Osun Defender Newspaper Online Version Of June 22, 2018

Osun 2018:

In PDP

New Twist Emerges

•Adeleke, Ogunbiyi Tagged ‘Foreigners’ •’Locals’ Join Forces

Pa

ge

3

Sex-For-Marks: OAU Sacks Randy Professor PAGE 12

CAMPUS

THE SIXTH MOST VISITED WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

www.osundefender.com/index.php

FRIDAY JUNE 22 - THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2018

e-mail: osundefender.yahoo.com

VOL. 013. NO.23

N100

ISSN: 0794-8050

Governorship Ticket: •LAYOONU

Osun West To Be Or Not? e2 g Pa

•AKINBADE

•BABALOLA

•ADELEKE

•SALAAM

INTERACTION

•ADEOTI

CRIME

Osun ‘ll Be More Developed Under My Governorship - Amere PAGE 10

•OGUNBIYI

•AMERE

Three Nursing Mothers, Two Men Bag Six Months Imprisonment For PAGE 15 Stealing Fowls

2

OSUNDEFENDER

www.osundefender.org

Governorship Ticket:

NEWS

FRIDAY JUNE 22 - THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2018

Osun West To Be Or Not?

By Shina Abubakar zoning is not entrenched over the zoning to the zoning the ticket to likely to become the Osun-West would help former’s albatross is its the party’s West Senatorial.

As the struggle for the Successor of Governor in An independent any of the political party choice of candidate, a Rauf Aregbesola thickens, it seems that the constitution but the agitation to cede the ticket to Osun West Senatorial historical and gentleman survey by the medium that want to win their decision its rivals are that the votes in the September waiting to capitalize on. zone is becoming a factor to decide which party agreement among the revealed Recent events in the may likely win the state governorship election in founding fathers of the electorates across the 22 election.

It was gathered that state is also suggesting state has allowed the state is also seeking the September 22 poll. that the APC may likely the APC, due to the Investigation revealed call all its aspirants to a Despite all of these, arrangement to be fairness and equity in the performance of the roundtable and let them acceptable in the state. distribution of political that political parties in the elders’ caucus of the incumbent Governor see reason on the need to It was also gathered the state are waiting on party was said to have that the forum of APC power across the three Rauf Aregbesola’s reach senatorial districts in the compromise one another to commit reached a consensus that Local Government state and many administration, has edge before the date of its political blunder and though the issue of Chairmen is divided over the PDP but what is primary election. respondents believed strike where it hurts the most.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the PDP blood, abdomen and facility initiatives has initiative, saying poverty

By Kehinde Ayantunji had already ceded its lung infections, these are provided soft loans for has resulted to the Olugbenga Akintola Foundation, a Non- very serious ailment and hundreds ticket to the zone but of untimely death of many during the week the antibiotics are rear in entrepreneurs ranging Nigerians as a result of decided to keep its Governmental Organization, from N40, 000 – N44,000 their inability to access decision secret within donated drugs worth N64 million to public our hospitals here”. the elders’ caucus to hospitals in more than 10 communities in the state “We have also put to grow their business quality health, adding to assist the less privileged suffering from life monitoring machinery in and empower them to that the drugs will go a retain the interest of place to ensure that the feed their families and long way in saving many aspirants who are not threatening diseases.

The foundation medication, he or she drugs are administer free contribute to the growth lives. from the zone as a She challenged strategy for political donated thousands of may not be able to afford of charge to the most of the economy of the wealthy people in the Tazocin injection Vials to patients state. awareness in their The Ladoke Akintola it, basically, we are here vulnerable society to emulate the to support the citizens of suffering Reverend Sister Cecilia from respective zones.

University of Technology the state to make sure hypertension, diabetics Adache, Our Lady of gesture and promised that Our Lady of Fatima, However, some of the Teaching Hospital that they are alive.

Hospital being a faith base medical and other chronic related Fatima aspirants from outside ( L A U T E C H T H ) , “This drug is called diseases.”

Administrator, while centre, will administer the zone have either Obafemi Awolowo Tazocin. It is one of the He added that the receiving the drugs the drugs to the withdrawn from the race University Teaching most potent and sorts out foundation through its commended the vulnerable individuals in or decelerated political Hospital, Wesley Guild, for the treatment of micro finance credit foundation for the the hospital. activities for the party’s Ilesa, Obafemi Awolowo ticket. For instance, the University Health party’s aspirant from Ile- Centre (OAU) Campus, General Hospital Ede, Ife, Dr. Albert Adeogun made a public statement Ejigbo, Ila- Orangun, announcing his Iwo, Ikire, Our Lady Of Hospital withdrawal for a Fatima Osogbo, candidate from the west Jolayemi, NASFAT Hospital, senatorial district.

Osogbo, among others.

Although, the party Chairman of the has not made any public foundation Olugbenga statement regarding Akintola while speaking zoning of its ticket to the during the presentation West Senatorial district, of the drugs at Our Lady checks revealed that the of Fatima Hospital, leadership of the party Osogbo said the had concluded to pick its foundation has started flag bearer from the area the health intervention and many of its aspirants programme for the past have seen the hand 6 years.

According to him, the writing on the wall.

However, the case intervention is to assist with the APC is the people and ensure uncertain as the state that they are living a Chairman has insisted good life especially those that the party’s suffering from life constitution is not in threatening diseases that •Olugbenga Akintola, founder, Gbenga Akintola Foundation presenting drugs to Reverend Sister Cecilia Adache, support of the request lack financial capacity to Our Lady of Fatima Hospital Administrator in Osogbo. buy medication to but pledged a level manage their ailment. playing ground for all He explained that 2800 aspirants irrespective of vials distributed in the of people all over the leadership position in the

By Sola Jacobs their senatorial district of first tranche cost about world, who at their country. origin.

A member of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. youthful age involved N19million while the He added that he Findings revealed that second tranche 5000 Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has identified low themselves in the politics would not relent in the position of the APC Tazocin Vials is about participation of Nigerian youths in politics as one of their countries. impacting positively in chairman cannot be N45million totalling of the major leadership crisis in the country.

The current Prime the lives of the youths in N64million separated from clamour about Oyintiloye (APC- (youths) were the set of Minister of Canada Justin his constituency, adding to allow every interested excluding shipping and Obokun) made the leaders the nation was Pierre James Trudeau is that the welfare of the aspirants particularly delivery expenses while remarks in Ibokun town waiting for to take the just 46 years of age. people is his priority.

In his remarks, from the central to urging the beneficiaries in Osun while addressing nation to a greater height. Similarly, Emmanuel participate in line with to value the drugs and a cross section of students “Nigerian youths must Jean-Michel Frédéric president of the Union, Sunday the party’s constitution. use them as prescribed in during Obokun Students realise who they are, Macron, France President Comrade The aspirants, from the hospitals. what they can see and is just 40 years old. Our Olalere, thanked the Union Fiesta. lawmaker for his huge He said “We are doing the district include The lawmaker must learn to be civil and youths should therefore donation to the union Barrister Kunle this as a result of our said that the nation’s cultured. wake up from their and his continuous understanding that Adegoke, Alhaji government at all levels political system would be “They must be ready to slumber and take up the support for Youth Gboyega Oyetola, cannot take care of all the better off with the active emulate Late Chief mantle of leadership in development in the Awolowo, the country”, Oyintiloye community.

Oluomo Sunday Akere, needs of the people, and involvement of youths in Obafemi Hon. Lasun Yusuf, Hon. to also assist people of politics at all levels of Nnamdi Azikwe, Alvan said.

Olalere, who described Nkoku and others, who Yinka Ajayi, while extreme low income. The government.

The lawmaker said Oyintiloye as a worthy in their prime age fought ambassador whose good Senator Babajide cost of a vial is around with the Not-Too-YoungOyintiloye, who the nation To-Run law in place, the gesture was worthy of Nigerian for Omoworare, from Osun N9,000 and someone described had been emulation, urged him to East Senatorial, has also who is earning N18,000 youths as resourceful and Independence.There are youths thrown in his cap too. will have to buy the dynamic, said they also other good examples empowered to take their keep the flag flying.

Akintola Foundation Donates N64million Drugs To Public Hospitals In Osun

Low Participation Of Youths In Politics, Bane Of Leadership In Nigeria - Oyintiloye

If you have a story or advert for us, contact 08062207954, 08061197897

FRIDAY JUNE 22 - THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2018

NEWS

OSUNDEFENDER

www.osundefender.org

3

Osun 2018: New Twist Emerges In PDP •Adeleke, Ogunbiyi Tagged ‘Foreigners’ •’Locals’ Join Forces

By Solomon Odeniyi There is a new twist to the contest for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket ahead of the September 22 governorship election in the State of Osun, as the chances of Senator Ademola Adeleke and that of an Insurance Magnate, Akin Ogunbiyi were reported to be getting slimmer inspite their financial muscles.

Of recent, political particularly Adeleke and spectators have zeroed Ogunbiyi, but the new down the contest to those development is relegating with financial capacity, the duo to the background,

as party members, particularly delegates have tagged them foreigners.

However a member of the PDP team who recently toured the nine federal constituencies to feel the pulse of party members said from all indications, members, particularly delegates

have made up their minds to collect money from any of the aspirants, but vote for a perceived local person during the primary.

Some party delegates who spoke with this medium averred that the activities of the two aspirants have shown that they were too desperate to

•Muslim faithful observing the Eid il Fitri two-rakat prayer at the new Osogbo muslim prayer ground, Oke Baale, Osogbo last Friday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

get the party’s ticket, hence when they eventually win the governorship election; there is likelihood that they would not be accessible to local people.

One of the delegate said: “Adeleke has never been part of us, not until when his brother died and he was asked to come and replace him in the senate and since then, he has not been making himself available not until when the governorship contest came.

“So, there is premonition that when he wins the election, the local people here will be sidelined and we are afraid that what Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is doing now by bringing in foreigners might repeat itself.

“On the Ogunbiyi’s side, we don’t even know him at all; he just came from nowhere and started spending money to get the party’s ticket. Someone we do not know and he too doesn’t know people, how will he be accessible.

“The rumour recently milling the round that Ogunbiyi is a protégé of Bola Tinubu has strengthen the fear that this man is not for us, but for the other side and that

Oriolowo, BOA Denies Endorsing Governorship Aspirants From Osun West but confirmed that the

By Kehinde Ayantunji elders suggested that the Governorship aspirants from the ruling All aspirants should meet Progressives Congress(APC) have denied the claim and agree on a consensus, of the party Elders’ forum (Agba Osun) that the saying the elders were not governorship aspirants from Osun West Senatorial given any mandate to District have agreed to narrow down the contest by pick for them at any point. presenting three out of 20 aspirants from the district.

He explained that The Elders forum had not stepping down for “Three days ago, we held a meeting in Ilobu and all on Tuesday claimed that anybody”.

Also, Mr Benedict the aspirants from the the aspirants have agreed to pick Elder Peter Olugboyega Alabi (BOA) district attended the Babalola from Irewole/ also denied endorsing meeting convened by the Ayedade Isokan, Hon any candidate at the party elders (Agba Osun) “What Agba Osun told Najeeem Salaam from federal constituency level Ede Federal Constituency and Alhaji Moshood Adeoti from Iwo federal constituency

By Israel Afolabi One of the leading Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Dr. aspirants from the district, Enginer Adelere Najeem Salaam has tasked electorates to vote only Oriolowo while speaking politicians who have the interest of the masses at to OSUN DEFENDER heart instead of greedy and self-serving ones.

He said, the electorates narrow interest of some described the information as false and not the true should votes those who individuals.

He debunked the representation of what have conquered their transpired at the meeting greed, saying it was rumour milling the round that he had acquisitive tendency that held at the residence of the Chairman of the APC compels political office collected money from the Elders Forum, Chief Shola holders to indulge in national leader of the corruption and outright APC, Asiwaju Bola Akinwumi in Ilobu.

According to him, the stealing of collective Tinubu with the aim of aspirants were only resources of the people; getting him to step down advised by the Elders to asking people to ask for an aspirant linking to about him; insisting that he was work out a strategy to questions reduce the number of politicians seeking public never asked to shelve his ambition for anyone, let aspirants and unite the office.

Addressing All alone collecting money district in the struggle to Progressives Congress from any source. secure the party ticket.

Dr. Salaam asserted He said “That can never leaders and faithful at a that his governorship be true, I can tell you consultation tour in Osu, mission is to drive the Atakunmosa West Local categorically that we Government and economy of Osun with never made such Iperindo, Atakunmosa technology driven agreement with anyone, it East local government agriculture that would is better imagine, they respectively, Dr. Salaam engage thousands of don’t have such power said the public office youths, as well as wean and I believe they cannot should be regarded as the state from total do that, the only public trust that must be dependence on crude oil agreement we have is held for the good of the scooped from another agitation for zoning, I am people, not to service region of the country.

us was to go and present one candidate from each of the federal constituencies and up till this time that I am talking to you, no meeting has been held regarding that, it is a lie, the reality is that some of us are serious about this aspiration and it seems no one is ready to give up before primary “It is false that they have picked any one, for

instance, in Irewole / Isokan/ Ayedade federal constituency, we have about seven aspirants and we have not sat to discuss it, if anyone is telling you that we have picked Elder Peter Babalola it is a lie, the elders have no power to pick any candidate, the only consensus is that the governorship ticket should be zone to Osun West senatorial district” he said.

has been creating confusion within the party”, the source said.

Another delegate noted that this is the time for the party members, particularly delegates and party leaders to enrich themselves from the largesse of the aspirants and they would do so, but support a local person who will be known and accessible to members of the party when the party takes over the governance of the state.

Meanwhile, about three frontline aspirants from the West Senatorial zone in the party, including a former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade; former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Adejare Bello and former ALGON Chairman, Akogun Lere Oyewumi who considered themselves financially inferior were reported to have started planning to join forces with a view to tackling their perceived ‘foreign base’ politicians.

The plan, according to a source was that, if any of the aspirants is presented as the party’s candidate and eventually wins the election, it would be better for them and their followers, having been together locally for a long time rather than picking someone who has never been part of the system.

However, one factor that has been working against one of the aspirants in the force, Akinbade, the source said was his defection from the PDP and political sojourn in Labour Party for some times before his return, saying all of the aspirants have been building on the loopholes they might found to campaign against one another.

Don’t Vote For Greedy Politicians - Osun Speaker He admitted that Osun has been financially challenged, a situation that made the government to deploy all

available financial instruments to provide infrastructure; stressing that contending with modulated salaries is

regretted; saying the only way to redress the situation is to embark on mechanized farming of comparative advantage •Continued on page 11

BOFEST, UNHA Holds One Day Seminar A one day seminar in herbal research would hold for herbal practitioners under the aegis of United Nigeria Herbalists Association (UNHA), Osun State chapter on Monday, June 25, 2018 at Herbal Village, Ayepe, Ikirun road, Osogbo.

According to the with BOFEST to organise organizers, Bofest the seminar”.

C o n s u l t i n g The programme which Incorporation, the will start at 10:00am objective is to train and prompt will have the promote herbs through Osun State NAFDAC knowledge and Coordinator and Osun researches.

Commissioner for health, “There is no doubt that Dr Rafiu Isamotu as roots and leafs is the best participants. food for the body but it is Highlights of the very painful that our programmes include people are not serious.

Awards presentation to “The way herbal some of those who practitioners practice dedicated their time to their trade somehow positively promoting the embarrass the image of the association. association, this is why Some of the awardees UNHA is partnering are; Alhaji Aniyikaye

If you have a story or advert for us, contact 08062207954, 08061197897

Mustafa (Posthumous), the Chairman of the Association, Alhaji Dr. Kamilu Aniyikaye; Dr Otunba Adedayo Ganiyu, Alhaji Sakariyau Kojumaribi; and Alhaji Adewale Maruf, MD Gangaria.

Others include; Prince Oyedeji Sakariyau, Alhaji Oladosu Rasheed, the Association secretary, Dr Olatunji Maruf, Chief Bello, Alhaji Nua Oladipupo, Dr Olasupo Lateef, Dr Adegbite Yinusa; Mr Lukman Ussein, Adesupo AbdulRassaq; Alhaji Salawudeen Ganiyu; Alhaji Isah Ademola; Alhaji Aponle Mashood, Alhaji Owolabi Kasali among others.

‘

PAGE

4 Sex-For-Marks: Beyond The Symptoms The dismissal by the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State of Prof Richard Akindele for alleged involvement in sex-formarks scandal meets the public clamour for forceful intervention in this patently unfair and sordid arena.

It has gone on for far too long. The controversy had been public knowledge and trended for long in the social media. The statement of the university that: “OAU has zero tolerance for sexual harassment and as a renowned university will do everything humanly possible to maintain the rules and regulations of the university,” should be taking as a clear indication of the resolve of the university for zero-tolerance on the issue of sexual harassment.

We are also in full agreement with the position of the victim’s lawyer, Mrs. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi that it is a victory, not for the harassed student alone but also for other students in Nigerian Schools.

She said: “We hope it will be a lesson for other predators. It’s been a tortuous journey. We do hope lessons are learnt by all. For the institutions, it’s important that mechanisms are in place to checkmate sexual harassment”.

“There should be a whistle-blower policy that can protect informants from being further victimised. The school system should be more accessible and sensitive to students’

‘

We are therefore of the opinion that only a systemic shift in the clearly dysfunctional assessment processes of the universities can tackle the problem at the root. Nevertheless, great commendations and indeed kudos to Obafemi Awolowo for taking a decisive step in the right direction.

’

situations…”

Mrs. Afolabi-Akiyode has hit on a central crux of the matter. There is a structural defect involved.

The injunction “do not lead us into temptation” is obvious here. A system in which one person can dictate the terms of engagement, not just to unilaterally set the examination questions but in addition to dictate the scores is fraught with great dangers. Such a system must be redefined. There ought to be a more collegial system, as well as a revised appeal and review system.

The tertiary education as of now is actually in need of a structural revamp. The absurdity of the certificate saga of the embattled

Rainy Season: Need For Proper Enlightenment

Speaking frankly, the rainy season is here again and it is time to remind the people of the state of Osun of their responsibility towards themselves and their environment.

Whatever mistake we make to ourselves can be forgiven but that done to the environment can never be.

There is no doubt that on a weekly basis, the Heavens will open up and rains will come streaming down but events of the recent past have shown that our people don’t learn from the past and history is good at repeating itself.

I am using this medium to call on relevant authorities to commence proper education and enlightenment campaigns against the indiscriminate tampering of the environment especially

during the wet season.

During this season, a great deal of water occasioned by rainfall would be seen by residents and the first thing on the minds of residents as observed over the years is

the misuse of this.

Such acts of misuse include: residents using their drainages as quick channels of disposing refuse, residents dumping refuse along the banks of rivers, streams and lakes forgetting that these bodies of water are

rector of Igbajo polytechnic, Igbajo also in Osun State is bizarre to say the least. Allegations of fraudulent credentials against a person who has risen, presumably by subterfuge to the pinnacle of a system suggests that there is more than a lot wrong.

We must therefore go beyond responding to salacious headlines to a root and branch approach.

In an earlier period when the universities had better budgets, the safeguards of external examiners from other universities were firmly entrenched. External Universities even came from Universities abroad.

To give so much power to a single individual does not make sense and is blatantly unfair and can lead even a saint into temptation.

We are therefore of the opinion that only a systemic shift in the clearly dysfunctional assessment processes of the universities can tackle the problem at the root. Nevertheless, great commendations and indeed kudos to Obafemi Awolowo for taking a decisive step in the right direction.

important sources of water for the growing population.

Also, residents indiscriminately defecate along the banks of these waters; some even go as far as doing laundry and

urinating into these waters.

Unknown to them, most of these water later are sipped underground which later form the water table through which wells are dug, boreholes are drilled for daily consumption.

Based on these facts, there is need for the state ministries of Health and Environment to educate the citizens of the state to approach this period with a little bit of caution so that we would not end up polluting the very environment and water that we depend on to survive.

It is not enough to dredge the drainages after as a result of our bad habits. Water channels are blocked and this water end up paying our residences visit. There is also need to encourage the people to clear their drainages so as to prevent any refuse clogging the passage of water and proper refuse disposal habits.

• O L U F U N K E ONIGBINDE, Modakeke, Osun State

OSUN DEFENDER Publisher

–

Editor

–

Moremi Publishing House Ltd. Kazeem Mohammed (0806-220-7954)

Lagos Editor

–

Kola Odepeju

News Editor

-

Shina Abubakar

Production Editor

–

Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa

Senior Reporter

–

Sola Jacobs

Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter

– – –

Kehinde Ayantunji Ismaeel Uthman Israel Afolabi Francis Ezediuno

Acting Marketing Manager

-

Jimmy Adams

Photographer Photographer

– –

Oluwagbemiga Adeniyi Olushola Aderinto

Proof Reader

-

Tosin Oyediran

Admin. Manager

–

Murtala Agboola

Graphics Designer – Computer Operator – Computer Operator -

Lukman Ussein Mary Akintola Zainab Olalere

Advert Executive

–

Nike Adeyemi

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

All correspondence to the above mail address.

ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0806-220-7954, 08061197897 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com, osundefenderbank@gmail.com

5

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

FRIDAY JUNE 22 - THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2018

MAGAZINE FRIDAY JUNE 22 - THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2018

Osun Calisthenics: A Life

Changing Education Legacy Governor Rauf Aregbesola intervention in education has been established by many organisations and experts to be monumental and unprecedented, and very outstanding among the transformation is school Calisthenics that philosophically integrated knowledge with sense of beauty, physical and mental fitness, driven by virtuous values to organise an ideal society.

KEHINDE AYANTUNJI in this report x-rays the potentials of Osun School Calisthenics.

The audacity and determination of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in reforming education in the state of Osun could be linked to Europe renaissance, the socialpolitical and economic paradigm shift that altered the social order that placed Europe on development pedestal difficult to reverse today. The Renaissance was seen as a “rebirth” of that generation, started about 1,400 years. The Renaissance is often said to be the start of the “modern age” and Europe development. During the renaissance, there were many famous philosophers and leaders but one man was singled out as a person who was clever at a great number of things and he was called a “Renaissance man”. Leonardo da Vinci, who was a scientist, and a philosopher, was the most famous Renaissance man.

Perhaps, his edge was his ability to locate certain values beyond education that Europe required to succeed and build a prosperous future for Europe, hence Leonardo renaissance is the manifestation of Europe today. The School Calisthenics rejuvenated in Nigeria by Governor Aregbesola, no doubt, singled him out among thousands of leaders as a symbol of Africa renaissance. Beyond excitement of beauty and aesthetics, the process and success of periodic calisthenics display in Osun is a rebirth of virtuous young generation with sound mind, courage and dexterity to build an organised and ideal society.

The postulations of Marcus Garvey, a leading proponent of Black Nationalism better explains the inevitability of interventions such as calisthenics for any society that must be developed and prosperous.

He described education as “the learning of all that is worthwhile knowing, so that you may be better in all things and relate properly with your creator and with your fellow human beings” but has been largely replaced in Nigeria with mere schooling, “the philosophy of the classroom” and the mere cramming and regurgitation of facts for certificates.

The Founding Fathers of Education established it on the Tripod of 3 Domains: Cognitive, Psychomotor and Affective domains. The Cognitive domain generates activities that dispense knowledge for skills acquisition; in the Psychomotor domain, we find gymnastics and all physical engagements to build a sound mind in a sound body; and the Affective domain takes care of Morals in general, where exemplary conduct is built, as importantly and indispensably as sound knowledge and vigour.

In Nigeria’s past, apart from the teaching of Civics and History, almost all students were engaged in Physical Education (PE)

•Osun School pupils on calisthenics display.

From being individual exercises combining elements of gymnastics, ballet, acrobatics and yoga, it evolved over the centuries into a complex system of exercises including all body weight exertions around running, standing, jumping, pushing, pulling, swinging, bending, kneeling, e.t.c with the gain objectives of strength, fitness, flexibility, balance, agility, coordination. and enrolled into one co-curricular activities or the other: Societies like Boys Scout, Girls Brigade, Red Cross, Photography, Quiz and Debates, et cetera, abound. Equally, both for Boarding and Day students, ample time were assigned for Preparatory classes and Games periods supervised by senior students and Games masters respectively. Schools had large playing fields and provisions for dozens of sporting engagements, from football and athletics all the way to hockey. All these became history in contemporary Nigeria, with most schools without anything more than a few blocks of classrooms, whereas playing fields as rare as rains in the Sahara.

The appalling situation was no different in Osun at inception of the Aregbesola administration, and the woeful performances of students, whereby only about 13% of students enrolled for final examination making up to 5 credits including English and Mathematics, called

for an Education Emergency. An Education Summit, Chaired by Prof. Wole Soyinka was called, to map out a way out of the jungle. It was one of the very first acts of the administration in its infancy.

The entire gamut of radical intervention noted in Osun today are the resulting application of the proposed remedies from that Summit: making Osun today arguably the state that has intervened the most in public education in Nigeria’s recent history.

Calisthenics introduced to schools as a co-curricular activity is a less talked about aspect of that intervention ranging from super model school infrastructure, reclassification of schools (elementary, middle and high schools), unified uniforms per level and provision of 2 free starter pairs, free standard meal for all elementary school students on all school days, Opon Imo (Tablet of Knowledge) for all high school students, highly subsidised school buses for transit, incentives to teachers, restructuring

of the school management system and teaching services, amongst others.

Calisthenics – kalos (beauty) and stenos (strength) are body weight exercises believed to have originated from Greece at the time of the Greek historian Callisthenes.

From being individual exercises combining elements of gymnastics, ballet, acrobatics and yoga, it evolved over the centuries into a complex system of exercises including all body weight exertions around Running, Standing, Jumping, Pushing, Pulling, Swinging, Bending, Kneeling, e.t.c with the gain objectives of Strength, Fitness, Flexibility, Balance, Agility, Coordination, e.t.c.

Group Calisthenics is the finest expression of the modern Calisthenics display, distinct from but sharing certain characteristics with modern aerobics exercises, synchronised dance, rhythm kata in martial arts, and other. Whereas all of above exercises take place either in a large hall on an open field (Field Display). One very distinct aspect of Display Calisthenics is the incorporated display of words and patterns (captions) by participants arranged in grades, usually in a gallery (Background Display). Exercises are performed in unison with amazing precision by participant in beautiful costumes. The exactitude of words and patterns formations by the Background Display participants makes one thinks of a computerised process not humans, precisely exhibiting flags of different colours at command prompts.

Training in calisthenics, especially when introduced to large number of students as a systematic programme over time, produces interesting and positive results as a result of the inherent attributes of the Calisthenics games. The most fundamental aspects of this phenomenon are that these benefits are among the most crucially needed by citizens in an ailing, underdeveloped society! The poverty and underdevelopment of nations are compounded by the existence of a majority of elites and citizens who are disorderly, bereft of aesthetics sense, are self-centred and inconsiderate, and lacking in basic faculties of discipline (like punctuality, promptness, precision, e.t.c.), and are handing over these negative attributes, wittingly and unwittingly, to the coming generation.

Our education system with its cognitive preoccupation, not being problemconscious nor solutions-oriented, is a danger to freedom and development in itself, especially as it utterly fails to benefit students from systematic engagements in the psychomotor and affective domains

•Continued on page 11

7

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

COMMUNITY

FRIDAY JUNE 22 - THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2018

Residents Rejoice Over Grading Of Roads By Olorunda North LCDA Residents of Oke-ola and other neighbouring communities of Olorunda North Local Council Development Area (LCDA) trooped out in joyous mood on Monday, as the administration of Hon Qadri Owonikoko in Olorunda North Local Council Development Area (LCDA) flagged off the grading of the roads linking the communities.

The roads are, Oke Ola, opening up and grading back of Total, old Ikirun of some other roads road, Fatai Oladejo street, earlier attended to.

Owonikoko, while Jadesola Ajala street, Gafari Olabiyi street inspecting the grading among others in Ward 8, exercise said, it was in line with the Ota-Efun, Osogbo.

The development, commitment of his according to the administration to ensure chairman, falls under the that the people of the Phase II of road grading council get dividends of to complement the democracy to the fullest.

According to him, his administration has been embarking on series of developmental projects that would improve the peoples’ standard of living, socially and economically.

The council boss added that his administration would continue to serve the people interms of provision of their needs in line with the campaign promises made to the people during electioneering.

He then urged the people to also support

the government at the state and local levels, as well as the All Progressives Congress

(APC), particularly in the coming governorship election in the state, with a view to guaranteeing

the continuity of developmental programmes and projects in the state.

Ejigbo LG Installs 300KVA For Community The administration of Hon. Gbenga Ayegbayo in The Council Manager, Ejigbo Local Government Area, State of Osun, has Builder M.O. Tijani said purchased and installed a brand new 300KVA the action was part of the Transformer at Worgor Area, Oke-Itunu, Ward One fulfillment of the of the Local Government. electioneering campaign This is just as the democracy would be of Hon. Ayegbayo to the to their people of the council administration has given brought area. the dilapidated famous doorsteps.

Also, the duo of Engr.

The council boss Ode-Bara Open Market Stalls a face lift, with a equally canvassed for O.S. Tinubu, HOD Works and Transport and Mrs. view to boosting the more supports and commercial activities in cooperation for the All S.B. Adeyemo, HOD the area, a development Progressives Congress Social Development and that has now given (APC)-led government at I n f o r m a t i o n , the traders opportunity to both the state and local commended transact business without levels, saying one major administration for its way through which the commitment to making any hitch.

According to a dividends of democracy lives better for the statement by the council’s can be felt further is to people, as they enjoined Information Officer, the massively vote for the the beneficiaries to see new transformer was candidate of the APC in the projects as their forthcoming belongings and take good purchased to replace the the old 100KVA which was gubernatorial election in care of them to ensure adequate sustainability. not functioning for quite the state. an age, saying, with the new and more powerful transformer, the people of the area are experiencing No fewer than 474 persons have benefited from a new lease of life. the empowerment programme organised by the Speaking on the Irewole North-East Local Council Development development, Ayegbayo Area, Wasinmi-Ikire, State of Osun. assured the people of The empowerment secretariat recently, Ejigbo Local Government programme which was witnessed the that more dividends of held at the council’s convocation of youths

•Grading of roads ongoing at Oke-Ola community.

Irewole North-East LCDA Empowers 474 Youths

Ede North Area Council Grades Alabiye Community Road The people of Alabiye Community, Owode Ede have now heaved a sigh of relief over the deplorable condition of their road, as the administration of the Executive Secretary, Ede North Area Council, Hon. Mukaila Uthman has graded the road.

According to a until the intervention of statement personally the Uthman-led signed by the council administration which boss, this clarification has now made the road came following the news motorable. going viral that some The statement read: ‘promise and fail “Our attention has been politicians’ are claiming drawn to the news going to be the brain behind the viral that some promise grading of the road. and fail politicians are The statement noted claiming to be the brain that residents of the area behind the grading of the have been battling with road. We wish to inform the bad road over the the general public that years to the extent that it they have no connection became difficult for even with the ongoing bicycle to ply the roads, development in Owode

Ede and its environs under the umbrella of Ede North Area Council.

“The road was graded by The Executive Secretary Ede North Area Council, Hon. Mukaila Uthman Beile to ease the pain and stress of the people plying the road”.

The council boss who assured the people of Owode Ede and its environs that his administration would continue to strive for the betterment of the Area Council said, “We shall continue to deliver and making our people happy by giving to them, the dividend of democracy”.

CHANGE OF NAME/PUBLIC NOTICE ADEYANJU DEBORAH BUNMI

That I was formerly known and addressed as ONI DEBORAH BUNMI, but now wish to be known and addressed as ADEYANJU DEBORAH BUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

who had undergone training in tailoring and farming among others.

The beneficiaries were selected indigent youths, women and farmers drawn from all the 36 units of the LCDA. The Executive Chairman of the Council, Hon. Adeboye Tajudeen Opeyemi, explained that the empowerment programme was aimed at liberating the youths in the area from the unemployment crisis confronting the country and that it was designed to mould them to be selfreliant.

He averred that the gesture was a clear testimony to the seriousness of his administration towards banishing poverty, promotion of quality living and sustainable development, which, according to him, is embedded in the Governor Rauf Aregbesola Six-points integral Action Plan.

D e s c r i b i n g empowerment as the process of increasing the capacity of individuals or groups and transform it to desire action, Opeyemi said he would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the people of the council area become financially independent through employment.

He noted that the four

beneficiaries of sewing machine passed through the training session for a period of three months, while 100 farmers, 120 financial grant beneficiaries and 250 beneficiaries of food and cloth fabrics, under relief materials, were fully screened and certified in their various communities.

He said the distributed items and financial grant will go a long way to assist the beneficiaries to be self-reliant and promote their living standard, hence giving them the opportunity to contribute their quotas towards the development of the Council.

The council boss said: “We will continue to pursue youth and women development policy with renewed vigour. More skill acquisition programmes would be organized in no distant time for another set of youths and women folk while strategies for marketing their finished products would be worked out accordingly”.

Promising to continue to compliment the efforts of Governor Aregbesola in his bid to transform the state to the greater heights, Opeyemi appreciated the Governor for his untiring

support for the development of the LCDA’s programmes that have direct and indirect impact on the people at the grassroots.

The Leader of the council’s parliament, Hon. Ademola Owoade said the gesture was part of the efforts to fulfill the promise made during the electioneering campaign.

Owoade explained that the empowerment programme was designed as an avenue for them to give back to the people at the council area.

He said: “I want to tell you that there is no excuse for us not to work, Governor Aregbesola had already set a standard for us to follow at whatever condition we find ourselves.”

“We must work for our people, we must do the bidding of our people who gave us their mandate and entrusted on us their manadate” Owoade said.

Among the dignitaries at the empowerment programme are the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr Kolapo Alimi, Hon. Akinola Olasunkanmi, Com. Wale Adebisi, Local Government Chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, market men and women among others.

8

OSUNDEFENDER

www.osundefender.org

FRIDAY JUNE 22 - THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2018

OSUNDEFENDER

www.osundefender.org

9

FRIDAY JUNE 22 - THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2018

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

10

Osun‘ll Be More Developed Under My Governorship - Amere A member of the Nigeria House of Representatives, representing Iwo/Ayedire/Ola-Oluwa Federal Constituency, Honourable Gafar Akintayo Amere is one of the governorship aspirants under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Hails from Iwo, he spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on his ambition and chances of flying the party’s flag in the September 22 governorship election.

OSDF: You have been a legislator in the National Assembly for close to eight years and now you are dabbling into the contest for the topmost executive position in Osun, what informed your decision?

AMERE: Throughout my life I have had the zeal of rendering assistance to people or providing opportunity for them to do so, the teaming unemployed youths especially. Whenever I assist people I feel at ease with myself. Actually, I learnt this from my father, he was a philanthropist, assisting people to the extent of his own wealth. The zeal to assist my community pushed me into politics because I knew if I remain in private service, I may not have enough opportunity as much as I would have loved to serve the people.

Also, the people who were with my father before he died called me to sustain the legacy he left behind by coming to represent them at the national assembly.

Therefore, the determination to serve my people is the driving force.

OSDF: There are a lot of agitations about zoning the governorship slot to Osun West, do you also subscribe to this?

AMERE: I have said it severally that it is only fair for the governorship ticket to be zoned to the West Senatorial district.

Osun has three senatorial districts, the east, the west and the central and since inception, we discovered that the east and central have had their opportunity of producing governors, the only time the west had the opportunity was during the first republic when Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke only served for 22 months as governor.

So, by historical perspective, it is only equitable for other zones to concede it to Osun West because while the Central had served for more than eight years, the East would have served for eight years by November 27 this year. So, it won’t be out of place to allow the west to have a shot at the seat comes 2018. You would discover that the electorates are the ones clamouring for zoning. If by mistake our party does not zone this to the west, we would have problem convincing the electorate to vote for our party come September 22.

I know we have learnt our lessons from the Osun West Senatorial bye-election last year to always listen to the yearnings of the people, and we would do all we could to ensure the party claim victory in the forthcoming election, if not for anything for the continuation of the genuine work and the remarkable strides that the present government has put in place in the state.

OSDF: Assuming it is zoned to Osun West and you’re elected to fly the party’s flag, tell us the antecedents you have that would enable you to sustain the works done by the incumbent?

AMERE: So many candidates are out there jostling for the topmost seat in the state, but the party needs to do a background check on everyone to see if they have the experience in managing the state, because we need somebody that can manage a state like Osun successfully.

You would discover that Osun depends mainly on the allocation from the federal government account, currently, Osun does not have attractive IGR base, I mean to say taxable property are not much in the state in terms of providing additional fund, to anything we get from the federal account. So we need somebody who has experience whether in managing companies ravaged in financial crisis or a state with potentials which have not been tapped. You need somebody who have a sound knowledge in accounting, finance and economics to manage our state successfully and these are the qualities I possessed. I have worked in several private firms and I am also an experience manager, I once manage the biggest cocoa factory in Africa successfully. I was with an accounting firm where I was seconded to Ile-oluji

•AMERE

So many candidates are out there jostling for the topmost seat in the state, but the party needs to do a background check on everyone to see if they have the experience in managing the state, because we need somebody that can manage a state like Osun successfully.

Cocoa factory and my initial job was to sell off their assets in order to offset the debt owed by the company but successfully, I was able to manage the company out of debt, and up till date the company is still existing. After that, I worked with a company owned by Aliu Dasuki and if you look at my record very well, everywhere I have worked, I leave an enviable record that could not be surpassed by anybody.

Also, my experience in the National assembly, I have connected with a lot of persons to know what the state needs to be able to gear up its resources to create income for the state. Osun can’t depend on the money from the federation account, we have to find a way where we have connections with private investors especially foreign investors to have industries here. What we need is to develop our infrastructure and this in turn will generate income for the state which would improve the state’s IGR I am not saying that the government should be directly involved in creating industries but the government would provide the enabling environment by providing the necessary impetus like what Aregebsola is doing interms of the road he has been constructing, ensuring that there is an access to rural areas whereby investors would be impressed to come and probably construct their factory for the government to have taxable elements to generate IGR to the state.

If you look at where the state is sitting, you would discover the state is sitting among big market. The distance between the state and Lagos is less than 200 kilometres and if you look at the daily Lagos market for example for food, more than 80% of this supply are from the North. Our state is an agrarian state and if such opportunity is given to Osun, there is nothing that stops us from telling our farmers to specialize on certain foods

needed by Lagos and we ferry it through train from Osogbo to Lagos which will generate a lot of tax to the government and the state would be better off in terms of IGR. I am also looking at another area which is tourism. Osun is endowed with a lot of tourist sites that can generate enough income to the state. In terms of human capital development, the current administration has done a lot in this area and if you look at the financial index as published recently, Osun is the highest in terms of human capital development among other states.

OSDF: Some aspirants particularly from the West are saying if any of them is picked, you will support him, otherwise there will be problem, do you subscribe to this?

AMERE: All aspirants from the west except one have agree to join hands together and support any one that is chosen among ourselves and we are saying that we are going to cooperate with the party because we are party people, we are not going to use violence and we are not going to cause division in the party. To say some other negative things, I will not subscribe to that in our own party, the party decisions are very supreme and if the party decides that this is what they want to do, others will support the decision.

OSDF: There has been criticism against the present government over the management of the resources of the state, with the opposition alleging that present government have wrecked the state to the extent that it would take a long period of time for it to recover, what is your take?

AMERE: I have analyzed the behaviour of members of the PDP who are the masterminds of the criticism and discovered that they are slow learners.

They have not been truthful on anything they have presented to us. If they are

claiming that the current government has messed up the economy, what about the states where we have PDP in government.

For example, the debt Akwa Ibom is owing is more than that of Osun, and so many other examples. A government that has the intention to create opportunity for his people must be able to develop infrastructure like I earlier stated, provide sound education and provide jobs opportunities. What is going to provide jobs are infrastructures and these will produce opportunity for industries to come and those factories will create employment to the teeming unemployed people.

For them to say the incumbent has mismanaged the state, they are just playing on people’s intelligent and that is what they are known for. Compare the seven years of the PDP and the period the present government has spent, the APC administration has done far better. They are not even comparable. So, debt is not a bad thing for either a private company or government, but the application of that debt is what is important and I can say that Osun government invested the debt on things that would bring benefit even more than the investment.

OSDF: The governorship position is a two-fold race, first is the primary, before going to the poll, how is your relationship with the delegates, and do you think APC will give aspirants a level playing ground?

AMERE: I believe so much in our party that all aspirants would be given a level playing ground to run, contesting now will be the fourth time now I am contesting. I had contested three times before now and everyone had been given a level playing ground. Definitely, I am in contact with delegates all over the state.

OSDF: Just has APC people are saying the PDP has no capacity to defeat them, the PDP are also saying APC has been rejected by the people, your stand on this?

AMERE: I know those in the PDP, they have mouth to talk. Just like what I said last week, they are slow learners, they deceive a lot. There is no PDP in Osun.

What we have is a fragment of people looking for ways to embezzle the people’s treasury. Anyone should go back to the record and see what they have done in the past in comparison with the revenue they had. Then, oil was about $100 per barrel, which means the revenue from the federation account they received during their time was more than what Aregebsola is receiving and compare it with what the incumbent has been able to do with the little resources available. The only thing the party is good at is to cause confusion.

In every aspect of government, Aregbesola government has done well; ask those in PDP what they did in those areas when they were in power, nothing!

Osun people are wise, they know their right from left and I am sure they can never allow themselves to be deceived again by the PDP. OSDF: Your message to the party members and the electorate?

AMERE: This is Itesiwaju Osun appealing to the people of the state to weigh the aspirants, look at their antecedents and what they have been able to do to affect people’s lives and to the development of the state before now.

Compare them, also look at their experience, check their backgrounds if they’re from a good home and whether they can be relied on, this is so important because you have to choose a leader who will not renege on the promises he has made to the people. I Honourable Akintayo Gafar Amere has done that in the past, I have delivered on all my promises to the people of my constituency and the records are easily available for verification. I believe if I am given the opportunity to serve as the governor of the state, the people will be better for it.

FRIDAY JUNE 22 - THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2018

NEWS

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

11

Investor Rates Osun Governor Best Ever

By Ismaeel Uthman A foremost Osun based business woman and Chief Executive Officer, Yinka Oba Foams Nigeria Limited, Dr Eunice Olayinka Obaleye has rated the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the state of Osun the best since the creation of the state.

Obaleye lauded the that Osun has witnessed t r e m e n d o u s over the years. achievements recorded Commending the

by Aregbesola in almost Governor for building an eight years of his enabling business administration, arguing atmosphere for investors that it is only an enemy to thrive in the state, of progress and Obaleye acknowledged development that the state for putting in criticize the current place business-friendly government in the state. policies.

She made the She said the present statement while playing administration has host on the Governor and opened windows of his entourage who were opportunities for all to on a congratulatory visit survive with the to her residence in Ilesa implementation of its on the celebration of her pro-masses policies, 80th birthday. actions and programmes.

The octogenarian, who According to her, gave Aregbesola a pass A r e g b e s o l a ’ s mark in all sectors of administration has governance, said his justified the tenets of administration has lifted democracy through the Osun from the shackles prompt and timely of retrogression and implementation of his under development to a policies and state which is the programmes. cynosure of all eyes.

Obaleye said: “As for Obaleye, a Member of me, our governor has set the Order of Niger the pace for others to (MON) commended the emulate, considering the leadership quality of positive impacts the Governor Aregbesola government has made in which she described as a the lives of the citizenry. driving force to all round The state has provided growth and development the residents particularly

business men and women a conducive atmosphere to succeed, a feat that no one has made since the creation of the state.

“We have never had it so good like this before.

Many have governed the state since its creation and as a matter of fact, none of them did an average of what God has used Governor Aregbesola to do.

“There is no doubt that

Governor Aregbesola has made our collective dreams as citizens a reality, he has refined and redefined our history for better as we can see in all his good works across sectors.”

In his remarks, Aregbesola commended Obaleye for contributing to the state’s economy through her huge investment, describing the business tycoon as a great entrepreneur

whose economic impact has affected positively the lives of the people in the state.

Aregbesola said: “We are here to celebrate with the family of Mrs Obaleye for her enormous contributions to socio-economic and commercial activities in the state which had brought massive e m p l o y m e n t opportunities for the teeming Osun indigenes.

“The celebrant has demonstrated high sense of commitment to the economic renaissance in the state, hence the need for personal visit to honour her.

“There is no doubt in the fact that a woman of substance epitomized by Dr. Obalaye is rare because not everyone that is rich knows that he or she needs to invest in his or her state as being done by the celebrant.”

NNPC Leadership Academy GM Lauds Aregbesola’s Intervention In Education The Group General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Leadership Academy, Musa S. Gimba, has lauded Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s interventions in the education sector, describing it as a reference point in Nigeria.

Gimba who led a A r e g b e s o l a ’ s group of staff of the government.

According to Gimba, academy to Osun for a three-day visit, said he the team also came to was impressed on the confirm the positive development and information and very promotion of functional high commendations of model of education in the state, the and just as he recommended management organization in the Osun the interventions of the A r e g b e s o l a ’ s education sector.

At Anthony Udofia administration in education sector to other Government Elementary School, Osogbo, Gimba states’ governors.

Giving the report of his said the team observed observation on Monday, the enthusiastic and pupils, Gimba said the team was confident in the state to understudy enjoying their nutritious ‘some of the state of the and tasty free meals (Oart and world class Meal) provided by the schools built by the government after an

interesting class session.

He said all members of the team were excited when they got to Osogbo Government High School, expressing

delight that such excellent quality of schools is not only in Nigeria but are provided under the free education policy.

Don’t Vote For Greedy Politicians •Continued from page 3 and reorganization of informal sector of economy.

“Osun state has vast agricultural resources, it promises to fetch a big investment for the state and its potentials and potentialities for job creation and meaningful engagement of the youths is a task that must be done.

Besides, technology would be deployed to harness agricultural resources and with a timeline, the state would

be rolled back to prosperity,” Salaam reiterated.

He further stressed that agricultural revolution can only be achieved in an environment where allinclusive governance is established, promising to run his government based on information that would be supplied by contact committee that would be regularly interacting with all communities in the state for the institution of bottom-up budget approach.

MAGAZINE

Osun Calisthenics: A Life Changing Education Legacy •Continued from page 6

activities. Having determined to turn around the standing and import of education, especially public schools education in the State of Osun from Day 1 of the Aregbesola administration, the choice of the co-curricular activity to adopt along with all its other intended sectoral transformations is then a critical matter. This is where Calisthenics comes in, in the sense that of all major sporting engagements that could be adopted and promoted, it alone has the unique attribute of imparting in participants, all the gains derivable from the 3 domains of education all at once, and to as many participants as possible at a go! It is a simple masterstroke of visionary thinking and management.

The many benefits of calisthenics to participants include, but are not limited to: Enhanced Organisational capacity and understanding of systems (Participants themselves handle all aspects of logistics deployment before and after training, efficiently and in an orderly manner) Promptness and punctuality (as all positions must be filled before the commencement of exercises, so not only is 100% attendance essential, delay in being present is inimical to the common interest) Discipline (all elements making up discipline are imparted in participants, including increasing their attention span (concentration), precision and exactitude, e.t.c.)

Team Spirit and Cooperation (unity of Purpose and uniformity in motion are primal dictate in group calisthenics without which any beautiful display is impossible. Every individual accepts to play his/her part well as component of a recognised whole, for the sake of a beautiful common objectives) Enhanced sense of Beauty (obvious development of aesthetics appreciation) Enhanced positive social interaction (obvious networking among thousands of students of various orientation and background, who may otherwise not have met in life – out of which a life-long bond might form, against the backdrop of a memorable encounter during happy activities).

Participants are taken away from

•Osun school children during one of their calisthenics display.

Callisthenics alone has the unique attribute of imparting in participants, all the gains derivable from the 3 domains of education all at once, and to as many participants as possible at a go!

negative out-of-schools activities and even from potential abusive engagement Grassroots community economy boost (whenever and wherever thousands of athletes are gathered, and regularly over a length of time, the local economy experience a boost in consumables typical to participants age grade. In the case of Osun with a transport token to participants, it is a huge one. Imagine a common N300 per 4,000 participants for say 90 training days, it is millions of naira directly injected into the local economy!)

In 2011, two Calisthenics experts from Cuba were engaged to come to Osun to train 40 physical education instructors and games masters, who were assembled under a Chief Calisthenics instructor, a Bulgarian trained expert instrumental in commencing the programme in Nigeria during the tenure of Chief Bola Ige in the old Oyo State. The training experience culminated in a display at the “Osun at 21” Anniversary Celebration, August 27, 2012; the first ever major calisthenics display in Osun State, with only a Nigerian precedence in the one put up by the Late Chief Bola Ige, at the Liberty Stadium in the Old Oyo State during the 2ndRepublic.

Beyond the pomp and colours, one can begin to imagine what attitude and orientation these thousands of students, averagely aged 14 presently, will take into tertiary institutions and thenceforth into the professions and the society at large in a little more than a decade to come.

As Ogbeni himself has drummed out repeatedly, “calisthenics is not just an outof-school activity, but a life-changing engagement introduced to schools as a way of producing a new generation of youths who are physically-robust, mentally-sound and socially well-adjusted in addition to being knowledgeable.”

Surely, Calisthenics displays involving thousands of colourfully costumed students exercising in precision and concert is an awesome spectacle to behold. However, beyond the amazing and exciting 1 hour displays, there are unquantifiable benefits to societal advancement in values and attitudes picked up during long hours and days of training preceding the satisfying spectacle that we ceremonially see. It is a model project deserving of accolades and widespread emulation.

In the 6years or so since then, 4 other major calisthenics displays during various anniversaries, and some other minor displays, have taken place without the Cubans, under the tutorship of those they trained, including the spectacular Oodua World Children’s Day Celebration in 2013 and this year’s Children Day celebration.

Over 20,000 students from Middle and High Schools in more than 30 schools from Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas have passed through the training exercises, which last up to 90 days in some instance.

In 2017, a new state-wide competition template was adopted, allowing entry from all schools in Osun, private and public. More than 40 schools across the state formed themselves into 9 teams, training for 2 school terms, with elimination displays and Senatorial Stage championship and prizes.

The grand finale took place last November between teams representing the 3 Senatorial Districts: the total numbers of students involved are more than 5,000 and the total prize money, which went into the sports facilities development of the participating schools, was N10,500,000 apart from trophies and certificates of participation.

12

FRIDAY JUNE 22 - THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2018

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

On The Hustings

Ileri Oluwa's Momentum Soars

By Solomon Odeniyi The popularity of Ileri Oluwa, a political caucus linked to Mr. Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of Osun is gathering steam by the day as the group continues to harness impressive, unanticipated support in its current campaign swing through the state.

The group started its campaign tour penultimate week to drum support for its governorship aspirant, Oyetola, who is also the current Chief of Staff to the state governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. The tour which took off in Ife-South has been witnessing impressive turn-out of people in support of the group.

The support base has been impressive, confirming the perception that Ileri Oluwa’s candidate, Oyetola, has a head start in the contest to win the party’s primary election coming up on the 7th of July, 2018.

Sex-For-Marks:

•Enthusiastic supporters of Ileri Oluwa during the group’s campaign tour of OdoOtin/Ifelodun/Boripe federal constituency last Wednesday.

A convergence of opinion is in the direction that of all the political groups - both within the ruling party and the opposition parties - currently touring the state to solicit support for their aspirants, in the upcoming primary elections, IleriOluwa is taking the lead in terms of massive support from the people.

The support base has been impressive, confirming the perception that Ileri Oluwa’s candidate, Oyetola, has a head start in the contest to win the party’s primary election coming up on the 7th of July, 2018.

Politics is of course, not mathematics and a week is a long time in politics, nevertheless, suc is the steam being garnered by Oyetola that the conventional wisdom converges on the proposition that he is way ahead in the hunt for delegates.

What is more? If he is able to successfully scale through the party primary, then the general election of September 22nd is likely to be a walkover for him. This is because it will be difficult for any other political party to defeat the APC in the general election as the incumbent governor has paved

•OYETOLA the way for the success of his party in the coming governorship election through his stellar performance.

Ogbeni Aregbesola has performed excellently well such that the people are not ready to vote for any other party apart from APC because it is only the party that can ensure continuity of the lofty and laudable programmes of Aregbesola.

For Osun people, to vote for any other political party will surely be tantamount to a reversal of the gains already recorded during Aregbesola era.

OAU Sacks Randy Professor

For misconduct, authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has dismissed the ‘sex- an A and that this led to for-mark’ Professor Richard Akindele of him being sexually the Department of Accounting, Faculty of harassed by Miss Osagie cannot be supported by Administration from the service of the institution. any evidence” Akindele, a senior favours, this was “Professor Akindele’s lecturer was dismissed established in the audio action in requesting sexual after he had been found recording which he favour from Osagie to culpable on all the admitted” change her examination allegation of sexually “His claim that Miss harassing his student, Miss Osagie knew that she had score was scandalous behavior that has brought Monica Osagie. passed with a score of 45% Addressing journalists but was seeking to score ridicule to the name of the University and have at the institution recently, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede disclosed that the University arrived at the dismissal option

By Oluwapelumi Fasoyin following the Authority of the Federal Polytechnic Offa has recommendation of the Joint Committee of released its examination timetable for the second Council and Senate semester of 2017/2018 academic session. constituted to probe the The timetable which students were also allegation. indicated that the theory clamouring for the The Vice Chancellor part of the examination release of the first disclosed that the erring would begin on Monday semester’s result, professor had an inappropriate relationship 16, July was pasted on especially as the school the notice board of each has decided to release the with Osagie as established semester through their department in the school second conversations in the audio mini and permanent timetable. campuses respectively. recording.

Adeyemo John from The release of the the department of According to him, he had acted in a manner that timetable boosted the Engineering told our is seen to have morale of the student correspondent that he is compromised his position population of the school, so happy with the as a teacher and examiner, some of who believed the development as it would in that, his conversations action is long overdue. encourage him to start with Miss Osagie were And unlike before reading ahead of the about examination scores when the students were examination. and inducement of favour An NDII student of for the alteration of not concerned about lectures, many were seen Mass Communication examination scores.

“He offered to change at various corners on department, Jameson Miss Osagie’s purported campus reading ahead of Deborah said she is glad 33% result to a pass mark the scheduled date. and at the same time in consideration for sexual Meanwhile, some nervous at the release of

tarnished the reputation of the University, as it portrays the university as an institution where its teachers and examiners trade mark for sex”.

Professor Ogunbodede disclosed that the University is creating awareness and disseminating information on what constitute sexual harassment within the University and noting the

veracity of sexual harassment concept which include sexual solicitation, sex exploitation among others.

According to the Vice Chancellor, OAU is fully

committed to the eradication of sexual and any other harassment from tertiary institutions and will do all that is possible to nip the menace in the bud.

FEDPOFFA Commences Exams July 16 the timetable.

She however added

that she will put in her best and leave the rest to

God, as she anticipate going back home.

Igbajo Polytechnic To Become University of community applauded

By Adegbola Babalola

The authority of Igbajo polytechnic has concluded plans to upgrade the institution into a university.

According to a everything necessary to member of the school attract the best of BoT, Oluomo Sunday education for its people Akere, the school and those willing to come authority have applied to to the town for quality the National University education.

Commission (NUC) He added all logistics seeking its approval to are in place to ensure that convert the school to a the university takes off degree awarding without any hitch.

Institution.

He also added that He disclosed that the arrangements have been school will kick-off with put in place to ensure that faculties of social the present crops of sciences, Humanities, student are taken care of A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , and ensure that their Engineering, and Science. programmes are not According to him the disrupted. community is doing Some of the indigenes

the management of the school for the giant strides it has been pulling since the inauguration of the first community based polytechnic in the country.

The Lokiran of Igbajo expressed satisfaction with the development in the school within the time frame of its establishment, commending individuals that have been directing activities on the school.

According to Barrister Bukola Onifade, an indigene of the town, the move is a welcome development and it will endear development to the community and its environs.

FRIDAY JUNE 8 - THURSDAY JUNE 14, 2018

NEWS

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

13

Osun West Is Determined To Have The Governorship Shot - Babalola

By Solomon Odeniyi A leading aspirant contesting the governorship seat in Osun under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Elder Peter Babalola has said the aggressive agitation witnessed in the build up to the forthcoming September 22 election in the state from the west senatorial district is an indication that everyone from the area has woken from their deep slumber.

He added that share, they ruled for 11 politicians from the west years. The east held sway senatorial district have all for eight years and the gone back to the drawing west has none. Except board to sensitize and you want to count the 22 mobilise the people not months of Adeleke which only to participate in the cannot be compared to concluded continuous the number of years Voters exercise but to spent by the other zones.

“Even heaven knows also collect their west should present the Permanent voters Card.

He spoke during a chat next governor. If you call with the medium in his it zoning fine, if you say it’s from the mind or fair resident.

He said, “If you do share, whatever is fair is your study very well you fair. This is responsible the massive will discover the for collection rate of PVC is registration in the west high in the west, and a and the entire state”.

Peter-Action as large per cent of the new called eligible voters are from popularly that the west. Also, Politicians maintained from the west senatorial alienation of a fragment district have gone back to of a society from the the drawing board whole will over time sensitizing people to go breed conflict as the and mobilize not only to affected part would feel register but collect their they are alienated and PVC they are doing this not part of the existing because of their society.

Alluding to Ogun state expectation.

“Everyone from the which has zoned to the zone including the west and Oyo to the east politicians from the west their next governors, he has woken from their said this was done in deep slumber. The fairness to every zone in aforementioned central has had their the

states, describing it as a tactical approach to carry everyone along in the state and must not be found guilty of this.

He stressed that there is zoning in the country’s constitution as well as that of the party which according to him must follow a process in form of an unwritten convention.

The aspirant who lauded the incumbent governor for the development witnessed in the state so far despite the paucity of funds, noted that, “He has no manifesto other than to build on the legacy set by Ogbeni Aregbesola which encompasses every aspect of the economy, adding that what Ogbeni has started, if successive administrations continue to build on, will act as a catalyst for the transformation of the state beyond recognition in the years to come”.

He said the exercise he has acquired over the years as someone who has served under military and civilian administrations are weighty, saying he is perfectly fits into Aregbesola’s shoes in order to achieve the much needed objective of continuity.

•Babalola in action during the flag off of his governorship campaign.

YESSO: Osun Receives FOCU’s Commendations

The State of Osun Operation Coordinating Unit of through unprecedented the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation track record among all the (YESSO) has again received a thumbs-up from the YESSO participating Federal Operation Coordinating Unit (FOCU) for its states in Nigeria. leadership in publicizing YESSO among all the He maintained that the participating states in Nigeria. great success achieved The commendation In his remarks at the was made possible came from the Head of event, the State through the unparalleled Operations, FOCU, Coordinator, Osun magnanimity of Hajara Sami at the YESSO, Mr. Olufemi Governor Rauf Review of Ifaturoti enjoined other Aregbesola whose love Communication Based states to take a cue from for the poor and Assessment Report of the State of Osun that has downtrodden in Osun is YESSO currently holding carved a niche for itself unprecedented. at Daaty Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Mrs. Sami listed giant strides of Osun YESSO which she maintained were the product of the innumerable supports it has been receiving from Governor Rauf A r e g b e s o l a ’ s administration to include functioning website, unparalleled social media •State Coordinator, Osun YESSO, Olufemi Ifaturoti presence, well designed (right) with other participants during the workshop at newsletter, among others. Daaty Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Monday.

Convulsion In Children [Giri In Yoruba] Convulsion in children which medically is known as febrile seizures always present itself in children below the age of 5 years.

It has been proven that it often occurs with high fever which is usually one of the symptoms of a malaria infection.

Febrile seizures (febrile convulsions) are fits that can happen when a child has a fever. They most often happen between the ages of six months and three years. It can be a frightening and distressing experience to see your child having a seizure, particularly if it is their first one.

However, the fits are usually harmless and almost all children make a complete recovery afterwards.

As a precaution, you may still need to take your child to see a Paediatrician at the nearest hospital.

Signs of a febrile seizure A febrile seizure usually lasts for less than five minutes. The child will become stiff and their arms and legs may begin to twitch and lose consciousness. Under this condition, the child may wet or soil themselves.

The child may also vomit and foam at the mouth, and their eyes may roll back.

After the seizure, the child may be sleepy for up to an hour afterwards. A straight forward febrile seizure like this will only happen once during the child’s illness. To avoid this, parents should have portable thermometers at

home with which to take and monitor the child’s temperature.

Occasionally, febrile seizures can last longer than 15 minutes and symptoms may only affect one area of the child’s body.

These are known as complex febrile seizures. The seizure sometimes happens again within 24 hours or during the period in which the child is ill.

What to do during a febrile seizure i.

If you observe that your child is having a febrile seizure, the first thing to do is to place the child in the recovery position. Stay with your child and try to make a mental note of how long the seizure lasted. ii.

Do not put anything into your child’s mouth during a seizure, including medication. There is a slight chance they might bite their tongue. iii.

While it’s unlikely that there’s anything seriously wrong, it is

important to get your child checked. iv.

If your child has had febrile seizures before and the seizure lasts for less than five minutes. You should also contact your doctor if your child shows signs and symptoms of dehydration, a lack of fluid in the body.

Dehydration symptoms include: a dry mouth, sunken eyes, a lack of tears when crying, a sunken fontanelle – the soft spot usually found at the top of a young child’s head.

Seeing a doctor Febrile seizures can often be diagnosed from a description of what happened. It is unlikely that a doctor will see the seizure, so it is useful to note these questions that the doctor may likely ask: how long the seizure lasted?

What happened? [Such as body stiffening, twitching of the face, arms and legs, staring, and loss of consciousness], whether the child recovered within one hour? Whether they have had a seizure before?

Further tests, such as a blood or urine sample, may be needed if the cause of the child’s illness is not clear to the doctor.

It can sometimes be difficult to get a urine sample from young children, so it may have to be done in hospital.

Further testing and observation in hospital is also usually recommended if your child’s symptoms are unusual or they are having complex febrile

With FRANCIS EZEDIUNO seizures, particularly if they’re younger than 12 months old.

The tests that may be recommended include: An Electroencephalogram (EEG).

This measures the child’s electrical brain activity by placing electrodes on their scalp; unusual patterns of brain activity can sometimes indicate epilepsy.

A lumbar puncture. Where a small sample of CerebroSpinal Fluid (CSF) is removed for testing; CSF is a clear fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord.

A lumbar puncture can be used to determine whether the child has an infection of the brain or nervous system.

Causes of febrile seizures The cause of febrile seizures is unknown, although they are linked to the start of a fever, a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above. There may also be a genetic link to febrile seizures; the chances of having a seizure are increased if a close family member has a history of them.

In most cases, the high temperature is caused by an infection. Common examples are chickenpox, flu, a middle ear infection or tonsillitis.

In rare cases, febrile seizures can occur after a child has a vaccination.

Research has shown children have a 1 in 3,000 to 4,000 chance of having a febrile seizure after having the MMR vaccine.

14

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

NEWS

FRIDAY JUNE 8 - THURSDAY JUNE 14, 2018

Aregbesola Never Spent N4.6bn On Trailer Parks

By Ismaeel Uthman The State Government of Osun has described the statement credited to the State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Governor Rauf Aregbesola spent N4.6bn on a proposed trailer parks construction as false and unfounded accusation against the governor’s noble person.

A statement signed by straight, the state the state Commissioner government wishes to for Information and state that no kobo of the Strategy, Mr Adelani state was spent on the Baderinwa described the proposed trailer parks, PDP action as crude and the government had no lacking civility. financial commitment to “PDP in its usual the execution of the arbitrary manner falsely contract, and it had been claimed that Governor terminated for a very Aregbesola awarded a long time.

N4.6bn trailer parks that “The contract was was not executed. awarded on concession “To set the record to Safeway Track

Solution Limited in 2011, following the proposal it presented to the State Government.

The concession agreement was signed on 30th November, 2012. The concession agreement was that the company was going to be fully responsible for the project financing; therefore, the government had no any financial commitment to the project. And all necessary facilities would be provided by the company in each of the parks that were to be built in Osogbo-Ikirun road, Osogbo-Iwo road,

Osogbo-Ilesa Road and Osogbo-Akoda road.

According to the concession agreement, the concessionaire (Safeway Track Solution Limited) would build, operate and transfer the facilities to the state government after 25 years. Before the transfer, the state government was to have 30 per cent of the total profit earned while the concessionaire was to have 70 per cent”, it stated.

The statement further disclosed that the only commitment of the state government to the planned park was the

provision of Land which was provided to the Safeway Track Solution Limited by the Ministry of Works. The total cost of the contract was N4.6bn, including the value of the provided land which was N320 million.

The statement further reads “It is on record that the contractor worked for sometimes before challenges set in, which prevented further work on the project sites. Base on the inability on the failure of the concessionaire, the government terminated the contract. That is the facts of the contract.

“The PDP had been known for mischief, frivolous allegation and deceit. The party has failed in its deliberate attempt to misconstrue the concession agreement of the planned trailer parks.

The PDP knows the fact, but yet went ahead to be

telling cheap lies. It amounts to irresponsibility and outright absence of conscience for the PDP to be misinforming the general public. This is not how to do opposition; it is simply a dubious character.

“The administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been transparent and prudent on contract award and the governance issues. He has been able to manage the meager resources of the state for unprecedented and surprising development of the state. It is worthy of note that Osun did not witness any meaningful development when the PDP government that got huge amount of money was managing the affairs of the state. We urge the PDP to stop this campaign of calumny and fruitless effort to smear Aregbesola’s good image”.

We‘ll Guarantee A Credible Process - Osun APC

•One of the APC governorship aspirants in Osun, Dr Ismail Saka-Layonu (SAN) addressing his supporters during one of his tours to federal constituencies.

Osun Ranked Second Lowest State in Unemployment, Inflation Rate

By Ismaeel Uthman The state of Osun has been ranked second lowest state in Nigeria in underemployment, unemployment and inflation rate.

According to a report miserable and povertyreleased by the Financial ridden state in 2017.

It would be recalled Derivatives Company tagged ‘How the States that the Managing Performed in 2017’, Osun Director of the FDC, has 19.0 per cent Bismark Rewane had few underemployment and months ago presented unemployment, and the report to the public.

Rewane said in one of 16.37 per cent inflation rate to come second to the top three economic Taraba which has 13.4 analysts in Nigeria, Osun and 16.18 per cent had the lowest net FAAC allocation but was not respectively. in the In the measured delinquent “Misery Index” of the payment of salary arrears. report obtained recently, Commenting on the Osun came second best with 35.36 per cent report, the Commissioner against 36.94 and 48.33 for Information and per cent of Ogun and Strategy, Mr Adelani Lagos state respectively. Baderinwa attributed the Osun was also positive ranking of the reported as the 5th state state to Governor Rauf with lowest accruable Aregbesola’s ingenuity in revenue from Federation addressing the financial Account Allocation crisis of the state.

Baderinwa said the Committee (FAAC).

Despite the position of report was a sincere, the state in the FAAC, professional and realistic Osun is not part of the assessment of economic and states with highest salary activities arrears, as shown in the development in the state ‘Delinquent States’ in terms of income and section of ‘How States expenditure and how it Performed’ in the report. positively affects the Summarily, Osun was people in general.

According to ranked the second less

Baderinwa, Osun could not have been rated less going by the prudence and judicious management of the little resources accruable to the state by Aregbesola, who has demonstrated to be a good and focused manager of resources.

Baderinwa maintained that the projects, programmes and policies being executed by Aregbesola have no doubt developed the economy of the state, improve the wellbeing of the people and guarantee security of life and properties.

He said: “The FDC report is a welcome development; it actually reflects the social and economic development in the state. This type of report is coming for the fourth time in six months from veritable and independent sources – the first from the United Nations (UN) MultiDimensional Poverty Index 2016, second from the National Bureau of Statistics, the Renaissance Capital, a leading emerging markets investment bank in Africa and now the

FDC Misery Index 2017.

“We make bold to say that all the three reports, the last of which is that of the FDC, confirmed Aregbesola’s ingenuity, vision and ceaseless efforts in transforming the State of Osun to an Eldorado, socially, economically and in terms of infrastructure.

“Programmes like Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) which provides regular resources for 40,000 youths, Osun Free School Feeding progamme named ‘O MEAL’ which employs over 3334 women who prepare meals for the school children, Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Program (ORAEP), designed to empower the farmers have contributed immensely to the development of the state.”

Baderinwa said Osun economy will in no time receive boost when the $30.5million contract won by the Osun RLG/ Adulawo Technology Company for the supply of Terrestrial Broadcast Set Top Boxes flows into the market.

By Mariam Bello The All Progressives Congress in the state of Osun has again reiterated its promise to ensure a level playing ground for all its governorship aspirants and a credible process that will produce the best candidate for the party and the state.

The APC has hosted state”. some of the 27 aspirants Reacting to the that registered with it as rumoured fears that the at Sun, June 10, 2018. outcome of the primary However, as their might have been robust flag off campaign ‘precast’, the APC urged continues at the Party’s party members and secretariat in Osogbo, aspirants to ignore such the APC enjoined the rumours as they are aspirants to continue to baseless and figment of pursue their ambitions the imagination of the in the friendly and opposition who are carnival-like atmosphere desperate for power in that has shaped order to loot the state campaign in the state. again as they did In a statement from between 2003 and 2010.’. the Party’s Directorate of The APC reminded Publicity, Research and the aspirants that “they Strategy, signed by its are respectable members Director, Kunle Oyatomi of the ruling party from and made available to whom a lot is expected in the media in Osogbo, the both their action and APC called for the reaction, before, during sustained unity of and after the primary. purpose and great “There will be only sportsmanship from the one victor in the aspirants, in the build up primary, the party said, to July 7th, when the adding that “the game is primary would hold. not one in which the According to the APC, winner takes all; so, if “the people of Osun you are not the victor in have great expectations that exercise, there are from the party to abundant possibilities perform as excellently at left to compensate the primary as it had everybody. done in governance “As the saying goes, during the last united we stand, but memorable seven and divided we fall. The half years in the history primary must not divide of the state”. us.

Whatever its The party admonished outcome, we must unite the aspirants to show to win in September, not themselves as ‘worthy only in our own best ambassadors’ of the APC interest, but also in the “who the masses of our interest of the state and people can look up to the good people of and trust to give their Osun”, the APC best in service to the concluded.

FRIDAY JUNE 8 - THURSDAY JUNE 14, 2018

CRIME

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

15

Court Remands Woman, Three Men For Armed Robbery

By Mariam Bello An Osogbo Magistrate court has ordered that a woman and three men be remanded in Ilesa prison custody over alleged armed robbery.

The suspects include a valued N18, 000,000.00, 42-year old female, one Nokia phone, one Tofella Ibiteye, her infinix phone and cash husband, David Ibiteye, sum of N250, 000 .

46, Azeez Hammed, 65, “Two of the convicts and Adeoye Lateef, 34. were couple while the They were docked on third party is a driver to two count charges the complainant who bothering on conspiracy masterminded the to wit felony and robbery “ robbery.

Inspector Oladoye The prosecutor, submitted that the Inspector Oladoye Joshua offence is contrary to and told the court that the punishable under section defendants committed 1(2)a(b) of the Robbery the offence on April 25, and Firearms (special 2018 at about 3 pm at provisions) Act cap RII Grace lodge, Kola Vol. 14 laws of Balogun Area, Osogbo.

Federation of Nigeria, He explained that the 2004. accused persons The defence counsel, conspired among Mr R. A Ngwu appeared themselves to commit for the first, second and Armed Robbery. fourth accused person Oladoye said that the while Mr Taiwo defendants did armed Awokunle appeared for themselves with guns the third accused person. and other dangerous The plea of the weapons to rob one Mrs defendants were not Victoria Abioda Balogun taken. of her Gold jewelries The presiding

Magistrate, Mrs A .O Ajanaku ordered the

accused persons to be remanded in Ilesha

prison custody.

The case

was

adjourned to July 7, 2018 for hearing.

Three Nursing Mothers, Two Men Bag Six Months Imprisonment For Stealing Fowls

By Mariam Bello An Osun State magistrate court in Osogbo on Tuesday sentenced three nursing mothers and two men to six months imprisonment for stealing.

The suspects include mothers received 5800 Regina Philip, 40, celilia fowls from Samson Ochili, 25, Ankara Ayooola and Odebiyi Elisabeth, 30, Odebiyi Yinka knowing fully that Yinka, 20, and Ayoola it was stolen.

Samson.

Inspector Adegoke The prosecutor, Taiwo argued that the Inspector Adegoke offence contravenes Taiwo told the court that sections 516 and 383, the five convicts punishable under conspired among sections 390(9) and 427 of themselves to commit the criminal code cap 34 felony to wit stealing on volume 11 laws of Osun July 5, 2016 at Erin State of Nigeria 2003.

Osun.

The defence counsel, He explained further Mrs B. Y. Dada prayed that Odebiyi Yinka and the court to temper Ayoola Samson stole justice with mercy saying 1600 fowls valued N3.2 the convicts has been able million property of to pay N200,000 to the Pastor Mrs Aluko complainant.

Titilayo Farms in Erin She also begged the Osun area of the state. court to consider the He stressed that the breastfeeding mothers three breastfeeding adding that they have

20-Year-old Boy Pleads Guilty Of Stealing, Remanded the prosecutor said he

By David Adejuwon has not gathered enough A 20-year-old Wahab Shaiban has been facts. remanded in Ilesha prison custody over alleged Magistrate Oloyade shop breaking. ordered the accused The accused was facts of the matter but arraigned before Magistrate O.A Oloyade on two count charges bothering on shop breaking and stealing.

By Mariam Bello Police prosecutor, Inspector Olayiwola A 20-year-old man, Ayandare Shina, has been Rasaq told the court that remand in Ilesha prison custody by an Osogbo the accused person magistrate court over stealing of rubber drum.

The accused person vol.II law of Osun. committed the offence on the June 8, 2018 at allegedly committed the Shina who is facing offence on June 8, 2018 at two count charges No2, Oke-Ola Street, about 10.00am at Ido pleaded guilty to the Osogbo.

Osun town in Osun state. charges preferred against He said the accused According to the person and others at charge sheet, the convict him.

The defence counsel, large committed felony broke into Omoyiola Mr Okobe Najite applied by breaking into the Nur/Primary school, for the bail of the accused shop of one Quadir Ido Osun with intent to person in the most liberal Lukman and stole four commit felony. terms.

The defendant 2000 watt stabilizer The Magistrate, Mr allegedly stole one blue O.O Olona ordered the valued N48,000, 15 rubber drum worth complete conoil’s valued N20,000 property of Mrs accused person to be remanded in Ilesha N45,000, three blenders Fadehan Ruth prison custody. The case valued N16,000, 12 fans The offence is contrary was adjourned to June 22, valued N12,000, 2 horse to and punishable under for brief of fact on the fan heads valued section 390(9) of the matter.

N20,000, wires valued criminal code cap 34 N10,000 and 4 ceiling fans valued at N20,000, all properties totalling N130,500.

Inspector Rasaq said the offence committed is contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the criminal code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2003.

The accused pleaded guilty to the two count charges against him.

The Presiding Magistrate asked for

Court Remands Man For Stealing Drum

VACANCY

There is vacancy in a reputable media organisation in Osogbo for experienced Advert Canvassers.

Remuneration is performance-based and one of the best in the industry.

Candidate must be resident in Osogbo.

person to be remanded in Ilesha Prison custody and adjourned the case till June 28, 2018 for facts and ruling on the matter.

been coming from the prison custody where they were remanded.

The magistrate, Mrs Awodele Modupe while delivering the final

judgment sentenced all the convits to six calender months imprisonment with an option of N10,000 fine each.

Man Docked Over Alleged Assault

By Mariam Bello The Osun State police command has arraigned a 37-year-old Osuolale Taofeek before an Osogbo magistrate court for alleged Assault.

Taofeek, who was The defence counsel, docked on single count Mr. A. B Jinad prayed the charge of assault, pleaded court to grant the accused not guilty to the charge person bail in the most against him. liberal and affordable The prosecutor terms.

Inspector Jafani Muslim He added that the said the defendant suspect would not jump committed the alleged bail if granted and is crime on June 5, 2018 at ready to provide credible about 5.30pm at Old surety to guarantee his Garage area of Osogbo.

He explained to the readiness to stand trial.

Presiding Magistrate, court that the accused assaulted one Mr Ajagbe Mrs A. O Ajanaku granted the defendant Kamorudeen by beating him up and torn his cloth. bail in the sum of N50,000 Inspector Jafani with one surety She said surety must be submitted that the offence is contrary to section 360 a tax payer and resident in of the criminal code cap Osogbo.

The case was adjourned 34 volume 11.laws of to July 5 for hearing.

Osun State 2003.

ATOLU STAFF COOPERATIVE INVESTMENT & CREDIT SOCIETY LIMITED C/O Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, Abere, Osun State

OWODE LAND SCHEME (ATOLU LAYOUT)

1. Sequel to the anomalies detected by the management on the layout for the society (land scheme at Owode-Ede), a general meeting was called and the meeting resolved that necessary amendment should be done on the layout.

2. The amendment of the layout invariably led to slight adjustment on the land agreements and survey plans earlier issued to the allottees.

3. In view of items 1 and 2 above, the general meeting approved that all allottees on the land scheme should submit their land agreements and survey plans for necessary revalidation. The cost of which will be borne by the society and the Allottees.

4. The society wishes to use this medium to inform the affected Allottees to submit their documents at the Society Secretariat for revalidation. However, those who have submitted theirs, should disregard the notice.

5.

We thank you.

Signed: MANAGEMENT

MAGAZINE

Osun Calisthenics:

A Life Changing Education Legacy .

.

THE SIXTH MOST VISITED WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

.

P. 13

.

FRIDAY JUNE 8 - THURSDAY JUNE 14, 2018

Being an address delivered by Femi Falana (SAN) at the 25th anniversary of the June 12 1993 presidential election won by the late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola organised by the Osun State government.

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.com

Observation

June 12 Mandate, Democracy And Nigeria's Unity THE Muhammadu Buhari administration took the nation by surprise last week when it decided to confer the posthumous national awards of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Chief M. K. O. Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) on Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN for his huge contributions to the restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria. By declaring June 12 as Democracy Day, the Federal Government has officially validated the integrity of the credible election that was criminally annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida junta. By recognizing June 12 as Democracy Day, the Federal Government has put an end to the hypocrisy of May 29 which was proclaimed by the Olusegun Obasanjo regime. This year’s celebration provides a golden opportunity to review the democratic journey with a view to strengthening the fragile democratic process. Before addressing the topic of our discourse, permit me to respond to the attempts by certain persons to questioning the decision of the federal government to revisiting the monumental injustice that has lived with us for 25 years.

Legal validity of posthumous awards conferred on Chief Abiola and Chief Fawehinmi and declaration of June 12 as a public holiday The Honourable Justice Alfa Belgore, a retired Chief Justice of Nigeria was reported to have questioned the legal validity of the decision of President Buhari to

•FALANA

c o n f e r posthumous If a Nigerian can acawards on Chief M. K. O. quire his citizenship by Abiola and tracing his roots to a Chief Gani Fawehinmi dead parent or grand(SAN) on the parent it is submitted grounds that the advice of that the death of Chief the National Abiola and Chief H o n o u r s Committee Fawehinmi has not headed by his robbed them of their lordship was not sought. It rights as citizens of was further Nigeria. contended by his lordship that it is illegal to confer national unknown to law.

h o n o u r s posthumously.

Curiously, his lordship did not refer to any section of the National Honours Act or any other law that has been violated by the President. It is however pertinent to point out that the National Honours Committee is Hence, there is

CARTOON

no reference to it in the National Honours Act. With profound respect to the Honourable Justice Alfa Belgore, the National Honours Act has not prohibited or restricted the powers of the President to confer national honours on deserving Nigerian citizens, dead or alive. No doubt, paragraph 2 of the Honours Warrant made pursuant to the National Honours Act provides that “a person shall be appointed to a particular rank of an Order when he receives from the President in person, at an investiture held for the purpose…”

But paragraph 3 thereof has given the President the unqualified discretion “to dispense with the requirement of paragraph 2 in such manner as may be specified in the direction.” Therefore, since the national awards conferred on Chief Abiola and Chief Fawehinmi cannot be received by them in person the President has rightly invited their family members to receive same on their behalf.

Senator Dino Melaye has equally questioned the national awards on the grounds that the two honourees are no longer citizens of Nigeria because they are deceased.

I am compelled to draw the attention of the Senator to section 25 of the Constitution which provides that the citizenship of Nigeria can be acquired by birth on by any person whose parent or grandparent is or was a member of a community indigenous to Nigeria. If a Nigerian can acquire his citizenship by tracing his roots to a dead parent or grandparent it is submitted that the death of Chief Abiola and Chief Fawehinmi has not robbed them of their rights as citizens of Nigeria. A few years ago, it was accepted in legal circles in Nigeria that the fundamental right of a dead person to life could not be enforced since he was no longer a citizen. But that erroneous contention was discarded by the Court of Appeal in the case of Mrs Precious Omonyahuh v InspectorGeneral of Police (2015) LPELR25581, Adamu Augie J.C.A (as she then was) held that the fundamental right of Nigerian citizens to life guaranteed by section 33 of the Constitution can be enforced by relations of any person whose life has been illegally terminated.

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

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