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PROFILE

Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon: Culture Avatar - Pg 13

- Pg 3

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

Life At The NYSC Camp, - Pg 6 Ede

A ITU

Chief Bandele Aiku, SAN, LEGAL ICON

- Pg 15

VOL. 012. NO.01

Osun Confronts Recession With 2017 Budget Page 2

•The carnage at Ilesa High Court which occured on Monday introduced a new dimension into the nefarious activites of the men of the underworld prowling nationwide. - Page2

•Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), The Amirul Mumineen, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’Ad Abubakar, and his deputy (South), Alhaji (Dr.), Sakariyau Babalola, during the Prayer for the Nation for Peace, Security, Stability and Development, held in Osogbo, State of Osun, on Sunday.

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NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

Osun Confronts Recession With 2017 Budget D

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

ETERMINED to use internal mechanism to tackle the economic recession, government of the State of Osun has prioritized the economic sector in its 2017 budget with N24.9 billion estimate for the year. Encapsulated in the sector, according to the budget are: agriculture, rural development, rural and urban electrification, commerce, industry, finance and transportation. Governor Rauf Aregbesola had on December 21, 2016 presented before the State House of Assembly, a budget estimate of N138.2 billion for consideration and approval. The budget is presently undergoing scrutiny before the Assembly. Of the estimate for the capital expenditure of the economic sector, transportation, which includes road construction, rehabilitation, spot patching, spot rehabilitation, repair of hydraulic structure and stone pitching among others would gulp N19.8 billion. According to the budget, the Ministry of Works and Transport and other relevant agencies are estimated to generate N3.5 billion as revenue in the current fiscal year. Some of the major roads that have been budgeted for, as reflected in the budget estimate include Osogbo-Telemu-Iwo road, N1 billion; GbonganAkoda dualization, N5 billion, and Osogbo-IkirunIla Odo-Kwara boundary road, N1 billion, and construction of one kilometer roads in each local government, N1 billion among others. Also agriculture, would gulp over N1 billion and part of the vocal point of the estimate, according to the budget, is to intensify efforts towards revenue generation, give priority attention to storage and marketing of farm produce.

The budget also indicates that the government would ensure effective utilization

of farm settlement schemes and provide enabling environment like access roads, water dams, electricity and housing that would encourage farmers in their ventures. Other heads of the budget, which have caught

the attention of the government, include commerce, cooperatives and empowerment and rural development. Besides, the social service sector, including education, health, information and

environmental sanitation, housing, town planning, as reflected in the budget, would gulp N5.3 billion, while general administration and other services, would gulp N21 billion.

Ijesa for Osogbo on December 22nd, 2016 got missing along the way and

her corpse was found on the roadside along Ikirun/ Iragbiji road few days later.

Court Remands 2 Suspects Who Allegedly Killed UNIOSUN Student T

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

WO suspects who allegedly killed a 400 level student of Osun State University, Miss Rofiat Adebisi have been remanded in prison custody by an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court. The suspects: Elijah Ajibade was accused of Oyebode (22) and Yusuf receiving the stolen phone Ajibade (25) were arraigned from Oyebode. before Magistrate Olusola They allegedly Aluko on Tuesday on a committed the offence on three-count charge of December 23, 2016 at murder, stealing and Iragbiji conspiracy. The plea of the accused But the herbalist, Jelili persons was not taken popularly called Ifa because the magistrate’s (oracle) who allegedly court lack jurisdiction to killed and used Adebisi for entertain murder case. ritual was not arraigned Magistrate Aluko with the suspects. ordered that the suspects be Oyebode, the remanded at Ilesa prison commercial driver that custody and adjourned the hypnotized Adebisi and case till March 30, 2017 for took her to Jelili in Iragbiji mention at magistrate’s was charged with murder. court 4. He allegedly stole the It would be recalled that student’s iphone 5 valued Oyebode had few weeks at N100, 000 after dropping ago when arrested by the her with the herbalist. State Security Service (SSS)

Hoodlums Set Osun High Court On Fire

•The late ROFIAT confessed that the herbalist, Jelili gave him the assignment to bring a young lady and get N10,000 as reward. Elijah said Rofiat boarded his vehicle from Ipetu-Ijesa to Osogbo while returning from the IpetuIjesa campus of UNIOSUN where the lady was studying Science Education. Rofiat who left Ipetu-

section of a State High Court in Ilesa was on Monday morning set on fire by suspected hoodlums. The affected court is Court 2, while Court 1 was saved by the fire service men. The High Court located week to conduct his sitting at Ayeso area of Ilesa was in one of the cases, adding set ablaze around 6 a.m., that throughout the according to eye witnesses. proceedings, those being OSUN DEFENDER tried were in fetters. Chief Judge of the state, gathered that the security men on duty were tied up Justice Adepele Ojo who and machetted by the visited the scene to assess perpetrators while trying the level of damage done, to gain access into the court refused to comment on the matter. premises. Speaking with newsmen, Some documents of the court were also destroyed the Chairman of the by the hoodlums before Nigerian Bar Association, Ilesa branch, Mr Ebenezer leaving the premises. It would be recalled that O g u n f u n m i n i y i , one of the courtrooms in the condemned the attack on premises of Ilesa High the court of law. Ogunfunminiyi said Court located along College Road, was attacked lawyers would henceforth boycott the court , claiming last year by some suspected robbers, who were said to that their lives were in have carted away an danger. He disclosed that said undisclosed amount of efforts are in top gear to money. the state The source further said, reaching to prevent those involved Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola towards to attempt fleeing, the presiding judge had to ensuring adequate security move to Ilesa Prison last of lives of workers in the court.

Change Of Name

•“Who is pushing who?” Picture captured by GBENGA ADENIYI at Garage Olode, State of Osun.

Muslims Should Wage War Against Poverty - Aregbesola

culture, youths, sports and social development would gulp N11.1 billion of the budget. Also, the regional planning and e n v i r o n m e n t a l development sector, including water resources,

By MURTALAAGBOOLA

HE Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has tasked muslims to wage war against poverty. This, according to him is, because poverty is so pervasive amongst muslims that at a peanut like N200, some people are ready to kill their fellow human beings. The state helmsman off Ring Road, West Byemade the declaration at a Pass, Osogbo at the prayer session organised weekend. in honour of Alhaji Ironically, he said, this Sakariyau Babalola by the is happening in a country Osun State Muslim where the richest person Community (OSMC) at is a muslim. the OSMC Secretariat Aregbesola asked Complex, Surulere Estate, muslims to develop

•(L-R) Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his counterparts, Senator Abiola Ajimobi-Oyo, Mr. Ayodele Fayose-Ekiti, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode-Lagos, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko-Ondo and Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, representing the governor, at the South-West Governors’ Meeting, at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti on Monday.

capacity and strategy to eliminate poverty. The governor started his speech by asking a rhetorical question, what do we owe ourselves? He answered by saying that it is only when there is an organised capacity by the people to ensure that the poorest Nigerians among us majority of whom are muslims should have a good means of livelihood and economic means of survival. The Amirul Mumineen who is also the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, CFR, had in his speech countered the request by the muslim community in the State that it requires government recognition in the implementation of the judgements of Sharia. According to the Sultan, rather than government intervention, what is needed is the will power of muslims to submit to the will of Allah. The President-General of the Nigeria Supreme

Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) emphasized the commitment to serve Islam diligently without making a show of it. Earlier in his speech, the Chief host and the President of OSMC, Alhaji (Sheikh) Salahudeen Olayiwola had enjoined the federal government to declare a National Day of fasting and prayer for peace and development of the country. The speech read by the first vice President, Alhaji Mustafa Olawuyi, thanked the state government for collaborating with it in the celebration of the annual Hijra (new Islamic calendar) day and the holiday declared in that respect. The Prayer session tagged “Prayer for our nation for Peace Security, Stability and Development” started with the recitation of the Holy Quaran. Prayers led by •Continued on page 3

That my name and date of birth is AHMAD B U S H I R A H OJUTALAYO, 28 jan.1988 not AHMODA BUSHIRA AYOOLA and 28 January 1988. UBA Bank and general public should take note.

Change Of Name That my full and correct name is O G U N D I R A N BLESSING KEMI not OGUNDIRAN KEMI. All former documents remain valid. ECO Bank and general public should take note.

Change Of Name I, formerly known as BOSE CHRISTIANAH BOSE, AND ADEDOKUN C H R I S T I A N A H OLUWADAMILARE that I now wish to be called and addressed as ADEDOKUN CHRISTIANAH BOSE OLUWADEMILADE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Change Of Name MRS. ARAOYE BUKKY MONSURAT, ADESINA BUKOLA MONSURAT is the same person as mrs. ADESINA BUKOLA MONSURAT now wishes to be adress as MRS. ADESINA BUKOLA MONSURAT. All former document remail valid. First Bank, Union Bank and general public should take note.

Change Of Name This is to inform members of the public that SULAIMON DAUDA is the same person as SULAIMON DAUD ABIONA. Henceforth i want to be adress as SULIAMON DAUD ABIONA. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank and general public should take note.

Change Of Name I, formerly known as MRS. AWOLERU GRACE TITILAYO now wish to be called and addressed as MRS. ESO GRACE TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid. GTbank and general public should take note.

Change Of Name This is to inform members of the public that OSUOLALE JULIET, is the same person as OLATUNBOSUN OLAWALE LASISI. That now, I want to be known and addressed as MRS. NASIRU JULIET IBHALUHOLO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE This is to inform members of the public that OLATUNBOSUN AZEEZ L, is the same person as O L A T U N B O S U N OLAWALE LASISI. That now, I want to be known and addressed as O L A T U N B O S U N OLAWALE LASISI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

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Osun Assembly Furious Over Residence Card Contract Delay T

858, 895 persons cards would be produced By KAZEEM MOHAMMED registered. for the residents in the HE Osun State House of Assembly has Komolafe, however, next eight weeks. expressed dismay over the delay in the said close to a million He said the target was production of N272 million residence cards, ‘Card Omoluabi’ contract by Messrs Cham Plc, awarded since 2012; the delay in which execution was viewed as not acceptable. Chairman House started in 2014, with By KAZEEM MOHAMMED Committe on Industries, public school pupils. ANAGEMENT of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Commerce, Cooperatives He said the Osun State has denied the allegation that it and Empowerment, company had enrolled does not consider indigenes of the state for Babatunde Olatunji, who 858,895 public school made the remarks during pupils and adults in 2014. employment in the institution. The Deputy Rector written against the a meeting with Messrs “We have enrolled institution before the State Cham Plc, the 471,347 public school (Academics) of the House of Assembly. consultant handling the pupils and 387, 548 polytechnic, Dr. Arthur He also described as said this while cards project in Osogbo adults, making a total of Aja, defending the petition baseless, the petition said, the delay of the project was unacceptable. Describing the situation as worrisome, he was furious that since 2012, when the contract was awarded, not a single card had been produced for the people. He said the assembly had received series of complaints from residents who had enrolled for the card and yet to get their cards. “This is not good enough and not acceptable to us in this parliament. You have •Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Chief of Staff to the spent N272 million on the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (4th left); Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye (3rd cards and yet you have left), Chairman Leventis Foundation - Osun State Agricultural Training School Ilesa, not produced a single Alhaji Ahmed Mateh (5th right); Executive Director Leventis Foundation, Dr Usieta card since 2012. Hope (4th right), Dr. Charles Akinola (2nd left) and others, after a meeting with the In his response, Mr. governor on ways to improve on agriculture in the State of Osun, at the State Secretariat Kayode Komolafe, the Abere, Osogbo, recently. Chief Operating Officer of the company, said the inability of the company to access funds was the reason for the delay. 50 new set of trainees Komolafe, said the By OLA AJAYI which held at the OFFER initial contract sum as at O fewer than 500 indigent youths and Centre institute of 2012 for the biometric unemployed graduates across the country Agriculture, Oluponna, registration of residents have benefitted from an agrobusiness and Osun State. was N467 million, adding other crafts sponsored by a subsidiary of At the ceremony, the that only N272 million was paid since inception. Chevron, STAR Ultra Deep Petroleum Limited Chairman, Star Ultra He said the biometric between 2006 and 2016. the weekend during the Deep Petroleum Limited, This was disclosed at graduation ceremony of Mr. Lanre Kalejaiye, who registration actually was represented by the acting Director, Deep Water and Product Sharing Contract, (DW and PSC) Chevron, Mike General of League of Lagos central mosque, Kabi, said from 500 •Continued from page 2 Imams and Alfas of the Sheikh Garba Akinola. applicants, the institute Professor Ishaq Oloyede, South-West, Edo and the Secretary-General of Delta States prayed for The retinue of traditional was able to select 50 NSCIA were said for the the celebrant, the muslim rulers that graced the young men and women to quick recovery of our ummah, the State of Osun occasion were the Aragbiji undergo a three month of Iragbiji Oba ailing president, as well as Nigeria. AbdulRasheed Olabomi, training sponsored by Muhammad Buhari. The chairman of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Zulu Ultra Deep Petroleum The Governor of the occasion, a former Gambari, Oluwo of Iwo, Limited, and others like State, Aregbesola was Inspector-General of AbdulRasheed Lukoil Oil Company, Oil also prayed for while the Police, Alhaji Musliu Oba celebrant, Dr Skariyau Smith in his remarks, Akanbi, Elende of Eko and Gas Nigeria limited Ende, Oba Abdul Rauf among others. was not left out. talked about the sterling Kabi said “today’s In his brief special contributions of the Olaniyan and Elerin of lecture, the National celebrant to Islam. He Erin Osun, Oba Omoloye graduation ceremony in Oyagbodun. Agriculture and catering Chief Missioner of Ansar- said Babalola deserves Other notable guests is another demonstration ud-Deen Society of the positions he had been present were the Nigeria, Sheikh elevated to. of the Co-venturers’ chairman of Oyo state AbdulRahman Ahmad SOB as he is fondly Muslim Community, determined efforts to reiterated the fact that all called enhance the capacity appreciated powers comes from and Almighty Allah and all Alhaji Kunle Sanni, building of Nigerians and belongs to Almighty those who made the Mallam Yusuf Alli, a improve agriculture. Senior Advocate of Allah. outing a success. He “We are also Dr He buttressed his pledged to rededicate Nigeria (SAN) submission with a himself to the service of Ademola Adeleke, and committed to making the Proprietor of Crescent social investments that quotation from the Quran Allah and assist the which states that “Allah Sultan in co-ordinating University, Abeokuta, will add value to the people’s lives in several bequeaths power to the affairs of the ummah Prince Bola Ajibola. Others were Chief of other spheres of human whomever He pleases in Nigeria. staff to the Governor of the and withdraw same.” endeavor. This economic The function which He therefore enjoined was well attended had State, Alhaji Gboyega development programme, Barristers the celebrant to be Islamic clerics such as the Oyetola, at building Gbenga Akano and aimed appreciative of his new Chief in young Imam of Kolapo Alimi among capacity position and forget Osogboland, Sheikh others. Donation was Nigerians to go into whatever may have Musa Animasahun, made towards the farming and to make happened in the past. National Missioner of of the farming a potential career Sheikh Jamiu Bello NASFAT, Alhaji Abdulai completion secretariat complex. and a business, is one of Kewulere, the President-

to enroll two million residents for the residence cards. According to him, the

residence card database would help government in planning in all sectors of the state economy.

FEDPOLY Ede Management Denies Scheming Out Osun Indigenes

against the management that it does not admit indigenes of the state for its programmes. Aja, said contrary to the petition, 65 per cent of staff in the polytechnic are from the state, saying, this consideration was queried by the Federal Character Commission for not reflecting Federal Character Principle. “We were even lambasted by the Federal Character Commission for not reflecting the Federal Character Principle in the employment, that is, we have more staff from the state than other states”. According to him, it would be unfair for anyone to say that the majority of the staff in the institution are non indigene. On the allegation of the admission of students, Dr. Caroline Adewusi, the Deputy Rector (Administration) said the institution usually followed the Joint Admissions and

Matriculation Board (JAMB) admission guidelines. Adewusi, said there was no time qualified indigenes of the state apply for admission into the polytechnic and he or she was rejected. The Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Abiodun Awolola, said the management of the institution was summoned based on petition written against them on employment and admission. Awolola, who noted that the explanation given by the management was clear, said they should avail the assembly with the staff nominal role of the institution. He said the document would afford the parliament the opportunity to ascertain the authenticity or otherwise of the claim of the polytechnic’s management before further actions are taken.

500 Indigent Youths Benefit From Chevron’s Kindness N

War Against Poverty - Aregbesola

Akinbode, Chief Imam,

such investments. “We believe it will have a tremendous impact on the youths in Oyo state through employment creation, poverty reduction, and livelihood improvement as well as support the development of rural-based cottage industries and development of the local economy. This will in no doubt boost government’s efforts in making agriculture a significant revenue yielding sector in the country. I therefore encourage our recipients to effectively make best use of the opportunity.” While commending the centre and sponsors of the training programme, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Oyo state, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi, said it was a pragmatic approach towards enhancing food production, poverty alleviation and job creation among other things. He said, “The need to provide the necessary guidance and support for our youths cannot be over emphasized. This programme without doubt represents the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan’s determination to give unflinching support to the development of agriculture, and

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acquisition of skills for people in Nigeria as a whole. “It is very relevant to state here that, OFFERCentre is determined to train both indigent and nonindigent youths, which invariably, according to her vision will improve the standard of living of the people in rural communities. This institution has been able to achieve all these by providing an enabling environment that promotes technical ability, proficiency and discipline of youths irrespective of creed, place and tribe.” The Rector of the institute, Reverend Father Macarius Olatunji said, “OFERCentre Institute of Agriculture has come to stay and is getting better and stronger to make meaningful contributions to the wellbeing of our beloved country. “All these while, our training was focused on indigent youths, undergraduates and prospective and active farmers. However, with the coming of Star Ultra Deep, a subsidiary of Chevron, the outlook was focused on graduates who have passion for agriculture and want to develop skills for Agribusiness and other crafts,” he said.

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EDITORIALS

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T is in very bad taste for a section of opinion to wish the president of the country ill. In the case of Nigeria the usual suspects are doing so because the terms of engagement has turned against them. With the end of the age of licentousness and of easy unearned money, they are anxious for a return to the ancient regime. This is certainly not going to happen as the people have seen through them. They should find something more productive to do. Praiseworthy here, is the seamless transition to the Acting President who is clearly up to the task. This has never happened

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

The President's Health

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What is needed now is for all of us to rally round the Acting President and increase the tempo and pace of government. The speedy and thorough consideration of the 2017 budget must be the priority here.

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before. This formal transfer of executive authority lays a solid, indeed irreversible precedent for the future, it is a decisive gain in our political development. It shows that our country is developing and

consolidating a sound democratic framework as well as institutions, this will inspire confidence at home and abroad. Particularly abroad where we have sent out positive signals that we have the institutional framework to absorb any shock. We wish our President speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back home soon hale and hearty. What is needed now is for all of us to rally round the Acting President and increase the tempo and pace of government. The speedy and thorough consideration of the 2017 budget

must be the priority here. The budget which is generally on the right lines and must be used as a mechanism to kick start the depressed economy. In particular attention must be paid to job creation, macroeconomic stability in order to arrest the inflationary spiral, as well as the social intervention programs which are a fundamental ground norm underpinning the social contract which is vital in a democracy. Implementation of the budget must be thorough and efficiently done. A lot is riding on it. This is far more vital to the health of the country than idle gossip about the state of the health of the President.

Osun Government And Advocacy For Accelerated Rural Development T ‘ ODAY in Osun, the Department of Rural Infrastructure, Community Development and Finance and Administration is saddled with developing the rural areas to make life more meaningful to the rural folks whose livelihood depends on nothing but farming. This is aside being armed with five other agencies which include Osun Rural Access Mobility project, (O’ RAMP), Rural Water and Environmental Sanitation Agency (RUWESA), Agency for Community and Social Development Programme (CSDP) and European Union-Water Supply and Sanitation Sector as well as reform programme.” A visit to some rural communities in the state would attests to the fact that life is now good in the rural communities. Their Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had for long completed some electrification projects abandoned by previous administrations in the state. Communities like Ikirun, Ijabe, Ekosin, Isale Awesin, Ifesowapo, Ijimo Araromi and Fasina, to mention only a few that would ever remain grateful to

Aregbesola administration for removing them from total darkness. This is apart from the fact that in order to boost electricity supply in the state and for the residents of the rural areas to enjoy stable power supply in their areas, transformers have been provided to many rural communities across the state which include, Adejumo, Ayelaka, Garage Olode, Agunbelewo, Owode, Temidire and Agbajowo, among others. Worthy of note in the area of electrification is the giant stride made by Mr Governor in restoring and upgrading of Moro 7.5mva in Ife North Local Government Area of the state. Scores of projects which include construction of primary health centers, recreation centers, block of 3 classrooms, market stalls and palm oil processing centers have been created. It is difficult today in the state of Osun to visit any community without seeing Government presence through its rural developmental agenda. The beauty of the present administration’s rural developmental agenda lies in its intervention in women empowerment. Thousands of women have been trained in

The present administration in Osun has not restricted its massive road construction, grading and rehabilitation to urban centers, it has equally beamed its searchlight to rural roads under its rural access and mobility project.

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different vocational skills and the present administration in its magnanimity distributed huge sums to the beneficiaries. The stride is meant to reduce poverty and enhance social economic status of rural dwellers. Because of the premium value which the government places on agriculture as the bedrock for economic growth, and in its determination to improve sociowellbeing of rural dwellers and as part of its six point integral action plan embarked on massive food production in rural and

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semi-rural communities, farm inputs ranging from CP (15) sprayers, Grammozone and Thorazine, among others have been given to thousands of farmers in the state with a view to enhancing their productivity. To crown it up, hundreds of farmers have been trained on best farming practices to make them be in tandem with global reality. The present administration in Osun has not restricted its massive road construction, grading and rehabilitation to urban centers, it has equally beamed its searchlight to rural roads under its rural access and mobility project. Government is creating favorable and conducive environment for farmers in the rural areas particularly those in the farm settlements to gain access to their farmland. Government will certainly do more in the months and years to come. In our own little ways, we should live up to our civic responsibilities which include prompt tax payments.

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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the above mail address. ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-041-7786 , 08061197897 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com, osundefenderbank@gmail.com

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Democracy & Good Governance FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

Delivering Democracy Dividends In Osun:

LGAs, LCDAs, AOs To The Rescue Provision of dividends of democracy and quality service delivery in governance are important. But of equal and overriding importance is getting the goods delivered right at the doorsteps of the people, the ultimate beneficiaries. Achieving this lofty goal must be the propelling force behind the creation by the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, of more local council development areas, area offices and administrative offices. NIYI OLASINDE sets out, through this series, to document their structures and the processes of creating them; as well as their strides so far and future prospects.

IKE it is for every state (federating unit) in Nigeria, local government system has played a very crucial and auspicious role in the life of the State of Osun, which has the appellation of the State of the Virtuous; (which translates into Ipinle Omoluabi) in our indigenous language. Created in 1991, the state was carved out of the old Oyo State, which was indeed one of the largest states in the federation. The new creation was widely accepted. In the affected area, the creation, apart from giving relief and satisfaction to the people, residents and indigenes alike, heaved a great sigh of relief; just as they also issued out a new hope of faster, undisturbed progress and development to the people. After all, that is one of the rationales behind creation of new states anywhere. Twenty-five years plus into the creation of the new state, it is historically and developmentally worth the while to sit down and reminisce on the achievements of the state, in terms of provision of infrastructure and improvement in polity and socio-economic lives of the people, with a view to charting the course for the future of the state. In copious pursuance of this, this series is devoted mainly to conducting an appraisal on the phases of development so far witnessed in the emerging Osun State; particularly along the line of bringing government, democracy and good governance closer to the people within the space of the first three decades of the state’s existence We would recall that the State of Osun, nicknamed initially as the State of the Living Spring came into existence on Tuesday, August 27, 1991. This year makes it exactly twenty-six (26) years that the state was created. The name Osun

derived from the personality of the Osun goddess. Prior to the eventual creation of the state, the name Osun had long been an identity for the people in this part of the old Ibadan Province of the old Western Region. That development earned the people of the area the identity of Osun people. Going by this record, it becomes clear that Osogbo had a long record and reputation of subprovincial headquarters, commercial hub and haven of culture. This implies that the city had for long been destined for greatness, especially as the host to the administrative headquarters of a state. More to the city’s advantage is its centrality, being clustered by a reasonably wide expanse of reasonably large villages, towns and cities. Unfortunately, this her envisioned greatness could not be fully accessed until a state of her own

was created, barely fifteen years after it was created into the old Oyo State (since 1976). More unfortunate is the bitter truth that the state has, since her creation fallen victim of purposeless and directionless administrations and regimes. Prior to the time of its gaining political independence on October 1, 1960, Nigeria had assumed several forms in terms of its polarization, partition and division for administrative convenience. These divisions, obvious creations of the colonial imperialist, could be aptly described as mere human efforts at maximizing the best gains for each division, from the available (massive) resources with which the country had been long-endowed. But the fact must be stressed also that the nation had also been endowed with a Godgiven division/ polarization, which

•Irewol local government secretariat in Ikire.

formed the people/ ethnic groups into their different locations within the country. This natural division is a creation from the letter “Y” which the major natural rivers which flow through the length and breadth and entire massive expanse of the country. The major rivers, Niger and Benue, enter our land through the Western and Eastern extremes of the Northern parts of the country respectively; meet in a confluence at Lokoja before flowing in unison to empty with many tributaries into the Atlantic Ocean at the Southernmost part of the landscape, called the Niger Delta. As build-up to the political independence of the country, what had been in vogue for decades since the nation came under colonial administration in the 1860s had conformed to the natural division •Continued on page 10

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Life At The NYSC Camp The NYSC 2016/2017 Batch B Stream II, Ede, State of Osun were inducted this week. Three members of the batch spoke to OSUN DEFENDER on their experience during the orientation exercise.

•TEMITOPE EMITOPE Catherine Akinyele, is a graduate of Electrical Electronic Engineering from Polytechnic of Moshood Abiola in Abeokuta. She is a member of the NYSC 2016 batch B stream II, Ede Osun State. “NYSC Orientation Course is one of the life experiences every Nigerian graduate must have; Orientation is the act of introduction as to guide one in adjusting to new surroundings, employment, activity or the like. The aim or purpose of the scheme is primarily to inculcate in Nigerian Youths the spirit of selfless service and to emphasize the spirit of oneness and brotherhood of all Nigerians irrespective of cultural or social background. The history of our country since independence has clearly indicated the need for unity amongst all our people and demonstrated the fact that no cultural or geographical entity can exist in isolation. I arrived Ede camp on 24th of January at 1:30pm. At the gate, there were security men searching a long queue of prospective corps members. As I joined the queue and was searched I was disposed of my steel utensils which consist of knife, fork and a spoon. After the searching we got into the camp proper and joined another very long queue of prospective corpers going through the registration process. It became obvious to me that some people had being there since yesterday evening.Having completed my registration, I was allocated to room 1 in block B and our swearing in ceremony commenced on 26 th January 2017 in which we were all well dressed in Khaki uniform. Military Drill is one of the activities that makes NYSC scheme to be paramilitary in nature. It is one of the systematic ways of preparing corps member physically in order to face the challenges ahead of them during service year. Soldiers are always on the orientation camp to drill corps member

•BUNMI OYENIYI can still remember when I printed my call-up letter in January 2017, and saw Osun State written on it.I was so happy because i can’t imagine leaving my family for three weeks. I was linked with my fellow corps members going to Osun State on

at platoon level or as they dim it fit. There is a specific time for this in NYSC timetable. The Man “O” war often work with the soldiers in some cases they organize separate activities for corps members. I have to be up as early as 4:00am to fetch water and prepare for the days event and by doing so also being time conscious and be ready before the soldiers come banging at the door thereby asking you to double up. Everyday different lectures are taught for example, lectures on security, teaching e.t.c. NYSC inculcated into the scheme a program called Skill Acquisition And Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) which entails different departments like Catering, Tailoring,

‘

The aim or purpose of the scheme is primarily to inculcate in Nigerian Youths the spirit of selfless service and to emphasize the spirit of oneness and brotherhood of all Nigerians irrespective of cultural or social background.

’

Make up, Public speaking just to mention a few. I decided to join the public speaking class and I must say it has added positive impact to the way I speak. I am really enjoying my stay in camp although I hate the fact that I have to wake really early, being here taught me a lot o f things like learning to associate and tolerate others, learning to share things with both your friends and strangers. The most important activity in camp is to put down your name in the “Book of Life” which I have. I participated in different activities which were martial art (Taekwondo), Kitchen activities, drama, and Security e.t.c. Also, I enjoy bugle at 6:00am and 6:00pm indicating that Nigeria has wake up and slept respectively. We have being paid transport allowance (#1,500), bicycle allowance (#1, 000) and monthly allowance (#19, 800). I also enjoy the paramilitary training and their slogan like “you are a bloody civilian” “Otondo”, “if you are still in your hostel sleeping , you are wrong” used to address some corpers. The camp radio station Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS) was also another source of fun in camp. The Motto of the National Youth Service Corps is: “Service and Humility”.

WhatsApp group. On the 23rd of January I left for Osun state at Asero garage at Abeokuta where I met my WhatsApp corps members although camp opens on 24th. On arriving Osun state,I was transported by a commercial motorcyclist to Ede camp,the journey to Osun state lasted for five hour,arriving around 12p.m. On getting to the gate,we met a lot of people selling camp items, have gotten my own items before leaving Abeokuta because I was told items were sold there at higher rate.’ Those soldiers at the gate were friendly because they didn’t stress us much,there was nothing like ‘carry your luggages on your head etc’.

GUNNOIKI Adewale Adeyemi, a graduate of Electrical Electronic Engineering from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta Ogun State. Also spoke on his experience. NYSC Orientation Course is one of the life experiences every Nigerian Graduate must have. I have always felt the need to share my NYSC experience to interested readers especially prospective corpers. Normally, service year should be the moment when corp members pause to become conscious of their national life and recall what their country has done for them and think of what they can do for their country in return. On the 17th of January 2017, I collected my Call-up Letter and I was very happy to be posted to Osun State. Some of my friends posted to the northern part of Nigeria.NYSC camp opened on 24th of January, 2017. Early in the morning of that day, I took a bus heading to Osun state . We stopped at Iyana Ede Junction and took another cab to the NYSC camp. I reached the camp at about 12:30 pm. At the gate, there were security men, searching a long queue of prospective corpers. I joined the queue. After the searching, i got into the camp proper and joined another very long queue of prospective corpers going through the registration process. It became obvious to me that some people had been there since yesterday evening. It is normal to feel optimistically anxious that you will have fun on camp, but most people get there on the first day. The registrations for that day stopped late in the night, which I opportune to finish my registration that same day, this thought came to my mind. I was so happy that I was going to experience what I had been hearing from other people. I was allocated to Block I Room 1 and Platoon 3. Our swearing in ceremony was on 26th of January, 2017. We were all well-dressed (7/7) and that was when I started to value the khaki (uniform). Actually, I really cherished the respect given to the uniform. Many eminent personnels came to welcome corpers, including Governor Aregbesola of Osun State, though he was represente by one of His cabinet members. Almost all the delegates were present for that day. I did not go to camp with enough cash, but I managed the little I had prudently. I was not frequent to Miami Market because it was a place where one would be forced to spend more than expected. Miami market is another world on its own. In short, words cannot describe how costly things were there. In terms of feeding corpers in camp, it was nothing to write home about or boast of. Rice and chicken was my favourite but in general, the food was described by many as “Prison food”. It was difficult to compare camp food with prison ration. I depended partially on “Miami Market”. Everything in camp market was very expensive, even answering greetings from people. Normally, life in camp is regimented. There is time for everything except on Sundays. The blowing of bugle signals the next activity in camp. We used to wake up every day around 5:00 am, moved down to parade ground and stood there till morning devotion is over. Thereafter, morning parade and jogging would follow. After morning parade, sanitation usually follows and then breakfast. From there to Lecture Hall for lectures, and next would be lunch, nap

•OGUNNOIKI and evening parade would follow. The last activities were dinner and evening shows. Movement was strictly restricted from 10:00 pm unless an evening show extended beyond that. All these have experiencing everyday till the today in camp. I really enjoyed “Man O’ War” activities. The most important activity in camp was to put down your name in the “Book of Life,” which I did. I participated in many activities like marching, drama, sanitation, etc. Also, I enjoyed Bugle at 6:00am and 6:00pm indicating that Nigeria has wakened and slept respectively. We were paid transport allowance “allowee” (#1,500) when we have spent a week in camp. Later, bicycle allowance and March allowance. Most corp members finished theirs in Miami market and on photographs. Life in camp was all about getting to know more people and their way of life. Many found their lovers (especially when we received “allowee”). At NYSC camp, romance was the last thing on my cards. So, some lucky ladies got marriage proposals (to guys they may never see again in life) but for me, I made many female friends as well. I also enjoyed the Para military training and their slogans like “You are a bloody civilian” “Otondo,” “If you are still in your hostel or sleeping, you are wrong” used to address some corpers. The camp radio station- Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS) was also another source of fun in camp. . Even though, my Platoon did not do well in most activities. Sad to say, stealing was very rampant in hostels and other places, but it is a matter of being careful. That was why we used “mobile bag” (waist bag or porch). What I hated most in camp is waking up around 3:00 am. I have been enjoying my stay in NYSC Orientation camp till now. Long Live NYSC,Long Live Osun state,Long Live Nigeria.....

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

COMMUNITY REPORTS

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Awolowo Town: Diversity Is Our Strength Human and natural resources abound in the State of Osun. SOLA JACOBS reports on Awolowo Town and Moremi Community.

T was known in the recent past as Olode village, because it was a convergence point for the hunters who were going for hunting expeditions into Sasa Reserve Forest and other forests in the area. It is a meeting point for farmers and traders who want to market their farm produce, it is a centre-point that has almost two hundred villages adjoining it. Though an Ife village; it has members of other ethnic groups, namely, the Hausa, Igbo, Idoma, Egede and other Yoruba sub-ethnic groups mainly, the Ifes, Ikirun, Igbomina, Oyo, Ibadan and Egba. The population of Olode and its environs is about 135,338 people. The main reason for the conveyance of various ethnic groups into what is known today as Awolowo Town is because of the fertile and richness of the land, which is suitable for agricultural purpose, coupled with the peaceful nature of the place, most of the residents in the community said at an interactive session. Awolowo “Town, today is the seat of Ife South West Local Council Development Area. According to Barrister Jibola Famoriyo, a resident of Osi-Sooko, at Awolowo Town, the newly created LCDA consists of five wards out of the eleven wards that made up the old Ife South Local Government Council Area, namely Olode, Aye, Osi, Abiri and Kere wards. The creation of Ife South West local Council Development Area will fasttrack the development of the area and will bring immense development to the communities. In interactive session with the first civilian chairman of the former Ife South Local Government, Hon Julius Ajibodu, who is an Iree indigene, the octogenarian politician recalled that the former Ife south Local Government was carved out of Oranmiyan Local Government in 1989 during Babangida military regime and it had its headquarter in Ifetedo, while he piloted the affairs of the local government between 1991and1993. He continued, resources generation is par-excellence, the diversity of various ethnic group here lies our strength as it promotes healthy rivalry among us We have mainly rural roads which we grade at least twice in a year, while the main township roads are that of Olode ,Omifunfun,Araromi-Owu down to Odeyinka in Ayedaade Local Government of the state. The main produce in Ife South West LCDA included Cocoa, Timber, Kolanut, food crops and fruits. There are forty-five public schools which consist of both primary and secondary schools. There are private-owned primary and secondary schools as well as eight state and federal-owned institutions, infrastructure and projects namely, AyeOba mini water scheme, Postal Agency in Awolowo and Ogudu, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps office at Awolowo town, Customary Courts each in Awolowo and Abiri towns, Nigeria Police Post also at Awolowo town. But lack of Electricity in the last ten years had been a major setback to the development of the area. Artisans have abandoned their skills to become commercial motorcyclists, aside the farming occupation which had been the mainstay of economic activities in the area.

•Kolanut processing in Awolowo Town, State of Osun. •Fruits market at A female business tycoon, who owns personnel for effective service delivery of a petrol filling station in the to the people. She posited that the rocky nature of community, Mrs. Adiat Lawal said that the cost of running businesses in the area the community had made the sinking of is on high side because of lack of wells and boreholes difficult; so a electricity, which discourages setting up majority of the population relies on of frozen food business, bakery, and stream water for domestic use, while they other small scale enterprises and petty relie on sachet water for drinking. On viability of the Ife South West business units. For banking activities, most residents LCDA, most residents said with big patronise banks in Ondo town or Ile-Ife. agricultural markets such as kolanuts In terms of health facilities, she said market, Timber and lumbering activities there are eleven health centres and ,Cocoa production, fruits production maternity centres, with new one in Aye coupled with effective tax collection on Koka, which is in dearth need of health planks, kolanut, fruits, cocoa and other

Sabo, Awolowo Town, State of Osun. products in the area, it will be one of the economically buoyant LCDAs in the state. However, they called on government at state and local levels to help combat security challenges in the area, as there is need for more security posts in the villages around Awolowo Town and its environs to curb criminal activities; as well as establishment of cottage industries to create job for teeming unemployed youths, who did not like to take farming as profession in the area.

Government Partnership Needed To Provide Basic Needs - Chief Olagunju Awoyemi M OREMI community in the present Ife Ooye Local Council Development Area, is as old as IleIfe city, it is bordered in the West by Iloro community and East by Arubidi community. It houses the remains of the popular Yoruba heroine Moremi, as her groove, Igbo Moremi is situated in the community, though her statue was at the Okerewe quarter of the city. The community also housed former Ife Girls School hostel in 1949 which had been converted to Saint Philips Middle School and it had a popular clinic in 1960s, known as Olubanwo Clinic, owned by popular Ijebu-born doctor, Dr John Olubanwo. Till date, basic amenities such as good road is lacking, according to an octogenarian, who doubles as a landlady and a resident, Chief Mrs. Rebecca Arawole, in an interview with Community report. In the last thirty years, the residents had provided through communal self-help efforts, road networks, electricity, security services, potable water and other projects in basic amenities to better their lots. “In 1978,” she continued, “I opened up Moremi Line 4, so as to link the present Moremi Street, so also other residents did open up Moremi lines 1,2,3 and Hallelujah Street down to Moremi Groove and the periodic grading of the road network is usually done by the landlords’ association.” Speaking also with community report, the chairman of the Moremi Landlords’ Association, Chief Olagunju Awoyemi supported the claims that the association built community hall, effect payment for the rental police post to ensure the security of lives and properties until very recent, when it could no longer continue to bear the bills because of the prevailing

recession. In year 2000, an h e a l t h centre was built as a constituency project, but till date, it had not treated a patient for lack of h e a l t h personnel and it is almost taken over by weeds, rodents a n d reptiles. Several times we h a v e written to t h e authorities of Ife East L o c a l Government, but to no avail. The only •MOREMI EFFIGY borehole that was sited as constituency project in t h e community only worked for four weeks, before it packed up; as a result, a majority of the houses in the community relies on well water. Therefore there is need for us to partner government to ensure not only provision but functional basic amenities as the only road that links the community with other area is in deplorable situation, as it had not received either state or local government attention since year 2000. Another resident of the community and a landlord, Mr. Lawrence

Adeosun said that the need to enlighten public on government / private partnership is vital; not only for c o m m u n i t y development, but for the overall benefit of society in general. He lamented the sordid job done by the contractor that handled the tarring of Moremi Street in year 2000 . Mr. Adeosun said if the residents had protested the haphazard job done by the contractor then, it was more likely that the road would be functional till date. In conclusion, he said that the government should place the re-surfacing and tarring of Moremi Street as a matter of priority, as Moremi groove is one of sacred grooves that is important to Eedi f e s t i v a l celebration, as many tourists do patronize the groove, which in their belief wield potency for providing them fruits of the womb. The groove is also a tourism site, which if properly harnessed, could generate revenue for the state. In conclusion, most of the residents lauded the State Government especially for the creation of new LCDA, which they view as avenue to bringing government closer to the people and ensure development of nooks and crannies of the state.

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PANORAMA

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

Nikkah Ceremony Of Daughter Of Chief Of Staff To State Of Osun Governor, Rukayat Oyetola And Her Husband, Mr Idris Ayanlaja At Eventistry Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos Last Saturday.

•From Right - Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, Wife of the Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola, and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

•From Right- Parents of the bride, Alhaja Kafayat and her husband Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, with new couple, Rukayat and her husband, Mr. Idris Ayanlaja.

•Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Middle), his wife, Sherifat (2nd right), Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (right), Senator Oluremi Tinubu (2nd left) and General Alani Akinrinade.

Southwest Governors’ Meeting Held At Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State Last Monday.

•Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, his wife, Fayisetan, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, and Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko at the Southwest Governor’s Meeting at the Government House Ado-Ekiti on Monday.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

PANORAMA

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Introduction Ceremony Between Kehinde Adeniyi And Seun Adeoye In Osogbo, State Of Osun Recently.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

•Seun Adeoye and wife, Kehinde Adeniyi at the event.

•A cross section of Bride’s family during the programme.

•A cross section of Groom’s family at the event.

•A cross section of guests during the event.

State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Inspecting The Ongoing Construction Of Chief Bisi Akande Trumphet Interchange Bridge Of The Omoluabi Dual Carriage Motorway, Gbongan Junction, State Of Osun.

•Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola inspecting the ongoing construction bridge.

Official Commissioning Of The Modern Office Complex By State Of Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Constructed By Alhaji Yinusa Akande; The Council Manager Ife South-West Local Council Development Area Awolowo Town, At Garage Olode, In The State Of Osun. Photo: GBENGAADENIYI.

•A cross section of Traditional Rulers at the event.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

LGAs, LCDAs, AOs To The Rescue

•Jubilant Iragbiji residents at the announcement of the creation of new LCDA. •Continued from page 5 Eboh, the Minister of Finance; Alhaji mentioned above, according to letter (Sir) Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of “Y” structure, the three existing Sokoto and the Premier of the structures then were the Northern Northern Region); and Chief Samuel Region, the Eastern Region and the Ladoke Akintola, Premier of the Western Region. This arrangement Western Region. The top-ranking was maintained till 1953/54 when military officers swept off by the under the McPherson Constitution, intervention included Majors another region was carved out of the Maimalari, Sodeinde and existing Western Region. Thus, Ademulegun. In a nutshell, General Nigeria since then began to be a Aguiyi-Ironsi became the first four-region country, with the Military Head of State and Head of addition of Mid-Western Region. Government of independent Nigeria. This structure was maintained Thus was the stage set for the through the Independence Era to the threatened unity and peaceful beginning of the Military Era in 1966. coexistence of Nigeria; even at that The year 1966 alone ushered in for infancy stage of her independence Nigeria a watershed of two bloody status and republican nationhood. military interventions. On the night The coup-de-tat of January 1966 of Sunday, January 15, 1966, a group was to be trailed about six months of young revolutionary army later by another mutiny led by a officers led by Major Kaduna group of reactionary military officers Chukwuma Nzeogu staged a mutiny of Northern extraction. On July 29, with a view to taking over the reins 1966, another bloody coup was of power and governance of the staged, which made the baton of country. The coup-de-tat, which was leadership of the country to change. initially staged at Kaduna spread to By it, the onus of leadership of the other parts of the country like country fell on the shoulders and Ibadan, Lagos and Abeokuta. But laps of General Yakubu Gowon since the real impact was not much (rtd.), GCFR. The rest is history. The felt in Lagos, the administrative relevance of the brief historical capital of the nation as at the time, background lies in the issue of state the coup flopped and ended in power creation. It was the regime of being handed over to a neutral General Yakubu Gowon which on hand. The Prime Minister and Head May 27, 1967 changed the status of of Government of the time, Alhaji Nigeria from a four-region status to (Sir) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa a twelve-state federation. As it was, (CON) and his Minister of Finance, Nigeria on that date had four Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh having regions namely, Northern Region been kidnapped (later discovered (with Colonel Hassan Katsina as assassinated), Chief Nwafor Orizu, Governor); Mid-Western Region the Senate President on advice of the (Major David Ejoor); Western Region Council of Ministers at an overnight (Colonel Francis Adekunle Fajuyi); meting handed over power and and Eastern Region (Colonel governance of the country to the Chukwuemeka O. Ojukwu). Nigeria Armed Forces on the dawn of thus began to have twelve states on Monday, January 16, 1966. May 27, 1967. Thus, the first indigenous General Upon the ouster of General Gowon Officer Commanding (GOC) of the in 1975, a new dispensation came on Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the board which brought the late General most senior indigenous military Murtala Ramat Mohammed to the officer of the time, Major-General mantle of leadership as the Head of Johnson Thomas Umunakwe Aguiyi- State. At his instance, came for the Ironsi was called upon to take over first time in the annals of our the rulership of the nation. Some fatal nationhood, much reform. His losses attendant to that January 1966 reforms, in every stratum of our military take-over included the national life, shook the nation to its death of top-ranking military officers very foundations. Corruption, and eminent politicians which nepotism, regionalism and other included Alhaji (Sir) Abubakar vices were frowned at with stiff Tafawa Balewa, the Prime Minister punitive – so much that Nigeria was of Nigeria; Chief (Sir) Festus Okotie- set on the right course to a positive

turnaround. Most remarkable and with the deepest and most indelible imprints were the Local Government Reforms and the state creation exercises of those days. General Mohammed created more states, accompanied by boundary adjustments. Under his military regime, Nigeria became a federation of nineteen states. With this structure, real indigenous formation, outlook and identity began to form shape for Nigeria. T the time of Murtala’s assassination on February 13, 1976, Nigeria had become a country of nineteen states. All through the military regime of Mohammed’s successor, General Olusegun Obasano (rtd.); the Second Republic democratic tenure of Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari; and the military regime of General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd.), which aborted the Second Republic on December 31, 1983, the nineteen-state structure stood stuck. One fact that needs be stressed at this point is that in spite of this nineteen-state structure, the old regional structure was still exerting its influence on the fabrics and affairs of our country. This was most prominently felt during the Second Republic, which spanned between October 1, 1979 and December 31, 1983. As a matter of fact; outlook, philosophies and membership of political parties under that dispensation reflected regional affiliation. Admission and appointment policies into schools, colleges, institutions and civil/public services were woven around political underpinnings. The afore-mentioned Buhari/Idiagbon regime had its tenure lasting between December 31, 1983 and August 27, 1985. On August 27, 1985, a bloodless palace coup brought General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.) to the reins of power. Babangida thus became the first military president in Nigeria. Other military leaders before and after him were known by the title of “Head of State”. But Babangida adopted the title of “President and Commander- In-Chief of the Armed Forces”. Along the line of state creation, Babangida’s policy came in two phases. In 1987, Babangida created two additional states to make the total number of states add

up to twenty-one (21). These two states such created were Katsina State and Akwa-Ibom State. On August 27, 1991, President Babangida announced in a nationwide presidential broadcast commemorating the sixth year anniversary of his regime, the creation of nine (9) new states. On that date, Nigeria became a thirty (30)-state federation. The states such created were Kogi State, created from the old Kwara and Benue states ; Yobe State, created from the old Borno State; Adamawa and Taraba states, created from the old Gongola State; and Kebbi State, created from the old Sokoto State. Also created were Enugu State, created from the old Anambra State; and Abia State, created from the old Imo State. Others such created were Jigawa State, created from the old Kano State; Edo and Delta states, created from the old Bendel State; and finally the State of Osun, created out of the old Oyo State. This state creation exercise brought the State of Osun, as it has come to be known today, the State of the Virtuous into existence. The creation twenty-six years ago and the attendant growth and progress; vis-à-vis the antecedents, events and aftermath of it, plus the hope of the moment and the anticipation for the future are being chronicled in this series of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine; especially, as they have bearing on grassroots administration and its development. The next and the last in the series of state creation in Nigeria came five years after the previous one of 1991. In his thirty-sixth (36th) Independence Anniversary broadcast on October 1, 1996, the late General Sani Abacha, who was the Head of State and Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of the time, announced the creation of six (6) additional states. Such states created in 1996 were Zamfara State – created from the old Sokoto/Kebbi states; Gombe State – created from the old Bauchi State; Nasarawa State – created out of the old Plateau State; Bayelsa State – created out of the old Rivers State; Ebonyi State – created out of the old Enugu State; and Ekiti State – created out of the old Ondo State. It was this state creation exercise by the late Abacha that bequeathed the thirty-six-state structure which Nigeria has on ground till date to it. Nigeria as at 1966 had risen from the status of a four-region nation that it was at independence in 1960 to a thirty-six state structure. ON Tuesday, August 27, 1991, it was jubilations galore throughout the streets of cities, towns and villages located within the precincts of the areas hitherto known as Osun, Ife/Ijesa and Osun North-East divisions of the old Ibadan Province (or the old Western Region/State Oyo State). The jubilations were over an issue which had been pursued by the people since the 1940s. The pursuance was for selfexpression, self-identity and selfgovernance. The people of the area had continuously clamoured for the creation of a state of their own, thereby bringing the machinery of governance closer to the people at the grassroots, thus facilitating and

•Continued on page 11

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

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LGAs, LCDAs, AOs To The Rescue •Continued from page 10

enhancing the pace of socio-economic and infrastructural development and progress of the area and of its people. Prior to the state creation of 1991, the area covered by the present-day State of Osun of Nigeria was part of the old Oyo State, created in 1976, with the capital city in Ibadan, the largest city in Black Africa (or Africa South of Sahara); which in turn was part of the old Western Region, which became Western State by the twelve-state structure brought about by Gowon in 1967. At the time of the creation of the State of Osun in 1991, the old Oyo State had as constituents a total of forty-two (42) local government council areas, namely, in alphabetical order: Afijio, Ayedaade, Ayedire, Akinyele, Atakunmosa and Boripe. Others included Ede, Egbeda, Egbedore, Ejigbo, Ibadan, Ibarapa, Ido, Ifelodun, Ifedayo and Ifeloju local government areas. We also had the Ife Central, Ife North, Ife South, Ila, Ilesa, Iseyin, Irewole, Irepo, Irepodun, Iwo and Kajola. Also included were Lagelu, Obokun, OdoOtin, Ogbomoso, Ogo Oluwa, Ona Ara, Ola Oluwa, Olorunda, Oluyole, Oorelope, Oriade, Oriire, Osogbo, Oyo and Surulere local government council areas. All these local government council areas formed the nucleus of the old Oyo State and witnessed attendant growth, development and multiplication which their creation symbolized. However, the number and impact of these local government areas did not deter the founding fathers of the emerging “Osun State” from carrying on the struggle for the actualization of the establishment of their own state. Let it be made known in passing that the struggle for the creation of a state called Osun predated Nigeria’s independence in 1960. The credit and glory for its eventual creation; therefore transcend what could be ascribed only to those who lived to witness its actual creation in 1991. It involved a large number of others who were long-gone before its actual creation saw the light of day. With the state creation of 1991, the infant Osun State, which was carved out of the old Oyo State, had twentytwo (22) of the forty-two (42) firstgeneration local government council areas that had first existed; while the remaining twenty (20) went to the emerging Oyo State. The first set of local government council areas which fell on the soils of the new Osun State were Ayedaade, Ayedire, Atakunmosa and Boripe. Others were Ede, Egbedore, Ejigbo and Ifelodun local government council areas. It also included Ife Central,, Ife North, Ife South, Ila, Ilesa, Irewole, Irepodun and Iwo. Also, Obokun, Odo Otin, Ola Oluwa, Olorunda, Oriade and Osogbo were among the councils in the new Osun State. The old Oyo State, which was its parent-state, started in 1976 with twenty-four (24) local government areas. Its sister-state, the surviving Oyo State, was left with only twenty (20) local government areas in 1991. In spite of the ratio today is 30:33 for Osun and Oyo states respectively; it is still worthy of praise for the State of Osun in the twenty-two tears of its existence and survival. The fact that between 1991 and year 1996, (a

•A cross section of Osun traditional rulers. period of five years); the number of local government council areas had increased from twenty-two (22) to thirty (30) is highly commendable. This is not to talk of the Ife East Area Office, situated at Modakeke, which came about in year 2000 as a child of necessity. INCE years 2011 / 2012, arrangements (legislative, administrative and otherwise) have been in top gear by the incumbent administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola to create more local government councils/area development councils for smoother, more effective and developmentdriven administration of the State of Osun. It is glad and heart-warming that that proposal has eventually seen the light o0f day during the early parts of last year. In March, 2016, to be precise, the incumbent administration under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola created more local Council development areas (LCDAs), area offices and administrative offices. More light shall be shed on this aspect in later segments of this series. However, the state, as at Monday, March 7, 2016 had the following local government council areas and one area office (Ife East) at Modakeke: Atakumosa-East Iperindo Atakumosa-West Osu Ayedaade Gbongan Ayedire Ile-Ogbo Boluwaduro OtanAyegbaju Boripe Iragbiji Ede North Oja Timi Ede South Ede Egbedore Awo Ejigbo Ejigbo Ife Central Ile-Ife Ife East Oke Ogbo Ife North - Ipetumodu Ife South Ifetedo Ifedayo Oke-Ila Ifelodun Ikirun Ila IlaOrangun Ilesa-East - Iyemogun Ilesa-West Omi Aladiye Irepodun Ilobu

Irewole Isokan Iwo

Ikire Apomu Iwo

Obokun Ibokun Odo-Otin Okuku Ola Oluwa - Bode Osi Olorunda Igbonna Oriade - Ijebu-Ijesa Orolu IfonOrolu Osogbo - Osogbo (Oke Baale) Ife-East Area Office - Modakeke On Tuesday, March 8, 2016, the incumbent Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in a live state-wide broadcast announced the creation of a new local government structure for the state. Relevant excerpts of he broadcast are relayed as follows: “We carefully considered their request and set in motion the process for acceding to their demands. On June 18, 2012 we inaugurated a committee headed by Prof Mojeed Alabi, a former speaker of the State House of Assembly, to look into the modalities for creating more councils in accordance with the wishes of the people. That committee received 71 memoranda requesting new councils. It wrapped up its assignment and submitted its report on October 26, 2012. In April 2013, we set up a review committee “headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, to look into the Alabi committee’s report. After this, we sent the request to the state House of Assembly in form of an executive bill. The House also looked into the bill, set up a committee on it and subsequently, a referendum was held on February 19, 2015 in which the people of the state overwhelmingly gave a yes vote on the bill. After this, the house passed a bill creating 31 new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), three Area Councils and two Administrative Offices. I have since signed this bill into law. The requests for new councils have been granted; all constitutional requirements have been met and the prescribed procedure followed to the letter. “My good people, I am pleased to inform you therefore that in place of the old order of only 30 local governments and an Area Office, we now have additional 31 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), three Area Councils and two Administrative Offices in accordance

with the requests which you democratically placed before us. The list of the new LCDAs, Area Councils and Administrative Offices, their territories and headquarters will be published soon and is also available at the State House of Assembly, Ministry of Local Governments, Chieftaincy, Water Resources, Rural and Community Affairs and Local Government Service Commission. “The management committees made up of the executive secretaries, deputy executive secretaries, scribes, members and special advisers have acted excellently, astutely managed scarce resources and faithfully served their communities. However, financial and other considerations have forced us to adopt a new parliamentary system which is compact, efficient and better, in the present circumstance. HE management committees of the 30 Local Councils and Area Office are hereby dissolved and their Executive Secretaries, deputy executive secretaries, members, Special Advisers and other functionaries removed. “In the interim, the entire local government system will be managed by Council Managers for three months. These managers shall be appointed and deployed by Local Government Service Commission from among the substantive grade level 14 officers in the local governments. Grade level 15 officers and above at the local governments should consequently report to the Local Government Service Commission for further briefing. “Many would be wondering and asking: why create more councils at this special time of financial challenges? We have also given sufficient consideration to this. With this new parliamentary system, it will cost less to run the new councils and save a lot of money for the government than in the past. The primary responsibilities of our new local government system are sanitation, market management and revenue mobilization and generation. This is consistent with local government administration worldwide. “The beauty of this new system is its parliamentary nature,

•To be continued

www.osundefender.org 12 OSUNDEFENDER Elections to fill various executive posts in the Obafemi Awolowo University Campus was held recently and campus journalists who covered activities during the process were maltreated, ADEJUMO KABIR sent in piece from the OAU.

CAMPUS NEWS

ACJOAU Plans To Boycott SUG Elections

HERE are strong indications that the Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ), Obafemi Awolowo University Chapter may boycott the upcoming Central Executive Council Elections in the OAU. This is as the President on. can not continue of the ACJ, Olanrewaju to “We risk our lives over the Oyedeji, was seen carelessness of members complaining about the of the commission. There maltreatment and undue was absolutely no hardship that members of provision for pressmen, the Association were coordination is abysmal, subjected to. been going According to him, the and a lot has We cannot conduct of the electoral wrong. commission leaves a lot continue to accommodate all these again.” for the Association . Olanrewaju, in a Olanrewaju was heard conversation saying, “We may not be telephone also said, “If HEC looks able to go on with the this way, what will election, at the moment; to CEC, we can’t we have tried our best and happen put our members on the we cannot accommodate and still be the one a lot of anomalies going field feeding them from the

•OAU Students during the just concluded hall of residents election.

Association’s purse without any security or tags meant for election. Adequate provision needs to be made. It has never been this worse for ACJ members.” Speaking further he said , “Our members have almost been molested and beaten in halls and sent out of venues, which is unacceptable to us. Even at the moment, there is no serious security that the students can interact with. We don’t know why major bodies like Man O’ War were left out but we have tried our best to survive the lot of issues for the first two days.” Commenting on the lack of preparedness, Olanrewaju said, “Basically, we cannot afford to fold our arms to issues trending in terms of reported lack of preparedness. We will only support and back a right process. We are interested in a free and fair election. Our (journalists) sacrifices should be treated with respect.”

SIKIRU OBARAYESE monitors the process of SIWES reports defence among students of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa and reports students’ agitations and demands as the school concludes the programme.

Offa SIWES Students Lament High Cost Of Report Defence P of Mass ART time students of the Federal Polytechnic student Offa who went on recent Students Industrial C o m m u n i c a t i o n , Ifeoluwapo Ajayi Working Experience (SIWES) have lamented the high cost incurred in the process of defending disclosed that the process the programme report, especially as they would not is what their predecessor went through and every be paid any stipend like the normal students. student had to go through Students studying are not asking to be totally the same process, adding some courses in Nigerian excused from report that even some regular institutions are defense, but they should students do not get paid given some till they graduate from the mandated to go for a 16- be and school. week training, while the consideration regular students get paid allowed to produce their She affirmed that the stipend by the Industrial report in groups rather cost of producing report Training Fund, the part than individual. is high as business Most of the part time owners in the school, as time students are left out students on campus were well as other part of the of the largess. A tour of the campus lamenting the stress they town exploit students today showed that most went through to produce unnecessarily, calling on of the affected the reports, go through the school authority to departments were busy similar stress with the come to the aid of evaluating their students’ regular student, only to be concerned student by performances while they short-changed in terms of grouping the report were away for training. remuneration. presentations and However, a regular defense. The course is a four unit load for the affected students and they were all anxious to get high scores. One of the part time students who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under anonymity disclosed that the cost of producing the report, considering that they were not paid any stipend at the places where they were trained nor to be paid by the ITF is excruciating. The students said they •Students of Federal Polytechnic, Offa on campus.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

Private Institutions Help Democratise Education In Nigeria Professor Chibuzo Nwoke, specializes in International Relations and in particular International Economic Relations. He possessed Ph.D in the area and has done extensive research in that area. He also has second degrees in business management and economic and international management. Below, he discusses the role of private universities in Nigeria.

ETTING up private tertiary institutions is On scholarship, we meant to further democratize education, must give kudos to the allowing capable and competent investors as proprietor, Prince, Dr. is being done in developed countries. The states Ramon Adedoyin for his and federal universities are either discriminatory magnanimity and for his or not really accommodating. So the idea of this k i n d h e a r t e d n e s s . democratization is to widen the space for Originally, when the opportunity for higher education. university was set, there A major advantage of was a scholarship private education is scheme for various On scholarship, creativity to achieve categories of we must give goals. The restrictions beneficiaries, either are not as pronounced kudos to the partial or full as we have in proprietor, Prince, scholarship. We have government run inhouse assessment to Dr. Ramon schools. There’s also determine who gets more in terms of Adedoyin for his what percentage. We flexibility. magnanimity and have a scoring system to The new way now is balance academic for his to facilitate capability as well as entrepreneurial studies kindheartedness. financial capacity. so as to engender the ABOUT THE Originally, when total man. this is what CHANCELLOR AND we are also the university was R E L A T I O N S H I P championing at in most set, there was a WITH THE private universities N A T I O N A L scholarship especially here at U N I V E R S I T IES scheme for Oduduwa University. COMMISSION Apart from the basic various categories Dr Ramon Adedoyin, curriculum, the run-inof beneficiaries, our Chancellor is an the mill courses which businessman, either partial or astute emphasis book sharp mind, analytical learning as it were, we full scholarship. mind, creative, now have disciplinarian, GodWe have inhouse entrepreneurial studies fearing, philanthropist, assessment to where at a certain level, handsome (you must students will go and determine who give him that), religious, learn some trades or amazingly workaholic, gets what crafts. The whole idea thinker, strategist, percentage. We is to not make them humble. chasers of employment have a scoring Our relationship with but employers of system to balance National Universities labour. Commission is very academic Even apart from the cordial as we operate academic and capability as well within the laid down vocational activities, rules of the Commission. as financial we also make sure that We have full operational capacity. our products have high license from the NUC. moral uprightness, by GROWTH PLAN encouraging strict Of course, we plan to with support. adherence to moral us grow. It is part of our codes. We’ve also given Internally, we have a future plan. them latitude to number of security FUTURE OF fellowship among operators who man our P R I V A T E various religious bodies various facilities as well INSTITUTIONS IN to express themselves. as securing our students NIGERIA There is strict rule 24/7. They have eagles Baring the effect of against cultism and eye to look out for bandwagon which is other decadent criminal tendencies and very popular in this part offences. We make sure curtail them among of the world where to balance student students. We have zero everybody wants to do activities by providing tolerance for cultism. As what some have recreational and soon as we discover successfully done sporting facilities to the deviance, we apprehend, without wanting to go students. This is to punish or sack. Our through the mills, the encourage them to security personnel, males future is very bright. In balance their book- and females, are doing the advanced countries learning as they say all their best to live up to of the world, private works without play expectations. They are institutions hold the ace very much at alert and makes Jack a dull boy. in excellence delivery. SECURITY IN THE we’re very much satisfied and proud of them. UNIVERSITY In Oduduwa University, we have a system in place, whereby we are 99% security-proof. We have the internal security apparatus as well as the surrounding environment security, this is saying that we liaise with security apparatus in our i m m e d i a t e environment to provide •PROFESSOR CHIBUZO NWOKE

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

CULTURE

OSUNDEFENDER w w w.osundefender.org

Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon: Culture Avatar The Ancient Sacred Ile-Ogbo Oore Tree

Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon is a culture avatar, an ICON of culture, African Tradition and spiritualism whose dedication to African tradition has attracted international recognition, though, he is without any formal western education, but lectures in American Universities and international institutions across the globe.

RABA

I f a y e m i Elebuibon was born s e v e n decades ago in Oluode A t u u k u Compound of Osogbo in the State of O s u n , Nigeria and comes from a f a m i l y acclaimed to be one of foremost authorities on Yoruba traditional, cultural and spiritual institutions. He is a direct descendant of Olutimehin, co-founder of the ancient City of Osogbo. He began training as an Ifa priest at the age of four. He is self-taught and received his western style formal education through correspondent’s courses. His parents refused him Western and Islamic education so he could be thoroughly grounded in Yoruba and African traditions and culture through his apprenticeship with renowned priests of the day. Ifayemi is a poet, performing artist, playwright, herbalist and practicing Babalawo (Ifa Priest). He has published several books and scholarly papers on various aspects of Yoruba traditional religion and culture. He is also a recorded artist with several credits on Yoruba poetic genre known as “Ewi”. His mostly social commentaries and parallax snaps showed his acute observations on life and cultural philosophy. His tradition morality drama, Ifa Olokun Asorodayo culled from Odu Ifa, was presented as a series on Nigeria national television network. Ifayemi is an international scholar in residence in the Department of Black Studies at San Francisco University; and at Wajumbe Cultural Institution, California, USA, both where he lectures on African Traditional Religion and Culture. He is the founder of Ancient Philosophy International Osogbo, Nigeria, a centre dedicated to teaching African traditional religion and the performing arts. He has trained a lot of students and initiated many both African and non-African into the tradition. Yemi, as foundly called by his teachers, has numerous awards and recognition, which includes, lifetime achievement chieftaincy as

the Akoda of Osogbo, a title that elevated him to a venerated position in t h e priesthood hierarchy. He has also b e e n honoured. He has also b e e n honoured with a doctorate degree of the Brandice University, USA. He was recently n a m e d Atayero Asa by the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, for his contributions to renaissance traditional scholarship. He has also been recently appointed as Vice Chairman of Board of Traditional Medicine in the State of Osun. He is also the President of International Congress of Orisa Tradition and Culture, Nigerian Chapter. He maintains a Botanica and mini-Museum at his home that has become a “must stop” for visitors to Osogbo, city of annual Osun Festival. He is married with children. Araba Elebuibon has travelled to many parts of the world at the invitation of organizations, institutions, colleges and Universities and local governments, among his many books are: Poetry Voice of Ifa The Adventure of Obatala I & II The Healing Power of Sacrifice Apetebi, Wife of Orunmila Ifa, The Custodian of Destiny The Invisible Power of Metaphysical World Irinajo Eda (Poems) Films Obatala in praise documentary; this work demonstrate the propitiation of Obatala through Music, dance recitation of his (oriki) praise name and sacrifice. Eko Eleko Drama based on OduIfa Omolokun Audio works Eniyan won Ori lo dami Elenini Aye Epe Enu Won, among others. In a time when the term (Babalawo) father of mysteries is used very loosely, it is indeed an honour to meet and know Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, as he represents the best of African Culture and Knowledge.

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By IBRAHIM ALLI HE spiritual dictates attached to sacred places or objects vary from one community, clan, village, town or city to the other. Often, most sacred spiritual objects are instrumental to the creation, multiplication and prosperity that accompany the naming and mentioning of such places. Many cities in Yoruba land attribute their nomenclature to the dictates of divination of sacred objects, either met mysteriously or created by the first settlers of such towns. Ile-Ogbo, the Home of Abundant palm-oil, the town of Oore tree was located circa 1700, checkmated by war but reorganized by a sacred tree called OORE. Oore tree is as strange as finding a lion in a hole dug in the ground that harbors a rat. When you account for the mother of whom her child‘s not shed its leaves under its shade. biography is shoddy, it sounds Toying the dictate of the oracle, unbelievable. But such is the feature the founding father of the new site of the cradle of a sacred Oore Tree of Ile-Ogbo, Kuseela contacted the located in Ile-Ogbo. tree, weeded its surrounding, Ile-Ogbo, inarguably is a product settled near at Akinmoyero‘s of Oore Tree. The tree, because of compound and invited people from its peculiarity, is a pointer to the far and near and subsequently siting of Ile-Ogbo, the headquarters multiplied to about eighty-two of Ayedire Local Government in compounds with numerous suburb. Osun State. The tree’s life span is The ten ruling houses were from Oyo uncertain, as the first settlers are Ile. Apeena from Iragberi/ Ekuro, younger than Oore tree. Oloode Koto from Oyo Ile, Ologbin The tree was located circa 1840 from Oyo, Ajele from Oyo to Ibadan subsequent to a spiritual consultation to Ile-Ogbo, Kobiowu from Tapa, with oracle by Kuseela, the only Alapa from Iwo/Ede, Lemomu are surviving Prince of the war between Fulani from Kannike, Alape from Fulani and Ile-Ogbo in 1822. Ile- Iragberi, Gbako from Orile Owu Ogbo was check-mated by Fulanis in formerly Called Agoo Owu, 1822, thus, the former site became Akiribawonwi from Orile Owu, desolated. After the clash between Omoforilu from Ede/Ikoyi, Seriki the troops of Alaafin and the Fulanis from Offa, Aresa from Ireesa-Adu, in Osogbo in 1840, tranquility Alaasan from Oyo returned to the affected Yoruba •The town, Ile-Ogbo, commands ten towns, Ile-Ogbo inclusive. The ruling houses to include: Osinkun house, development triggered Kuseela, Akinmoyero, Aderibigbe, Olodo house, consulted an oracle and was divined Onijayi 1 house , Onijayi 2, Idiape house , that he stops, with his entourage Olasisoye house, Oloya and Alapola wherever he finds a tree tied with house. Each of these ruling houses was white cloth. It was divined that he, syndicated into five with consensus with his people shall organize a rotational system. prosperous kingdom. Traditions had it that the tree is manned by a male (Baba Abore) and a female (Iya A b o r e ) appointed on the advice of the king. One of the past Iya Abore from Olukoun‘s compound nicknamed the tree A l h a j a Jabaru. This name is not unconnected with the female spirit the tree is said to shelter. S o m e traditionalists considered Oore as a s t r o n g protection against any havoc in IleOgbo. The tree does •The Oore Tree at Ile-Ogbo.

Traditions had it that the tree is manned by a male (Baba Abore) and a female (Iya Abore) appointed on the advice of the king. One of the past Iya Abore from Olukoun‘s compound nicknamed the tree Alhaja Jabaru.

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OSUNDEFENDER

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HEALTH

Dr ADEDEJI ESAN of the Department of Community Medicine, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, State of Osun on why

Living Healthy Is Your Responsibility H

EALTH is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not the mere absence of disease. For most people healthy living means both the physical and mental wellbeing are functioning well together, for some other people it means looking and feeling good with oneself. Healthy living is the steps, actions and strategies one puts in place to achieve optimum health. It’s taking responsibility and making smart health choices for today and for the future. There is more to living healthy than not smoking or taking alcohol or being overweight. A healthy lifestyle is important for both children and adults. We all have so much to do with work and family and other obligations and so staying committed to a healthy life style may prove a challenge. However in order to achieve living a healthy lifestyle we all have to make a conscious effort to be consistent with its practice by doing it one at a time and by making daily improvements. This will prevent one from being frustrated.Here are a few tips to consider in order to live healthy Diet Food requirements defer according to age however it is important to note the following tips. Eat three meals a day breakfast, lunch, and dinner and the bulk of food consumption should consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk products.Eat more of white meat like fish and poultry products and very little red meat if you must. Food low in saturated fats, cholesterol salt should be preferred. Its important to take a good look at the labels to know the ingredients before buying from the supermarket. Also note that salts is recorded as sodium. So don’t be deceived when salt isn’t seen on the ingredients. Control the proportion of food eating, eat the smallest portion that can satisfy hunger. Avoid taking sodas and sugar-enhanced drinks due to it high caloric content. When angry or depressed, eating will not solve these situations and may make the underlying problems worse. Children should not be rewarded with sugary snacks it may lead to lifelong bad eating culture. For those that are diabetic, keep the daily blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible by continuous monitoring. People trying to lose weight (body fat) should avoid all fatty and sugary foods and eat mainly vegetables, fruits, and nuts and markedly reduce intake of meat and dairy products. Physical activity and exercise. Thirty minutes of modest exercise such as walking at least three to five days a week is recommended, but the greatest health benefits come from exercising most days of the week.Exercise can be broken up into smaller 10-minute sessions. Start slowly and progress gradually to avoid injury or excessive soreness or fatigue. Over time, build up to 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day.People are never too old to start exercising even elderly individuals (70-90 years of age) can improve their strength and balance with exercise. Regular exercise can help prevent coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Regular, weight-bearing exercise can also help prevent osteoporosis by building bone strength.Regular exercise can help increase self-esteem and selfconfidence, decrease stress and anxiety, enhance mood, and improve general mental health.Almost any type of exercise (resistance, water aerobics, walking, swimming, weights, yoga, and many others) is helpful for everybody. The following people, however, should consult a doctor before beginning more vigorous exercise. They include men over 40 or women over age 50 years of age, individuals with heart

or lung disease, asthma, arthritis, or osteoporosis. Individuals who experience chest pressure or pain with exertion, or who become easily tired or can’t breathe well. Mental health. Healthy living involves more than physical health, it also includes emotional or mental health achieving this is as simple as taking time out to reflect on what is seen or heard several times per week. Taking short breaks after completing a task, spending time talking with other people about different subjects. Learning to say “no” when something occurs that you do not want to do or be involved with. Let yourself be pleased with your achievements, both big and small (develop contentment).Seek help and advice early if you feel depressed, have suicidal thoughts, or consider harming yourself or others. People taking medicine for mental-health problems should not stop taking these medications, no matter how “well” they feel, until they have discussed their doctor. Get enough sleep daily. Avoidance behavior is another key to healthy living. Below are described some of the major

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Control the proportion of food eating, eat the smallest portion that can satisfy hunger. Avoid taking sodas and sugarenhanced drinks due to it high caloric content. When angry or depressed, eating will not solve these situations and may make the underlying problems worse.

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items to avoid if a person is seeking a healthy lifestyle. Avoid smoking. Smoking is one of themost important preventable cause of illness and cause of death. It has been implicated in so many diseases such as heart attack, stroke and lack of blood flow to the lower extremities. Smoking is also implicated in a number of cancers such as lung, mouth, lip, tongue,esophagus, kidney, and bladder.Stop smoking tobacco; start to stop today (it takes about 15 years of nonsmoking behavior to achieve a “normal” risk level for heart disease for those that smoke). Stop chewing tobacco it predisposes to oral cancers.Adverse consequences of tobacco use

•LAUTECH THC ENTRANCE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

HEALTH With

Dr Adedeji Esan MWCP Email: drdejiesan@gmail.com. can cause middle-ear infections (otitis media), coughing, wheezing, bronchitis, and pneumonia in babies, and aggravate asthma in children. Secondhand smoke (sometimes referred to as passive smoking) can also cause lung cancer.Quitting smoking may prove a challenge but it can be accomplished it requires a serious life-long behavioral commitment such as counseling, use of nicotine chewing gum or nicotine skin patches. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.Alcohol accounts for 40%-50% of deaths through accidents. Alcohol use is a significant cause of injury and death from home accidents, drowning, and burns Excess alcohol consumption is the major cause of liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis can cause internal hemorrhage, fluid accumulation in the abdomen, easy bleeding and bruising, muscle wasting, mental confusion, infections, and in advanced cases, coma, and kidney failure. Liver cirrhosis can lead to liver cancer.There are many treatments for alcoholism. But the crucial first step to recovery is for the individual to admit there is a problem and make a commitment to address the alcoholism issue. Avoid high-risk sexual behaviors. High-risk sexual behavior can lead to the acquisition of sexually transmitted illnesses such as gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes, or HIV infection. Highrisk sexual behavior is also known to spread human papillomavirus infection, which can lead to cervical cancer in women and other anogenital cancers in both men and women. High-risk sexual behaviors include the following having multiple sex partners and sex partners with a history of intravenous drug use and sexually transmitted diseases. Avoid unprotected sex (sex without barriers such as a condom) outside an established, committed, monogamous relationship. Avoid other highrisk behaviors such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving while sleep-deprived. In conclusion, make a list of your negative habits contributing to your unhealthy life style, besides each one, place goals on how to overcome them. Pick a few goals that are most important to your overall health and start with those. Start with 2-3 for a month and continue gradually till you have achieved all. Achieving optimum health requires taking responsibility and making a commitment to yourself no matter the situation. Your health is in your hands.

ISSUES/POLICY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

OSUNDEFENDER

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The article below was originally printed in The Sun Newspaper. It analysis what has turned out to be the positive impact of an innovative agency in the State of Osun.

Osun BOSS: An Antidote To Abandoned Projects

HE last Yuletide afforded me an opportunity to touch base in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, where I chanced upon an innovative state government initiative for checking the problem of abandoned projects and promoting the timely as well as proper execution of government contracts. The initiative is tagged Bureau of Social Services (BOSS). In the midst of the daily political hoopla in the country, I had virtually forgotten about this state government agency and my plan to commend it to all levels of government in the country, until a recent newspaper report once again drew my attention to the need for an agency such as BOSS in all the states and local councils. The federal agency, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), on January 18, was reported to have announced a recent discovery of 19,000 abandoned Federal Government projects valued at N5 trillion in different parts of the country. This is what triggered my decision to leave some of the key issues of the moment to commend the Osun BOSS initiative to the Federal, state and local governments in the country. If the initiative is adopted and replicated at all levels of government, it will improve the quality of government projects and the rate of their completion and delivery to the intended beneficiaries. The Osun Bureau of Social Services (BOSS) was set up by the state government to monitor the

Chief Bandele Aiku, SAN, 16 August - 22 January, 2017

EGAL Icon Chief Bandele Aiku will be committed to mother earth today after a funeral service at St. Mathew’s Cathedral Church Odo-Oja, Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State at 11:00am. A commendation service had been held yesterday morning at St Annes Anglican Church, Molete, Ibadan. A Christian wake followed later in the day at his home, Baptist Road, Oke Agboja, Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State. The highly respected legal practitioner is one of a long line of legal Icons produced by the State of Osun.

The agency, which has Mr. Femi implementation of government programmes and capture their Ifaturoti as its Director-General, has a department in charge of Project impact on the people. monitoring, Field S t r a n g e l y Operations and enough, it monitors Surveillance. Its the costs at which work covers the the state monitoring and g o v e r n m e n t t e c h n i c a l awards its contracts surveillance of all and, many times, building projects, recommends including roads, d o w n w a r d bridges, drainages, reviews, to which water supply the state schemes and rural government mostly electrification agrees. It also schemes etc. Its monitors the quality operations cover of jobs done by the appraisal of the contractors and the •FEMI IFATUROTI, DG BOSS stages of conception, design implementation of and construction of projects. There are also departments in charge of Digital Archiving and Documentation; Research and Innovation and Information Technology and Evaluation. The agency works closely with the people as it has eight dedicated phone numbers through which it receives information from ordinary members of the public on the implementation of the government’s projects. This agency is now working with the World Bank as the State Operations Coordinating Unit for the Youth Empowerment Social Support Operation (YESSO) and is now a Custodian of the register of the contracts to ensure that they beneficiaries of all Social Safety comply with the terms of the Programmes in the state. Why do I find this bureau exciting? contracts. The agency, I found out, has been It is largely because it is somehow in existence since September 2011. Its strange to have a government charged with the official magazine- The Monitor- says agency it has a responsibility “to supervise, responsibility of ensuring proper and timely delivery of government monitor, evaluate and report the performance of all commissioners, projects and also reporting on their special advisers, heads of ministries, effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, departments and agencies (MDAs) impact and sustainability. As the head of the Evaluation and of the government”. Basically, the agency exists to keep public officers, IT department of the agency put it, including the state government, on “if you do not measure the results their toes to ensure good public of a policy, you cannot tell whether service delivery. It also monitors the it is a success or a failure.” Nigeria and all the states and local implementation of government governments will do well to borrow policies.

a leaf from this initiative which, I am convinced, will help to ensure that projects delivered are of good standard and delivered within the period stipulated in the contracts. It will also help to ensure that the funds allocated to projects are judiciously used for the intended projects and not diverted to other uses. Proper monitoring of projects will also ensure that the early warning signs that certain projects could fail would be noticed at an early stage and acted on. If the Federal Government and all other levels of government had instituted bureaus such as BOSS and made them work, the litany of abandoned projects in all parts of the country would have been minimized. It is, however, never late than ever. Luckily, the Bureau of Public Procurement which was reported to have disclosed the existence of 19,000 Federal Government abandoned projects has decided to be deeply involved in the monitoring and evaluation of projects to ensure that they are of the quality stipulated in the contracts, and they are delivered within the stipulated time frame. There is also now a bill to amend the BPP Act to address procurement processes and the issue of abandoned projects, among others. The agency, henceforth, wants to use a lifecycle approach to projects to ensure that they are monitored from conception to completion. Let all state governments key into this project monitoring initiative to ensure that the people get good services for the projects paid for by the government. Let there be a drastic reduction in the level of abandoned projects in the country. The nation’s N5 trillion loss to abandoned projects is unacceptable. Osun has set a good example which can be replicated all over the country. But then, the state government must know that with BOSS, it must itself not be found wanting on the timely delivery of quality projects within its domain. There should not be any abandoned or poorly executed projects in the state.

OBITUARY

Benchers-since 1987. He was a life Bencher. He retained a seat as chairman of the disciplinary committee of the Nigeria Bar Association from 1998 to date. Between 2004 and 2008, Aiku served as member of the National Judicial Council (a body constitutionally responsible for the appointment and discipline of judges of Superior Court in Nigeria). And as a reward for his services as legal adviser, he was in 2005 awarded the Fellowship of the West African College of Surgeons (FWACS) at the 45th annual conference of the college held in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. On the home front, Chief Aiku served admirably as an agent of development in his Ijebu-Jesa community. Prior to 1975, Ijebu-Jesa was among the areas of Ijesa land (notably Ijesa North and Ijesa South) classified as rural districts. Ilesa was classified as urban, attracting government activities and amenities. Chief Aiku, the then commissioner in western state and later old Oyo State of Nigeria worked, almost single handedly, for the upliftment of IjebuJesa into urban status. He also succeeded in positively influencing the location of the permanent headquarters of the then Ijesa North local government in IjebuJesa.

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Let all state governments key into this project monitoring initiative to ensure that the people get good services for the projects paid for by the government.

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Notably the State produced Nigeria’s first common law lawyer, Christopher Alexander Sapara Williams, an Ijesha man, as well as illustrious practitioners including Dapo Kayode, R.A FaniKayodeQ.C/SAN, Chiefs Babatunde Olowoofoyekun Q.C/SAN, Bola Ige SAN amongst many others. The background of Chief Aiku might have pointed to a possible entre into the Law. He was born on Tuesday, August 18, 1936 in Ijebu-Jesa, headquarters of today’s Oriade Local government Area of Osun State, to an Osomalo family. This set-up in Ijeshaland of astute business people evolved an admirable forerunner of today’s hire-purchase/ leasing system into indigenous commerce. Very much in the fine tradition of the old school of seasoned professionalism the Senior Advocate who died at 81 was until his transition a life bencher. Principal and founding partner of Bandele Aiku & Co which was established in 1964, he had been called to the English Bar a year earlier in May 1963. He had enrolled in one of the ancient and revered preparation grounds for the Bar, The Inner Temple,

London in 1960. An alumina of the highly rated Ilesha Grammar School, Aiku established a flourishing, highly successful Legal practice. He also veered into an unblemished public service. Between 1975 and 1977, Aiku served in the lither to Western region and old Oyo State as Commissioner for Lands and Housing and later commissioner for works and housing. He reached the very much desired pinnacle as attorney-general and commissioner for Justice between 1977 and 1979. Not surprisingly he became the chairman of the Ibadan Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) between 1984 and 1985 and has remained a member of the national executive committee of the Nigerian Bar Association since then. At the zonal level, Aiku was the leader of the influential South-west Lawyers Forum, otherwise called Egbe Amofin Yoruba. He was also a member of the International Bar Association. Aiku had served as a member of the highest policy making body in the legal profession in Nigeria-the body of

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017

FEMI OYEDIRAN, A Participant observer in the aviation sector looks at the contemporary development in that vital area of economic activity.

AMCON, Nigerian Aviation’s Knight In Shining Armour T

thrived under management by KLM HE Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria Royal Dutch Airlines, but our people (AMCON) recently took over were too eager to push out the control of Arik Air, Nigeria’s leading foreigners and take over; the result airline in order, we are told, to protect was failure. Government has not their anxious creditors, prevent a helped. Government regulators and catastrophic shutdown of services to the service providers (NCAA, FAAN, public and preserve the jobs of their longNAMA) impose charges that make suffering employees. Arik, has debts of Nigeria one of the most expensive over 300 Billion Naira and needs the places in the world to operate an immediate infusion of another 10 Billion airline. The same Government to continue operating; in short, Arik is strictly constrains the fares that too big to be allowed to fail. But this begs airlines are allowed to charge. the questions: how did Arik, so big and Aviation fuel is so expensive here that so vital to Nigeria’s air transport many foreign operators now prefer industry, come to be teetering on the to buy their fuel in Accra or Lome, brink of failure in the first place? And making nonsense of our aspiration what prospect does AMCON’s move to be the aviation hub of Africa. We hold out for a satisfactory and, one •ARIK AIRLINES IN A PERFECT STORM have very limited availability of the hopes, permanent solution? to wind up because the stakeholders piles of wealth, airline ownership skilled human resources required to Almost three years ago, in 2013, could not agree on an equitable way to came to be seen as a useful means of AMCON similarly took control of Aero dispose of the huge real estate assets – laundering and legitimising such man this complex industry.The Contractors Nigeria Limited, another prime properties in London,New York, wealth. There were some airlines government-controlled College of Aviation Technology, Zaria has not major Nigerian airline burdened with and other foreign capitals as well as unsustainable debt and on the brink of huge swathes of land in various upscale founded on visions of reckless hubris kept up with demand. Rather than our mere vanity. It is also fair to say invest in training, airlines compete collapse. In its day ACN, an old areas around the country, including a a class of predatory destructively for scarce human respected brand in the industry, was the golf course in Ikeja GRA! All the that leading operator in the chartered and properties at Murtala Mohammed professionals sprang up, always resources, driving up costs and them open to exploitation by general aviation sector and a pillar of Airport ended up going to Arik, at a ready to “help” gullible moneybags leaving expatriate “experts”. Of course, support for the logistics of Nigeria’s knock-down price said to be in the region set up and knock down new airline trying to finance a business with a ventures; so some were founded on strategic oil industry. ACN’s venture of 1 Billion Naira. naïve hopes and dreams and failed return on investment of maybe 10% into scheduled commercial operations There follows a rollcall of private with loans from Nigerian banks at led to a rapid decline. Again the airlines of various degrees of longevity, for lack of capital, management or, 30% is a non-starter. questions: What went wrong? Can or otherwise. Some deserve honourable most likely both. The mentions grow Now AMCON, Nigeria’s very AMCON fix it? mention. Intercontinental, was among less honourable as the list goes on: own investor of last resort is riding The history of aviation in Nigeria is the first wave, with its devastatingly do you remember ADC, Sosoliso, to the rescue, but how well equipped haunted by the ghosts of dead airlines noisy and inefficient Caravelle aircraft, Oriental? Some of these airlines is AMCON to solve any of these and the carcasses of their defunct of 1950s vintage. Kabo Air once killed people. Albarka, Zenith, problems? Access to relatively cheap aircraft litter our airports, bodies that dominated the skies, rivalling and Barnax, Harka, all very short-lived funds is helpful but not sufficient to constitute a perpetual eyesore because eventually overtaking Nigeria Airways, (Zenith operated for less than a turn around this ailing industry. the airport owners won’t allow them a inheriting many of their trained crew; week). Chanchangi made a robust Where will the personnel and decent burial. the brand showing, leveraging on the owner’s management skills come from? As Nigeria s t i l l experience in road transport but fell AMCON rescues failing banks, Airways survives apart when the owner passed – a manufacturers and airlines will we Limited, operating common occurrence in all categories all end up working for AMCON, and t h e So, why do all our airlines seasonal of business in Nigeria. This is not, will the titular change of control prototypical H a j by any stretch, a comprehensive list. somehow produce a new breed of fail? Everyone agrees that the managers, or change the predatory “national flights at So, why do all our airlines fail? carrier” home and Everyone agrees that the potential attitude of state-sponsored agencies potential market for air they struggle to sustain their w a s abroad,but market for air transport services in as bloated workforces? Will AMCON one of transport services in Nigeria and a mere Nigeria and West Africa is huge and be able to call in the external t h e s h a d o w mostly untapped. However, it is resources of expertise and West Africa is huge and mostly earlier of its important to note that the airline experience we need, based elsewhere casualties. f o r m e r business is complex, highly in the global village we live in? Or untapped. I t s presence regulated, competitive and hugely persuade our interventionist long since the capital intensive (with razor-thin government to hands-off and allow slow p a s s i n g margins and almost all costs market forces to weed out weak or death away of unviable actors while providing began in the late 1980s when, the eponymous founder, denominated in Dollars). It requires inexplicably, its management sacked AlhajidanKabo, Jarman Kano.Okada very serious planning and the long-term support to the strong? Nigerians are optimists by nature most of the expensively trained flight Air, named for the hometown of its patience and discipline to enforce and by choice. One has to believe that crew and then sold off most of its fleet of founder the flamboyant Esama of Benin, adherence to carefully thought- somehow AMCON will succeed in aircraft. NAL is an interesting study competed with and eventually through long-term strategies. NAL its Herculean task. because its demise not only triggered a surpassed both Kabo and NAL, booming proliferation of private airlines, dominating the airspace with a large it also sowed the seeds and set the fleet of cheaply acquired BAC 111 pattern for many of those new airlines aircraft, mostly acquired from British to follow into their own early graves. Caledonian Airways. Okada will always NAL was the first, or at least the most be remembered because the name was famous, Nigerian airline to be destroyed co-opted into the language of West by the wilful depredations of its owners, Africa as a byword for speed and a managers and staff. Although not certain cavalier attitude, now associated actually pronounced dead until 2003, with commercial motorcyclists. with debts of 60 Million Dollars, NAL Aviation boomed through the eighties declined from its peak in the 1980s and and on into the nineties and more people was effectively moribund from the early became aware of the opportunities. 1990s, having failed to produce audited accounts since the late 1960s. Up to 1985 Successive Federal Governments NAL somehow managed to retain granted the industry concessional control of all moneys accruing to Nigeria access to subsidised foreign exchange under a plethora of Bilateral Air Service and the business became attractive to Agreements; when the military regime some purely for the chance to access and finally took away this unearned and round-trip foreign exchange. Smuggling wholly undeserved subsidy the airline had always been an optional side-line •Montage of the MKO ABIOLA International Airport, Ido-Osun, State of Osun, under was doomed. It took almost twenty years and, as corruption generated huge illicit construction. 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 Editor, NIYI OLASINDE, Telephone: 0803-041-7786, niyiolasinde@gmail.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org., E-mail:

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