Osun defender, september 30, 2016 edition

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www.osundefender.org FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 The flash flood which occurred in Osogbo, the capital of the state of Osun recently was most unfortunate. We therefore follow in the footsteps of the state's helmsman, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by sympathising with the

Front Page Comment

VOL. 11. NO.092

The Unfortunate Flood In Osun

victims of that destructive incident.

The sad incident was most unfortunate in view of the effort that the Ogbeni Aregbesola administration has put in

place so far towards curbing the occurrence of such a disaster. For there is no denying the fact that the current government of the Ogbeni has invested massively in the channelisation of waterways across the state; a com-

mendable step that has addressed substantially the problem of flooding in the state.

It will be recalled that perennial flooding was a major issue in the state - especially in the

state capital - during the inglorious regime of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). However, on assuming office the plight of flooding was the first major issue Ogbeni Aregbesola started to ad-

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dress by embarking on clearing of waterways across the state. Areas like Gbonmi , Oke OniTea, Fiwasaye, Rasco, that used to be the most vulnerable were immediately dredged to give way for easy passage of water. -Page 5

LAUTECH Ownership Crisis:

Osun Assembly: We ‘ll Not Let Go Our Joint Property - See Story On Page 2

•(L-R) Vice-Chairman, State of Osun House Committee on Education, Honourable Abiodun Awolola; Chairman, House Committee on Education, Honourable Folorunsho Bamisayemi and Deputy-Speaker, State House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye, during a world press conference on LAUTECH ownership crisis at Osun State House of Assembly, Osogbo, on Wednesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Aregbesola, Osun Youths, Others Back Buhari's Campaign LAUTECH Crisis: Thugs Attack Osun Indigenes, Alumni President Kicks

- Pg 3 - Pg 2

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OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

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LAUTECH Crisis: Thugs Attack Osun Indigenes, Alumni

President Kicks

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN ORKERS and students of Osun origin in the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, were on Tuesday subjected to humiliation and attacks by hoodlums who were indigenes of Ogbomoso.

The attack was a new LAUTECH. dimension to the joint OSUN DEFENDER ownership crisis rocking gathered that the Bursar

of the University, Mr A. G Olagunju, escaped death by the whiskers, as he was surreptitiously rescued by security men when the thugs were threatening to set his office ablaze, while he locked himself in.

It was learnt that the attack came shortly after the State of Osun House

of Assembly Committee on Education visited the university and addressed the Osun indigenes.

The attack, according to the sources, was originally aimed at the committee members, among which were, Honourable Folorunso Bamisayemi (Chairman of the Committee),

HE Olukoyi of Ikoyi-Osun in Isokan-South Local Government Development Area of the State of Osun, Oba Yisau Bantale Otunla, Kodaolu 1, has stated that his domain is not a haven for drug plantation. agency could not destroy The traditional ruler such a large quatity of stated this recently in a drugs and spare the farms press statement issued on which it was and personally signed cultivated. “This is while reacting to a recent anthetical to logic and newspaper report that the tenets of their work,” he National Drug Law stressed.

The farm settlement, Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Osun State according to Oba Otunla, Command, destroyed does not belong to any about 21 hectares of community in Isokancannabis sativa otherwise South Local Government known as Indian hemp, at Development Area of the Onikete Farm Settlement. state, rather, it belongs to According to Oba the state government.

Therefore, for anybody Otunla, the anti-drug

to have allegedly gone to plant cannabis sativa on such large expanse of land is amounting to criminal trespass which called for a thorough investigation by the state government.

“As a traditional monarch, that is leading all the monarchs in the council area, I can vouch for the integrity of all the monarchs and chiefs that we would never have anything to do with drugs, talk less of protecting the cartel that plants and sells cannabis sativa.

“The entire people of

•State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori; out going state Commissioner of Police, Mr Oyeleye Femi (right); New Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, during a familiarisation visit and Introduction of the new Commissioner of Police in the state, to the governor, at the Government House GRA, Osogbo, on Tuesday.

Ikoyi-Osun and its environs are not only law-abiding individually and collectively, they would not descend so low to be involved in shady deals that is counter to the peace and harmony of their communities through drugs.

“In fact, they are symbol of communal peace, culture and harmony.”

According to the traditional ruler, the publication of the existence of about 50 hectares of cannabis sativa cultivation at Onikete Farm Settlement is only a ruse and calculated attempt to cause disaffection among the rulers and people of the area.

The Olukoyi therefore called on the security agencies to unravel the sources and promoters of the negative and nefarious stories to curb further damage to the integrity of the people in the area.

“I also call on the innocent and peaceful people in our communities to ignore the damaging stories and go about their normal activities, as majority are subsistence farmers,” Olukoyi added.

resolute and committed to the course he believed in and was never shaken throughout the period of the struggle.

“He was taken to IleIfe Prison away from the warmth of his house, enticed with positions and cash gifts; yet, he stood by his belief and remained dedicated to the course reclaiming the mandate the teeming populace entrusted in the

governor.

“He resigned from a sitting government after discovering it was no longer serving the interest of the masses, realign with the people’s interest and never look back”, the statement reads.

It also disclosed that Diekola has not just shown that he was fighter, but also a loyal political leader, who stood by Governor Aregbesola through the

W

Monarch Debunks Allegation T

Honourable Leke Ogunsola and Honourable Abiodun Awolola.

The medium gathered that when the hoodlums stormed the university campus, they first descended on a man called ‘Osungbade’, thinking that he was an indigene of the State of Osun.

Osungbade was said to be a prince of the reigning Olugbon of Igbon, an ancient town around Ogbomoso.

The hoodlums were allegedly led by Messrs Emmanuel Oyedokun, Elijah Odugbemi, Segun Adepoju, O.O Ojeniran who are all Oyo indigenes working in LAUTECH. Sources alleged that the Chairman of Ogbomoso Parapo, and other members of the union were with the assailants during the attack.

The Chairman of Ogbomoso Parapo allegedly led the thugs to the LAUTECH Bursar, Mr A.G Olagunju’s office, who hosted the Osun parliament education committee.

But before the arrival of the hoodlums, Olagunju had locked up himself in the office to prevent being attacked by the thugs.

The thugs beat up Olagunju’s security men and threatened to deal with him, while Olagunju was contacting security to rescue him on phone.

As the assailants were making moves to force their way into Olagunju’s

Group Eulogises Fatai Diekola @60

By SHINAABUBAKAR socio-political group in the State of Osun “De Trumpet”, has described Alhaji Fatai Oyedele as a bridge that unites different political groups in the state towards steering its development. the role played by the A statement issued birthday boy in the on behalf the group by struggle to reclaim the its Chairman, Alhaji mandate of Governor Moruf Moshood, to Rauf Aregbesola, freely commemorate the APC given by the people, as chieftain’s 60th birthday unforgettable and anniversary, described highly inspiring, saying the celebrant as a it further represents leader, whose the meaning of loyalty. commitment to the It disclosed that success of the party and despite the enormous the present persecution and open administration is display of impunity unrivalled. against his rights, The group described Diekola remained

A

Change Of Name

Change Of Name

I, formerly known as A D E K U N L E KAOTHARAADEYEMI now wish to be called and addressed as O G U N S A M I KAOTHARAADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known as O L A Y I N K A OLUWASEUN PAUL now wish to be called and addressed as OLAYINKA OLUWASANMI PAUL. All former documents remain valid. UNION Bank and general public should take note.

•DIEKOLA

thin and thick and insisted on doing everything possible to ensure the success of the administration.

The statement further reads: “It is important to state the role Diekola played in ensuring stable polity in the state, especially in the build up to the second term election, when members of the opposition attempted to distort the peace in the state.

The political leader did not just give his all in support of the present administration in the state, but also ensure that the party remained united.”

It added that the party chieftain is a benefactor to most politicians in the state, including some holding elected offices, as well as those appointed to public offices, adding that his humility is astonishing.

office, a team from the Department of State Security (DSS) officers and policemen stormed the campus, dispersed the thugs and recued the LAUTECH bursar, according to sources.

President of the LAUTECH Alumni Association, Mr Babajide Bewaji, was also marked for attack by the Ogbomoso indigenes.

Bewaji, who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on phone, said he was told that some people threatened to attack him on the LAUTECH crisis, just as he described the attack as baseless, barbaric and counterproductive.

He reaffirmed that in the face of law, LAUTECH was still a venture of both Oyo and Osun states.

According to Bewaji, the Supreme Court judgment of March 22, 2012 pronounced that under section of Provision 2 and 7 of LAUTECH Law, no government can unilaterally own the university without mutual engagement between the two parties.

The president said: “The indigenes of Oyo and Osun states have been cohabiting harmoniously for more than two decades and this unparalleled love still exists till date.”

Bewaji condemned the ‘faceless group’ that attacked the Osun indigenes, urging stakeholders in Oyo and Osun to stop any attempt to sow the seed of discord between the two states on the university.

He stated that all hands must be on deck to work for a peaceful, amicable and lasting solution to the crisis, just as he sympathized with the students and Ogbomoso on the effect of the industrial action as a result of the crisis.

“I sympathized with the host community for the effect this strike action is already having on the economy of Ogbomoso.

LAUTECH is a critical economic catalyst with over 50,000 population.

Let us all eschew bitterness or any form of face-off, LAUTECH project is a collective responsibility; we must all build, there is strength in synergy.

“This crisis is a phase that will soon pass by, and I am positive that the two governors will have a closed-door meeting on this issue to resolve this crisis, so that the students can resume back to school,” he added.

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OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

Aregbesola, Osun Youths, Others Back Buhari's Campaign

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understand that paramount in their dayOVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni as “Good Citizens to Rauf Aregbesola, has backed President Ambassadors” of the Nigeria is beyond any to-day activities.

The ‘change begins Muhammadu Buhari on his “change country and were individual person, no charged to always matter how highly- with me’ was launched begins with me” campaign.

President The governor c o n d u c t e d ensure that they do the placed and that the by alongside some youths environmental clean-up right thing at all times. sovereignty of the Muhammadu Buhari at They were also made country must remain the Presidential Villa on and students in the process on the streets state said the campaign of Osogbo, the state capital. must be taken to the Also speaking, grassroots level.

The Government of Salami Abiodun of the Youth Osun on Monday Nigeria threw its weight Organisation, the State Osun chapter; behind President of Muhammadu Buhari on Sylvanus Bewaji, a student union leader his campaign; “Change and Nwokedi Samuel, Begins With Me”. a Youth Corps member; The state all commended government, students the determination of and youths of the state the students and had over the weekend youths over the joined millions of campaign.

Nigerians to embrace Bewaji said the the slogan. campaign will no doubt Speaking during a ensure attitudinal campaign march, the change among state government said students on the there was need for all campuses and Nigerians to join hands t h e i r i m m e d i a t e in developing the communities.

Participants at the nation.

•A scene of an accident at Obong junction, Akwa Ibom State on Wednesday.

G o v e r n o r event received T-shirts Aregbesola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary at the State Ministry of Teaching Hospital and government should

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED Youth Development, SUN State House of Assmbly has said the situates it in Osogbo. have protested but Mr. Ade Aluko, State has accepted calmly in the state would not let go its joint ownership Oyo commended the of Ladoke Akintola University of consistently refused to spirit of one Yoruba organisers and urged Technology (LAUTECH) after it has invested contribute a kobo to nation and regional the students and hundreds of billions of naira into the institution. the sustenance of this integration. youths to ensure that “Seven and a half The Chairman, House illegal and become a Teaching Hospital since Alao-Akala faculties of the the campaign is taking Committee on contempt of court for the government set up the university are located to all nooks and Education, Honourable Oyo State alone to illegal Teaching in Ogbomoso while crannies of the state, F o l o r u n s h o unilaterally lay claim to irrespective of political Bamisayemi, made the sole ownership of the Hospital at Ogbomoso only a quarter (some and Osun singularly say half) of a faculty is institution without the declaration on or ethnic affiliations.

He further advised Wednesday at a press concurrence of Osun as maintains this facility located in Osogbo, with a monthly N200 State of Osun. In spite that the campaign be conference to address a joint partner. of this obvious He said, the million. spread to other parts of the issues of the joint “The State of Osun lopsidedness, we still the country, especially, ownership crisis of sustainance of hostility has invested close to N2 contribute equal after the government of the grassroots level to LAUTECH. The Assembly, which Oyo has failed in court billion on capital amount as partners and ensure a collective projects in the Teaching joint owners. effort towards building blamed the people of and tied it to Osun’s Hospital while Oyo “The postgraduate O g b o m o s h o inability to meet its a greater Nigeria.

State was busy school, the pre-degree community, the host obligations due to the The almost 5part-time town of the university economic crisis was investing in a parallel, centre, kilometre walk, which for fuelling the crisis, inhuman, especially, but illegal Teaching programme and centre began at the popular said, “we honestly want when Oyo has also Hospital unknown to for distance learning Ola Iya junction in to believe that the been defaulting from the law that established are all sited in Ogbomoso. The staff Osogbo, ended at the unconscionable attempt meeting its financial the university.

“It is obscene and ratio is 1,100 for Oyo Governor’s Office, to take over the obligations to the perfidious, effort by State to 610 for Osun Osogbo, where the ownership of institution. participants were LAUTECH by every “Osun has fully, Ogbomoso Community State. 16 TETFUND assessment received by Aluko. and to unilaterally take need means possible is being consistently are in During the walk, orchestrated by only timeously met her over LAUTECH and projects campus to push Osun State out of Ogbomoso participants engaged the Ogbomoso obligations which LAUTECH over the the joint ownership with none in Osogbo”, passers-by and community erroneously think that last 25 years out of the after investing equally he emphasised.

Change Of Name Also speaking, the years of the in the project for almost it owns the college but 25 Speaker, I, formerly known as not the entire good university’s existence. 26 years”, Bamisayemi Deputy Honourable Akintunde people of the two Inability to pay over said.

N G E R O N Y E Noting that the Osun Adegboye, said, the the last one year was states”.

PATRICIA EBERE to national government has kept people of Ogbomoso Recalling that the due now wish to be called quiet in the spirit of and their supporters in problem crisis was started by the economic and addressed as past administration in which equally affects brotherliness and pan- Oyo State government obviously Yoruba nationalism, were FABUNMI PATRICIA Oyo State under ex- Oyo State.

“In 2010, when the despite being treated mistaking the maturity EBERE. All former Governor Adebayo of Osun government Alao-Akala, an university needed the by Oyo government as for weakness and documents remain valid. indigene of Ogbomosho partners (Osun and a junior partner in a foolishness, saying, General public should in 2010, he said, the Oyo) to inject N900 joint ownership where “they will soon realise take note. attempt was challenged million each for the the same amount of that it is not so”. of subvention is being Change Of Name in court and the payment He said, the state and contributed by the two I, formerly known as Supreme Court in a monetization Assembly was not personal allowances of states for the past 26 judgment delivered on folding its arms on the A D E B I S I of March, 2012 workers, it was only years, he said such joint ownership tussle FAUZIYAT now wish 26th declared that the Osun that paid her own investment would not but decided to tarry on to be called and university was and share of it, while Oyo be allowed to go into the matter in line with addressed as USMAN would always be jointly has not paid her own extinction. spirit of He also added that the FAUZIYA. All former owned by Oyo and share till date. and were some brotherliness documents remain Osun states.

“The statue setting there Omoluabi ethos, which valid. General public According to him, it up the university infractions saying, Osun would would therefore, be recognises only one ordinarily, the Osun should take note.

September 6.

The campaign seeks to re-orient Nigerians towards a behavioural change that would aid in national development.

LAUTECH: We ‘ll Not Let Go Our Joint Property - Osun Assembly

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not let go the joint property.

He appealed to the Soun Ogbomosho and traditional rulers in Yorubaland to intervene and call those fanning the ember of discord into order.

The immediate past Attorney-General of Osun, Barrister Wale Afolabi, who was part of the briefing, said any action taken by the Oyo Government to unilaterally arrogate the ownership of LAUTECH to itself was null and void in the face of the law in line with the Supreme Court judgement on the matter.

He said, for any of the two states to take up the sole ownership of the institution, it must be with concurrence of the other state.

Also, the former Attorney-General under Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration in Osun, Mr Niyi Owolade, said, though there was a Memorandum of Understanding between Oyo and Osun on the splitting of LAUTECH, but with conditions which Oyo Government has not met and could not meet.

Part of the conditions, he said, was the fact that if there was going to be any division, Osun must be paid its share of the university within 30 days and moratorium of ten years must be given for the sake of students and staff of the institution.

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OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

LAUTECH: Alumni President Calls For Synergy Between

Oyo, Osun Govts T

counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, needed to intensify more efforts

aimed at settling the outstanding salaries of workers.

Bewaji however, expressed his optimism that the challenges facing

the institution would soon be over through amicable resolutions.

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN HE National President, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Alumni Association, Mr Babatunde Bewaji, has called for synergy between Osun and Oyo state governments to settling all the various challenges facing the institution.

Bewaji made the call on Attorney General before Tuesday while featuring embarking on the motion on Broadcasting for the full ownership of Corporation of Oyo State the institution.

Bewaji disclosed that (BCOS), Ibadan Television Program for the past two years, tagged: AM 120, on the both Osun and Oyo states c o n t r o v e r s i e s have not released any surrounding the joint amount for capital ownership of LAUTECH. projects for the university, He stated that both which has slowed the Osun and Oyo state pace of development in governments are the LAUTECH. He stressed that the currently unable to pay workers’ salaries, which problem facing the institution required shorthas constituted one of the major problems term solution in the confronting the overall interest of the students. institution.

According to Bewaji, Bewaji, who is one of the members of Governor of the State of LAUTECH Governing Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Council, described the Aregbesola and his Oyo •Voters on the queue for accreditation during the governorship election in Edo State on Wednesday. call for the soleownership of the university by the Oyo State House of Assembly as unnecessary and Provost of the College, vacate the campus until to bury the hatchet for

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED insignificant at the government now and go back to Isaac the HE State of Osun House of Assembly and Profesoor present time.

Oyewole, made the resolves the issue of work to keep the the management of the State College of system running, so that According to him, the Education, Ila-Orangun, have appealed to appeal in Osogbo on their disengagement. most important thing is He said the decision we can start admission how to settle backlog of the workers of the college to bury their hatchet Monday, shortly after process. salaries owed the and try to make compromise towards the the latter briefed the of the management “Besides, we are workers. resolution of the current crisis rocking the state parliament on the was hinged on the fact planning for crisis rocking the that they were not on He explained that the institution. convocation and we Oyo parliament should Chairman, House Education, Folorunsho college, saying the crisis the payroll of the state have put everything in have consulted the State Committee on Bamisayemi, and the has brought the system government and it would be inappropriate place for a combined to a halt.

The staff of the for them to be coming convocation of six to work when they are sessions that we have As part of the activities college have embarked not being paid.

By MURTALAAGBOOLA not been able to do, on an industrial action lined up for Sunday, the HE leadership of the apex body of the Muslim “In any while there are about over what they called Ummah in the State of Osun, the Osun State governor, top government financial high- disagreement, the best 1,108 of our students Muslim Community, (OSMC), has commended functionaries, eminent h a n d e d n e s s , way is to seek peace who were supposed to Islamic scholars, Imams the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for his and reach a be mobilised for NYSC, and Alfas under the miscarriage of justice, assistance to the Muslim pilgrims from the state leadership of the Chief a d m i n i s t r a t i v e compromise to be able but their hope is now during this year’s hajj.

He further stated that Imam of Osogbo, Sheikh impunity and the to move the system being dashed.

The commendation “Also, we have some was given by the Vice- even though, Hijra is not Musa Amimashaun, and failure of the board and forward. There must be TETFUND projects President I of the Sheikh a major Muslim festival the general public would management to execute compromise.

Salaudeen Olayiwola-led like Eid-Fitr (end of converge at the Osogbo the order of the State “When there is going on, which we City Stadium at 10,00am. cannot continue. If we OSMC, Alhaji Mustafa Ramadan) or Eid-Adha, In a response to a House of Assembly on protest, it is all- don’t carry on with all Olawuyi, at the (Ileya), it is important to the reinstatement of encompassing, but the question, Olawuyi said create awareness by secretariat of the members of the the Boko some of the disengaged staff of the institution these exercises, the community Surulere area, marking it.

Olawuyi solicited the Haram sect are not workers of the college. have used their own to school may eventually off Ring Road, Osogbo to Bamisayemi said the stall the system and go into extinction and mark the activities assistance of the media to Muslims, so they should heralding the new Islamic report the activities of the not be termed Muslim Assembly was working prevent the school from we don’t want that, just community accurately terrorists. He equally towards resolving the running. We have tried I am sure that the year, 1438AH. that the affected workers will Olawuyi was full of and ensure that accurate prayed Chibok issue to make sure there to discuss with them, not want such to happen gratitude to the governor reportage is given to the kidnapped is peace, with a view to but unfortunately, Mr school girls would soon activities of the Muslim for the solid arrangement strengthening the Provost was heavily and that is why we are regain their freedom. put in place for the community.

Earlier in the day, the system in the college attacked, my vehicle appealing that we bury According to him, the pilgrims from the state, the hatchet, so that we before, during and their celebration is being Vice President II of OSMC, and guarantee peace was vandalised, my can all move forward,” by the Alhaji Sadiq Bello, had between the tyre was removed and eventual return from the organised Oyewole stressed. community in explained Hijra to mean management and the taken away. holy land.

In his reaction, the “I know, that is part According to him, for collaboration with the the movement of Prophet staff.

Muhammad from Mecca state government. the first time since the According to him, of what we need to pay Colleges of Education to Medina.

The programme Academic Staff Union creation of the State, Osun issues under as leadership, but He said the prophet fled the (COEASU) of the pilgrims were among included Eroya, a live today, it is a beautiful contention have been from his home town those who left early, had programme relayed on story, as the House of college, through its a comfortable stay and OSBC Radio last Sunday, because of the persecution taking up by the state Assembly Bidemi has Secretary, he faced when he started parliament, urging that the press briefing on return home on time.

Adeboye, said the propagating Islam, which intervened and we Monday and the Quran both management and In the past, pilgrims on centred on the oneness of the aggrieved workers need to see the need to union was ready to from the State of Osun Competition shift ground on the to be ready to shift resolve. were among those Wednesday. As part of the Allah.

“That movement “We don’t want the raging issues. stranded in Mecca or had activities marking Hijra, grounds in resolving the He said the that their luggages on Sunday, Muharam 1 signified system to be halted gift would be presented to commencement of the the matter. delayed.

Also, Oyewole said completely, because, leadership of the union Islamic Calendar.

Hijra baby around The Ikirun-born He said further that the affected staff of the presently, we are would prevail on its Islamic cleric, who is a 7.00am, by the wife of the to be members to resume, when faced with college were not ready supposed governor, Mrs Sherifat retired university staffer, challenges, one can move to show understanding processing admission, saying, their decision also used the opportunity Aregbesola.

He said a mechanism from one place to another. on the decision of the but now it is halted. depends largely on the to enunciate activities of the that That is why we are conviction lined up to mark this has been put in place to He concluded by saying management year’s annual celebration get the first baby to be that hijra also signifies affected staff should appealing to the union members. endurance and tolerance. born on that day. of Hijra.

Osun Assembly, College Provost Beg Staff Over Strike

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OSMC Gives Kudos To Governor Aregbesola

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OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

The Unfortunate Flood In Osun ...Continued From Page 1 This pro-activeness has gone a long way in addressing substantially the plight of flooding in the state capital as the state has witnessed relief in respect of this menace. For since the channelisation efforts embarked upon by Ogbeni we have not heard of any case of flooding for the past five years now. And this is why we are appalled and sad about the re-occurence of the incident.

The commendable pro-active measures of the Ogbeni must be set against a backdrop. This background detail is important to provide because of the obnoxious triumphalist attitude of the PDP in a disgraceful attempt to profit from disaster.

The inconvenient fact which the intellectually dishonest refuse to accept is that; it would have been worse.

Before the advent of the Aregbesola gov-

ernment, flooding in Osogbo and other parts of the state was an annual ritual.

However, since 2011, the administration has been dredging and desilting the rivers, streams and waterways in the state. The project has cost the state government N2.6 billion of its meagre resources, out of which N1.2 billion is still owed to contractors.

The fact is that the government headed

by Aregbesola did not get a dime from the PDP federal government in its nearly six years in office. As things stand, the N12 billion outstanding ecological funds owed Osun has received approval for payment from the Buhari administration, but this is yet to be cash backed.

The importance of getting the cash backing cannot be overstated. The government of the State of Osun has to pay its contractors in order to continue the

the government's waste collection system. Heaven after all, helps those who help themselves. The government has done a lot of public enlightenment, we must now key in and turn it into reality. We must rally around the valiant efforts of the The government will tackle the prob- Ogbeni in order to help ourselves. lem. Nevertheless, charity begins at home. The people themselves must take the lead. We have to change our attitude to the environment and become more environmentally friendly. For we know that if we fight nature, nature will inevitably fight back. Amongst other things, we must do commonsensical things such as stopping the indiscriminate dumping of waste into waterways. good works it has done so far. Even with this impediment, earth moving machines have been deployed to the waterways and clearing the sand and other materials obstructing free flow of water.

We must also live a more hygienic life, obey sanitation rules, dispose off our wastes responsibly, and be keyed into

Rape In Nigeria: Matters Arising I

T is yet unsettled what is the core reason for the upsurge in rape cases in Nigeria. On a TV show recently, a guest attributed it primarily to lack of self-control. Another countered, saying indecent dressing is the primary cause.

Again, it is unsettled what legal mechanism is more effective to confront the menace: retributive justice or restorative justice? Do we punish the offender and care less about the victim under the guise that “crime is an offence against the state?”

Or do we mandate the offender to ensure the rehabilitation of the victim and let him be?

First, the causes of rape are a complex mix of psychological, social, economic and I dare say spiritual problems. The rapist is either psycho-

logically unstable or addicted to drugs or emotionally insecure or in quest of money ritual or spiritually afflicted or a combination of some of these factors.

Indecent dressing is never a justification for rape, just as hunger is

never a justification for stealing. But we talk of the ideal. Knowing this: that society harbours a number of sex-starved, morally loose, excitable men.

We need to preach decency in dressing more than ever. It doesn’t nip rape in the bud, but it is a safety valve to forestall avoidable casualties.

To the legal machinery in place, it is time we explored restorative justice alongside retributive justice. The victim should be at the heart of the question of justice. The victim should be given the opportunity to elect what is more important to her:

punishing the offender or being restored to normalcy? At any rate, victims that are less-interested in long, tedious, public prosecution frustrate trial, thereby allowing the suspect to go scotfree. Rape itself is not so easy to prove. Why not make the suspect pay for the medical bills and cost

of rehabilitative scheme, as a way of plea-bargaining, if the victim is predisposed to it? This needs to be institutionalized to be effective. There should a centre for such psychosocial therapy.

Lastly, our laws should be revised to accommodate male-rape. Yes, women do rape men. A research at the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, has detailed the mind-boggling statistics, taking it away from the realm of conjectures. If women are too ashamed to report cases of rape, you wonder how ashamed men would be.

Same goes for physical assault. A number of western countries provide for laws against male-rape.

We need to go and do likewise.

•MUBARAQ AKANDE, Osogbo.

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FEATURE

6

OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

Prof Soludo’s Take On Proposed Sale Of National Assets

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have just read the wide media coverage regarding the recommendations of the National Economic Council (NEC), as well as the Senate on the ways to reboot the economy out of the current recession.

Times such as this require all brains at work and all hands on deck.

Consequently, I commend both institutions for their patriotic duty in advising the President.

Surely, the proposals are still mere advice or recommendations, and not approval as wrongly reported by some media.

Only the President can approve any of those recommendations to become policy (both NEC and Senate are advisory bodies on matters of national economic policy).

Without a doubt, several of the proposals deserve serious consideration. In particular, the Senate suggestion for active coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities is urgent.

Furthermore, the suggestion to urgently review legislations that impede the economy and enact new ones is commendable.

The National Assembly and the Presidency should declare an emergency on these legislations and ensure that they deliver on them over the next 100 days for the sake of Nigeria. I expected this to have been done within the first 100 days of this administration.

I am not in the habit of joining issues, except when I consider the matter critical. Specifically, I am troubled by the proposal to sell some valuable national assets in order to “build reserves and provide funds for immediate spending” and thus ensure that this recession will be the “shortest” ever. Some people had bandied the same suggestion in the past, but I largely dismissed it as a joke.

But when the Senate and NEC joined the convenient but flawed call for asset sale, I have a citizen duty to join others in letting our voice be heard. Part of the legacy of the oil resource curse on matters of public finance is a mindset that resorts to easy, albeit lazy approach to ‘quick fixes’ — with a gaze on the short term even when the issues are structurally long-term. So, I understand the mental framework that drives such a proposal, especially given the pressures to show immediate results.

But for the record, it is our considered view that the proposal is based on a false foundation. Our thesis is that in extreme, exceptional circumstances, sale of certain assets could be a last resort option but that Nigeria is

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currently not near that threshold and the institutional framework for its effective use is also not in place. Furthermore, we argue that any sale of assets now amounts to chasing pennies when by acts of omission or commission, we are losing pounds. Such a hasty auction of national assets can only benefit a privileged few with cash and access while jeopardizing Nigeria’s long-term economic interests.

It will be a historic mistake for the reasons stated below.

Let me start by noting that the objective of policy is mistakenly identified in terms of getting the economy out of recession.

Recession is short-term. With good rains and bumper agricultural harvest, GDP growth can easily recover with tepid positive growth and bingo, we are out of recession!

A GDP growth rate of even 0.01% next quarter will mean that we are out of the recession. What does this actually mean for the average Nigerian? Really very little! The fundamental issue to focus the attention of policymakers is that the economy has dramatically compressed by more than 50% in US dollar terms.

The GDP compressed in dollar terms from about $575 billion (as at the time this government took over) to about $252 billion currently—depending on the exchange rate used (currently estimated to be about third largest economy in Africa after South Africa and Egypt; with per capita income closer to $1,300 from over $3,000 in 2014).

With the current policy regime, it will be a miracle if the current

The IMF calculates reserve adequacy in terms of the amount to finance at least three months of imports especially for countries with flexible exchange rate (which we claim to have), and of course also enough to cover short term forex liabilities for countries with open capital account. Nigeria currently has much more reserves to cover even six months of imports (size of imports also depends on exchange rate).

So, what is the problem?

No amount of reserves can stop currency speculation in a poor policy environment. There is much more to confidence than absolute or relative size of reserves. Look at our West African neighbors that are doing far better in economic terms and check out the size of their reserves (even as a percentage of GDP).

NTIL 2004, Nigeria never had more than $10 billion in reserves, and we have survived oil prices below $10 without selling Nigeria. The British pounds has been down for months against major currencies since the Brexit vote in June, while China (with trillions of dollars in reserves) experienced major stock market and currency attacks recently and the Yuan had to be devalued. Before the 2008/2009 crisis, Russia had robust reserves, but it lost tens of billions struggling to defend the local currency and eventually yielded to the market.

We spent one year trying to reinvent the wheel of macro management and exchange rate regime at a time of adverse terms of trade shocks with twin deficits.

Finally, we have admitted that we had used the Nigerian economy and Nigerians as guinea pigs in the futile experimentation with tried but failed policy—and the dead bodies are littered everywhere with a recession, escalating unemployment and factory closures, rising inflation and poverty.

Now we have started to make some progress with so-called ‘flexible exchange rate’ but still combined with a black list of 41 items ineligible for forex as well as other crude controls, and the consequent huge parallel market premia that is one of the highest in the world.

The parallel market exchange rate has now become a very important leading indicator in the economy. There is a saying that “confidence grows at the speed that a coconut tree grows but falls at the speed a coconut falls”. Investor confidence is not like a tap you can turn on and off.

Restoring policy credibility by swiftly correcting the persisting

government can, after eight years in office by 2023, succeed in returning Nigerian economy just to the size of GDP (in US dollars) it met it in 2015. To be fair, the wheels of the economy were already falling off by the time this government took over plus other complications of the oil sector and I sympathize with them.

But it is also fair to note that some of its policy choices have made matters worse. Now that the government is showing seriousness in tackling the crisis, focusing on short-term next quarter GDP growth misses the key point and has the danger of understating the serious work required.

ECOND, there is little basis for the figures being bandied (only God knows how they did the valuation and by whom to get $10- 15billion expected from the asset sales), and there is no basis for the expectation that shoring up reserves by this amount will magically restore investor confidence and stop speculation on the naira. What they seem to suggest is that there is a sense of “optimal level of reserves for confidence” such that once investors see $35 billion or $40 billion as reserves, they will stop speculation.

This is a strange argument.

Private economic actors are much smarter. There is more to investor confidence than temporary boost in stock of reserves when everyone knows that the underlying political environment as well as the policy regime and its credibility make the flow of reserves unsustainable.

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•Continued on page 10

FEATURE

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OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

Defrosting The Relationship Between President Buhari And Asiwaju Tinubu

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dear friend, who is not a politician, has just for warded to me a Whatsapp message pertaining to scurrilous statements attributed to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu during a meeting held with his “loyalists” last Saturday.

I was not supposed to be at the said meeting. I intruded on the meeting by an act of gratuitous serendipity. Fortunately, nobody present at the meeting raised an objection against my presence. I took my seat before Asiwaju began to speak; I heard everything that Asiwaju said from beginning to the end.

If Lucifer exists, perhaps his very worst demons inhabit the minds of politicians! Nothing besides that can explain the wicked misrepresentations of what Asiwaju said.

Obviously, no reading of the political tea leaves is needed to fathom that all is not well with my party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). But whatever the disaffection within the APC might be, it is now very clear to

what would have amounted to arrant silliness and needless indecency in the contestation for power. And lastly, at no time did Asiwaju say that the APC must lose the coming election in Ondo State. now wonder whether anyone at that meeting would have stooped so low to so wickedly misrepresent what were said. I also wonder whether some who were not at the meeting could have used a fecund but evil imagination to fabricate such outright calumny.

I plead with President Buhari and Asiwaju Tinubu not to allow their relationship to get more frosty. What are at stake are far beyond the personal stakes of Mohammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu. Our republic dithered for far too long on the precipice of disaster. We must not botch the rescue mission that the Nigerian citizenry entrusted to our party. May the God of peace bruise Satan under our feet shortly.

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•BUHARI

•TINUBU

By SOLAADEYEYE

me that perhaps unbeknownst to Asiwaju Tinubu and President Buhari, some myrmidons of hell are implacably committed to driving permanent wedges between Asiwaju and the President.

At no time during the said meeting did Asiwaju say that his residence witnessed any siege during the tenure of President Buhari.

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ATHER, he narrated the siege and other wicked engines of intimidation that were unleashed against him by the Jonathan Presidency. At no time during the said meeting did Asiwaju attribute cowardice to Buhari. Haba! In fact, his speech had minimal reference to President Buhari! He neither said nor alluded that Buhari ate or lived in his residence. If he did, I would never offer a defense for

TECHNOLOGY

Reasons Why Nokia Lost Its Handset Sales Lead And Got Downgraded To ‘Junk’

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OKIA in cellphone sales, effectively ending Nokia’s 14-year run as the world’s top handset maker, according to reports from IHS iSuppli and Strategy Analytics released late Thursday. Friday morning didn’t bring much better news for the former handset leader, either: Standard & Poor downgraded Nokia’s bonds to “junk” status with a grade of BB+/B. According to IHS iSuppli’s numbers, Nokia shipped 83 million handsets in Q1 2012, while Samsung shipped 92 million handsets. Strategy Analytics’ numbers were only slightly different, reporting that Nokia shipped 82.7 million total handsets and Samsung shipped 93.5 million.

In the mobile industry, a 14-year lead is undoubtedly impressive. But Nokia’s lead has gradually declined in the past few years for a number of very specific reasons.

Here’s what Nokia did wrong — or, alternatively, what Samsung did right — that led to one handset company’s rise over the other.

Nokia Moved Too Slowly Nokia was a pioneer in the smartphone market, literally introducing consumers to the smartphone with its initial Symbian Series 60 devices in 2002.

For the next five years, Symbian phones had little trouble maintaining a leadership position in the smartphone pack. * But in 2007, Apple introduced its iPhone. With its full touchscreen and app-based operating system, the iPhone changed the very definition of what a smartphone should be.

Yet Nokia failed to respond to the iPhone and the shifting consumer demand that came with it. As the years passed, the Symbian platform

aged, and that age really showed when compared to iOS and, later, Android. Simultaneously, the smartphone market exploded — more and more consumers opted for pocket-sized mini-computers instead of “feature” phones with tedious WAP browsers.

“When Apple came out with the iPhone, it showed the industry how the smartphone could be done right,” Wayne Lam, IHS senior analyst, told Wired. “In hindsight, Nokia should have responded to the iPhone more quickly. They didn’t make the leap of faith onto Windows Phone until 2011. Now they are suffering from their slow response.”

AMSUNG, on the other hand, moved quickly into the smartphone market. Granted, Samsung had the advantage of working from the ground up, whereas Nokia had a relatively successful smartphone platform that it just didn’t want to give up.

(The same can be said of RIM’s Blackberry OS.) “If you look at Samsung a few years ago, they were nowhere to be found in the smartphone market, whereas Nokia and RIM were leaders in the smartphone market,” Alex Spektor, Strategy Analytics analyst, told Wired. “It’s a lot more

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difficult to be nimble and react to the changes in the market if you’re already a leading player.”

Hurting on Both Ends Not only did Nokia move too slowly in the smartphone market, it didn’t anticipate competition in the lower end of the market, either.

Other manufacturers like HTC, Huawei and ZTE have attacked Nokia from the low-end in developing markets like China.

“They were also squeezed at the bottom by microvendors, which individually are not very big, but when you add them up they pose a threat in the low-end of the market,” Spektor said.

Nokia Didn’t Have the Panache The classic Nokia brick phone — and the Snake game on it — brings back a lot of nostalgia. But that’s a problem. Consumers, especially in developing markets, associate the Nokia name with a different era of technology. And in today’s world, having the newest and shiniest device is what matters.

“Nokia was sort of an older brand, there wasn’t a new panache to it. Samsung, as a marketed brand, was perceived as an innovator. Nokia has a legacy baggage — they are the traditional brick, candybar phone maker,” Lam said.

PHOTOTALK

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OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

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60 Birthday Ceremony Of An All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain in The State Of Osun, Alhaji Fatai Photo: DANIELAYANKUNLE Diekola, In Osogbo, State of Osun, Last Monday.

•The celebrant, Alhaji Fatai Diekola (2nd left); The Deputy Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye (2nd right); former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere (left) and Dr Isiaka Owoade (right) during Diekola’s birthday bash in Osogbo, last Monday.

•(L-R) Chief Tajudeen Oladipo; Chief Tunde Badmus and Honourable and Otunba Layi Oyeduntan at the event.

•(L-R) Chief of Staff to State of Osun Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (left), in a handshake with Alhaji Diekola.

•Diekola (middle) in a group photograph with some traditional rulers on the occasion.

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PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

World Press Conference On Ladoke Akintola University Of Technology (LAUTECH) Ownership Crisis, At State Of Osun House Of Assembly, In Osogbo Last Wednesday.

Photo: GBENGAADENIYI

•(L-R) Honourable Taiwo Adeyemi; Honourable Kamil Oyedele and Honourable Leke Ogunsola at the press conference.

•(L-R) State of Osun former Attorney-General, Barrister Wale Afolabi; ex-State Attoney General, Barrister Niyi Owolade and Dr Muyiwa Oladimeji on the occasion.

•(L-R) Immediate past deputy Vice Chancellor, LAUTECH, Professor Timothy Adebayo; Professor Olusegun Ojo and Bursar, Prince Adeniyi Olagunju.

•(L-R) Honourable Oluseye Akinloye; Honourable Tajudeen Famuyide and Honourable Olatunji Olalekan at the conference.

FEATURE

10

OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

Prof Soludo’s Take On Proposed Sale Of National Assets •Continued from page 6

errors and demonstrating commitment to sound macro management rather than the “trial and error” mode will be the first important step forward.

If we sell assets and lodge into the reserves under the current policy framework, I am willing to take a bet that in a few months’ time, it will be frittered away and we will be in even a bigger mess as economic agents know that we have nothing else to resort to.

URTHERMORE, if building reserves or budget revenue is the objective, it seems to me that we are chasing pennies through asset sale while losing pounds. How much are we losing each day in oil production/sales through the disruptions in the Niger Delta?

We need to broker a deal urgently on this matter. Can someone explain why the cost per barrel of oil production in Nigeria is several times the cost in Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc and how many billions of dollars are being “lost”? What does it cost to fund the security vessels to protect oil companies vis-à-vis equipping the Navy to do its job, and how many billions of dollars can be saved from that over time?

How many hundreds of millions or billions of dollars are being lost through inappropriate pricing and auctioning of the telecommunications spectrum assets? How much is being lost by way of portfolio/ FDI inflows and export revenue due to the incoherent, inconsistent and distorting export and exchange rate policies? Indeed, the amount of capital flight out of Nigeria is estimated to be far in excess of the expected revenue from asset sales.

We know that government non-oil revenue has averaged 3% of GDP over the years (because we relied upon the easy oil rents for revenue and abandoned tax collection) while many African countries without oil average 1825% of GDP in tax revenue. Such countries also have a larger informal sector than Nigeria.

Several of them are doing close to double digit GDP growth.

How did Dr. M.I Okpara, Ahmadu Bello and Obafemi Awolowo as well as Dennis Osadebey and Samuel Akintola in the regional governments or even the federal government of Nigeria then fund their budgets without oil? It is good news that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced its intention to make 700,000 companies pay tax for the first time.

That is a good effort, but the bulk of the money is in the informal sector (and we must learn how other African countries do it). The list is long, but our point is a simple one: sale of assets is the easy short-term

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option to earn peanuts while ignoring the hard work to earn the sustainable revenue required to move the economy forward.

In addition, the government is yet to demonstrate seriousness in tackling the conundrum in our public finance. Over the past few years especially 2009- 2014 (part of the years of high oil prices), total recurrent expenditure exceeded total government revenue, meaning that not a penny of the oil boom was used for infrastructure/ capital expenditure and we even borrowed to fund consumption (literally every penny of capital/ infrastructure spending was borrowed).

The trend has not changed under the current government.

Funds are fungible, and reasonable people are right to fear that indirectly the proceeds from asset sale will end up funding current consumption.

The argument that sale of assets is the only way to reflate the economy out of recession is troubling, and suffers what economists might call policy myopia or time inconsistency problem.

First, imagine if previous governments used asset sales as a strategy to ‘reflate the economy’ during previous periods of economic recession or crisis.

Alternatively, if we auction away some valued national assets for the short term goal of reflating the economy out of recession, what will happen during future cycles of recessions and economic crisis?

The global economic system is inherently and cyclically crisisprone. Prudently managed economies are preparing for the next cycles of global crisis, and the IMF has already warned of persisting vulnerabilities. What shall we sell then?

Besides, a hasty auction of the assets will short change Nigeria.

Privatization of national assets is not an ideological matter for me. It is plain pragmatism.

Reasonable people can have a good debate about the composition of public assets for sale at any time. Although government is yet to be definitive about the assets being proposed for sale, it is reasonable to object to any scheme that will hurriedly sell performing public assets that guarantee future flows of revenue and forex to future generations such as the NLNG, AFC shares, JVs in oil and gas sector, etc.

VEN for non-performing assets, when privatization is forced and assets auctioned on an emergency basis to meet short-term needs, the danger signs are there for all to see. Nigeria will never get value for money under the circumstance. We all know what happens when someone urgently needs to sell his or her property to meet an emergency. What happens to the valuation/ pricing? If we price them properly and wish to go through proper due process, the deal might take several years to conclude thereby defeating the advertised purpose of immediate spending.

On the other hand, if we insist on forced sale because we need cash urgently, we can as well imagine how the valuation will be done and how buyers will bid for them.

In all, the proposal is largely self-serving and convenient. For some privileged private sector operators with cash and access, the temporary rump up of reserves as well as temporary strengthening of the Naira will enable them to take whatever forex they can get (at the official rate) knowing that it is just a temporary elixir.

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They can then roundtrip same a few weeks after and rake in billions. Furthermore, the attempt to sell valuable national assets under duress guarantees these same interests to cherrypick the assets on the cheap. For our Senators and government, it is very convenient in the sense that it provides easy money to continue with the expenditure trends. So, for both government and its private sector collaborators in this scheme, it is a win-win.

The only losers are Nigerians and the economy. In this apparent short-termism or myopia, no one seems to care about tomorrow.

This brings me to the issue of inter-generational equity. I read an argument that a private company would normally sell its assets when it is in distress.

Well, there is a world of difference between managing a firm/company (a micro operation with profit maximization as objective and which can easily go through bankruptcy/liquidation) and managing a national economy with multiple and often conflicting objectives, including social and inter-generational equity.

Oil and gas, solid minerals and other depleting national assets belong to present and future generations of Nigerians in perpetuity. In less than 40 years, oil may be history in Nigeria. But the current generation has basically been consuming what belongs to them and their great grandchildren.

In various policy proposals (which obviously did not see light of the day because again, they were not convenient) I have argued that Nigeria should adopt the Norwegian model whereby we invest 100% of the proceeds from oil, privatization, and other sale of assets into a sovereign wealth fund. Each generation can only spend the returns from the fund as revenue.

HIS way, we can guarantee that generations unborn will also enjoy the gift of nature to the country and truly force us, out of necessity, to diversify the economy. For the Senate to glibly suggest sale of national assets without first providing a robust legislation on how to invest the proceeds to protect future generations is very disappointing.

We have sold many national assets in the past (under privatization programme) and does anyone remember what we did with the proceeds? At some point, this country must start learning and not repeat the same mistake year in year out.

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OPINION

OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

Aregbesola's Bulletproof SUVs: 5 Questions For Punch Newspaper

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AVING fervently followed The Punch newspaper as a neutral observer for the past 10 years, I am amazed by how often they throw professionalism into the dustbin whenever the State of Osun and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola become the subject.

What axe does the medium have to grind with the government of Aregbesola? When and how did he offend its management, and why does it often abandon logic and reason in a bid to rope the governor in scandalous issues? It seems The Punch newspaper go out of its way to drag the name and legacy of Aregbesola in the mud anytime the opportunity exists and sometimes deliberately instigate the reading public against him with its captions and banal headlines.

I have read with utter dismay, some stories, articles and features in the newspaper, where screaming, damning and outlandish headlines against the person of Aregbesola were used without relevant bylines and contents for the caption. It is as if the The Punch newspaper relishes sensationalism and personality attacks for pushing its sales, rather than educating the public.

In its latest attempt at ‘investigative journalism’, the medium, through a front page article in its edition of 24th September, 2016 with a screaming caption ‘Recession: Governors lavish billions of naira on bulletproof cars for selves, wives’ claimed that “A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, listed the vehicles [owned by Osun Government] as three Mercedes Benz product, a bus, G-Class, and a 4matic and two Toyota Land cruisers. It was also gathered that the State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titilayo LaoyeTomori, has one armoured Toyota Land cruiser.” Emphasis is mine.

ROM the report, there is no coherent link between the banal headline and the content. An anonymous source listed vehicles in the government house pool without providing the source and a supposedly credible national newspaper used it as a scoop to malign and instigate public opinion against Aregbesola!

To be sure, Aregbesola had a couple of used bullet proof vehicles long before assuming office as the governor of Osun. These vehicles came as contributions from sympathizers and well-wishers during his campaigns for the office between 2004 and 2010. Whereas, Ogbeni had two of such vehicles

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between 2004 to 2010.

Rather than purchase brand new bulletproof vehicles, the state governor in his act of prudency, commandeered his own personal vehicles for use in his official capacity upon resumption as governor.

Despite having access to security vote to purchase a replacement bulletproof vehicle when one of his became faulty, he brought other personal vehicles to use for public work, while diverting his security vote to pay the monthly allowances of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) corps members monthly allowance.

Unlike many states in the South West, Osun owes two months’ salary arrears, while Ondo where I am from, disgracefully owes upwards of 8 to 10 months’ salary arrears. Without being patronizing, Aregbesola has invested heavily in the people that matter, which is why he can freely walk amongst his people, even without the use of bulletproof vehicles.

HAT really matters now is for The Punch to clear its name, and indeed prove that it is not being used by interested parties to wreck the reputation of Osun’s governor. The newspaper must let us know the answers to the following questions; 1. Did it double-check its source of story and find them to be correct before publishing it as such?

2. Why create the impression that the governor took out of the limited resources in the state to buy bulletproof vehicles?

3.

Why has The Punch newspaper consistently refused to speak to authorised spokesperson of the state government?

4. What was The Punch motive of featuring Aregbesola boldly on the story’s feature image when evidence suggest the governor hadn’t purchased any bulletproof vehicle during his tenure?

5. Why the desperate attempt to malign and cause disaffection amongst the peace-loving people of the State of Osun with such misleading story?

While we wait for the news medium to clear its name on why it refuses to objectively report on Osun, let them from now on contact the right source when seeking government’s opinion on whatever propaganda it decides to engineer.

Quoting an unofficial source for views of the Osun State Government is nothing short of a disservice to the people.

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before the unfortunate ferocious attack against his person and aides at the 2007 Oroki Day Festival, in which the lives of himself and driver were threatened with highcalibre assault rifle shots, but saved by the armored vehicle conveying them.

On that fateful day, the driver’s heart and Aregbesola’s head were targeted and shot at. It was the reinforced glasses that prevented direct hits and consequent fatality.

The bullets marks are evident on the vehicle till today. His friend and financier, Alhaji Hazzan Olajokun, was not that lucky, as he had earlier been ambushed at Gbongan junction and brutally shot and

killed in May 2005. These incidents were well-covered and reported by major national newspapers including The Punch.

However, in twisting logic on its head, The Punch approached a socalled source without adequate information in his/her kitty to form an erroneous conclusion. Fellow Nigerians, we all should ask The Punch newspaper to show evidence of lavish spending on bulletproof vehicles by Aregbesola. Maybe if the newspaper had stuck to professional ethics, it would have found out that bulletproof jeeps domiciled in the office of the governor belong to him and were presented to him by his financiers

•KIKIOWO, wrote in this piece from Lagos.

HEALTH

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OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

Female Fertility Health: Balancing Hormones In Premenopause

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MAGINE this… You’re sitting in your doctor’s office waiting to hear the results of recent blood work for your hormone levels.

You’ve been actively trying to conceive for many months and you’re not getting pregnant. You desperately want to have a child… after all you’re only 41 years old (or not anywhere near “too old” to have a baby!). You’ve got to get to the bottom of this! Then, your doctor looks at you, begins talking… and the rest you’re not recalling other than you know you heard the word menopause. What?

For some of you this scenario, or a similar version of it, may be very real. I want to make it known, it is not a natural part of healthy aging to be completely in menopause when you are in your 30s and early to mid-40s. In fact, many healthy women don’t naturally begin menopause until their early 50s.

“Menopause that occurs before the age of 45, regardless of the cause, is called early menopause. Menopause that occurs at 40 or younger is considered premature menopause.” ~Cleveland Clinic Hormone tests that reveal early, or menopausal hormone levels when you are in your 30s or 40s indicate hormonal imbalance. This hormonal imbalance may be from: · dietary deficiencies · being over- or underweight · excessive exercise · high levels of stress · an underlying health issue (with the thyroid, adrenals, pituitary gland, ovarian development, etc.) · a fertility health issue · premature menopause (more on this below) · the natural transition into and through perimenopause The majority of the above causes do not indicate your days of being able to conceive are over (with premature menopause being the possible exception). They mean that there is “work to be done”! They indicate the need for dietary and lifestyle changes, and this is a time in your life where natural therapies may be very useful for helping the body recover/heal, or travel through natural fertility-health changes with grace.

What Does It Mean to Be Pre-, Peri- or Menopausal?

Premenopause, perimenopause and menopause are the natural, very normal, transitions in fertility health that a woman goes through as she ages, often mid-life. Each is a stage during which hormone levels gradually shift to stop a woman’s ability to reproduce. The rate at which these changes occur differs for each woman depending on her overall health and fertility health combined.

Pre-menopause – is term loosely used to refer to the time before a woman enters menopause,

including perimenopause, that can span months or years. During this time hormonal balance shifts. A woman can still have her period although it may change and become irregular, meaning cycle length may lengthen, and periods, even discharge (cervical mucus) may change.

This time may also be accompanied by not-so-welcomed symptoms, including, but not limited to (and not all women experience these…): hot flashesnight sweatsInsomnia or fatiguelack of libido (changes in sex d r i v e ) v a g i n a l drynessheadachesnew or worsening PMSmood swings anxiety or depressiontemporary difficulty concentratingheart palpitations/racing heartbeatbreast tendernesswater retentionweight gainjoint and muscle aches/painshair loss or thinning ERIMENOPAUSE – a period of time, that can last for several months up to roughly 8-10 years before a woman enters menopause, when the ovaries slowly begin to produce less estrogen and sex hormones decline.

Perimenopause can begin in a woman’s late 30s, but often begins in her mid- to late 40s into the early 50s. “The average length of perimenopause is four years, but for some women this stage may last only a few months. Perimenopause ends the first year after menopause (when a woman has gone 12 months without having her period).” Cleveland Clinic. It is also possible for women’s hormones to fluctuate in and out of a perimenopausal state repeatedly before finally being diagnosed as in menopause.

Menopause – is the stage of life when a woman’s body stops producing enough estrogen to ovulate and menstruation stops.

Menopause typically occurs after perimenopause, in a woman’s late 40s to early 50s. “Natural” menopause can be officially

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diagnosed for women in their late 40s to early 50s who have not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months.

Premature Menopause, What’s that?

Women can experience menopause early. This is called premature menopause and is not all that common. However, premature menopause can happen either as a result of: · surgical procedures for fertility health issues – procedures like uterine fibroid embolization and certainly from having a hysterectomy (even if ovaries are left) · ovarian damage which can happen from surgery (can cause scar tissue formation), endometriosis, large ovarian cysts – especially those that burst, and chemotherapy How To Support Fertility Naturally Through These Transitions What can be done about hormone levels that are menopausal, when a woman isn’t old enough to be in menopause?

How can healthy hormonal balance be supported through these natural fertility health transitions?

1. Make sure You are a part of your fertility health program.

Love yourself!

No matter your age, through all the natural therapies, supplements, charting ovulation, doctor’s visits, etc., don’t forget to care for yourself.

Emotional self care is necessary!

Be mindful and help yourself have a positive outlook. Take time to process emotions through massage, counseling, EFT, meditation, positive affirmations, Yoga, or lunch with a trusted friend who understands what you’re going through and will just listen, or any other way you like to manage stress.

2. Create a team to support you.

The best way to achieve healthy fertility is to have support. Your team might include your primary

healthcare provider and reproductive endocrinologist (if you haven’t been referred to one, consider this for more in-depth fertility testing), a massage therapist or Acupuncturist, a midwife, your best friend, your therapist/counselor, your partner of course and even your fertility herbalist.

3. Include symptom relief as part of your program.

While natural therapies can take time to help the body achieve optimal health and correct imbalance, many can also work quickly to reduce troublesome symptoms. Ladies, it may help, if you experience any of the symptoms I shared above and especially if you are actively trying to conceive, to: · Eat a Fertility Diet – avoid large meals and eat 5 small, well balanced meals daily · limit/avoid alcohol · limit caffeine to small quantities (and only in the morning) · quit smoking if you smoke create a comfortable sleep · environment 4. Consider using natural therapies.

T may be most helpful in determining the best natural therapies for your needs to work one on one with a fertility herbalist and the tips we offer in the guides below can be helpful no matter one’s age: Preparing for Conception Over 40 Achieving Pregnancy During Perimenopause How to Improve Your Egg Health in 90 Days Checklist 5. Consider all of your options!

I understand your dream of having your own children. There are both natural and medical ways to help you try to achieve this dream. There are also many unique options available to individuals hoping to become parents as fertility health begins to change or for couples battling infertility. We share these option in our guide Hope for Infertility – Fertility Options on the Path to Parenthood.

To close, I want you to have hope!

Despite this time frame, perimenopause and beyond, being viewed as the normal beginning of the “end in a woman’s reproductive years”, a woman can still become pregnant when in premenopause and perimenopause because regular ovulation may continue.

Again, now more than ever is the time to enlist natural therapies to support you – change your diet, boost egg health, enlist the support of both natural and medical healthcare professionals to guide you and don’t forget to also advocate for yourself on your journey to conception.

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FOR THE RECORDS

51 3

OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin Writes House Of Reps Speaker An Explosive Letter September 22, 2016 Hon Yakubu Dogara The Speaker, House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja.

Dear Mr. Speaker, Search Your Conscience Before You Destroy The House Of Representatives write you this letter to express the deep agony and pains that overwhelmed me when I watched a person with soiled reputation preside over the House sitting on Wednesday.

It was another bout of mental torment when I watched you taking advantage of the office of the Speaker and publicity inherent to vomit all sort of lies in a desperate bid to attract public sympathy, paint me in bad light and use the institution of the House to cover the fraud you perpetrated in the 2016 budget and other monumental corrupt practices.

It is therefore no surprise that rather than address the allegations of budget fraud and corruption I specifically leveled against you, 3 Principal officers and a few other members (not the entire House), and open it up for discussion if you have nothing to hide, you embarked on a wild goose chase.

Every right-thinking person knows that you were acting a shameful script by referring the matter to the Ethics Committee so that you can conveniently be a judge in your own case. You didn’t even refer the allegations against you to the Ethics Committee but rather chose to refer a so-called “breach of privilege of members” in a clear attempt to force members to carry your cross through a wellorchestrated blackmail.

To hide a lie, a saying goes, a thousand more lies are needed.

Contrary to what you said in your speech, where you recklessly quoted TS Elliot, your so called maturity and silence during the last two months were simply because you are guilty as charged. And you know too well you are!

In any case, you are aware the privilege of a member does not accord him or her immunity to being exposed if involved in corrupt practices. And if exposing budget fraud and corruption amounts to misconduct, then prepare for even the worst misconduct in the next few days.

You have successfully dragged 360 members into an offense committed by you and a few others. In the next few days, members will have to decide whether they are with you or with millions of conscientious Nigerians. No action that symbolizes corruption than standing with an embodiment of corruption.

Mr Speaker, I was taken aback when I heard on good authority that you were boasting that Nigerians will soon forget, and I will be left alone. Smiling sheepishly, my mind made an instant flashback, reflecting the struggle and sacrifice we made to make you what you are today. I

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•JIBRIN

then wondered how you forget the stuff I am made of and the courage of my conviction so easily. I conclude you underestimated how resolute I could be to champion a cause I believe in or stay on the side of the truth. My conscience is the guiding torch of behavior, you need to be reminded.

Mr Speaker, it was a shameless act to behold seeing you hitting the gavel and asking that investigation of such weighty allegations be conducted and report submitted back to you within one week. Just imagine that after the petitions I submitted against you, Mr President directed the anti graft agencies to conduct investigation and submit report within one week. You would have been shouting foul play all over. Even with the civilized approach of the anti-graft agencies you still went on air to say they cannot investigate or prosecute you. You have refused to appear before the anti-graft agencies despite pressure from the general public for you to go and clear your name.

R. Speaker, it is dismaying to note that the House is already sitting on a keg of gunpowder. Let’s see if history will repeat itself or history will be made.

In any case, if we look at the history of the House, where are the accused and where are the accusers today?

Who laughed last? Once you stick to the truth, God will be with you! You might force your illegal suspension on me, but I care less because I have optimism that most of you will go to jail.

In your speech, you called on the Government to take responsibility for the recession. It is leaders like you who steal public money front, back and center and abuse their offices that destroyed our economy and brought us down to ground zero that should take responsibility.

Your call on Mr President to address a joint sitting is a desperate bid to use the unblemished reputation of Mr President to shore up your battered reputation and credibility. I cannot make decision for the President, but If I were the President, I will simply relate with you with a long spoon because of the irritating and stinking reputation you have earned.

You know very well that while you

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presided over the House on Wednesday, most Nigerians and those of us that didn’t put on the #iStandWithCorruption mufflers didn’t see a Speaker in you. We saw a fraudster, a rogue and a criminal who has become a disgrace to the institution of the House. Why are you afraid to open up the matter for discussion? Why do you find it too much a sacrifice for the country to step down and allow for a free and fair investigation to save the image of the House? It is clear you will do anything to hold on to power even on the alter of blackmailing your colleagues. It will be tragic if the House condones a situation where some few corrupt members will commit offense, and then use the institution of the House as a shield to evade justice. This is the script you are trying to implement. I assure you we will do everything within the precinct of our powers so that the corrupt members like you will be fished out and dealt with to preserve the sanctity of the institution.

On a final note, I have the following posers for you: Did you consult your colleagues when you and the 3 other principal officers stole our 40 billion? Or when you diverted federal governments projects to your farm? Who did you consult when you inserted fraudulent projects worth about 20billion naira into the budget?

Didn’t you and members of your cabal go solo when you inserted about 2000 projects worth 284 billion naira into the budget, or when you manipulated the house rules and inserted draconian clauses, a House rule you continue to use despite the fact that it is a subject of litigation?

What about the way you abused trust in the 2015 SDG? Or how you tried to force me to fraudulently insert projects worth about 30 billion naira in the budget? Can you explain how you absconded with 20% of inputs meant for the House after the harmonization? How about cutting a chunk off members’ emoluments for rent of houses and guest houses?

Why did you refuse to circulate copies of the internal budget of the House? How about mismanaging finances of the House through questionable procurements? How about trying to use running cost of members for a fraudulent mortgage and many more?

Mr Speaker these are the allegations against you. All members of the House are aware that I have raised these allegations, and whether they act on it or not Nigerians are watching. But what remains clear is that you have become a lameduck Speaker who is vulnerable and cannot walk with his head high. Do you expect all these allegations to be swept under the carpet? You have neither attempted nor addressed these allegations but you move around freely and try to keep a bold face. Do you really love this country? Do you really love the House or care about its image? Search your conscience, make a soulsearching and do the right thing by stepping down with the 3 others to allow for a free, fair and unbiased

investigation in collaboration with the ongoing external investigation.

The House is an institution that always stand for justice, equity and fairness. How damaging will it be when the House can not deal with issues of internal corruption in a transparent manner? With a situation like this and moreso with a rotten head, who do you expect to take the House serious? How do you oversight or investigate others? You have made the House a laughing stock. You think Nigerians are fools?

Try for once to look beyond the muffler-adorning members and listen to the voices of 200 million Nigerians.

If you succeed in blackmailing your colleagues, you cannot blackmail Nigerians. Let’s not take the patience of Nigerians for granted.

When Francis Fukuyama wrote the book The End of History and the Last Man in 1992, he was not saying the world has come to an end but simply indicating the emergence of the last and final world order. What happened yesterday on the floor of the House was just the end of another beginning. The emergence of a struggle to establish a new order in the House of Representatives that will expose and deal with all forms of corruption both systemic and individual.

R Speaker, this struggle is like the rising sun, it is unstoppable. There is nothing you can do on earth to stop it. No amount of lobbying, legislative antics or blackmail of members of the House, Senate, Executive arm or individuals outside the House can help you and your cabal of few corrupt members. The day of reckoning is so close.

We all know you blackmailed members to get support and wear mufflers in a show of shame to celebrate you due to the abundance of systemic corruption (which people like you instituted) in the House that makes many members vulnerable and dependent. To you it was a “smart” move. You just want the entire House to go down with you because you know I will pull the trigger. It is gladdening that some courageous members defied your blackmail and rose to the occasion.

History will be kind to them.

History will remember you as the Speaker who brought down and endanger the reputation of the House through budget fraud and monumental corruption. The House must embrace reforms. It is a reform you have lost the moral ground to superintend. How on earth a person like you who committed the biggest budget fraud in the history of the House will supervise budget reforms? It is time you woke up from your dream and embrace reality. The time has come, Whether you like it or not, justice will be served on you, Lasun, Doguwa and Ogor.

God bless Nigeria.

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Yours in service to the nation, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin PhD MBA APC-Kano Kiru-Bebeji Federal Constituency Kano

14

OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

Job Vacancies In Nigeria Business Analysis Associate · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Business Management · Posted by Hot Jobs on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 · Reference: 213306 Job Details Employer: Hot Jobs Our client is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. We are recruiting to fill this position.

Responsibilities · Support and produce deliverables related to operational, financial, pipeline, or quality data and information from the program to help improve client effectiveness and customer satisfaction. · Generate and maintain data related to the client business, operations, and/or processes to resolve issues, track lessons learned, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. · Plan and execute deliverables. · Collect, consolidate, and manage information from various teams and organizations.

Candidate Requirements · B.Sc/B.A in a relevant discipline. · 0 - 2 years of relevant experience. · Strong oral and written communication skills · Strong facilitation skills · Good communication and interpersonal skills · Detail, deadline and teamwork oriented.

Apply before Friday, November 18, 2016 - 52 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. ……………………….end……………………….

Integration Support Officer · Abuja, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Admin · Posted by Hot Jobs on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 · Reference: 213307 Job Details Employer: Hot Jobs Our client is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. We are recruiting to fill this position.

Responsibilities · Identifies, assesses and solves complex business problems for area of responsibility, where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. · Closely follows the strategic direction set by senior management when establishing near term goals. · Interacts with senior management at a client and/or within Accenture on matters where they may need to gain acceptance on an alternate approach.

Candidate Requirements · B.Sc/B.A in a relevant discipline. · At least 1 year experience. · Proven ability to build, manage and foster a team-oriented environment · Proven ability to work creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment · Desire to work in an information systems environment · Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills · Excellent leadership and management skills.

Apply before Friday, November 18, 2016 - 52 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. …………………….end………………………….

HR Executive · Delta, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Human Resources · Posted by Hot Jobs on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 · Reference: 213296 Job Details Employer: Hot Jobs Our client an international company is currently recruiting qualified candidates to fill the vacant position: Responsibilities: · working closely with various departments, increasingly in a consultancy role, assisting line managers to understand and implement policies and procedures; · promoting equality and diversity as part of the culture of the organisation; · liaising with a range of people involved in policy areas such as staff performance and health and safety; · recruiting staff, which involves developing job descriptions and person specifications, preparing job adverts, checking application forms, shortlisting, interviewing and selecting candidates; · developing and implementing policies on issues like working conditions, performance management, equal opportunities, disciplinary procedures and absence management; · preparing staff handbooks; · advising on pay and other remuneration issues, including promotion and benefits; · undertaking regular salary reviews; · negotiating with staff and their representatives (for example, trade union officials) on issues relating to pay and conditions; · administering payroll and maintaining employee records; · interpreting and advising on employment law; · dealing with grievances and implementing disciplinary procedures; · developing HR planning strategies, which consider immediate and long-term staff requirements; · planning and sometimes delivering training - including inductions for new staff; · analysing training needs in conjunction with departmental managers.

Candidate Requirements · Degree in business or management or any related fields · business awareness and management skills; · organisational skills and the ability to understand detailed information; · IT and numeracy skills, with strong IT skills required if managing/operating computerised payroll and benefits systems; · interpersonal skills to form effective working relationships with people at all levels; · a proven track record of ‘making a difference’; · the ability to analyse, interpret and explain employment law; · integrity and approachability, as managers and staff must feel able to discuss sensitive and confidential issues with you; · curiosity and a willingness to challenge organisational culture where necessary; · the ability to compile and interpret statistical data and communicate it in a professional and understandable manner; · influencing and negotiating skills to implement personnel policies; · potential to handle a leadership role.

Apply before Thursday, October 27, 2016 - 30 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. ……………………….end………………………

Branch Manager · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Management · Posted by Hot Jobs on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 · Reference: 213291 Job Details Employer: Hot Jobs Our client an international company is currently recruiting qualified candidates to fill the vacant position: Responsibilities: · Develop sales plans and campaigns in line with the Regional Sales plan to ensure the Branch meets and exceeds productivity, production and quality targets as determined · Participate in tactical sales planning and implement the business plan for the branch as developed and agreed · Review the business plan regularly and take the necessary steps to ensure that the set targets will be achieved · Coach and supervise financial advisers to meet and exceed performance standards · Provide competitor product and activity feedback to segment and product development teams in order to identify current and prospective sales opportunities · Recruit, select and retain high quality financial advisors by ensuring an optimum mix of

talent in each advisor category in order to build capability to meet current and future staffing needs in accordance with the manpower plan · Ensure that sales support zones are optimised to appropriately manage poor performance and minimise staff turn-over · Support and guide Financial Advisors through the decision making process by displaying exceptional product knowledge and customer centricity · Induct, develop and support financial advisers to meet and exceed performance and productivity standards in order to enable passionate and confident sales entrepreneurs · Manage and monitor activities of Financial Advisers through market allocation to ensure that each financial adviser has adequate and appropriate market access opportunities · Ensure that segmentation insights, information and toolkits are used to enable Financial Advisers to indentify and reach target segment customers · Adhere to high ethical standards and ensure Financial Advisors comply with all regulations/applicable laws · Ensure technical product and legislative knowledge is always current in order to advise on the most relevant and innovative client solutions and comply with governance requirements · Utilise the Distribution Management Operating System to monitor and manage financial performance · Identify entrepreneurial opportunities in every interaction and remain passionate, resilient, focused and organised · Timeously complete all administrative and reporting duties, including sales and marketing data tracking, feedback and business cases related to the role within the agreed timeframes · Manage the housekeeping and professional image of the Branch to ensure that high standards are maintained · Check and approve the relevant documentation to support the sales process in line with business and risk management practices · Effectively manage time and ensure optimal productivity · Report on the sales performance of the Branch · Continuously monitor turnaround times and quality standards and resolve issues speedily to enhance client service delivery · Drive client service delivery goal achievement in line with predefined standards in order to ensure that clients receive appropriate advice and after sales service Candidate Requirements · Degree in related fields · 3-4 years’ experience as a financial advisor · 2 years’ management experience (preferred) · Understanding of financial services retail distribution channel business Apply before Thursday, October 27, 2016 - 30 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. ………………………..end………………………….

Registrar · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Admin, Academic · Posted by Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 · Reference: 213279 Job Details Employer: Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Lagos, boasts of a 58 year standing experience in effective Teacher Education delivery and rich culture, which jointly have earned the College, global recognition for academic excellence and unique quality in Teacher Education Service. The College isa trailblazer in the training of teachers for the award of Nigeria Certificate in Education NCE).

The Governing Council of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto/Ijanikin, Lagos State, hereby announces the position below. In accordance with the provisions of the Section 6 (I) of Lagos State College of Education Edict, and in exercise of its powers as contained therein, the Governing Council wishes to commence the process of filling the vacant position. Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates for this position Job Description · The Registrar who is also the Secretary to the Governing Council, a Principal Officer, is the Chief Administrative Officer of the College responsible to the Provost for the day-to-day administrative work of the College. · He is also the Secretary to the Academic Board.

Candidate Requirements · Possess a good Honours degree in Arts or Social Sciences while possession of a higher degree and membership of recognized professional bodies will be an advantage. · Have at least Fifteen (15) years post-qualification administrative, academic or professional experience, with a minimum of Ten (10) years at the management level or as Deputy Registrar in a College of Education or comparable academic institution. · Be lCT compliant; and · Have a good knowledge of Human Resource Management (HRM) Apply before Monday, November 28, 2016 - 62 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. ……………………..end……………………….

Traffic Acquisition Specialist · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Media · Posted by Careers24 on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 · Reference: 213277 Job Details Employer: Careers24 Our client, a part of Naspers - a multinational group of media and ecommerce platforms is seeking to hire a Traffic Acquisition Specialist.

Naspers is a global internet and entertainment group and one of the largest technology investors in the world. Operating in more than 130 countries and markets with long-term growth potential, Naspers builds leading companies that empower people and enrich communities. It runs some of the world’s leading platforms in internet, video entertainment, and media Main purpose of role: The Traffic Acquisition Specialist will be responsible for driving traffic to our website and apps, by managing and delivering growth orientated campaigns.

Key responsibilities: · Highly quantitative; able to acquire, process, and draw insights from various data sources in order to inform decisions and provide solutions · Advanced/intermediate Excel skills · Some knowledge with SEO and SQL · Experience conducting marketing experiments, e.g. AB/multi-variant · Ability to work independently, be self-motivated and able take high level business objective and create an actionable plan · Comfortable in a fast paced environment, able to adapt to new challenges when they are presented · Deeply curious about the latest & greatest technologies and growth strategies · Knowledge of SEM, PPC, and web analytics a plus · Develop, execute, and measure ROI-positive growth strategies, both at the channel level and within the productAnalyse customer data to optimize existing marketing campaigns Candidate Requirements Skills and competencies: · Develop a test-driven approach to product marketing that will drive feature adoption · Find opportunities to grow SEO traffic & conversion · Partner with content marketing to drive traffic from strategic SEO keywords; own the plan to convert low intent traffic · Think outside the box for new growth tactics we haven’t yet tried · Evaluate and take ownership of emerging channels · Effectively communicate marketing objectives and strategy cross functionally · Demonstrable experience leading and managing SEO/SEM, marketing database, email, · social media and/or display advertising campaigns Preferred Qualification · Marketing or statistical/quantitative related qualification Experience: · At least 2-3 years’ experience in digital marketing, with a thorough understanding of traffic acquisition channels. · Working knowledge of ad serving tools · Experience in setting up and optimizing Google Adwords campaigns · Strong analytical skills and data-driven thinking This position reports to: Marketing Manager Apply before Monday, October 10, 2016 - 13 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. ………………………….end…………………………….

51 5

SPORTS

OSUN DEFENDER Friday, September 30, 2016

Sam Allardyce's Lapse In Judgement Sees Him Lose His Dream England Job M

ORE than anything, the tale of Sam Allardyce’s downfall is a profoundly sad one. Sad because once again, England find themselves rudderless. Sad because of all that it tells us about modern football and those who operate within its murky waters. But sad, too, on a human level. deals, he spoke carelessly Whatever you may but said only what think of him, Allardyce anyone else in football has waited all of his life would say. When he was for this opportunity, and offered his mythical now, after 67 days, one “speaking” role, he game and a very serious stressed that he would lapse in judgment, it is all have to speak to The over. He left his position Football Association first. as England manager on If people must now be sacked for bad-mouthing Tuesday.

Allardyce signed up their colleagues or rivals wanting to prove once in private, then we’re all and for all that he was a in a lot of trouble. fine football manager and But none of that not a figure of fun, but matters. What matters is now his reputation is in the glee with which he tatters. And he has discussed his “keynote brought this on himself. speaker” role, his From the material eagerness to land that published by the Daily £400,000 fee, his very Telegraph on Monday, presence at the talks in the there is little that would first place. It was greedy, constitute a sackable it was grasping, but most offence in any other damaging of all, it industry. When baited on eradicated the goodwill “bungs” (an that so many had shown unauthorised and him when he took on the undisclosed payment to a role.

Despite his people manager), Allardyce reputation, refused to bite. When wanted him to succeed.

Allardyce spent years probed on “third party”

lobbying for the England job. He complained bitterly about the perception people had of him, once suggesting (only half-joking) that he’d get better postings if his name was “Allardici.” In a game beguiled by exotic new ideas, he remained stoutly and fervently English, giving the impression that all of the country’s problems could be fixed with a bit of tough love, some hard work on the training field and a good ball to the big lad up front. And while he continued to push for the top job, it always went to someone else.

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redoubtable manager but without ever winning a major trophy. Then last season, with a timehonoured combination of astute signings and renewed defensive

discipline, he saved Sunderland from the drop.

When Roy Hodgson’s tenure ended so horribly at Euro 2016, it made Allardyce the strongest, albeit the

•Sam Allardyce was in charge of the England team for just one game, a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win in Slovakia.

Leicester Back To Their Best For Europe A

FTER their humbling at Old Trafford on Saturday, Leicester City picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and got straight back to winning ways. Their first home game in the Champions League could easily have been an occasion that distracted or daunted. Instead, Leicester looked empowered. This 1-0 win was tense, Kasper Schmeichel’s near post may still be vibrating from the force of Jesus Corona’s 83rd minute thunderbolt, but Claudio Ranieri’s men held on to secure all three reasons for Leicester’s points.

There are many troublesome domestic start. The lack of N’Golo Kante, the defence that can no longer physically dominate at set-pieces for follow the forward, hold fear of punishment. The your position and decide general infrequency of who should mark who. For the second goal, after the lightning striking twice. ball was played to the right But away from all that, hand side ahead of the there’s also been a dip in cross, this left the Chelsea noticeable defence slightly bemused intensity.

In the second half of as Walcott drifted into the box, found the space and last season, Leicester defended as if it was slotted the ball home.

After complementing always the last minute of the attack, there was a a cup final and attacked defensive masterclass from in much the same way. both new boy Shkodran There was momentum.

M u s t a f i a n d There was belief. There captain Laurent Koscielny. was the almost audible They were able to eliminate crackle of something any threat from one of the supernatural in the air. In league’s most influential the Premier League this strikers, Diego Costa. Both season, that magic has stepped up to the plate and faded. But in Europe, it were close to f a u l t l e s s . H e c t o r lingers still.

It didn’t seem that way Bellerin also deserves praise as he kept the in- from the start. Leicester, beaten three times in the form Eden Hazard out of league already this the game.

Another unseen reason season, looked uncertain for our success is our new at first. Porto could have squad depth. Despite a scored inside three worrying injury to a critical minutes when young star player in the team, Andre Silva raced onto a Coquelin, we were able to long Otavio pass, got in bring in an equally good behind Wes Morgan, beat replacement in Xhaka. Kasper Schmeichel to the Moreover, during the ball, but couldn’t quite second half when we were finish the job. Former putting the game to bed we Watford man Miguel were able to bring on the Layun caused problems very capableKieran Gibbs, on the right, testing who locked down the left Schmeichel with an early hand side with Monreal and Giroud. The Frenchman shot and then zipping in would also offer extra a low cross moments later aerial cover from any set- that caused panic, but plays that Chelsea may failed to find a Porto touch. have won.

But after ten minutes, A great game from the Arsenal boys. All of them the Foxes settled and, looked up for it, all of them buoyed by a crowd had a desire to win and determined to enjoy hopefully we can take this themselves, began to momentum and mentality show the passion that into a very busy few weeks brought Champions of fixtures.

League football here in

‘How We Beat The Blues’

T was approaching five years since Arsenal last beat Chelsea in the league, so what made us break the recent bad run against the Blues on Saturday?

Undoubtedly, the early didn’t have to wait long, goals were essential to the withAlexis’ opening goal impressive 3-0 result. With the result of pressing and a slightly controversial setting a tone for the game. team among the fans as The first goal was summer signing Granit crucial, it silenced the Xhaka was dropped to the visiting fans, got the home bench andAlexis returned crowd off their seats and, to a more central role - one most importantly, forced which the jury is still out the Chelsea team to change on. However, as the score their game plan to get back line suggests, these were into the game. This was evidently the correct picks evident in the third goal as from the boss. both of the Blues’ defensive In Saturday’s game we midfielders committed saw a more intense press forward, allowing Mesut from Arsenal and a more Ozilto drive forward to cut urgent approach to tackling out the whole of the the Chelsea players from Chelsea midfield. With the first kick. The pace and players ofAlexis’ and Ozil’s stamina advantage Francis quality in a two v two Coquelinhas above Xhaka counter attack, you should appears to be why he was always be worried, and selected. Along with the before you knew it, it was ever-mobileAlexis, the 3-0.

Gunners were able to deny Of course, Theo Walcott’s the Blues any time of the goal needs a mention. ball throughout the pitch. Hidden behind the This was especially outstanding quick attacking effective against a passing from the Gunners defensive Chelsea line up was some very interesting that lacked the ability to movement by Alexis. The pass their way out of the Chilean plays the striker’s trouble. From the start, you role more as a ‘false nine’ could tell that the high press opposed to a target man would get results. And we likeOlivier Giroud, meaning that he’ll roam and drop into the midfield.

This is a risky tactic to play with just one striker as it can leave us with no one leading the line, but it can be incredibly effective, especially against a new opposition defensive partnership. Alexis dropped out of the forward line, leaving no one for Gary Cahill and David Luiz to mark.

This is a rare situation for centre backs, and it raises •WENGER the question of whether to

It was not, with the greatest of respect, his CV that eventually forced the hand of the FA. Over the years, Allardyce has proved himself a resilient, inventive and

the first place. Riyad Mahrez was a threat coming in from the right,

Danny Drinkwater fired in quick, long passes over the top and Jamie Vardy

Candidates To Replace Sam Allardyce As England Manager

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FTER just 67 days, Sam Allardyce has left his post as England manager. With The FA again looking for a new man to lead the national team, ESPN FC examines some potential contenders.

Gareth Southgate (bet365 odds to be named permanent manager: 7/4) He will take the reins for England’s next three World Cup qualifiers, against to reappear with the Malta, Slovenia and demise of Allardyce, one Scotland, as well as the of Bruce’s closest friends November friendly with in football. Whether the would choose Spain.

The former FA Middlesbrough manager someone with such an association to a manager has never looked like he could be the long-term with whom they have just option for the top job, parted ways is a though he will have the significant question. first chance to stake a Bruce has also been claim to succeed linked with a potential vacancy at Stoke, where Allardyce.

Hughes is Southgate’s teams Mark qualified for the 2015 struggling.

Alan Pardew (6/1) European Under-21 Pardew was not on the championships but exited at the group stage; the short list to replace current group is on Hodgson and barely course to reach the 2017 mentioned in dispatches competition. He has as Allardyce’s candidacy worked with the majority developed. That came as of the younger players in a result of Crystal the current senior set-up Palace’s dreadful Premier but appears little more League form from the than a stopgap or last start of 2016 until the end resort in the absence of of last season, which saw them win just two league any other candidates. matches out of 20.

Steve Bruce (2/1) Reaching the FA Cup Like Sunderland with Allardyce, Hull City were final, where his team were beaten by unhappy in the summer with the FA’s unofficial Manchester United, did not appear to increase approach to their manager.

Bruce Pardew’s chances but subsequently left the recent form — Palace KCOM Stadium in July, have won their last three not long after those Premier League games — discussions, after an has put the spring back additional dispute with into Pardew’s step. That the club’s owners over he shares a similarly brash style to Allardyce transfer policy.

A once-in-a-lifetime may affect his chances, chance looked gone, only however, with The FA in damage-limitation mode.

•Dortmund needed inspiration and got it late on when Schurrle volleyed in Pulisic's cross.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

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E regard the education of every citizen, to the limit of his ability, as a fundamental right. To deny it or to treat it as a privilege is deprivation, and an assault on human dignity. In addition, the country suffers serious handicaps in its march to economic plenitude, to political freedom and stability, and to social justice - Obafemi Awolowo Education should be revolutionized as to answer the wants of the poorest villager, instead of answering those of an imperial exploiter - Mahatma Gandhi If you think education is expensive, try ignorance - An African proverb The only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks - Mark Zuckerberg In September 2016, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook held the Nigerian nation spellbound for about three days. This young man has been described by Okey Ndibe as “one of the central deities in the global revolution called social media.” He not only jogged on Fashola’s bridge connecting Victoria Island and Ikoyi, he also walked freely on the streets of Yaba and enjoyed what looked like a sumptuous meal of pounded yam and fresh fish. At the end of his short adventure to Nigeria, he concluded that the technological and entrepreneurship spirit of young Nigerians are simply stupendous. This observation captures a non-negotiable fact about the Nigerian terrain. It is a nation blessed with abundant natural and human resources. The perplexing paradox however is that in spite of these resources, Nigeria is still groping in the dark about creative ways to harness these God-given resources. My simple thesis in this article is that education holds the perennial lynchpin for unlocking human potentials and aspirations. I am not making this assertion in vacuum; rather, it is connection with the recent official commissioning of Osogbo Government High School by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 1, 2016. I will use this development as a credible and empirical litmus test for making my case for a new appropriation of education in Nigeria.

This article seeks to contextualize and problematize the issue at stake within the Nigerian polity. It also proffers some insights on how to move the country forward. This article underscores the paradox of the Nigerian state. It is a nation that is confronted with many challenges on several fronts, but yet, it is a nation with so much promise. I submit that quality education is an essential key to sustainable long term socio-economic transformation. It seems to be that Governor Rauf Aregbesola understands the importance of education in the overall development of the Nigerian nation, hence his unalloyed commitment to his initiatives in education. Recently in his contribution to the Private Sector Summit at the United Nations Global Assembly, with the theme: ‘Securing the Way Forward,’ Wale Tinubu, the Chief Executive of Oando Plc., asserted that education, innovation, and good governance remain key facets to socioeconomic growth. I affirm without any equivocation that education is the most powerful empowerment tool within any society. It simply provides people with

Prisms Of Empowerment And Hope

•ADAMU choices. The proverbial saying of teaching people how to fish, rather than give them fish, remains universally true.

Education provides an auspicious opportunity to embark on a new narrative in the State of Osun and in the entire nation. It is the best ingredient for reinventing the “Nigerian project.”

Education is more than textbooks and knowledge by rote; rather, it provides a worldview and a new orientation. I recently visited Edgewood College, in Lekki, Lagos.

HE founder and Executive Director of the school, Mrs. Kehinde Phillips beamed when she talked about the achievements of the graduates from the school. Students at the school come from different socio-economic backgrounds, but they graduate with a new sense of empowerment. They know that they can change the world through the power of education. Education provides the most credible resources for preparing young people for the future.

The 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” It is not rocket science to proffer that a solid educational background prepares young people for a future replete with more possibilities and positions.

Right from an early stage, Yoruba people memorize a nursery rhyme that simply states that: Bata re a dun ko ko ka to be ka iwe e, meaning you will walk with commanding and resounding steps if you take your academic work seriously.

This is an effective way of affirming that through education, people can achieve upward socio-economic mobility. This is a powerful process of “conscientization” to borrow a word from the Brazilian educator Paulo Fierre

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or building what Niyi Akinnaso has described as “literacy and individual consciousness.” From an early age, young people begin to gain a profound insight into the values of hard work and diligence. No doubt, education prepares people for a better future. Yoruba people also value holistic education. The motto of Obafemi Awolowo University in IleIfe is “Learning and Culture.”

Education is not about abstract knowledge but it should contribute to the development of the virtues of an omoluabi. The lessons garnered throughout such an educational odyssey become part of what the ancient Latin scholars dubbed vade mecum (carry me wherever you go) for life. In light of this perspective, education becomes imole aye, the light of the world to borrow a phrase from the singer Oladotun Aremu.

This is a worldview that shines in the midst of darkness. In the Yoruba context, education is deeply rooted in indigenous sagacity that valorized the virtues of an omoluabi.

N the logo of Obafemi Awolowo University, a book, which represents knowledge, illuminates and radiates brightness.

This is a powerful symbol for empowerment and enlightenment.

Authentic education transcends myopic sensibilities. Nigeria must valorize the building of truly creative, bold, and invigorated educational programs.

All over the globe, Nigerian students are raising the educational bar.

Recently, a 21-year old Nigerian emerged as University of Kent’s most outstanding graduating student. In 2012, the US Bureau of Statistics affirmed that Nigerians are the most educated immigrant community in the United States. Nigerians have overtaken Indians and Pakistanis who had previously basked in the glory of the most educated immigrant community in the United States. As I was writing this article, Hillary Clinton sent a message on twitter: “I want to give a big THANK YOU to my Doctor who travels everywhere with me, Dr. Oladotun Okunola. I wouldn’t be here without him. Literally.” One can conveniently write a compelling monograph on the educational and professional achievements of Nigerians all over the globe.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola must be commended for his audacious initiatives and vision. It is a robust testimony to his commitment to educational transformation in the State of Living Spring. However, the government cannot allow these educational structures to become white elephants.

They must undergo periodic renovations, the teaching staff must be properly equipped for their job, the schools must meet international standards in terms of technology and teaching aids, and the schools must

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By AKINTUNDE E.AKINADE undergo periodic instructional and curricular assessment. In a season of dire recession, there are many daunting challenges.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola must take these challenges very seriously. As someone who has taught in educational institutions in Nigeria, the United States, and Qatar, I know that these are formidable challenges. However, in spite of various fissiparous forces, it seems to me that State of Osun has made a bold step in re-positioning and reaffirming the legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo by pulling resources together to construct several magnificent educational institutions all over the state.

A journey of one thousand miles begins with one step. After all, an African proverb states that “by crawling, a child learns to stand.” A step in the educational path is the right one. The building of human capital remains a sine qua non for any society.

ANY African leaders from Mandela to Nyerere understood the remarkable power of education in transforming individuals, communities, and the world. In the midst of meager resources, both Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Governor Rauf Aregbesola have embarked on impressive educational projects. The former started Osun State University with campuses in different parts of the State while the later has demonstrated his commitment to educational advancement by providing a new road map for schools in the State.

The new building projects are empirical testimonies to his dream and vision. He has also supported an initiative under the Obafemi Awolowo Educational Foundation for the recruitment of indigenes of the State of Osun to Education City in Doha, Qatar. Three students from the state are currently studying in three universities in Doha.

These are Georgetown University, Northwestern University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. We have completed the first cycle of the scholarship program. We have moved into the second cycle of the program this academic year. We hope to introduce this program to other states in the country this year. It is my sincere hope that this laudable program will continue to attract young, enterprising, and academically gifted Nigerians. I have witnessed the tremendous positive growth and development of all the recruited students. Abdulqudus Sanni, the student at Georgetown University is already working on breaking the school’s academic record. In the right educational context, Nigerians would flourish and excel. I solemnly remain a prisoner of hope concerning the power of education for empowerment in the State of Osun. The official commissioning of the massive Osogbo Government High School speaks loudly to the audacity of hope in the midst of rampant pessimism, cynicism, and grotesque fabrications. We ignore or dismiss the transformative potential of education at our peril. As Isiaka Adeleke, the former Governor of the State of Osun rightly said in his piece on Osun at 25, the beat continues!

•AKINTUNDE is a Professor of Theology at Georgetown University’s Edmund E. Walsh School of Foreign Service in Qatar.

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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the Managing Editor, KOLA OLABISI, Telephone: 08033927286 (kolaolabisi@yahoo.com); Editor, KAYODE AGBAJE, Telephone: 0803-388-0205, E-mail: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, kayodeagbaje@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org.