OSUN:
EDITORIAL COMMENT Media Ethics And The Ife Riots
The Story Has Changed
- Page 3
We start first on a positive note by acknowledging the very prompt intervention of the government of the State of Osun and the Security Services in quelling the disturbances which took place recently in Ile-Ife. Had both institutions not acted firmly, fairly and decisively, the outcome would have been far worse. Commendations for the
intervention have expectedly come in from far and wide. A good example is the Niger Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mansour Hajj Daddo, who gave great plaudits to the swift intervention by the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in quelling the crisis.
•Continued on page 4
How Aregbesola, Ooni Averted Genocide In Ife Clash
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•Kwankwaso Lauds Osun, As IGP Team Commences Investigation
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2018: Osun PDP Begins Move To Reconcile Factions
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•The picture showing part of the newly-constructed Osogbo West Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) secretariat, behind Government Technical College, Osogbo, during its commissioning. INSET: Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.
How Aregbesola, Ooni Averted Genocide In Ife Clash 2
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•Kwankwaso Lauds Osun, As IGP Team Commences Investigation
By Kehinde Ayantunji More facts emerged on Tuesday on how Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi swift interventions minimized proximity of damage and loss of lives during last week Yoruba and Hausa tribal clash in Ile- Ife. The governor, and Civil Defence Corps, Ooni Ogunwsusi rescued Department of the State over 1,000 people held Services and some Ife hostage by hoodlums Chiefs led the operation who had already looted to dislodge the hoodlums and vandalised valuable and rescued the victims. properties in Sabo, The rescued victims dominated by Hausa were however handed and some others areas in over to Seriki of Hausa in Ile – Ife. Ile -Ife and reunited them According to top with their families in less security sources, the than 24 hours, while governor after receiving those that required report of captive of over medical attention were 1,000 on Wednesday held rushed to Obafemi in an unknown Awolowo Teaching destination for possible Hospital, Ile- Ife. mass slaughter mobilised According to all security agencies for International Convention the rescue of the victims. subscribed to by Nigeria, In a rescued footage Genocide has occurred in shown to OSUN any country or DEFENDER Reporter in state where religion, Ile- Ife, most of the ethnic, political, tribal or captives were women communal crisis claim and children between the more than two hundreds ages of 10 and 13. The lives. combined team of the Article II of the Nigeria Army, Police, convention states that
“It will not be appropriate for us not to let Nigerians know that it was not lack of prompt attention that allowed that horrendous and isolated satanic incident to happen, but some miscreants within that two hours capitalised on minor conflicts between two individuals who already enjoyed mutual social relationship.” CHANGE OF NAME
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P
rt e v d A r ou re Y e He c la
“genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part, imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group”. Governor Aregbesola while playing host to Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Corp Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi on courtesy visit, at Government House on Tuesday commended the security agencies for the swift response to curtail the level of damages. He said his administration with the cooperation of security agencies has restored peace to Ile-Ife and
dismissed media report that some Hausa’s are migrating, adding that normalcy has finally returns to Ife. He said: “the crisis was just for two hours, though that two hours was traumatic and horrible, but not as bad as the impression some section of the media are creating.” “For your information, , within two hours of the commencement of the incident, the mayhem began at about 6.00 am and before 9. 30am, all
the security agencies, Nigeria Army, Police, DSS, NSCDC, including security agencies that are unconnected with the crisis, FRSC, Nigeria Custom, Nigeria Immigration had mobilised to the centre of the crisis with all available gadget including armored vehicles not less than three” “It will not be appropriate for us not to let Nigerians know that it was not lack of prompt attention that allowed
that horrendous and isolated satanic incident to happen, but some miscreants within that two hours capitalised on minor conflicts between two individuals who already enjoyed mutual social relationship.” ”The primary course of that clash could not in any way be linked with the quantum of damages, and in my meeting with the head of security agencies, our preliminary conclusion was that miscreants capitalize on the opportunity of that little infraction to engage •Continued on page 14
Oluwo Makes Case For Modernization Of Idols •The carnage of Yoruba/Hausa clash in Ile-Ife.
By Ismaeel Uthman In his continuous campaign for the advancement of Yoruba culture and tradition, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, has made case for the modernization of idols in Yorubaland to attract tourists and those who are interested in investing in tourism. According to the Oluwo charged traditionalists in Nigeria traditional ruler, the present state of idols and to convert their idols to tourist centres were not tourist attractions in attractive, saying, there is conformity with modern need for aggressive reality to boost the modernization of the country’s economy. He spoke at his palace idols. Oluwo attributed the in Iwo at the weekend scanty populace of while receiving members traditionalists to non of Traditional Religion promotion their belief Worshippers Association to modern of taste, urging Osun (TRWASO), according to a press them to repackage their shrines to modern statement issued by his standard devoid of Media Aide, Mr dirtiness. Ibraheem Alli. The traditional ruler
maintained that Yoruba culture is an asset to the country’s economy, even as he lamented non appreciation of its value by custodians of the said culture. He condemned the harshness associated with traditional deities as discouraging, imploring traditionalists to revoke the stringency spiritually attached to their belief. Oluwo urged the traditionalists to support his programme tagged “Invading the Invaders” targeting at promoting western dresses made from local fabrics (Ofi) to be called Telu Jeans. Oba Akanbi explained that the ofi would be used to make western
By Shina Abubakar A Magistrate Court, sitting in Osogbo, Osun State presided over by the Chief Magistrate, Olushola Aluko has remanded a 23-year-old man, Adeniyi Damilare for alleged armed robbery. The prosecutor, Mr. was not taken due to the Olu Abodunrin said, the nature of the offence and accused alongside four place of committal. others now at large, Although, the accused allegedly robbed a person was represented student hostel on the 27th in court by Mr. Jimmy of February around 8:30 Jones, he was refused pm in Ipetumodu. bail. According to the The Chief Magistrate, charge sheet, the suspect Mr. Olusola Aluko in his was armed with ruling said “The accused dangerous weapon with person should be which he robbed the remanded in Ile- Ife victims, an offence prison” contrary to section 390 of “The officer in charge the state criminal code. should duplicate his case The plea of the suspect file and send it to the
office of Directorate of Public Prosecution for advice immediately. The magistrate who ordered that the case be transferred to Ipetumodu for prosecution, adjourned the case till 10th of April for mention.
Court Remands Man In Prison Over Robbery
dress of all kinds, like school uniforms, bags, etc, affirming that “such would lure Nigerians to appreciate our culture and promote our economy”. He disclosed that his partnership with Bank of Industry (BOI) was at the top gear for external materialization of Telu Jeans, saying, he would not relent in promoting Yoruba culture and accessories. The Oluwo further advised traditionalists to turn the idols to tourist attractions of festivity with gate fee to boost the nation‘s income and modernize it to attract prospective attendants. Oba Akanbi said: “The idols and deities must turn to tourist centres if our culture will appreciate. The traditional sacred places need the attention of her believers, but I will suggest the renovation/ modernization of the shrines to attract people`s attention. Otherwise, no children will mingle nor visit a dirty shrine again. If properly position, those items can be turned to festivity.” Oluwo recalled that the knowledge of Ifa in the olden days was commendable, saying it played vital roles in showing productive direction to confused issues, but condemned in totality those worshipping Ifa as God, saying only novice would claim idols are bigger than monarch.
Ife Communal Clash: A Result Of Non-Availability Of Early Detection Of Conflict Mechanism - Omoworare FRIDAY, MARCH 17 - THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017
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was maximum security migrate, but I want to to ensure peace. And not to leave and we By Ismaeel Uthman in place for the protection assure both the Arewa there is peace now, in the appeal to those that have Senator Babajide Omoworare representing Osun of their lives and and Yoruba communities last 72 hours, there has left to come back. We are in Sabo area that we are not been any violence working on ensuring that East Senatorial District at the National Assembly properties. He said: “When there interested in peace and and there would not be. has attributed the clash between Hausa and Yoruba this crisis did not “We enjoin everybody resurface again.” communities in Ile-Ife to the non-availability of is crisis, people will we are doing everything mechanism to detect conflict and skirmishes at early stage. November 27 Interchange Bridge, Osogbo: or third Omoworare said, the second communal clash would generation in Ile-Ife. The Now The Story Has Changed have been averted had Sabo was some years ago at the outskirt of Ile-Ife, there being in place, a mechanism to detect the but now, it is in the hub grievances of the two of the city, that will tell communities, saying that you how long Sabo had what led to the violence been in Ife. “I feel the crisis is just was a trivial issue which should have been settled. a failure of having a mechanism of detecting The Senator stated this on Sunday when he conflict at the early stage. visited Sabo area where It was a very little issue the crisis occurred in Ife that escalated to the to access the situation crisis. It was a mere and deliver food items skirmish on the first day, which included bags of by the second day it had rice, beans, cow to the escalated. I think what Hausa community. He we need to do and which also made the same we have been working on gesture to the Ile-Ife is to put in place mechanism to detect community. He stated that he was conflict at the early stage making move to ensure and resolve it on time. “The Ooni of Ile-Ife that the National Emergency Agency and the Ife elders have set a truth and (NEMA) provides relieve up •Ola-Iya and Abere route can be described as gateway to Osogbo, the State of Osun capital. The route materials to the victims of reconciliation committee harbors the seats of two organs of government of the state - Office of the Governor (and the State Secrea view to the clash, noting that both with tariat); and the House of Assembly. the Arewa and Yoruba forestalling reoccurrence Before now, it used to be vehicular tug-of-war in the morning for public and private workers and other communities are victims of such crisis in future, residents of Osogbo who had no other road to ply going to their work places and going back home, as well not even now.” as other residents going beyond the state secretariat. of the crisis. The experience is even worse for residents of Dele-Yes-Sir area, the eastern part of Osogbo, and the Isale O m o w o r a r e O m o w o r a r e Osun area, who also had to get to the State Secretariat, Abere every morning. They were cut-off; and had to commended Governor maintained that though go-round the town, more than half the length of the distance to their work places. Rauf Aregbesola; the peace has returned to IleNow, The Story Has Changed, courtesy of the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Ife, and appealed to the Osun. Adeyeye Ogunwusi and northerners who have November 27 Interchange now breaks the bottleneck congestion of traffic along the state secretariat and the security chiefs in the left the city to return, Ola-Iya junction of Osogbo, the Osun capital. assuring them that there state for curtailing the crisis on time, saying that their proactive intervention actual brought the situation to a be ready to assist in to provide information to batteries. minimal level. By Murtala Agboola prosecution when cases prosecute him. The Ile-Ife born They were also told to The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ataoja end up in court. The police chief said, tear used recharge cards politician appealed to the Estate Police station, Osogbo, Mr Clement Ademoroti made what the court needs is because armed robbers Arewa and Yoruba Agbemoroti has tasked citizens to be very vigilant reference to the failure of evidence and without place them at robbery communities to embrace and be conscious of their environment. people who report cases such evidence, all the spots which results in the peace and continue to He made the call at the has zero-crime rate, to police to turn up when courts do is to strike out arrest of those who used live as a family. monthly meeting of the hence citizens should do evidence is most needed. such cases, and when them. He said: “Ile-Ife is a Community more to assist the police He alluded to a such happen, the public peaceful city; I am Police Members were seriously bothered about Relation Committee in providing adequate robbery suspect, one easily conclude that the therefore warned to the clash. Both Arewa (PCRC) held at the police security for persons and Segun Oluwalogbon, aka police have taken bribe. report any incidence of Members of the PCRC theft of identify card or property. Badoo who had been and Yoruba have lived station, last Thursday. The DPO reiterated the Besides consciousness, arrested after terrorising were equally warned to any belongings to the together beyond this crisis. The Hausa fact that no society, not he asked them to provide people in the area for a be aware of how they police, because of the community is actually even the developed ones, reliable information and long time, saying Badoo’s park their vehicles repercussion if it is victims were are outside, especially with recovered. unfortunately unwilling the rampant theft of car
Police Chief Admonishes Citizens To Be Vigilant
Disaster Victims Receive N5m Relief Materials
By Kazeem Mohammed In a bid to bring succour and relief to those affected by various environmental hazards, the Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola has approved the distributed of a N5million worth of relief materials to the affected victims. The governor who State felt the need to was represented by the assist the affected victims General Manager, Osun by donating building State Emergency materials such as iron Management Agency, sheets, nails, mattress, Oluyemi Olarewaju soap and food stuffs to delivered the relief victims of fire outbreak materials to the affected and flood disasters victims at the Multi- among others. Purpose Hall of the Aregbesola said, with Bureau of Lands, State 32 people benefitting Secretariat, Abere from the first phase, he recently. advised them to make He explained that, the use of the materials to
alleviate their suffering and pains caused by the disasters. He then warned the beneficiaries to do away with anything that may lead to further disaster in their area. Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Asimiyu Oladapo, a resident of Dada Estate, Osogbo appreciated the government for the kind gesture aimed at relieving them sequel to the disaster, saying the succor would go a long way in aiding their needs.
•(L-R) Chief Ewelayo; DPO, Mr Clement Agbemoroti; PCRC Chairman, Chief Gbadebo Adeyemo (JP); Assistant Secretary, Mr Koleoso Kolawole; Ex-Officio, Aremu Michael and Vice Chairman, Prince Alex Onibokun, during the foundation laying of PCRC Hall, Ataoja Police Station, Osogbo, recently.
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Media Ethics And The Ife Riots
•Continued from front page
The ambassador also commended the immediate assistance rendered to people who were affected by the fracas. According to the Ambassador who is not on the payroll of the State of Osun, “We really thank God that the state is blessed with a proactive governor.......... we have been briefed of your various forms of assistance by our people we saw. Your actions have reassured us of the fact that the people of this state are really accommodating and are still ready to continue to leave in peace and harmony with our people.” These are not just sensible words, they are poignant, for the Ambassador who is obviously on the ground noted that miscreants looking for an opportunity for looting had jumped into the fray. His position and those of the security services are very much in alignment with the
According to the Ambassador who is not on the payroll of the State of Osun “We really thank God that the state is blessed with a proactive governor..........
incisive analyses made by this newspaper on page 7 examining the root causes of (economic, historical etc) of the fracas. Circumspection and sensitivity is of the utmost importance at a time of upheaval. This was not shown in the clear violation of ethics shown by the website of CHANNELS Television website reporting of the crises. The website juxtaposed pictures of the scene of a riot in Niger Republic earlier carried by the news agency, AFP as what happened in Ile-Ife. This is
Economy:
No Respite Yet!
FOR the ailing Nigerian economy, there has been – without question – some noticeable respite. The Niger Delta is relatively quiet. Oil prices are journalists at the end of the Federal on a slow but steady rebound. Even Executive Council meeting that the national currency –naira – which available indices had shown that the appears to have surrendered to the economy was recovering faster than dictates of speculators, appears to it was envisaged. Said he: “The IMF have gained some verve in the last report had forecast a GDP growth few weeks – thanks to the measures rate of -1.8 per cent for 2016 but it turned introduced by For while a lot of positive out to be the Central -1.5 per developments have been Bank of cent. So, Nigeria. As achieved across the board, that’s for the states however the undeniable fact better majority of is that the modest gains t h a n w h o s e being recorded owe in large expected economies but we measure to the steady had buckled are not under the stability in the oil out of the maelstrom of producing areas and woods…It commodity recovery inoil prices. i s prices, the signs are also of respite encouraging, but we have to do somewhat. more to make sure that we get the Apparently upbeat about the economy out of the recession this trend of things but nonetheless year”. cautious, Minister of Budget and We couldn’t agree more with the National Planning, Udoma Udo minister that a lot still needs to be Udomaonly last week told done to get the economy out of the
danger zone. For while a lot of positive developments have been achieved across the board, however the undeniable fact is that the modest gains being recorded owe in large measure to the steady stability in the oil producing areas and recovery inoil prices. This is without prejudice to the considerable attention being lavished on the agricultural sector in recent time. While the efforts of the CBN in channelling more funds into the sector obviously stand apart, state governments have also been doing their bits in what appears to be renewed efforts to stem the vicious cycle of dependence on food imports. These, unfortunately are not nearly enough. Getting out of the current cycle would obviously require more than promoting a superficial peace of the Niger Delta or the incremental rebound in oil prices to buy time. What is required is a fundamental rethinking of the entire framework of the Nigerian economy to unleash its locked in potentials.
South Africa Xenophobic Attacks H ISTORY and events have a way of repeating themselves. Some are coincidence while others are mysteries; and some are ironical. So, after the recent xenophobic attacks, I started wondering that yet again, my predictions about the execrable event proved to be prescient. Thus, I cannot recall in recent times a country with such animosity against foreigners especially Nigerians; this could be more cruel
action indeed. History has a way of toiling with our lives but it is not something we should ignore at all.
Therefore, Nigeria as a country, had a significant contribution to South Africa’s freedom from apartheid. It is Nigeria
utterly irresponsible. Even in today’s make- believe world of ‘Post-Truth’ and ‘Alternative Facts’ this is reprehensible. Inadvertently (it is to be hoped) it could have inflamed passion and led to further carnage. The management of CHANNELS should, if it has not already done so, issue a disclaimer and apologise to the people and government of the State of Osun. In addition as an act of contrition, it ought to make restitution. It will not be out of order for the otherwise respectable Media house to assist the cause of rehabilitation by making a suitable donation to the victims of the carnage. This is the sensible thing to do. We expect a media house of this standing to show a sensible example and much higher standards even in today’s bizarre world of ‘Alternative facts’ and what is looking like ‘PostReality’ based on a wholesale repudiation of the truth.
that took her off the gutters of the evil called colonialism! With such that Nigeria had played, it (Nigeria) is
undeserving of such inhumane treatment of its citizens. So, the xenophobic attack in the South Africa is
condemnable. Does South Africa expect us to give them kudos and fold our arms or respect their decisions? Not at all! Thus, our stand remains the same: Enough is enough of all these; because it is unbearable!. Nigerians have businesses there, which South Africans are beneficiaries of. Therefore, no country survives without securing its economy and foreign investments. •PHILIP ADEWUMI, Oke-Odo, Oyan, State of Osun.
How do we address thesituation in which the country earns foreign exchange only to dispense same on imported goods?Or that the country cannot boast of substantial value addition to basic agricultural products nearly 70 years after the founding of its first university? How about the paradox of a country which had long established a world class machine tool industry in Osogbo yet imports bolts and nuts for its anaemic factories decades after?Or why the states in the federation, despite their vast endowments in minerals and human capital, are best described as leeches on an equally unproductive central government? Tempting as it is to celebrate – which in any case seems to us as premature –the current respite should be seen as offering the leadership at all levels, fresh opportunity to unlock the economy from the vicious cycle on dependence. That is the only way to make the current optimism enduring and sustainable.
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Retraining Of Teachers: The Osun Approach
Capacity Building for teachers has been identified as one of the major aspects of addressing the decline in the educational system in Nigeria. It is an essential part of development and focuses on a series of actions directed at helping participants in the development process to increase their knowledge, skills and understanding. KAZEEM MOHAMMED, in this report considers these importance, especially in the education development strategy of the State of Osun.
All over the world, education has been considered to be so essential in the process of local, state and national development. It is meant to globally empower people with the required knowledge, skills, value, attitude and orientation to make the subject matter (students) contributors to the development process of their areas. Chapter 2, Section 18(1) of the Nigeria Constitution stipulates that “Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate e d u c a t i o n a l opportunities at all levels. This, no doubt, •A cross section of teachers in one of the trainings for teachers. put a definite burden on the government to Over the years, governments at eventhough, the effectiveness of this make education, especially at the foundation level readily accessible to various levels –Local, State and Federal- role is vary, depending on the political have no doubt played this role, will and ability of the government at a the people. particular period to deliver. Afterall, different administrations at different times promised “functional and sound education” as one of their programmes. However, there has been general The cluster trainings of teachers of the state, saying the government must outcry about the fall in the standard of Public School in the State of Osun have be commended for building its human education and morals which are triggered ecstasy, as teachers resource, especially in the education another major aspect of education are expressed satisfaction with the state sector. flagging. Some blame students for this government over the training and Stressing that the training had made apparent decline in quality of education retraining of public school teachers significant impact on the participants, and moral values. Sometimes, teachers across the state. he said the sustainability of the capacity are blamed for that they are not as A cross section of teachers spoke on building programme would assist and devoted and dedicated to the cause of Tuesday during a visit of management at the long run bring out the best from education as it was the case in the past, of the State Universal Basic Education public school students. while teachers on the other hand, blame Board (SUBEB), led by the Chairman, Mrs Biodun Olaoye, another parents and the children. They also Prince Felix Awofisayo to centers of participant said, the training should be blame government for unattractive the ongoing 2016 Cluster Training extended to other teachers across the condition of service which capacity organized for 3,000 teachers in state, saying, “this is a beautiful building is inclusive and poor physical elementary and middle school across programme that should be allowed to facilities in some parts of the the state. continue and go round all the teachers educational system. Mr Tijani Abiodun, a teacher in St in the state”. No doubt, the arguments of all sides James Middle School, Osogbo said, the Mrs Adeyinka Abodunrin, a teachers might be tenable, but vary from state training was impressive and would to state, and to this end there is a dire add value to teaching and learning in •Continued on page 6 need for building teachers’ capacity in
Osun Teachers Training Triggers Ecstasy
order to improve performance, provide c o n d u c i v e environment for learning and sensitized parents to play their role to achieve the desired result in the system. Most especially, teachers must strive towards excellence, and provide their students the tools to succeed which is an essential component of their growth and development as professionals. Coming from this background, the present government in the State of Osun, under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola which assumed the office in November 2010, claimed that it has swung into action to change the declining trend in the education system, through several new innovative ideas like construction of world standard new school structures to ensure conducive environment for learning for both elementary and high schools, under the new school classification of the administration which has children within the age bracket of age 5 to 9 in the elementary school, age 10 to 13 in the middle schools and 14 to 16 in the High School. The government has also said, it has given training and retraining of teachers, especially at the basic school level (elementary and middle) which is the bedrock and the foundation towards higher knowledge, the adequate attention it deserves. These claims of the Osun state government were evident in the modern school structures, found across the state, including the rural areas, and the ongoing Clusters Training of teachers, wherein, 50 teachers were •Continued on page 6
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The Osun Approach
Email: drdejiesan@gmail.com. FRIDAY, MARCH 17 - THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 REVIEW
Retraining Of Teachers:
•Continued from page 5
selected from each local government council areas of the state to benefit. A visit to some of the training centers by OSUN DEFENDER team, in company of the Chairman, Osun State Universal Education Board, Prince Felix Awofisayo showed that the teachers were happy and commended the government for taking their capacity building very serious:
Teachers Training Triggers Ecstasy •Continued from page 5
‘Osun Takes Teachers’ Training Seriously’
•Osun Elementary School Pupils rejoicing.
The Permanent Secretary, Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB, Alhaji Fatai Kolawole speaks on the efforts of government on training and retraining of teachers at the basic level of education in the State. Excerpt:
OSDF: How has the government fared interms of moving out to assess if the teachers teach, do they teach and ensure that the pupils learn. We have a statewide training and retraining of teachers? examination for pupils, from Grade 3 Kolawole: We believe that we to 6 which is called Joint State shouldn’t allow our teachers to be Examination, for both private and static interm knowledge and that is public schools and we use that to why the governor values training assess the performance of our pupils. and retraining of teachers. On We use this as a basis of comparison annual basis, a lot of trainings have to see how our pupils in public schools been done for teachers and one of are faring and in all sincerity, they them is Cluster Training Approach have not been found wanting. From with 1,550 had been undergoing time to time, we are developing training in the last few weeks. We strategy to assess them. are training the headmasters, One thing that we are also doing is teachers, and even our staff so that to encourage teachers that have done when they go out for inspection, well and scold those that have not they know what to look out for. done well. What we do is to use the This year again, we have been able performance of their pupils to measure to train our teachers in what we call them. We also started a policy last year JULIPHONY Techniques of that after three years, we move you out teaching students to be able to read of that school if you have not done and write and improve their well. You might then be taken to a literacy. This technique uses sound •Alhaji Fatai Kolawole, Osun lesser school and place on close as against the alphabet. We have SUBEB PS monitoring. If you are taking to a lesser trained about 1,500 teachers of school, you will know that you have grade 1 and grade 2 statewide on been brought down for not being this. We were lucky, the man called JULLY, who is a Briton donated work books up to 80,000 to train the pupils of effective and you need to brace up. OSDF: How impacting has these trainings been on Osun. We did training for teachers on mathematics and science teachers? Kolawole: There are so many levels of training, some at the basic education and middle schools level, so that they can become better in the science teaching in our school. one week, some three weeks , some six weeks and some 10 weeks depending on the level of training they are going The principals and headmasters were also given leadership training and effective monitoring of teachers including the for. We have sent teachers to NTI Kaduna for training, Akure where you have a Federal Government Agency issue of ICT. Sometimes ago, in collaboration with NTI, we also helping us to train our teachers. We usually employ the trained 450 teachers. We also emphasized using of ICT for service of credible institution of higher learning, like teaching in school. Then, our quality assurance officers UNIOSUN, OAU, NCE ILa, UI among others to carry out were also trained using the module of quality assurance the training for us. After the training we go out to measure so that when they go out they know what to look out for. what they do and we can see that they are definitely As far as Osun is concern, this agency is the largest impacted. OSDF: Assuming with all these input, you still have employer of labour interm of number. By the time you add 1,200 Elementary Schools with 11,000 teachers and 400 some teachers that are not pulling their weight, what will Middle School with 4,060 , we are talking about 15,060 you do? Kolawole: Government service has rules and regulations teachers. The objective is that if these people are welltrained, they will serve as centers of excellence for the that guide the way you behalf. For instance, we have had pupils and they will be able to compete with their peers instances where we deducted the salaries of teachers. If you don’t go to school, then you don’t deserve to be paid. anywhere in the world. And for the record, it should be added that leave bonuses If you are not in school at a time you should be there, of are paid for teachers in elementary and middle schools as course, you will be queried and sanction appropriately. and when due and as we speak now, SUBEB is not owing We have had cases when teachers that abandoned their duty post get dismissed, but not common because majority anybody leave bonus. OSDF: Are you getting the desired result interms of of our teachers are responsible and responsive to corrections. There was a time we move a principal out of impacting knowledge on the pupils? Kolawole: Yes. We are present in all the Local school entirely to an office for not having the capacity to Government and we have a department in charge of run the school. The governor is someone who is humane, •Continued on page 11
in Osogbo said, the training programme was not enough to bring out the best from teachers, but it must be accompanied with motivation, especially interms of prompt payment of salaries and allowances. She said: “While this training is commendable, teachers should also be well-motivated, especially on the issue of prompt salary payment. If they do, they will be able to go to classes with high esteem and impact appropriate knowledge on our students. It will bring out the best in us”. Also, Mrs Oloniniran Cecelia, a teacher at St Peter Elementary School, Iba and Mrs Folashade Obe from the All Saint Elementary School, both at Ifelodun Local Government training center commended the government for doing the needful, saying the training would enrich them intellectually and translate to sound teaching and learning. The SUBEB Chairman, Prince Awofisayo while addressing the participants said, the government was moving beyond training of teachers, it has designed motivational strategy for teachers across the state, with a view to giving their best interms of impacting knowledge on pupils. He said, there were more than 3,000 participants across the state, at 50 participants in each center, saying the training programme had been a yearly engagement since assumption of Aregbesola administration, aiming at minimizing failure and ensure that students of public schools have the capacity to compete with their peers anywhere. According to him, there will be special package for teachers, including “housing project for teachers, differential salary payments for teachers in rural and urban centers, encouragement for best teachers” which would begin to manifest as from the next academic session, saying, the state government was taking education serious in Osun and it would not relent. “You will be marvel by several incentives for teachers by next session, as they will begin to manifest. The issue of irregular salary is temporary and will soon be addressed. We have been doing a lot, coming up with other innovations to ensure that we have enough resources to cater for our needs. “This training programme will continue and there are even several other programmes we are coming up with before the expiration of Aregbesola’s tenure. By the time the goodies are out now, the teachers will feel proud of their jobs”. Awofisayo then charged the teachers participants to be dedicated and committed to duties to ensure improvement in the education system in the state. One of the resource persons in Olorunda Center of the training, Dr A.J Obadiora from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife said, he was impressed by the state government’s initiative of the teachers’ training, which he said, was one of the major ways to improve on the state education system.
•Prince Awofisayo, SUBEB Chairman
Untold Story Of Hausa/Yoruba Clash In Ile-Ife FRIDAY, MARCH 17 - THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017
COMMUNITY REPORTS
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The issue of ‘spontaneity’ in a conflict situation is always a matter of debate. Below, Sola Jacobs takes a deeper look at the root causes which triggered off the carnage in ILE-IFE. Her conclusion is that the underlying economic issues particularly that of youths under and unemployment must be tackle.
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EOGRAPHY has made us neighbours. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. Necessity has made us allies” – President John Kennedy (1917-1963) the 35th US president in his maiden address to the Canadian parliament on April 16th, 1963. Everyone at one point or the other is a migrant; people migrate for various reasons even in modern day. The Hausa community history in the ancient city of Ile-Ife predates the era of the reign of Sir Adesoji Tadenikawo Aderemi K.B.E who was always referred to as the bridge between the old and modern Ile-Ife. Hausa community first settled in Iremo quarters in 1919 and their settlement was said to have been influenced by Islamic religion, as Islam had its foothold in Ile-Ife then. The then Ooni Ajagun Ademiluyi and Orinto Makinde gave the Hausas shelter within Orinto’s compound with the belief that Ile-Ife is the cradle of mankind and visitor, must be accommodated and treated as one of theirs. As a result of the European Trade items such as cotton, rubber and conventional items produced in Ile-Ife due to its fertile land expanse, the Hausas see Ile-Ife as their haven. Not quite long, human tendencies began to manifest, as their host complained that they could cohabit with them because of their “dirty habit”. In other to avert strained relationship, the Ooni-inCouncil then decided to relocate their host to a separate piece of land at Obalufon street in Ilare quarters of Ile-Ife bounded on the first side by Ayedun family land, on the second side by Latale family land, on the third side by Obalufon street, Ife/Ilesa road and on the fourth side by Olodo family/Adejokun family land. In no time, the Hausa community was relocated to the said piece of land which belonged to the Obiyomi Olasile family land and the family did not query the authority of the Ooni Ajagun Ademiluyi in line with “Oba lo nile (the king is the owner of the land) syndrome of Ifes. Later in a petition dated 21st January 1952, to one councillor Titus Gbadebo of Ilare ward, one Abraham Obiyomi on behalf of himself and Obiyomi Olasile family argued that the land in which the Hausas were resettled belonged to his great grandfather and as at the time of their resettlement, his great grandfathers were very young and could not have raised any serious objection to the resettlement of the people in the said parcel of land. The petition was not considered by the Native Ife Authority untill Wednesday, 13th of April 1955 when members of the Ife Native Authority under the chairmanship of Oba Alayeluwa Sir Adesoji Aderemi with Col. J.R.L Brett, the then district officer of Ife Division. Mr. M.A Fabunmi who later became Chief M.A. Fabunmi, the Odole of Ife, who was the Administrative Secretary, Ife Native Authority; Chief Makinde, the Obalufe; Chief Elugbaju the Obajio; Chief Awoyemi, the Jagunosin; Chief Onitiju, the Obaloran and Late Chief Anibijuwon Omisore, the Aguro; with councillors, E.T Latunde, J.L. Adeniran, E.J Ajayi MBE, F.F Ilori and E.T. Ladipo in attendance, affirmed that the land in question belonged to Obiyomi Olasile family and it was not a grant to Hausa community upon which they could exercise any act of ownership. The position of Ife Native Authority was explained to the representatives of Hausa community by the late Ooni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Aderemi and both parties maintained the status quo.
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Aside the land dispute case which Obiyomi Lasile family instituted against the Hausa community, the relationship between the Hausa community and the Ifes grew in leaps and bounds.
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•From left: The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun; Sheriki Hausa in Ile-Ife, Alhaji Mahmud Madagali, and the deputy governor (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori and others, during a visit to the scene of the clash.
•A scene of the clash.
UPDATE:
THE AFTERMATH
CALMNESS has finally returned to the acient city of Ile-Ife after the clash between Yoruba and Hausa community that ravaged the town. House owners and shop owners in the flashy points of the crisis, particularly Sabo, still continued to count their loses. The State Government and the Ooni of Ife-In-Council have taken several measures to bring succour to the victims of the clash and prevent similar occurences in future. The police authourity said some arrests have been made and the investigation into the root causes has fully commenced.
After the pleas of the Obiyomi Olasile family had been granted, the land was surveyed and delineated on a survey plan drawn on 12th August 1955 and counter-signed by Surveyor General on 20th Jan. 1961. The issue of land dispute on which Hausa community occupied did not come to fore again until the year 2005 when the Obiyomi Olasile family accused the Hausa community of various illegal sales of their land and petitioned the Ooni-in-council under the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade who referred the letter to Ajo Ilare. The Obiyomi and the Hausa community were invited to a meeting on February 1, 2005. Present at the meeting were: the Owamisin of Ilare quarter, Baale of Ilare, Chief Gani Egbeyemi, Chief Ajumobi, Clement Kolawole Obiyemi, Alhaji
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Memuda Seriki, Alhaji. Momoh Sawaba, Alh. Umaru Yaro and Alhaji. Ali Imam, among other community heads; but the matters could not be resolved. N the year 2006, Clement Obiyomi filed a suit against the Seriki AHM Madagali, Malam Awal Saliu and Alhaji Popoola Ogundoyin in suit No/ HIF/33/2006 in the High Court, Ife Judicial Division. In the statement of claims filed by the plaintiff, he stated among others that the court should restrain the respondents from the sale of any part of the land without the consent or authority of his family which is the rightful and the beneficial owners of the said land. In his ruling on 2nd Dec 2010, Hon Justice M.A Ajeigbe granted the prayers of the plaintiff. As it is the tradition in the ancient city, the Hausa community approached the palace, which mediated that the plaintiff in the matter should restrain court action and both parties comply. Relationships/Intermarriage Aside the land dispute case which Obiyomi Lasile family instituted against the Hausa community, the relationship between the Hausa community and the Ifes grew in leaps and bounds. The commercial and trade relationship made some of the Hausas to settled outside Ife metropolis, while some of them engaged in agriculture and commercial activities on Ife farmlands and villages. The population of Olode (now Awolowo Town) Ara Joshua, Omifunfun, Egbejoda, and Osi Sooko are mainly Hausa traders and there are no reports of strained relationship between them and other people in the said communities. In an interactive session with Seriki of Hausaland, Alh Mamuda Madagali which was later titled as Seriki of Ife, by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, he affirmed that “Ife had been their home and there is not tribal or ethnic sentiment against them, as they are regarded equal with the indigene”. •Continued from page 15
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The Community Head (Baale) Of Papa, Iwo Area,
Grading Of The Road Linking Alare And Abidogun Area Of Oloruntobi Community In Olorunda Local Government Area, State of Osun.
Communities Rehabilitate Road
•The Alare/Abidogun road.
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By Murtala Agboola
ESIDENTS of com munities in Alare and Abidogun areas, Olorunda Local Government recently mobilized themselves to rehabilitate a major road linking the place. Roads leading to the communities are in terrible shape while all efforts to make both the state and the Olorunda local government council area to help in the past have not yielded the desired result. The immediate past government of Olorunda headed by Mr Abdul Hakeem Okunade constructed a bridge in the area linking the Camp Road through Olopele with the Alare/Abidogun areas. However, the government did not go beyond that, and this necessitated the people in the area to mobilise themselves, tasking themselves to rehabilitate the linking road. With the impending rains, the Oluwakemi Boluwaduro, Alare and spearheaded by Oloruntobi community decided to mobilise residents
to put the road into good shape to make accessibility easy. The leadership of the communities tasked the residents by levying them to engage the services of a bulldozer to rehabilitate the road. The Alare/Abidogun area lies between the Camp Area owned by Dangote Company in the Ota-Efun area of the State of Osun. As a rural setting, its major problems are irregular supply of electricity and in accessible roads. Speaking with our correspondent, a community leader, Mr Murtala Agboola stressed the fact that the communities have engaged in communal efforts to alleviate the problems. Among the efforts are the annual rehabilitation of roads, collective pursuit of transformer and communal efforts at digging boreholes. He further stated that, he hopes, this will bring to the attention of the government, the efforts being made by the people and the need for the government to complement their efforts.
•Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, Oluwo of Iwo (3rd left), with new community Head (Baale) of Pap
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•Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, (the Olowo o f Iwo) and Baale of Papa, Adegoke Ademola Oyagbede 1st with his wife Olajumoke Adegoke
DEGOKE Ademola Oyagbede 1 st was installed as new “Baale of Papa” village under Iwo town on 15th March, 2017. The Staff of Office was presented by Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, Oluwo of Iwo land in his palace. The new “Baale of Papa”, Ademola was born in Obejimo Compound Papa, on the 3rd of March, 1965. He attended primary school
at Papa while his secondary school education was at Irepodun Community School Iwo and he passed out in flying colours. He is a politician and business man (Motor Dealer). His company head office is located in Lagos and a branch office in Iwo. He is married to Olajumoke Adegoke and blessed with children.
Recent Happenings FRIDAY, MARCH 17 - THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017
SOCIAL REGISTER
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FRCN Award
wo Area, Ademola Adegoke Was Recently Installed
•The Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (left) presenting the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Best South-West Lawmaker, State Category 2016 award to the Chairman, Osun House of Assembly Committee on Information and Strategy, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye representing Obokun State Constituency (2nd right). With them are, Zonal Director Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Ibadan zonal station, Alhaji Mohammed Bello (right) and Baabokun of Ibokunland, Oba Festus Awogboro on Wednesday.
aale) of Papa, Ademola Adegoke with other traditional rulers at the event. •A cross section of traditional rulers from Obokun Local Government Area of the Osun State and other guests at the event.
Oyintiloye Bags First South-West Lawmaker Award
T
emola
•The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi decorating the Baale of Papa, Adegoke Ademola, in Iwo, State of Osun, recently.
By Kazeem Mohammed HE multi-purpose hall of the Receiving the honour, Oyintiloye Jogor Event Center in Ibadan, challenged governments at all levels Oyo State was filled to capacity and citizens to pay more attention to on Wednesday, March 8, as the the development of rural Chairman, Osun State House of communities for which he was being Assembly Committee on Information honoured. and Strategy, Honourable Identifying the gaps in the area of Olatunbosun Oyintiloye mentoring, capacity building, representing Obokun State provision of support services to the Constituency was honoured as the vulnerable and marginalized groups, best South-West Lawmaker, State youth development and Category. infrastructure development, he said The lawmaker who was honoured to tackle those challenges, by the Federal Radio Corporation of community service must be Nigeria (FRCN), alongside other embraced. prominent personalities, including "I advocate bottom-up approach to Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun development, which is communityState stole the show, as the venue of driven. We must revert to the oldthe event stood still for him. African cultural mode of developing His appearance at the event gave our community to achieve more much glamour to the FRCN award result. We must imbibe the culture of ceremony, as traditional rulers, community spirit, community service leaders and members of All and community development. Progressives Congress (APC), market "As for me who represent an women, different political groups agrarian constituency, that is what I stormed the venue to solidarise with have been doing, as I have sponsored the man of the moment. five bills that are all in relation to Among the prominent indigenes at community development less than the event were the Deputy Speaker two years in the parliament, and I of the Osun State House of Assembly, have used my earnings to Akintunde Adegboye; Secretary to development my communities. the State Government, Alhaji Describing the award as inspiring, Moshood Adeoti; Chairman, Osun the lawmaker said, it has reLocal Government Service energized him to continue in the Commission (LGSC), Elder Peter community service of his people, Babalola; the Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Obokun state Constituency, Osun Rauf Adewale Adedeji; the Oloyan of State and Nigeria. Oyan, Oba Kilani Adekeye; the He commended the FRCN for Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru acknowledging good works, Olaniyan; Oba'bokun of Ibokun, Obe promoting diligence, merits, and Festus Awogboro; the former reward it accordingly, he said, Commissioner for Information and Nigerians should be bold to celebrate Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere among her own, as this is one of the tools to others. reset value and fight corruption.
OAU: 100-Level Student Paraded For 10
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Stealing Phone In Female Hostel
residence, which include By KABIR ADEJUMO Mozambique hall, A 100-level student of English Department and Angola hall, Awolowo member of Man O’ War in Obafemi Awolowo Hall, Fajuyi hall, Moremi University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Tolu Ibuola has been Hall and Alumni hall caught stealing mobile phones. among others. The male student was university and was The suspect was said to caught in the act at paraded around halls of have confessed to the Alumni Halls of residence, one of the four female hostels in the university around 4 0’clock on Sabbath day. Report from various sources disclosed that Tolu has been known for stealing of students valuables for long by members of his room in Angola Hall of residence, being occupied by newlyadmitted students into the institution. The suspect was said to have been dismissed by the OAU chapter of Man O’ War sometimes in February before he later got reinstated after plea from several quarters. When arrested, Tolu was mercilessly beaten by other students of the •Tolu Man O War , The suspect.
crime and quoted as saying, “I have stolen as many as possible, I have stolen tab, Infinix and Samsung mobile phones and many that I cannot remember”, he said. An eyewitness told our reporter that Tolu was given ‘Maximum shishi’ (slogan for the torture given to thieves when caught on OAU campus). Sunday Caleb, the class representative of 100 level student of English Department said, “I heard people shouting ‘thief, thief’ and I brought out my belt to join them only to realised that it was Tolu, a classmate I respected so much”. Another eye witness who pleaded anonymity, revealed that the culprit was one of the ‘big boys’ of his class and one would not have imagined that he could be involved in such dirty act.
Aregbesola Urges Political Scientists To Take Assertive Positions On Issues Of National Interest
The state governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf He further called for a Political Science to Aregbesola has urged political scientists to take always embark on assertive positions on issues of National interest as closer tie between the research that could help robe and the society means of contributing to national development. towards making life the country shaped its Ogbeni Aregbesola leaders can only be better for the teeming political atmosphere and disclosed this during the effective and pay salaries populace. make it one of the best 1st annual conference of when the economy of the Aregbesola also democracies in the Nigeria Political Science state is buoyant. challenged students of world. Association, South West zone held at the Oduduwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife recently, on the topic: “Democracy, Nation Building and National Development in Nigeria” The governor urged Nigerian political scientists to be more focused, as politics is a primal activity that must be practised for the development and progress of Nigeria at large. He further buttressed that democracy is best form of government that •Aregbesola addressing Political Scientist at OAU, recently. can give leaders chance to serve better. Aregbesola said, “Politics is central to The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, the JAMB boss had said. everybody who dwells in a community. Political has announced its plans to begin sale of forms for scientists need to make the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation their voices loud and Examination, UTME. In an advert placed on clear as far as their Recall that the positions are concern the official site of the Registrar of JAMB, Prof regarding national Board, the sales would Ishaq Oloyede, had in issues”, he added. begin on Monday Match February said that 1.7 He further enjoined 20, and end on million candidates were youths to interact with Wednesday April 19. expected to sit for the elders and political class Registration fee for exam this year. to see to the development 2017 UTME and Direct “We are expecting 1.7 of the country. Entry form goes million candidates to sit The governor who has for N5,500. for the UTME this year been faced with several The board also said and we want to make criticisms on difficulties that the examination will sure we satisfy these to pay salary of the hold between May 6 and candidates within a •Professor OLOYEDE, workers disclosed that 20. week or thereabouts,” JAMB Registrar
JAMB Begins Sales Of 2017 UTME Form
LAUTECH: Examinations Envelope Social Life On Campus
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•LAUTECH main gate, Ogbomosho.
By Pelumi Adeboye
RRESPECTIVE of the drawback that hit the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso and the subsequent resumption, the school, like the proverbial saying, “forward ever, backward never”, has released the time table for the first semester examination slated to commence on Monday. Besides, the various academic work, but the social centers’ in and long layoff and the around the campus have sudden appearance of come back to life, examination was though, students are yet making the school a to be patronizing the ghost town, adding that places, partly due to as soon as the apprehension of examination is over, the examination after such a school would return to long stay off school. its normal self next OSUN DEFENDER semester. reporter on campus He added that the observed that since little that was resumption, students, happening was as a especially those in final result of the euphoria of year have been very resumption, as many careful as to organizing students were already social events, as their tired of being at home main attention was on and rather looking the conduct of their forward to complete examinations and their studies. looking forward to be “For now, what we mobilized for the youth have are night classes, service scheme. students struggling In most of the faculties through examinations visited, students were and everywhere look busy preparing for the deserted during the day f o r t h c o m i n g as most of my examination as they colleagues would be in were running around to their respective hostels, resolve one issue or the reading or sleeping other before the ahead of the task for the commencement of the night”, he added. semester exams. Another students, But some event Khadijah Shittu centres in town were still disclosed that it is not buzzing, as some out of place that the campus big boys were student were not too still in the habit of much engrossed in enjoying the frenzy of social life, especially as campus irrespective of the part-time students the forthcoming have started the examinations. examination and the One of the students regular students that spoke with the starting on Monday. medium, Adewale It is pertinent that the Akande (Biochem, 300- school completes it level), revealed that the semester examination LAUCTECH is the place on time so it can where social activities is mobilize student for the taken serious like NYSC scheme.
Osun On Teachers’ Training FRIDAY, MARCH 17 - THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017
•Continued from page 6 but doesn’t condone indiscipline and if you are not doing well, you may be asked to go to one of our offices. OSDF: Are the parents doing enough to complement the efforts of government? Kolawole: The parents are definitely not doing enough and I believe they can do better. The joy is that the education is free in the state, and if that is the case, the parent should be able to buy uniform for their children. We used to give pupils notebooks, but in the last few months we have not been able to do that due to economic situation and therefore, parents should be able to do this for their children. They must take interest in whatever happens to their children both in school and at home. The parents have the responsibility of imbibing the ethos of Omoluabi in their children in terms of health, being conscious of their environment. The parent should also be able to support the government in maintenance of school facilities. OSDF: Are the newly employed FG Npower beneficiaries who are teachers also included in series of your trainings? Kolawole: We want to thank the Federal Government for giving us 10,000 N-power beneficiaries, out of which 7,000 are teachers who have been deployed to
MAGAZINE
our schools. They have come at the right time and they are filling a very huge vacuum because many of our teachers have just retired. So, we are going to give them orientation that will help them to settle down give them in-house training to be able to meet up with the teaching practices in the state. In 2013 when we employed 3,200 teachers, we also gave them one week training. OSDF: Do you have enough teachers to take children and if don’t have, is there any plan to employ more teachers? Kolawole: We are not planning to employ teachers for now because of the economic crisis. Already, we have enough teachers, except in the rural areas, but the N-Power will be able to help us in filling that gap. Besides that, in all the schools, we have what we call community teachers, being paid by the communities and since they have been there, what we need to do is to support the community with government resources to pay them and they stay there, rather than employing somebody who will run to the city centers. We are also planning to redistribute our teachers to rural area and to encourage those in the rural areas, we will have what we call rural teachers allowance to encourage the teachers to move to those areas.
Only Basic Schools Teachers Get Attention - NUT
Comrade Wakeel Amudah, the State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) spoke on the training and motivation of teachers, attributing the lapses to economic recession. Excerpt: OSDF: Will you say the government of Osun has done well interms of retraining and retraining of teachers ? Amudah: Presently on the elementary and middle school, SUBEB is trying its best, and teachers can feel their performance and workabilities interms of training of teachers. They are having series of training for teachers, both at elementary and middle schools. We have the one conducted by NTI, we have another one by SUBEB and UBEC which we call Clusters Training. We have gotten series of trainings throughout last year at various level and we can boast that in Elementary and Middle School, there is adequate training and retraining of teachers. But for the High schools, I want to categorically say that, there has not been training of teachers, due to the economic situation we found ourselves. Initially when Ogbeni Aregbesola came, the government organized series of training, but presently, we are yet to have enough training for our teacher because of the economic situation. I know that the government is planning to give us anytime the economy improves. OSDF: Interms of other encouragement, like incentive for teachers, how has the government fared? Amudah: Concerning incentive in both urban and rural areas, the governor promised that rural teachers will be given rural allowance, but we have not been able to see it materialize, of which we understand that the major factor militating against it is the economic crisis being faced by the country. I believe that anytime from now, we will be able to see this materialized. We understand that the government is battling with our salaries; we have backlog of salaries from July 2016 till date in which the government has promised to pay. The government has started giving us our leave allowances. In Primary schools, the leave allowance has been paid up till date, but in Secondary school, the government has only been able to pay till June 2015 and he had promised that balance of 2015 and that of 2016 will be paid any time from now. We appreciate the governor for the method being used in Primary School
•Comrade Amudah, Osun NUT Chair
wherein individual teachers will get their leave allowance on their birthday or date of appointment and this is evidence that those born in January would have collected their own, we appreciate him for that. Osdf: What is your message to your members? Amudah: We have been moving round to let our people know the situation, that it is not that the government hate workers, but it is due to the economic situation, especially on the issue of half salary and they have accepted us. We still need to appeal to them to continue to bear with the government and pray, so that we will be able to get all the backlogs, including the leave allowances and promotions. I also appeal to them to go about with their normal assignment because we are dealing with people. We appreciate them for not abandoning their job inspite the difficulties. Osdf: How do you monitor your members, because we hear complaints that some teachers, especially in the rural areas use to abandon duties? Amudah: We monitor our members from time to time and I can categorically say that our members always respect their jobs and they do it effectively. If we are having five teachers in a school and you don’t see one of them in a day, may be the vehicle developed fault or he was challenged with an unforeseen circumstance. I want to tell you that in Osun State teachers are going to school punctually and regularly and they are performing their duties regularly and effectively. This we will encourage them to continue doing.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 17 - THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 Email: drdejiesan@gmail.com. ADVERT
Nigerian Cancer Death Ratio, Worst In The World - Minister FRIDAY, MARCH 17 - THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017
Senator Aisha Alhassan, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, says the Nigerian Cancer Death Ratio of four to five contracted cases is one of the worst in the world. Alhassan stated this in their life time. Ilorin, Kwara She said: “More than State recently during the 14 million people are said inauguration of a Cancer to develop cancer every Centre by the Life year and this figure is Empowers Anchors projected to rise to over Hope, the foundation of 21 million by 2030.” Omolewa Ahmed, the The minister noted that wife of the Kwara State cancer had become the Governor. greatest health epidemic According to the of the 21st century; as a minister, the World result of it had surpassed Health Organisation deaths attributed to records indicate that over Human Deficiency 100,000 Nigerians are Syndrome, Tuberculosis diagnosed with cancer and Malaria combined. annually and about Alhassan said: 80,000 die from the “Statistic have shown disease. that global causes of Alhassan said: “This cancer are 25 per cent comes to almost 240 infections, 25 per cent Nigerians dying every diseases, 25 per cent day or 10 Nigerians every hereditary genetics and hour from cancer.” 25 per cent According to her, environmental and cancer is now responsible behavioural factors, for almost one in six while 25 per cent are deaths globally and each unknown.” year, about 8.8 million Alhassan, however, people die from cancer. commended Ahmed for Alhassan lamented her initiative on cancer that two-thirds of these programmes in the state deaths occur in and urged the public to developing countries, make judicious use of the adding that one in every screening centres. three persons will be In her address of diagnosed with cancer in welcome, the wife of the
HEALTH
up with their treatment due to financial problems.
There seems to have been a big increase in the use of Bitters by Nigerians in recent years. Our markets are innudated with Alomo, Osomo, The average adult has heard about BITTERS; even if he or she has never tried it? Most people have a or diluted with water or vague idea of what other drinks (this means bitters are. They usually you cannot get drunk on know that it is supposed your bitters!). Not all to be good for your bitters are alcoholic; some health. Bitters have been are extracted with used by humans for glycerine or other liquids centuries. So what really that are considered are bitters? Bitters are suitable. A lot of cultures drinks (sometimes have their own bitters e.g. described as beverages) Chinese bitters, Swedish which contain substances bitters, etc. There are a called bitter principles lot of bitters used in mostly from aromatic African cultures, but herbs, barks (the back of most are localised to the trees), roots, leaves, etc. immediate communities Examples of such from which they plants include cassia, originate. This does not quinine, orange peel. In however diminish their Africa and some tropical efficacy or make them cultures the use of inferior to the Garcinia species (like commercialized bitters Garcinia Kola, popularly from other cultures. called bitter kola locally, More recently, we are Orogbo in Yoruba), and seeing the emergence of other indigenous bitters being marketed medicinal plants is for wider use in the common. These Nigerian community. substances are medicinal Bitters were originaly and give the bitters their marketed as patented characteristic bitter taste. medicines. In our own Most bitters are alcoholic culture(s), they are (as much as 45%). This is widely used traditionally because alcohol is used to for treating a lot of extract the bitter ailments. One can safely principles from the say that all over the plants. Bitters are usually world, bitters have found drank in small quantities acceptance as palliatives,
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Preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections (I)
DR DEJI ESAN, A Medical Practitioner from IlesaEast Local Government On:
•Senator Alhassan
governor said both cervical and breast cancer had become rampant in a society that viewed the disease shrouded in mystery. Ahmed regretted that women with the disease were seen as being afflicted with spiritual attack. According to her, the foundation had used series of sensitisation programmes to debunk such myths and had inaugurated cancer centres across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state. She said that the foundation aspires to build a cancer hospital to cater for people diagnosed with the disease. Ahmed lamented the situation whereby people do not bother to follow
Bitters And Our Health KEMI ILORI, a Pharmarcist on:
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OSUNDEFENDER
•KEMI ILORI restoratives, digestifs, appetizers, aperitifs, etc. There are however other uses which range from the real to the incredulous, such as; headache, virility, sour stomach, general debility, liver complaint, jaundice, palpitation, etc. Bitters are also used in cocktails, gins, tonics (like bitter tonic), ales and dark beers (Guiness, Legend). The bitter principles used in these drinks, are usually the same type that are used in the concentrated medicinal bitters. The difference is usually that commercial drinks like bitter tonic, contain a very small amount of just one bitter principle e.g. quinine. On the other hand, concentrated medicinal bitters usually contain several bitter principles at a higher •To be continued.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) are a group of contagious conditions in which the main mode of transmission is by sexual activity. They are referred to as contagious because close body contact is required for the agents of diseases to move from one person to another. It usually involves cancer neonatal and most of the mucous and infant infections as well skin surfaces for contact. as premature death. Traditionally, as against There are strong the sexual means of association between STI transmission STI can also and HIV infection be contracted through resulting in increased risk sharing of infected of sexual transmission of intravenous drug needles HIV infection; also the by person as well as presence of HIV/AIDS through child birth or has made worse the breast feeding.STIs were treatment of HIV previously known as infections.There is a high veneral diseases (VDs), a rate and fast increase of term which is derived, HIV and other STIs from veneris or venus, among sex workers in the roman goddess of Nigeria and this suggest love. It is caused by a an epidemiologic wide range of bacterial, association between STIs viral, protozoa, fungal and HIV transmission. agents and ectoparasites. Studies have shown that The list of sexually STI rates tend to rise transmissible pathogens before HIV rates climb. has expanded from the STIs such as gonorrhea five classical veneral and chlamydia increase diseases Gonorrhea, HIV shedding from the Syphilis, Chancroid, genital tract, which l y m p h o g r a n u l o m a suggests that STIs may venereum and enhance the infectivity of donovanosis to include HIV-infected people. more than 20 agents. It is difficult to Eight of these agents ascertain the true have been linked with the incidence of STI because greatest incidence of it has a social undertone illness, of these eight which allows it to be infections, four are shrouded in secrecy, currently curable: therefore, most cases pass syphilis, gonorrhea, without notification. In c h l a m y d i a 1999, available data trichomoniasis. The other revealed a high four which are viral prevalence of STI with an infections are incurable estimate of 340million but can be mitigated or new cases of the four modulated through most common STIs treatment: hepatitis B, which are syphilis herpes, HIV and Human (12million),gonorrhea (62 papilloma virus (HPV). million), Chlamydia (92 The incidence of STI is million) and believed to be high in trichomoniasis (174 many countries; failure to million) and this diagnose and treat STIs at occurred in men and an early stage may result women age 15 -49years. in serious complications Presently, more than and consequences, 1million people acquire a including infertility, STI daily and each year, miscarriage, ectopic an estimated 500 people pregnancy, anogenital become infected with one
•DR DEJI ESAN of the 4 aforementioned STI. Globally, 2.1 million pregnant women are infected with syphilis annually; untreated maternal syphilis accounts for the highest STI-related mortality regardless of age. Also an estimated 6.2% of neonatal deaths and 9.7% of stillbirths are caused by untreated maternal syphilis. STIs are associated with increased risk of sexual transmission of HIV. The interdependence of the STI and HIV epidemics has underscored the public health importance of STIs. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is one of the most significant consequences of STI usually resulting in chronic pelvic pain and infertility. The social impact of PID is likely felt most strongly in African countries where female infertility is stigmatized and infertile women risk divorce and ill treatment. Classification of STI Curable STIs can be treated with medications, such as antibiotics or antimicrobials. These STIs include syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas infection, lymphogranuloma venereum(LGV), chancroid, granuloma inguinale, pubic lice, and scabies. If not diagnosed and treated in time, some of these curable STIs can have serious seven fatal consequences. Incurable STIs, such as HIV, hepatitis B, genital herpes, and human papillomavirus(HPV) infection,are caused by viruses. Although these diseases cannot be cured, in some settings they can be managed by preventing, relieving, or reducing their symptoms. •To be continued.
Ife Clash 2018: Osun PDP Begins Move To Reconcile Factions 14
OSUNDEFENDER
•Continued from page 2 themselves from both sides. In fact, one the security agents said, it was a degeneration of disagreement between the two individuals and street gangs fight that really caused the mayhem.” “Why it is necessary for us to describe this, is that Ife has been living with Hausa’ s for centuries, the Seriki Hausa is about 65 years, he was born in Ife, his father was also born in Ife, he is also a Chief in the palace of Ooni (Seriki of Ife land), the two tribes have been enjoying harmonious relationship from inception”, Aregbesola said. Meanwhile, former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankaso has commended Governor Aregbesola for his response to the crisis which to a large extent minimized loss of lives and properties. Senator Kwankaso who led the National Assembly members to the state on the spot assessment said, the intervention and the support of the governor in the past has really halted the escalation of the crisis and urged Hausa community in the state to be peaceful and law abiding. Senator Kwankaso in company of Senator Babajide Omoworare who arrived government house late Monday night held meeting with leaders of Hausa‘s (Seriki) in about 20 local governments in the state on early Tuesday to get firsthand information on the remote causes of the crisis and the level of damage. Kwankaso who spoke in Hausa language said, “we are to condole with the government of Osun and the Arewa community in Osun, and specially commend Governor Aregbesola
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Ife has been living with Hausa’ s for centuries, the Seriki Hausa is about 65 years, he was born in Ife, his father was also born in Ife, he is also a Chief in the palace of Ooni (Seriki of Ife land), the two tribes have been e n j o y i n g harmonious relationship from inception
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for saving the lives of our people, the people I, not too long held their resources in trust as Governor, the people I represent as Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria”. “ They reported to me during our discussion that the governor has been so kind to them and he has been rendering necessary support since inception of his administration even before the beginning of the crisis, I want to appeal to Mr governor and other concern agencies to double their efforts in supporting those who lost properties and displaced in the crisis. I pray that this ugly incident will not repeat itself”. He said as Muslims, they should continue to pray for the peace and harmony of Nigeria and stability of President Muhammadu Buhari. In his addresses, Seriki Hausa of Osogbo and Chairman Council of Serikis in the state, commended Governor Aregbesola and dismissed the media reports that some of their people were relocating back to the North. He said, those that are traveling are going to their various farm lands to prepare ahead for the raining season, saying they have accepted the incident as the wish of Almighty Allah and urged the governor to accelerate any assistance to be rendered for the people who lost properties. However, as at the time of filling this reports, the Governor, head of security agencies, Ife traditional chiefs, Kwankaso, Omoworare, former Minister of Water Recourses, Chief Bashir Awotorebo, former member of House of representatives, members of the state assembly from Ife, former commissioners, leaders of Hausa community in Osun were already holding a reconciliation meeting at Ife city Hall. Meanwhile, the Police Fact Finding Committee raised by the Inspector General of Police, Ibraheem Idris has c o m m e n c e d investigation of the remote cause of the crisis. The team arrived IleIfe on Monday but declined to speak to media on the terms of their mission. The team was led by a Commissioner of Police from Force Headquarter, CP Muhammed Bello .
NEWS
FRIDAY, MARCH 17 - THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017
By Ismaeel Uthman
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun seems to be waking up to the reality of 2018 governorship election, as it has begun move to reconcile the two major factions of the party. A reconciliation has been set up to settle committee of 18 members the differences between
the Honourable Soji Adagunodo and Dr Bayo Faforiji’s factions. Adagunodo’s group which belongs to the Alimodu Sheriff national faction has its state Secretariat at the Biket Area, Ikirun R o a d , Osogbo, while the Faforiji’s group which belongs to the A h m e d M a k a r f i faction has its Secretariat at 7up area, Ibadan road, Osogbo. T w o chieftains of the PDP confided in
Poor Budgeting, Implementation, Identified As Bane Of Development •ADAGUNODO
•FAFORIJI
By Sola Jacobs Poor budgeting culture and absence of best practices in budget preparation, as well as implementation have been identified as the bane of development in Nigeria. Iwere then This was recommended t h e that budget conclusion “The budget should be at the twomanaged documents and d a y w i th i n Training data should not c l e a r , a n d only be made credible Capacity available, but it a n d Building must be clear and predictable for Local limits for Government factual to state key f i s c a l officials on stages of policy policy. Participatory formulation, She also Governance consideration as stated that and Citizen budget well as its debate engagement, should organized on closely by a nonimplementation aligned governmental and review”. with the organization, medium Community t e r m Life Project strategic priorities of the (CLP) also known as government, and must Reclaim Naija at Ijebupromote alignment with Ijesa on Monday. The leading resource multi-year planning and person, Mrs Ngozi Iwere goal setting function of said, poor oversight of the government. On accessibility and the legislature to fulfill its constitutional obligation transparency, the Civil on the budget and non- Liberty Organization inclusion of citizens in executive said, the budget preparation were budget documents and some of the indices of data should not only be poor budgeting and non- made available, but it implementation in must be clear and factual to state key stages of Nigeria. formulation, Delving on the topic, policy “International Principles consideration as well as debate on in Budgetary its Governance, she stated implementation and review. that lack of synergy in Some of the budget formulation between governments participants at the and their departments, as workshop agreed that the budgetary well as gross imbalance Nigeria between capital and culture was poor and recurrent expenditure, in appropriate mechanism favour of recurrent must be adopted to expenditure was a major change the trend. One of the participants, problem.
Mr Ojetayo Benson from Ifedayo Local G o v e r n m e n t commended the effort of Osun State government for engaging the citizen in participatory government by involving civil servants at the newly-created Local Council Development Area and Local governments to formulate policies for incoming local government executives.
OSUN DEFENDER that the reason for the reconciliation move is to have a united party ahead of the 2018 governorship election to be able to wrestle power from the All Progressive Congress (APC). According to the party leaders, it has dawn on the warring factions that the PDP could not win the 2018 election with a divided house, hence they needed to come together and have a formidable party ahead of the poll. OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the reconciliation committee has nine members from each of the two factions. Former Chairman of Ilesa West Local Government, Mr Ibukun Fadipe, former chairman of Obokun Local Government, Mr Mayowa Adejorin, Alhaji Alidu Tiamiyu from Iwo and Mr Abiodun Ojo (Fafa), among others were selected from the Adagunodo’s faction. Faforiji’s faction has Hon Ismaila Kolawole, Tayo Omojongbe, former Commissioner of Finance in the state, Mr Adetoyese Ojo and former Minister for Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan and others in the committee. But the committee has not come up with term of reference for the reconciliation.
Aregbesola Challenges New LGs On Revenue Generation
By Kehinde Ayantunji The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has challenged the Heads of the newlycreated Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) in the state to concentrate on Internally Generated Revenue for the council to be self-sustainable. He said, obviously, the LCDA in Osun being the national resources that host to major banks, every tier of government Nigeria big brands show distribution rely on were no more rooms, sufficient to cater for the warehouses, and major needs of the people and markets, among others. The governor frown at responsible government must look elsewhere to the lackadaisical attitude of some councils towards provide the basic amenities at the sanitation, saying his administration would not grassroot. soft on any council that Governor Aregbesola be environmental said this last Thursday handles with levity. during the sanitation Aregbesola explained commissioning of the that the cardinal Osogbo West Local responsibilities of the Council Development council apart from IGR is Authority (LCDA) environmental sanitation Secretariat, Awosuru saying, “the meaning of Osogbo. dirty environment is According to the absence of government, governor, more councils that is more reason we were created to fast-track invested huge resources grassroot development on environmental and urged the sanitation and administrators to work management which is the hard in ensuring that the essence of government purpose are not in any and whoever that is not ready to sustain that will way defeated. He noted the council be treated as the enemy of should be the highest the government and the revenue generating society”.
Of Power, Expectations And Fulfillment FRIDAY, MARCH 17 - THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017
By ABIODUN KOMOLAFE
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” Albert Schweitzer, 1875 - 1965. It is along established facts that men have different motives for seeking power. Some are altruistic and some are ulterior! While some men are moved by tendencies of ineptitude and brashness not unconnected with a morsel of porridge, statistics have shown that only a tiny few are motivated by a romantic appeal for the Common Good. Also, while some seek power by clumsily drifting in the sea of crises just to “control everything around them”, particularly powerful and giftedly gracious beings look beyond the allure of power to give the people their rights and promote world peace. Let me confess that, with the little I have seen of Rauf Aregbesola’s efforts in turning Osun State into a miracle, I have no doubt in my mind that the governor’s place in history as a symbol of human affiliation to freshness, interminable refinement and fascinating frankness is already assured. Though he inherited a state indescribably mesmerized by a drunken orgy of impunity that has always been the defining characteristic of Nigeria’s political landscape, Aregbesola was of the conviction that, with zeal, democracy could do for Osun what it did for France in 1789, America in 1828 and England in 1868. His patriotic courage to go forward and ability to give attention to minor details, despite the enormity of the challenges confronting the state, has stood him out as a man of great grace and an outstanding politician of authority. By all standards for success, his judicious utilization of meager resources available to the state for the benefit of its people has earned him recognition as one of the most prudent administrators of our time. Let’s start with the agriculture sector, where Aregbesola’s virtuous interventions, especially, at a time Nigeria seems to be lagging far behind in Africa’s commitment to ending hunger and malnutrition among her people, have been remarkable. Some Nigerians might wish to interrogate assumptions about the failure of Osun to have come up with its own version of ‘Lake Rice’ to justify its “massive investments in agriculture.” Others might even want to know why the state has not gone into partnership with, say, Lagos State for the cultivation of cocoa or oil palm trees. Well, while Lagos and Kebbi States must be commended for the enviable feat recently recorded in the sector, it must also be noted that Osun has not fared badly, given the limited resources at its disposal. In the first place, government’s disbursement of not less than N851million to no fewer than 17,000 farmers under its Quick Impact Intervention Programme (QUIP), is in furtherance of its commitment to making agriculture serve the people’s special needs as well as turn the state into a
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“modern, industrial and commercial agricultural state”. The administration’s Land Bank policy, aimed at ensuring efficient and profitable utilization of land for the production of arable and cash crops, among other advantages, is another initiative worthy of mention. Similarly, the state is said to be in partnership with some professionals for the development of a virtual Osun Food Mart which will help
The successes recorded so far by his administration are an attestation to the agelong saying that ‘the path does not close on a man with a machete’.
provide buyers, who depend highly on importation of food commodities, with the opportunity to purchase Osun food items online and get same delivered at their doorsteps. The reopening of Leventis Foundation/Osun State Agricultural Training School in Ilesa is also a bold step in the right direction. Thanks to the governor for the provision of an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state! Re-engineered for success, it is believed that the issue of counterpart funding solicitation from the state government henceforth belongs in the past. Besides, the addition of a new model for continuity and sustainability is expected to appropriately prepare the school as a source of employment opportunities for the state’s teeming youths. Farmers in the state will also benefit from its teachers’ immense wealth of experience and there will be a considerable improvement in commercial activities on that axis. Inherited problem! Global glut! Political vapour! Economic catastrophe! While Nigeria’s socio-political variables might have offered a platform for the opposition to attempt to distract the governor from his focus, the successes recorded so far by his administration are an attestation to the age-long saying that ‘the path does not close on a man with a machete’. For instance, Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) on a 15m x 30m plot of land, which used to be N75, 000.00 or thereabouts, with elastic gestation period, now goes for N55, 000.00 in Osun State. The turnaround time is 90 days, provided other necessary conditions are met.With this innovative intervention, which has also led to the elimination of bottlenecks from its processing, issues relating to ownership of land are dealt with in record time while, wealth creation potentials of property owners, among other advantages, are also
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unlocked. Robert Maynard Hutchins had a nice one when he defined democracy as “the only form of government that is founded on the dignity of man, not the dignity of some men, rich men, of educated men or white men, but of all men”. I have never been an apostle of a sole export or import-dependent economy. My unEconomics knowledge has shown that successful economies all over the world are export - and import - driven in nature and structure. The only difference is that whatever is exported or imported should be able to add value to the people and country. Apparently, it was on the strength of this perspective that the governor recently led a high-powered government delegation to Germany “in search of new insights on modern agriculture” with a view to improving the quality of life for residents in the state. It also needs to be mentioned that the visit to Nigeria by the Hans Lippert-led team of oncologists from Germany for the purpose of partnering with the state in reducing the scourge of cancer to the lowest minimum is in line with the administration’s determination to promote healthy living among its people. Added to this are the spectacularly sweet stories of success recorded by Osun Ambulance Services (O’AMBULANCE), which, within four years of its existence, its impact and drive have helped rescue more than 12,000 people through its prompt operations in emergencies across the state. What of the endorsement given to the ‘Tablet of Knowledge’, popularly referred to as ‘Opon Imo’ by West African Examinations Council (WAEC)? In my view, this feat, apart from its being an appreciation of the administration’s achievements in education development in Osun, will also help showcase the state - and, rightly, too - as the hub of digital education in Nigeria. It will also go a long way in shutting the mouths of Aregbesola’s traducers and petty politicians who, out of political irredentism and sheer sadism, had alarmingly misconstrued the initiative for yet another in the series of their imagined time-wasting and money-draining ventures. A Turkish proverb admonishes any man who wants to live in peace to “be blind, deaf, and dumb”. Needless to repeat that it smacks of mischief and ignorance to present Osun’s situation as a tale of woe and failure in which there’s little or nothing to cheer about Aregbesola’s foray into politics or his adventure in power, without bearing in mind that he came into office with a demonstrable resolve to reverse the pains of grinding penury in the midst of stupendous plenty. To me, irrespective of the rebellious attitudes by false friends and the emptiness that plagues their idle dreams, the eloquent truth about the situation is that the worst of the danger is over! May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace in the State of Osun.
Untold Story Of Hausa/Yoruba Clash In Ile-Ife
•Continued from page 7 A member of the Seriki-in-council, Alhaji Nasid Mallami affirmed that some Hausa men have married Ife women. Religion sentiment did not have place in the relationship of Ife/Hausa community as both observed religious festivals together, especially the annual Olojo traditional festival. Whenever Ooni Okunade Sijuwade paid homage to Ilare quarter, as a sign of loyalty and support, the Seriki often led its council to present gift and pray for Ooni during such while reacting to the ugly deadly clash that happened penultimate Thursday while fielding interview from Osun Defender. It was observed during the clash of the penultimate Thursday between Ife/ Hausa community, the mosque and the Methodist church situated at Sabo were not touched by the hoodlums. So no one could adduce the tribal upheaval to religious crisis. On the whole, both Yoruba and Hausa children attend the Elementary and secondary schools,
The Need To Focus An Economy Factors
A lot has been written about the horrendous ethnic clash which has claimed a lot of lives. We must however focus on the underlying economic factors. These include, the underinvestment in the physical and social infrastructure of a “dangerous class”, a stratum without the preparation to compete in the modern world. The intervention of this stratum masquerading as ‘cults’ was decisive. This manifested itself in the mass looting that went side by side with the rooting.
notably, L.A Elementary and Baptist Day School in Ilare together, while they attend Oranmiyan Oluorogbo and Ife city college for their post primary education in the ancient city. EACTING to the occurrence, in an interview with the Chief Imam of Ife, Alhaji AbdulSemiu Hammed, he affirmed that Islam religion is one and there is no separation among Muslim brothers in Sabo and the Ife Muslim community. He stressed that in no time had there been any crisis for whatever reason between them and the Ife Muslim community was sad about the destruction of lives and properties of such magnitude which was perpetrated by hoodlums from both side. TO PREVENT FUTURE OCCURRENCE: Sabogari in any location in Nigeria is always a place or abode of visitors; hence, it is not always inhabited by a tribe, but by many ethnic groups which are always regarded as one. Sabo in Ile-Ife is not different, as it is conglomeration of various ethnic groups from the North, hence, one expects different people with different views, opinions and backgrounds. The Hausa community had contributed in no measure to the economic and commercial growth of Ife and its environ, but it is over-crowded, hence hoodlums who are not Hausas exploit the simplicity, generosity and love of the Hausas for other tribes to hide in Sabo so as to engage in crime and other illegal business. For example, Police in Division A have marked some points in Sabo and its environs especially, Olumogbe, Ilare and Gbelenkan for their notoriety, especially in selling India hemp, cocaine and prostitution business. The need to flush Sabo out of criminals and hoodlums will restore sanity not only to Sabo, but Ife and its environs as a whole, as similar operation should be carried out in Gbodo, Edena, Otutu,
R
•KOMOLAFE writes in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, Nigeria. (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk).
Agbedegbe and other black spots in the ancient city. The step to create employment for the teeming youths via empowerment schemes through Agricultural practices and skill acquisition, recently embarked upon by the Ooni Enitan Ogunwusi to take the youths and criminal activities off the streets is commendable and it should be extended to youths in Sabo as well. The negative influence of the Ife/Modakeke communal clash decades ago had impacted on youths from Sabo/Ife community, hence the need to intensify advocacy campaign on peaceful co-existence and reorientation among the youths. Moreso, permanent site should be given to the Hausa community for they are no longer visitors in Ile-Ife. Most of them claim Ife Central Local government as their place of Origin. The Osun State government in collaboration with Ife community should put permanent solution on the silent strained relationship between the two communities, as the proposed “Hausa Market” should be given consideration, the feat that late Ooni Okunade Sijuwade proposed but could not execute untill his death. The task of moving Ife from ancient to modern city is the task of all and can only be achievable through peaceful co-existence with other tribes which had been in the city for years. The governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola remarked in his remarks to the Ifes at the palace of Ooni penultimate Thursday that one cannot have city like Ile-Ife in the state without being loving and accommodating, as Ile-Ife was said to be the cradle of mankind, not only of the blacks but white as well”, Therefore, it is the pleas and prayers of all and sundry that there will be permanent peace in Ile-Ife and its environ, but to sustain the peace, youths must be rightfully engaged and tribal sentiment must be stamped out.
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Preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections (I) Page 13
By Invitation: Exclusive To Osun Defender A Thought On Nigeria's Developmental Challenges THE SIXTH MOST VISITED WEBSITE IN NIGERIA
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FRIDAY, MARCH 17 - THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017
This week, RAFIU AJAKAIYE who is long in the tooth on policy issues looks at the contradictions in our developmental model. below he makes precient observations about the inherent flows, ‘the hypocrisy of the ruling elite’ and makes thought-provoking suggestions as to the pathway to sustainable development.
LAST week, I read an opinion article in The Guardian of London captioned ‘Obsession with ending poverty is where development is going wrong’. The author Efosa Ojomo, a research fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, made several valid arguments about how obsession with eradicating poverty is simply not working. “Almost all development projects focus on alleviating poverty rather than creating prosperity. This is a fundamental flaw,” according to Ojomo. The name of the author sounds Nigerian and so (he) may have this country as a basis of his lucid piece. Whether or not he comes from Nigeria, his article captures the problem with Nigeria even though he apparently was addressing global bodies genuinely working to address the question of poverty and underdevelopment in Africa and elsewhere. The author speaks to what I have long believed to be the hypocrisy, wickedness or, to be nice, ignorance, of the Nigerian ruling elite. Over the years, the Nigerian political class spent huge amount of money to sway voters in election years. Politicians distribute money and food stuffs to the masses. In the past few years, in addition to sharing money and food, they have shifted to ‘empowering’ the people by buying them all sorts of implements. Some will even distribute freezers and complement same with power generating machine - a tacit admission that the freezers are near useless since there is no stable electricity. These are called poverty alleviation programmes! I believe these things are unnecessary. They do not address the problem. In admission of this, smart politicians called those things ‘palliative’ measures. They are palliatives because they do not address the problem; indeed, such patronage system worsens the problem because we then breed an army of sycophants. So what we have been doing over the years amounted to “alleviating poverty rather than creating prosperity”. Our development challenges in Nigeria are self-inflicted and I blame it on the ruling elite. I will give examples. In most villages of Kwara State where I come from, most of the primary schools are empty. Apart from the buildings being decrepit, there are very few pupils to populate the classes. I understand government now plans to shut them. But why are the schools empty? They are empty because the villages are near empty too. Even those still living in those villages dream of (nonexistent rosy) life in the city. The elderly ones are waiting for death. Chances are that four in five of the kids
in those schools don’t intend to and will not stay back after finishing primary education. This is because there is simply no future there! For one, most of these villages are cut off from modernity. There is no good road. No electricity in many places. And despite our government knowing the importance of linking up the country with good network of roads, little investment goes into this. This is why I laugh each time politicians talk about diversifying the economy with agriculture as their focus. How do you make agriculture attractive when the hinterlands, where you have near free and rich arable land in abundance, are disconnected from modernity? It is sheer hypocrisy. I have two uncles in their late 50s, both living in Lagos, who regaled me with bitter-sweet stories of their growing up in our village. They would narrate how they ate mound of fresh yam and corn in their farm but never
their product non-competitive. Manufacturing is dead. This makes importation attractive even though it means the death of local economy and progressive weakening of the naira. No amount of palliatives can reverse the suffering in the land until we do the most basic things.
saw future in agriculture. This is because despite growing large plantations, their parents were poor. Their harvest, huge as it always was, ended up as gift or food because there was no market for it. And there was no market for it because there was no easy access to their community/farms. So they naturally took another path in search of prosperity. Nine in every 10 of their mates did the same. That was in the 1960s/70s. Decades after, their villages are near empty. Villagers now populating the cities is, sadly, no guarantee for better life. The industries that once dotted the cities have shut down, hit by unsustainable cost of production which in turn makes
Our politicians must fix such basic things like road and electricity. Instead of always wanting to give handouts to people, they should get people meaningfully engaged by investing in not just ensuring free education (which is hardly qualitative) but importantly on getting people empowered so they are able to give quality education to their children and afford the basic necessities of life without depending on politicians. Fixing road and electricity will fix majority of our development problems. Once we have stable electricity, industries of different scales will return to cities and spring up anywhere linked by road. Life will return to villages and people will
RAFIU AJAKAYE
Whatever anyone says, I believe Rauf Aregbesola, governor of the state of Osun, is a man to watch in this area. The rate he has opened up Osun with appreciably good network of roads almost matches my understanding of how we should encourage people to stay and prosper in their communities.
prosper. While some politicians continue to behave the same way that brought us down this catastrophic path, a few of them are trying to address the real issues of development. Whatever anyone says, I believe Rauf Aregbesola, governor of the state of Osun, is a man to watch in this area. The rate he has opened up Osun with appreciably good network of roads almost matches my understanding of how we should encourage people to stay and prosper in their communities. If villages are connected to the cities, and are afforded basic necessities like electricity, people find little attraction moving out since they can farm at hugely rewarding rate. When you travel to Kwara from Lagos, the major marker to know you are out of Osun is the situation of the road. I have read about his employment initiatives for the youths. What fascinates me about this is that these youngsters are engaged in either cottage industries established by the government or are encouraged to stand on their own after being taught skills. Besides, colleagues and friends have told me about the several farming initiatives by the government. Much more could still be done but such modest steps as he has taken represent a leap to the future. Since electricity is an item on the exclusive list, fixing it must be made a matter of life-and-death that needs urgent solution by the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Anything short of connecting our communities with good roads and ensuring durable electricity amounts to paying lip service to development. The lack of these two explains the rise in unemployment and crime in our country. Without good roads/rail (connectivity) and electricity, investors won’t take us serious regardless of whatever incentives we offer them. •AJAKAYE is Nigeria’s correspondent for the Ankara-based Anadolu Agency.
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