweet and the bitter experiences as rewards for his political activities in the state. He had enjoyed the sweet aroma of being appointed into sensitive political positions and had also suffered the pangs of being detained based on trumped-up charges.

Alhaji Adeoti is married with children.

AKINBADE: Brings Experience To The Race

Fatai Akinade Akinbade, born on 2nd April, 1955 is a certified Civil Engineer, a politician, a businessman, and a Prince of Agbowu from Ogbaagbaa in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area of Osun State.

He attended St. James’ Anglican School, Ogbaagbaa between 1964 and 1969 and Catholic Commercial Secondary Modern School, Iwo between 1970 and 1973 and later Catholic Technical College, Ile-Ife between 1975 and 1978.

At Catholic Technical College, Ile-Ife he studied Bricklaying and Concreting. It was in this college that his talent began to manifest as the school provided the young Fatai, the opportunity to put into practice, what he learnt in the classrooms. He was always in his “khaki” due to his active involvement in several building projects. Despite being a field man, he led his class throughout his school days in different academic engagements. Fatai passed all his final papers in distinction.

On completion of his course at the Technical College, he went to Kaduna State for employment. It is instructive to note that he used to be in Kaduna for vacation jobs during his school days at the Technical College and was always employed as a professional bricklayer. It was with ease, therefore, that he got employed as a full-fledged Supervisor by the then BenFobil Construction WA Limited, Kaduna.

The company deployed him to Jos where he supervised the completion of the Plateau State Police Headquarters.

He handled another major construction work at the Nigerian Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research Centre in Vom, near Jos. He later left the company to become a student of The Polytechnic Ibadan where he first had his OND in Civil Engineering. On completion of this course, he joined Adold Engineering and Construction Limited, Lagos, and later EFEL, Nigeria Limited, also in Lagos. It was while working with this company that he returned to The Polytechnic, Ibadan for his HND programme which he completed in 1989.

While Fatai was doing all this, his interest in party politics was equally flaring. As such, he was at different times, in the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Democratic Republic of Nigeria (DPN). Fatai is a well-pronounced grassroots politician.

In 1994, he was appointed Osun State Commissioner for Works, Transport, Lands and Physical Planning by Navy Captain Anthony Udofia (rtd). When Colonel Anthony Obi (rtd) took over from Udofia in 1996, Fatai was the only Commissioner retained. Similarly, by the time Obi left office in 1998, which saw the emergence of Colonel Theophilus Bamgboye (rtd), the Ogbaagbaa born Prince was again retained as a Commissioner in the state.

Akinbade held the position till he quitted in 1998 to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he rose to later become its State Chairman.

Even as a Commissioner, Fatai still craved to have more knowledge, which saw him proceeding for his Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Civil Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), between 1996 and 1998. He later became the Secretary to the Osun State Government for seven years.

This forthright, accessible, humane, cosmopolitan and unassuming politician was once a board member of Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Delta State. He was the Politician of the Year 2003 Award Winner of the OSBC Chapel of NUJ and the NTA Ile-Ife Merit Award 2004. In the same year 2004, he was enrolled into the prestigious Hall of Fame of Osun State Council of NUJ and honoured by the Ifetedo Klob 1984 with the Award of Excellence in Leadership (2004) and was given Award of Excellence by the Osun State Council of Ansar-ul-Deen Society of Nigeria (2018).

Akinabde’s first attempt in the governorship contest was during the Sani Abacha Era when he prepared to run on the platform of the then Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN), but for the botched process. He also attempted in 1999 and 2011 after which he joined the Labour Party where he ran for the governorship seat in 2014.

Fatai is now back in the PDP and prepared to slug it out with other aspirants of the PDP and above all at the September 22, 2018 governorship poll.

As a traditional chieftaincy title holder, Fatai is the Bada of Okuku; Mayegun of Ikire-Ile, Bashorun Asoludero of Iba, Olu-Omo of Iwoland and Omolojuoba of the Source.

He is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigerian Association of Technology Engineers, Osogbo Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture; Nigerian Institute of Building among others. Aside from having vested interest in AKFAT (Nig) and Agbowu Commercial Ventures, he also has interest in some other business ventures, such as the Hospitality, transportation and real estate, among others.

•Next week, will look at another set of contenders for the governorship race

FRIDAY APRIL 13 - THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018

NEWS

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11

Osun Govt Assures Residents Of Adequate Security Of Lives, Property

The state Government of Osun has assured the people of the state of adequate security of their lives and property.

Commissioner for people, stating that Information and Aregbesola had taken Strategy in the state, the bull by the horn in Adelani Baderinwa said ensuring that every the government has not citizen of the state is relented on its efforts in protected and people providing maximum could sleep with their security and ensuring two eyes closed. peace and harmony in According to the the state. commissioner, Osun is He attributed the being rated one of the peaceful atmosphere of five top most peaceful the state to states in Nigeria proactiveness and because Aregbesola’s security consciousness administration has put of Governor Rauf in place adequate Aregbesola and the security measures that social justice being make it difficult for rendered by his crime perpetrations to administration. thrive.

He stated this while He said: “Aregbesola answering journalists’ was perhaps the most questions on Monday prepared person for while speaking on the governorship position. recent security breach of He had his practical multiple bank robberies manifestoes for the in Offa, Kwara state that smooth running of led to several deaths office. and loss of huge amount “One of the Six of currencies vis-à-vis Integral Action Plan of relative peace been A r e g b e s o l a ’ s enjoyed in the State of government is Osun.

Communal Peace and B a d e r i n w a Progress. Essence of maintained that the government is to ensure essence of governance is peace and harmony and to ensure peace, social justice in the land, harmony and security of and that is what lives and property of the Aregbesola is offering

•BADERINWA the people of the state “Aregbesola had been proactive on provision of security of lives and property of the people in the state. And that is why we are enjoying peace in the state of

Osun. He procured and distributed 125 security patrol vehicles and 25 Armoured Personnel Carrier to security agencies in the state to enhance security of the state.”

B a d e r i n w a commiserated with the Kwara state government, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Muftau Gbadamosi and the Nigeria Police Force on the robbery incident that claimed many lives.

The commissioner spoke further: “Provision of security in every society begins with ensuring protection of lives and property and putting in place social justice and equity that ensure youth engagement. These two aspects of governance are strategic to curtailing crimes in the society, and I am happy that Osun people know that Aregbesola has ensured social justice and engaged the youths positively.

Besides, the A r e g b e s o l a ’ s administration in 2012 procured and distributed 125 security patrol vehicles and 25 modern Armoured Personnel Carrier to security agencies in the state. This has enhanced the security of lives and property in the state.”

Baderinwa tasked the people of the state on community policing, saying that security is a collective effort and required the cooperation of all stakeholders.

He urged the people to be vigilant and conscious of everybody in their neighbourhood, just as he assured them of adequate security of lives and property.

the South-West, Imo in the South-East and Taraba in the North-East.

The report also indicated that Lagos state had the least poverty rate, Zamfara the least crime, Ekiti, the least incarceration rate and

Taraba, the least human right abuses rate.

South-East Nigeria had the highest number of higher education institutions in the country with Imo rated to be the most educated state.

The FFP data was collected between 20102016.

Osun Rated Most Peaceful In Nigeria Osun has been rated the most peaceful state in Nigeria, followed by Kogi, Ekiti, Kwara and Imo states.

The ranking was based On a geo-political basis, on the research findings of Akwa Ibom was rated the the Foundation for Peace most peaceful state in the Professionals (FPP).

South-South, Kaduna in Yobe, Kebbi, Bauchi, the North-West, Kogi in Zamfara and Sokoto were the North-Central, Osun in found to be the least peaceful states in the country.

SEE EDITORIAL ON PAGE 4 ISSUES/POLICY

Green Procurement And Sustainable Development

By Ayodele Fatoberu Green purchasing/procurement is a process whereby organisations meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value-formoney on a whole-life basis in terms of generating benefits for the organisation, society, the economy and the environment (International Green Purchasing Network) IGPN (2010). In another hand, Sustainable procurement is an investment process typically associated with public policy, although, it is equally applicable to the private sector. Organisations practicing sustainable procurement meet their needs for goods, services, utilities and works, not on a private cost-benefit analysis, but with a view to maximising net benefits for themselves and the wider world (Wikipedia).

The International Institute for Sustainable Development describes Green Procurement as the selection of products and services that minimise environmental impacts; it states further that it requires a company or organisation to carry out an assessment of the environmental consequences of a product at the various stages of its lifecycle.

According to Bruntland Commission on Sustainable Development, this is simply defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

It is therefore pertinent to note that Sustainable Development is attainable when consumption of renewable resources does not exceed nature’s ability to replenish. This is the main reason why proponents of Green Economy have identified Green Procurement as a tool for Sustainable Development.

It is instructive to note the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which came before the Sustainable Development Goals, (SDG). Goal 7 of the MDGs was to ensure Environmental Sustainability, and the results of the achievement of Goal 7, shows that the rate of deforestation was

high as at the 2010 target year, even though the target for the bio-diversity conservation was not met. Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Global concern for Environmental sustainability stems from the threat posed by monumental environmental degradation arising from unsustainable resource consumption and development are as follows: Deforestation, Desertification, Depletion of Ozone layers, Climate change, Global warming, Pollution, Water resources depletion, Habitat destruction, Ecosystem destruction and Energy consumption.

This concern has received the attention of the Conference of Parties (COP 22) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, i.e. Marrakech Climate Change Conference which was held between 7th - 18th November, 2016 in Morocco, and the 12th Conference of the Parties serving to the Kyoto Protocol, as well as the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the Paris Agreement. The issues centre

around Energy, Governance, Agriculture and Food Security, Forestry and REDD (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation), International negotiations, Climate change, Adaptation, and Mitigation.

Besides, resource consumption in the process of growth and economic development can impact negatively on the ecological integrity of the environment, which implies that we should ask the following questions as part of the sustainability checklist in every day to day economic activities as highlighted below: What are the raw materials used for the products? Are there any toxic or hazardous chemicals likely to be generated during manufacturing? What performance regulatory specifications must the new product(s) and or service(s) meet? How reliable will the delivery manufacturing/distribution process be?

Are all steps commercially proven? Does the company have experience with the operations required? What types of wastes are likely to be generated? What is their physical and chemical form? Are

they hazardous?

This is the reason why concept of Design for Environment (DFE) is now being advocated globally to reduce the negative impacts or carbon footprints, emissions and waste generation. It involves, consumption of less energy, reduction of waste generation, no hazardous/non-toxic materials and sustainable forestry products.

A number of challenges have been identified by the Institute for Sustainable Development and they include, Price sometimes, a green product may have a higher up-front purchase price; lack of corporate commitment; insufficient knowledge whereby, many organisations are unfamiliar with the concept of green procurement or with the options available to them; and availability. Other challenges are that there is no acceptable alternative, no specifications, and purchasing habits among others.

However, in implementing green procurement programmes, there is need for organisation support, self-evaluation, goals’ setting, developing strategy, running a pilot project, developing implementation strategy and sustaining a systematic procurement programme.

However, in Nigeria, efforts are being made through the relevant environmental agencies for policy advocacy and sensitisation for green development and infact, a unique example of Green project in Nigeria is the Osun State Secretariat Complex, Osogbo which in concept, design and execution is a Green Project, and fully branded as such with the green roof to depict the concept as green project.

It is obvious that Green Procurement is the New Growth frontier according to the International Green Purchasing Network (IGPN) and it remains a major avenue for achievement of Sustainable Development.

•Fatoberu is the General Manager of Osun Public Procurement Agency.

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FRIDAY APRIL 13 - THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018

Repackage Traditional Products, Contribute Positively To Economy, Aregbesola Charges TRAWSO

By Shina Abubakar Osun state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has called on adherents of traditional religion to add value to traditional medical products and services they offer.

The governor said West, in recent past, when this is done, the appears to be offering adherents would be Yoruba culture, should contributing positively to send signals to the the nation’s economy and discerning minds within also solve some health the race that there are challenges that could be several good things about addressed with the culture. traditional herbal “But how are we, the products and services. owner of the culture He also called for treating it? Shabbily. We repackaging of, and don’t value what we have reorientation about the and that is not the right Yoruba traditional way to go. We must religion and practice, so guard our culture as not to lose valuable jealously and ensure we benefits inherent in them. don’t lose it. Loss of Aregbesola, who culture means loss of disclosed this at the identity and we must not swearing-in ceremony of allow that to happen. newly elected executives “As a Yoruba man, I of Traditional Religion know many medical W o r s h i p p e r s products and services Association, State of offered by the Yoruba Osun (TRAWSO), noted traditionalists are potent. that, when traditional But lack of proper medical products and packaging has limited services are properly acceptance of these packaged, many more products by even we people will be interested Yoruba people, let alone in them. people from other parts Represented by the of the world. That should Commissioner for Home be addressed. Once we Affairs, Dr. Wale Adebisi, Aregbesola was package them well, these will be of the opinion that products wholesale rejection of the contributing positively to Yoruba traditional our GDP and even earn religion could lead, in no us forex.

“I am suggesting as distance time, to loss of part of the way forward, identity by the race.

He said the warm that you leaders and hands of fellowship the adherents of the Yoruba

traditional religion should not scare people away from the tradition, but package it and make it very attractive and

more exportable,” Aregbesola concluded.

Newly elected officials of the association; Chairman, Oba

Secretary, Apetebi Toyin Awolola, Treasurer, Oloye Ifasola Onifade and others later took oath of office.

More Revelations Trail OAU 'Sex-for-Mark' Scandal

By Shina Abubakar More revelations have continued to trail the case of a Professor in the Department of Accounting, from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe, Richard Akindele, who has been enmeshed in a ‘sex-for-mark’ scandal.

This is after an audio university. recording of him, allegedly They expressed doubt demanding sex from a that the management of the female student to make her university would be able to pass surfaced on the bring the culprit to justice, internet. alleging that some of those In the 4-minute that might be asked to conversation, the female constitute the panel that student is heard begging would investigate the the professor who insisted matter are also culprits in on having sex with her 5 some other such or similar times before she passes, cases. else he would make her A 300-Level female repeat the course the student who refused to following year. mention her name said, she The professor went on to had fell victims of a similar accuse the female student scenario, as she had to of lying about undergoing retake a course three her monthly period earlier consecutive years because just to scare him off, and he turned down a sex went on to say, “so now that demand from one of her you have finished you period, lecturers. has your boyfriend done it?

She urged the The female student in management of the the course of the university to investigate conversation mentioned the matter thoroughly in the Professor’s name, but efforts to sanitising the he was quick to warn her system of such lecturers. not to mention his name on Meanwhile, the phone again. authenticity of the audio After the release of the recording could not be audio recording, some independently confirmed. female students who chose However, the school to speak to OSUN authorities have vowed to DEFENDER on condition investigate the matter and of anonymity said such bring the culprit to book cases are rampant in the after due process has been

Want To Be Great? Don't You Ever Give Up Persistence is defined as, “to continue firmly or obstinately in an opinion or a course of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, or failure.” It is derived from, “steadfastly; to stand.”

Next in importance to the virtue of Gratitude discussed last week is persistence in whatever course of life or goal we firmly believe in. Gratitude is unique because it is connected with the divine, almost unexplainable, with vast potency. Showing gratitude either to the Supreme or to the source of the good we receive almost always translates to more or bigger good. That has been thoroughly explained last week.

In my earlier days in marketing and business, I read a book, The Richest Man In Babylon by George Samuel Clason. It greatly inspired me to achieve tremendous success, even in other spheres of life.

What I discovered was that a persistent mind never fails to achieve whatever he or she seeks to achieve.

The law or virtue of persistence is awesome. It’s been discovered that the more you persist on getting to your goal, the nearer you are to it even if unknown to you, which happens in most cases. In life, what we perceive as failure is actually a lesson taught on how not to do it.

Thomas Edison, the inventor of electric bulb tried and failed 10,000 times before getting it right. An average person would have given up after few trials and failures, but he kept on trying until he perfected his invention to success. He summed up his travails and eventual triumph thus: I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”. That, really, is a positive mind-set. He “found” 10,000 ways that won’t work, instead of the negative phrase: “10,000 failed procedures”. Mindsets and words are powerful. How do you describe your daily activities? Is it in the negative or positive? Most of us go about life with very negative mindset, using words and having mindsets that impede our march towards success. We see failure instead of success; our mindset should always project the positive. That’s one lesson from Thomas Edison.

In not persisting enough, we often do not know that

Bamijogbin Alao, Vice Chairman, Chief Oyebowale Olojede, Secretary, Dr. Oluseyi Atanda, Assistant

•Prof. Akindele duly followed.

A statement signed by the Vice Chancellor of the University on the issue reads: The attention of the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe has been drawn to an audio recording, now trending on the social media, of a telephone conversation ostensibly between one Professor Akindele and a female student of the University.

The recording suggests that the lecturer was demanding sex in return for an upgrade which clearly amounts to sexually harassing the lady.

Since the matter came to our notice, the University has begun the process of

identifying the characters involved in this apparent breach of its regulations, the Code of Conduct for the University Community and the Anti-sexual Harassment policy, in full compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and procedures of the University. To this end, the University has set up a high-powered committee to investigate the allegation and submit its report within one week.

Anyone found culpable will be dealt with decisively.

I wish to assure the general public that Obafemi Awolowo University has zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

The University considers sexual harassment as a serious offence contrary to its Code of Conduct for the University Community and against the Anti-sexual Harassment Policy of the University. It is totally and morally reprehensible, and the University will never condone such act by any staff or student.

Once again, I wish to reiterate that no one found culpable of this serious misconduct of sexual harassment will go unpunished”.

Truth Of The Matter with

AYEKOOTO ayoakinola444@gmail.com

many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. Many have even committed suicide, and gone to the beyond at the threshold of their big-bang success.

I’ve come to the realization that if only we can continue in whatever we believe in, with faith, patience, constantly learning new things, experimenting with new ideas, with flexibility and adaptability, it’s just a matter of time, we are surely going to realize our life goals.

Sometimes, life plays certain games with us without us knowing. Life wants us to learn some bitter lesson

I’ve come to the realisation that if only we can continue in whatever we believe in, with faith, patience, constantly learning new things, experimenting with new ideas, with flexibility and adaptability, it’s just a matter of time, we are surely going to realise our life goals.

before actually giving us that thing we so much desire instead of letting us have it on the platter of gold, if only we realize it. Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

Good marketers realize this and are never tired of trying more. As marketers, one of the most important trainings you receive is on persistence in the face of severe rejection by prospects. And experience has taught me that the most severe rejections almost always bring the most astounding successes and achievements.

Politicians are said to be the most noticed optimists in our society. They are never to give up on their ambitions in the face of repeated defeats. When the Ogbeni was denied of his victory as well as his initial seemingly loss at the tribunal, he didn’t just sit down and wag his tail in regret. He tried more, and more, and more, even when the mandate period was fast expiring. Despite all obstacles put in his way, he eventually got it, more than three years into the four year mandate period, through persistence. President Mohammadu Buhari actually got fed up after several failed shot at the presidency. But the persistence in him told him to try just one time more in 2015, which he did and it changed the narrative. We might say that Chief Obafemi Awolowo and MKO Abiola did not get to power despite repeated persistence amid travails. But, really, their popularity and influence in life and even posthumous, testify to the power of Persistence. Even after death, people rode on their influence to get to the corridors of power. What this means is that even if circumstances do not allow us get exactly what we want, there is certainty that we will get something better, or near in value. So, it is a win-win situation.

FRIDAY APRIL 13 - THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018

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13

Care Of The Aged We will get old one day and it is the prayer of everybody to grow old in good health and vitality.

Medical science that specialises in the medical care and treatment of old people is called Geriatrics while that of infants and children is referred to as Paediatrics.

Elderly care or care of the aged is the fulfillment of the special needs and requirements that are unique to senior citizens. This broad term encompasses such services such as; assisted living, adult day care, long term care, nursing homes, hospice care [for terminally ill patients], and home care.

Elderly care emphasizes the social and personal requirements of senior citizens who need some assistance with daily activities and health care, also for the aged, at is important to note that the design of housing, services, activities, employee training and health care delivery should be truly customer centered.

However, it has been observed that the elderly in the globe consume the most health expenditures out of any other age group as comprehensive observations has shown.

Traditionally, elderly care has been the responsibility of family members and are provided within the extended family home.

Increasingly in modern societies, elderly care is now being provided by state or charitable institutions which include private and religious institutions.

The reasons for this change include decreasing family size, the greater life expectancy of elderly people, the geographical dispersion of families, and the tendency for women to be educated and work outside the home.

Organisations or individuals that provide room and board, personal and health care also provide rehabilitation services in a family environment for at least two and no more than six persons.

It is important for caregivers and health workers to ensure that measures are put into place to preserve and promote function rather than contribute to a decline in status in an older adult that has physical limitations.

Caregivers need to be conscious of actions and behaviours that can cause aged adults to become dependent on them and need to allow older patients to maintain as much independence as possible. Providing information to the older patient on why it is important to perform selfcare may allow them to see the benefit in performing self-care independently.

With FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

If the older adults are able to complete selfcare activities on their own, or even if they need supervision, encourage them in their efforts as maintaining independence can provide them with a sense of accomplishment and the ability to maintain independence longer.

One of the problems that may confront people as they grow old is the issue of mobility. For years, these senior citizens have been used to going out in the morning and coming back late in the evening. Now, in their twilight, they have to seat around doing nothing and if they are lucky they have their grandchildren around them to give them some comfort.

Impaired mobility is another major health concern for older adults, affecting 50% of people over 85 and at least a quarter of those over 75.

As adults lose the ability to walk, to climb stairs, and to rise from a chair, they become completely disabled. The problem cannot be ignored because it has the tendency to bring on suicidal thoughts.

Therapy designed to improve mobility in elderly patients is usually built around diagnosing and treating specific impairments, such as reduced strength or poor balance. It is appropriate to compare older adults seeking to improve their mobility to athletes seeking to improve their split times.

People in both groups perform best when they measure their progress and work towards specific goals related to strength, aerobic

capacity, and other physical qualities. Someone attempting to improve an older adult’s mobility must decide what impairments to focus on, and in many cases, there is little scientific evidence to justify any of the options. Today, many caregivers choose to focus on leg strength and balance.

We cannot however overrule the fact that some seniors are blessed with eternal strength and abundant energy coupled with youthful figure that even in their advanced years, they are still going strong.

The family is one of the most important providers for the elderly.

In fact, the majority of caregivers for the elderly are often members of their own family, most often a daughter or a granddaughter.

Family and friends can provide a home (i.e. have elderly relatives live with them), help with money and meet social needs by visiting, taking them out on trips and so on.

Many an aged person has died due to neglect on the part of family members and relatives.

Apart from providing for them, there is need to show them TLC, Tender! Loving! Care!

Have you ever stopped to wonder why in your youthful days, when you fall, you get up and keep going but as you age, falling now becomes a burden and you take care to avoid a fall.

That is what happens to elders and falling is one phase often associated with aging. One of the major causes of elderly falls is hyponatremia, an electrolyte disturbance when the level of sodium in a person’s serum drops below 135 mEq/L. Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder encountered in the elderly patient population.

Studies have shown that older patients are more prone to hyponatremia as a result of multiple factors including physiologic changes associated with aging such as decreases in glomerular filtration rate, a tendency for defective sodium conservation, and increased vasopressin activity. Mild hyponatremia ups the risk of fracture in elderly patients because hyponatremia has been shown to cause subtle neurologic impairment that affects gait and attention, similar to that of moderate alcohol intake.

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FRIDAY APRIL 13 - THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018

Stakeholders Worry Over Rate Of Deforestation In Africa Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and other stakeholders have decried the spate of deforestation in Africa in view of its negative effects on climate of climate change. change.

He noted that Osun Declaring open a 3-day workshop of African had 10 forest reserves Forest Forum (AFF) held across seven local at the Osun State government areas and University, Osogbo, also identified poor data Aregbesola commended base and lack of the initiative of AFF for c o m p r e h e n s i v e improving livelihood management due to and and sustainable encroachment management of forest deforestation as the being resources in the African challenges encountered. continent.

The ECOWAS The governor, who Mr was represented by his Representative, Deputy, Mrs Grace Moussa Leko, said it is Titilaoye Tomori, noted committed to supporting that he launched an the efforts of member afforestation programme states in creating synergy that witnessed the among stakeholders in planting of two million order to sustain the management trees and also forest encouraged every globally and also in household to ensure that sound decision making a tree was planted in the within the Sub region.

Leko further stressed name of members of the on the importance of family.

The workshop with the forestry on food security theme, “Modelling and supply of renewable Climate and Applications energy as source of to the forestry sector livelihood among the hosted by the Osun State people of Africa.

He commended the University, Osogbo had no fewer than seventeen initiative of the forum African countries in with huge impact expected to be felt on attendance. resources Aregbesola said that forest Osun had been fully management both at and committed to regional afforestation and tree international levels.

Mr Godwin Kowero, planting in order to curtail the ravaging effect the Executive Secretary

of the AFF stressed the way climate change is affecting environment and therefore becoming threat to human lives.

Kowero added that the forum is working closely with the United Nations to address the issue of forest deforestation

especially in the African continent.

He said strategic plans are being put in place across African countries to curtail environmental degradation and climate change challenges.

In his remark, the Vice

Chancellor of the University, Prof. Labode Popoola, said efforts is ongoing to carve out Renewable Natural Resources center in the Faculty of Agriculture of Osun State University.

While urging

participants to make the best use of opportunities provided by the workshop, he praised the state government for supporting the university in meeting up with its academic challenges.

Noble Actor, Osun Govt To Hold Maiden Sports Festival

By Solomon Odeniyi

An Osun-based group, Noble Actor Global Resources Limited says it will be collaborating with the Department of Sport and Ministry of Social Protection, Sports and Special Need in Osun to organise the first ever Sports Festival in the state.

The festival, a 15-day and a veritable means by event is billed to hold which to engage young between 5th and 19th of people with elaborate sporting talents.

October, 2018.

Lawal added that over According to the convener, Taofik Lawal, the past years, sporting the Osun Sport Festival event of this dimension would be chaired by has proven to be more former Super Eagles than necessary as new coach and FIFA talents who are not yet instructor, Chief discovered in the Adegboyega Onigbinde, agrarian settlement in noting that the festival the state would be would engage the entire unveiled. local government areas He however, stated of the state in the over 15 that the absence of sector sports including the private participation in sports in traditional sports.

He noted that the the state has served as a event was necessitated clog in the wheel in by their understanding reviving active sports in of sports as an the state, urging private inestimable tool of unity organisations to invest

heavily in sports as they stand to gain a lot helping to build a formidable sporting tradition in the state.

He said: “There is a lot the private stand to benefit apart from the moral task of social/ corporate responsibility.

The development of the European League is a clear example of what both community and private sector stand to benefit. The idealistic fulfillment that comes with helping to expose raw talents to the cheering eyes of millions of viewers worldwide and innumerable talent scout also comes with the benefit of endearing the product of the partnering corporate bodies into the hearts of millions of viewers in the world.’’

The Commissioner of Social Protection, Sports

and Special Need, Mr Biyi Odunlade, who was represented by Gbenga Olanrewaju, appreciated the group for partnering in sport development in the state, saying more of this event would help engage the youths, which would help sustain the peace witnessed in the state as well as stimulate unity among the populace in the state.

He added that events of this nature would provide an opportunity to scout for new talents waiting to be discovered, assuring the group the best among the athletes discovered will be trained and prepared for the national sports festival in November and believed they would make the state proud just like Mujidat and her counterpart in Commonwealth games.

FRIDAY APRIL 13 - THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018

CRIME

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15

2 Women Injured As IBEDC Van, Mini-Bus Collided that the “They The driver of the van, claiming have been

By Mariam Bello who mentioned his name company should be able swindling us with Two women whose names could not be as Buhari denied to take out of electricity electricity bill and this is ascertained were seriously injured, during an overspeeding, saying bill to replace the vehicle. the time for them to pay accident involving three vehicles, including a Hilux that as at the time of the One of them said: back. The driver knew Van belonging to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution incident, there was heavy Company (IBEDC) at Ogo-Oluwa Area, Osogbo, traffic and he could not State of Osun on Wednesday. have oversped in such situation.

Other vehicles minimal.

By Mariam Bello Meanwhile, at the involved in the accident The driver of the miniFor fraudulently obtaining three kegs of were a Toyota Corolla bus, Yusuff Mutiu said scene of the accident, Sport Car and a mini-bus himself and other two some youths were heard groundnut oil and one and half bag of beans popularly known as occupants, a woman and encouraging the mini- belonging to Omolara Ayinde, a 39-year-old Korope. an Immigration Officer bus driver not to allow woman, Simiat Azeez has appeared before an An eye witness were in the vehicle when the repair of his vehicle, Osogbo Magistrate Court. but a replacement, She was docked before Magistrate M. A recounted that the the incident occurred.

Corolla Sport Car was in the front and followed by the mini-bus, both heading to Ola-Iya junction, while the IBEDC van which was on a high speed from behind hit the mini-bus, which s u b s e q u e n t l y somersaulted.

He said, it was after the mini-bus had somersaulted and damaged that the van moved to hit the corolla sport from behind again.

The witness said, a female passer-by was one of those injured in the accident and rushed to the an unknown hospital for treatment by FRSC officials.

According to the witness, the IBEDC van oversped and that was the basis of the accident, saying that had the driver of the van drove carefully, the damage would have been •Scene of an auto crash involving the IBEDC van and two other vehicles in Osogbo on Wednesday

the company has the capacity to replace the vehicle and that is why he over sped to hit the vehicles of others”.

Court Remands Woman Over Alleged Fraud

The defence counsel, Mr Remigus Ngwu urged the court to grant the accused person bail in the most liberal and affordable terms.

The Magistrate, Mrs. F A Sodamade admitted the accused to

bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety.

She added that the address of the surety should be verified by the police and the case was adjourned to April 24 for hearing.

Awodele on a two-count charge bothering on fraud and stealing.

The prosecutor, Inspector Jafani Muslim told the court that the suspect committed the offence in February at 51, Olatunji Ajayi Street, Oke Onitea, Osogbo.

He explained that the accused person fraudulently obtained three kegs of groundnut oil worth N24,000 and one and half bag of beans worth N25,000.

Jafani added that the defendant stole three kegs of groundnut oil and one half bag of beans, all the items valued N49,000 property of Omolara Ayinde.

Jafani said that, the offence contravenes section 419, section 383 and section 390 (9) of the criminal code cap 34 volume 11.laws of Osun State 2003.

Simiat who had no legal representation pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge brought against her.

The Magistrate granted her bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties.

She said sureties must sworn to affidavit of means and provide evidence of tax payments and two passports sized photographs to the court.

The address should be verified by the police.

The case was adjourned to April 24 for hearing.

By Mariam Bello The Osun State police command has arraigned a 40-year-old man, Ogundipe Kayode before a Magistrate Court in Osogbo, Osun State for allegedly stealing some kilogrammes of cat fish belonging to Ogungbadega Gbenga.

Kayode was arraigned on a twocount charge bothering on false pretence and stealing of which he pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him.

The prosecutor, Inspector Adegoke Taiwo told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometimes in December, 2017 at Oroki Estate in Osogbo.

He explained that the accused person obtained some kilogrammes of cat fish valued N245,000 and one bag of fish feed worth N6500, all valued N255,500 with the pretence that he wanted to assist the complainant to sell.

The prosecutor submitted that the offence contravenes section 419,390 which is

punishable under section 290(d) of the criminal code cap 34 vol. 11 laws of Osun State 2003.

Defence counsel, Mrs. B Y Adeyinka, urged the court to grant her client bail in the most liberal and affordable terms.

Adeyinka assured the court that the suspect was ready to provide a reliable surety if granted bail.

The magistrate, M.A Awodele granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

One of the sureties must reside within the court jurisdiction, one of which must be a civil servant and sworn to affidavit means.

The case was adjourned to May 28 for hearing.

Police Arraigns Man Over Alleged Fraud Of N230,000

By Mariam Bello A 35-year-old-Man, Saheed Muhammad has been arraigned on Tuesday before an Osogbo Magistrate Court in Osun State over alleged fraud of N230,000.

Saheed, who is facing Osogbo. a two-count charge Jafani explained that, bothering on fraud and the accused stealing, pleaded not fraudulently obtained a guilty to the charges sum of N230,000 from preferred against him.

Kunle Olayiwola with The prosecutor, pretence of supplying Inspector Jafani Muslim him three hundred bags told the court that the of charcoal. accused committed the He stressed further offence on August 16 at that the accused person Oloye Irorun stole N230,000 compound, Sabo area, belonging to Kunle

Olayiwola.

He submitted that the offence is contrary to and punishable under sections 419, 383 and 390 (9) of the criminal code cap 34 volume 11.laws of Osun State 2003.

Police Arraigns 40-Year-Old Man Over Alleged Fraud Of N255,500

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CRIME

Police Arraigns 40-YearOld Man Over Alleged Fraud Of N255,500 P. 15 THE SIXTH MOST VISITED WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

FRIDAY APRIL 13 - THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018

Osun IGR: From Negative To High Fiscal Capacity All indications show that the Rauf Aregbesola-led administration prioritises economic policies that will spur growth, wealth creation and prosperity for Osun people. These policies are targeted at reducing the rate of poverty and unemployment. The long-term economic plan of the state governor is to create wealth and prosperity for the people.

It is clear that Osun economic model is targeted at driving economic growth and sustainability intended to achieve self-sustainability for the state where proceeds from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) will be used to drive economic growth and prosperity for the people without depending on the allocation from the Federation Account.

It is on record that Aregbesola has established a process with the introduction of electronic data processing of all taxpayers’ information and this has created easy access to taxpayers’ information. The training and retraining of revenue officers in the use of enabling laws, improvement in the administrative machinery to eliminate bottlenecks and bureaucracy in process have also helped. The state has created a comprehensive data on who should pay tax or the key economic activities that can generate tax income.

No doubt, the state can boast of high revenue capacity and expenditure which needs to compare with the national average. Aregbesola has created high fiscal capacity, or a relatively high capability to cover Osun expenditure needs using its own resources. In 2011, the state had low fiscal capacity, that is, a low level of revenue-raising capacity given what it would cost to provide a standard set of public services to its citizens.

For instance, Osun is now a pacesetter among the six participating states in the State and Local Governance Reform (SLOGOR) Project. The programme, organised by Office of the Auditor-General in Osun State, in collaboration with SLOGOR Project (EU/World Bank Assisted), was held at Aurora Event Centre, Osogbo. Osun, through the Office of the StatisticianGeneral, has released the figure of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for

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By Invitation

BY INWALOMHE DONALD

seven years, from 2010 to 2017.

In a statement, the StatisticianGeneral, Prof. Wasiu Gbolagade, dismissed the rumour that Osun was fictitiously giving incorrect figures as a window dressing. He said in 2010, the IGR stood at N3,376,735,645.43, rose to N7,398,572,036.48 in 2011 and was N5,020,250,633.94k in 2012. Gbolagade said the IGR in 2013 was N7,284,225,003.77, became N8,513,274,186.67 in 2014, while it was N8,072,966,446.00 in 2015, N8,884,756,040.35 in 2016 and N11,731,026,444.38k in 2017.

He said: “The IGR increased from N3.38 billion in 2010 to N8.51 billion in 2014. It increased from N8.88 billion in 2016 to N11.73 billion in 2017, representing percentage increase of 32.4. The types of IGR the state depends mostly on are PAYE, MDAs revenue, direct assessment, road taxes and other taxes. Of the above, PAYE generated the highest revenue for the state.

From a paltry N300 million a month about 7 years ago to N1.6 billion now, internally generated revenue (IGR) in the state appear to have taken a quantum leap. Osun has also been ranked as the second less miserable and poverty-ridden state in the country for the year 2017, according to a report by Financial Derivatives Company

released on January 1, 2018. The report, titled: ‘How the States Performed in 2017’, stated that Osun had the lowest net FAAC allocation in the country but was not delinquent in the payment of salary arrears.

The investment in human capital by the Aregbesola administration would yield bountiful returns in education tax, thereby contributing substantially to the state’s monthly IGR target. In line with this, 277 model schools with about 1,811 modern classrooms were built or rehabilitated and the schools were equipped with 62,922 sets of chairs and tables. Every school day in Osun, 253,000 elementary school children receive a nutritious meal produced largely by local farmers to boost learning as well as local production. The Osun School Feeding Programme is the longest running of its kind in the country. In six years, Osun has, through its basic education agency invested billions to build capacity, both in human and physical infrastructure.

The Osun Agency for Community and Social Development Project has also partnered with the World Bank, committing, at least, N2 billion on several social developmental projects to reach 1,073,129 beneficiaries in rural communities. The partnership is delivering 356 inclusive, gender-

sensitive and multi-sectoral micro projects, covering education, rural electrification, primary health care, transportation, and potable water provision in 263 communities across the state. Most of these businesses and individual beneficiaries are already captured in the tax net.

The efforts of the state government soon resulted in corresponding increase in investments and production in Osun State. Tuns Farms, an indigenous poultry company, in partnership with smallholder farmers, ramped up broiler production to position the state as the second-largest broiler producer in the country. Omoluabi Garment Factory, a PPP venture between Sam and Sara Garments and Osun government, emerged as the largest garment factory in West Africa. RLG Adulawo, an indigenous computer assembly plant, also established operations in Osun as a result of the favourable infrastructure in the state. These investments created many jobs with both the organisations and their staff boosting the tax revenues of the state government.

Between 2013 and 2017, The Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative rated Osun second-highest in Human Development Index among the 36 states in the country. In 2014, Rencap in its 36 shades of Nigeria economic review of states ranked Osun as the 7th largest economy in Nigeria, while in 2013 the NBS rated Osun as the state with the lowest poverty rate in Nigeria.

With the good outing of the Aregbesola administration so far, creating an enabling environment for investments and also providing critical infrastructure, it is not surprising that the state is so highly rated by independent observers. The goodwill has already reflected in the IGR growth trajectory, prompting the collective aspiration of citizens of the state as well as government officials that N5 billion monthly IGR is realisable.

•Inwalomhe Donald writes from Benin City (inwalomhe.donald@yahoo.com-)m

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

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