Osun Defender PDF Version For July 14, 2017

The True Story Behind Diekola’s Arrest, Remand •DIEKOLA

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Editorial Comment

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FRIDAY JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

VOL. 012. NO.20

Osun West:

After The Deluge In re-strategizing, what is uppermost is for the forces of progress to appreciate that Saturday’s victory was not an endorsement of the PDP in any way. For a start, there was voter apathy resulting in a significant low turnout. P

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Why The APC Lost Comparing Voters’ Turnout For Osun West Senatorial Election

2015

2017

Percentage Turnout For 2015 Senatorial Election

Percentage Turnout For 2017 Senatorial Bye-election

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Agricultural Development Mission To Osun

•The Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) and Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh during his visit to Osun on Wednesday.

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NEWS

FRIDAY JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

Why The APC Lost

By Shina Abubakar with Data Analysis By Damilola Ojenike

The Swing Of Victory From APC To PDP

The Osun West senatorial bye-election has been concluded and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the contest, but series of analysis that followed the contest have shown that the election was not won by the popularity and efforts of the party which was considered to lack the necessary structure to win the contest, rather through the combine effort of the aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the senatorial district.

Aregbesola, Lots of intrigues and Rauf surprises trailed the last particularly in the area of Saturday, July 8 bye- i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l election held in 10 local development should be government councils of the able to swing the senatorial district, as the pendulum of victory in ruling party lost the favour of APC, but the councils known to be its thought was deflated and election sprang stronghold to the PDP the candidate, Ademola surprise, which swung in favour of the PDP. Adeleke to defeat his APC Findings revealed that in opponent, Mudashir all the local government Husain.

The outcome of the where the PDP won, senatorial bye-election majority of APC members, revealed that the opposition a source said, have issues won in nine out of the ten with the government as local government councils, well as the party leadership leaving the ruling party in the state with the way with just a local government some executive members of from where the candidate, the party treat members Husain; the State House of across the state.

A source close to the Assembly Speaker, Najeem Salam and the House of APC secretariat said, “The Representative member, choice of the candidate for APC is another factor that Mojeed Alabi all hail from. have been The PDP, under which could the junior brother to the responsible for what could former occupier of the seat, be described as protest Senator Isiaka Adetunji vote. The party failed to Adeleke defeated the ruling take into cognisance the APC with a margin of zoning arrangements in 31,364 votes. Ademola politics, even when family Adeleke won with 97,480 succession as in the case of votes, while Senator Husain Adeleke was also not tenable in political of the APC scored 66,116.

However, while all arrangement�.

One other major factor indications from the onlookers before the bye- that influenced the result of election showed that many the election was the low members were not turnout of the electorate favourably disposed to the compared to the experience was massive. candidate of the APC of the 2015 senatorial Meanwhile, Governor candidate, the political election when the turnout calculation of the leadership of the party showed that the popularity of the ruling party, coupled with the disharmony in the PDP

By Adejumo Kabir would give its candidate the Justice David Oladimeji of the Osun State High edge.

It would be recalled that sitting in Ede was left with no choice on Monday than Husain’s clearance to to reverse the prison remand order of Professor participate in the election, Anthony Elujoba, a former acting VC of the Obafemi was the beginning of the Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,standing trial for alleged crisis having been financial misappropriation. disqualified by the The former VC had remanded at the Ilesha screening committee as well earlier been ordered to be prison pending the ruling as appeal committee set up by the national leadership of the party, before he was eventually cleared by the National Working

By Israel Afolabi Committee in Abuja.

Having fraternised with Two Islamic clerics who were alleged of complicity the PDP earlier, according in the killing of a 400-level student of the Osun State to a source within the University (UNIOSUN), Oluwafemi Shonibare for opposition party, it was ritual purpose, Ishaq Yusuf, 49 and Abdulkarim easy for Ademola Adeleke, Adeoti, 55 have been remanded in prison custody. who is now the SenatorWhen they were 34 vol. II laws of Osun elect to defect to the PDP on arraigned by an Osogbo State of Nigeria 2002. the eve of its primary Magistrate Court on It also stated that the election and obtained the party ticket in a matter Monday, the police two accused person on the prosecutor, ASP Mireti same day, place and time suggesting an already Wilson told the court that unlawfully killed the late planned deal.

His defection however the accused committed Oluwafemi Sonibare by became a blessing for the the offence on 26th of June hitting him with a pestle opposition, as the factional 2017. on his head which caused According to the his death and thereby groups used the opportunity to bury their charge sheet, Yusuf, committed an offence differences and came Adeoti and others now at contrary to section 316 and together as a united force to large on 26th of June 2017 punishable under section tackle the ruling party. His at about 9pm at Oke-Baale 319 (i) of Criminal Code coming to PDP resurrected area Osogbo conspired to Cap 34 vol. II laws of Osun the party from its grave, as commit felony to wit State of Nigeria 2002. no one ever thought that the murder and thereby The charge sheet also party could be united again. committed an offence noted that the accused at However, it was a general contrary to and the same time, place and though that the punishable under section performance of Ogbeni 324 of Criminal Code Cap date did improperly or

E

Rauf Aregbesola has congratulated the PDP

candidate, Dr. Ademola Adeleke saying with the

result of the poll, “people

•Continued on page 15

How OAU Angry Staffers, Students Forced Court To Review Prison Remand Order on his bail application.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had last Friday arraigned Professor Elujoba and the bursar of the institution Ronke Akeredolu on a seven-count charge bordering on financial

Clerics Remanded In Prison For Ritual Killing indecently interferes with a dead human body by cutting off his head, hands and other part of the deceased and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 242(i) of criminal cap 34 vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

The suspects were arraigned on three count charges. Their defense counsel Mr Kazeem Badmus pleaded for accused, but the magistrate did not take their plea.

The Presiding Magistrate, M.A Awodele then remanded the accused person in the prison custody and adjourned the case till 25th of September 2017 for mention at the High Court.

impropriety.

Meanwhile, the premises of the court in Ede where the former acting VC was standing trial for alleged financial misappropriation was bombarded by supporters and sympathizers of the university don.

Workers and students of the institution who were in court for solidarity betrayed emotions and went on rampage after the presiding judge ordered Prof. Elujoba to be remanded at the Ilesha prison.

The visibly angry staff and students of OAU besieged the court premises pouncing on anyone perceived to be in tune with the EFCC action against the former VC. For several hours, protesters took over the court premises chanting anti-judicial and proElujoba songs and vowed to resist the remand order, and also promised to storm the Ilesha Prison, where the defendants were ordered to be remanded.

To demonstrate the seriousness of the threat, they besieged all the

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vehicles belonging to the police, EFCC and all other security agencies in the court premises which made vehicular movement practically impossible.

The visibly angry student and workers also demonstrated readiness to lay their lives for the former Acting VC as they resisted all efforts by the security agencies to disperse the crowd.

Justice Oladimeji, to avert what may lead to genocide called for the review of the earlier ruling and ordered that he should be remanded in the EFCC custody pending the bail application on Friday.

Some of them who spoke with newsmen claimed that Prof. Elujoba was not guilty of all the offences brought against him and demanded his release.

Counsel to the defendants, Ibrahim Lawal had at the last sitting filed an application for bail, which was opposed by the EFCC counsel, Festus Ojo, who argued that granting the prayer would not be in the interest of justice.

FRIDAY JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

NEWS

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The True Story Behind Diekola’s Arrest, Remand allegedly State Criminal It is no longer news that a chieftain of the All followers Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Fatai Diekola armed themselves with I n v e s t i g a t i o n and other Department where they was arrested by police, arraigned and later guns were detained. remanded in prison custody by an Osogbo dangerous weapons.

From the Area The APC chieftain was Magistrate court, but a few members of the public Commander, Diekola charged to court on actually know the reason behind the action of the and six of his followers Monday but the two Some of the Diekola’s were transferred to the Magistrates that were in police.

Contrary to insinuation that Governor Rauf Aregbesola was behind Diekola’s travail, OSUN D E F E N D E R authoritatively gathered that neither the governor, nor the state government was persecuting the APC chieftain.

Investigation by the medium revealed that the arrest of some known political hoodlums who were arrested few days after a clash between supporters of the APC and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Ido-Osun in Egbedore Local Government of the state, led to Diekola’s ordeal.

It was gathered that the political thugs in whose possession guns were found, confessed •THE MAN IN THE NEWS: Diekola (on car roof) before his arrest on Monday. during investigation that Diekola was the one that gave ammunitions to them, and that he is their godfather.

Findings showed that the police invited Diekola immediately for the state government,

By Israel Afolabi questioning based on the saying those measures confession of the two Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, have proved to be very political thugs, but he Honourable Najeem Salaam has tasked agencies effective and proactive. reportedly requested for in charge of the environment, Local Governments, In a statement by his another date for his Local Council Development Authorities and Area Press Secretary, Mr. appearance and Councils to double up effort on clearing drainage, Goke Butika, Salaam subsequently went underground and road median, water ways and street corners, with said it was a good news that loss of lives and switched off his phones. a view to preventing floods.

Until after the July 8 This is just as he with the flood control properties to flood has bye-election in the Osun expressed his pleasure measures instituted by become history in the West Senatorial District which was won by Otunba Ademola Adeleke of PDP, Diekola The management of the Osun State Broadcasting believed to have been remained silent.

He broke his silence on Corporation (OSBC) has attributed the suspension of orchestrated by the state government, but the facebook with a post that two of its staffers to breach of professional conduct. reads ‘a lamb is not The Director General, and act of professional c o r p o r a t i o n ’ s management said the valued in the afternoon Osun State Broadcasting indiscipline.

Idowu also cleared the suspension has nothing to but do get appreciated at Corporation (OSBC), Mr Wale Idowu in a statement air on the insinuations do with government but night’.

Diekola, however, on Tuesday said the two making the round that the purely administrative of the affected employees were matter. chose to honour the employees were deliberately suspected in The OSBC Director police invitation on Corporation Monday by mobilising suspended for acting connection with the defeat General who described the suffered by the ruling All suspension as “first-linemembers of the APC and against the civil service Progressives Congress, action�, said the PDP to the Police Area rules.

It was gathered that the APC in the just concluded suspension was meted out Command, Oke-Fia, state-owned media Osun West Senatorial By- to the erring staff members Osogbo. having been caught for The APC chieftain who organisation suspended election.

He said the suspension engaging in severe was in an open roof Mr. Kunle Makanjuola not have any unprofessional acts. vehicle, according to an and Mr. Adepoju Gbadebo did connection with state eye-witness created scene of Marketing department government as being He described the action on as his followers indefinitely taken by the management professional recklessness speculated on the social disrupted free-flow of and office misconduct. of the media organisation media. traffics for close to an There have been as the best in such It was revealed that the hour from Ola-Iya to duo were sanctioned for speculations that the circumstance, saying, “it is Oke-Fia. allegedly constituting victims were suspended normal for any civil

court rejected the trial of the Osogbo-born politician.

He was, however, brought back to court on Tuesday and charged for conspiracy, unlawful assembly and conduct

likely to cause breach of peace. He was arraigned alongside Salawu Moshood, Onikola Adekunle, Oladosu Alo, Funsho Babalola, Bayo Daodu and Babalola Kayode.

The offence they were alleged were said to be contrary to Sections 517, 69 and 349 of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol 11, Laws of Osun State 2002.

They all pleaded not guilty to the allegations leveled against them by the police.

Counsels to the accused persons, Olanrewaju Jayeoba, Ahseem Abioye and Kazeem Badmus, pleaded with the court to release them on bail, but the application was rejected by the presiding magistrate, Mr Ayeni who requested for formal bail application.

The magistrate ordered that the accused persons be remanded at Ilesa prison custody and adjourned the case till July 18 for mention.

Osun Speaker Tasks Agencies, LGs, Residents On Flood Prevention state, saying, the removal of Osun from flood prone states was a product of strategic thinking and political will of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the state parliament which passed the extant environmental law.

Salaam who noted that the measure taken by the government must be built upon, he tasked

Why OSBC Suspended Two Employees For Professional Misconduct

C#$%&' () %$*' That I, formerly known as RAHIM WASIU OLAYIDE, now wish to be known and addressed as ABDULRAHEEM A B D U LWA S I U OLAYIDE. All former documents remains valid.

Skye Bank and the general public should take note of this.

nuisance in the organisation and sponsoring malicious messages, misguided utterances, abusive statements and comments against the state government and other personalities, a development seems to have been regarded as professional recklessness

on political grounds, a development which was

servant caught in such act to face the music�.

T ! "

out to the erring staff members having been caught for engaging in severe unprofessional acts.

Akanji explained that the suspended employees have been severally reported for professional misconduct, hence the need to sanction them.

He disclosed that a panel of enquiry has been set up to further look into the matter for appropriate recommendation and action.

The Corporation boss who warned against politicising the matter said, the organisation has maintained its integrity in the public spheres beyond any ridiculous tendency.

He therefore promised that justice would be ensured on the suspended staff members, saying “no one is ready to inflict pains on others for any reason�.

the Ministry of Environment, and local councils to be more proactive, stressing that saving lives and properties is a fundamental principle of any government.

Sympathizing with flood victims in Lagos, Oyo, Niger and other states that are still contending with the challenges arising from flood and climate change effects, Salaam said, “the parliament of the state identifies with the victims who had lost their lives and property worth billions of naira�.

He then implored the respective governments of the affected states to set up palliative measures for the victims who are alive.

The Speaker further urged Osun residents to help themselves by not dumping refuse in the road median, saying that doing so would allow water to find its way, while the otherwise would force water to find ways into homes, road and properties.

C#$%&' () %$*' C#$%&' () %$*' That I, formerly known as ISA LUKMAN AKANDE with date of birth 1/1/1976, now wish to be known and addressed as ISA LUKMAN SANUSI with date of birth16/6/1986. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note of this.

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That I, formerly known as OLIJO IFEANYI MOSES, now wish to be known and addressed as OLIJO IFEANYI KINGSELY. All former documents remains valid.

General public should take note of this.

A Senate's Overreach

Apparently angered by what it perceives as the executive’s dilatoriness over the matter of EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu following his non-confirmation, the Senate has literally been threatening fire and brimstone.

Last week, it directed the acting President , Yemi Osinbajo to either sack Magu or risk suspension of further confirmation of any nominations into public offices. It also wants the acting President to withdraw the statement credited to him that the Senate does not have the power to confirm certain nominees.

Senator George Sekibo (PDP, Rivers State) capped the resolution with a threat: “…I don’t want to talk about gross misconduct, but the moment you are playing with the constitution and laws, it means you are playing down on Nigerians who make the laws”. To this, the Senate President lend his voice: “These resolutions of the Senate must be acted upon by the acting president; otherwise we will take appropriate action.”

If we are not used to costly tantrums by our parliamentarians, we would have treated the threat of unspecified actions against Osinbajo as one of such jokes meant to douse tension in a troubled polity. For a parliament that has ordinarily lost its value, this latest

tantrum is least is inapplicable to the office of the surprising; for while EFCC chairman. As far as we can the resort of threat see, the issues as well as the lawmaking body in the would be in line with debates that they have spawned country would, like some the character of a are matters of public interest that parliament that has Nigerians have voiced diverse bunch of school children, long lost its opinions. consider abdicating its rationale, that the However, suffice to say that on highest lawmaking functions to fight their turf the first, the Senate, up till now, body in the country has not pointed out any law that wars takes parliamentary would, like some precludes the President from activism to a new low. bunch of school either re-nominating Magu or any children, consider regulation automatically voiding his occupancy abdicating its functions to fight their turf wars of the office on being rejected by the Senate. As takes parliamentary activism to a new low.

To start with, the acting President has done for the second, much as the Senate may find that nothing that can be remotely suggestive of position unsettling, the matter seems to us as one breaking the law on the basis of which the of the constitutional imports that would require parliament could resort to the threat of sanction. the apex court – as against the senators in their Yes, we are mindful of the fact that the Senate chambers – to resolve.

In the circumstance, it seems to us that the has twice rejected Magu’s confirmation; and the acting President was quoted to have argued that Senate will do well to spend quality time on serious issues of governance, against what has heads of agencies like the EFCC do not have to go to the Senate for confirmation – the plank of become their penchants for endless motions, his argument being that the EFCC Act is inferior driven more by ego and nothing else. If they have to the constitution and that the provisions of nothing better to do, the least we expect is that Section 171 which mandates certain categories they spare the nation the needless and unhelpful of appointments to be confirmed by the Senate overreach.

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After The Deluge

The grace and elan with which the governor of the state of Osun conceded defeat after the election in the Osun West Senatorial district is praiseworthy. It is a clear indication that politics in Nigeria is moving in the right direction. There , the massive drop in is also every reason to give kudos to Ogbeni turnout in the Osun West Bye-election Aregbesola for having induced an atmosphere of was a major factor in the final result. cordiality in which the elections were held.

For the progressive, the result represents a This means that there was not a major setback. The setback is however not irreversible; nevertheless, there is a clear and urgent need toseismic shift in voter preference contrary re-strategise. Osun matters a lot, for the state under to the claims in some understandably the direction of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been euphoric quarters. a shining beacon and reinstatement of social democracy. More than anywhere else, indeed in way. There is hardly any community in Osun State the entire West African region, Aregbesola has put that has any idea of what the PDP stands for, let the big P back into the progressive ethos. alone what they stand to benefit from a PDP He has done so, for the most part in a very government in Osun State. The gains of the social difficult fiscal environment. It is therefore intervention programme have percolated down and fundamentally important that the gains made have been felt in every community in the state. must be protected through continuity. Everything Replicating the situation under Chief Obafemi achieved will be completely undone if the forces Awolowo in the 1950’s, there is bound to be blimps of retrogression led by the Markafi faction of the and bumps. We are very much aware that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are allowed to government of Chief Obafemi Awolowo similarly come back. suffered electoral reverses in the fifties due to an In re-strategizing, what is uppermost is for the inability to secure a democratic agreement with the forces of progress to appreciate that Saturday’s opposition parties on the need to take the issue of victory was not an endorsement of the PDP in any taxation out of politics.

S+,.+/+01.456

Prison Congestion And Human Rights Violation In Nigeria, prison congestion and its unpleasant situation have featured in the template for judicial reforms since 1999.

This reform clamour is long overdue, because when a man who stole a goat is slammed in a stinking and congested prison, the big man in the society who stole billions of Naira is granted bail to travel abroad for medical checkup. So, the concerned authority such as ministry of justice and that of interior affairs should gear up to their responsibilities to decongest the prison.

The poor, hopeless convicts including suspects awaiting trial continue to suffer in squalor and dehumanizing conditions.

Recently, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, leader of the House of Representative once visited a prison with

the aim to perfect the bail condition of some 40 persons who were remanded for their inability to meet conditions imposed by some funny magistrate courts. Some of them were arrested and taken to court for offences

such as hawking and loitering within metropolis.

Our prison system is seemingly insensitive to the plight of those who were remanded on flimsy offences or no offence at all.

One of prison yard which is meant for 1,700 inmates is being occupied by 3,553

inmates.

What an ingenious way to breed hardened criminals.

Besides, the most attractive thing in our prison system is the award of contracts to build more prisons that will accommodate more trouble

makers in the land, even when the cases of the awaiting trial suspects, who constitute the majority of inmates, are not treated.

Nigeria is planning to build new prisons when almost 70 per cent of prisoners are awaiting trial.

A lot of innocent people or those yet to be convicted

for any crime are in prison custody, just because of poor leadership, poor judgment and corruption.

A prison fact sheet indicates that about 69, 200 people are behind the bar and no fewer than 47,800 of them are awaiting trial and most of those awaiting trial in the various prisons have spent 15 years for offences that should attract just 12 months in custody.

Therefore to decongest the prisons, it is the responsibility of the government, particularly the judicial officers, by ensuring that only those who are convicted are sent to prison to serve their jail terms.

This is indeed a wake-up call for managers of the criminal justice system.

•ADEKUNLE OLUSEYI, Mass Communication Dept, UNIMAID, Borno State.

The key issue is that after every electoral reverse, the Awolowo government always bounced back into the calculus. We are seeing the same thing being played out in the state of Osun, this is not expected, for such is the nature of politics which in itself is a reflection of the human condition.

Significantly, the massive drop in turnout in the Osun West Bye-election was a major factor in the final result. This means that there was not a major seismic shift in voter preference contrary to the claims in some understandably euphoric quarters.

This is the time to re - present the progressive agenda and to restate the incredible gains made across all aspects of social life. It is important to explain that the gains can only be protected by electing a progressive successor to continue the successful people-oriented social intervention programmes of Rauf Aregbesola.

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MAGAZINE FRIDAY JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

Anywhere in the world, investment in infrastructural developments, particularly good road has been identified as a major attraction for private investors, as well as yardstick for the improvement of the living standard of the people, hence, one of the flagship policies of the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola is the massive constructions, rehabilitation and maintenance of roads across the state.

From day one of his administration the ORMA Boss before his new also convinced that the projects would be completed? in 2010, Aregbesola has hammered on appointment. Excerpt: OSDF: The Governor has said it Salami: By the grace of God none the commitment of his severally that he would not abandon of the projects would be abandoned. administration to massive road any of his ongoing projects, but it It is true that our sources of income construction, rehabilitation and maintenance, apart from his efforts in seems the people are not convinced on used to be enormous, but it is now other sectors of the economy and the ground that the economic reality very minimal, in spite that, there are attestations abound that this does not support that statement; as still other sources of revenue. With the commitment has been vigorously the Commissioner in charge, are you effort going on, the government is pursued.

It is on record that the massive road If you move round, you will observe constructions by the Aregbesola that even the states with huge resources administration is categorised into Boundary Highways, Inter-city road, are not putting in place the kind of intra-city roads, Local government infrastructural development that Ogbeni roads and Rural roads. While majority of the projects have been is bringing into Osun and it is our great completed and commissioned, some believe that none of the projects would be of the projects are still pending and others ongoing. left uncompleted.

Even when there are fears that the projects would be abandoned, the COMMISSIONER FOR WORKS A N D TRANSPORT, E N G I N E E R KAZEEM SALAMI who is the immediate past General Manager, Osun Road Maintenance Agency (ORMA), in this interview with OSUN D E F E N D E R allayed the fear of the people and assured that the projects would be completed with the support of the citizenry, while new projects should also be expected. He also spoke on his â&#x20AC;˘Officials of the Osun Road Maintenance Agency ORMA at work in Osogbo, State of Osun. achievements as

determined to increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and that is why we are appealing to the people of Osun to pay their taxes which is a major source of revenue for any government all over the world. Apart from that, the government has invested a lot of money in agriculture and it is high time we got result for the investment to serve as another source of revenue.

If you move round, you will observe that even the states with huge resources are not putting in place the kind of infrastructural development that Ogbeni is bringing into Osun and it is our great believe that none of the projects would be left uncompleted.

OSDF: But if there is no miracle, what happens?

Salami: There are plans on ground and I am sure the IGR will improve with the support of the people. Apart from that, some investors are ready to invest in our projects in the state and they want to come and work with Ogbeni. There have been a lot of proposals to complete these projects.

Some are even saying that they want to complete the project and make it Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT). We have all the plans and I am very sure all the projects will be completed.

OSDF: Is it possible that this government award new projects in the state before the end of the administration.

Salami: They may not be as massive as the one you are seeing, but Ogbeni Aregbesola has â&#x20AC;˘Continued on page 6

?

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FRIDAY JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

Fears On Projects Abandonment Allayed

•Continued from page 5 continually to hammer it that he will continue to work and he will not stop working for the development of the state. So, expect new projects, they may not be as massive as the one you are seeing, but we will still do some new project.

OSDF: It seems that not all the contractors handling the road projects in the state had delivered to expectation, has the government taken any measure against them?

Salami: We have different categories of supervision for any construction work and beside that we have a team, Bureau of Social Service (BOSS) set up by the governor to monitor our projects to ensure good delivery. I can say categorically that if there is any contractor that has failed to deliver to expectation, it is either the job will be demolished or such contractor will not be paid. For example, I happen to be in charge of a project in Gbongan, and when we were working on the projects, some local contractors were seeing to have carried out sordid jobs, but they were demolished and corrected by the contractors. It means that Ogbeni will want nothing less but the best.

So, the contractors we have been engaging are delivering to expectations and anyone we found wanting, we either sack them or put them aright. The contractors know that those in charge of construction works here are professionals who have brought their professionalism to bear.

OSDF: You were the GM of ORMA as at the time of your appointment as the Commissioner for Works, can you share some of the achievements you were able to record when you were in the agency?

Salami: Before the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, it was a public knowledge that our roads were in bad shape, but when I was appointed in 2011, the arrangement then was that we were not going to be focusing on road maintenance work alone, we were also doing all the rehabilitation works together with the Ministry of Works being the mother ministry. I ensured then that I move round all sites to make sure that the contractors deliver to specification

•Engr Kazeem Salami, Osun Commissioner for Works and Transports.

The roads being constructed

by Ogbeni are to the best standard and we pray to God that we keep that pace and improve on it until the projects are completed. and when we are going on inspection, I ensure that we go along with our equipment that will tell whether or not the job meet the set standard because of the experience over the years. The agency was also involved in the construction and rehabilitation of some selected roads in Osogbo and Ilesa and Ede township; we also have inter-city and intra-city roads.

Maintenance of any road starts immediately you finish the construction and that was mainly the jobs we did. There are routine

maintenance, recurring maintenance, periodic maintenance and emergency maintenance, and when some roads get bad to about 40 to 50 per cent, we call it full rehabilitation work. We embarked on all these various job and we have our records to it. To the glory of God, the jobs we have done are still there intact.

Some of the job handled by ORMA as a direct labour was the upgrading of the Nigeria Railway Corporation.

We all knew how the place was and it has now become a tourist attraction

•Officials of the Osun Road Maintenance Agency ORMA at work in Osogbo, State of Osun.

center. Apart from beautification, it is now an income generating point for the government. We did some roads in all the Federal Constituency.

However, now as a Commissioner for Work, the ORMA is still under my control just as Mr Governor said and the new organogram has even shown it. The agency will still be looked upon and they will have to improve; there will be nothing than the quality we have set; we will expect nothing other than the quality we have set. You will observe that Mr Governor has his standard and will always hammer on quality job and that is what had been our guiding principle. It is during the time of Ogbeni that we have concrete drainage on both sides of our roads, unlike before when there use to be blocks at the property sides and weak concrete at the road side, we now have well reinforced concrete at the both sides of our drainages. Unlike in the past, we have introduced our own approach to strengthen the roads and the qualities of the roads are there for people to see, you could also see road marking, road furniture we are doing.

Besides, we started Pedestrian bridges, which have never existed in the state and the first of such was the one constructed on the Railway station, but now, it is more than that.

When you go to Gbongan, you will see different types of bridges, we have different kind of bridge on Oba Adesoji Aderemi road and the one that everybody can see is the one in Ataoja High School Area.

The roads being constructed by Ogbeni are to the best standard and we pray to God that we keep that pace and improve on it until the projects are completed, because that is our mission and I trust God that no job would be left undone.

OSDF: What mechanism do you have in place to ensure that the structures you have adopted in ORMA are sustained?

Salami: We have the structure in place for the sustainability of what we have there when I was the GM; there is continuity. My former Director of Operations is now the Acting General Manager, he still relates with me and I am sure that the structure will be sustained. I have a governor who has a vision for the development of the state and I have said it severally, you can abuse Ogbeni, he will not be annoyed, but let him give you a job and refuse to do it to satisfaction, then you will see the other side of him; he want value for any money he spends.

I am very sure, there will be improvement on ORMA, as the agency is still under the control of my Ministry. ORMA will be strengthened and most of the maintenance jobs will be carried out to make Osun to be pothole free, with a view to improving the social, economic and political status of the State of Osun.

OSDF: Your message to the people of Osun?

Salami: The people of Osun should continue to pray for the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola.

They should please pay their taxes, as the money coming from Abuja is no longer there and we need money to complete all the ongoing projects.

Ogbeni has been trying to make lives meaningful for the people of Osun, let us help him so that we get money to finish the projects.

M

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COMMUNITY

FRIDAY JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

Monarchs Hail Aregbesola For Rapid Development In Grassroots The Olola of Ola in Ejigbo West Local Council Development Area of the State of Osun, Oba Jonathan Akinpelu, has described the Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as a God-chosen leader for the state.

The monarch spoke at a council, facilitated by the meeting of all Obas-in-the- n e w l y - a p p o i n t e d

Executive Secretary of the council, Prince Ayodele Adetona as part of his familiarisation move with the traditional rulers to seek their supports and prayers.

In a statement by the

Egbedore Council Chair Assures Dwellers Provision Of Infrastructures very well.

The monarchs also prayed fervently for the success of the Executive Secretary and his committee members.

Members of the Executive Secretary’s entourage include, Mrs C F Owolola, the Council Manager; APC leaders led by Prince Wole Oyebamiji; APC Chairman, Secretary and other notable personalities.

Information Officer, Ejigbo West LCDA, Ayobami Olayanju, the monarch said it would be difficult for any politician to show the kind of commitment being displayed by Aregbesola, except a ‘God-sent person’, wondering how the governor was able to maneouvre his way through the economic recession which nearly collapse every system of government.

He said, “It require only the Solomonic wisdom like the one being adopted

by Ogbeni Aregbesola to achieve such feat, which has brought about tremendous achievements we are witnessing in the state of Osun today.”

Meanwhile, the

Olaaresa of Masifa-Ile, Oba Matthew Olayiwola has described the achievements of Ogbeni Aregbesola as unmatched in the history of Osun since its creation in terms of road construction, school facilities, and care for the aged amongst others.

Noting that the present administration has brought development to the grassroots, he specifically mentioned the reconstruction of Ifeodan/Masifa/Ejigbo road, which he said, has opened up the area.

The monarch also thanked the Governor for collaborating with the World Bank through O’ RAMP to commence the construction of Omi

The Executive Secretary, Egbedore Local Government, Awo, Engr Layi Abiola, has assured the people of the council that his administration would endeavour to meet their expectations.

He gave the assurance local government during his familiarisation executive council tour in major towns in the meetings. local government, saying, In all the communities, members of his cabinet the traditional rulers had submitted various emphasised the need for needs of their various the caretaker members to communities so that work represent their people will start in earnest whenever funds are made available to the council.

A statement by Senior Information Officer of the council, Olayide Raji said the tour, which lasted for two days, took the entourage of the Executive Secretary to Idoo, Ekuro, Iwoye, Ikotun, Iragberi, Awo, Aro and Ojo communities.

Abiola hinted that two wards have been allocated to each member of his management committee for adequate representation, saying the caretaker members have been mandated to attend all the necessary meetings in the community and •Members of Zone 7, Alare-Abidogun Community Development Association (CDA) at a funeral outing in Modakeke, present their cases at the recently.

Police Charges PCRC Members On Credibility Adeyemo who tasked Gbadebo Adeyemo (JP)

By Murtala Agboola c o m m e n d e d members to be up and Members of the Ataoja Division, Osogbo of doing by attending Agbemoroti for his Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) wonderful achievements meetings regularly and have been cautioned not to misuse their positions pay their levies as and in the Division. in the society.

He praised the efforts when due, also urged The warning was under the jurisdiction of of the police chief who is members to bring into made by the Divisional Ataoja Police Division, the longest serving the loop many people Police Officer (DPO) of but the car was stolen.

The chairman of PCRC police officer not only in who are presently not Ataoja Police Division, the division but in the showing interest in the Mr Clement Agbemoroti who doubles as the Baale state. activities of PCRC. of Ogo-Oluwa, Chief at the monthly meeting of the PCRC on Tuesday.

He said, as members of PCRC, who are part of security arrangement in communities, they must be seen as credible The Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba stakeholders, including people who can stand for parents, teachers, certain category of Grace Laoye-Tomori has assured citizens of the students and the entire people with minor state that the government would continue to community who must all guarantee quality education for the pupils in the play their roles. offences.

According to him, by state.

While delivering his of all sermon, the Bishop of the showing some high level She made the support of responsibility, assertion at the first residents of various synod of the Diocese of communities would lfe East Anglican build their confidence in Communion in Citizens of Ayedaade Local Government Council the police, the PCRC and Modakeke recently.

Area of the State of Osun have received assurance of According to her, the the government support to every individual, its members. has organisation and agency that are committed to In his monthly crime- government report, Agbemoroti invested so much on the eradicating poverty in the Local Government. council’s Information stated that crime has education sector and The Executive been at a low-ebb except would continue to invest Secretary of the council, Officer, Mr Amusan K .T more and manage the said, the council boss for two incidences of investment to ensure Mr Bashir gave the promised that his crime recently. that its purpose is assurance while receiving administration would do He reported that a served. members of staff of everything possible woman, resident of OtaShe said, for the Federal Youth and Sport within its reach to Efun, in Osogbo whose government to achieve Centre situated at Odessa transform the Local car developed a fault its aims of taking the along Gbongan Osogbo Government. opted to park it with a education to higher road in the council area.

Noting that it is A statement by the practically impossible for relation in a community pedestal, it require the

“Efforts are made to reach out to corporate bodies such as banks, hotels and shops to be interested in the activities of PCRC. By assisting the PCRC, we are helping to ensure peace and development in the society.”

Osun Deputy Governor Reiterates Govt Commitments To Education Diocese, Rt. Revd Oluseyi Oyelade commended the activities of the state government and charged the government to improve the people’s standard of living.

River’s Bridge that had separated Masifa-Ile from Isundunrin for years back, saying the intervention of the government was timely because the condition of that road has greatly affected economic activities of the two communities.

While welcoming the monarchs, the Executive Secretary lauded the monarchs for their support to the administration, especially after the announcement of the creation of the additional area councils, saying the contributions of the communities made the kick-off of the council a success story.

Prince Ayodele then enjoined the traditional rulers to be more supportive to the Caretaker Management Team of the council in realising the purpose of the creation of the council, which included generating of revenue, keeping the environment clean and managing markets.

He assured that as soon as the council is financially buoyant, his administration would install transformer at Ifeodan and Isoko, embark on time to time road grading, improve the health facilities of the maternity centres and provide potable water for the needy communities.

Prince Ayodele also thanked the Governor for giving the council the attention that would prompt development in the area.

The Council Manager, Prince Adewale Adedapo commended the monarchs, the community leaders, political leaders and other stakeholders in the communities that make Ejigbo West LCDA for their support and urged them to express the same hand of fellowship to the new management team.

Other traditional rulers present at the meeting are, Adimula of Ifeodan, Alaye of Aye, Olugbense of Agurodo and Olowu of Owu-Ile. Isoko and Oguro also have their representatives in attendance.

Council Boss Assures Supports For Youths Empowerment government at any level to meet all the yearnings of the people, he said, it is important for private individuals and organisation to support government.

He also used the opportunity to canvas for the centre’s support in the area of revenue generation in order to help in the sustainability of the council.

The Director of the centre, Mr Fayoyiwa Sola

offered to assist the government in the area in skill acquisitions for youths and other businesses that can bring food to their tables.

He said the centre has a lot of training equipment on ground to train youths, most especially in footballing, hairdressing, barbing, tailoring amongst other vocations with little financial implications.

O

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FRIDAY JULY 7- THURSDAY JULY 1

A Cocktail Of Recen WQRUV XYZZ[\] Monarch, Community

Leaders Lauds Council Management

•(L-R) The Baale, Aresa Community, Alhaji Isiaka Afolabi; Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Olabomi; Executive Secretary, Boripe Local Government, Mr Kazeem Ayantoye and the Council’s Manager, Mr Ganiyu Obelawo during the site inspection of one of the ongoing Motorised Borehole project in the council area.

Aregbesola on social protection

By Kehinde Ayantunji programmes to make life more The Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba abundant for the people at the Abdul-Rasheed Olabomi has grassroots level. commended the Boripe Local Ayantoye who described water as Government Caretaker Management the very essence of life and Committee for the swift intervention indispensable domestic needs of the of the council on the challenges of people said, the management sited the water supply in the area. five motorised boreholes in the five He said the intervention of the locations after consultation with the management committee in less than community leaders who voluntarily two months of assumption of office choose borehole as the project of has justified the intention of necessity.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola for the He said: “We consciously chose creation of more local governments in water because it has to do with healthy the state to fast-track development at living of our people, as one of the best the grassroots. way to prevent diseases outbreak is to Oba Adbul-rasheed said this provide hygienic water that will recently during the site inspection of prevent our people from consuming the ongoing motorised borehole contaminated stream water that may projects initiated by the council’s cause Cholera or other water-burn caretaker management committee in diseases. Hygienic water will five strategic locations in Iragbiji ordinarily reduce our health expenses community. and make domestic responsibility of According to the monarch, one of our women easier. the major challenges of the larger “This community has been facing populace in the community is access water challenges for a long time and to hygienic water, adding that the five our women would go far distance to get motorised boreholes will portable water and now that we have substantially lessen the burden of the the opportunity to be in position of people especially women who for leadership, it is our cardinal objective years have been struggling to get that we increase access to hygienic water for domestic usage. water to make life more dignify for our He urged the beneficiary people”, he said. communities to protect the projects Baale Aresa Community, one of the jealously by forming committee that beneficiary communities, Alhaji Isiaka will be responsible for the Afolabi and former State Chairman of maintenance and electricity expenses National Road Transport Workers management to really enjoy the (NURTW) described the water project facility and ensure its sustainability. as a blessing to the community and The Council Executive Secretary, promised proper care of the facility.

Mr Ayantoye Kazeem who was He commended the vision of the accompanied by the Council council leadership for the location of Manager, Mr Ganiyu Obelawo and the borehole and Governor Aregbesola other members of the management for the creation of more council which committee said that the provision of according to him has brought the motorised borehole was in line governance closer to the people. with the mandate of Governor Rauf

The Former Governor of Osun, Chief Bisi Akande His Way to Ila For The Burial of His Wife, Chief (

•Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); his Counterpart from Oyo, Senator Abiol former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande (2nd right) at the State Secretariat, Abere on Wednes wife, Chief (Mrs) Omowunmi Akande .

Osun Govt Mourns, As Chief Bi

^_` Akande was a supporter of her husb warm to her husband guests and very accom

By Ismaeel Uthman

Mrs Omowumi Akande, Wife of the former governor of the State of Osun and the first interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande was buried on Thursday.

Mrs Akande gave up the ghost on Tuesday at a private hospital and her corpse was deposited at the University College Hospital (UCH) Mortuary, Ibadan, Oyo State before it was moved to Ila for the burial arrangement.

The government of Osun has expressed its condolence over Mrs Akande’s death.

A press statement by the Co Information and Strategy, Mr Ad on Wednesday said Mrs Akande hospital after slight illness in Ib Baderinwa said the news of

Speak O

ae Are Ber Lost The Grea Leader; It P Mama Omow Who Made Us Around Chie Death Was An Us In The Pr

A True Mother As Gone Her Excellency, wife of the former Governor of the State of Osun, (Chief Bisi Akande), Chief Mrs. Omowumi Akande passed on to the great beyond on the 11th of July, 2017.

A pull-out tribute will be paid to her memory in our next edition coming out next week (Volume 12, No

21).

You are cordially invited to be part of this tribute to a great woman who stood by her husband in her lifetime.

Please call 08161227774, 08062207954 and 08061197897 for enquiries on tributes and obituaries placements.

Management, Osun defender

•LATE MRS OMOWUMI AKANDE

Speaker, Sta Assembly, Hono has commisera Governor of pioneer nationa Progressives Con over the death Owowumi Akan In a statemen Secretary, Salaam Ila-Orangun, Sta leader’s wife was fact that she pr partner to Chief political sojourn.

THE SOCIAL REGISTER

ULY 7- THURSDAY JULY 13, 2017

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z

Recent Happenings

ef Bisi Akande Visited Governor Rauf Aregbesola on is Wife, Chief (Mrs) Omowunmi Akande

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•Members of Youth Choir, during the Annual Youth Week.

erpart from Oyo, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (right); Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs Grace Laoye-Tomori (left) and the Secretariat, Abere on Wednesday when Chief Akande was on the way to his hometown, Ila, for the burial of his Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

s Chief Bisi Akande’s Wife Buried bcd Akande was a staunch

pporter of her husband, very rm to her husband’s political ests and very accommodating.

ress statement by the Commissioner for mation and Strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa dnesday said Mrs Akande died at a private al after slight illness in Ibadan. erinwa said the news of the wife of the

former governor death was shocking and sudden.

He described Mrs Akande as hardworking, a true and quintessential mother, an enterprising woman, a loving wife and caring person to all and sundry.

Baderinwa said Mrs Akande was a staunch supporter of her husband, very warm to her husband’s political guests and very accommodating.

“Mama was a wonderful woman who will be missed by many who know her. The government and people of Osun commiserate with Chief Bisi Akande and the family at large. We pray to God to accept her soul and rest her in peace”, he said.

It was the season of youths in the way of God recently, as the youth wing of the Truth Living Evangelical Church of Christ (TLECC) Osogbo, State of Osun held their annual youth week celebration recently.

At the programme, the youth choir used the song to minister during the

celebration of the week held at the Church Auditorium in Alekuwodo Osogbo.

The State Pastor, M.O Olusola, Elder Phillip Olaniyi, Elder P.O Omotoso, Elder Deji Oladesu and Church Secretary, Elder Afolabi Israel were all part of the celebration.

Speaker Condoles Akande Over Wife’s Death ee Are Bereaved, Because We

Lost The Great Wife Of Our Great Leader; It Pains Us Because Mama Omowumi Was A Mother Who Made Us More Comfortable Around Chief Akande, And Her Death Was An Irreparable Loss To Us In The Progressive Family.

Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam has commiserated with the former Governor of the State, and the pioneer national chairman of All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande over the death of his wife, Mama Owowumi Akande.

In a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Salaam said, the demise of the Ila-Orangun, State of Osun born political leader’s wife was a painful loss, given the fact that she proved to be wonderful partner to Chief Akande throughout his political sojourn.

He said the departure of the deceased is a celebration of life worth emulating.

The speaker who extolled the virtue of the late Chief Mrs. Akande, describing her as a mother and wife with unquantifiable pedigree; noting that the way and manner Mama Omowumi held forte for her husband at home front, while Chief Akande was held as political prisoner in 1983 showed that she was a dependable soulmate and a worthy example of motherhood.

Salaam further expressed his condolences to the Akande family on behalf of the state lawmakers, asserting that they identify with Chief Akande, his children and relations in their moment of grief.

He said: “We are bereaved, because we lost the great wife of our great leader; it pains us because Mama Omowumi was a mother who made us more comfortable around Chief Akande, and her death was an irreparable loss to us in the progressive family. May God Almighty comfort our leader, and give the family eternal fortitude to bear the loss.

•(From Right); Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Oyewole Oyewumi; Mrs Doyin Awe and Director Tree Crop, Federal Ministry of Agriculture Abuja, Mr Quadri Olalekan during the visit of the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development to Osun on Wednesday.

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 other 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.

FRIDAY JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

By Abiodun Komolafe Conscious of the State of Osun’s leading roles in the enhancement of livelihoods and a life of dignity among Nigerians, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently led Lagos, Delta, Zamfara and twelve other states to Osun to understudy how its policies and programmes, anchored on the administration’s Six-point Integral Action Plan, had positive impact on the lives of its residents.

To start with, Osun’s hitherto sordid as a result of the ineptitude of its past leaders and elders who preferred failure to bestowing a legacy worthy of remembrance on their words and deeds is no longer news. Also unhelpful was the global oil glut and the protracted currency collapse, which have forced many countries around the world to adopt painstaking measures to fill gaps in their public finances.

That Governor Rauf Aregbesola was able to force a hole in a stone, in spite of its hardness, is a feat that must be commended by all.

In Osun, there are varieties of activities on Social Protection that have galvanised and driven the administration more rigorously. Prominent among them is Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), which is a radical, robust, market-development and characterbuilding programme put in place by the government to tackle the annoying scourge of unemployment among our youths. Apolitical in concept and allembracing in process, the Omoluabi ethosinclined scheme succeeded in mopping up more than 40,000 youths off our streets for productive engagement.

Next is the Osun School Feeding and Health Programme, O’MEAL. Formerly known as Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme (HGSFP), OMEAL’s capacity has been strengthened under this administration to accommodate more beneficiaries. And, as at December 2016, the state government has spent more than N10billion to provide over-200 million plates of highly nutritious meals to pupils in its Elementary Schools across the state.

One major achievement of the scheme is the eradication of avoidable diseases among the school pupils. For instance, before this administration came to power, it was discovered that eight out of every 10 students had scurvy, but that has disappeared with the advent of OMEAL. Also, the scheme has never recorded any incidence of contamination or food poisoning since inception. Added to this is the reduction in unemployment through the absorption and

It was a painful exit, but a joyous parting, as a loving mother, virtuous woman, a prayer warrior, role model, mothers to hundreds of children and above all matriarch of the Akinyemi family, the late Chief (Mrs) Beatrice Binuomole Ajike Akinyemi.

On the 14th June 2017, the late Chief (Mrs) Akinyemi died surrounded by her grandchildren singing the chorus of Halleluyah, as she had always done.

Born to the family of the late Chief Timothy Ajayi, the Lerege of EreIjesa and Prince Ogunsola Ajayi (nee Bewaji), the Yeyero of Esa-Oke, Chief (Mrs) Akinyemi schooled at St. Peters Primary School, Ere-Ijesa after which her uncle, Chief Bewaji introduced her to textile and gold business.

Mama Akinyemi married to her heartrob, the late Chief Adejuyigbe Akinyemi of Ede extract, who was a seasoned educationist, religious leader, an organist per excellence, a

POLICY

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Osun, UNICEF And Social Protection

•UNICEF officials on a tour to one of the Primary Schools in Osun to assess the School Feeding Programme, O’MEAL.

}~ , so commendable! But beyond eloquent

comments that have accompanied these interventions, where lies the hope for continuity and sustainability, taking into consideration that the lifespan of this administration expires in about five hundred days? empowerment of over 3,000 community caterers.

Followed is the ‘Agba Osun’, the Elderly Persons Welfare Scheme’, which was proactively designed to cater for the needs of the elderly, as well as enhance the socio-economic status of the critically vulnerable senior citizens in the state.

Through Osun Destitute Rehabilitation Programme (O’REHAB), mentallychallenged individuals are identified, rehabilitated and reunited with their families and the society. Under the programme, the already rehabilitated m e n t a l l y - c h a l l e n g e d persons are taken through skills acquisition training in addition to moral and financial support, all geared towards ensuring proper reintegration into the society. O’REHAB also undertakes public enlightenment campaigns on the causes and treatment of mental disorder.

State of Osun’s Free Medical Programme is also worthy of mention. Government’s intervention in this sector is geared towards alleviating the burden of illhealth as well as reducing the indirect costs of diseases and disabilities such as

lost years in income, care of family members and lower productivity, to mention but a few.

What of Osun Ambulance Services (O’AMBULANCE)?

With one ambulance in each of the then 30 Local Government Areas, plus one Administrative Office, and 19 sophisticated ambulance buses in strategic locations in the state at inception, it is sure that those with the faith of Thomas concerning government’s commitment to reducing accident rates and saving lives in the state will have a rethink.

Here comes Osun Microcredit Agency, an agency established to aid the economic expansion of the state through the provision and disbursement of credit facilities, primarily, to cooperative groups of artisans, traders and medium-scale agro-allied enterprises, amongst others. For instance, more than N3 billion has so far been injected into the state’s economy through its activities, even as very low interest and interest-free loans have been made available, compared

{|

with interventions before its establishment. This intervention has also led to better utilisation of borrowed funds among the beneficiaries and an improvement in the capital of the participating Micro-Finance Banks (MFBs).

Also worthy of mention are ‘Walk-tolive’, an embodiment of team work, mental alertness and physical exercise that richly adds value to the health of the citizens; and Osun Calisthenics P r o g r a m m e w h i c h h a s been preparing Osun students for the future through ”a variety of movements often performed rhythmically and usually conducted in concerts with stretches to depict symbols.” It is interesting to note that, apart from the introduction of Calisthenics into Osun schools’ curriculum, other states like Lagos have identified with this laudable initiative.

Lest I forget, one of the important contributions by the state government to the Agriculture sector, which is now famously described as the prospective backbone of Nigeria’s economy, is the establishment of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (O’RAMP). It is an agency which sees to the construction of rural access roads in our farm settlements. The overall intention of this initiative is to enhance massive production of food crops in the state.

The O’UNIFORM, a regime of uniform identity for all the students in the state’s public schools, has also done a lot in eradicating discriminations among the students, in addition to maximizing economies of scale on the part of the local suppliers of the uniforms to the buyers.

Other advantages abound!

So far, so commendable! But beyond eloquent comments that have accompanied these interventions, where lies the hope for continuity and sustainability, taking into consideration that the lifespan of this administration expires in about five hundred days? Well, one sure way of ensuring that the message doesn’t die with the messenger is by facilitating the Social Protection Bill into law. Others lie in documenting the state’s development plans, constant monitoring by reputable organizations like UNICEF as well as encouraging other states to emulate Osun’s giant strides in Social Protection initiatives. Over and above all, since globalization has made competition very hard; and, with the economy painfully menstruating as a result of the global economic miasma, there’s no better time to proactively respond to vulnerabilities than now.

•KOMOLAFE writes in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk)

Glorious Exit Of Chief Mrs Beatrice Akinyemi As a polygamist, the late Chief Adejuyigbe Akinyemi married to the late Chief Felicia Akinyemi and the late Chief Beatrice Akinyemi, but the joy of it all was that they related as blood sisters, and this relationship reflected on their children, who only know their mothers as “Mama Agba and Mama Kekere till death. disciplinarian and a successful polygamist, but settled in Ilare-Ijesa with his grandfather who was a prince of Ilare Ijesa.

As a polygamist, the late Chief Adejuyigbe Akinyemi married to the late Chief Felicia Akinyemi and the late Chief Beatrice Akinyemi, but the joy of it all was that they related as blood sisters, and this relationship reflected on their children, who only know their mothers as “Mama Agba

and Mama Kekere” till death.

Late Beatrice Akinyemi was a successful trader and a devout Christian who did not allow the luxury of business to hinder her loyalty, service and dedication to the course of the gospel.

She was installed Iya Egbe Idapo Obirin of Methodist Church in IlareIjesa and Iya Egbe Christian Association of Nigeria, Obokun Local

•Late Mrs Beatrice Akinyemi Government of the state.

She is survived by many children and grand children, among whom is Professor and Professor (Mrs) Enoch and Bukola Oyawoye, Mrs Ikeade Aina, Mr Yinka Akinyemi, among others.

Burial arrangement would be announced later by the family.

FRIDAY JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

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NEWS

FRIDAY JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

Hotel Business Is A Lucrative Venture The increase in number of hotels and such other hospitality centers in recent times, particularly in Osun seem to have given impression that hotel business is a lucrative one. Inspite the prospect in the venture, some investors still see it as dangerous business to engage in.

But the President, Hoteliers and Hospitality Association of Nigeria, State of Osun chapter, Dr Jimoh Agboola, who is the Chairman, Brymor Hotel, Agunbelowo Area, Osogbo, said, there is no point entertaining any fear before investing in hotel business.

According to him, what is require of any investor in the business is to be focus, has related professional background or seek professional advise as to how to establish and manage such venture.

In a chat with OSUN DEFENDER, he said, “Hotel Business is a very lucrative business, in the sense that you will have guest to take care of in terms of their accommodation, catering and laundry needs and even more.

“Hotel business requires professionalism.

There are those who studied hotel and catering management in school, but most of them h a r d l y establish h o t e l s , because of c a p i t a l .

Anybody can go into the business, but if you don’t have the professional background,

By Israel Afolabi you must seek professional advise to be able to sustain it.

“For your hotel business to be lucrative, you must have responsible, wellmannered and qualified staff that will impress customers”, he said.

Agboola also hinted that for the safety of guest, the Hoteliers and Association in the state have commissioned recognised car hire service providers to protect the guests from incidence like kidnapping and others.

Talking about challenges in the business, Agboola said, “A lot of thing can run down any hotel business and one of them is deplorable condition of roads, epileptic power supply, and lack of security”.

Encouraging people to invest in hotel business, he said, fund can be sourced through loan, which, according to him was the same strategies used for the establishment of Brymor Hotel and Shara Guest House, both in Osogbo.

While stressing that his association had been engaging its members to perform their civic

responsibilities as expected, he said the government which has up the ante of security for the protection of live and properties, as well as for businesses to thrive must be supported to be able to do more.

Hinting that his association has good relationship with security personnel in curbing criminal activities in various part of the state, he said, “That will not stop us from emphasising that hoteliers should not harbour criminals in their various hotels and instead alert security agents in case of strange appearances to curb crime”.

He then urged the state and federal governments to give adequate attention to road construction, which according to him, also contribute to survival of businesses of all categories.

Describing hotel business as a venture that must be engage in by professionals, he said “hotel business is for those who have resources to start, either at a small or medium scale, but beyond that anybody that wanted to go into it must be ready to learn the rudiment of it”.

FRIDAY JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

. Sunday Abiodun Ojenuwah, Consultant Nephrologist, University College Hospital, Ibadan, writes on

Controlling High Blood Pressure (II) Too little vitamin D in your diet: It’s uncertain if having too little vitamin D in your diet can lead to high blood pressure. Vitamin D may affect an enzyme produced by your kidneys that affects your blood pressure.

Drinking too much alcohol: Over time, heavy drinking can damage the heart. Having more than two drinks a day for men and more than one drink a day for women may affect your blood pressure. For healthy adults, up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.

Stress: High levels of stress can lead to a temporary increase in blood pressure. If you try to relax by eating more, using tobacco or drinking alcohol, you may only increase problems of high blood pressure.

Certain chronic conditions: Certain chronic conditions also may increase your risk of high blood pressure, such as kidney diseases, diabetes and sleep apnea.

Sometimes, pregnancy contributes to high blood pressure, as well.

Although high blood pressure is most common in adults, children may be at risk too. For some children, high blood pressure is caused by problems with the kidney or heart. But for a growing number of kids, poor lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of exercise, contribute to high blood pressure.

Complications The excessive pressure on your artery walls caused by high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels, as well as organs in your body. The higher your blood pressure and the longer it goes uncontrolled, the greater the damage.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to: Heart attack or stroke: High blood pressure can cause hardening and thickening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other complications.

Aneurysm: Increased blood pressure can cause your blood vessels to weaken and bulge, forming an aneurysm. If an aneurysm ruptures, it can be lifethreatening.

Heart failure: To pump blood against the higher pressure in your vessels, your heart muscle thickens. Eventually, the thickened muscle may have a hard time pumping enough blood to meet your body’s needs, which can lead to heart failure.

Weakened and narrowed blood vessels in your kidneys: This can prevent these organs from functioning normally.

Thickened, narrowed or torn blood vessels in the eyes: This can result in vision loss.

Metabolic syndrome: This syndrome is a cluster of disorders of your body’s metabolism, including increased waist circumference; high triglycerides; low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol; high blood pressure; and high insulin levels. These conditions make you more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Trouble with memory or understanding: Uncontrolled high blood pressure may also affect your ability to think, remember and learn.

Troubles with memory or

Cold Weather:

understanding concepts is more common in people with high blood pressure.

Treatments and drugs Changing your lifestyle can go a long

With FRANCIS EZEDIUNO way towards controlling high blood pressure. Your doctor may recommend you eat a healthy diet with less salt, exercise regularly, abstinence from smoking and maintain a healthy weight. But sometimes lifestyle changes aren’t enough.

In addition to adequate diet and exercise, your doctor may recommend medication to lower your blood pressure.

Your blood pressure treatment goal depends on how healthy you are.

Although 120/80 mm Hg or lower is the ideal blood pressure goal, doctors are unsure if you need treatment (medications) to reach that level.

Less than 150/90 mm Hg, if you’re a healthy adult age 60 or older Less than 140/90 mm Hg, if you’re a healthy adult younger than age 60 Less than140/90 mm Hg, if you have chronic kidney disease, diabetes or coronary artery disease or are at high risk of coronary artery disease.

•To be continued

Children’s Admission Rate Increases In Hospitals

Of recent, admission rate of children under the age of 10 has increased in both public and private hospitals for different types of ailments ranging from malaria, typhoid fever, tuberculosis and others as a result of cold weather.

During a visit to some of the public and private medical facilities in the state, it was revealed that hospital beds are more occupied than how it was before the rainy season.

A retired Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. Esther Oke during a chat with OSUN DEFENDER in Osogbo recently said children under the age of 10 are more prone to sickness during rainy season, just as he cautioned parents especially mothers to always pay extra care to the health of their children.

According to her, parents should endeavour to give the welfare of their children a priority, especially during this rainy season, with a view to ensuring that they do not fall victim of diseases associated with cold weather and high humidity.

She said, “As we know, rainy season comes with a lot of wetness and this is not particularly helpful to children below the age of 10. This is so because children below this age enjoy playing on the ground without considering the fact that most of them may have low immunity this and also the kind of food they eat.

“Diseases that are widespread during this wet period are catarrh, sore throat, malaria fever, pneumonia, due to cold. This is why it is advisable for parents to always keep their children warm at all times, especially whenever it is raining.

“Parents should ensure that their children wear thick clothes at home and when they go to bed at night. Also, they should not expose them to low temperatures like staying under fan and air conditioners for too long and taking cold drinks.

“Another measure is that parents should apply heat rub on their children’s chest and back and also on their palms after bath. They must ensure that these children do not, in any circumstances take their bath with cold water but with warm water so as to regulate their body temperature”.

She also charged parents to watch out for any unusual sign from their children, as they might be warning

signs that something had gone wrong.

“If a child that was extremely active suddenly becomes cool, something may be wrong. If a child suddenly refuses to eat, parents should note it. It might be a warning signs.

“Unusual sneezing, catarrh, coughing or pains on both sides too, are serious warning that something is wrong and the child needs the attention

of a qualified medical practitioner”, she stressed.

Oke cautioned that parents who noticed any unusual behaviour in their children should seek the attention of qualified Pediatrician instead of quacks, because experiences had shown that it is safer to get children treated by a medical professional whose job it is to treat children.

How Board Boosted Osun Chances Free Healthcare Delivery facility, 30 per cent for secondary

The creation of the State of Osun health facility and 10 per cent for health facility, but Primary Health Care Development tertiary unfortunately most Board (SPHCDB) has patients want to access been giving effect to the healthcare services at the principle of Primary tertiary level, thereby Healthcare Under One overloading the system”.

Roof and take charge of He noted that the the management, timely creation of the annexing of finances and SPHCDB and the provision of efficient timeliness of the action of supervision, monitoring the management team and evaluation of the had qualified the State of human and material Osun to be part of the resources that will three states in the guarantee quality federation besides Abia healthcare delivery at the and Niger for grassroot. the $20 million World This was made known Bank grant to pilot the by the State Basic Health Care Commissioner of Health, •Dr Rafiu Isamotu Provision Fund in Dr. Rafiu Isamotu during the lecture titled; Healthcare Funding: Nigeria for the next one year.

According to Isamotu, the fund was Putting People First, presented at the Ordinary General Meeting of the expected to provide minimum service Nigerian Medical Association which package of health services in 332 primary healthcare centres, one per held in Osogbo recently.

The Commissioner who was ward in the state and 24 hours service represented by the Executive Secretary in the focal centres.

“The fund is to care for the health of SPHCDB, Dr. Kayode Ogunniyi stated that as part of the development needs of the pregnant women, the plan of the current administration, the children under 5 years of age, Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had prevention and management of made restoration of healthy living malaria for all and screening of clients which is a part of his six-point integral for diabetics and hypertension”.

For the quick implementation of this, action plan.

Noting that the Nigeria Healthcare he said, the state has paid the N100 system is divided into primary, million counterpart fund needed to secondary and tertiary levels, he said, invite this fund into a designated since 70 per cent of Nigerians are rural account.

He added that the treatment under dwellers, any healthcare policy that does not touch the lives of rural the Basic Health Care Provision Fund community dwellers is a waste of time. is totally free to the clients but would “The percentages of services be paid for with this fund using a third delineated to health facilities in the state fund administrator as approved by the are, 60 Per cent for primary health guidelines.

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

OPINION

FRIDAY JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

Crude Oil Palaver, A Blessing To Nigeria’s Economy

By Wasiu Babalola

The Nigeria’s Economy is suffering a great setback as a result of the downturn of oil price in the international market and domestic activities of some vandals on crude oil pipelines, as well as other factors.

These would have been an avoided devil on our economy; peradventure we have not relied solely on crude oil as the staple source of revenue generation in the midst of various viable means.

With the abundant human and natural endowments bestowed upon us in Nigeria, we stand a chance to take a lead among economically viable nations, but for our inability to see beyond oil as means of survival.

Is it not rather funny to say that our present economic predicament caused by the downturn of oil price in international market can be said to be a blessing to Nigeria economy? A reference is drawn here to some states of the federation with the emphasis on the State of Osun in particular where the deficiency being currently experienced in oil sector is being turned into fortune with the help of the ingenious prowess of Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola through sourcing for the state’s livelihood with the introduction of various palliative measures in virtually all societal subsectors under the acronym “O Scheme” initiated by the incumbent administration.

It is pertinent to note that in Nigeria, we hardly think of the bridge, until we get to a river. Now, the oil sector has failed in addressing the continuous need of our economic stability, hence,

was not as densely populated as it is now, notwithstanding, if we are able to tap the potentialities of the population, nothing stops us from being at par with a country like China in terms of economic development.

•Governor Aregbesola

the need to diversify into other sectors that are yet untapped to the fullest like tax networking system and where we are having economically comparative advantage over other countries, also importantly is the agricultural sector that can efficiently sustain us for years.

If we recall, before the discovery of crude oil, precisely when Nigeria was in three regions - Western, Eastern and Northern, each of these three regions based their farming activities on where they had advantage over one another.

For instance, Western region concentrated on cash crops, Northern region on groundnut and cotton, while Eastern region was known with palm oil production. The Agricultural sector was the pivot of the Nigeria’s economy then. Our agricultural products were so in abundance to the extent that, they were able to sustain the whole domestic population and at the same time earned us good foreign exchange

in the international market. This of course really helped the Nigerian currency to stand side by side the dollar in value.

Although, the country was not as densely populated as it is now, notwithstanding, if we are able to tap the potentialities of the population, nothing stops us from being at par with a country like China in terms of economic development. As the most populated country of the World, China has proven it wrong through the significant level of the voluntary tax compliance among its taxpayers and the dominant roles their products play in international market that, population is not a barrier to development, rather, the population is seen as an endowed opportunity for a country to develop by capitalising on.

At this juncture, another area in which a sincere government - Federal, States or Local needs to step up its

statutory responsibilities is in the area of empowering the youth. The youth forms about 60 per cent of the productive sector of the Nigeria’s population and if they are properly engaged, they could be a source of revenue in the tax drive of the nation.

For instance, there are about 17 million small and medium scale enterprises scattered through the length and breadth of the country that are in need of one thing or the other, especially enabling environment for the successful transaction of their businesses, such as stable supply of electricity to carry out their day to day business activities as well as getting soft loan from government through empowerment scheme to complement the financial stands of their businesses.

The provision of these would enhance the realisation of more revenue for the government from this sector as they would be financially comfortable and have no excuse to compromise tax when they are to pay tax, being the civic duty of every earner of income.

It is therefore high time all the three tiers of government in Nigeria woke up to these challenges by earmarking a larger percentage of the yearly budgets to the agricultural sector to encourage urban-rural migration.

Likewise, the dominating percentage of youth in various productive sectors in Nigeria and their potentials calls for the attention of government, especially in the area of engaging them through a sincere empowerment scheme, to add value to our economic viability in Nigeria. This will surely step our feet on the path to economic development.

•Babalola is the Information Officer, Osun Internal Revenue Service.

CULTURE

Obokun Traditional Festival Celebrated In Grand Style Obokun festival is one of the traditional festivals being celebrated among the Yoruba people, but peculiar to the people of Ibokun, the headquater of Obokun Local Government Council Area of the State of Osun.

It is widely believed among the people of the ancient town that the celebration was in remembrance of its founding father, “Obokun” a brave warrior and a hero having fought a war and liberated the town from external forces. The festive period was also considered a period of appeasement to the goddess.

The 2017 edition of the traditional festival, celebrated recently was not an exception, as it was celebrated in grand style with several tourists in attendance.

According to the Owa Obokun of Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro, the celebration had been in existed upon the death of Obokun who was believed to have fought for the survival of the ancient town in his honour.

He urged government to encourage and support the Obokun festival and other cultural festival in the state, adding that they are sources of revenue generation for government.

Speaking at the celebration, Member of Osun House of Assembly, representing Obokun State Constituency, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, called on government at all levels to invest in tourism and culture to boost economy and job creation.

Oyintiloye said such investment and promotion of local cultural festival and

•Chairman Osun House of Assembly Committee on Information and Strategy, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye (left); Baabokun of Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro (3rd left); his Olori, Funke (2nd left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Mrs Taiwo Oluga (4th left) and others, during the 2017 Obokun Festival at Ibokun, State of Osun, recently.

tourism potentials would go a long way in developing the economy.

The lawmaker noted that if proper attention is paid to tourism and culture, it would not only serve as alternative source of income for the government, but also reinforce the fight against social vices.

Oyintiloye, who is the House Committee Chairman on Information and Strategy, said government’s investment on tourism and culture would catalyse job creation such as tour guide, horticulture, food services, entertainment industry, craft and Arts productions, waste recycling, among

others.

“It is now prerogative government and Nigerians tap into advantage of these opportunities in the tourism sector”, the lawmaker said.

Oyintiloye who described ‘Ibokun festival’ as a unique one, called on the state government to focus attention on it to serve as a source of revenue for the state.

The lawmaker, who noted that Obokun cultural value and tourism potentials were enormous, called all stakeholders including sons and daughters of Ibokun at home and in diaspora to contribute their quota

towards its development.

He, then, commended the state government for developing tourism master plan, which he said had a robust and global outlook.

In her remarks, the Special Adviser to Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on Tourism, Mrs Taiwo Oluga said, the state government is making frantic efforts to make the festival a national and international one.”

Oluga said that government is passionate about sustainable tourism development towards job and wealth creation.

FRIDAY JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017 •Continued from page 2 of Osun have spoken”.

The state chairman, Hon. Soji Adagunodo said that party recognize the fact that out of several options, people decided to give PDP the mandate to represent them in the upper chambers.

Also, Husain said, though his defeat at the election was surprising, as there was no any indication that he would not win, but as a democrat, he had resolved to respect the will of the people who have made a clear statement during the election.

In a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, Husain said, he would embark on wide consultations with the people to understand why the outcome was against him, to be better prepared

ISSUES/POLICY

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

Why The APC Lost The Turn Of Events Between 2015 And 2017

for subsequent elections.

Osun APC Parliamentarians Debunk Defection Rumour

All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the State of Osun House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam has passed a vote of confidence on Governor Rauf Aregbesola, expressing their faith in the party.

They said that the under the leadership of electoral setback in Osun Aregbesola has saved the West Senatorial district state from cheap death was a wake-up call that could be caused by through proactive which would end up flood measures; secured the energising the APC in state from criminals that the future elections. almost overrun financial In a statement signed institutions located in the by the Press Secretary to state before he took the the Speaker, Goke mantle through a Butika, the 24 APC coordinated security lawmakers expressed architecture.

The caucus also laid their unalloyed support on for the leadership of emphasis Salaam, and undiluted A r e g b e s o l a ’ s achievement in the area loyalty to their party.

While reinforcing their of education through his confidence in the provision of state of art which has leadership of Aregbesola infrastructure become an enduring for his seal to redirect the legacy, and the school state on the path of feeding scheme which development, the APC has increased the caucus in the state enrolment of the pupils parliament further of school age coupled affirmed their strong with other palliative measures like youth faith in the party. and They argued that the engagement APC administration ambulance services.

Despite the result of the election The result of the

election notwithstanding, Husain, who

congratulated Ademola Adeleke for his victory

•The Salon Car of the Television Continental (TVC) Crew vandalized by violent youths in Iwo, during the Osun West Senatorial Bye-election last Saturday.

Osun Registers 24,000 Cooperative Societies

By Kehinde Ayantunji The Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on Cooperative Matters, Barrister Gbenga Awosode, said the state government had registered more than 24,000 cooperative societies in the state towards economic growth.

Awosode disclosed recently held in Osogbo, this at a programme to with the theme: mark the ‘International ‘Cooperative Ensures No Cooperative Day‘ which One Is Left Behind’.

The programme was organised by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperative in collaboration with Federation of Osun Cooperative Limited.

Awosode said more than 16,000 registered cooperative societies had

Osun NUT Express Shock Over UNIOSUN Student's Ritual Killing election in the 26 local

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Osun State Wing has expressed shock over the death of the late Timilehin Oluwafemi Sonibare who was a 400 level Microbiology Student of Osun State University, UNIOSUN Osogbo.

“The NUT wish to The union leadership, the state in a press statement implore signed by the State government to urgently Chairman and Secretary, bring the perpetrators of Comrade Wakeel this callous and disdain Amudah and Comrade act to book and let it serve Mohammed Abdulahi as a lesson to others in State”, the respectively shortly after Osun their condolence visit to statement added.

It would be recalled the parents of the deceased, Mr & Mrs that, Sonibare Timileyin Oluwafemi was killed by Sonibare, sympathized suspected ritualists. with the parents who are In another both Teachers under development, the newly Osun NUT. elected NUT leaderships According to the have been enjoined to be statement, the union feel proactive in pursuing pained that such welfare of their teachers. unfortunate incidence The State Chairman happened to a family that and Secretary of the is saddled with the union stated this shortly responsibility of taking after the successful care of other parents’ conduct of local children in school. government branches

said, he would remain committed to the ideals of progressive political leadership that make human development its central theme and continue to seek the economic, educational, cultural and infrastructural development of the entire district and state in general.

Encouraging his supporters to take the outcome of the election as a temporary setback, he said, “We have fought many battles, we have taken down giants, and we have snatched lamb from the jaws of the lion in the past. We shall return stronger and more powerfully”.

Meanwhile, the result of the election showed that the turnout voters at the Saturday’s election was a far cry from the turnout of voters in the previous elections, particularly the 2015 Senatorial election.

governments area of the state.

According to the union, the elections in all the affected branches

were free and fair with complete demonstration of humility after the results were announced. “ Both the winners and the losers embraced each

other while there was a demonstration of sportsmanship by all the contestants after the announcement of the election results”

NAWEF Empowers Osun Women

By Sola Jacobs The National Women Empowerment Fund (NAWEF) Scheme under the Federal Women Affairs and Social development has empowered more than 200 women in the state of Osun through soft loan acquisition and a day training programme on financial literacy and loan management.

Speaking at a day s o c i o - e c o n o m i c capacity building training development of the nation.

Mrs Aregbesola added for the beneficiaries of the scheme, the wife of the that the government of Governor of the State, Mrs Aregbesola in the state had Sherifat Aregbesola said empowered women more that women development in the history of the state. is one of the cardinal point She urged the of the current beneficiaries to use the administration in the state loan judiciously for the considering the purpose of contributing to contribution women to the the economic growth of

the state, as well repay promptly for others to benefit from the good gesture of the federal government.

In her contribution at the programme, the Commissioner of Women and Children Affairs, Alhaja Latifat Giwa said, the 200 authenticated beneficiaries selected for NAWEF loans targeted women in Osun for empowerment and economic viability, while capacity building training for the first batch of the beneficiaries was to train them on financial literacy and loan management.

benefited immensely from the state government grants towards wealth creation.

He said that the international cooperative day recognises and reaffirms the invaluable role of cooperative unions in social, economic and cultural development as well as in actualisation of social policy objectives of governments across the world.

“The essence of the annual celebration is principally to increase awareness about cooperative movement, highlight successes recorded by movement in the past years and to promote the core values and ideals of cooperative movement.”

He added “Celebration of the world Cooporative day also aims at strengthening the international cooperative movement, as well as building a strong partnership with other international actors including government, non-governmental organisations amongst others.

Awosode said despite the huge developmental value of cooperative societies, the unions were being confronted with myriad of challenges.

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Controlling High Blood Pressure (II) .

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ª«¬­®Y JULY 14 - THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

Stemming Illegal Calls And Likely Grave Consequences I must be pardoned for lack of empiricism. In a matter of mettle proving, certainly what must take the front burner for approval and accountability is to be foolproof. Error of commission must also not be allowed to make a nitwit of a person who strives to convince the public about a social malady that is capable of setting a whole nation ablaze. Good intentions must also be weighed and allowed to supersede the enormities of the errors unwillingly committed for lack of time and space for rudiments. It is on this premise that my conviction rests so that the purpose of this missive is not subjugated within the realm of faultfinding and corrigenda.

I really don’t know the age-range of Nnamdi Kanu and cohorts; the principal and lieutenants in the agitation for an independent state of Biafra, on one hand; and the Arewa Youth Forum who ignorantly doled out a quit notice to other compatriots, albeit of other tribe who have access to rights and privileges that accrue to all Nigerians in any part of the country, on the other. My logical judgements are often considered infallible by those with whom I have interacted over a long time, although that doesn’t remove the human element of imperfection from me because of subjectivity that is common to the entire human race. I will beat my chest however on matters that bother on integrity painstakingly. I will possibly be right therefore to conclude that most of the agitators would not have attained the golden age. Those below sixty years of age must not have tasted the pain and pangs of warfare. They must also have disdainfully disregarded oral tales of woes transmitted to them by parents who felt the harsh heat of Nigerian/Biafran war and the dehumanization that it brought to bear.

The question then is “why should anyone with sound judgement and mental alertness develop any predilection for warfare and its damning consequences?”

Though, it has been rightly assumed that those chanting war songs might not have been victims of harrowing consequences of war, but they are exposed to information on what is happening in warravaged countries like Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Syria, and Israel to mention just a few. Our sub-regional neighbours in Mali cannot forget in a hurry how sectarian war has ravaged what took centuries to put together and build. Peradventure there are still no lessons to learn from the scenarios above, I believe the experience of our brothers and sisters North East Nigeria should give us a good example of consequence of war. The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have much to say in their make-shift camps where malnutrition and other vices, such as outbreak of epidemics have changed the normal course of

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OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

By Invitation ¯°±²³´ µ¶²·±¸¹

•Nnamdi Kanu.

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anyone with sound judgement and mental alertness develop any predilection for warfare and its damning consequences? humanity from their nature.

People in their right assessment have come up with solutions to sectarian agitations. The government on its part is dialoguing with opinion leaders all over the country to arrive at meaningful solutions to the hydra headed problem of underdevelopment and other vices in our Nation. Aggregation of opinions through town hall meetings and other means of interest articulations must be explored to really come to terms with where things

went wrong and what solutions to proffer to put an end to the menace of people’s disconnect and attendant agitations. This is where people need patience in order to meaningfully drive home their points for a p p r o p r i a t e attention of government to be sought and gotten.

We have all agreed that there are advantages in our diversity. The type of land and the varying degree of crops that could be planted makes for sweetness of our togetherness.

Ironically, for example, the Hausa/Fulani in the North really develop high appetite for kola nut; but it is in the South that kola nut thrives very well. So many crops can do well in the Savannah region, but the same may not yield maximally if planted in the forest area of the South due to soil textures peculiar to the individual zones. This has been a source of envy to some developed economies where the monolithic nature of the arable land in them offers little prospect of maximizing economy of scale.

Sadly, though we are stupendously endowed, we have chosen to take things for granted at the detriment of the much needed development.

Each geo-political zone that make-up the country is complaining of marginalization. This mutual suspicion has often caused distractions to the people in power because the mutual trust that will enable us think together and develop our potentials has been slaughtered on sentimental platforms. Our strength keeps waning because we get so distracted through covert withdrawal from the common course that can breed progress and development.

Now, let us really do thorough examination of what the likely consequences of disintegration might be.

It has often been wrongly assumed that the South-west is homogenous in our culture and general ways of behaviour and pattern of social interaction. Little have we realised that in the so called homogeneity, we have the Ijesa and Ekiti people who are

presumed to be stubborn and unassuming in their way of life. The same goes for Akoko, Ilaje, and others who can be referred to as nations in their own right.

The Oyo people fall in absolutely different category that people regard as being subtle and cunning. Oyo people still differ in dialect and general disposition on essential matters. Therefore, if Nigerians agree today to divide on tribal line, the centre will still not hold in matters of mutual Interest. Until very recently, agitation was rife that a particular section of the Southwest was dominating the rest of us; this indirectly is in reference to the emergence of Awolowo, Shonekan, Abiola and recently Obasanjo as dominant political figures in our evolution. This is to tell us that there are always divergent opinions on issues of homogeneity of Yoruba people.

In the South-South, we have Ijaws, Urhobo, Itsekiri, Efik, Ibibio, Ogoni and the rest of them. When we look at it critically, it is not likely these ethnic Nationalities go together to form a united nation though they have oil as their common resource. The middle belt recently came up with a statement that they will never agree to an arrangement that will make them cede their land or any part of it to the Nomadic Hausa/Fulani in the North. That means, it was erroneous for anybody to assume the possibility of clear cut North-South dichotomy. If the North seeks to secede, the middle belt will choose to detach from that common agreement of a monolithic North. The agitation will indeed be endless.

Let us assume that there was no civil war in Nigeria between 1967 and 1970, only God knows where we would be now because the retrogression that the civil war brought to us is still smearing and denigrating us till date. The ingenuity with which Ojukwu bunker in Umuahia was built would have caused a great revolution in our scientific revolution. We would have advanced technologically and today we would have ranked among the best nations in the world. A visit to the war museum really dazed me. It also made me to pity Nigeria that the post-war leaders did not quickly integrate the Igbo race to explore the possibility of tapping their talent for the good of all.

The Arewa youths, the Independent People of Biafra, the Egbesu Boys, the Oduduwa People’s Congress and a host of other secessionist agitators should sheathe their swords and withdraw all threats to our peaceful coexistence because in our diversity lies our strength. We must encourage the leaders to address issues of neglect and underdevelopment in our land. Fairness and even development must be given serious consideration. Our youth should be de-radicalised by empowering them positively through policies and programmes that will give them good jobs and put good food on the table. We must all repudiate conflict because as the Yoruba people will say “the beginning of warfare may be witnessed, but nobody knows what the end of it and its consequences would be”.

•Gbotemi writes in from Osogbo, State of Osun.

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

All correspondence to the Acting Editor, KAZEEM MOHAMMED, Telephone: 0806-220-7954, kazeemayofe26@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org., E-mail: osundefenderbank@gmail.com,