Pdf Version Of Osun Defneder for June 22nd

WEST SENATORIAL ELECTION

Not Quite On The Western Front

The Race, The Runners And The Projections T !"#

Local Governments Ola-Oluwa Ayedire Ede South

& %$

Ede North

O

www.osundefender.com/index.php

FRIDAY JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

See OSUN DEFENDER Editorial On Page 4

Egbedore

THE SIXTH MOST VISITED WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

WITH 15 days to go and with Ramadan coming to an end, there will be a burst of frenetic activity on the western front in the State of Osun.

OSUN DEFENDER on pages 2 & 3 uses its Data driven approach to look at the State of the parties. Who is ahead and where? The key issues, the demographics and who will win where? Initial projections shows that the APC is ahead, but, a week is a long time in politics.

e-mail: osundefender.yahoo.com

VOL. 012. NO.18

ISSN: 0794-8050

N

Flood Threats:

Refuse Flows On Osun Water Channels •Govt To Adopt Whistle Blower Strategy -

How Osun Followed Due Processes, DMO Advice In Obtaining Loan - Page 10

Free Train Service For Holiday Makers Eid-il-Fitr:

- Page 10

•Heap of waste on Okoko river channel in Osogbo. Inset is the view of ongoing construction of Rasco Bridge.

2

OSUNDEFENDER

NEWS ANALYSIS

www.osundefender.org

OSUN DEFENDER is using data-driven analysis for the coverage of the Osun West Senatorial Bye-Election and other elections ahead. We acknowledge the inputs of Messrs AYO AKINOLA and MURTALA AGBOOLA without which our statistical coverage would have been inadequate.

Design inputs by ZAINAB OYEWOLE.

July 8: Political Projections An

•An Incisive Preview Of Battle Ground Local Governm L,./ 01 3451 West Senatorial District

•KAZEEM MOHAMMED, Acting Editor

By Kehinde Ayantunji INCE June 14 when all major political parties participating in the Osun West Senatorial Byeelection slated for July 8 concluded their primaries, the main contenders, Senator Mudashir Hussain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Bade Falade of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have began skimming for the endorsement of the electorate in the senatorial S

district.

Hussain was a twoterm member of the Federal House of Representatives and one term Senator from Osun West between 2011 to 2015, while Ademola Adeleke is contesting for public office for the first time but heavily leveraging on the political dynasty of his late brother Isiaka Adeleke, the first Executive Governor of the state and two term senator.

Falade of the SDP, a former member of Federal House Representatives is equally mustering rigorous political strength to get to the Red Chamber but he might become an orphan if the ongoing political alliance between the two factions of the PDP succeeds in supporting Adeleke.

The main contenders appear to have been reshaping the political climate of Osun West Senatorial district in the quest to replace the vacant seat of the district in the senate after the death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

The district has 10 Local Governments.

Since the inception of the Governor Rauf A r e g b e s o l a administration, there is no precedence for the kind of difficulties faced by Hussain in securing the ticket for candidate anointed by the APC’s elder’s caucus. For 48 hours, the State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Dr Ajibola Bashir who was the agent of Hussain during the primary was filing documents to all parties’ structures challenging his earlier disqualification.

The challenge, according to an APC Chieftain, Elder Mikel

S678 9:;<=> For APC Irewole Isokan Iwo Egbedore Ejigbo

Odunola was a blessing in disguise for Hussain, saying the controversy geared up the party leaders on the challenges ahead and exposed the moles within the fold of the APC. He said it also encouraged popular participation in the selection of candidates with the open primary.

Ademola Adeleke from inception with the backing of some PDP and APC members d e m o n s t r a t e d seriousness to succeed his biological brother in the senate.

Few days after he secured the PDP ticket after boycotting the APC primary where he had obtained nomination form to contest, he moved to reconcile with the staunch political enemies of his late brother, including Senator Iyiola Omisore to garner more support for his ambition, hence, his candidature seems to be uniting PDP leaders who had been in disarray for close to two years.

Meanwhile, there were divergent views across party line on the choice of the two candidates, as some electorates are of the view that the two contenders are overstretching their political opportunities, on the ground that Hussain had served in the House of Representatives and the Senate, while Adeleke believe that his family should be allowed to retain the seats Others within the APC folds were said to be contending that Hussain sacrificed the ticket for the party chance in 2014 to accommodate the late Senator Adeleke, hence, rewarding his loyalty to the party should not be

S?@A6BC? Votes Syndrome For PDP Ede-South Ede-North

FRIDAY JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

S/N

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

2014 GOV RESULT

2015 SENATORIAL

PDP PDP APC 15,493 20,752 11,520 17,700 12,490 17,420 10,029 APC 20,827

1

IWO

2

EJIGBO

3

18,328 10,330 16,512 7,768 15,403 10,427 16,234 10,427

5 6

IREWOLE EDE NORTH AYEDAADE EGBEDORE

7

EDE SOUTH

11,738

8

ISOKAN AYEDIRE 10 OLA-OLUWA

9,758

10,028 10,238 6,939

9

7,725

7,813 8,200 4,963 7,900

4

12,801 11,255 13,500 9,587 10,615 7,024 9,909 6,339

7,927

7,462 12,344 6,746 6,221 4,668

132,822 97,285 133,009 79,296 TOTAL '()* (+ATE CONSTITUENCY ELECTION

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (WEST)

S/N

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

1

AYEDAADE

2

EJIGBO

IREWOLE/ISOKAN EDE NORTH 5 IWO 6 EGBEDORE 3

4

APC

PDP

10,775 17,956

5,550 5,455

20,176 11,481

9,423

17,580 7,682

5,875 5,308 5,409

6,248

7

EDE SOUTH

9,679

8

AYEDIRE OLA-OLUWA

7,542

4,732

6,912

3,540

109,783

51,540

9

TOTAL out of place.

For whatever consideration, the choices are for the electorates but there is no signal that party manifestos, electoral campaign programmes and policies will play a central role in the emergence of the new senator in the district, rather communal, indigenous and party sentiments may be the major determinant factor that will produce the next senator.

Meanwhile, political parties have started prosecuting the election as a test of popularity ahead of the next year’s governorship election with all manner of alliances across party line, most especially within the PDP. One of the political leaders in the PDP who claimed anonymity said,

the July 8 bye-election is not between Senator Hussain and Adeleke, but between Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the PDP whom they perceived to be weighing so much political influence in the state.

The APC, being the ruling party in the state is deploying all available arsenals to win the election, which is considered to be a fight to assert the supremacy of Governor Aregbesola in Osun political space and prove the party strength to produce his successor.

The incumbency factor and the popularity of APC in Osun West Senatorial Distric is one of the main factors that may work in favor of Hussain, as since 2010, when Aregbesola assumed the governorship seat, his party has always defeated the PDP in all

elections held in the senatorial district.

Political calculations have shown that the major ancient towns in the district for decades have been committed to “progress party ideology” regardless of the candidate in any election.

The creation of the new Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) is another factor that may attract sympathy vote for Hussain as the APC candidate, as the recent appointments of cabinet members and local government caretaker committees will play major role in the sense that all the appointees would work hard to impress the governor and the party on their political ability to control their domains.

Besides, it seems the major leverage of the PDP is the wealth and existing political structure of Adeleke’s family.

Finding shows that the PDP is likely to intensify campaigns on the salary challenges in the state especially on the modulated salary being received by workers and blame the APC and Aregbesola for the financial challenges that bedeviled the state.

FRIDAY JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

NEWS

OSUNDEFENDER

D

www.osundefender.org

ons And Permutations

l Governments In Osun West

EFGHIJJKGMPQRUV

Local Governments Ola-Oluwa Ayedire Ede South Ede North Egbedore

If nothing changes the political climate in the senatorial district for the next two weeks, opinion poll in the local governments comprising the district appeared to have favoured the APC. H o w e v e r , A y e d i r e L o c a l Government comprising 10 wards may be a battle ground for the two parties, as record showed that the four major towns

forming the council (IleOgbo, Kuta, Olupona and Oke-Osun) before the creation of the new LCDA have registered voters of 25,899 but voting capacity in the previous election has never exceeded 16,000, since 2014. In the 2014 governorship election, PDP won the local government with 7,813 against the APC 7,724 votes.

The council would have been easy ride for Adeleke if he had secured APC ticket due to his late senior brother relationship with the APC Senatorial leader, Alhaji Yinusa Amobi who hails from Kuta, but with party differences, the pendulum may swing in favour of Hussain since Amobi remained a committed member of APC. Another leader who could assemble votes for APC is Mr Gbenga Ogunkanmi, a former Executive Secretary of the

council, from Ile-Ogbo who enjoys supports of the teeming youths in the area. Others are Professor Olaide Okunola, a former council Chairman also from Ile- ogbo and Hon Oyeleke Ogunsola, member of the State House of Assembly from Olupona.

PDP stalwarts who always slug it out with APC in the area are Mr Muraina Ogungboyega, a former council Chairman between 2007 – 2010; Alhaji Oyelayo from Olupona, also a very strong PDP leader and Hon Adesoye Oyewole, a former state House of Assembly member who is equally considered to be one of t h e influential elites in IleOgbo.

In OlaOluwa, the APC may also coast to victory, as the electoral history and emerging political e v e n t s showed that the party has not lose any election in the council since 2010.

By all indications PDP poses no threat to APC in the c o u n c i l , eventhough, it was gathered that Adeleke junior was already wooing Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, former Secretary to the State Government who is also a major factor to support him in the coming election.

As at the time of filling this report, it was gathered that no clear response has come from Akinbade to support Adeleke.

The council has 25,524 register voters and in 2014, the APC defeated the PDP with 7,927 votes against 4,963.

Ayedade Local Government has about 20 towns and villages with 11 wards and has the presence of political gladiators from both the PDP and the APC, but since 2010, APC has always coast to victory in the elections held.

Presently, there are two cabinet members of Osun who are acceptable to the populace. They are Jeyeoba Alagbada from Gbongan, Commissioner for Commerce Cooperative and Empowerment, as well as

•HUSSEIN: Banking on APC popularity and incumbency factor

•ADEMOLA ADELEKE: Testing Water with his late brother popularity

2015 Senatorial Election Results For APC And PDP In Battle Ground Local Governments (Ayedaade, Ede-North, Ede-South, Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa)

Mrs Taiwo Oluga, Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism who has overbearing influence among the women in the

area.

PDP also has the former Minister for Police

If you have a story or advert for us, contact 08062207954, 08061197897

Affairs, Mr Jelili Adesiyan, S e n a t o r Olasunkanmi Akinlabi both from Ode-Omu who are major factors in the council. Other PDP leaders who

•Analysis continues on page 11

A Forward Thrust In Agriculture Seminal minds such as the economist Professor Jeffrey Sails have gone to great lengths to point out the often debilitating problems associated with tropical agriculture. In our own country unenforced errors came about through the ill-thought out Structural Adjustment Programme which dislocated a vital mechanism by abolishing the commodities boards, which had hitherto being a buffer to guarantee minimum farm gate prices thereby guaranteeing both productivity in output and ensuring marketing.

Nevertheless, we must push forward and not bemoan our fate.

We give kudos to administrations such as that of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for placing agriculture back on the front-burner. The immediate past federal government minister for the sector, Dr Adesina must also be

acknowledged for a stellar performance in raising public consciousness and focus on this vital sector.

In the State of Osun, the decisive gains made in agriculture must be acknowledged within the context of a very tight fiscal climate, very much as in, “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” The main thrust of the State of Osun’s initiatives in agriculture has been sensibly placed on the strategic imperative of achieving trickle down effects. The benefits have been unambiguous. Over 71,000 farmers have benefited from the interventions. In addition, in a brilliant initiative much lauded by the World Bank, The Nigeria Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER) amongst others, over two million and 1.3 million youths are involved in active farming.

In a clear example of the pledge by Ogbeni Rauf

Briefly …

Moynihan (Democrat-New York), sensibly pointed out – “You can own your own opinion, but you cannot own your own facts”.

This is why we are using the upcoming Osun West Senatorial election as a guinea-pig to launch our data-driven political analysis model. The senatorial election has to be elevated beyond vacuous posturing and sentiment induced attacks and counter punches.

The Senate matters, as anyone who has been following recent events including the budget processing band confirmation hearings will acknowledge.

Furthermore, the recent ‘recall’ in the Kogi West Senatorial district involving the sitting Senator Dino

OSUN DEFENDER believes that the coverage of political activity by the media in Nigeria has become somewhat stultified.

Much of what might be termed as “political journalism/ reporting” has become rather archaic. Much of this is now largely based on hard to justify conjectures, even the notorious new concept of post-truth and alternative facts which are virtually impossible to empirically verify. As the famous sociologist, later outstanding United States Senator, Daniel Patrick

In the State of Osun, the decisive gains made in agriculture must be acknowledged within the context of a very tight fiscal climate, very much as in, “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”

Aregbesola “To make the State of Osun the Food Basket of the South West”, over 50,000 tonnes of Cocoa is now being exported annually and 16,120 direct jobs have been created till date.

Furthermore, the much admired Osun school feeding model has gone hand-in-glovewith the increase in agriculture production ensuring a vitally needed synergy between a social need and economic development.

Aregbesola’s administration since it created OREAP some few years ago, has given support Melaye is an eye-opener to the fact that Nigerians are now evolving a more participatory concept of democracy. This fundamentally shows that our democracy is being deepened and consolidated which is a very positive development.

On our part Osun Defender will continue to elevate and redefine the standards of political reporting and analysis well above the pedantic. We are certain that our teeming readership will be very much in support.

OSUN DEFENDER

Fingers Crossed For West Bye-election As the July 8 approaches for the Senatorial Bye-election in Osun West Senatorial District, many fingers have been crossed as to who would be the successor of the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

It would be recalled that Senator Mudashir Hussein sacrificed his ambition to allow the late Senator Adeleke to secure the party ticket in 2015. I see this as a loyal move for the party hierarchy. For Hussein to have made such sacrifice, it is a sign of humility and a good quality of leadership.

One good turn, they say deserves another, hence, the endorsement of Hussein for the next Senatorial election in the district is right step in a

right direction, as he is seeing to have been rewarded for the sacrifice he had made towards the success of the party.

It is unfortunate that somebody, who is not a member of the APC, in person of Ademola Adeleke made such efforts

to get the ticket of the party by all means, but when it was clear that the bubble has bursted against his ambition, he abandoned his pretence in the APC and moved straight to where he belong which is

PDP, against the stand of his brother who died as a progressive and member of the APC. Unfortunately, beside the fact that he was not a member of the PDP either as at the time he was given the ticket, Ademola has never contested for

any political office and has no record of achievement in public office, hence, for him to win the July 8 byeelection, it will be an herculean task. This is worthy of note, more so

to farmers to cultivate 80 hectares of yam clusters across the state; 410Ha of rice production at Onilapa, Ogbagba.

In addition the OREAP programme, has trained 57 youths in livestock fattening and the youths have fattened 2,200 live stocks in the state improved genetics programme.

It has established a 78HA Cattle Hub with a capacity to cater for 10,000 Cattles. It may interest you to know that the government has also secured another 2,000HA of lands for additional cattle hubs across the state.

Also, 5,000MT of fertilizer was sold to farmers at 50 per cent at subsidized rate; 1,830 rural farmers in 61 local communities in collaboration with UNICEF given farm inputs from the state – 500,000 free cocoa seedlings, 6,000 kolanut seedlings, 6,000 bitter kola seedlings, 64,000 oilpalm seedlings and 25,000 cashew seedlings were provided to farmers for free. Two storage facilities with a combined capacity of 1,500 MT was built by the present administration in Oyan and Osogbo, with another 100 cribs with a combined 1000 MT capacities built across the state.

With the Aregbesola administration entering the home stretch, it is very vital that the institutional frameworks must be strengthened in order to ensure continuity. As Napoleon Bonaparte sensibly pointed out – “Men cannot determine the course of the future only institutions can do so”.

that his party does not have enough political strength in the district.

However, it is now clear that some PDP leaders have seen the opportunity to feed fat on the wealth of the Adeleke family in the name of the election, as the elder brother of Ademola, Deji Adeleke seems to have shown desperation in getting the seat for his younger brother in connivance with the PDP. Head or tail, who wins the bye- election would be determined by the people of the senatorial district and in the next few days, the events will unfold.

•BIMBOLA ABDULRAHMAN, Ede South LG, Ede, State of Osun.

Publisher

–

Acting Editor

–

Moremi Publishing House Ltd. Kazeem Mohammed (0806-220-7954)

Lagos Editor

–

Kola Odepeju

Production Editor

–

Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa

Senior Reporter

–

Sola Jacobs

Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter

– – –

Kehinde Ayantunji Shina Abubakar Ismaeel Uthman Israel Afolabi Francis Ezediuno

Photographer Photographer

– –

Oluwagbemiga Adeniyi Olushola Aderinto

Admin. Manager

–

Murtala Agboola

Graphics Designer – Computer Operator –

Lukman Ussein Mary Akintola

(08023191891)

Advert Executive

–

Nike Adeyemi

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

All correspondence to the above mail address.

ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0806-220-7954 , 08061197897 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com, osundefenderbank@gmail.com

MAGAZINE FRIDAY JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

Osun:

A great British philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli said, “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things”. This must have informed the decision of the government of the State of Osun under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to take the lead in the series of its Social Protection Programme (SPP).

Recently, the United Nation International Children fund (UNICEF) led 16 states in Nigeria on a tour to the State of Osun to understudy the series of its Social Protection Programme. ISRAEL AFOLABI was part of the tour and he writes.

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

Government of the State of Osun has since inception in 2010 formulated programmes, towards guaranteeing ‘life more abundant’ for its citizens in line with its Sixpoint Integral Action Plan, which are; to “banish poverty, banish hunger, banish unemployment, promote functional education, restore healthy living and enhance communal peace and progress”. Some of the programmes that have been conceptualised and implemented under these pacts are; the Osun School Feeding Programme

(OMEAL) through which 252,793 pupils of elementary schools (grade 1-4) are being fed with nutritious meal everyday; Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP) through which farmers are being encouraged to produce food in surplus; Elderly Citizens Intervention Programme (Agba-Osun) through which vulnerable old citizens are being given N10,000 stipend on monthly basis.

Such other social protection programmes are Osun Youths

Empowerment Scheme (OYES), which has so far engaged about 40,000 youths in two batches; Osun Destitute Rehabilitation Programme (OREHAB), which focuses on rehabilitation of m e n t a l l y challenged citizens and integrating them into the society, S c h o o l Infrastructural Development, Osun Agro-input Distribution (AID) Scheme amongst several others.

The successes recorded by the state government

‘

in those programmes r e c e n t l y propelled UNICEF to organise an inter-state S o c i a l Protection Study tour to O s u n , whereby 16 s t a t e s , including

Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Benue, Katsina, Delta, Lagos, Ondo, AkwaIbom, Bayelsa, Enugu, Adamawa, Kano, Bauchi and Rivers states were mobilised to study the Osun model.

In his opening address during the tour, the Director-General, Office of Economic Development and Partnerships (OEDP), Dr. Charles Akinola said, the Social Protection Programmes of the state government have come to stay, saying, they would continue to serve as platform for interactions and deliberations on the protection, care and empowerment of children, women and marginalised groups through the social protection initiatives.

Noting that recession or no recession, Osun would continue to feed its pupils and execute related programmes that have direct link with the people of the state, he said, this is based on the committment of the present administration to affect the lives of the people positively.

•Continued on page 6

It is amazing that the team of UNICEF officers, as well as representatives from 16 states in the country are in attendance to learn how to adopt Osun Social Investment Scheme that had impacted greatly in the lives of the citizenry

W

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

Osun:

MAGAZINE

FRIDAY JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

Taking The Lead In Social Protection Policy

•Continued from page 5 The Chief of Field Officer and Coordination of UNICEF, Abuja, Dr. Annefrida Kisesa commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for embarking on human capacity building since inception of his administration despite the economic recession in the country.

Dr. Kisesa who also represents the UNICEF in Nigeria noted that “UNICEF is very proud to partner with the State of Osun. The delegates have the privilege to learn and to contribute to Osun’s social protection programmes because UNICEF cares about women, children and widows in the society.”

According to her, “It is amazing that the team of UNICEF officers, as well as representatives from 16 states in the country are in attendance to learn how to adopt Osun Social Investment Scheme that had impacted greatly in the lives of the citizenry.

“To us in UNICEF, it is our collective beliefs that the only way the larger number of people could be reached with our policies and programmes that centre on the need to eliminate poverty and hunger was to partner with Osun state government that has already succeeded in its social protection initiatives and policies.

“In our quest to achieving this objective, the organisation deemed it fit to collaborate with Osun government through which about sixteen states in Nigeria were carried along to have a plenary session in the state on the need to study the success of the state on many of its social investment schemes”, she added.

The UNICEF Coordinator for Osun and Ondo State, Dr. Samson Ebimaro who represented the Federal Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, confirmed that Osun is growing faster in social protection with the developmental programmes, policies and projects embarked on, saying the programmes have been put in place by the government to reduce poverty among the people, ensure labour market intervention, social insurance, social assistance, empowerment of the poor, provide social welfare, improve food security and address principle of universal basic need amongst others.

He said, the Ministry is surprised that a small state like Osun has turned to be a pacesetter through which many of her policies and programmes are being adopted and domesticated by her peers and Federal Government, saying the National Social Protection Policies, an economic ideology drawn from Osun by the Federal Government has been unanimously endorsed by all the federal ministries and their ministers.

“Social protection policies is a combination of policies, programmes and projects designed for individuals and households throughout their lifecycle which is aimed at ensuring that poverty, hunger among other social challenges are eliminated from the society. It is surprising because no one could have thought that a state like Osun within the few years of creation coupled with her meagre resources, could turn out to be a model which others adopt to succeed

•Delegates to Osun on Social Protection Policy Tour during a visit to pupils in class.

in governance”, he reiterated.

In his address, Ogbeni Aregbesola said, the Social Protection Programmes of his administration has brought down the percentage of the poor to about 9 per cent in the state, stating that when the state sets out to implement those programmes, the primary consideration was to take care of the people, as it never thought that many of the state’s novel programmes would be considered models worthy of emulation.

According to him, “When my administration was inaugurated, we said that the biggest challenge at the time was the army of unemployed and disoriented youths that constitute menace to society and to themselves. We then set up the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) in less than 100 days to engage 20,000 youths for public works.

“We also insisted that the OYES uniforms must be sewn by tailors in the states, through their guilds. Also, their equipment like cutlasses, hoes, rakes, boots, etc. were purchased directly from markets in all the local governments in the state. Now, we have had two cycles of OYES and we still have the cadets at work.

“The N10,000 monthly allowance we pay them percolates into the

One flagship programme of empowerment in the state is the homegrown school feeding programme, tagged O’MEALS. This is an integrated policy of feeding Elementary 1-4 pupils with healthy and nutritious meals every school day.

local economy in house rent, feeding, transportation and household items, thereby boosting the state’s GDP. The direct benefit of OYES is that crime and unemployment rates has dropped drastically in the state”, he emphasised.

According to him, for his government to have integration in the various empowerment programmes, it set up an interministerial agency, the OREAP, which comprises the ministries of agriculture, lands, commerce, rural development, finance, health, works, among others, saying, “This policy has attracted more people, especially women and youths to farming.

“One flagship programme of empowerment in the state is the home-grown school feeding programme, tagged O’MEALS. This is an integrated policy of feeding Elementary 1-4 pupils with healthy and nutritious meals every school day.

“To be able to achieve this, the caterers were first medically screened and certified fit and proper, re-trained on the rudiments of cooking and particularly made to understand the importance of hygiene in disease prevention and good nutrition to healthy living.”

The Head of Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO), Mr. Sola Adetoye said, the Osun School feeding programme, O’MEAL programme has gone a long way in combating hunger, increase primary school enrolment and encourage local and state-wide economic growth.

Other contributors, including the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Yinusa Olalekan; his counterparts in Federal Matter, Idiat Babalola and Commerce, Industry and Cooperative, Ismail Jayeoba respectively said, the innovations adopted by the Aregbesola administration have given Osun edge ahead of others in the country.

Colonel Eniibukun Oyewole, the OYES Commandante said, the OYES is a radical innovation of the state government, as part of social

protection programme approach to tackle youth unemployment, empower youth, develop them with good characters and make them employers of labour.

The General Manager, Osun Ambulance Scheme, Dr. Adeleke Akinloye said, there are ambulances in all the local governments with over 400 paramedics employed to render various health services, noting that over 12,000 victims have been rescued since the commencement of the programme.

Commissioner for Education, Mr. Kola Omotunde Young noted that the social protection programmes put in place in the education sector has improved discipline in schools, saying the policy was deliberate, bold, comprehensive and holistic in its response to a scandalous educational rot.

Meanwhile the delegates had a study tour to some of the newly constructed Elementary School to access the level of infrastructure and school feeding programme.

Some of the schools visited were; C.A.C. Government Elementary School, Latona; A.U.D. Government Elementary School, Isale-Osun; St. Andrews Government Elementary School, Oke-Baale; St. Francis Government Elementary School, Isale-Aro; Laro-Timehin Government Middle School, IsaleOsun; Adenle L.A. Government Middle School, Ayetoro; C.A.C. Government Middle School, Gbodofon; and L.A. Government Elementary School, Gbonmi among others, all within Osogbo.

However, at the C.A.C. Government Elementary School, Latona Osogbo, the Health mistress in the school, Mrs. Adejobi T.I confirmed that the school feeding programme should be sustained by the government.

At a state dinner that followed the four-day tour to the state, the delegates appreciated Governor Aregbesola and they all promised to replicate the Osun model of the Social Protection Programme in their various states as a take home message.

FRIDAY JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

COMMUNITY REPORTS

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

X

LGSC To Take Disciplinary Measure Against Erring Council Workers Aderinwale Adegboyega The Chairman, State of Osun Local Government Service Commission, Elder Peter Babalola has insisted that the commission would not condone any lackadaisical attitude on the part of the workers of local councils in the state, saying, its monitoring mechanism would be more strengthened.

He stated this while A r e g b e s o l a ’ s playing host to the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n Executive Secretaries and commitment. The LGSC some top Career Officers, boss said, any staff who both at the State and Local is not found at work by Government Services, 8.30 am by the monitoring saying, the tasks ahead team of the commission require that every staff of would have to answer the council must be up query and subsequent and doing to bring punishments if the need governance closer to the arises.

Babalola said, reports people in line with the Governor Rauf have reached the Service

klmnob ehpobg

That I formerly known as MISS AJIBADE GRACE ADEBOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLOWE GRACE ADEBOLA. All former documents remains valid.

General public should take note of this.

klmnob ehpobg

That I formerly known as OLIJO IFEANYI MKINGSLEY, now wish to be known and addressed as OLIJO IFEANYI MOSES. That my correct date of birth is 9-02-93. All former documents remains valid.

ACCESS Bank and general public should take note of this.

Commission that a lot of staff are no longer going to the office, charging the Executive Secretaries to mandate head of each department to open a register for their staff members for endorsement at resumption and at close

of work.

He then charged the Career Heads to cooperate with the Executive Secretaries, for a smooth and progressive relationship.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary,

Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy, Water Resources and Community Affairs, Alhaji Mufutau Oluwadare commended the Councils Managers

for the good job done when they were in charge and assured the Executive Secretaries of harmonious relationship with the Councils Managers as this would guarantee dynamism.

Okinni Administrative Office Flags Off Market Construction Project In a bid to develop its Internally Generated Revenue and boost the economic activities in Okinni Administrative Office of the State of Osun, the Administrator, Alhaji Agboola Azeez has recently laid the foundation of another blocks of lockup shops in Woru Oladodu Ultra modern Market, Agunbelewo.

Appreciating the Describing market as one of the major sources people for always of revenue for local supporting him, he said, council administrations, his administration would he said the market, when design programmes and fully functional would policies that would have improve the commercial direct impacts on the lives of the people. activities of the people.

He also used the occasion to inform the people of the council that everything needed has been supplied at Woru Health Centre to take care of their medical needs.

Community leaders at the occasion, one after the other appreciated the Council Administrators, saying the market project was long overdue considering the unfavourable experiences

on market stalls allocation in the area Accompanying the council boss to the event are political functionaries; the Administrative Supervisor, Prince Kolawole Adejorin; HOD Finance, Mr Fasakin Olalekan; HOD Social Development and Information Officer, Mrs F.B Oni among others.

bcdefg hi edjg bcdefg hi edjg That I formerly known as MISS OYELADE MISITURA TEMILADE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BAKARE MISITURA TEMILADE. All former documents remains valid.

General public should take note of this.

That I formerly known as OLAYIWOLA AMINAT, now wish to be known and addressed as O L AY I W O L A FOLASADEAMINAT.All former documents remains valid. General public should take note of this.

That I formerly known as HAMMED MUDASIRU KEHINDE, now wish to be known and addressed as LAMIDI MUDASIRU KEHINDE. All former documents remains valid.

GT Bank, National Identity Card Commission and general public should take note of this.

That I formerly known as ADEKUNLE OMOLARAAJOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as SALAMI SADIAT OMOLARA. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note of this.

That I formerly known as ADEAYO DAMILOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEDAYO A L I C E OLUWADAMILOLA. All former documents remains valid. National Youth Service Corps and general public should take note of

That I formerly known as HAMMED ADAMO ADESOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEOYE ADAMO ADESOLA. All former documents remains valid.

Banks and general public should take note of this.

bcdefg hi edjg bcdefg hi edjg

YZ[\]^ _` \[a^ bcdefg hi edjg

qrsrtsu Highly dedicated male and female advert marketers are needed in a print media house based in Osogbo.

The successful candidates will resume immediately.

Generous performance commission is available.

Minimum qualification is ND in any field, but preferably marketing.

Candidates must be goal getters, ready to work outside the State Capital and be self motivational.

Earn Extra Income: Commissioned marketers are needed in these towns: Ile-Ife, Ilesha, Iwo and Ikirun, as well as in the following institutions: OAU Ile-Ife, UNIOSUN, OUI and other higher institutions.

Hotels, hospices, higher institutions and companies in the State of Osun will have special segments for the projection of their activities and services.

vwxyzy{xy| }~w| |~xy{ { | }~

0909835022 or 08023280935 and 09098077957 this.

•Side view of the Woru market in Woru community, Okinni Administrative Office.

CDC Charged On Community Development Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has charged the Community Development Council (CDC) in the state on development, peace and security.

He gave the charge statement by Information while sensitising Officer, Ministry of Local members of the CDC in the Government, Chieftaincy, state during a tour to Water Resources, Rural some of local councils in and Community Affairs, the state ahead of their Moshood Adepoju said.

The Governor who forthcoming election, a

spoke through the Senior Special Assistant on Rural and Community Affairs, Mr Moshood Titilola identified community project as a self-help project aimed at developing the rural areas and communities, saying the council must strive to complement the efforts of

Olorunda Council Boss Assures Citizens Of Development T. T. AJAYI The Caretaker Management Committee of Olorunda Local Governmnet Area of the State of Osun has assured that it would not relent in its efforts to make sure dividends of democracy are well delivered to the people at the grassroots.

Executive Secretary of leadership style of the council, Mr Akeem Governor Rauf Olapade made the Aregbesola, who assurance at a function at according to him is the council secretariat championing the course recently, saying the of the less privileged committee would not lose through his Six-point track of its mandate Integral Action Plan towards developing the being used to transform council. the social lives of the Commending the down-trodden masses, he

said his committee would follow the same path of development.

He specifically commended the state and the federal government on their Social Intervention Programmes, particularly the payment of N5,000 to poor families, the idea of which was gotten from series of Osun government Social Intervention Programmes, saying, the policy would assist the councils to reach out to many other places where development is desired.

the government in this regard.

According to him, the state’s CDC has been able to deliver through the collaborative efforts of the donors from home and abroad, federal, state and local government, he said, “the system must be strengthened to further guarantee development at the grassroot level”.

He also used the occasion to congratulate the newly appointed caretaker management committees across the state, saying, it is their onerous duty to work collectively with the communities and their CDC executives to guarantee developments.

He noted that the present administration focuses attention on rural area development because it has the believe that doing so would guarantee equal distribution of the dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroot.

OSUNDEFENDER

www.osundefender.org

THE SOCIAL REGISTER

FRIDAY, JUNE 9 - THURSDAY

A Cocktail Of Rece

Osun PS, Fatai Kolawole Hosts Iftar Lecture

•Alh Tajudeen Oke, National President, Modakeke Progressive Union; Mr Abiodun Amola and the host, Alhaji Kolawole.

Former Interim National Chairman O Gives Out Daughter In Marriag

•Chief Bisi Akande (3rd right) and the couple flanked by the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and gove

•Senate President, Bukola Saraki (right), Chief Akande (left) and the couple.

US Ambassador Endorses Osun Soci •Alhaja Mujidat Kolawole (2nd left) amongst family members.

AN Islamic Cleric, Mallam AbdulKabeer Ghazaali Agboola has implored the government to include spiritualism in their budget and agenda to enhance the smooth running of their administrations.

Agboola, who is a Lecture in the Department of Computer Science, Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke stated this at an Iftar lecture, tagged “The Purpose of Human Creation”, organized by the Permanent Secretary, Osun State Universal Basic Education, Alhaji Fatai Kolawole recently.

According to him, by involving spiritualism, majority of the issue in the implementation of such budget and running of government might not arise.

Noting that the purpose of human creation is to worship Allah, he said worship is beyond the four walls of mosque, but by involving in acts that pleases Allah either to him directly or to humanity.

The program featured recitation of holy Quran, as a special prayer was offered for the community, the state and the nation in general.

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.

•From right - Governor state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Ambassador of United State of America Ambassador Son, Mr. William Stuart Symington, Consular Adviser, Mr. Peter Hansen, and Regional S Chip Cury, during a courtesy visit to the Governor in his office Osogbo, on Tuesday.

NE 9 - THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2017

THE SOCIAL REGISTER

OSUNDEFENDER

www.osundefender.org

Recent Happenings

hairman Of The APC, Chief Bisi Akande In Marriage In Ibadan Recently.

Mansur And Rukayat Tie The Knot

Yemi Osinbajo and governors at the event.

Chief Akande Gives Out Daughter In Marriage It was a gathering of who-is-who at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan penultimate Saturday, as a daughter of the former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, Wuraola got marries to got married to Olawale.

The event was attended by leading lights of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Federal Government, led by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

In attendance also was the Senate

President Bukola Saraki, Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun.

Other dignitaries at the event were Senator Representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari; Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan and others to celebrate with a leader of the APC, who is a close associate of President Muhammadu Buhari

•The couple.

The Walimotu Nikkah between Mansur Olalekan Adebisi from Adebesi Family of Ila Orangun and Rukayat Omotayo Olajiwon, daughter of the fomer Deputy Executive Secretary, Boripe Local Government, Hon Olajuwon Arafat held at Eripa

Community High School recently.

It was a gathering of friend and families of the couple who assembled to celebrate with Mansur and Rukayat.

The couple was in joyous mood, as they tied the knot before Islamic clerics, parents, friends and family members

Osun Lawmaker Breaks Fast With Constituents

Osun Social Investment Programmes

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington has endorsed the state Government of Osun’s Social Investment Programmes, saying the programmes have exposed the state as a learning ground to others for such interventions.

He made the declaration when he paid a courtesy visit to the Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at the Bola Ige House, Abere, Osogbo, the Osun State Capital.

The Ambassador who was accompanied on the trip by the US Consul-General, Mr. John Bray; Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Frank Sellin and Assistant Regional Security Officer, Mr. Paul Biba commended the state government for its massive infrastructural investment which he said has created wealth and employment for the people.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had while receiving the US Ambassador said his administration came into government with a clear objective of how to tackle the various socio-economic problems of the people of the state.

He maintained that his administration focused on the six-point integral action plan which has over the years made his government to focus on social security through schemes such as the O-YES, O-MEALS, OAMBULANCE and the welfare scheme for the aged among others.

“From the onset, our goal for the people of the state was clear to us. As part of our efforts to take our people out of poverty, we re-energised the school feeding programme which we met on ground.

“The OMEAL programme of our state has turned United State of America, Stuart Symington, subsistence farming into a commercial venture in Osun.

Hansen, and Regional Security Adviser, Mr. It has boosted the sales of agricultural products in the state tremendously” Aregbesola stated. sday.

•Chairman,Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye (2nd left); Member, Caretaker Committee, Obokun Local Government, Hon. Olajide Agbaje (left); Chief Imam Ada-Owode Central Mosque, Sheikh Isiaka Jamiu (2nd right) and other, during a Ramadan Lecture series tagged: ‘Iftar with Oyintiloye’ at Ada-Owode Central Mosque, recently. violence and bitterness.

By Zainab Oyewole He also called on the people of the state HE Osun House of Assembly to continue to pray for the Aregbesola-led member representing Obokun administration and the state in general to State Constituency, Honourable witness more peace, development and Olatunbosun Oyintiloye has urged progress to the benefit of all residents.

Muslims to continue to imbibe the In his ramadan lecture, the Chief Imam, various lessons and virtues associated Ada-Owode Central Mosque, Sheik with the Ramadan period in their daily Isiaka Jamiu commended Oyintiloye for lives. the love he has shown for Muslims inspite He stated this during the Ramadan his Christianity background. lecture at Ada-Owode Central He urged all political office holders to Mosque, as part of his Iftar (breaking emulate and cultivate the habit of being of fast) series he organised for fair to all, irrespective of their background.

Muslims in his constituency, tagged, The cleric also charged Muslims to ‘Iftar With Oyintiloye’. allow lessons and virtues of Ramadan According to him, Ramadan is a holy season reflect in their daily activities and month that provides great opportunity in dealing with their fellow human for everyone to draw nearer to God beings. and jettison all forms of division,

T

POLITICS

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

FRIDAY JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

Osun Assembly Makes Case For Vocational Education

By Israel Afolabi The State of Osun House of Assembly has advised the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to work more on areas of technical and vocational education in the state.

Chairman, House Science and Technology, Committee on Education, Honourable Oladoyin

Bamisayemi gave the advised during the maiden interaction with the Commissioner for Education, Mr Kolawole Omotunde Young and Special Adviser to the Governor on Tertiary Education, Prof. (Mrs)

Grace Akinola at the State Assembly complex on Wednesday.

Bamisayemi said it has been discovered that the vocational and technical aspect of the state education sector was declining; saying, the

only way out is for the government to revive these vocational education in the state for sector to move up.

Also speaking, the deputy Chairman of the committee, Abiodun Awolola said, the state assembly has been putting in efforts for the revival of vocational education in the state.

The commissioner, while responding, commended the state lawmakers for their performance in legislation to guarantee promotion of functional education and promised to work in harmony with the parliament to achieve common goal.

Corroborating the

lawmakers’ position on vocational education, he said, “If all our technical school are in place, it will be good enough for the state and reduce unemployment as well”.

He then urged the Assembly to support the ministry of education in its dealings.

Also, the Special Adviser said it is important for the government that government to computerize teachers list across all its schools in Osun and teachers.

She maintained that constant workshop programme will be organized for teachers across the state to further build their capacity.

Osun Govt Assures Workers Of Better Welfare Package

How Osun Followed Due Processes, DMO Advice In Obtaining Loan

before the financial

By Israel Afolabi quagmire which was Amidst the payment of modulated salary to caused by the reckless workers in the service of the State of Osun subject to spending and the economy crunch in the country, the state mismanagement of the government has assured workers of better welfare country’s resources by package as soon as things get better for it financially. the past administration The Commissioner for servants and take their of President Goodluck Information and Strategy, welfare passionately.

Jonathan.

Mr Adelani Baderinwa In his address, the The commissioner gave the assurance while recalled that Aregbesola Chairman of the addressing the leaders of did not default in the RATTAWU, Comrade the Radio, Television and regular payment of salary Kehinde Adigun, said the Theater Arts Workers union was supportive of Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) in the state at his office.

It would be recalled that the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had The government of Osun on Wednesday assured workers that the remaining part of their announced the 30th edition of its free train service as it asked indigenes wishing to travel home to make Modulated Salaries use of the free train provided by the state government. would be paid as soon as Thousands of Eid-il-fitr holiday makers are to benefit the economy of the from the free train scheme improves.

Station, Osogbo. The According to as the government return journey to Lagos Baderinwa, Governor declared that the train from Osogbo will be on Aregbesola is would move from Lagos Tuesday the 27th June, appreciative of the to Osogbo, the state 2017 by 11 A.M. sacrifices being made by capital in its usual The Commissioner which the workers on the practice said the gesture by the payment of modulated commenced in 2011.

Aregbesola-led A statement by the administration is aimed salary, saying that the of governor is also Bureau Communication and at facilitating a stress-free determined to make the homecoming for the Strategy, Office of the welfare of the civil Government, quoted the people during the festival.

The state government servants better than it Commissioner for was before the financial Industries, Commerce had, since 2011, been making similar crisis. and Co-operatives, Hon. Baderinwa said Ismaila Adekunle arrangements for people whatever pains the Jaiyeoba-Alagbada as of the state, to travel home workers are going stating that the free train during festive seasons.

While wishing Eid-elthrough, it should be seen service is in continuation as what a state or nation of the commitment of Fitri holiday makers goes through during A r e g b e s o l a ’ s successful journey back building and administration to making home, the statement development process, life more meaningful for urged them to take advantage of their saying that Aregbesola the people of the state. homecoming to have a feel was building Osun and The statement added of the on-going committed to her that the free train ride developments of the state. development. would be offered between He maintained that it is Saturday and Tuesday on record that the while urging indigenes of That I formerly known governor was the first Osun to maximise the as MISS AGBOOLA and only governor that opportunity.

IDIAT YETUNDE, now ever paid 13-month According to Jayeobawish to be known and salary to workers before Alagbada, the train will addressed as MRS the financial fortune of on Saturday 24th of BABALOLA IDIAT the state began to June 2017 convey people YETUNDE. All former dwindle in 2013, adding from the Ido Terminus, documents remains valid. that the governor is Lagos to the Nelson General public should friendly to the civil Mandela Freedom Park take note of this.

Government of the State of Osun under the leadership of Governor Rauf Aregbesola followed due processes and advice from the Debt Management Office (DMO) before it obtained loans to finance all the developmental projects in the state.

Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola stated this while playing host to of crude oil coupled with the Orangun-in-Council, oil theft under the the highest Traditional previous Federal body in Ila Local Government led by former Government at the President Goodluck Governor’s office in Jonathan brought Nigeria Osogbo. to her present economic He noted that his situation. administration strongly He described believes that the essence government and of a good government is governance as service to in the number of humanity, saying his developmental projects administration would executed by a government continue to advance and not in the amount of standard of living of the money kept in the coffers citizenry in spite the of the state. current economic Aregbesola stressed situation in the country. that a good government According to him, “We should be able to drive mean well for our people, economic growth and that is why our development, while also administration has been securing the lives and working tirelessly to properties of its people ensure that the dividends before it can be referred to of democracy are being as a good government. spread across the The governor noted citizenry. that his government “As part of effort to would have continued to bring development to our deliver on all its electoral people when our promises while at the administration started, same time offsetting the we approached Debt state’s debt without ý any Management Office on the stress if not for the need to know if the state challenges faced by the could go ahead country. borrowing for He said the crash in the developmental projects, prices of the crude oil in after which we were 2013 culminated in the cleared and that the loans current economic to be obtained were challenges which he healthy. described as “man “We never did made”. anything outside steps Aregbesola recounted and advice we got from that the fall in the prices the Debt Managementý Office. No government is remembered for the amount of money it kept That AREO JULIANA but the development it JULIET is the same person brought to the society it as JAMES JULIANA JULIET. I now wish to be governed. known and addressed as “We have utilised this AREO JULIANA JULIET. fund judiciously as this All former documents could be testified to with remain valid. First Bank, the achievements we SKYE Bank and general have made in various public should take note of sectors. this.

•(L-R) Comrade Femi Aborisade; Guest Speaker, Professor Siyan Oyeweso and Chairman of Occasion, Senator Babjide Omoworare, at a public lecture to commemorate June 12 Democracy Day Celebration in Osogbo, recently.

the state government and ready to work with the commissioner for the development of the state.

Adigun called on the state government to implement the agreement on the Implementation of the Reviewed (Increment) Weigh-in-Allowance of 20 per cent to the union members in the state which was signed in 2014.

Eid-il-Fitr: Free Train Service For

Holiday Makers

“We encourage holiday makers to use this opportunity to update themselves about the developments that are taking place in the state.

“The Aregbesola administration, beyond the negative, hate campaigns of those that are threatened by the massive pro-people policies of his government, which has created an enduring legacy of service.

“We have taken service to the people to a new height that will be impossible to reverse. We have opened up roads and we have built schools that many find hard to believe are possible in this part of the world.

“We have renewed our urban settlements to attract investors. These and many more would be the spectacles to behold when they visit Osun,” the statement stressed.

That I formerly known as MISS ABIODUN ABOSEDE OMOLOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS SIKIRU SIMIAT OMOLOLA. All former documents remains valid.

General public should take note of this.

FRIDAY JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

July 8:

NEWS ANALYSIS

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

¡1

Political Projections And Permutations

•Continued from page 3

could gather support for the Party are Mr Segun Odekunle and Sanmi Adeyefa.

The council has registered voters of 51,252 as at 2014 and during the last governorship election, the total number for the two parties was little above 23,000 with APC 12,801 and PDP 11,255, but the ongoing project in Gbongan is one major campaign strength of APC that will work in its favour.

In Ejigbo, it will be easy ride for Senator Hussain, due to the fact that the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam; member of the House of Representatives, Professor Mojeed Alabi and Hussain are from the council area. The council has 51,623 registered voters and APC has not lost any election since 2007 in the local government. In 2014 , APC polled 17,700

against PDP’s 12, 495.

Irewole Local Government which has Ikire as its headquarter of the council has 53,487 registered voters, and it might be easy ride for APC with little efforts to consolidate on the strength of the party.

Since 2010, the APC has not lose any election and the trend might be repeated in the July 8 election due to the influence of the APC leaders like Dr Peter Babablola, Chairman of the State Local Government Service Commission, Hon Foluke Eteh, a former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and Hon Ayo Omidiran, a member of the House of Representatives amongst others.

In 2014 governorship election, APC defeated PDP with a wide margin of 18,328 votes against 10,330 votes. However

Akogun Lere Oyewumi of the PDP is not taking it lightly with APC leaders in the council, as he is also determine to make impact during the election.

Iwo Local Government with total registered voters of 66,657 as at 2014, is historically a strong hold of APC, regardless of the candidate presented for the election. In the 2014 governorship election, the APC garnered 20,827 votes while the PDP got 15,493 votes.

The influence of the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji

Moshood Adeoti who hails from Iwo and other APC leaders from the area, including Barrister Adedeji Gbadegesin might automatically count and give the APC victory.

Ede South/ Ede North local government might be the most volatile during the election with alleged violent threat by political parties members and leaders from the area, as there were reports of destruction of political parties’ bill boards and campaign posters in the area last week.

Ede North has 49,130

registered voters and Ede South has 35,931.

Until the death of late Adeleke, Ede was predominantly APC strong hold, but the tune changed immediately his younger brother, Ademola defected to PDP and got the party ticket, as some other APC chieftains who were close supporters of the late Adeleke also reportedly returned to the PDP. Analyst said, the PDP might win the two council areas with ease due to the political influence of the Adeleke political dynasty in Ede land and the support of former Speaker, Hon Adejare Bello.

However, APC chieftains including Alhaji Sule Alao, Alhaja Latifat Giwa, Dr Olalekan Yinusa, Idiat Babalola are not resting on their oars to pull their weight during the election, as they are reportedly

moving at a very fast pace to prove their worth in the election.

The APC Youth Leader in Osun West, Mr Imran Manjeed said the APC will spring up a surprise in Ede, saying the “Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke died as APC member and I am so confident that the people of Ede will vote APC”.

In Egbedore which is one of the strong hold of the APC with 33,925 registered voters, since 2007, the ruling party has not lost any election in the council area.

The coming election may not in any way be different, as there is no indication that the party may lose the election in the council, although, Bamidele Salaam one of the Senatorial Aspirant of the PDP was reportedly mobilsing support for his party. In 2014, APC defeated PDP with 10, 615 against PDP 7,024.

ENTERTAINMENT

Hikosso Music And Uniqueness In Entertainment Industry •

By Francis Ezediuno Known as FloxyBee, Olori Oluwatoyin Adediwura, the wife of the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Idowu Olaniyi Adediwura is a Music Ambassador, advocate of women issues, professional musician, traditionalist, certified chef, voice coach and personal trainer.

She prides herself as the Queen of ‘Hikosso’ music, a unique line of music genre which combines Highlife, Makossa and Sukkous, saying, from the day she could differentiate her left from the right hand, it was clear that she had a calling which enabled her succeed beyond musical, cultural and traditional landscape.

Amongst her albums are, ‘Orimi ti Kore’, ‘Oluwatoyin’ (God is worthy to be praised), ‘Adurami tigba’, ‘Teriba foko’, Silent Night, ‘Eko oni baje’, ‘Seioo’, ‘Moyege’, ‘Gbangbalasata’ and ‘Ori’.

Her latest work, which has been receiving remarkable airtime in different media outlets nationwide is titled, ‘Palongo Tilongo’. The song, according to FloxyBee is laced with ironies and euphemisms about life which listeners would learn from.

“All my songs address women folk. Women are no doubt marginalised in this part of the world, unlike the situation in advanced countries and that is why I titled a track ‘ENI WO MO’.

She is of the belief that the feeling of women should not be under-estimated, saying “when it comes to emotional relationships between a man and a woman, the woman desires more and most men tend to use this as an avenue to cheat the woman”.

FloxyBee emphasised that women in the African setting are not getting the respect due to them, noting that there is a need for women to be uplifted and

honoured.

“Respect should come as a sign of humility irrespective of status whether social, marital, gender and so on. The society is patriarchal in nature and elected personalities just promise without fulfilling, which is a lack of self-respect.

“In our society, women are considered second class citizens and seen as sub-humans.

All sorts of things will be done to bring her down, especially when she is successful”, she further stressed.

On her carrier as a musician, she said, “Musicians don’t choose to become musicians, it is what they are and what they are born to be.

Music chooses them. It is not about money; it is about loving music; it is about getting to share something that they love more than themselves”.

A BREAKDOWN OF THE SONGS ENI WO MO is all about the lessons of life especially to the women. It deals with the desperation of women, thus, leading to exploitation by men.

The song is about the story of a man who approached a woman with the intention of having an affair with her, but with a hidden agenda, unknown to the man that the woman is also seeking to have a child.

The man thought he had had his way, but the woman became pregnant and later gave birth.

The underlying lesson is that everybody has a motive for embarking on a course of action, hence, we should be mindful of our actions because they carry consequences.

PALONGO deals with the cultural perspective of the Yoruba race, different types of songs and dance

styles which have been handed down through the ages.

FloxyBee said, ‘Palongo’ is her own creation and hopes it will be very popular as a dance style and music genre.

In the song, she said some monarchs were selected for praises, including the Ooni of Ife, HRM Oba E n i t a n Ogunwusi; the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Idowu O l a n i y i Adediwura amongst others.

T h e motivation in the track is the dancing style which she desires should gain prominence amongst the Yorubas especially in the area of culture, tradition and entertainment.

EJEKAGBE LARUGE aims to extol the Yoruba culture and tradition, as well as showcase its rich and proud history which has its foundation from the reign of Oduduwa.

The song also emphasied on how the Yoruba language, culture and tradition are given pride of place internationally, while dying internally.

According to her, she got the inspiration for the song after concluding an extensive interview with some Yoruba Obas who all raised concerns that Yoruba as a nation and language must not be allowed to go into extinction.

Que sera sera is the last track in the album which is a popular Latin maxim. With the sonorous voice rendition, Que Sera Sera is a must hear for lovers of classical music. It means ‘what will be, will be’.

OTHER INTERESTS Apart from her love for music and gender rights activism, she is also a television personality and she recently kicked off her television show titled ‘Yeye Asa’ on the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, channel 32 UHF, Osogbo.

¢£

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

Flood Threats:

NEWS

FRIDAY JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

Refuse Flows on Osun Water Channels

•Govt To Adopt Whistle Blower Strategy

By Kehinde Ayantunji Despite warnings from the Nigeria Metrological Agency and the Government of the State of Osun against indiscriminate dumping of refuse on water ways in the state capital, wastes still flow on water ways that were recently dredged by the state government. those dumping the The State Government disposals are doing it in in April announced that the cover of the night and it has cleared about 123 indication emerged that kilometres of waterways the conducts are more and canals to ensure free rampant in Gbonmi, Oke flow of water in Osogbo, – Oni tea, Old Garage, Edun Abon and other Osogbo.

Such practice has flood-prone areas across reduced drastically in the state.

OSUNDEFENDER’s Rasco Area and this may visit to Gbonmi, Rasco, not be unconnected with Old Garage indicated that the ongoing construction residents of the area are of the bridge construction still dumping waste in the area, as workers are heavily on the water ways on site for almost 24 hours contrary to the warnings. to complete the bridge It was observed that aimed at controlling the

flow of water in the area.

After heavy downpour on Monday, those residing close to water ways in Gbonmi were sighted clearing the disposals that flowed with water to their respective residences.

It is observed that the government sanitation teams are putting in their best to stop refuse dumping on the road verges, the practice which is more rampant now in major streets of Osogbo.

Refuse always flood major streets from OgoOluwa to Staduim, in Osogbo, the state capital in the night or very early in the morning, but for the proactiveness of the sanitation team from the

Osun Waste Management Agencies (OWMA) who by 9am on daily basis would have cleared the waste.

Dr Adekunle Ibraheem Adenle, an Environmentalist described dumping refuse on water ways as a “ serious offence that should attract jail term” and called on government to improve its monitoring and enforcement units especially during the raining seasons.

He said: “Dumping of refuse on water ways is life threatening and should be treated as such; it is a socio-economic sabotage. Water is easy to control if you clear ways,

•(From Right) Formal Commissioner for Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Hon Sikiri Ayedun, Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon Timothy Owoeye and Executive Secretary Ilesa East, Hon Adeoye Olusola, seating on chairs of one of the classrooms, during the Governor Rauf Aregbesola visit to the ongoing Construction of Government High School Ilesa recently.

Ife Crisis: Panel Raises Alarm Over Abandonment of Memoranda

individuals or group.

By Ismaeel Uthman The committee is also The Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Osun mandated to recommend State government to investigate the circumstances appropriate civil or that led to the clash between some Hausa and Yoruba criminal action to be people in Ile-Ife on March 8, 2017, has raised an taken against the alarm over abandonment of memoranda submitted perpetrators, make by the people. appropriate suggestions Secretary of the panel, determine the extent of to the State Government towards the prevention of injury suffered by any Mr Bisi Babalola, in a press statement stated that many people that submitted memoranda have abandoned them.

By Israel Afolabi According to Babalola, Two persons, Opeyemi Saheed 30 and Idowu some persons, groups and institutions that Rafiu 26 have been sentenced to two years imprisonment each by an Osogbo Magistrate Court submitted memoranda to the panel have in Osogbo presided over by Chief Magistrate abandoned or refused to Habibatu Bashiru for burglary.

The police prosecutor, there in and thereby appear before the panel to adopt them, despite Sergent Oladoye Joshua committed an offence to and repeated postponement in told the court that the contrary the deadline for the accused committed the punishable under section conclusion of the work of offence on 10 th of May 414 of criminal code cap 34 vol. II laws of Osun 2017. the panel.

According to the State of Nigeria 2002.

Babalola therefore The charge sheet charge sheet, Saheed and informed the general public that it would Rafiu at about 4:00am at further stated that the suspects also stole two round off its public sitting No 20, Obelawo street and consideration of Osogbo conspire together Bajaj Motorcycles, valued memoranda by Friday, to commit felony to wit N552,000, property of one shop breaking and Ebenezer Adediji and July 7, 2017. thereby committed an The five-man stealing and there by offence contrary to committee headed by committed an offence section 383(i) and to and punishable under section Justice M.A Adeigbe, was contrary inaugurated by Governor punishable under section 390(9) (IDA) of criminal Rauf Aregbesola on 516 of criminal code cap code cap 34 vol. II laws of 34 vol. II laws of Osun Osun State of Nigeria March 27, 2017.

The committee is to State of Nigeria 2002.

2002.

It also stated that the unravel the remote and The convicts, who were immediate cause of the Ife two accused person broke arraigned on a three crisis, identify the into a shop of one count charge, pleaded perpetrators and their Ebenezer Adediji with guilty to all the charges. extent of involvement and intent to commit felony The duo had no legal

future occurrence and also recommend appropriate monetary sum as compensation(s) for damages or injuries that might have been suffered by any individual or group of individuals in respect of matters received by it.

Two Bag Jailed Terms Tor Stealing representation in the court, but pleaded to court to tamper justice with mercy.

The Presiding Magistrate in his ruling sentenced the accused person into two years imprisonment each without option of fine.

but the moment it is obstructed, the society is endangered and you cannot undermine the level of damage it may cause.”

He urged the people to always raise alarm whenever they sight such behaviour, saying environmental protection and flood control is in the general interest of everybody.

NIMET, last week warned against imminent flooding in some part of the country with metrological prediction that the coming months, July and August may experience heavy downpour.

Osun, last year experienced flooding which claimed lives and properties but to avert such development, the state government had cleared major water ways and demolished some structures obstructing water ways.

The government has currently blocked Oke- fia to Old garage road for the ongoing construction of Rasco Bridge to control flow of water. Rasco is one of the flood prone areas in the state.

Speaking on the indiscriminate refuse dumping, Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Engineer Abdul- Rasheed Opatola said, Governor Aregbesola holds every life as sacrosanct and would do anything to prevent the loss of lives and properties.

He said, the governor is fulfilling its promises to prepare for flood disasters and avoid future occurrence when it happened in 2016.

According to him, one of the major challenges in flood control is indiscriminate refuse dumping, saying government is considering the Whistle Blower Policy by rewarding citizens who volunteer information about people engaging in such misconduct.

He lamented that despite government

warning and sensitisations, people are still erecting structures very close to water ways and urged the people take their safety serious.

“We are trying our best as government, and it is obvious we have cleared 123 kilometers of water ways across the state to prevent flooding, the same efforts is ongoing in Rasco and we still maintain that we are going to continue to separate any landed properties from obstructing the water ways. As government we have responsibility to protect the lives and property, that is the standing instruction from Mr Governor.”

Also on the enforcement challenges, the Head, Enforcement Unit, Osun Waste Management Agency, Abiodun Fatunsin in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER said the unit has arrested more than 25 offenders these years and imposed fines in accordance with available environmental laws.

He said paucity of fund in the state limited the capacity of the enforcement unit which, he described as national challenges.

According to him, most of the people dumping refuse on water ways are doing it in the night, saying the unit now lacks the funding capacity to do midnight water way surveillances and enforcement.

He said, the unit now has only one operational vehicles which is not even enough to enforce environmental standard in Osogbo, the state capital not to talk of extending enforcement to other part of the state.

Fatunsin said: “the Governor is keen about the enforcement but he is incapacitated, we all know the situation of the country now. In 2013 and 2014, when we have better allocation, we enforced effectively and we are going to continue to do our best”.

Road Tax Impersonators Nabbed In Osun

By Tola Oyewale The State of Osun Board of Internal Revenue Service (OIRS), under the leadership of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tax and Revenue Matters Mr. Oluwagbemiga Akano has unveiled the fraudulent acts of some individuals who disguised as Revenue Collectors at Ilesha axis.

The discovery was arrested. made in the course of the While reacting to this monitoring activities of ugly incidence, the Acting the OIRS Tax Force last Chairman, Osun Internal week, a statement by the Revenue Service, Mr. Information Officer of the Bicci Alli described the act service, Wasiu Babalola of the perpetrators as said. unfortunate, especially as The fake tax collectors, this period when the Mr. Samuel Fakoya and people are still being Mr. Tope Ogundipe were sensitised to perform their

civic responsibility of tax payment.

He however, implored tax payers to pay taxes, levies and other dues to the state government designated account in any revenue collecting bank directly and demand for Automated Revenue Receipt (ARR).

He explained that neither the board of OIRS nor any agent of the state would collect taxes, levies and dues directly through road block, which he described as illegal.

FRIDAY JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

BUSINESS

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

¤¥

Taxation, Bedrock Of Development

It is imperative for any society that is in dire need of holistic progress to follow the systematic pattern of development, with taxation as its impetus.

By general belief, development is all encompassing, as it cuts across the socio-political and economic aspect of life. It is the real and well saturated improvement noticeable in all society’s sub-sectors. In other word, it is the holistic well being of the society’s sub-sectors.

Meanwhile, development is termed to be a conceptual entity that is propelled and sustained by the help of taxation. Hence, taxation by definition is the system of charging taxes while tax is an amount of money that eligible tax payers must pay to the government according to taxpayers’ income.

Analogically, development is an engine that is also fuelled by taxation for the continuous maintenance of the status quo, meaning that both are two sides of a coin.

The motive behind the conceptualisation of taxation, which is a major source of income for any government in most part of the world, is to help the government settle its administrative expenses, as well as providing social services and infrastructure like schools, electricity, water supply, construction and reconstruction of roads and other goodies that the government might think of, which will automatically have positive impact in the life of the citizenry.

Analogically, development is an engine that is also fuelled by taxation for the continuous maintenance of the status quo, meaning that both are two sides of a coin.

Developed states of the world today have developed through their well organised and systematic tax network being planned for the entire citizens of those states. Such states include: the United States of America, Great Britain, Canada, Japan and the likes. The magnanimity and enthusiastic nature of their citizens to see tax payment as their civic responsibilities, this has contributed to their improved standard of living. Due to the development achieved in those states, out of hundred, hardly could one person who will not have passion to be in those advanced states, simply because of their high standard of living there.

Why are we oblivious of the fact that those advanced countries of the

•Bicci Alli

world today had painstakingly planned for their destiny? Actually, they are the architect of their fortunes.

The journey to development is not far-fetched. It is realisable here also in the State of Osun under the leadership of a focused leader, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. After all, all the giant strides especially on

NSE Scores Omoluabi Mortgage Bank High The Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) has expressed deep satisfaction over the performance of the Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc in engaging the market with its impressive financial performance as well as strategic and operational developments.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Exchange, Mr.Oscar N Onyema gave the commendations while receiving the management of the Omoluabi Mortgage Bank to present the facts behind the figures presented on its recent performance.

Welcoming the management of the bank, Onyema said, “Omoluabi Mortgage Bank has taken bold step to further engage the market, via this platform, of its impressive financial performance, strategy and operational developments.

“Knowing the market is information driven, it is inherent to

capitalise on these opportunities to share relevant and accurate information to further strengthen shareholder involvement”, he said.

Onyema emphasised that the exchange would continue to provide the needed platform to support listed corporate bodies to meet the strategic business objectives.

In his presentation, the Managing Director of Omoluabi Mortgage Bank, Mr. Ayo Olowookere noted that since inception, the company had undergone a complete reconstitution of its board in conformity of the NSE Corporate Governance Standards and post listing requirements.

This strategic restructuring and repositioning of the bank, he said, has resulted in the growth of its operations, realignment of its products and services offering to meet its strategic objective and

growth.

He further stated that regardless of the numerous challenges facing the mortgage industry, the bank has improved on the performances in its financials.

According to him, the company recorded a 142.8 per cent increase in PAT from 168 Million in 2015 to 70.9 Million in 2016 and maintaining full operations in spite the harsh business conditions faced by the sector.

The Managing Director pointed out that the Bank plans to raise additional capital of about N4 billion in 2017 in order to grow its balance sheet and has ability to take up more projects/ mortgage financing opportunities; drive the transition from the current State-Mortgage Bank license status to a NationalMortgage Bank status and play actively across the identified corridor and beyond.

•(L-R) Head, Domestic Primary Market, Nigerian Stock Exchange ( NSE), Tony Ibeziako; Executive Director, NSE Capital Market Division, Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Chairman, Board of Directors, Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc, Alh. Adebayo Jimoh and Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Mortgage Bank, Ayodele Olowookere during the presentation before the NSE.

developmental projects taken so far by the administration in various facets of human endeavours are clear indications that Osun is already on the strata of development. Is it the construction and reconstruction of roads in all nooks and crannies of the State, or the rejuvenation of the education sector from total paralysis to standardised position? It is from this remarkable feat the state has been placed on a high pedestal educationally to compete with any of its counterparts all over the world by virtue of the ultra-modern learning equipments that has aided the improvement of the educational sector in the state. Do you want to talk about the unprecedented school infrastructure being put in place by the administration, the introduction of computer tablets tagged ‘Opon Imo’ introduced to the education sub-sector and distributed for free to all Senior Secondary School Students in the State of Osun?

In the aspect of employment, over 40,000 unemployed youths have been liberated so far from the bane of unemployment through Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme (OYES). Apart from this, the recent massive recruitment of unemployed youths into various Ministries through the Civil Service Commission and the revival of the customary commercial activities in Osogbo, the State Capital and other towns with focus on wealth creation for the teeming populace, are strong indications that the ever-ready Governor Aregbesola is committed to make the state a place of reference as far as development is concerned.

However, as citizens whose inspiration is to be liberated from the bondage of poverty, live a life more abundant and the desire to live in a state that is comparable to those in the advanced states. We must also imbibe the virtuous culture of altruism. We must all realise that any little contribution we make through tax payment goes a long way in helping the government to meet her target to make life better for her citizens and to fulfill its other obligations. After all, little drops of water, little grains of sand makes the mighty Ocean and the beautiful land.

Contribute your own quota, pay your tax!

•Babalola is the Information Officer, Osun Internal Revenue Service (OIRS)

¦§

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

JULY 8 BYE ELECTION

FRIDAY JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

Psephology And The Senatorial Bye-Elections Of July 8th 2017 In The State Of Osun

By Oyewole Fabode Abuja.

Among other things, elections in our clime are held in order to: (I) Elect those who will govern us at the Federal, State and Local Levels.

(II) Ensure and confirm the support of the citizens for government.

(III) Provide popular control by making sure that persons elected have been elected by popular support.

(IV) Guarantee that the citizen will support the government.

(V) Ensure that government is answerable to the electorate.

(VI) Provide a basis for peaceful change as provided in the constitution.

(VII) Provide a channel of communication between the governed and those in government.

(VIII) Make those in authority identify the fact that political power belongs to the people ultimately.

Inspite of what has been listed above, the July 8th 2017 Senatorial By-Elections is specifically to choose the person

to represent the Osun West Senatorial District in the Senate.

This is also one of the major purposes of elections as already indicated above.

The purpose of this paper is to predict the likely winner of this particular election. However the

approach used is more scientific than mere speculation. For example quite a number of writers have adopted the sentimental and non-scientific approach to predict the outcome of elections. Such writers have failed woefully because their

predictions have not been based on any concrete data.

Ordinarily the secrets of winning elections which have been canvassed in the literature and which are sometimes based on concrete data include: (I) A proper understanding of the Electoral Process by the Political Parties, Politicians/ Political Elites (II) Adherence to the Rules of the G a m e (Constitution, Electoral Act and o t h e r Legislations) (III) Understanding of the operations of E l e c t o r a l Constituencies.

(IV) A c t i v e participation in voter registration and voter e d u c a t i o n activities.

(V) T h e existence of a level playing ground especially at the political party level.

(VI) E v o l u t i o n of a virile political •Continued on page 15

FRIDAY JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

JULY 8 BYE ELECTION

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

¨©

Psephology And The Senatorial Bye-Elections Of July 8th 2017 In The State Of Osun •Continued from page 14

culture in the operational area.

(VII) Promotion of Victory/ Success enhancing variables (good governance, political purpose, understanding the electorate, support for the Electoral Body, use of party agents and realistic campaigns and promises).

All of the above factors can assist political parties, politicians and the political class to win elections. The major problem with these variables is that they are very difficult to use for predictive purposes especially when it comes to predicting the outcomes of elections. This is the reason for looking or searching for the outcome of the July 8th Senatorial election from the perspective of psephology.

Let us first examine the political theatre of operation before any further discussion is embarked upon. The Osun West Senatorial District has ten local government areas (Ref Table 1).

Although there are many political parties involved in the July 8th 2017 By-Election, the present writer has decided to restrict this analysis to two principal political parties (i.e APC and PDP). By 2014, the total number of registered voters in the entire Senatorial District was

431,921 out of which only 307,282 collected their voters cards to participate in that election.

At the 2014 Governorship Election, the APC candidate scored 132,822 votes while the PDP candidate scored 97,285 votes in the West Senatorial District. This evidence confirms the fact that in that election the APC had the upper hand.

In March 28th 2015 Senatorial Election in Osun West, the total number of registered voters was 426,603. The total number of accredited voters (those who actually participated in the election) stood at 231,976. The valid votes in that election was 217,788 while the total number of votes cast was 225,145. Out of these the APC candidate in the Senatorial District scored 133,009 while the PDP candidate scored 79,296. The obvious conclusion from the above is that the APC as a political party was predominant in the Senatorial Election at that time.

Even on a local government by local government basis, the APC had a field day at that election.

One is therefore inclined to suggest that on the basis of the evidence presented above the APC was apparently very strong in this Senatorial District.

The other evidence that we

need before a conclusion can be reached is that arising from the outcome of the State Constituency Elections of April 2015. This election was that of the House of Assembly men and women in this zone who are currently in place. All the nine seats in the ten local government areas were cleared by the APC candidates as provided in table 3 below.

The APC men had the total votes of 109,783 as against the PDP’s 51,540 votes. What more evidence do we need to confirm the supremacy of the APC in the Osun West Senatorial District?

It can outrightly be concluded that sentiments do not in anyway assist in winning elections.

Although there are secrets that can be usefully employed to win elections, all of such secrets are not of any concrete predictive value for subsequent elections.

The only instrument that is of value in predicting electoral outcomes is psephology which essentially involves the statistical or predictive study of elections.

What we have done in this paper is to use three most recent elections in the Osun West Senatorial District to predict the outcome of the July 8th 2017 Senatorial District By-Elections.

In doing this we restricted our analysis to the outcome of the results of the Governorship Election of 2015, the March 2015 Senatorial Election in the West and the State Constituency Election of April 2015. In these three elections the APC trounced its major opponent (PDP). In the 2014 Elections the total votes scored by APC was 132,822 while the PDP scored 97,285. In the March 2015 Senatorial Elections, the APC scored 133,009 while the PDP scored 79,296 and finally in the April 2015 House of Assembly Elections, the APC scored 109,783 votes as against PDP’s total votes of 51,540.

The statistical evidence presented above which is hereby used as the predictive index or instrument swings the pendulum of success at the July 8th 2017 West Senatorial District By-Elections to the court of the APC. It is contented that the above conclusion is essentially valid and supported by the trends in APC Voting, swings in APC votes and number of votes polled by the APC in the Osun West Senatorial District at the three elections of 9th August 2014, March and April 2015 respectively.

¿ÀÁÂÃÄÁÁ

.

.

ª«¬­®¯ª«°±­ª²®­®ª¬³´¬µ­®ª¬®¶¶®·¬¸®¹

.

NSE Scores O m o l u a b i M o r t g a g e Bank High

.

º»¼½¾Y JUNE 23 - THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

Birthday Message To A Visionary Leader The month of May portends the period that marks the continuous struggle of workers globally including the downtrodden against the forces of oppression and wanton deprivation. This reminds me constantly of the emergence of a great and visionary leader who has demonstrated unwavering loyalty not only to the cause which he espouses but also to his followers and comrades. A man who has shown unusual interconnection with the populace both in and out of public office and this alone is what has come to set him apart both as a leader, a mentor and a compatriot.

It is therefore not by coincidence that God chose May in which the struggle for the emancipation of the globe from the gyres of oppression and enthrone a fairer world by bringing in the Governor of State of Osun – His Excellency, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

We shall not be speaking out of tune if we say that Governor Aregbesola had his niche cut for him by the circumstances of his birth. As if refined in the spirit of the global struggle for freedom in the month, he has devoted his entire life in the struggle for the emancipation of the masses by ensuring that inequality of whatsoever dimension is not allowed to become the norm. He has spent his time and every opportunity he has to create newer platforms that would enable the downtrodden challenge the status quo and creatively free themselves from the “stranglehold” of the dominating ruling elite.

All these have fortunately defined him and it has become the building blocks for his governance and overall direction in The State of Osun. He has been running a government that has not only transformed the state’s infrastructure-wise within the limited resources available but also the huge personnel cost thrust upon its lean purses which is one of the highest in the country. The state has also transformed the lives of the people as a firm believer in the power of the people to create and energise development in any clime.

It is therefore not surprising to everyone that knows him and the dynamism of his thoughts that he has placed a very high premium on the development of human capital in The State of Osun. He has always been a firm believer and indeed an apostle of the People-First creed: the idea that people are adequately trained, equipped and empowered is critical to the development of any society thus providing the needed key to driving any nation from the framework upon which his leadership revolves.

He usually teaches that critical thought is central to successful confrontation of all challenges in every society. Expounding on this philosophy further, he said that a society with people who have an infinite capacity for critical thinking would surmount obstacles as they arise which is inevitable. This would develop faster than the one with huge mineral resources. The Bull’s eye for him then is for government to invest in building the human capacity by building the people. No wonder, as said earlier, he insists on investing largely on programmes and projects that would build the capacity of Osun people.

Page 13

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

By Invitation ÅÆÇÈÇÉÊËÌ ÍÊÈÅÎ

Truly, our summary of Aregbesola’s leadership is that in the state under his leadership have put food where the citizens’s mouth is.

This is on the backdrop of the fact that when we remember the benefits of the trail-blazing Opon Imo – The Tablet of Knowledge---, the revolution that took place in the educational sector with Schools and their infrastructures receiving a reawakening and ultimately the new impetus given to free education and scholarship programmes for The State of Osun citizens at all levels. With the teaching staff in and out of Nigeria, one would behold immediately the work of a master strategist carefully laying a credible foundation for progress and prosperity in The State of Osun in the coming future. I would not therefore be surprised that in the next few years, the state would be in the forefront of national development as a result of the sound strategy which the Governor has adopted.

Truly, our summary of Aregbesola’s leadership is that in the state under his leadership have put food where the citizens’s mouth is. Indeed his emergence in the state as its Governor heralded a new beginning and a revival, projecting hope for a better tomorrow in the hearts and minds of the people of the state. He has given the people another reason to believe and greater reason to have hope in the coming future.

We took it upon ourselves, on twentyfifth of May, 2017, to celebrate His Excellency’s birthday so that others in leadership positions in Nigeria especially our governors would be encouraged to emulate the virtues of this man, and provide impactful leadership for their citizens as that is our understanding of the thinking behind celebrating the lives of great leaders. That is one of our contributions to the nation’s governance as he still stands out as one of the shining stars of our democracy.

He remains a shining star in this realm because of his outstanding and exemplary leadership style is devoid of cronyism and “primordiality” in all its ramifications. He abhors seeing others through the prism of

religious beliefs, gender, race and nationality but chooses to relate with all on the basis of merit founded on the principles of egalitarianism. Many would not believe it but since I have known him, long ago, he does not know neither does he care about the state of origin unlike some others who make that their first point of interaction with you.

When we say long ago, it is truly a long time! We have known him both as a scholar, an ideological teacher and in public service which have all been exemplary. It is our belief that this trajectory his humble beginnings and his experiences largely inform of his attitudes towards governance. This has then dictated his successes, thus, the present benefits which the people of Osun are reaping as a result of his governorship.

It is important that we remember that as a Commissioner in Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, Aregbesola was in charge of the pioneering drive to redefine the road infrastructure of Lagos State. Governor Tinubu found in him a man capable of translating his Mega City vision of Lagos into reality. This assignment he embarked upon with single-mindedness had overnight yielded great dividends and transformed Lagos into an emerging world class city, which the present Governor Ambode has aggressively pursued, expanded and is turning into a “Smart City”. Without Aregbesola and the vision of the Asiwaju in appointing him into office then, perhaps, there will be no Lagos state of the kind which we all today celebrate.

In his commissionership then lies what we today see in Lagos state.

He has provided guidance and mentorship to many young men and that explains the nature and number of young men who form the nucleus of his government. Providing opportunities for the youth and believing in their ability to perform has truly given many which includes people like my humble self to participate in the nation’s democracy and contribute positively to the nation’s governance.

And any time I have the opportunity of talking about this great son of Nigeria, like his birthday had afforded me, I have never failed to espouse one of the most outstanding impacts his policies have made on the State which is the focus on changing the behavioural pattern of the citizenry through his targeted programmes

of youth rejuvenation and empowerment.

We see this as very visionary and futuristic as a society that has invested heavily on its stock of human resources shaping its passion and gearing its zeal towards creating the critical mass needed for continuous transformation of the society will in the long run have a clear edge over its contemporaries. The investment in character moulding of the youth in the state imbuing them with patriotic zeal and civic responsibility has created in the state a cadre of young men and women whose vision of society is selfless. We will not be surprised in the near distant future to see State of Osun rising because of these clear – headed policies.

Whenever I reflect on His Excellency’s single-minded commitment to the development of human capital, I remember what Steve Maisiyawa the former CEO and founder of Econet Nigeria said about his impression of our nation Nigeria – “... that when people talk about the mineral resources as the main developmental resources available to the nation’s effort for progress, he clearly disagrees. Our main resources he believes is that abundant human capital in virtually all fields of human endeavour replete within the nation which can be tapped into to propel the nation out of the morass of underdevelopment” While the nation has failed to positively develop this and tap its potentials, Aregbesola in Osun State has identified this and is presently tapping it. The state has therefore become a huge incubator for hatching the nation’s economic progress under the determined hands and creativity of His Excellency.

We do not want to make this about celebrating his Excellency’s numerous achievements in office but it is about appreciating a man whose life has thus far transformed not just his state but the lives of many young men and women all over the federation. A man who has successfully demystified and deconstructed the dynamism of leadership in Nigeria as that steeped in self-aggrandizement separated from the desires of the people and community. He has demonstrated unarguably that leadership is about empowering the people freeing their creative energies for the overall benefit of the nation.

As he celebrates his... birthday, we urge all public office holders not to just participate in the celebrations but to strive to go beyond that and allow the man’s leadership style to impact their actions in their various areas of influence. That is the kind of celebration we are sure His Excellency will be enamoured with and that is the way he will want his life to be appreciated.

We wish His Excellency the best of health and pray that the good lord will preserve him for the people of State of Osun and indeed Nigeria. Once again, we request His Excellency to see the outpour of encomiums as a trigger to do more as there are still many more heights to climb and many more battles to be won. Nigeria needs your qualities and efforts and that is what the effusive appreciations signify.

Many more years of fruitful and insightful leadership at all levels in Nigeria and beyond is what we wish the star Governor.

•Jimoh is a member of the Lagos House of Assembly, Apapa II. 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,