May 12 -19, 2017 Online Edition Of Osun Defender

POLITICS

Appointments Breath Life To Political Activities In Osun

NEWS

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THE SIXTH MOST VISITED WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

Osun Water Corporation, Federal Lawmakers Trade Blame Over Project

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THURSDAY MAY, 12 - FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017

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VOL. 012. NO.13

ISSN: 0794-8050

N100

Tax Evasion:

Pay Up Or Get Shut, Osun Revenue Bares Fangs - Page 2

FACTS ARE SACRED

•Shuts Eatery, Hotels

10 STATES WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF JAMB CANDIDATES 1.

Imo State -

101,868

2.

Osun State -

88,655

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Oyo State Ogun StateDelta StateAnambra State Kaduna State Kano State Kogi State Benue State -

87,811 81,349 81,108 77,253 72,104 70,276 70,150 68,916

•Finger Licking Restaurant and Sports Bar after the invasion by the Osun Internal Revenue Service (OIRS) officials on Wednesday

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NEWS

THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

Pay Up Or Get Shut, Osun Secure Cars With Security Revenue Bares Fangs •Shuts Eatery, Hotels Devices - Police Tax Evasion:

Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Iwo destinations were seeing

By Francis Ezediuno he said. and Ikirun, the five zones assembled at the OIRS He added that the of the state. office in Abere to O the surprise of lovers and guests of hospitality H o w e v e r , negotiate with the destinations in Osogbo and other towns in the closure exercise was simultaneously carried managements of some of officials of the agency. state, the Osun Internal Revenue Service has shut down business operations in some hotels and out on businesses in the sealed hospitality restaurants for tax evasion and default.

The popular Finger compliance, some of them Licking Eatery along paid before the 7-day Gbongan-Osogbo road notice expired, while was one of the victims of some did not and the hunt by of the OIRS, as sincerely the notice was committed the offence at the officials of the service due two weeks ago.

By Israel Afolabi Iragbiji Boripe Local “Some of them went to stormed the centre and A 70 year-old woman, Awawu Tiamiyu has been government area. court in order to obtain sealed it off. arraigned before a magistrate court in Osogbo, Osun According to the charge restraining orders, but in Other hospitality State for impersonation, fraud and stealing. sheet made available to destinations that were the exercise we carried DEFENDER, The prosecutor, the Court that the accused OSUN sealed off, are Hotel out today, we followed Baffou, Agunbelewo; due process to the letter”, Inspector John Idoko told person in January 2017 septuagenarian was docked on six count charges of Brymor Hotel, Okinni; impersonation, fraud, Omo Soorun Hotel, stealing and fraud.

Agunbelewo; Royal Park Awawu, in January 2017, Hotel, Iloko-Jesa; Hotel De according to the charge Legacy, Agunbelewo; and sheet unlawfully obtained Timsed Hotel, Ijebu-Jesa cash sum of N2 million among others. from one Alhaji Saka According to the Oyedeji under false Chairman of the agency, pretence of selling Mr. Bicci Alli, before the genuinely seven acres of action to enforce the land and thereby closure of Finger Licking committed an offence and other affected contrary to and punishable hospitality destinations, under section 419 of the notices had been served criminal Code cap 34 vol. II on the defaulting •Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); his deputy, Mrs. Titi laws of Osun State of organizations through a Laoye -Tomori (left); General Manager, Daar Communications Plc, Mr. Alamu Martin Nigeria 2002.

The accused, the charge reputable courier (right), and Chief of staff to the governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (2nd right), during company and reminders Daar Communications familiarization visit to the Governor in his office, at Govern•Continued on page 3 had been sent to them two ment Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo on Tuesday weeks before the agency swung into action against the defaulters.

He also revealed that the action was taken

By Ismaeel Uthman against those organizations which HE Senator Representing Osun East Senatorial There in an urgent need to defaulted in the payment District at the National Assembly, Senator Babajide of their 2015/2016 levies demobilise Boko Haram Omoworare has harped on de-radicalization and dues owed the state. programme as a peaceful and acceptable means of insurgents, and de-radicalize He said the agency curtailing terrorism, ensuring and restoring peace in the them along other people who would come out harder on society. experienced the brutal activities such other organisations According to explaining that the concept across the state.

Omoworare, de- is targeted at peacefully of the group, especially the individuals and “Notices were sent to radicalisation is fast moving youths. the most groups away from violent these organizations and a becoming counter- radicalism and activism.

7-day reminder was done fashionable He stated this on model, as follow-up.

In terrorism Monday at a public lecture suppressive measures. was also a need for the

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Septuagenarian Docked For Impersonation, Fraud

Omoworare Seeks Support For Deradicalization Programme

Terrorism:

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organised by the department of Public Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe. Omoworare who spoke on the theme of the programme: “Former Combatants and DeRadicalization: From Northern Ireland to Nigeria”, said there was an urgent need to demobilise Boko Haram insurgents, and deradicalize them along other people who experienced the brutal activities of the group, especially the youths.

According to him, strategies and policies resorted to more benign and most often preventive procedures to check the attractiveness of terrorism other than military or

CHANGE OF NAME That I formerly known as MISS USMAN RUKAYAT, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OTUYO RUKAYAT. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note of this.

The senator called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to resolve all legal, legislative, Judicial and security issues around de-radicalization and amnesty.

He submitted that there

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engagement of the Nigerian academic community as a “think-tank” to seek wide consultations, embark on a study of existing deradicalization programs and in the conduct of researches.

PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK, “HE LEADETH ME”, AUTOBIOGRAPHY TESTIMONIES OF OLUKAYODE OYEDIRAN, BY THE OYEDIRAN FAMILY. Date: Tuesday, 16th May, 2017 Time: 11.am Venue: Oritsejolomi Thomas Hall, University of Ibadan International Conference Centre, UI 2nd Gate, Oyo Road, Ibadan.

Chairman: Professor Mabogunje, CON, NNOM

Akinlawon

L.

Book Reviewer: Professor Oyewale Tomori, NNOM Chief Presenter: Professor Oyinade OdutolaOlurin, OFR Co-Presenter: Chief Akin Disu Co-Presenter: Dr Oba Otudeko, CON

Chief Warns

By Muratala Agboola HE Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of Ataoja Estate Police Division, Osogbo, Mr. Emmanuel Adeniran has counseled car owners, especially those riding exotic cars to secure them with security devices.

He made the call at the monthly meeting of the division’s Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) held at the station recently.

The police chief, while giving his monthly crime report stated that an attempt to kidnap two people recently was foiled by the security device installed in the Lexus Jeep being driven by one of them.

He recounted that the hoodlums succeeded in seizing the car from the owner and was driving him to an unknown destination after they had managed to escape.

According to him, the criminals who were later unable to decode the security device, abandoned the car, which was s u b s e q u e n t l y retrieved by the police.

The DCO further stated that, the police responded swiftly to a distress call when some armed robbers invaded an area close to NIPCO Filling Station in Ogo-Oluwa area of Osogbo.

M e a n w h i l e , members of the public were warned to desist from allowing strangers to have access to their mobile phones especially the ones used for transferring money.

A member narrated how a relative of his was swindled of a huge sum of money due to her carelessness.

The chairman of PCRC, High Chief Gbadebo Adeyemo commended the security operatives for their efforts at securing lives in the community, urging them to not use their positions to either thwart the law or be friends to criminals.

He also urged members of the public to be conscious and be on alert at all times to ensure security of their lives and properties.

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THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

NEWS

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Osun Water Corporation, Federal Lawmakers Trade When the lawmakers approached us Blame Over Project for the intervention projects, we gave

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and would only require

By Shina Abubakar them options, since the state government the building of a rising had facilities in place with enough HE General Manager of the Osun Water mill to transporting water Corporation, Engineer Gbenga Owojuyigbe from the dam to the water to serve the people and would only has described the assertion of the state Federal treatment plant. require the building of a rising mill to lawmakers over their intervention projects in some “Rather than doing transporting water from the dam to the constituencies as deliberate attempt to mislead the that, they resorted to treatment plant. public. sinking boreholes He described the condition but now they without considering have enough water to the affected communities. started putting up flimsy whether the boreholes quality of job done on the serve the populace in all “For instance, in Ila, 10 affected sites as below excuses.

However, in his standard that could not provide the water need of reaction, the corporation Manager the teeming populace of General the the affected communities. dissociated The lawmakers, had, corporation and its through Hon. Ayo personnel from the issues Omidiran of Irewole/ leading to the failure of A y e d a a d e / I s o k a n the project and put the Federal Constituency, blame on the legislators while on a visit to some of who, according to him, the water project sites turned down a more cost blamed the state water effective proposal, which corporation for its failure would have served the to manage the projects to desired purpose for a the satisfaction of the capital intensive and less constituents, regretting productive option.

In his word, “when the that the targets of the multi-billion naira lawmakers approached us for the intervention projects has not enjoyed the schemes since they projects, we gave them were commissioned and options, since the state •(L-R) Chief of Staff to the Osun Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and the State Head handed over in the year government had facilities of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye during the popular audience participation programme in place with enough 2012. of the Governor, tagged; Ogbeni Till Daybreak at WOCDIF centre, Osogbo.

According to her, “It is water to serve the people Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI. regrettable and disheartening to know and see that projects like these have not been working and serving the the deceased, Dr Deji

By Ismaeel Uthman Adeleke and Mrs Modupepeople to which they RESH controversy has erupted on the death of the Adeleke Sanni were absent. were implemented for. first civilian governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka But the Commissioner of She added, “These Adeleke, as the family shunned the proceeding of projects were the Coroner’s Inquest instituted by the state government Police in Osun State, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye; Executive unanimously handed to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.

Director of Biket Hospital, over to the Osun Water It would be recalled that Wednesday by refusing to Dr. Adebisi Adenle; Corporation after the the family rejected the appear before the coroner Executive Secretary, Ede commissioning and the coroner inquest set up by when the sitting began.

South Local Government, According to the family, Mr. Johnson Ojo, were Corporation did not Governor Rauf Aregbesola investigate the the result of the coroner present at the sitting. complain then that some to of the pumping machines circumstances of the death, inquest was already The coroner sitting predetermined by the headed by Chief were not in good but crowned it on government.

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Adeleke’s Family Shuns Osun Coroner’s Inquest

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Septuagenarian Docked •Continued from page 2 stated forged land agreement, as she impersonated one Madam Awawu Abolarinwa and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 467 of the Criminal Code cap 34 vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

The charge also stated that the accused person intended to defraud with false name and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 584 of the Criminal Code cap 34 vol.

II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

It revealed also that the accused stole by trick, cash sum at N2.1 million, property of Alhaji Oyedeji and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 (i) and punishable under section 390(a) of the Criminal Code cap 34 vol.II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

The accused was also accused to have unlawfully destroyed corner pieces worth N648,000, property

of Alhaji Oyedeji and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 451 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to all the charges leveled against her in court.

The defense counsel, Nagite Okobe prayed the court to grant the accused bail.

The presiding Magistrate, A.A Sodamade granted the bail in the sum of N1million with one surety in like sum.

He then transferred the case to the magistrate court in Iragbiji and adjourned same till 19th of June, 2017.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr Deji Adeleke, who is the immediate younger brother of the decease said, the coroner inquest was aimed at serving political interest.

Adeleke questioned the hurriedness of the state government on the coroner inquest when the report of autopsy ordered by the Family was yet to be delivered.

According to him, the family has resolved not to participate nor cooperate with the panel which, he said, was clearly set up to establish self-serving facts.

Adeleke warned the medical team conducting the autopsy not to release the result to anyone except the family to avoid sanctions of the law.

However, when the coroner began its sitting on Wednesday, the siblings of

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That I formerly known as SUNDAY ABIGAIL BOSEDE, now wish to be known and addressed as ALFRED ABIGAIL BOSEDE. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note of this.

Magistrate, Mr. Olusegun Ayilara lasted for less than an hour.

Magistrate Ayilara said the panel invited the family of the deceased, but they did not turn up, explaining that the panel would not be able to take evidence because of

•The late Senator Adeleke logistic reasons and adjourned sitting till May 15 to take the evidence.

boreholes were sunk and it could only produce 137 cubic foot of water against the 900 cubic foot per day and it takes 18 days to pump water to fill the reservoir, which means the people would have water ones in 18 days bearing in mind that the water available is not even enough to reach the required volume”.

He disclosed that the problem emanated as a result of lack of synergy between the lawmakers and the water corporation, but added that the legislators were responsible because they insisted on using the report of a consultant hired by them to execute the project, saying the outcome of the lawmakers’ decision was lack of adequate water to go round the populace.

He added that, of the three schemes executed, the only one that is fairly manageable is that of Ipetu-Ijesa, while other two were poorly executed considering the fact that there were dams in those areas and the projects could have been costeffective.

He added that as at the time the schemes were conceived, the Ila scheme was down in terms of power and the corporation needed only N10 million, compared to the N700 million the lawmakers claimed to have expended on the IlaOragun scheme.

Speaking on the way forward, the engineer disclosed that the IfeOdan scheme would require the construction of a rising mill to transport water from the dam to the treatment plant, while that of Ila would require more complex work like carrying out a geophysical survey of the area.

HDP Furious Over PDP Early Campaign To Occupy Adeleke's Seat

By Francis Ezediuno

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HE State of Osun chapter of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) has drawn the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state to some campaign posters circulating on social media platforms for the ‘yet-to-be-vacated’ seat of the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who until his death was the senator representing Osun West Senatorial District.

This was contained in wondering if the death of a statement by the Osun the former senator had State Chairman of the been expected.

HDP, Wole Adedoyin, “Imagine, three weeks shortly after an after Adeleke’s death, emergency meeting of the some members of PDP party in Ilesa on Sunday. went to the social media The HDP specifically campaigning for the yetaccused some Peoples to-be-vacated seat of the Democratic Party (PDP) deceased. aspirants of getting too “This is inhuman, fast to begin campaign, heartless and cruel and it

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is now revealed that Senator Adeleke’s death was not natural, but political.

“We are also not happy with the statement issued by a factional Chairman of PDP, Hon. Soji Adagunodo, politicizing the death of our beloved Senator.”

The party then urged high profiled politicians and political parties to stop politicizing Senator Adeleke’s death.

It also urged the government of Osun to quickly put in place a committee with the major aim of immortalizing the good name of the first civilian governor of the state.

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4 Much Ado About President's Letter

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E are exasperated that some Nigerians would be locked in the debate over the text of President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter as read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.

The President had written before embarking on his medical appointment: “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I wish to inform the distinguished Senate that I will be away for a scheduled medical follow-up with my doctors in London. The length of my stay will be determined by the doctor’s advice.

While I am away, the Vice President will coordinate the activities of the government. Please accept, the distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

If we thought that the letter was as unambiguous as it can be, that view, unfortunately would appear not to have been shared by many. Among them is Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North), who on Tuesday argued on the floor of the Senate that “the

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vacuum is induced when a leadership inadequately communicates its positions, achievements and aspirations. Many governments have had the perception of failure tagged on them simply by inadvertently failing to get the message across.

The helmsman of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has from the onset put effective communication on the front burner, luckily, he actually has something to say by diligently implementing the Six-point Integral Action Plan through which he persuaded the electorate to give him the responsibility of steering the affairs of Osun.

The empirical evidence is that under his stewardship, there have been solid

letter for me is not right and maybe should be sent back.”

His grouse was that there was nothing like coordinating president or coordinating vice president in the constitution – as alluded to in the letter.

“It is either you are vice president or you are acting president and any letter should be unambiguous and very clear…So, I’m saying that this letter really does not convey anything because coordinating has no space or any place in our constitution”, he told the Senate.

Barring an attempt at mischief, the above provision does not lend to ambiguity: a written declaration of the President’s intention to proceed on vacation for whatever reason is sufficient for the Vice President to become acting President.

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Communicating The Programme gains. Nevertheless, at a time of economic adversity hardly ameliorated by the stifling fiscal template of Nigeria’s quasifederalism, it is important to explain what is on ground.

Last week’s audience participation programme, ‘Ogbeni Till Day Break’, held in the State of Osun capital, Osogbo

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In a sense, the governor was combative. Reeling out facts and figures, he convinced the audience that governance was not a tea party in a period of national distress.

Briefly...

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E will very much want to answer the above poser in the affirmative. Frankly, with millions of disaffected consumers across the country, the time has come to pull off the kid gloves.

The Power, Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola, hitherto unfailingly polite, has now pulled off the kid gloves. The fact that he is fed up with the excuses from the DisCos over their shortcomings reflects the position of the consumers.

The whole process has been defective from the onset.

received a very high audience rating as Governor Aregbesola rendered account of his stewardship and solicited support from the people of the state on what is in effect the last lap.

The long established Town Hall format aided by the modern tools of information technology, as well as the Ogbeni’s natural political charm was endearing. It was helped by the ability of the governor to absorb hard knocks. This was no stage managed event, it was a real political theatre.

As one observer pointed out, the vigour of the event was absorbing because Ogbeni Aregbesola responded to probing questions with vigour and aggression.

’ A Riot Act? DisCos:

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With the stultifying effect on the nation’s economic capability, the time has come for them to shape on else…

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majorly caused by the drop in the price of crude oil and fall in the price of naira to dollar, it is important and appropriate for

government to step up actions on collection of taxes and other levies for government to run.

Coming down to Osun, it is very essential for all

dwellers to pay taxes and levies as demanded by the government in line with the sensitization of the people by the government to pay taxes.

It is important to note that the present government in Osun has effectively utilized the resources available to it through the massive

development going on across the state. We can all see that government is embarking on projects across all the local governments in the state.

Bearing this in mind, the invasion of the Osun Internal Revenue Service officials of some hospitality destinations recently is not out of place.

However, citizens must cultivate the habit of paying taxes and other levies, with a view to supporting the government in achieving its goals.

•BIOLA BABALOLA, Osogbo, State of Osun.

“In a sense, the governor was combative. Reeling out facts and figures, he convinced the audience that governance was not a tea party in a period of national distress”.

No punches were pulled and the governor showed that he is a political natural and a very good communicator.

To have held his ground and the attention of the audience for over six hours is very commendable. This newspaper was very impressed with the throughput of information and the assertion of vigorous democratic interaction, a worthy example of the way to cement the Social contract, the framework which binds the government and those they govern. We commend this interaction and recommend it as a format for others to follow.

predictably disastrous. The demons pointed out by Minister Fashola are well known. They include the observance of “Corporate Governance” in the breach in their relationship with the consumers as well as the refusal to stick to the terms of their licenses and implement their remittance obligations without complaints.

With the stultifying effect on the nation’s economic capability, the time has come for them to shape on else…

The minister was correct to point out that nobody forced them to buy the assets, “and that you knew what you were buying when you bought them.”

The time is long overdue to think even the unthinkable!

It is either they shape up, or …..!

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A corruption-propelled privatisation policy has turned a public monopoly into private fiefdoms. The result is

Tax Payment Should Be A Pride

AX payment is a civic responsibility for every citizen who has one source of income or the other. In the olden days, tax payment is a pride for any family that pays it.

Nowadays, it is unfortunate that neither individual nor corporate organization is ready to willingly pay taxes or any other levy to governments, inspite the fact that it is one major source of income for any governments at the local, state and federal levels.

Especially during this period of economic recession in Nigeria,

Good thing that Senate President Bukola Saraki ruled him out of order.

Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended cannot be clearer: “Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Vice-President as Acting President.”

Barring an attempt at mischief, the above provision does not lend to ambiguity: a written declaration of the President’s intention to proceed on vacation for whatever reason is sufficient for the Vice President to become acting President. And he will so remain until the President transmits another declaration to the contrary.

This is why the fears being expressed in some quarters are groundless; and the animus so stoked a mere storm in the teacup.

What Nigerians need at this time is to unite in prayers for the quick healing of our President. That is what patriotism demands. Our humanity demands no less.

OSUN DEFENDER Publisher

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

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STEWARDSHIP THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

Ogbeni Till Daybreak:

Raising The Bar Of Governance In Osun ‘I am indifferent to situations and circumstances, I take life as it presents itself, I may laugh at the most difficult situation and I can equally be very stand and may not react to what you would take as exciting moment. So, I focus on my business, it is my goal that is primary to me. I doubt if I have emotions’.

This was the opening statement of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun during a 7-hour ceaseless interactive session all night till the dawn of Saturday May 6, as he rendered account of his stewardship to the people of the state during the popular audience participation programme tagged, ‘Ogbeni Till Daybreak’.

The programme which had in attendance, the Deputy Governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori; The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola; the Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye; the Chairman, Osun APC, Prince Gboyega Famoodun; traditional rulers, political functionaries and many others, presented an opportunity for the governor to blow the trumpet of his administration on the achievements so far and plans for the remaining part of his administration. KAZEEM MOHAMMED, KEHINDE AYANTUNJI and ISRAEL AFOLABI were there and presents the blow-by-blow account of the session. Excerpt Cost Of Road Construction In Osun, Expensive Or Not?

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UR road projects are done with active participation of the Ministry of Works and the officials there determine the rate, but because many are interested in scandal, we don’t even do proper check. For you to focus on me as you have done that our road projects are too expensive, I will expect you to tell me, how must they are constructing road in Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Nassarawa and other states. If the cost at which our roads are being constructed with our quality, is more than the cost of the roads anywhere in the world, hold me responsible. The truth is that, the cost of road cannot be the same, there are categories of roads, you cannot compare ordinary road with landmark sensational roads. There is a section of Gbongan-Akoda road that unless you are a nincompoop, when you get to that section you will marvel. About 500 meters to the junction of Gbongan, there a section where boulders were used to stabilise the area which is waterlogged.

In the history of this state, nothing like that has ever happened. Since modern government came here, this will shock you, no government has constructed the number of bridges that we have constructed in our six years, five months

If The Cost At Which Our Roads Are Being Constructed With Our Quality, Is More Than The Cost Of The Roads Anywhere In The World, Hold Me Responsible.

and eight days. When you want to c o m m e n t about our works, take pain to do a reflection of what it was and what is happening now. In the last administration of PDP’s six and half years, the only bridge that administration constructed was a half b r i d g e •Participants at the programme. preceding Oranmiyan house.

For commemorate the date that judgement was your information, each of the bridges that delivered; we have August 9 bridge to we have constructed is named. Now, we commemorate the 2014 election that have Chief Bisi Akande Interchange; we brought us in for second term. That election have five Judges bridge on Oba Adesoji heralded the total removal of the PDP in Aderemi road to honour the five judges the lives of Nigerians. And the cost of that that delivered judgement which brought road from beginning to the end is us here; November 26 bridge is there to

We’ve Never Inflated Any Project - Nurudeen Adeagbo, PS Works

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OVERNOR Aregbesola has brought his experience as a former Commissioner for Works in Lagos to Osun and he has used it to ensure unprecedented road network rehabilitations and constructions in Osun.

We have been hearing things having to do with inflation of projects in our state, particularly the road projects cost but such notions are very unfortunate.

Ministry of Works in Osun is full of professionals that cut across construction industry and these are the set of people that determine the cost based on what we have on site. If you want to compare this administration with the last

administration, we are bold to say that this administration has done much more and the quality of projects are far more than what we had in the past.

The issue of cost per kilometer is relative and depends on the characteristics of the road and the kind of land where the road will traverse. For instance, two of our project, Gbongan-Akoda and Osogbo-ILa Odo road are federal roads, where state is intervening. The professional in the Federal Ministry of Works had come to look at our design, to look at the cost and they have never raised the issue of inflation of the cost. So, we have never inflated any projects in Osun.

something that nobody can contest in the world.

To show that you are not being fair to us by your assumption that our road projects are expensive, we constructed about 242 kilometers of local government roads at a total cost of N20.742 billion; do a simple arithmetic of that cost to determine how must we spent per kilometer and find out if that cost is inflated or not. The roads we are talking about have characteristic that are not common in most of the state of the federation. So, our roads are costeffective, we are prudent, accountable and transparent.

OSUNWON OMOLUABI, FAILED OR SUCCESSFUL? By your own standard, Osunwon Omoluabi has failed, but by my own standard, it has not failed. What do you think could have made it to fail? We said at the lunching of Osunwon Omoluabi that we are bringing the Omoluabi ethos into our commercial activities. It might be that you want to accept that how we trade without

•Continued on page 6

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STEWARDSHIP

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

Ogbeni Till Daybreak: •Continued from page 5

THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

Raising The Bar Of Governance In Osun

honesty, without accuracy in what we buy and sell is acceptable. If you accept what is going on which to us is primitive and must not be encouraged, then you can say it has failed but to us it is an ongoing process. and promising; we are in the state of the virtuous and we believe what cannot be measured cannot be managed and civilization is about you ensuring that we meet up with global standard. You cannot buy or sell in Benin Republic without accurate measurement, ditto for Togo and virtually all the neighbouring nations around our country. As far as I am concern, Osunwon Omoluabi is promising, it is landbreaking and it has future and all of us must combine to make it work; it is an attitudinal programme and it hasn’t failed.

N CALISTHENICS: I feel worried by the assessment of the press on calisthenics.

Calisthenics is a programme that is meant to totally reorient whoever is fortunate to be exposed to it to be a balance human being; it’s the essence of life. It teaches focus, discipline, concentration and beauty and these are vital requirements of good living. Also, education is about mentorship and so whatever it is we can do to make our youths the best in the world must be pursued. Callisthenics is desirable and we will pursue it.

And by the way, it is not an invention by me, the only thing you can probably say is that it is more popular among the communists’ nations of the world and if that is the reason for the condemnation of it, you have your choice and you are free to hold it.

CONSTRUCTION OF ALL OTHER ROADS IN OSUN Lagos State generated N30 billion every months, making average of N1 billion naira everyday and despite that Lagos has not been able to construct all the roads in Lagos and infact, the roads that have not been constructed in Lagos are more than the ones that have so far been constructed. So, nobody should think that we are going to construct all the roads in our state, but as a government we will be struggling to perform our obligation in accordance within our capability.

CONSTRUCTION OF MODEL SCHOOLS FOR PHYSICALLY-CHALLENGED It is true that we have not constructed new schools for the physically challenged, but it is part of what we intend to do. However, we must recall that we are the first government in Nigeria that has a dedicated office for the physically-challenged people. As buoyant as Lagos is, Lagos government is taking them out the state, but here, we are taking care of them. For instance, in December last year I was traveling to Ilesa and I saw a mentally-ill woman and called the attention of those in charge. Within three months, the woman was healed and now became normal. There are so many other people like that God has used our government to heal.

DAGBOLU PROJECT We are still on Dagbolu project and as a matter of fact I am processing payment for the consultants that will work on power supply to Dagbolu project. I am working on compensations for people who have farms and economic trees on the land. As for the reformation, we have settled the cost of providing railway sidings. By the nature of government, one would never say a project is abandoned; every project is an ongoing project and so, Dagbolu is on course and I can confirm that we have gotten an approval of Federal Government for our programmes and grant for the place.

LAMECO/OJUTU BRIDGE, ILOBU ROADS The question on that stretch of road is a question people want us to answer to settle some scores, but I am not interested in settling any score. We must educate ourselves on how government works. There is nothing the executive can do without the appropriation of budget and outright approval by the state House of Assembly and that is why I have told our House of Assembly members to go and claim and project we undertake in their constituency as their own projects, because they are not executive. It is the right of all parliamentarians at any level to claim any project that is being executed by the executive in their constituencies as their own. Rather than struggles for ownership of what is happening anywhere, the joy we must have is that, the government at the center is a product

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•Journalists at the programme.

•A cross section of Traditional Rulers at the programme.

ILOBU/OSOGBO ROAD PROJECT, A RESPONSE TO GOV AREGBESOLA’S EFFORTS - ADEAGBO HE Minister for Works, Power and Housing was in Osun to inspect federal roads and Mr Governor used that opportunity to reiterate some of his requests earlier made to the ministry through a letter and the Minister promised to act on it.

The issue of Osogbo Ilobu road and Osogbo Ilesa road came to the fore in the course of the discussions, as well as Ilie Bridge. The Minister was to leave the state on 24th of March and Mr Governor directed that I should follow the minister to traverse Osogbo-Ilobu, Ifon-Ilie road which I died.

When we got to Ojutu bridge, he did the inspection of the bridge and asked me to report back to Mr Governor that something would be done on that bridge.

Just this week, I got a letter informing Mr Governor that that bridge had been awarded to a contractor which is different from the contractor handling the construction of the stretch of the road.

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Nobody Should Think That We Are Going To Construct All The Roads In Our State, But As A Government We Will Be Struggling To Perform Our Obligation In Accordance Within Our Capability.

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of our collective efforts and so as the honourable representing that constituency can lay claim to the execution of such project, so could the executive do.

Afterall, we have been on that project since we assumed office in 2010 and the project was even on before our assumption. The process was slow before we came in, no doubt, but it was ongoing. APC rules Osun, APC rules federal, change is permanent, change is forever.

Citizens Roles To Govt When we talk about government, we are definitely talking about money and whoever wants development just like we do, must pay taxes. The little we are getting is what we use to do what we are doing. So, we must all ensure that we pay our taxes so that the government can have enough to do more.

LAUTECH CRISIS Interestingly, we were the people that alerted Nigeria on the financial challenges that would happen. I started sensitizing Nigeria to the recklessness of Goodluck Jonathan administration and there was nothing I did not say, drawing the attention of our people to the profligacy of that administration; I told Nigerians that if an administration could openly come out to tell us that 600,000 barrels of crude oil were being lost on a daily basis, we were in for a huge losses. Of course, the figure

of stolen oil went as far as over 1 million barrels per day.

That led to another catastrophe when the international crude oil market dropped seriously and the drop in the crude oil market led to an unexpected decline that brought the price of crude oil per barrel from over a 100 dollar per barrel to 28 dollars per barrel. Today, the average price of crude oil per barrel is 48 dollar. When you factor in where we were by 2012 and where we are now, the difference is huge. Sadly, we are a mono-cultural economy. Those who abuse us that why must we depend on oil, I agree, but unfortunately, we have been so dependent since the 60s, and to even get out of that dependency, we still need oil to develop alternatives. So, as we are working in our state to double the alternative sources of revenue, we are still largely dependent on oil resources and the revenue therefrom.

For the benefit of lecturers and students of LAUTECH, before this challenge, we were meeting our obligations in the school, but the truth is that, states, though federating units, cannot print money, they have no capacity for currency production. We can only work to generate our own revenue within our state, which we have not succeeded too well at. For your information, the capacity of our state for Internally Generated Revenue before our advent was at best N300 million per month and we have grown that to between N700 million and N1 billion, but it’s a far cry from what we need.

Secondly, on assumption of office, we based our projections on projects, programmes, on policies on the then existing paradigm of revenue, unfortunately that paradigm changed in 2013 July so badly that that projections could no longer hold. We are therefore struggling to keep expenditure on personnel cost, on recurrent, that is overhead cost, and other associated expenditure, as well as capital development we have embarked upon. So, it is difficult to fund LAUTECH as well as our other tertiary institutions desirably.

NTERESTINGLY however, at out meetings with the management of the university, as well as officials of government, we found out that something is missing and we want to know why LAUTECH could not operate from its own resources, afterall, Osun State University is operating absolutely on its own revenue. Meanwhile, the average fees payable in Osun State University is just N5,000 more than that of LAUTECH. The student population in UNIOSUN is maximally 12,000 and the population of students in LAUTECH is more than 30,000.

If UNIOSUN could manage its affairs with this population of students, we believe that LAUTECH should be able to fetch for itself. It’s not as if we would have preferred that option, but we are helpless.

So, to be sure that we are right in our assumption, we have appointed a firm of international auditor to help us with staff audit, as well as financial audit of the school to be sure that what the university is making and contributions we are putting in are sufficient to either run the place or not and then we decide on what to do.

We are pained by the fact that the school is challenged and as governments of the two states, we will find a solution. I appeal to the management, the academia and students toexercise some patience, we will soon get out of the challenge we have at LAUTECH. Yes, we are quite conscious of the difficulties facing our children, but when we are through with what we are doing, we will have solution that will keep the institution grow.

SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME (O’MEAL) All over Nigeria, since 30th April 2012, Osun alone has been fielding 250,000 pupils and by December of 2016, we have served 200 million plates of hot meal to our pupils both in urban and rural areas. I challenge anybody in Nigeria to dare that and compete with us. It’s a record and let any government come up with that statistics. We remain the first and only state that has kept on with that social intervention programme that is remarkable to the extent that the World Bank used us in its publication to tell the whole world that nothing is impossible where there is a will and commitment. Interestingly, the commodities with which we are feeding these pupils are locally produced and purchased from our markets.

Everyday, our children in elementary school eat fruits in season. There are homes where fruit is not even part of their menu but our pupils during school days will have to eat nutritious meal and fruit everyday.

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•Continued on page 11

THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

COMMUNITY REPORTS

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Agunbelewo, Okinni Residents Cry Out Over Poor Condition Of Road

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ESIDENTS of Agunbelewo, Okinni, and Ilobu in Osun State have cried out over the poor condition of their ever-busy Federal Road which links them to Osogbo the the construction of the state capital.

They specifically road, but pending the appealed to the state time this will become a the state government for reality, intervention pending government should the time the help, even if it is just the arrangement it made grading of the road.

“No doubt, the with the federal government for the situation of the road is beyond little repair, rehabilitation of the road would become a total reconstruction is what is required, but reality.

One Chief Adebayo pending that time, Olanipekun, a resident urgent intervention is of Okinni who has his needed”.

A mini-bus driving business in Osogbo, the road, said, passing through plying the road everyday has Yakubu Babalola said, become an herculean the situation of the road task, saying, the road has been imposing has become nearly untoward hardship on commuters, saying, impassable.

He specifically what had made it worst identified the ‘Woru’ was that there is no section of the road, alternative route to the which, according to state capital.

He said motorists, him, has subjected commuters on the road either commercial or private have been to serious hardship.

“We want to appeal to incurring additional the state government to avoidable expenses on come to our rescue, their vehicles due to because passing poor condition of the through this stretch of road.

According to him, the road has become many emergency cases unbearable.

“We know it is a have gone beyond federal road and we control due to the state appreciate the efforts of the road, calling on being made by the state government, either at government to ensure the state or federal

level to help.

“Either by the state of federal government, what I am interested in is the rehabilitation of the road, because, as you can see the road is an eyesore.

“We know the state government is trying its best and we know this projects is a federal road, but what we need, especially now that the raining season has come is urgent intervention, wherever it might come from”, Yakubu said.

•A bad portion of Agunbelewo-Okinni-Ilobu road.

Ifelodun Area Council Head Pledges Rapid Development

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HE Executive Secretary, Ifelodun Area Council, Princess Fausat Jimoh has urged the newly sworn-in caretaker members to be diligent, transparent and accountable in the discharge of their duties. the swearing-in ceremony Fausat said this during of Mr Ghazal Adekanye

•Princess Fausat Jimoh

Council Management Committee Charged On Development

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HE Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun has advocated the need for the newly inaugurated Executive Secretaries in the state to embark on developmental projects that would complement Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s drive in taking the state to the next level.

Oba Olanipekun stated Area (LCDA), Awosuuru this while pouring royal headed by Alhaja Sekinat blessings on the newly- Temilade Olokungboye inaugurated caretaker during a visit to the committee members of palace.

Addressing the Osogbo West Local Council Development committee and Osogbo

indigenes in his palace, Oba Olanipekun appreciated the commitment and leadership skills of Governor Aregbesola towards developing the state with various c o m m e n d a b l e programmes and developmental projects.

He added that, the committees apart from

•The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun (3rd right); Executive Secretary, Osogbo West LCDA, Alhaja Shekinat Olokungboye (3rd left) and members of the council’s caretaker committee, during a visit to Ataoja’s palace.

being the mouthpiece of the present government must bring dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.

He advised them to utilize the opportunity at their various wards and units to maintain and create additional good image of the government in the state.

R e s p o n d i n g , Olokungboye expressed gratitude to God and Ogbeni Aregbesola as well as her party, APC leaders in Osogbo for the confidence reposed in her.

Temilade said, her administration was ready to be more proactive in alleviating the suffering of the masses, stressing that it is a collective responsibility to wage war against poverty in the society.

She advocated the need for Nigerians especially people of Osogbo West LCDA to support the caretaker committee by paying their taxes regularly.

Also speaking, a member of the committee, Hon Yisa Taoheed eulogised Aregbesola’s transformation agenda in the state.

and Mr Olawale Olatunde as Caretaker Committee members in the area council held at the secretariat hall in Iba. She stated that local government is the closest to the people, saying the intention of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to bring governance closer to the people through the creation of more local governments, LCDAs and area councils must be justified.

Fasusat, while soliciting the cooperation of the people in the area council, urged traditional leaders, religion leaders and members of the All Progressive Congress to intensify their support for Governor Aregbesola administration, describing the governor as the best that has ever happened to the state.

According to Fausat, the APC-led government under the leadership of

Aregbesola has constructed more roads than any other government in the last six years of his administration, feeding over 250,000 school children on daily basis and engaged youths among others inspite the paucity of fund, saying these efforts must be complemented.

She urged the people of the LCDA to support the development drive of the governor by paying their taxes, ensure clean and hygienic environment and protect government facilities in the areas.

The Council Manager, Alhaji Ibraheem Oyebamiji assured the Executive Secretary of the readiness of the career officers in the council area to work diligently and cooperate with the new political appointees for the progress and rapid development of the area council.

Local Market Traders Read Riot Act Over Hausa Trading Pattern

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OMMERCIAL activities in the popular Sabo market in Ilesa might soon be affected by the ongoing development in the market, as some traders of other tribes have been kicking against the pattern of trading by Hausa traders in the market.

However, a regular One of reasons for the visitor to the market, riot act against Hausas Mr. Olufemi Aina in the market, one of berated the group the traders said, was calling for the because the Hausa removal of the Hausa traders have cultivated traders, describing the habit of selling their them as wicked and good at “at ridiculous selfish citizens who are prices” which had been interest in their own attracting more buyers economic development alone. to their side.

He wondered why a A woman trader in the market who group of traders would preferred anonymity be dictating the price said, traders of other that the other groups tribes in the market will sell their goods, have vowed to especially at this period frustrate the Hausa of economic recession.

He then called on the people out of the market, if they appropriate authority refused to cooperate to wade into the matter to avoid another with those he called the Hausa\ Yoruba clash in management. the state.

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OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

THE SOCIAL REGISTER

THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19,

A Cocktail Of Rece Training Workshop For Coaches For The Osun State-Wide Schools’ Calisthenics Programme 2017 Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Award Presentation To Governor Rauf Aregbesola By The World Ins

•Director, Department of Social and Grassroots Mobilization and Guidance, Comrade Adebayo Ojo (left) in an handshake with the Permanent Secretary, Loans Board, Mr Olowogboyega Oyebade (right), while P.S Education, Mr Festus Olaide (middle) looks on.

•Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th left), his deputy, Mrs. Titi laoye-Tomori (3rd lef right), Chief of Staff to the governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (3rd right); a retired Journalist, Mr. A Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (left) and Speaker, State House of Assem governor.

•Participants at the workshop.

Osun To Institutionalise Calisthenics In Public Schools

By Kehinde Ayantunji

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HE government of the State of Osun said it would institutionalise calisthenics in all public schools in the state as part of the extra-curricular activities in schools.

Director, Department of Social, Grassroots Mobilisation and Guidance, Office of the Governor, Comrade Bayo Ojo, while speaking with journalists at a Workshop for Coaches who are teachers in Secondary Schools, held in Osogbo, the State Capital, said calisthenics in public schools has assisted in decimating social menace among students.

He said calisthenics has instilled discipline among the 22,000 students drawn from 50 schools in the two vocal local governments, Osogbo and Olorunda who have been participating in the programme since 2012.

According to him, spreading the benefits of calisthenics on volunteering basis is among others, to encourage school children to be physically strong, mentally sound, skillful, knowledgeable and socially-oriented.

Ojo said: “Calisthenics is an exercise that consists varieties of rhythmic movements with different formations and compositions, every participant is important to the success of the display which involved competence in

coordination and management of complex situations.

“Worthwhile training in the process is unity of purpose that compels participants to work towards a single objective, cooperation and team work that allow the participants learn to work in concert, realising that each must play his or her own parts well in time, as each part, big or small, is equally important in attaining the set goals.”

He explained that organisation, discipline and collective responsibilities involved in calisthenics are core values missing in Nigeria, and these had derailed the desired development in the country, arguing that if the younger generation imbibe such values, Nigeria could be sure of better future.

To bring the game wider to the grassroots, he said, the state government is introducing selected schools as training centres in the nine federal constituencies and allow schools to take ownership of the programme as extracurricular activities.

He said students from the public and interested private schools in the state would constitute the calisthenics team of between 1,000 and 1,500 students that would participate in the statewide competition with trophy and financial rewards for the winners.

World Institute For Peace H

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HE World Institute for Peace (WIP), has honoured Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun in recognition of his peaceful conduct of the state’s affairs since assumption of office.

The award was presented to him during a courtesy visit by

the leadership of World Institute for Peace to the governor at the State Secretariat, Abere, on May 9, 2017.

The Founder/Executive Chairman of the institute, Comrade Lamina Kamiludeen, presented the award of excellence to the governor on

Swearing-In Ceremony For Executive Secretaries Of Local Governm Governor Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola At The Local Governmen

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.

•The Executive Secretaries taking Oath of Service.

Y MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

THE SOCIAL REGISTER

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

9

Recent Happenings

By The World Institute For Peace, At The State Secretariat, Abere.

Screening Of Nominees For Osun Cabinet Positions By The House Of Assembly On Wednesday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•Some of the nominees for cabinet positions and their friends.

iti laoye-Tomori (3rd left); An International Investor from Pakistan, Chief Sardar Saifullah Khan (4th tired Journalist, Mr. Ayub Khawar (2nd left); a Police Trainer, Mr. Mehood Khalid Qureshi (right); er, State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam during the visit and presentation of the award to the

Peace Honours Aregbesola

World behalf of the institute.

The visiting team has in its to the an International ecretariat, entourage, Investors from Pakistan, Sardar Saifullah Khan; veteran Journalist, xecutive Mr Ayub Khawar, and Police nstitute, Trainer, Mr. Mehood Khalid miludeen, Qureshi.

The deputy Governor, Mrs ward of ernor on Titilayo Laoye-Tomori; the

Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam; Chief of Staff to the governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, and Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti co-hosted the visiting members of the World Institute for Peace at the occasion.

Local Governments And Local Council Development Areas By The ocal Government Service Commission, Abere. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•Deputy Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye (right) and Honourable Abiodun Awolola.

Assembly Warns Nominees Against Greed

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HE Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam has urged the people of the state not to see the delay in the appointments of cabinet members by Governor Rauf Aregbesola as a weakness or strength, saying the decision was a child of necessity, which demanded some restrain in the application of the state resources.

This is just as he warned the nominees for the cabinet positions against greed, if confirmed.

He spoke during the screening of the governor’s nominees for the position of Commissioners and Special Advisers at the plenary.

Sympathizing with the nominees for being appointed at time the state is struggling to cushion the effect of the economic recession, he said, the task before them are enormous.

“You have my sympathy, because your jobs do not call for envy, but the expectations are huge. Working with a government that has a lean purse is not going to be a tea party”.

The speaker also tasked the nominees to embrace humility and see their nomination as a call to serve the people of the state, just as he warned them not to disrespect members of the assembly, if confirmed, saying they should be

given the deserved respect.

“I urge you in your own interest to work with the House of Assembly; we only demand the respect we deserve from you and nothing more.

It should be known to you that we are partners in progress in the development of the state”.

Salaam, also urged the nominees to treat the people of the state with utmost respect, saying the time the party would return to them for electoral favour is fast approaching.

“You have my sympathy because the tea party had long gone and you have to contend with civil servants who have been piloting the ministries in the last two years.

“You will have to demonstrate capacity to your principal and you have to show the people who are looking up to you for result that you are determined to get things done.

The governor had been without Commissioners and Special Advisers since his inauguration for the second term in November 27, 2014 He, however, in a letter dated April 11, forwarded 39 names of nominees for the position of Commissioner and Special Advisers to the State House of Assembly for consideration and confirmation.

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POLITICS

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

Appointments Breath Life To Political Activities In Osun

By Ismaeel Uthman OLLOWING the appointments of caretaker management committees for the 61 local governments and Council Areas in the State of Osun coupled with the appointments of Commissioners and Special Advisers by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, new songs and comments have pervaded the political atmosphere of the state.

Unlike some months wards and local ago when members of the governments.

All Progressives The development had Congress (APC) were slowed down the pace of disturbed on what they political activities in the described as state because the political unprecedented delay in leaders who were to drive political appointment by and support politics in Aregbesola, the last few both the state and local weeks had been moments government levels had not of happiness for the party been appointed. members.

Investigation revealed OSUN DEFENDER that a large number of gathered that the local APC members were government and cabinet discouraged by the delay m e m b e r s h i p of key political appointments made by appointments by the Aregbesola has freshened governor. up the hope of the APC The Peoples members and their Democratic Party (PDP) commitment to the had also taken the A r e g b e s o l a ’ s advantage of the delay in administration. the appointment of Findings showed that cabinet members and the delay in the political caretaker management appointment had committee members for dampened the morale of the local governments to some APC members, lash out Aregbesola, majority of who are describing him as a sole banking on political administrator. appointees.

But unfolding events Some of the APC since the announcement members had been of the local government frustrated by the delay in caretaker management the political appointment committee members to the extent that they indicated that Aregbesola abandoned ward and has injected life into the local government political business of the meetings in their various state.

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Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the selections of the commissioners and special advisers and members of the local government caretaker committees were welcomed by 90 per cent of the APC members who consented that the appointees merited it.

The appointees were considered to be grassroots people who have suffered for the party, and that they deserve to be rewarded for their loyalty and commitment to the party.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that there has been increase in the

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Unfolding events since the announcement of the local government caretaker management committee members indicated that Aregbesola has injected life into the political business of the state. number of party members attending the ward and local government meetings since the appointment of caretaker members and the cabinet members.

During the screenings

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of the nominees, the State House of Assembly were jam-packed with heavy presence of APC members who thronged the assembly complex to solidarise with their various candidates, an indication that their

•PHOTO OF THE DAY: Little Children looking at their reflections on a vehicle.

LIVING SPRING ESTATE Oke Onitea Area, Osogbo, Osun State.

This is to inform all the people allotted landed properties by the Living Springs Savings and Loans Limited (now Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc.) to contact Gosterwood Ltd on Telephone No: 080 7812 3535 before 31st of May 2017 for the reconciliation of their accounts to establish if all payments have been made as contracted.

Failure to do this will amount to forfeiture and re-allocation of the plot(s), with unpaid balances.

Please be advised that concerned parties/ individuals should comply accordingly and prioritize.

For further information, please contact the undersigned: Gosterwood Limited.

Telephone: 080 7812 3535

Osun 2018: I’ve

No Annointed Candidate - Aregbesola

By Shina Abubakar ONTRARY to speculations, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has denied endorsing his Chief of Staff, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, as his successor in office at the end of his second term tenure next year.

The Governor stressed administration had yet to that he had neither deliver on all of its anointed nor endorsed electoral promises to the anyone as the next people of the state, occupant of the Oke-Fia stressing that the party’s victory at the 2018 Government House.

The governor, who governorship poll would spoke through his Special be determined by the Assistant on Political achievements recorded by Matters, Hon. Rasak the current government.

He said, “Oyetola is not Adeosun, on a radio programme monitored by our candidate. When OSUN DEFENDER in election is near, people Osogbo on Wednesday, will come to the party to said, the ruling All buy intention forms.

“As at now, no one is Progressives Congress in as an the state had yet to recognised endorse anyone to replace aspirant, but it is natural for people who want to him in 2018.

He maintained that the contest to start making APC in the state was not underground plans. It is aware of anyone aspiring not time for anybody to for the number one start campaigning or political office as it had mounting billboards.

“Some projects are yet yet to start selling intention forms to to be completed by Governor Aregbesola’s aspirants.

Aregbesola said that the administration and the governor is party had cautioned the members nursing the determined to complete ambition to take over the those projects.

“Aregbesola’s legacies governorship job after the expiration of his tenure (achievements) are our not to declare their focus to win election. We intention publicly yet want to rely on our because his achievements to give us

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morale had been boosted.

Speaking at the opening session of the screening exercise on Monday, the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Najeem Salam described the delay in the appointment as a child of necessity, saying that the financial condition of the state compelled the delay.

Salam who urged the people of the state not to misconstrue the delay by Aregbesola as a weakness or strength, pointed that the approach of the governor had helped to a certain degree to free resources for development.

The comments of the people generally, as monitored by the medium, have changed from negative to positive about the Aregbesola’s administration.

The executive secretaries and members of the caretaker committee in the 61 local government and area councils in the state have resumed duty in their offices, a development that have been impacting on the political businesses of the state.

All the commissioner and special adviser nominees have been screened by the House of Assembly and it is possible that they are confirmed next week Monday by the lawmakers.

the next governor.

Election is an open game.

It is not as if someone has been anointed.

“APC is an institution and you have to go through a process before you can choose any candidate. The governor is a party man and he has to respect the party, when it comes to deciding on who succeeds him, the party will decide”, he said.

Explaining further why the party leadership in the state banned aspirants from publicly declaring their intention to contest the governorship in the state at this time, Adeosun said, “It was a party policy, we have a lot to give to the citizenry based on our plans and electoral promises and beside that the INEC will determine when an aspirant can start campaigning.

“We have to deliver on our electoral promises before we can start campaigning. You have to plan ahead of election and election management involves a lot of designs and planning before execution. First, we need to assemble the resources that we want to deploy during election.”

STEWARDSHIP

THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

Ogbeni Till Daybreak: •Continued from page 6

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

Raising The Bar Of Governance In Osun

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EPUTY GOVERNOR, TITILAYO- LAOYE TOMORI ON SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME We were spending N50 on feeding the pupils in Elementary School 1-3, but the federal government started with N70 with the vendors when the progamme was adopted. Immediately after that, the suppliers of the protein, that is egg, fish and chicken called for a review and as we all know that the price of these products have gone higher because of the fall in naira, the governor reviewed the school feeding to N70 per pupil in line with what the Federal Government pays.

So, presently, we feed a child in each of our elementary school with N70.

However, the federal government paid us in January, we are yet to be paid for February, March and April, but despite that we are still feeding our children, with expectation that the federal government will pay us.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN RURAL AREAS This will be the first time a government will undertake to construct roads across all the rural areas in the state where food are produced. As I am talking, apart from 248 kilometers of road we have constructed in all the local governments, through RAMP, we have completed 200 kilometer of access road network to critical areas and

by July this year, we will start another round of 300 kilometers. What we have done on these 200 kilometers is that we constructed river crossings around our state and we still have a lot to do. We would have loved to do everything at the same time, but our revenue cannot take it.

People are alleging that I am diverting money, but if truly I am diverting money you would seen the impact on me.

Where a road has never been constructed before we have constructed road there. That is why I want to appeal to journalists to move out to the interior and see what our government has done in those areas, rather than listening to rumours of those who would not do and discourage people from doing. For instance, Osogbo was not like this, but now it has been given facelift interms of road construction and environmental cleanliness among others.

No matter how atavistic one might be, let us recognize innovation, let us recognize creativity, let us recognize uniqueness. I implore our media people, go into the interior, criticise us based on what you see, not what you hear, because most of what you hear might not be correct.

Part of the effort at developing the rural areas is the creation of new councils and those councils will accelerate development in rural areas. But let our people know that they must fulfill their obligations to the government. The state can only run on the support of its citizens. The civic responsibilities and obligations are important to support the government to meet our aspirations. Without people paying their taxes, levies and expected fees, it will be difficult for government to meet its obligations.

SENATORIAL AMBITION IN LAGOS OR OSUN AND FEAR OF DEFEAT! Politics essential is about resolution of conflict. What matters most is ensuring that the good of the people is focused and addressed to solve the problem of the society. So, as a politician, when I told my relation in 2004 that I was coming to wrestle with the incumbent then for the gubernatorial position, what she said was that where I was in Lagos as a commissioner was enough and that I should not embark on a suicide mission.

For what we know now, that perceived suicidal mission is a realized mission.

So, if I was not deterred when it was almost impossible to even dare to look at the incumbent who even said then that I was an irritant, why would I be deterred now? I am as large in Osun as I am large in Lagos. I am about the only politician in Nigeria that can so claim. So if I have to contest, I don’t need to consult anybody, I can appear anywhere.

I have to give glory to God for this opportunity, it is not by my power, it’s

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•One of the road projects of the Aregbesola administration.

God in His infinite wholesomeness and Asiwaju Bola Hammed Tinubu and the people of the two states of Osun and Lagos.

I pray that God prolong my life to prove to the world that politics is a noble calling and a noble profession.

ESIDES that, we all mouth commitment to regionalism and we are fanning sectarianism. If we are sincere about having a regional arrangement, why are we critical about where a Yorubaman comes from? Afterall, the glorious moment of our race was when we had the region. So, when the time comes, Rauf can appear anywhere, but there is no such decision yet. We have all forgotten that when I am done with my tenure in office, we will still have six clear months to any election and so, we have enough time to make up our mind on where to emerge.

I S GOVERNORSHIP AMBITION IN THE APC TEARING IT APART? Our party is as solid, strong, and effective as any party could be. There is no aspect of party organization, administration and management that has suffered in any form in Osun APC. We are united, collected and working so well. If an incumbent party for over six years is as cohesive as we are and the only serious opposition party here, is as scattered, dis-membered, uncoordinated as our main opponent is, where is your fear? If the little you are looking at as the normal expected activities of those who want to believe that they are qualify is your own basis of assuming problem, you are only deceiving yourself.

Meanwhile we must remember a leader among us, a friend, associate, a flamboyant and ebullient personality, Senator Isiaka Adeleke who passed on less than two week ago (a minute silent prayers observed).

Before his passage, though he had aspiration which was not pronounced yet, we were together in Lagos before I travelled. We live in Lagos together and his house is adjacent to mine and we have been so, several years before I even taught of coming to contest here. We are the best of friends even when he was in PDP.

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What I want to take out of this is that in the whole of Nigeria, APC is the only party that can boast of having all the elected governors that had ever ruled this state on its platform. No other state in this region and I dare say in Nigeria could boast of such a feat. If you are talking about a party that is threatened, you cannot talk of a party that has this category of people who have had opportunities of ruling this state at one time or the other. We can boast that we have the best political formation in Osun.

However, we are a serious party and whoever that cannot continue our programme cannot take our flag. By the grace of God, our party will return, but having our flag is predicated on your commitment to our programmes. For as

gotten before. From crop production to animal husbandry, we are making progress in agriculture. We are not collecting produce by ourselves and take the food to Lagos, but more food are being produced and taking to Lagos by farmers themselves.

However, we want to create an electronic platform where farmers will register their capacity in commodity production for whoever in the world is interested and through that platform, those who want to patronize them can do that.

What we promised that we have not done is that, we promised to create Osun Food Market in Lagos, but believing in God, before I go, we shall have Osun Food Market in Lagos.

STUDENT IN UKRAINE FOR MEDICAL COURSE. There are 81 medical students that we sent to Ukraine, one of them has finished and returned, 40 of them will graduate and return by June after completing their medical training. We are working hard to make life meaningful to people inspite our economic situation.

Look, you just see me moving around as if nothing is happening, I dance, I laugh, but if you know what I manage to sustain this state, you will just be shouting Halleluyah, because it is sheer miracle.

People forget that this state has received N6 million as allocation before and that month, we did not fail to pay N1.7 million to our workers, students were being fed, O’Ambulance worked, we met our obligations on sanitation, there was no issue with security. If not for our commitment we won’t be able to achieve all these.

BALANCE PAYMENT OF WORKERS SALARY Everybody is affected by the current economic crisis, and even MTN recently retrenched workers. Saudi Arabia has a population of less than 40 million people and it is the largest oil-producing nation in the world, but Saudi Arabia had to cut salary for over a year, which they just reviewed this month.

If Saudi Arabia should do that, what then do you expect from Nigeria.

I have to at this stage commend the resilience, perseverance and understanding of our workers in the state of Osun, I salute you. We will be deceiving ourselves if we want to believe that things are normal, things are not normal. In September 2015, we got minus N300 million of allocation and in that month, we did not only pay that minus, we paid N1.7 billion as salaries.

The claim that majority of our workers are not being paid is a lie. By normal statistics of service, more workers must be on lower salary scale and from July 2015, we have been paying all our workers on level 1 to 7 full salary and whoever tells you that majority of our workers are not being paid is lying. Workers on level 8 to 11 are paid 75 per cent, while workers on levels 11 and above are paid 50 per cent.

RUMOURS ON CONSTRUCTION OF UNIVERSITY IN KOGI There is nothing like that and for your information I don’t have a house in Ilesa, my father’s hometown not to talk of Kogi and not to even talk of a university. To add to that, I don’t have a bank account to my name, as the only account I had was my salary account as a Commissioner in Lagos and because I didn’t do BVN, the account is dead. I am saying it to the world, whoever knows my bank account anywhere in the world should say it or remain silent forever. Besides that, it is not difficult to find out university and their owners in the portal of NUC, go there and find out. I don’t have elementary school anywhere, not to talk of middle school, high school or university. Whoever makes the allegation should mention the name of the university and tell us where it is. They are all lies.

WALK TO LIVE It was a programme we were doing, but suspended because of paucity of fund, but I can assure you that we will resume the programme. However, it should be noted that the total number of kilometer I have

I am as large in Osun as I am large in Lagos. I am about the only politician in Nigeria that can so claim. So if I have to contest, I don’t need to consult anybody, I can appear anywhere.

FAMOODUN ON WHETHER THE APC IS THREATENED As far as I know, there is no governorship aspirant in the APC yet and added to that is that INEC has not released any timetable for the election. As far as I am concern, the party is so cohesive and strong. A party that is under any threat will not transform from 30 local government and one Area Office to 64.

Insubordination on the part of very few could not mean a crack in the party. We have 350,000 members in this party and our structures are functioning very well from the ward to local and state, including the elders caucus.

Who is going to threaten us? Is PDP a party in this state or Nigeria? So, we are in charge and we dictate the pace of how politics goes in this state.

long as the people are with us, certainly all our programmes will continue. When it comes to who will succeed me I always pray to God to provide someone that would be better than me, but our party has ruled that nobody should aspire yet.

NON-PRESENCE OF NEW SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURES IN RURAL AREAS T is true that we are not as present in rural areas as we are in the urban centers.

However, in Nigeria, Osun is the most urbanised states and we will not be doing justice to the areas where we have more people if we have not given them concentration to meet their needs. Now, I am going to move to the rural areas. You may ask how I am going to do it, now that there is no money, but I will say that I have money for the essentials, I don’t have money for frivolities. We are starting from Ife South and what we are experimenting there is to rehabilitate all the elementary schools within three months. I have the money already for the project. Already, we have done the estimate and within three months, we will finish it. Once I see the success, I will move to Ifedayo and rehabilitate all the elementary to middle schools there. We are not building new schools, we are rehabilitating the existing schools.

FAILURE TO MEET 10 PER CENT LAGOS FOOD NEED AS PROMISED We are in a market economy, we did not say that we will do these things by ourselves, but farmers in Osun will tell you that they get more returns on their agricultural produce that they have ever

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I Have Money For The Essentials, I Don’t Have Money For Frivolities.

•Continued on page 14

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THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

Parents Troop Out For Second Round Immunization In Osun •Govt To Receive N2bn Healthcare Fund

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HE enlightenment c a m p a i g n embarked on by the State Government of Osun through the State Ministry of Health on the annual National Immunization Plus Days (IPDS) has started to yield positive result, as parents and guardians brought out their children enmasse for the Oral Polio Vaccine ( OPV) to be administered on them.

A visit to some designated towns in the state by this medium to monitor the progress on the programme revealed that health care workers encountered minimal opposition.

In Ijebu-jesa, health workers were spoted around Ijaregbe, Bishop Court, Twins Store, Iloko Junction, Town Hall and Round about, going from house to h o u s e administering the vaccine and conducting house marking.

Similarly, in Ilesa town, areas like Isokun, OkeOmiru, Oke-Ese, Odo-Iro, Isale General, Okesa, Ayeso and Atakunmosa market, health workers were also observed administering vaccine on children.

O n - t h e - s p o t observation of some parts of Osogbo which included Alekuwodo, Odi-Olowo, Jaleyemi Area, Isale-Aro, IsaleOsun, Gbodofon, Awosuru, BCGA, Fagbewesa, Akindeko, Oke-Onitea, Technical Area, Capital Area and Agowande indicated a high level of co-operation on the part of mothers who brought out their children for OPV administration.

Some of the health workers stated that they found the experience exciting and since the government had provided all that was needed, there was no excuse for them not to carry out the exercise as expected.

On the issue of financial reward, they

With FRANCIS EZEDIUNO Email: Franchez992002@yahoo.com

'Immunize Your Children With Vitamin A'

•Health workers administring polio vaccine on children. disclosed that all their benefits from the first round that was held in March had been paid in full, saying, there was no reason for them not to cooperate and make the exercise a success.

IPDS began on Saturday 6th and ended on Tuesday 9th of May, 2017.

Meanwhile, at the flagging off of the exercise, the state Governor, Rauf

‘

In some areas, there were reports of health workers not administering the drugs on all the children in some houses and such cases were rampant along the Ogo-Oluwa Area of the state capital.

They also revealed that they had been reliably informed that the performance of the state in previous exercises was quite commendable and such news was a morale booster.

In some areas, there were reports of health workers not administering the drugs on all the children in some houses and such cases were rampant along the Ogo-Oluwa Area of the state capital.

Reports has it that the event was experienced during the first round as health workers came around and did not vaccinate all the children in some selected houses.

Also, visit to schools also indicated that health officials paid calls to them and children between the ages of 0 to 59 months were promptly administered with OPV. The second round of

’

Aregbesola said the state had been polio-free since his administration came on board and it was the desire of the administration to ensure it remains so.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Akinyinka Esho, the governor stated that the state had decided to wage a relentless war against Polio because of its devastating effects on children.

“The polio virus infects motor neurons in the spinal cords and damages them. The muscles that such neurons activate become painful and weak and paralysis begins when the muscle is no longer able to move.

“Sometimes, the virus may attack the muscles that control breathing and this may result in death.

The polio is capable of

•Dr Esho (middle) and other stakeholders in the health sector at the flag off of the immunization exercise.

attacking nerves that convey signals to the ears, eye and even the victim’s heart”.

In his opening remark, the Permanent Secretary revealed that during the first round, the state was able to immunize 1,116,532 children between the ages of 0 to 50 months with two drops of OPV dropped in their mouths.

The Executive Secretary of the Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Kayode O g u n n i y i disclosed that N2 billion would be made available from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund from July, 2017 and this was due to the creation of the board by the state government, adding that out of the 332 wards in the state, the government had selected at least, a healthcare centre where the fund would be used for the free treatment of mothers and children.

He said the fund was embedded in the Federal Health Act of 2014, where the Federal Government was supposed to set aside one per cent consolidated revenue and any other funds obtained from international partners, especially for the healthcare of mothers and children.

•Participants at the stakeholders forum on 2017 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Care Week in Osogbo on Wednesday.

OVERNMENT of the State of Osun has solicited absolute cooperation of stakeholders especially mothers for the success of the 2017 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Care Week (MNCHW) exercise slated to hold between Monday, May 15 and Friday, May 19.

The Executive not like the NIPDs which Secretary, State of Osun was house to house, Primary Health Care adding that mothers Development Board should endeavour to take (SOPHCDB) Dr. Kayode their children to health Ogunniyi revealed at a facilities for proper and stakeholders forum screening which held in Osogbo on Immunization.

According to him, “At Wednesday that Vitamin A supplementation was the health facilities, the the driving force because children from 6 to 11 would be of its role in immunity of months with the under five children administered for reduction and Vitamin A in the blue prevention of deaths in capsules, dewormed and screened for malnutrition, mother to child.

Represented by the while nursing mothers Director, Community would be issued with Health Services and Long Lasting Insecticidal Education, Mr. James Nets (LLIN), family Oloyede, Ogunniyi said planning commodity and Vitamin A vaccines, screening for HIV/AIDS. “While at the which he described as life which saver could be outreaches schools, administered on children involved mosques, and any child that misses churches, it would have to wait for markets and motor parks another six months before where pupils that are 12 it would be made to 59 months are available they would be available again. with He also stressed that administered the exercise was a facility Vitamin A in the red capsules”. and outreach based and Also, the State Chief Health Promotion Officer of the board, Mr. Adewole Adewoye stated that the aim of the stakeholders. parley was to sensitize people about the exercise and the basic difference between the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Care Week and NIPDs. He corroborated the points raised by the representative of the Executive Secretary that the exercise was not house to house, but health facility based, where parents especially mothers are required to take their children to health centres where they would be administered with Vitamin A, dewormed and screened for malnutrition.

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THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

13

OAU Students Vacate Hostel Over Bed Bugs Invasion

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any students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) were reported have abandoned their halls of residence due to bed bug invasion of their halls.

This is just as they students by harbouring raised alarm over bed and accommodating bug invasion and them on filthy and attributed it to the “kirikiri-like” prisons halls of alleged refusal of the called management to residence/hostels.”

“To avoid this fumigate hostels even after resumption of e n v i s a g e d embarrassing situation, fresh students. wrote the They also cried out we that bushes have begun management through Division of to overgrown their her hostels thereby leaving Students’ Affairs to them at the mercy of ensure that the Halls of that our fresh students are are not affected by this scorpions, snakes and Residence before dangerous bedbugs as other dangerous fumigated resumption, that is, the need for them to animals.

The Students spoke Sunday 30th April, 2017 live happily in their through their Students to avoid the barbaric halls can never be Union, claiming that “military coup” of flinched and flung. the management has bedbugs we have even “Bedbugs should be failed to live up to been facing severely extincted from our halls expectations in their before the last session of residence. We say no ended (2015/2016 to their parades in our various halls.

In an open letter session) and to ensure rooms, they are not our signed by the Union President, Oyekan Ibukun Edward, the students threatened to HERE was jubilation by workers of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on draw battle line with Monday as a new Vice Chancellor the management if their plight was not emerged.

Governing Council, Dr. addressed.

The Governing Yemi Ogunbiyi, who the The letter reads in Council announced made part “ It is no longer Prof.

Eyitope announcement at a conference news how the Ogunbodede as the press by other management of various 11th vice chancellor of attended members of the council varsities across the the university.

The Chairman, and the Acting Vice nation maltreat

OSPOLY HND Admission Form Closes May 20

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roommates.”

A fresh student said, “I don’t think I can live in such environment and room where bed bugs have taken over and I am exposed to dangerous animals. I have moved out of my room to another place because I can’t bear it”.

ANAGEMENT of Osun State Polytechnic Iree has declared that collection and submission of the admission application form for 2017/2018 Academic Session of the institution would close on 20th May, 2017.

A statement signed by applicants to obtain the Media Relations Officer, form and process it before Tope Abiola on behalf of the scheduled date. the Registrar, Bar B.M. According to the Salawu said sales of the statement, the admission form may not be extended application form is beyond the stipulated available at OSPOLY date.

Microfinance Bank, Iree The statement stressed or its branch offices at that this would enable the Ayetoro, Osogbo and institution to process the Isokun junction, Ilesa or admission and prepare UBA Iree, Osogbo and promptly for the OAU, Ile-Ife. commencement of the The price is N10,000 new academic session. only.

It urged intending

...Workers In Jubilation As New VC Emerges

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Chancellor of the university, Prof.

Anthony Elujoba, said the appointment was transparently done.

A large number of workers of the university, who had assembled at the venue of the press conference, erupted in jubilation on hearing the announcement of the new VC. Explaining the processes followed in the selection, Ogunbiyi stated that a search committee was raised and 22 persons applied for the advertised VC job.

According to him, one of the applicants who did not have the r e q u i s i t e qualification was dropped.

He said, “The search for the new vice chancellor was transparent.

We received about 18 applications and a committee was set up to search for candidates outside. There were 22 applicants in all.

“The candidates were subjected to

screening and they were interviewed for three days. I am happy to announce to you that the new vice chancellor is Prof.

Eyitope Ogunbodede.”

The chairman Governing Council put a call through to the new vice chancellor, who eventually turned up at the venue amidst jubilation from the workers.

The new vice chancellor thanked the Governing Council for being transparent and for following the due process.

Ogunbodede, from the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry in the Faculty of Dentistry, was born on January 23, 1957 in Owo, Ondo State.

He was appointed professor on October 1, 2000.

The Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Mr. Ademola Oketunde, hailed the process which produced the

new vice chancellor.

The search for the new VC began shortly after the tenure of the last substantive vice chancellor of the university, Prof.

Bamitale Omole, which ended on June 23, 2016 amidst protests from workers of the university.

The then Governing Council headed by Prof. Roland NdomaEgba started a process of selecting Omole’s successor and the then Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Ayobami Salami, emerged the new VC, but Omole was not allowed to hand over to Salami, as the workers resisted through series of protests Subsequently, the Federal Government suspended the process and dissolved the governing council because of its role in the process.

The university Senate and other senior professors eventually elected Elujoba as the acting vice chancellor.

•Jubilating OAU workers after the announcement of new VC.

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THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

Keeping Yourself Refreshed With Deodorant

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deodorant is a substance applied to the body to prevent stench or body odour caused by sweatiness\perspiration in armpit, feet and other part of the body.

If you are a lady and you know a fellow lady who doesn’t use deodorant, walk up to her and let her know the importance of this; ditto to men. Although, some people might find the information very annoying, it is better to call their attention to it than to be negligence of it.

I personally believe people should wear deodorant in order to emit less body odour when they sweat. Deodorant works by destroying the bacteria on the skin that emits odour when feeding on components of sweat.

The odour that a person produces when they sweat varies, some people smell far worse when they sweat than others, while some barely smell.

Most people will think that since deodorant works by eliminating bacteria that causes odour, it does not affect how much a person will sweat. There are other products called a n t i perspirants that are designed to limit how a person sweat i n certain areas like the armpit.

There a r e certain importances associated with the use of deodorant and they include: Keeps You Refreshed Deodorant keeps you refreshed all the time besides reducing your tiredness and fatigue when you apply it and enhances your overall mood to get you ready for any activity or event. No matter how tired you might be, you can actually get ready for any upcoming activity or event by simply applying deodorant; the fragrance alone is enough to make you smile.

Enhances Your Health It is a known fact that bacteria are one of the major causes of health issues, they are mostly found under the armpit and corner parts of the body. Although, not visible, it can be very harmful to your skin, you could observe skin rashes, pus formation as well as many other skin issues. In addition to all these skin issues caused by bacteria, you can feel very tired which would slow down your daily activity and make you incompetent at work.

Often, people ignore itching and inconvenience caused by bacterial growth on their body but thanks to the use of deodorant, the skin irritations and diseases can be averted just by using suitable deodorant that kills bacteria from all parts of the body.

Eliminates Odorous Sweat Everybody sweats, there is no one soul on earth that doesn’t sweat, even little babies sweat.

However, most people start sweating after returning from a stressful routine or event which makes you very uncomfortable and uneasy due to its bad smell and you feel like bathing, which can take away a lot of your time especially when you are in a hurry to attend a very important event. Luckily, you can get away with such a situation by applying a deodorant which would make you feel refreshed and smell nice.

Prevent Bacteria Growth The primary objective of using deodorant is to prevent the growth of bacteria that causes bad smell on your body especially along the armpits. For instance, when you take off your shirt, there is a brownish stain at the area of the armpit; for

Ogbeni Till Daybreak: Raising

The Bar Of Governance

walked with the people of Osun to promote healthy living, physical fitness as a precursor to high productivity was 91.5 kilometers. What this means is that there is a government who associate with the people. The only two personalities that did more than us in the history are Chairman MAO and Fidel Castro. Beside those two persons, count me as the only head of government in Africa that moved with the people to cover 91.5 kilometers.

I own that record and I challenge anybody to beat it.

ASSESSMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION If all the government in this state since 1991 had done one quarter of what we have attempted to do in six years, Osun will not be like this. No human being, except a miracle worker could do more than what we have done; I am happy and proud of my record. This month, this state collected N535 million and yet, we will pay latest by 15th N1.8 million as salary, whether modulated or not. Just note that we have not hidden anything from you,

we are very transparent; it is either you accept or you do not accept. We must all join hands to find solution, though, it will not come easy. So, I urge everyone to support us to rebuild our economy.

Most people have forgotten what this government has done to cushion the effect of the hard economy in our state. 40,000 jobless youths were engaged in two batches, of which the federal governments now doing something close to that. We are the first government to do that kind of a thing. We are the first government that started to give stipend to the elderly citizens and many others. In the OYES, we still have some of them that are still earning from government.

Truly in some areas, we have not done enough, but where we have done enough is more. For instance, how many governments have the kind and number of Armoured Personnel Carriers that we have? There are so many other areas like that. Those who don’t want to appreciate what we are doing should have a rethink and be praying for us to succeed and let us all pay our roles.

•Continued from page 11

FASHION

those that perspire a lot, the stain is always very visible but for WITH those that don’t, it is always less visible.

These stains a r e caused by bacteria from sweating which is Increases Yourself Esteem one of the reasons When you smell nice, your selfwhy it has an confidence is increased. Imagine unpleasant smell. yourself walking into a firm, store, When you of or gathering and the fragrance wear a coming out of your body is so nice, deodorant, the people begin to wonder what the s t e r i l i z i n g name of your deodorant is, and ingredients in some even go as far as asking the substance questions. kills any bacteria There is an unproven myth found on your that the use of deodorant can cause body. Moreover, it cancer of the breast; researchers say also aids in avoiding any this myth is unproven and there is potential bacteria growth no solid link between the use of that can be harmful to your skin. deodorant and cancer of the breast.

TEMITOPE AKINYELE

Need For Perseverance To Save Our Future

•A long queue of Armoured Personnel Carrier purchased by Aregbesola administration.

•Continued from page 11 he built the first regional university in Ife, the first television station in Africa and the first stadium-Liberty, the same way Governor Rauf Aregbesola is today building mega schools, equipping them, building a cargo airport, not for luxury but for development, building durable linkage roads for easy access, sponsoring the best of our brains to the best schools home and abroad, securing our lives and properties by partnering with Nigeria Police and other security agencies and feeding our children to be able to learn better, even with paucity of funds…very lean purse indeed! Today, the Awo legacy lives on, and for sure, Aregbesola’s legacy will live longer after him.

HAT our economy and civil service are passing through today is not the fault of our governor, neither is it entirely that of the former federal government under President Goodluck Jonathan, but a natural phase which a potentially great nation, state, people and individual must pass through. Osun is not alone in this, as many would want to believe. Take a simple trip to all states in Nigeria, and go to Abuja… you will discover similar or worse situation. The only difference is that what other states are going through are not being celebrated in the media the way it is being done here in Osun. The opposition in other states are not as loud as we have here.

Rauf Aregbesola must be strong indeed, not to have had problem of the heart in enduring all these. We must support him, fight for him,

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share in his pains and encourage him to soldier on.

Inasmuch as we see sincerity in him, as testified to by the national organized labour, soaring gim higher than many other states of the federation, it is our duty to be by his side, even if our salary is no more there. He lives an austere and disciplined life the way Awolowo did. In a recent interactive session with the citizen dubbed Ogbeni Till Daybreak, Governor Rauf Aregbesola stated clearly, before local, national and international audience, albeit unbelievable, that he does not have an account either in Nigeria or anywhere globally. This is an open challenge to the opposition to, at least, for once, do some simple research, aided by the internet and all information technology, to unravel the truth in this statement. They ought to be honest enough to make public their findings, either way. But will they?

Using today’s wealth to create a far better tomorrow: As painful as it may seem, the products of the alleged massive debts are there for everyone to see in our mega schools, good roads, interchanges, functional education, etc. We must not eat our tomorrow and that of our children and grand children today in forced salary and wage bills. Ogbeni could have decided to be a ‘salary only’-paying governor, leaving developments undone, but he chooses to ride on the unpopular road for the sake of our future. What we are passing through today will definitely benefit us and our children and grand children tomorrow.

•Akinola, arpa, is a Development and Policy Analyst

THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

ISSUES/POLICY

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ISAAC OLUSESI Writes That A Re-appraised And Re-defined Orientation Blitz Will Re-direct The Attitudes And Values Of The Multi-ethnic Nationals In Ile-ife To Drive Peace And Stability In The Land.

Driving Peace In Ile- Ife Through PR

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AWLESSNESS can neither be tolerated any longer in any part of the State of Osun. The tragedy of the last fracas in the IleIfe metropolis would appear as the outgrowth of intrigues and strife between the youths of the Hausa and Yoruba extractions to stratify themselves and gain eminence at the detriment of the public over some mundane stoke interests of one or two of the youths. The fraudulent behaviour of some masked elements in the crisis practically manipulated the mass of the recalcitrant youths that perpetrated the orgy of arson in the ancient city. The leeches reacted violently as both sides wiped up primordial sentiments of ethnicity, with the attendant variety of panic, agitation and articulation that hugely punctured the peace in the state.

The character of the invisible actors in the theatre of war, with a cache of deadly arms and ammunition, heard in indiscriminate gunshots to exterminate one another, was profoundly antithetical to Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s sustained monumental good governance, development trends and welfare of Osun residents-the Hausas, the Yorubas and the Ibos alike, based on his principles of freedom, equality and justice for all.

That is why Osun cities should be in tandem with the extant peace in the state. The state can no longer accept the different forms of violence that the centrifugal forces of destabilization perpetrated, portraying Osun, the epicenter of violence and senseless killings in South-west, Nigeria. The crisis in Ile-Ife has, no doubt, violated the rule of law, social order and respect for human rights, just as the individuals in the state are aggrieved at the resultant sudden

•Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

•Carnage of the Ile-Ife crisis.

To drive peace in Ile-Ife, the existing orientation blitz should be overhauled through a coherent and thoroughly guided programmes of public enlightenment to garner true patriotism in both the Yorubas and other ethnic nationals that earn life and living in Ile-Ife. disruption of peace and stability.

The other time, merely few months ago, the Ile-Ife delinquents in Osun school uniform ignited a violent outbreak of disorder in the public domain, harassed and harmed persons and vandalized dozens of vehicles in sight. The mutinous grammar school students stormed the Osun Radio in Ile-Ife, the staff, gate guards and visitors were held hostage hours unending and this seized the serenity of the radio house by force, violated public sense of security, inflicted harm on the transmission crew to cause air-piracy. They created an overwhelming fear and violently charged climate of terrorism to topple the government status quo on the matter in dispute, just like an insurgent scene from the French railway workers’ riot of 1910 when workers destroyed sabots, the wooden shoes that held the rail lines in place. Paradoxically, the mutineers in Ife high schools only earned themselves publicity of hates and condemnations from across the global village, not publicity that could induce Osun government towards their cause.

To drive peace in Ile-Ife, the existing orientation blitz should be overhauled through a coherent and thoroughly guided programmes of

”

public enlightenment to garner true patriotism in both the Yorubas and other ethnic nationals that earn life and living in Ile-Ife. The slogan of Nazi Movement (1920-1945), Italian Revolution (1848) or the French Revolution of 1787 which ended in the entrenchment of minority groups in privileged positions will no longer have any impressive impact on the pluralized nationals in Ile-Ife this contemporary time. Rather, a reappraised and re-defined orientation blitz will re-direct the attitudes and values of the multiethnic nationals in Ile-Ife to generate acceptable patterns of behavior that is supportive of sustainable peace and stability in the ancient city.

The philosophy is that no such re-orientation gestures can be worthwhile without social sensitivity that gives shape to the overall impression of the simultaneous multi-publics of IleIfe. The social sensitivity concept is critical to community relations and it is the focal concern of Public Relations profession, defined in the context as planned operations to accommodate the survival interests and pressures of the total residents of the metropolitan Ile-Ife. It stands to reason that it is in the best interest of Osun cities to inaugurate

an effective social sensitivity project.

Lack of serious commitment to the project will always truncate the desired peace in the state; and goodwill and understanding of the multinationals in Osun can be lost.

As though, the last conflict between the Hausa and Yoruba youths in Ile-Ife was essentially initiated and inflated by some tribalized youths, the long-term solution is to be proactive on social sensitivity that would gauge, evaluate and analyze the attitude of the multi-public in Ile-Ife, with a view to deploying positive variables to safe-guard any attempt by any of the multi-publics to want to cause communal or ethnic pandemonium.

One thing that must be acknowledged is the proactiveness of the state government, as Aregbesola promptly visited the war torn city, assessed the extent of damage, condemned the fracas, and vowed to deal decisively with the perpetrators of the dastardly act. He also addressed the Ooni palace, announced efforts on arrests so far made, held parley with the Hausa leadership in the state and dialogued with his colleague-governors in the North.

Also, the Ooni of Ife instantly got in touch with his brother-Hausa Obas in the North and held persuasive jaw-jaw with them. For the records, the governor and the Ooni must be commended for their wits that doused tension in the land because the North is a feudal reactionary that is still being fully controlled by the Emirs and the Mullahs.

•OLUSESI is Assistant Director, Directorate of Publicity, Research & Strategy, Osun APC.

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THURSDAY MAY, 12 - MAY 19, 2017

Need For Perseverance To Save Our Future I N those days, and even now, parents go to any length to see to the education and future of their children and wards. They go hungry, sell farm produce, sometimes at ridiculous prices to raise funds for the education of their kids. In most cases, the whole community will contribute to support a promising child of other parents to see such a child through higher education home and abroad. Such a child or ward comes back home after a long sojourn abroad and becomes a pride, not only of the parents but of the whole community. When he or she is returning home, the whole community goes agog, including the traditional ruler, to welcome him back. The fruits of their endurance are ripe and everyone is happy.

Lesson: such a child is no longer the child of the biological parents alone, but that of the whole community, even including the neighboring communities. He joins the civil service, which was, and still is, the in-thing noble profession,

bringing glory to the community which prides itself as having produced a ‘son, daughter’ working for government. He or she reciprocates the community’s gestures by being a good ambassador. He does not engage in sabotage or corruption that soils the image of the community. From his paltry wage which was a big deal in the community in those days, he

We Must Be Ready To Persevere Further So That Our Tomorrow And Those Of Our Children And Grand Children Become Better.

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assists the indigents, lobby for community projects to be cited, and when he or she becomes capable financially or otherwise, builds schools, hospitals, and becomes an iconic star of the community. It becomes a win-win situation for the individual, families and the community.

Sometimes one marvels at the ingenuity, wisdom and futuristic thinking of our forebears, even at their zero level of exposure to westernization and education, when parents go to any length to secure the future of their children and community, even at communal level.

Many leaders of today are products of this. The immediate and extended families, as well as the entire community struggled hard to make them what they are today. For sure, they are not only the pride of their

AYO AKINOLA

parents, but of our extended family and communities which contributed in no small measure financially and morally towards what they are today. And this is where the present government in Osun is wearing its thinking cap.

Our civil servants have been very enduring and it is very commendable. What we are all passing through today is normal as far as true development is concerned.

We must be ready to persevere further so that our tomorrow and those of our children and grand children become better. We must not allow agents of retrogression to divert us from our predestined greatness.

Obafemi Awolowo, one-time Premier of the old Western Region of Nigeria, built the Cocoa House, •Continued on page 14

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,