Osun Defender Newspaper PDF Version For October 6, 2017

FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

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VOL. 012. NO.32

N100

ISSN: 0794-8050

Osun 2018:

Real Reason Why PDP Begged Oyinlola, Others •Speculations Ripe Over Plan To Rejoin PDP

- Page 2

Kingship Is About Service To Humanity - Oluwo PAGES 5 & 6

Osun 2018 Governorship Election Holds Sept 22

T

HE Governorship election in Osun State would hold on September 22, 2018, while that of Ekiti State would hold on July 14, 2018.

The Independent Nati onal Electoral Commission (I NEC) released the timetable on Thursday.

Acco rding to the timet able released by the commission, the commencement of campaigns had •Wife of the State of Osun Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola (right) presenting One Million Naira Cheque to the winner of Osun been fixed for April 15, 2018 for Ekiti 2017 Calisthenics competition from Ijesa South Federal Constituency at Aurora Event Centre, Osogbo. Photo: GBENGAADENIYI. and June 24, 2018 for Osun.

Residents Raise Alarm Over Perceived Criminal Hideouts

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

Real Reason Why PDP Begged Oyinlola, Others

By Ismaeel Uthman Speculations have ripen over the alleged plan of the former Governor of the State of Osun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The speculations (APC) and political office followed the visit by the holders in the APC Sarafadeen Ishola-led government.

Though, Oyinlola has Osun Caretaker given any Committee visit to the not former governor in his commitment to return to his former party, a source Okuku home on Monday.

The PDP caretaker in the PDP said, the move members besieged the to lure him back began country home of the few months ago during a former governor of the visit of some prominent state, to apologise to him party leaders, led by for his unjustly removal as Senator Ademola Adeleke the national secretary of to him.

According to him, the the party by the national leadership led by its former former governor might Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga not have given any commitment, “but there is Tukur.

Ishola, had during the hope that with the way visit said, the visit was not things were going, Prince to lure Oyinlola back to the Oyinlola will return to our party, but to apologise to party”.

However, the Ishola led him for the injustice meted caretaker committee has to him by the party.

He said, “The decision to drafted a list of the be member of any party is aggrieved and former personal and we respect members of the party to that decision of yours. Our plead to and persuade for mission is to come and ask possible return to the PDP, for forgiveness, that you it was learnt.

OSUN DEFENDER forgive us in your heart that the and we admit that what gathered caretaker committee happened to you was an steering the affairs of the injustice and an error.”

However, contrary to PDP decided to reunite its the impression created present and former during the visit by the members to strengthen caretaker chairman, a and make the party more prominent leader of the formidable to confront the PDP who did not want his APC. It was gathered that the name mentioned said, it was a strategy designed to PDP caretaker committee appease the former had carried out a survey governor and some other which revealed that the former leaders of the party party could not win any major election in the state who have left the party.

The leader said the party with the factional crisis is now being confronted rocking it and in the with the reality that no absence of some strong electoral victory could be former members of the achieved with the current party.

According to the division within the party, hence, the need to sources, the mandate swallowed a bitter pill and given to the party was to begin move to reach out to pacify the aggrieved former and aggrieved members and persuade former members to come members of the party.

Those that had been back, adding that the identified for the party would also seek for appeasement are members forgiveness of those who of the party, who are now might be willing to return prominent leaders of the to the party.

Oyinlola was All Progressives Congress

controversially removed in 2013 as the National Secretary of the PDP while his Deputy, Chief Onwe Solomon Onwe was installed to replace him.

While responding during the visit, Oyinlola said he cherished the visit and explained that he felt concerned that the matter ended up the way it ended, despite all his efforts to ensure that the unity of the party was protected.

He said the reign of indiscipline and impunity within the PDP led to his exit, adding that the series of crises within the party as well as the division later resulted in the electoral setback for the party.

Oyinlola said, “I want to say that I did everything humanly possible to make sure that the division did not come from me. I went to the extent of writing to the leadership of the party, the then Mr. President to draw his attention to the issues that were eroding the unity of the party but it seemed my own sincerity about the whole issues were misconstrued.”

The former governor who said he felt vindicated by the visit and the apologies tendered, maintained that politicians must rub minds together and exploit all avenues of peaceful resolution of conflicts.

“I want to take a recourse to the Bible which says ‘If your brother transgresses, rebuke him;

if he repents, forgive him.

It is on that score that I want to say I have forgiven and forgotten all that was done to me”, he added.

Oyinlola, however, said he was happy that the PDP chieftains said they respected his decision to choose the party he wished to belong to, just as he introduced some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state who joined him to receive them.

He advised politicians in the country to always

Akinbade is now a member of the Labour Party.

Former members of the PDP who the caretaker committee wanted to appease are: Alhaji Fatai Diekola, former Chief of Staff to Oyinlola, Elder Peter Babalola who are now members of the APC. The PDP caretaker committee is also billed to visit former South-West Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo and other aggrieved members.

•ATTENTION: Heaps of refuse in a drainage at Lagere area, Ile-Ife. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

Restructuring Is Not Desirable - Col. Ajayi

By Sola Jacobs A retired Colonel, Gabriel Ajayi has flayed those calling for the restructuring of the nation, saying, Nigerian should rather devolve less power to the central government, as the nation had restructured times without number.

Col. Ajayi stated this Wednesday.

According to him, during an interview programme on the Osun while the rest of the State Broadcasting world presently engage developmental Corporation (OSBC) on in agenda, Nigeria is engrossed in religious polarisation, ethnic division, tribal the people of Osun for sentiments and such their steadfastness and others. supports for Governor He added that after the Rauf Aregbesola independence, the administration, noting country had that the rate at which the metamorphosed into state got elevated in terms of development regions, then to states and provision of and creation of more saying infrastructure in the last states, seven years has shown restructuring in the real that the nation’s sense of it requires independence is fundamental change in worth celebrating. the economy of the

Osun Speaker Urges Economic Restructuring Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam has asserted that economic restructuring that would steer the country from import dependent regime to productive nation should be the blueprint of the nation’s restructuring.

In his Independence economic restructuring day message signed by in such a way that his spokesman, Mr. Goke agriculture and Butika, Salaam said, it petroleum net resources was obvious that the would be exported. mantra of restructuring He canvassed means different things to strategies on different people; manufacturing companies depending on their that could provide jobs affected interest, saying for the unemployed. that it is thes rough edges Salaam further in governance that are stressed that if economic hindering deliveries as opportunities are created promised which led to for the restless youths, if renewed agitation. corruption is brought to He said that the a considerable low and attention given to non-oil justice is delivered on all sector like agriculture and spheres of influence, the taxation appears to have nation would be better brought new thinking, off. saying there should The speaker eulogised

seek the progress of the country, irrespective of the side of the political divides they belonged, saying political affiliation of politicians may differ but the delivery of democracy dividends to the people must be important to them.

The PDP caretaker committee also visited former Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade at his house in Osogbo on Tuesday to seek his forgiveness and return.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

That I formerly known as JIMOH MUIDEEN AMOBI, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEGBENRO JIMOH MUIDEEN. All former documents remain valid.

DIAMOND Bank, FIRST Bank and general public should take note.

That I formerly known as USMAN RIDWAN ABIOLA with birth date of 25-12-1983, now wish to be known and addressed as ALAB I RIDWAN ABIOLA with birth date of 25-12-1980. All former documents remain valid.

FIRST Bank and general public should take note.

country, so that the unity could be realised.

“The restructuring that Nigerians are asking for, is not painful but the manner and the way we are asking for it is suspicious.

The retired Army officer added that clamour for seccession and restructuring should not have arisen, if the country is good, as no one would like to opt out, but our leaders pretend and act arrogantly as if nothing had happen wrong with the polity.

He spoke further that rather than agitating for restructuring, the amount of money and resources that is concentrated in central should be less and the nation should fixed some of its deteriorated infrastructure and give everybody sense of belonging in the nation.

Speaking on the era of military rule and the democratically era in the nation, Col. Ajayi refused to admit that the long rule of the military rule was responsible for the comatose situation of the nation’s economy.

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Tracing how the nation fare from independence till date, he condemned “the lackadaisical attitude of political class that took the mantle of leadership from the colonial master”, saying they did not see themselves equal with the generality of the people through their various policies and programme.

He added that the elected politicians in the state and national assemblies contributed in no small measure to the destruction of the nation.

He also stated that the collapse of the Nigeria currency and non productivity nature of the nation also added to the nation’s myriad of problem.

Col. Ajayi said, “no amount of cohesion can put us together, except we deliberately reason together, get our house together with the perception that God has plan for the black race through Nigeria, the largest and populous black country in the world and that there is hope for our future”

FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

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Osun 2018 Governorship Election Holds Sept 22 •APC, PDP React

By Shina Abubakar The Governorship election in Osun State would hold on September 22, 2018, while that of Ekiti State would hold on July 14, 2018.

The Independent Progressives Congress Director of National Electoral (APC) Commission (INEC) Publicity, Research and released the timetable on Strategy, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi said, he has no Thursday.

According to the doubt that the APC is a timetable released by the party to beat.

He said, the APC was commission, the commencement of ready for the election and campaign has been fixed sure of victory, saying, for April 15, 2018 for Ekiti “We have the number and and June 24, 2018 for we are not in short supply of integrity and people’s Osun.

Reacting to the support. We have done it timetable released by the once, twice and we are commission, the All going to do it again.

“In 2014 when they were armed to the teeth and with huge resources from the Federal Government, we defeated the PDP. Whether in splinter or in whole, no party in Osun can upstage the APC. “We are not swayed by their noise. That’s in their character. But just take away this: PDP is not an alternative to APC in this state. Quote me after September 22, 2018", Oyatomi said.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its reaction through a chieftain of the party, Mr Diran Odeyemi described the situation as a welcome development, saying it would drive the PDP to

hasten its reconciliatory process and reposition itself for the task ahead.

He disclosed that what INEC did was to number the days of the APC as the ruling party in the state, particularly now that the party’s congress to elect new executive members would end by November 4, emphasising that the PDP would ensure that its house is in order to take over from the APC come September 22, 2018.

He added that the leadership of the party is not relenting in its decision to pacify aggrieved members of the party and also appeal to the public, who, according to him, are

collapse at anytime and either kill or impose injury on many people”.

She hinted that owners of some of the abandoned buildings were dead and their relatives have left the building unattended to, saying, “One of the buildings, owned by a late school principal was rented out by his children after the demise of their father, but the tenants have left and since then, nobody is taking care of the house”.

She appealed that the government should help the residents over the abandoned buildings, which he noted could be a hiding place for evil

doers.

One of the landlords in the area, Mr Gideon Fasorepo lamented that a part of one of the buildings at Ajobo street collapsed recently and no relative of the owner of the building has come to the place, hence it has become bushy.

“We have been victims of armed robberies in our street, and you can’t tell, one of those abandoned houses might be their hideout.

“We have contacted some of the people we know to be the owners of some of the houses, but only one out of many have come around to clean the surroundings”.

He then called on the government to quickly intervene to guarantee security of lives and properties in the area.

Residents Raise Alarm Over Perceived Criminal Hideouts

By Modupe Omotoso Residents of Ade Festus and Ajobo streets of Gbodofon area, Osogbo, Osun State capital have raised alarm over some abandoned buildings in the area, saying that the structures have the potentials of posing security threats.

Some of the residents who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER called on the government to find a way of addressing the threat, by demolishing some of the structures, which are due for it and compel the owners of the houses to design a way that would make the structure not to pose security threat to the people.

A resident, Deaconess Modupe Akinlade said, “leaving structures like

this pose serious danger to the security of this area and we must be security conscious.

“I don’t know why the owners of these buildings will leave the structures empty like this at the detriment of the residents of this area for such a long time.

“This place can automatically serve as a hideout for criminals and besides the security threat it poses, some of them can

already tired of the APC excesses in the state for over seven years.

Odeyemi disclosed that the party has confidence in INEC’s ability to conduct free and fair election, but quickly added that the

electoral body should remember that it is a special election and should prepare for the complexities the governorship poll is likely to generate.

Court Remands Man For Stealing N4.5m, Arson

By Oluwapelumi Fasoyin and Yetunde Odunayo An Osogbo Magistrate Court has remanded one Raheem Oluwatoyin in prison for setting a company ablaze.

Magistrate Olowolagba N4,590,000 under false Adekunle who issued the pretense and thereby remand order during the committee an offence arraignment of the contrary to section 1(a) accused person in Osogbo, and punishable under refused the bail section 1(3) of the application of the defense Advance fee fraud and counsel because of the Fraud related Offence Act nature of the crime.

2006.

The charge sheet read The charge sheet had stated that the further disclosed that the accused committed the accused intended to offence at the Wolid defraud the company of International Service N676,545 on May 17, 2016, Limited company contrary to the Fraud building, Fakunle area, related offence Act 2006.

Osogbo on June 1, 2017 by Counsel for the 8:00am. accused, Abulfatai According to the charge Abdulsalam prayed the sheet, the accused person court for the bail of his willingly and unlawfully client, saying, his client is set the company’s presumed innocent by law building on fire, contrary in line with Section 36(5) to and punishable under of 1999 constitution until section 443(a) of the it is proven otherwise. criminal code of Osun The state counsel, state law 2002.

Abiodun Badiora objected The charge sheet further to the bail application, disclosed that Oluwatoyin saying the accused person stole the property of could jump bail and Wolid International interfere with the police Service company, worth investigation since the N4,590,000 which is investigation into the contrary to and matter is still on. punishable under section The Magistrate 390(9) of Osun state penal consequently ordered that code. the accused person should The charge sheet be remanded in Ilesha unveiled that the accused Prison, as she adjourned intended to defraud the the case till October 5, company by obtaining 2017.

Drama, As Accused Burst Into Tears After Hearing Charges In Court

By Sadiat Lasisi There was drama before an Osogbo Magistrate Court on Wednesday as a 38 years-old woman, burst into tears after being confronted with the charge of assault of a teenager.

According to the charge sheet, the accused hit one Sotunde Kayode with a

•One of the abandoned structures at Ajobo area, Osogbo.

bucket on head and hand which caused him several injuries and thereby

APC Challenges PDP To Public Discourse The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, has again challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a moderated public discourse on the future of the state.

A statement signed by governance in Osun: what the APC Director of was; what is and what is Publicity, Research and to come - PDP vs APC! !

Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi The party expressed said, the APC would like surprise that the PDP the PDP to articulate appeared to have lost its publicly, “why it has voice since it was been so viciously challenged by the APC to opposed to everything tell the people of Osun done by the Ogbeni Rauf what programmes and Aregbesola-led APC projects it intended to government and why substitute with what the that party wants the APC has been doing in projects abandoned or the last seven years. destroyed or both”.

According to the APC, The ruling party also the PDP and its associates tasked the media to should not be allowed to moderate the public misinform the people of discourse which event Osun with lies and would be based on, fabricated figures “Fourteen years of designed to make the

governor, and the government look bad and hated by impressionable segment of society.

The APC declared, “we seek civilised engagement with the PDP and others on the critical issues which will be moderated by the media because the best governorship election will be based on issues that require thorough enlightenment of the voting public.

The party explained further that in spite of the ICPC’s acquittal of Osun government on the false allegation by the PDP of diversion of the bailout fund for salaries, together with the Debt Management Office’s

clean bill, on the status of the state’s debt profile, “evil people are still demonising Ogbeni Aregbesola on the issues”.

“In the light of this dangerous political incitement of the PDP and the wicked fake news peddling, which other opponents of the APC government have made a habit of spreading, it has become necessary to engage these misdirected politicians and a treacherous ex-Head of Service in a public discourse at which all issues will be interrogated extensively and robustly”, the APC demanded.

The party continued that, “the people of the

State of Osun are being taken for a ride by unscrupulous politicians who are shamelessly giving the impression that the people of the state are largely gullible, hence incapable of appreciating things of international standard, developed in their communities.

“It is the reason the PDP is spreading this stupid idea that what the people of Osun need is not the beautiful standard infrastructure that Aregbesola has been constructing or the other ground-breaking projects by the government, that are putting Osun on the national and international limelight, but something far less qualitative”.

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committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 355 of the criminal code of Osun state law 2003.

The accused person, according to the charge sheet committed the offence at 61, Alekuwodo area, Osogbo, on October 3, 2017 at about 12:00noon.

Upon listening to the charge sheet read to her, the accused person burst into tears wondering what could have warranted such charges against her.

She subsequently pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against her.

The defence counsel, B.A Oyewale pleaded with the court to admit her client to bail on the most liberal terms, saying the offence was bailable in nature.

However, the Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Sunday Ajayi did not oppose the application.

The Presiding Magistrate, Olowolagba then admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50,000 and a surety residing within the jurisdiction of the court.

She then adjourned the matter till November 22, 2017 for definite hearing.

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Review & Outlook

4

My Thoughts On Our Path To Greatness - Governor Aregbesola The occasion of the 57th anniversary of national independence should give us a cause for deep reflection and critical thinking without necessarily taking anything away from the celebration. I use this occasion to congratulate Nigerians, the good people of Osun in particular.

It is a thing of great joy, irrespective of our collective or individual circumstances, to be alive to celebrate the anniversary of our nation’s independence.

For some of us who were born before independence, it was a momentous event for us. Though I was a child at independence in 1960, the ferments of the struggle against colonialism still remained with us in my growing up years while the substitution and replacement of white colonialists with our people that followed was dramatic enough to give us a deeper appreciation of independence. With the benefit of hindsight, some of the hopes and aspirations of the pre and immediate post independence era have been betrayed and this is regrettable.

We dreamt then of Nigeria becoming a superpower in one or two decades after independence. This dream was even shared by some of the great powers of the era who saw us as potential competitors, first for regional hegemony and also on a global scale in economic, social, political, sporting and diplomatic contests. Many of them have since relaxed, feeling their fears then were unfounded. However, the dream of greatness is an undying one. Nigeria can and will still be great.

Though this issue has been over flogged, it still needs reiterating – that our bane since military interregnum has been overt reliance on rent from crude oil. Let us be clear on this, oil is a blessing, not a curse. The problem is what you make of it. Oil has been a blessing in the Scandinavian countries, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Angola, United States, Britain, Norway, Venezuela, Canada, Russia and several other places where it has been well utilized as a catalyst for development and wealth creation. Our own problem, like several oil rich nations, is that we live on its rent and do not build any productive activity around it.

That is why, beyond exportation, oil is practically useless for us. We cannot even refine for local consumption until current efforts by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Even then, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources told us recently that 92 per cent of local consumption is still being imported at the cost of $28 billion in

‘

Now, corruption has made the scarcity to be worse.

Corruption is evil, it disrupts the development process and should be stamped out. However, without corruption, we are still a poor nation, even with oil.

’

2016. We then import every other thing, including food, clothing and most of our building materials. Now, the price of oil has fallen and the portents are still bad.

This is in the wake of a tectonic shift in technology from internal combustion engines to electrical engines in automobiles.

Nevertheless, a lot of people still believe we are rich with crude oil, only if there is equitable distribution of the resources.

Now, corruption has made the scarcity to be worse. Corruption is evil, it disrupts the development process and should be stamped out. However, without corruption, we are still a poor nation, even with oil. Let us do this simple calculation.

Nigeria’s daily production quota from OPEC is put at 2.1 million barrels per day.

Let us note that we have never met this production and sales quota in the last 10 years.

Nevertheless, if we multiply this imaginary production quota with 365 days, which make a year, we have 766.5 million barrels of crude oil as our total foreign exchange oil earning resource. This is assuming there is no production disruption from militants’ activities in the Niger Delta and unsold inventory which could be up to half a million barrels sometimes.

Since oil sells for an average of $50 now, this will give us $38.325 billion in total sales per annum. Remember we have not deducted production and associated expenditures; this is the gross income, joint

The process of bringing about that alteration, or the effort we put into achieving this, is called work. The initial condition or base material for these processes is often as freely set by nature, while the derived output or product is as contrived by man in his imagination.

Thus, sound notes put together productively equals music, otherwise it is noise. Rubbles put together constructively is a house, otherwise it is just a dump of rubbles. The challenge before us as a nation is therefore to earn income from productivity, not from rent. On this note, I will like to posit that we should get 50 million of our compatriots to be working i.e. engaged in productive activities that will bring them at least N25,000 a month. From this, N1.25 trillion will be generated in the economy every month from real productive engagement.

These jobs can be created and paid for by ways and means in diverse areas of the economy like agriculture and food production, clothing and footwear, housing, environment, critical public infrastructure like roads, bridges, airports, railways, water resources development etc that will provide basic needs for the people and cut our imports by 90 per cent, reducing foreign goods to critical machineries and raw materials we do not have at home. This will catapult Nigeria into a superpower within two decades.

In Osun we are already working on this. We are striving to put at least one million of our over four million population to work. If they earn a minimum of N25,000 a month, a 10 per cent tax from this will give us revenue of N2.5billion every month. This amount will be sufficient to run the government, pay workers, develop our state and bring prosperity to all. If this is replicated in all the states of the federation, Nigeria will be prosperous without oil money. This is my dream for our country and it is my sincere hope that at this occasion of our independence celebration, leaders in the public and private sectors will critically engage this idea. Once again, I congratulate all Nigerians and wish us all a happy Independence celebration.

•AREGBESOLA

venture partners are assumed volunteers.

If we divide this amount by 170 million, which is our conservative population estimate, it goes round to roughly $225.44 per head per annum. This is further reducible to $18.786 in a month. At an exchange rate of N370, it amounts to N7,000.

This calculation simply means that every Nigerian is entitled to N7,000 monthly from oil wealth at best! How about income from other sources? Since oil accounts for 70 per cent of total national revenue, this figure will only rise to N10,000. Let’s say someone wants to experiment with this calculation and give to every Nigerian N10,000 unearned income, it means there will be no government; bureaucracy and associated wages, paying salaries, no executive, legislature and the judiciary, no police, military, public education, roads, airport, international relations, etc. This without a doubt means anarchy. I have gone to this length to demonstrate that we are not rich at all, even with the oil wealth.

•Ogbeni Aregbesola is the Governor of The per capita income from oil would probably have been better if we have just Osun state in Nigeria. one tenth of our population.

This makes the issue of diversification of our economy and productivity imperative.

Publisher – Moremi Publishing Productivity is the ability to House Ltd. alter any state of matter or service, alone or in combinaActing Editor – Kazeem Mohammed tions into a more desirable (0806-220-7954) form – product or service.

OSUN DEFENDER

Lagos Editor

Still On Osogbo/Okinni/Ilobu Road Let me again appeal to the Federal Government and the State Government of Osun to come to the aid of residents of Osogbo/ Okinni/Ilobu Road axis on the bad condition of their roads, which has not received any attention over the years.

Residents of the area have to go through difficulties in accessing their homes due to the bad condition of the road, and even in some emergency cases have gone beyond control, as travelling through the route has always been a serious thing.

Several appeals have gone to the state and federal governments for

interventions, all to no avail, hence the road remain dilapidated.

While the Osun government can be exonerated on the bad condition of the road, because the road belongs to the federal

government, the same thing cannot be said of the government at the centre, moreso that we have a representative in Abuja, in person of the Deputy Speaker of the

House of Representatives, Honourable Lasun Yusuff who is well positioned to influenced the reconstruction of the road.

The irony of it all is that Honourable Yusuff

passes through the road on weekly basis, especially of recent when he started consultations for his ambition to occupy governorship seat in the state next year.

While individuals have done their best to ensure that the road is passable, they do not have the financial wherewithal to ensure its sustainability, hence the need for g o v e r n m e n t interventions.

Much as the state government can be exonerated, being a closer government to the people than the federal, we appeal that something should be done, even if it is just grading of the road.

Residents of the axis will quite appreciate any intervention coming from any quarter.

•WALE Okinni.

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MAGAZINE FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

Oluwo’s 50th Birthday:

Kingship Is About Service To Humanity - Oluwo The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi will on Saturday, 7th of October, 2017 clock 50. In an interview with some selected journalists in Iwo, he shed light on kingship in Yorubaland, his journey to the throne and his vision for Iwoland among other issues. ISRAEL AFOLABI was there. Excerpts: Question: How do you see kingship generally?

Oluwo: Our history as Yorubas is very rich and God has given me the opportunity to see the past. In the olden days, nobody has a land and there was no king, people used to fight around and look for ways to survive.

When Oduduwa, the God-sent one came, he was the first to start a government, and because he knew about kingship that it why he started it.

Our culture is rich and beautiful, but our kings caused the problem we have with us. We have the problem from our kings themselves who brought in many things that our progenitor did not even teach us.

Can anyone tell me any deity that Oduduwa worship? If anyone can give me one, I will cease to become a king and I will surrender my crown and leave the palace. This is not about Christianity or Islam. There was no Christianity or Islam during Abraham, but Abraham has only one spirituality, which is the highest power; same thing with Moses and others. It is also the same thing with our fore father.

Yes, we had leaders in Ile-Ife before Oduduwa, but there was no Oba, and it was the Oduduwa that launched it.

So some people will say we have Oba before in Ile-Ife, like Obalufon and etc, but no, they are changing history, these people were leaders that Oduduwa met.

So, Oduduwa never worship Sango who was the 3rd king in Oyo, Ogun who was the 4th King in Ife; definitely he did not know them. We can only celebrate these deities because they are our heroes of the past, but not worshiping them like God because our progenitors did not do that. It is just a way of fooling people.

So, in defining kingship, it is all about service to the people and if you serve people diligently, they will and you will be well respected by all your subjects.

You can become a king of a reputable and big towns and think you can still run a business successfully. It means, you must surrender everything to serve the people.

Q: What have been your experience so far on the throne?

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Can anyone tell me any deity that Oduduwa worship? If anyone can give me one, I will cease to become a king and I will surrender my crown and leave the palace. This is not about Christianity or Islam.

Oluwo: My experience that I am describing to you is about service to

He doesn’t sleep because of us, eat nor has a wife; He serves us. If you serve your people diligently, you don’t need repeated prayers, rather, your prayer should be your good deeds to humanity and your impact on peoples’ lives. The people you have impacted positively will be the ones that will be praying for you; that is why I do not need to pray for myself.

If you are a king, you must emulate that power; I emulate God because God is the only king. The position of traditional ruler that people are honouring is a position of God, because •Continued on page 6

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humanity and the best attribute of God is service, God has no life-call pleasure,

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Kingship Is About Service To Humanity - Oluwo

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After Awolowo that we all refer to as the father of we Yoruba, is it not a shame that we have not seen a king that we can say, this is the father of we Yoruba.

•Continued from page 5 Obas are the face of God on earth, God just chose me as an Oba to sit on the throne. If I do good or bad, that is my prayer. It is not prayer that is answered, it is what God decide for you that come to past.

Q: You are believed by many to be controversial?

Oluwo: I don’t see myself as being controversial, I see myself as a face of God on earth, and the way of God are difficult for man to comprehend because most of them are proverbs. Age doesn’t determine wisdom and education also is not wisdom. Once you are difficult to understand due to new things you are bringing on board, people see you as controversial.

Q: Going by the new understanding that you are bringing into kingship, how well will you say you are prepared for this position?

Oluwo: You cannot prepare for kingship. It is God that actually prepare someone when you give everything, and leave everything to higher power of God. I do not say anything except what God want me to say. You can’t prepare for the throne because it is not a thing that you learn. You can go to an arabic school and become and Islamic cleric; you can also go to school of theology and become a Pastor, but there is no school to learn about kingship position.

Q: Can you be specific on your journey to kingship, and how you are preparing before you became a king?

Oluwo: My becoming a king is the will of God, because God sent me specific job. Like the 16th ruler of IleIfe, the Ooni Oluwogbagida who happen to give Telu the crown. I am the 16th Oluwo of Iwo; when I wanted to do my coronation the organiser chose 16-1-2016. All these numbers are mystery and they have meaning.

Q: In your view, what should be the roles of traditional rulers?

Oluwo: As a king and as a servant of the people, you must be involved in the service to your people. Nobody would ask for the white men to come and rule this place because “Ti ogirip[ ko ba lanu, Alangba ko le wo be”, it is we that will rule ourselves. If you serve your people well, you will get the respect that you deserve.

Q: Are the Obas not doing this before?

Oluwo: They were not, “Nigbati won

lo nberi sidi ogun”. Even during the slave trade, se oyinbo lowa ibi yi ti won wa n gbe awon eeyan wa ni, oyinbo wa lori omi nii. Awa lahun di awon eyan wa to san’gun lo feebo (It is we that take our people to white men for slave trade). It was we that black that gave ourselves away to white men. India, Arab, Chinese didn’t do that. We black must clean our minds and that is what I am doing now.

Q: What specific roles should traditional rulers be playing?

Oluwo: They should be serving the people diligently and not to be running around looking for money; when you serve your people diligently, money would come to you.

Let me tell you, kings also deserve to be served by the people, but they have chosen not to be active, they just sit down in the palace, when the office of the king should be in the town. It is “Oba ilu, kii se oba aafin, Olorun ni n be laafin” (It is a king of the town, not a palace, it is only God that is in the palace). The only abode of God on earth is palace not church or mosque and that is why kings are the representatives of God on earth.

Q: Have you seen any traditional ruler that subscribe to your idea of kingship?

Oluwo: I think there are some, I met Oba of Lagos one day when people want to greet him as kabiesi and he said I am not kabiyesi, only God is the majesty, but I don’t know about service to the people.

Q: How can our value system be reconstructed and redeemed in line with your own understanding?

Oluwo: There are so many thing that we should not be doing, but we are doing. We are doing some fetish thing like putting sacrifice on the junction and the irony is that the first person that sights such fetish sacrifice will curse you. Unfortunately, we have taken that to be part of our culture. Instead of that, why can’t we modernise things and fill potholes in such areas and people pray for you. What sacrifice could be more than that? It is what you have done that will pray for you. There is a lot of problem concerning what we have brought into our culture. All our cultural heritages have been occupied by few people called themselves animists and turned them to god. It is done in such a way that can pastors or Imams can not visit our cultural sites,

only traditionalists go there.

Osun Osogbo should be able to get more tourists than that, if it is meant to celebrate the heroes involved and not worshipping them. If it is just to celebrate, anybody can go there with their children to see natural heritage.

Do you know that if well packaged and devoid of worshipping our tourism sites in Nigeria are enough to sustain our economy? We have over 180 million people in Nigeria and if just 10 million Nigerians are visiting these tourist centres without attaching any form of idols to it, we will be very rich in this country.

We have lumped our culture with religion and if we continue that way, we cannot move forward. This is a civilised world and we need to follow the trend of civilisation because it will change things for us. We have good structure on ground but our belief is different.

Q: Are you saying kings also contribute to our problems?

Oluwo: After Awolowo that we all refer to as the father of we Yoruba, is it not a shame that we have not seen a king that we can say, this is the father of we Yorubas. We must try as much as possible to reconstruct our social values and that is when we can move forward.

Ordinarily, traditional rulers should be commander, but now where is that command. You can’t get it because, you have been worshipping what we created, I mean the deities. That is why the Obas don’t get the deserved respect anymore. Because I have the people, I have money. The more I can impact the lives the richer I get. The business of Obas is the people and you must lead your people. I am devoting my life to the people. I am a successful king, because I serve my people.

Q: How open have you been to other princes who contested the throne with you in bringing them on board?

Oluwo: They have all come back with me; and they are all committed to be part of the development of Iwoland because they have seen in me a

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traditional ruler that identifies with the people, serving the people and committed to take Iwoland to a greater height.

Q: What is your advice for the government?

Oluwo: Government must be committed to the service of the people.

Just like the governments Oba’s business should be his people; people will respect you as their leader if you think about them. Obas doesn’t need to struggle around for wealth, because Obaship itself is a work on its own.

Q: How do you unwine?

Oluwo: I socialise, and I dance a lot when I have the opportunity. As a traditional ruler, there are places you should not be found, because what you do is what people will emulate.

However, whenever I have the opportunity to dance among my people, I dance a lot.

Q: How do you cope with overtures from women?

Oluwo: I am so busy and people surround me every time and that means you won’t see me with such thing.

Beside, Obas don’t need many wives, it is an old version and as a king I have to lead by example. Besides, my wife has been so supportive indeed since I became king, hence I don’t need to look for women as traditional ruler. There is no point in traditional ruler having more than one wife.

Q: There are some places you could go in the past, but now you cannot?

Oluwo: I want to say that it is part of service to my people. The kings are supposes to emulate God, though, they cannot be God. Though I still visit some places to mingle with the people. I also engage on some sport like playing table tennis.

I play Table Tennis and take a walk around. My people can testify to it.

Q: How do you feel like as Oluwo being in the league of prominent personalities in the country?

Oluwo: It just like submitting myself to God, we should give all glory to God because of his service rendering.

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Osun CSDP:

COMMUNITY

FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

Transforming The Rural Areas

In an attempt to revolutionise the development at the rural areas, the Agency for Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) was set up in some states of the federation. The State of Osun is one of the 27 states in Nigeria that currently participate in the World Bank assisted Community and Social Development Project. The Osun CSDP was set up in 2009 during the administration of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

The administration of majority of the residents Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola are expected to be in has since inception up the attendance. At the PRA, ante of support for the election is conducted to CSDP, by paying the choose members of the counterpart fund of the Community Project state as and when due, Monitoring Committee with a view to ensuring (CPMC) made up of eight development at the rural people headed by a areas in line with the six- Chairman. point integral action plan It is the apex body, of the administration. under which there are Even in the midst of lean three other subresources, records have committees the shown that the Procurement, Operation government never and Maintenance, and reneged on payment. the Monitoring and The project which has Evaluation. the backing of the Federal The CPMC is the body government is that ensures that the aim established to assist of the community is development in the rural achieved by ensuring areas as it affects that money released is infrastructure like appropriately used for provision of transformer the purpose it is meant. to aid the supply of The procurement electricity, road committee is responsible rehabilitation to ease for the purchase of any movement of people and material or equipment goods, provision of needed to accomplish the potable water and the task. The committee construction of civic responsible for the centres among others. operation and The beauty of the maintenance of the project is that projects project is the Operation that would be executed in and Maintenance subany community are committee, while the undertaken by the people Monitoring and who voluntarily and Evaluation committee is willingly choose among to ensure that the project their pressing needs the is constantly being one they need most. monitored and Whatever project the evaluated. c o m m u n i t y After all these overwhelmingly chooses committees might have would be the one, they been put its place, the will ask the CSDP to Field Appraisal takes fund. They choose from place where officials of at least three needs. the agency and other The idea behind the professionals from the CSDP is community relevant State ministries participation, as such visit the community to community which appraise steps taken. desires the project will If satisfied with the pay 10 per cent steps taken so far, a onecounterpart fund, while day seminar is conducted the state government where different officials through the CSDP pays of the agency sensitise the remaining 90 per cent and educate community for the cost of the project. leaders on how best to go The revenue from the about the project. The government is seminar which takes a subsequently sourced whole day is a prelude to from the World Bank and the presentation of is paid in stages within a cheque to the certain period of time. community.

According to an official At the seminar, the of the community, the leaders of the community various stages to be are warned against the followed, include a abandonment of the formal application by a chosen project, as the community in which fund that would be made officials from the CSDP available would be would subsequently visit enough to carry out the the community to assess project. This is so because whether the demand is the agency would have real and just or a strategy done its research to by some few people to ascertain the value of the dupe the government project before directing and the community. the community to If the agency is embark on it. satisfied, the community Elementary bookwould have to forward keeping and accounts are them another letter taught at the seminar inviting them for the which comes in handy to Participatory Rural help streamline the Appraisal (PRA) where spending habit of the

community on the project. Women are encouraged to actively participate in the activities of the CSDP while in most cases they are elected treasurers.

Community leaders are encouraged to meet regularly to ensure that decisions are based on consensus and not at the whim and caprices of the chairman. They are however, warned that if they run foul of the regulations of the agency, the law will take its due course.

The total amount to be given is usually divided into three tranches. The

first tranche is presented in the community usually by the General Manager, Mrs. Funmi Abokede.

The subsequent tranches are released based on the judicious use of the first one and this takes place in their corporate head office at old Governor’s office, Osogbo.

Communities that benefit from such developmental projects are advised to make good use of it, because not every community that applies scale through.

The inherent benefit is that such communities that benefit can also enjoy the bounty if the first

money is properly utilized.

The local government council area which covers the community is involved because there are certain documents that have to be approved by it.

An account specially opened by the community is also demanded to which the agency’s cheque is paid.

The account warehouses the community’s 10 per cent counterpart funding.

Cash are not withdrawn anyhow except for purposes specifically meant for.

Commending the

Abokede-led agency, the Chairman, Oloruntobi Community Ota-Efun Area, Osogbo, Murtala Agboola, while receiving a cheque of N5 million from the agency for the procurement of transformer last week said the agency has been very active in transforming the rural areas in Osun with the assistance of the state government.

He urged that the tempo should be sustained for more communities across the state to feel the impact of the government.

•(L-R) Chairman, Oloruntobi CPMC, Murtala Agboola; Treasurer, Mrs Felicia Awodeji, Internal Auditor of CSDP, Mr Rasheed Adebayo and the General Manager of CSDP, Mrs Funmi Abokede, during the presentation of CSDP cheque to Oloruntobi Community in Olorunda North LCDA, recently.

PHOTO: SHOLA ADERINTO

Ede East Council Boss Reiterates Commitment To Peoples’ Empowerment The Executive Secretary of Ede East Local Council whatever they were urging the participants to Development Area, Sekona, State of Osun, taught for them to be able be more to be focused Honourable Fatoki Rafiu has assured the people of to stand on their feet and with a view to getting the council, of his administration’s commitment in be self reliance. tools for sustainable empowering the people as a way of eradicating He also promised on development. poverty. behalf of the council to In the entourage of the According to a assist the participants Executive Secretary Fatoki commended the statement by the financially for them to be were, Comrade Abiodun Governor, State of Osun, Information Officer of the able to establish on their Gboyega Ojo, the Council council, Hammed Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola own.

Manager; members of the Oyeniyi, Fatoki gave the for allowing the state In her address, the council’s caretaker government to partner Focal Officer of the management committee, assurance while with UNDP for such a UNDP in the State, Mrs. Lamidi Waheed, declaring open a capacity D.O. Martins thanked the Ayodele Mojeed building workshop, laudable programme.

He then advised the Executive Secretary for Olatunde, Ajas Mutairu tagged “Youth And participants to be serious the collaboration and the Gbadebo and Akanfe Women Empowerment Development Skill with the workshop and support in making the Idowu Sunday, as well as into practice workshop a reality, top official of the council.

Acquisition Programme” put organised by the United Nation For Development Programme (UNDP) and Osun State Sustainable Human Development Fund in collaboration with National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Ede East LCDA held at Sekona.

He said, such workshops where different skill acquisition would be learnt is very important at this period when many home were being confronted with economic challenges and •The Executive Secretary, Ede East LCDA, Fatoki Rafiu (5th right) and participants poverty. at the workshop.

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBE

A Cocktail Of Rece Prize And Award Presentation To Winners Of 2017 Osun Calisthenics Competition At Aurora Event Centre, Osogbo On Wednesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Funeral Ceremony Of Late Sir Olugbemiga Olo Unique Fm Radio Station, At The Zenababs Ho

•(L-R) Vice Chancellor, UNIOSUN, Professor Labo Popoola; Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and State of Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori.

•A cross section of students, at the event.

We Have Laid 50 Years Destiny Foundation For Osun - Aregbesola

By Kehinde Ayantunji Aregbesola said his administration is conscious of the global contemporary future challenges and understands that innovations and technology will drive future survival of mankind which informed his administration huge investments in education.

Governor Aregbesola said this in Osogbo during the official Presentation of Awards and Prizes to the winners of State Calisthenics Competitions held in the nine Federal Constituencies in the state.

The governor while rolling out his achievements in education which includes building of Model Schools, Free School Feeding, Free uniform and distribution of Tablet of Knowledge said, his administration in the last seven years has raised the bar of governance and built a very solid enduring social – economic foundation for the prosperous future of the state. He explained that the world in the coming decades was going to be tough, competitive and knowledge-driven, saying any society that relegates education and innovations will suffer unimaginable social and economic depression.

According to him, “We are committed to functional and qualitative education not because the resources are available, but to secure a better future for the incoming generation that their survival would be determined by the quality of knowledge”.

“It is clear that man power is globally becoming irrelevant, in the next 10 years, there will be a car that will not need a driver, so if any one choses to be a driver, he may not get job; in the next 10 years, Robot will be planting farm seeds in large quantity, so if any one choose to be a labourer, he or she may not get job” “In the last 400 years , if someone said that there would be a plane flying on the air space, they will just be looking at the person as insane, but we have drones

now that can fly without the help of a pilot, in our generation some are Motor Drivers and they are successful, some are labourer and they are successful but the incoming generation will never succeed without quality knowledge and education.”

“Therefore our administration will not spare any efforts in promoting quality education and mode good character with unity of purpose, collective responsibility, discipline and precision that calisthenics teaches”, he said.

Aregbesola stated that Osun is the first state to organised calisthenics competitions in Nigeria to create more awareness and institutionalized the programme as part of the school curricular, saying the sport never affected the normal school activities of the students.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Mr Kola Omotunde-Young recalled that, the state first held the Calisthenics programme in 2012 to mark the 21st anniversary of the state with the aid of the Cuban consultants to train 8, 000 students but subsequent events were organized by the local coaches who are teachers of the secondary schools.

He said the just concluded competition across the state was on volunteering basis adding that the parents provided the sport kits for their children which reduces the government expenses on the competition.

The government presented N1,000,000 Cheque to the Winner in each of the 3 Senatorial Districts, and N750,000 to the first runner up while the second runner up got N500,000. Ede/ Ejigbo Egbedore Federal constituency came first in Osun West, Ikire and Iwo federal constituencies came second and third respectively.

In Osun Central, Irepodun zone came first while Ila and Ikirun zone came second and third. In Osun East, Ilesa came first, Ijebu – Ijesa came second while Ife came third.

•(L-R) Former National Assembly Member, Senator Mudashiru Husain and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

It was a gathering of prominent personalities in government and private establishments last weekend at the burial ceremony of the former chairman, Unique Fm, Ilesa,

the late Chief Abiola Olomi.

Gathering at the event were family members of the deceased, friends and associates including the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf

Faridah Adesola Adel

•A cross section of family members and friends at the events.

THE SOCIAL REGISTER

R 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

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Recent Happenings

lugbemiga Olomi Abiola, The Former Chairman, e Zenababs Hotels And Resorts Last Weekend.

2017 Olojo Festival In Ile-Ife Last Saturday.

•A cross section of dignitaries at the event.

•A cross section of Traditional Chiefs during the programme.

ain and Chief of •Son of the deceased, Mr Diran Abiola (right); and others, at the event.

Aregbesola, his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, Senator Mudashiru Hussain, among other personalities.

The event held at the Zenabab Hotels and Resorts,

Ilesa, State of Osun.

Chief Abiola Olomi was as at the time of his death, the prominent personality in Ijesaland and industrialist as well as a political leader.

Sendforth Programme For The SIWES Students From Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, At Osun Defender Newspaper.

la Adeleke Clocks One •Admin Manager of Osun Defender newspaper, Mr Murtala Agboola (3rd right) receiving a gift from the interns.

OUR SOCIAL REGISTER IS OPEN FOR YOUR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES TO BE MADE PUBLIC

•The birthday girl, Faridah posing with her birthday cake.

Spaces are available for your anniversaries such as weddings, house-warming and chieftaincy title ceremonies among other for your take. To take advantage of this, you can reach out to Murtala, 08023280935, Kazeem 08062207954 and Nike on 07032594744 Let the public know what you are doing.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

VOX POP

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Mixed Reactions Trail Agitations For LG Autonomy Of recent, agitations for Local Government Autonomy have gained ground, particularly by councils’ workers across the country. Joshua Afolabi, Ayomide Fadairo, Yetunde Odunayo, Sadiat Laisi, Blessing Oyedokun and Modupe Omotoso went to town to sample the opinions of the people on the propriety or otherwise of the agitations.

The local governments should be put to trial before giving them autonomy. Giving autonomy to local government is not a bad idea, but before giving such autonomy, the federal government should put so many things into consideration, including what have been their impacts to the grassroots.

Local government is the most sensitive level of government, which is the closest to the people at the local level, and in giving them autonomy, all options must be weighed so that the purpose will not be defeated.

If the state is under the

•Tajudeen Oyewale It is quite inappropriate for local government to be autonomous, especially in our own system of government.

How will the local government be autonomous when the federal government controls even the state government by dolling out money for them as allocation?

No doubt, there are agitations here and there for local government autonomy, but the federal government should set up panel to look into the administration of the councils and identify the problems facing them and sort them out. Giving local

• Imran Abdul-Lateef federal government, the local government must be under the umbrella of the state government, for true federalism to be on spot. The idea of giving the local government autonomy in these period of recession is not a good idea.

Giving the local government autonomy might encourage corruption, as the people at the local government levels will have free hands to do anything at will. The reason being that the state would not have the power anymore to control their actions or question them how they use the resources accrued to them. government autonomy will not solve the problem, it will only compound it.

Giving autonomous power to local governments is the most preferable way to link government with people, as local government is closer to the people.

It will ensure that the council are made to be active, because the chairman or councillor or any other officials of the government at the council levels will have a mindset that they are being monitored closely by the people and they will have that fear.

If the autonomy is given, local government will have enough resources to carry out development in their localities and that will further attract development at the grassroot levels. Stakeholders will no more complain of cash crunch and political officer holders at the councils can be easily

•Adeoye Ogundele Giving the local government autonomy is not the problem, but will they be able to manage the resources accrued to them and direct it to the right channels? If there is guarantee that they will use the money appropriately, autonomy should be allowed.

Ordinarily, local government should be strong enough to control its affairs, and when they are given autonomous power, they should be more effective, but in the real sense of it, will they?

•Ola Ajibade

•Olugbenga Babalola

Local government should not be given autonomous power because it will cause greater problem to the administration of the country.

The local government should continue to serve under the state government to make the governments at the levels to continue in peace and unity.

Giving them the autonomous power will collapse the system and rid it of the idea of checks and balances.

The federal government has power over the state government and the state too should have power to control the local government.

No, the autonomous power shouldn’t be given to the local government. Leaving local government alone to control its activities will not produce something tangible and we will later regret it If the autonomy is given to the local government there will be no checks and balances.

•Adekunmola Ayodele

•Olusola Oyedepo Balogun Government starts directly from the grassroot, hence it is good for local government to stand on its own and be autonomous.

Though, there is high level of corruption at the local level, but there is also corruption at the state and federal levels. The truth is that in this country, corruption cannot be eradicated, it can only be reduced. So corruption should not be the reason why the local government will not be given autonomy.

The law enforcement agency can investigate and prosecute anybody that breaches the law, but that should not be at the detriment of the system itself.

removed by the masses if they fail to perform to expectation.

However, in giving the autonomy, the federal government must have a committee in place to ensure that corruption level is minimally reduced.

•Ogundele Adewale In my view, it will be too bad to give autonomous power to the local government.

Reference to history, we have all forgotten that the federal government took over the schools at the local government when they were not capable of controlling then. The local government can not be given autonomous power unless they are given rules and regulation to follow.

•Mr SB Adebisi The issue of local government autonomy came to the limelight during the era of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo and since then, there had been the call for the autonomy.

In my view, granting autonomy to the local government will enable easy access of funds directly from the federal government for developmental purposes and payments of salaries promptly.

When the local governments are fully granted autonomy, it will help a lot in the area of salary payment for council workers and address the issue of slow development.

Therefore, I fully support that autonomous power should be given to local government to further localise development.

•Afolabi John

•Adewumi Balogun Giving the local government autonomy is not good at this time; it will only add to our problem in the future. The states that has revenue than the local government are suffering, not to talk of local government that control homogenous communities.

Local government autonomy should be granted as a matter of necessity because it is the only avenue through which governance could get to the grassroot. The essence of governance is to ensure that the grassroots are penetrated in terms of development. If the local government itself is not autonomous financially and otherwise the benefit and dividends of democracy will never get to the grassroot. The truth is, in practice the allocations that are given to local governments are being diverted by the state governors who use the money for something else.

The local government chairman or the local government council stand in a better position to access and made proper assessment and evaluation of things that are needed at the grassroot and provide for those things, unlike the state governor who will concentrate the government or governmental activities at the state capital only and leave the other local government areas to suffer.

Youth development and other developmental programmes would better be carried out at the grassroot level when local government councils are autonomous.

•Barrister Ugwu Remigus

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Growing Beards

Today, growing a beard is common among the average Nigerian youth, middle aged and even aged men. It has become a trend among young men, not minding its origin or when it started; many people are now seen sporting different styles of beards.

A beard is a collection of facial hair that grows on the chin a n d cheeks of humans a n d s o m e an imals.

I n humans, o n l y a do lesc en t or adult males are able to grow beards.

However, it is not unusual to see females spiting facial hairs.

Just like every fashion, growing beards is not without its ups and downs depending on genes; a beard can usually takes 2 to 8 months to grow, depending on the desire. There are different types of beards – like the chin strap, full beard, extreme beard, goatee and hipster.

As a dominant fashion, it‘s like a hurricane when it’s on, no one does stop it. Religious trend too make people grow beards. Remember Leviticus 21:5 (kjv) which reads ‘they shall not make any holdness on their heads, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beards, nor make any cuts in their flesh.

Also in Islam, growing a beard is encouraged. Beards are natural to humanity, let no one cut them off when

they grow.

New research made from a random sample of ladies favour a bearded guy.

At least 85 per cent of ladies love a bearded guy with also neatness attached to it. About 10 per cent are of the notion that it must be moderate, not the fully overgrown beard and that they must be neatly kept. The remaining 5 per cent does not like it, due to the understanding that it itches them whenever they want to kiss their partner. Overall, it shows that women find bearded men more attractive.

Though beards could be itchy and very hard to maintain, the merits outweigh the demerits. Having a beard is not only stylish, it has health benefits.

Here are some reasons why as a guy you should keep beards: Beards protect your face from the sun: The more your face is exposed to the sun, the more likely you become susceptible to sunburn, wrinkle and skin cancer, especially in hot weather.

Beards help fight cold: Beard can actually raise the temperature of the skin providing warmth and helping the body fight viruses.

Beards keep guys warm: Surprisingly, facial hair can act as a natural form of protection against cold.

Beards keep the face warm and stance uncomfortable dryness.

Facial hair slows the aging process: Beards can make a young man look older. Ironically, it gives the skin a younger look. This is because facial hair

makes you look good instead of repelling ladies.

Backpacking on Professional Look: Being a student, yes this is allowed because you will need to have with you some books each day but when those days are over, you just have to drop that and compliment your look with either a leather messenger bag or briefcase and preserve your backpack for camping. You empty those over stuffed jacket or trouser and put your personal belongings into a chic man bag.

Wearing Socks With Sandals: I am still amazed why some men persist in this outlook despite how weird and not nice it looks. This is one of the modern day fashion crime. Please stop this act, many ladies can’t even go on. Some guys wonder why at first, a lady act or seem interested, then all of a sudden they lose interest and walk away. You chased them away with your bizarre sense of dressing.

If it’s Loose

Sex & Life

By Damilola Ojenike

prevents water from running off Twitter: @twitter-d­_real_dee; the skin, keeping it moisturised and maintaining a protective Instagram: life_of_dee_ barrier on the surface.

E-mail: Beards prevent Asthma damilolaojenike@gmail.com attacks: Those with serious asthma problem know that pollen and New research made dust can be silent killers. But beards that from a random go north of the mouth and into the nasal area can actually prevent allergens from sample of ladies entering the nose and lungs according favour a bearded guy. to Dr Felix Chua, a respiratory physician at Harley street, a London At least 85 per cent of based health clinic. ladies love a bearded Meanwhile, with beard transplants and beard creams rising, the ‘beards guy with also gang movement’ still soaring, phrases neatness attached to like “go beard or go home” are going viral, hence the beard fashion may not it. About 10 per cent be leaving the fashion scene soon. Jesus are of the notion that Christ had a beard, even Santa Claus has beards. The executive governor of it must be moderate, the State of Osun grows a beard, just not the fully like the nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has beards. overgrown beard and Join the ‘beard gang’ today.

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that they must be neatly kept.

Fashion Turn-Offs In Guys

I have come to realise over the years that there are some things that guys do to push women off, but they might be wondering why ladies do not find them attractive.

Below are few things that could be called turn-offs that guys do without even knowing.

Stuffing Your Pockets Are you trying to make your backside fatter or what? Your pockets are meant for hands only and sometimes to keep change. Some guys keep hand-full of cash, three month old receipts, cell phones, sets of keys, big wallets, and a stash of business cards. Stuffing your pocket is a major turnoff to ladies because it makes you look like you have extra ass in just one part of your backside and when it’s time for some to sit, you see them bringing out different things to display on the table just to be able to sit comfortably and you begin to wonder if all those items came out from just one pocket. To avoid being turn-off it’s time to get a bag or you could have a blazer with inner pocket in which you can distribute your daily necessities and still maintain that s l e e k appearance.

Wear ing Over-Sized Clothing: To many ladies, this is one of the g r e a t e s t sh o rt c o m in gs generally in male fashion; you should put on clothes that

11

FASHION

Use A Belt: I really don’t know what has gotten into the youths of today, WITH you see them wearing loose trousers from jeans to even suit trousers a n d because it is over sized, they off and still be taken seriously. Fix the tend to leave it that problem.

Please Use Cologne: The way a man way and some even go as far as putting smells is very important to women, as it into under their it helps assess your potential as a mate.

Nothing disgusts many ass or in between. women more in men This annoying than body odour. dressing which Guys, please is popularly embrace the known as use of sagging is one colognes, of the worse deodorant, fashion crimes in body spray the history of o r fashion. Guys, any pe rfum es influential, pretty, respected, as this will smart lady wouldn’t want to help a great be associated with you because deal. After of this annoying turn-off. That selecting is one of the reasons why belts cologne that are manufactured and so if it works best with loose, use a belt and make it firm your natural body and simple. I’m meeting you for the chemistry, apply one first time and I don’t care about the colour of your under wear. Isn’t that squirt to your neck and another to your why it’s called underwear because it’s wrists. Refresh no more than once in the supposed to stay under your clothing? day and night for light scents.

These Fashion Turn-Offs can be Gigantic Jewellery: When you are spotted with gigantic jewellery, it image denting and do not forget, your brings out the green-eyed monster in appearance matters a lot! So it would women because they really don’t like it be nice if you practice these few tips I if your bling is bigger than theirs. have shared with you. The way you are What’s more, oversized jewellery is a dressed is the way you would be look very few men can successfully pull addressed.

TEMITOPE AKINYELE

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

Osun LG Election: OSIEC Calls For Party Registration

By Ismaeel Uthman closely by way of The OSIEC Chairman urged all political parties The Osun Independent Electoral Commission constant interactions.

(OSIEC) has called for registration of all political parties with registered offices in Osun with the commission, in preparation for the conduct of elections into all Local Government, Local Council The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Development Authorities (LCDAs), Area and Adewale Akanbi (Telu I) has been described as a Administrative Offices in the State of Osun. round peg in a round hole, who has been making According to a to all, Oladitan said the all efforts to see to the uplifment of his people since statement by the OSIEC must be seen to be he mounted the throne.

Chairman of OSIEC, fair to all political parties This was contained in the ancient town and Otunba Segun Oladitan, and other stakeholders, to the the political parties’ hence the reason for the a press statement issued Secretary registration with the registration of political and signed by a Government of the State of Osun, Alhaji Moshood prominent indigene of commission started on parties to know them Wednesday October 4 and ends on Monday, October 9, 2017.

Oladitan stated that the registration exercise would hold at OSIEC Secretariat, Old Ikirun Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf intended beneficiaries.

Road, Testing Ground Aregbesola has commended the Federal In her reaction at the Area, Osogbo.

Government on the progress being recorded by the event, the Head, SCTU, The OSIEC chairman Cash Programme Initiative of the President Mrs. Adeola Oyebamiji maintained that the party Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. commended the State registration is important Governor Aregbesola spoke through the Head Government of Osun in view of the strategic who was represented by of Operations, SOCU, through the SOCU of position of political the Coordinator, State of Mr. Sola Adetoye Osun YESSO for the parties in electoral Osun Operation maintained that the supports received which matters.

Coordinating Unit of the credibility of the Single has seen the Cash For the forthcoming Youth Employment and Register of the Poor and Transfer Programme LG election to be Social Support Operation Vulnerable Households record significant successful and acceptable (YESSO), Mr. Olufemi generated by the CBT progress in its activities.

Ifaturoti stated this at the process of Osun YESSO CHANGE OF NAME Mining of Selected through dint of hard CHANGE OF NAME Beneficiaries by the State work could not be That I formerly known That I formerly known Cash Transfer Unit overemphasized. as ADEBAYO TOYIN as MGB AB OR (SCTU) from the Single MOJIRADE, now wish He then enjoined the TOCHUKWU, now wish Register of the Poor and State Cash Transfer Unit to be known and addressed to b e known and Vulnerable Households (SCTU) to make the best as add ressed as TOCHUK WU painstakingly generated AGB OOLA TOYIN JOSHUA OTITO. All by the Community Based use of the list of MOJIRADE. All former former documents remain beneficiaries, mined for Targeting (CBT) process documents remain valid. the social safety net valid. FIDELITY Bank of Osun YESSO. General public should and general public should Mr. Ifaturoti who programme to get to the take note. take note.

to cooperate with the commission by taking the

registration seriously.

exercise

Osun SSG Congratulates Oluwo On 50th Birthday

Cash Transfer Programme Receives Boost In Osun

Adeoti, while congratulating the frontline monarch on his 50th birthday.

According to Alhaji Adeoti, the monarch mounted the throne of his forefathers at a time many communities across the country were yearning for younger generation to lead them.

“Since he mounted the throne, Oba Akànbi has brought tremendous positive changes to the immediate environment in particular and the state in general through rehabilitation of township roads and other public infrastructures.

“This has also reflected in the monarch’s efforts in catering for the poor and needy in Iwoland through regular distribution of food and

clothing materials.

“Widows and indigent students of Iwoland origin have never had it so good,” Alhaji Adeoti stressed.

The SSG therefore prayed that Oba Akanbi celebrates more of the day in good health, abundance and prosperity in the land of the living.

While further congratulating the monarch on his special day, Alhaji Adeoti appreciated him for promoting the image of the town through all his efforts in building bridges across the country as reflected in his numerous visits to fellow prominent traditional rulers in various geopolitical zones of the nation.

PUBLIC NOTICE That I formerly known as JIMOH KEHINDE OLAIDE is the same person as JIMOH KUDIRAT OLAIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME That I formerly known as AB DUL RASAQ OPEY EMI AB EFE, now wish to be known and addressed as RASAKI OPEYEMI AB EF E. All for mer documents remain valid.

FIRST Bank and general public should take note.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

HEALTH

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

13

Resident Raise Alarm Over Illegal Dump Sites Despite all efforts by the state government of Osun the state government to ensure a healthy environment, residents of some came up with the O’Clean part of Osogbo, the state capital have continually trucks which had since disregarded these efforts by disposing refuse been packing the refuse indiscriminately without recourse to environmental for disposal. laws.

According to her, it was Investigations carried The retired civil servant so easy that nobody ever out by this medium who also indicted some thought of using private revealed that the government officials refuse disposal agents, unhygienic attitude noted that on many saying, “now that the rampant in the interior occasions, Environmental O’Clean truck were no parts of some areas like Health Officers who visit longer frequent, people Oja-Oba, Oke-Baale, Isale the area were bribed so have resulted to dumping Osun, Oluode among that action would not be refuse indiscriminately. others such areas. taken against them.

“As at now, the O’Clean While some of the A popular patent trucks do not come residents attributed the medicine seller in one of around again and we do indiscriminate refuse the areas around Oja Oba, not have any other choice, dumping in their localities generally known as we reverted to our to the unavailability of Mummy Joseph disclosed previous mode of public refuse disposal to OSUN DEFENDER that disposing refuse. units, some noted that the in the past, refuse disposal “As you can see, there act was careless and was not a problem to them is a communal refuse capable of causing as private refuse disposal dump situated some few endemic if proactive steps agents visited their areas metres from here where are not taken by the at least twice within the most people in this area community and the week, saying, that has dump their refuse and on government to curb such stopped since 2013 when certain days we come hazardous act and pollution.

A resident identified as Alfa revealed that where Owing to the recent blackout experienced by the official refuse disposal unit was installed was many communities in Olorunda local government quite a distance from the of the State of Osun, health experts have started to neighbourhood, hence warn that with prolonged darkness and exposure people found it extremely to fumes from power generating sets, there is tendency that some of the residents of these difficult to use it.

He pleaded that the communities were going to start developing state government should negative reactions. resuscitate O’Clean Accor ding to Mrs. also lead to illnesses and trucks, as they were Esther Oke, a retired health complaints. enjoying their services.

Chief Nursing officer, Meanwhile, residents Alfa who also frown at she revealed that malaria of t he affected residents who have the fever; skin rashes are communities have habit of dumping refuse amongst ailments that decided t o stag e a into the drainages and would be common with protest march t o the other water channels peopl e especi ally offi ce of the Ib adan especially during rainy children under the age of Electricit y Company season, said stiffer 5 in those areas.

(IBEDC), Osogbo to penalties should be taken She stated that demand for power to be against such individuals. because of the poor level suppl ied to t hese “You have to visit this of hygiene amongst communities after they area when it rains and see Niger ians, st able have been in darkness firsthand the unpardonable things electricity supply had for over a month. been a contribut ory According to residents of this area do. inf ormati on at the “Immediately it starts to factor to sound health.

Also, she revealed that disposal of OSUN pour, my friends and the neighbours would use the fumes are also a problem DEFENDER, as many toxic agents blackout started on the opportunity to dump all their rubbish in the open would be released into 4th of September, 2017 the air from the and since then the drains. communities that were “Without being told, I generators.

“Many of t hese affected as a result of the know, to them it is a relieve but somewhere residents because of the inability of IBEDC to along the line, those heat would want to sleep supply power had been garbage being dumped with their generators in perpetual darkness.

Yout hs and some into the open drains working till dawn, but would cause severe some may not take community leaders who damage along the precautions to properly took to the social media drainage system. ventilate their homes condemned the “I am also before sleeping and distribution company knowledgeable enough to some may end up dying for its inabilit y to know that one of these as a result of exposure to provi de them with damages is the issue of carbon monoxide; a gas pow er for almos t a flooding when all the more toxic than carbon month and dared their drainage system would dioxide. officials not to bring its have clogged.

“This toxic gas works monthly electricity bills “I have warned and by paralysing the nerves as they were ready to threatened all to no avail of the lungs and causing unlea sh mayhem on but this illegal act persists. asphyxiation”. them.

Maybe this would attract Oke insisted that by They condemned government’s attention now, if a sample of the IBEDC, lab elled it a and intervention in this air qualities of some of failure, stating that it is area. the affected time the distribution “I have to say that some communities were company realised that it areas like Oja-Oba, Isale- taken, it will reveal a was no more a public Osun and some other level of entity but now a private interior part of Osogbo are high extremely dirty because of contamination which investment and as such, even residents were not they should strive to live the care-free attitude of up to its responsibilities. our people. People aware of.

“There is also the issue Meanwhile, many defecate openly, bath in of noise pollution.

You busi nesses in these the open, gullies are eating see many of the people communities have been up the whole place, refuse are dumped anywhere living within Osogbo are affected by the blackout. and people do not bother not used to noise on this Many of them who to know of the scale and level and with spoke to this medium this type of noise it can stated that they had to consequences”.

together to burn the heap.

“The flames that it produces choke us, but we don’t have any choice since we cannot live together with garbage.

There is need to dispose of it”.

Admitting that the habit was wrong but since they

With FRANCIS EZEDIUNO were now on their own, they had to seek

alternative means refuse disposal.

of

•A dumpsite captured in Osogbo.

Blackout In Osogbo Communities May Cause Health Problems - Health Professional resort to fuelling their power generating sets.

The affected ar eas include Fiwas aye, Iludun, Tani shi, Atelewo, Sabo, Oluode, parts of Ayetoro, Igbona, Ahmadiya, Obalende, Kola Balogun, Ajewole, Ire-Akari, Abe-Obi, OkeBaa le, Onigbong bo, Test ing Ground, Gbonmi, Isale Anglican, among others.

In a rela ted

development, the management of IBEDC has stated that the current impasse was for safety reasons.

According to Kikelomo Owoeye, the spok espers on of the distribution company, the affected communities were duly informed of the problem when the issue came up, as the communit ies unanimously asked for

tota l outag e till the projects was completed.

“When we offered to mana ge the line and swit ch to rationing power supply, the communities declined and they unanimously asked for total outage.

“They actually did a communiqué that they preferred total power outa ge to power shedding. So, based on that we cannot do otherwise”.

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

Punching For Children, Youths And Women Development

By Kazeem Mohammed ‘Giving back to the society’ has been common talk among Nigerians, particularly the well-to-do in the society. The statement is more popular among those holding positions in government. Backing it up with actions has always been the phenomenon rendering such talks useless.

While some attributed their failure to meet up with their ‘Giving Back to the society’ talks to their inability to harness the resources required, to some, it is a mere statement that came when they were either seeking elections or appointments to government offices.

To Tokunbo Ifaturoti, founder and Executive Director, Children Youths and Women Empowerment Initiatives (CHIYOWO), it was not a mere talk, but it was backed up with actions through various outreach programmes in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, including provision of relief materials to the needy, provision of educational materials and provision of fund for women to start small scale businesses in other to have sources of livelihood to sustain themselves before they return to their various homes in Adamawa, Yobe and Maiduguri.

Founded in 2016, the NGO was set up with a vision to ensure that no child is left behind and ensure that every child has tools that will enable him to have a source of sustainable livelihoods. The mission is to find out what are the factors limiting them to reach their full potentials with a view to develop and design development projects that will enable them to enhance their lives towards having sustainable livelihoods.

According to Ifaturoti, it has been established that the main threat confronting children, youths and women is sustainable livelihood, saying that her organisation has, as a result of this anchoring itself on the Sustainable Development Goals.

“We have four thematic focus areas, one is safeguarding and protecting children, the other is providing sustainable livelihood tools for women, the third one is youth empowerment and the fourth one is education, especially for children and youths. If it is education, we are teaching children and provide educational materials for them; if it is empowerment for women we provide money for them to start small business and expose them to skill acquisition like jewelry making and some other things and sell them to host communities. We have also done some Girl-child outreach programmes in Benin which was quite phenomenon. ”What we have found out along the line is that there is poverty, gender inequality, need for infrastructure innovation, and there is need for partnership to address some of the issues. Through our short journey, we have aligned ourselves with partners that have the same vision and mission as ours and that has enable us to reach farther places that we never even anticipated”.

As at the last count in April 2017, the NGO, according to the founder has affected 2,572 lives from Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Benin and Lagos, saying, “This year, we are moving away from the North to broaden our steps, by moving to the six geo-political zones in Nigeria with a book drive, which is a literacy programme. We are going to schools, giving them books to put into their libraries so that everybody would have access to the books in the library and everyone will be empowered to use those books, hence, the number will be huge this year”.

Last week, the CHIYOWO team stormed the state of Osun to make book donations to some selected schools in

•The Elerin of Erinmo Ijesa, Oba Dr. Michael Ajayi (4th left), the founder CHIYOWO, Tokunbo Ifaturoti (middle) and others, during the donation of books at St. Peters Anglican Primary School, Erinmo Ijesa.

•Some of the beneficiaries in a group photograph with community leaders during the donation of books at Iwoye Middle and High Schools, Iwoye Ijesa.

The lesson here is that people should realise that it is not everything that the government can do.

Government cannot have an even spread. She has come in to fill that vacuum to ensure that the horizons of the children are broaden in terms of reading books, particularly those in the rural communities. the state and the first point of call was Iwoye-Ijesa Middle and High Schools and followed by the St Peters Anglican Primary School, Erinmo-Ijesa.

Speaking on the idea behind the donations, Ifaturoti said, “We came up with a theme called “Bring back our reading culture”. This is because through our talks and walks so far, we found out that so many youths couldn’t construct sentences, they couldn’t communicate properly; for primary schools it was worst, and we even found out that some kids at a particular age were not going to schools at all.

Then, we said to ourselves that we should try and start to affect their lives at a younger age and the way to go is to bring back our reading culture.

“Subsequently, I spoke to my partners in United Kingdom about what we have found out and that we can begin to sensitise them about what to be done. So, my main partner is the Nigerian School Foundation in United Kingdom. We started the drive, used the social media and we were able to get people to donate books to us.

Initially, we had 1,258 books which we needed to bring to Nigeria. So expensive to bring in book to Nigeria though but we decided to stay on course because it was a mission that we needed to accomplish. We have a few donors too that were tapping into this from America, from England and they have been connecting with us through their donations in monetary and material terms that are enough for us to get the projects done.

“We have earmarked Osun, Lagos, Ogun, Yobe, Borno, Kaduna, Abuja,

Ebonyi, Delta, Benin, for now.

Presently, we are in Osun, we went to Iwoye High School and now St Peters Anglican Primary School Erinmo-Ijesa and the feedback was impressive as people are receiving the whole idea. We had spelling bee competition, we had history competition and we were able to discover that there are some of these children that have potentials but nobody to help them out. What that is telling us is that the society is broken down and we can identify such talents, grow the talents and help them reach their full potentials. What some of these children are coming up with are very interesting and it is important that we have partners to come on board to help such talents because the truth is that the government can’t do everything.

“We can help the talents and can create platform for others to catch up with their peers. So, we believe that this reading club will help, we have variety of books from foreign and Nigeria Authors that we are donating. It is important for organization like ours to partner and have a meeting point. We need to begin to empower our people to be in tune with global trends.

Asked on whether the donations were being made in public schools alone, she said, “We are doing it in what we call Hard to a Reach Communities, or Underserved Communities. For instance in Ogun, we did in private school, but not a normal private school, it is a private school that is suffering in the sense that it is a low level or what I can call a middle level school that the parents economic power can cope with, with a belief that their children with get

a bit more improved education, but because of recession, parents have had to stop their school fees or put their children out of school.

“So, this is a private school, but it is a school that needs help and the assistance that we could give is to give them library for the children that are still left in the school. Incidentally, there is a private school in front of the one we are talking about; that one was well set up and a teacher from that school came to me and said how can we do the same thing in their school? What then struck me was that there is nothing wrong in that school partnering with the lower one in line with sustainable development goal to be able for us to grow together”, Chiyowo founder explained.

On the impacts of the NGO’s intervention on its beneficiaries, Ifaturoti said, “The feedback that we have been getting is fabulous because like I said, we are youth-led NGO and we have a number of people that have said, by helping our youths, we have actually impacted their lives. One, the youths that are involved in this project have aligned their passion with what we are doing as an NGO. Their involvement was subject to the talk I made in the University of Lagos, that while you are waiting for a while collar job, it is normal to have your minds ticking, to have global outlook to what you are doing. I live in London and if I wanted to I could just stay there, but I have carved some times out to try and see how I can come back and give back to the society.

“Also feedback from the beneficiaries has been very wonderful. For instance we sunk a borehole in one of the IDP camps in Abuja and the women there were crying that we have affected their lives. Though, it was a borehole that has been there for a while, but something happened and nobody tried to repair it.

“So, I could see the emotion in their voices and their faces and I could see little kids running around in joy and sometimes you feel like crying that oh, I could touch such lives like this.

“Also, during some of the Girl-child outreach programmes that we did in Benin, it was quite phenomenon, as there was a young girl of about 15, that just broke down in tears that in her home nobody listens to her and that she doesn’t has a voice, saying, this is the first time she has been able to express herself. You can see how much she’s gone through such maltreatment. So, we have monitoring and feedback mechanism that we use in ensuring that the impact of our intervention is felt.

Also speaking on the project, the Director-General, Osun State Bureau of Social Services (BOSS) and Coordinator, Youths Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO), Barrister Femi Ifaturoti said the founder of the organization had many reasons not to engage in the project, but she has shown commitment to give back to the society.

“What that lady is doing is a clear demonstration that there are still some who believe in the philosophy of giving back to the society.

“The lesson here is that people should realise that it is not everything that the government can do.

Government cannot have an even spread. She has come in to fill that vacuum to ensure that the horizons of the children are broaden in terms of reading books, particularly those in the rural communities.

“I am impressed with what she is doing and this a time to call on more individuals and organisations to partners with government in ensuring that more vacuums are filled”, Ifaturoti added.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

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15

Sukuk And Its Many Merits Truth Of The Matter with This week, Defender Parrot will examine the controversial Sukuk Bond and how it affects our daily lives and its importance Sukuk or Islamic bonds are structured in such a way that they generate returns to investors without violating Islamic law (that prohibits riba or interest). Sukuk represents undivided shares in the ownership of tangible assets relating to particular projects or special investment activity.

According to Naveed Mohammed, an authority in Sukuk bond, “although a common starting point for explaining Sukuk is to use bonds as a comparison point, it is important to understand that there are certain fundamental differences”.

He went further to explain that Sukuk adhere to an Islamic view of finance, avoiding Riba (generating money from money, i.e. interest or usury).

There are five important differences between Sukuk and Traditional bonds: 1. Sukuk indicates ownership of an asset, while bonds indicate a debt obligation.

2. The assets that back Sukuk are in compliance with Shariah. Assets backing bonds may include products or services that are against Islam.

3. Sukuk is priced according to the value of the assets backing them, while bond pricing is based on credit rating.

4. Sukuk can increase in value when the assets increase in value, but profits from bonds correspond to fixed interest, making them Riba.

5. When you sell Sukuk, you are selling ownership in the assets backing them, while the sale of bonds is the sale of debt.

Sukuk is backed by tangible assets, rather than debt. Sukuk ownership indicates ownership of an asset that has value. Although, a bond may also indicate this, the real definition of a

bond simply indicates a debt obligation.

At its root, the relationship between the issuer of a bond and the consumer is very different from the relationship between the issuer of Sukuk and the purchaser. In the case of a bond, the consumer is acting as the loaner and the bond issuer as a loan recipient. In this case, the loan has a fixed interest, therefore become a Riba. In Sukuk, the purchaser is purchasing an asset that has value rather than participating in an implicit loan agreement.

Another important difference between bonds and Sukuk is that the assets involved in Sukuk certificates comply with all laws of Islam. In the case of bonds, the bond certificate may be backed by assets that are not compliant with Shariah, which may be bundled together with other types of assets without the consumer’s knowledge. The consumer of Sukuk is

Defender Parrot

assured that the value of the certificate corresponds with ayoakinola444@gmail.com assets that are in the public good and not related to activities or products that are against why bubbles form, burst, and then lead Islam.

Although, some may argue that the to recession and depression. Sukuk, differences between Sukuk and bonds unlike bonds, is priced according to the are merely technicalities, these real market value of the assets that are differences matter to Muslims. In fact, backing the Sukuk certificate. Bond the practice of profiting from money pricing is based on the credit rating of alone, at the expense of productivity the issuer. This is necessary in the case and real people has been one of the of bonds because when you sell a bond drivers for many of the economic on the secondary market, you are problems that have plagued the world actually selling the debt in the in the last decade. Interest and artificial underlying loan relationship. The sale inflation of prices based on debt rather of a Sukuk on the secondary market is than on real value is the main reason simply the sale of ownership in the asset.

The main advantage of Sukuk over traditional bonds is that their value increases in relationship to the assets backing the Sukuk certificate. If the asset raises in value, then the value of the ownership of that asset, backed by the Sukuk, increases. Bonds do not have this characteristic. It is not possible to raise the main debt in a bond and increase in revenue from a bond is the direct result of the fixed interest rather than in any kind of tangible increase in value or productivity.

This is not to say that bonds and Sukuk are not similar in certain ways.

Both can be turned into cash by selling them on the secondary market. Based on the strength of their backing, both bonds and Sukuk can be ranked by ranking institutions. There is also similar variance in bond and Sukuk designs and issuers, allowing consumers to have a variety of options when looking into these financial instruments.

The main advantage of Sukuk over traditional bonds is that their value increases in relationship to the assets backing the Sukuk certificate. If the asset raises in value, then the value of the ownership of that asset, backed by the Sukuk, increases.

Bonds do not have this characteristic.

‘

’

I Need Medical Attention Overseas For My Stroke - Major Odina Major Olatunde Olusina Odina (Rtd) Psc, FSS, MSS was a brave and astute soldier and above all, a patriotic Nigerian who will not compromise his stance for the oneness of the nation even at his own risk. Hails from Ijebu-jesa in Oriade Local Government of the State of Osun, he attended Holy Trinity Primary School, Emir road, Sabon Gari, Kano and Victory College Ikare-Akoko for his secondary education and later attended Special 6th Form College, now Ondo State College of Arts and Sciences for his post secondary school education, where he obtained the G.C.E Advanced level and H.S.C before gaining admission to the University of Ibadan to read law in 1982.

Olatunde Odina abandoned his pursuit of a career in law for Nigeria Defence Academy and after a combatant course, he was commissioned into the infantry corps on the rank of second lieutenant in 1985; his first posting after commissioning was 6th Air Mobile Battalion Elele, River State. He also served at 20 Amphibious Battalion Warri, 1 Mechanized BN Birinin Kebbi, HQ2 Brigade, Port-harcourt among others.

After serving in series of operations in the military battles and campaigns, the unusual happened in the course of maintaining peace in the Operation Restore Hope in 2003 in Niger Delta, when as the commander of the operation he suddenly slumped and collapsed in a battle with the Niger Delta militants and suffered stroke attack on 11th August which has left him paralysed since then. This led to his retirement from active military service. Major Odina, now on wheel chair, during an interview with SOLA JACOBS recalled his days in the Nigeria Army, as well as life during and after active service. Excerpt.

OSDF:- How did you found yourself in this position that you are today?

Odina:- It happened during the Niger Delta crisis in Warri in October 17, 2003 during a battle through Operation Restore Hope founded by President Olusegun Obasanjo. I was deployed to Niger Delta, especially to Koko town and later was seconded to 63 battalion group in Effunrun Barrack; I was the commander of operation and as the commander of the operation, my Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was hit during the operation to secure Warri from militants. I became paralysed with stroke; I was in coma for nine days before I was restored. I was later hospitalised at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin where I spent six month and was later transferred to University College Teaching Hospital (UCH) Ibadan where I spent nine months.

OSDF:- Was your health restored during this treatment?

Odina:- Not totally. Though, I discovered that after the treatment, I could still walk and do little chores, but I became a wheel chair person as a result of domestic accident, when slipped in my bedroom and my femur got broken. This led to dislocation that I couldn’t walk anymore.

Right now I am suffering from second stroke as my doctor explained to me.

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I need basically medical attention overseas in which I know that if assisted I could still serve my nation in other capacity. I want to call on well-meaning individuals to assist me so that I can return to my normal self.

•Major Odina.

OSDF:- When were you discharge from the military service?

Odina:- I was discharged from Nigeria Army in 2003, when my APC was hit in the operation. I was discharged by Major General Agboola (deceased) and my voluntary retirement later dated 14th July 2006 in which it was acknowledged that I served the nation for 21 years and five months with dedication and unblemished record, as I demonstrated good conduct in the discharge of my duties.

OSDF:- Did you get your entitlement?

M.O Folorunso, Lt Col. Lucky Fakhorogha, Col Samuel Agbamus, Col Pastor Patrick Balogun, Captain Fatai Basorun, Col Taiye Arowolo, Col Adeleye, Major Adeyanju, Major Prince Loye and Major Olufemi Fasade (His Highness Owa of Igbajo) among others.

I could not but appreciate, the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeosla who is my big brother and my senior at the Victory College Ikare-Akoko, Prince Sola Adewumi, Hon Sola Olasehinde, and Hon Tunde Balogun.

OSF:- How is your family life?

Odina:- I am a father of three, who are graduates but they have not secured employment, my first born graduated with Masters in English language, and as well had Diploma in Law, while my only daughter graduated in Science Laboratory and the last born studied Religion Education. My wife had been supportive, and showing understanding that every marriage has its up and down.

OSDF:- What is your shout out to the good spirited Nigeria Odina:- I need basically medical attention overseas in which I know that if assisted I could still serve my nation in other capacity. I want to call on wellmeaning individuals to assist me so that I can return to my normal self.

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Odina:- Yes I did and I have been getting my gratuity and pensions, but it could not cater for my medical expenses, as I have been diagnosed to be diabetic and just as I am paralysed now, but with help, I could still live a meaningful life.

Even on wheel chair, I did not allow my disability to deter me, as I have written a book, “An Eye Witness Account of Gen. Sani Abacha, Ken Saro Wiwa and Ogoni Crisis (1992-1995)” and still hope to write more books.

OSDF:- What is your rapport with your colleagues who are still serving officers?

Odina:- I want to appreciate the effort of the Chief Army Staff, Gen. T.Y Buratai, he has been supportive and encouraging me. I equally appreciate Col. Semiu Akande, Lt. Col. Bernadi Ken Abai, Lt Col.

INTERVIEW

I Need Medical Attention Overseas For My Stroke - Major Odina .

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

Lessons From Ijebu-Jesa “Two things define you: your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything. Every artist dips his brush in his own soul and paints his own nature into his pictures.”

Henry Ward Beecher Ijebu-Jesa has a new king and his name his Oba Moses Ilufemiloye Agunsoye II! May God’s name be praised!

Before his appointment, I doubt if I had the opportunity of meeting the late Oba Taiwo Aribisala before his appointment as Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa in the State of Osun. However, what influenced his eventual choice as successor to the throne of Agigiri Egboroganlada has been eloquently summarized by Oyeniyi Ajifowobaje: “When you live in Lagos, work in Jos, still worship at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew’s, Ijebu-Jesa every Sunday; when you’re a director in a Federal Government parastatal, still, you relate with the young, old, rich and the peasants of Egboroland; … when the door of your house is wide open to the needy; when your house in Mushin is secretariat and hostel to applicants of Ijebu-Jesa descent in Lagos”, then you’re the people’s choice for the throne.”

With the passing of Oba Taiwo Aribisala on March 11, 2017, the Elegboro stool became vacant, which in turn opened the space for the ruling houses in the ancient town to vie for the exalted throne. Oba Aribisala was from the Ajigiteri Ruling House and he was the 23rd Oba of Ijebu-Jesa. He was 88 years!

Let me start by congratulating Governor Rauf Aregbesola for ensuring a level playing field while the process lasted. In my view, that’s one of the important attributes of a good leader.

That the people celebrated its outcome was a confirmation of Oba Agunsoye’s approval by our ancestors.

At a time like this, it is pertinent to thank God for the life of our king. For the avoidance of doubt, Oba Agunsoye has paid his dues. Thank God: providence has now crowned his efforts. A man of unmistaken vision who prefers to lead by example, Agunsoye is tantalizingly rich in humility and unquestionably plush in generosity. In his own little ways, Kabiyesi now belongs to the class of the Nelson Mandelas, Oscar Romeros, Jamie Cardinal Sins and Oladele Olashores of this world who, even at great risks to personal comfort, opted to side with the downtrodden.

Nikos Kazantzakis once prescribed belief in one’s capacity as a prerequisite for success. My journey through life has brought me face-to-face with how ignorance could prevent some people from having a human face. For instance, it was Oba Olashore who sponsored my first degree (Ref: ‘Oladele Olashore at 70’, ThisDay, February 18, 2005); while Akin Fatodu of ‘Olufemi Fatodu Foundation’ lent a helping hand during my postgraduate studies. Archbishop Olukayode Akinyemi and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah’s contributions on my way up the ladder were also immense.

If I may expand my argument, twice I wrote to the late Umar Ali Shinkafi

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.com

By Invitation ABIODUN KOMOLAFE

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Like Nigeria, our major challenges in Ijebu-Jesa are not unconnected with poverty, despair, helplessness, and hopelessness. But how can the Ijesaness in us shun the expression of pains and anguish in a chat-show of fluidity, pettiness and emptiness?

•Oba Moses Agunsoye. (on November 7, 1994; and December 24, 1996) to seek financial assistance for my first degree programme. In two separate letters, dated December 14, 1994 and January 20, 1996; and signed

by Ngozi Asoya, his Special Assistant, Marafan Sokoto merely conveyed “best wishes”. My letter to Oba Otudeko, dated January 8, 1991 and a follow-up chat with one Seyi Oduntan at Honeywell’s Ilupeju, Lagos office ended at the level of opening a file!

Earlier, I had written to the-then Colonel Abdul Kareem Adisa in his capacity as the Military Governor of the old Oyo State. Adisa was so “concerned” about my “plight” that, in a letter dated April 25, 1991 and signed by one T.A. Oyeleye, he directed me to my Local Government for assistance. I did as directed, but nobody did anything! For the constraint of space, let me stop here!

I decided to tell this story to show how small-but-constant drops of water could help make a hole in a stone. For instance, Oba Olasore’s total financial support for my pursuit was N19,000, spread over a period of four academic

sessions (1992 - 1997); and Fatodu ‘supplied’ N23,500 during my postgraduate studies (2000 - 2003). In truth, but for these Good Samaritans’ interventions, I probably would have ended up a dropout in life.

Well, this is the kernel of my argument. Olashore did not fight for Ajagbusi-Ekun stool after the death of his father before his antecedents bequeathed it to him. Even, after Oladele’s passing, the stool was reportedly reserved for his eldest son.

It was after all entreaties to persuade Olakunle failed that the kingmakers contemplated a replacement. In like manner, our preference for Oba Agunsoye is a call to higher service to humanity.

Unimpressed by the state of our youth in Ijebu-Jesa, I was once compelled to write a letter to the late Oba Aribisala. In the letter, I pleaded with him to rally the rich and the affluent in the town with a charge to rise to the plight of our youth. On December 31, 1997, I had the honour of meeting the late monarch in his private residence and he assured me

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that all hands were “on deck” to ennoble “the young and the old”. On an auspicious occasion like this therefore, one can only enjoin Oba Agunsoye to look into the plight of our teeming youth who, though employable, remain terribly unemployed, primarily, due to the selfishness of the socio-economic and political leeches who latch around the corridors of power for transient, pecuniary conveniences.

Like Nigeria, our major challenges in Ijebu-Jesa are not unconnected with poverty, despair, helplessness, and hopelessness. But how can the Ijesaness in us shun the expression of pains and anguish in a chat-show of fluidity, pettiness and emptiness? Why should we continue to pray with empty stomachs in the wilderness of abandonment and a terrain replete with vanity and debauchery?

May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant our king the wisdom to pursue the prosperity of the people of my Native Nazareth!

•KOMOLAFE writes in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, Nigeria (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk).

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All correspondence to the Acting Editor, KAZEEM MOHAMMED, Telephone: 0806-220-7954, kazeemayofe26@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org., E-mail: osundefenderbank@gmail.com,